Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Thursday, 02 August 2018

BBC News

• Heatwave: Why is Heathrow so hot?It's Europe's busiest airport but why is Heathrow also a magnet for hot weather?
• Brownies launch aviation badge to encourage girls to become pilotsThe Girlguiding UK group is part of a campaign to encourage more women to become pilots.
• Donegal Airport has been voted the most beautifulThe beautiful surroundings of Donegal Airport have seen it named the most scenic in the world.
• MPs call for £100bn northern transport investment£100bn must be spent to revolutionise transport in northern England by 2050, according to more than 80 politicians calling for government investment.
• 'I know the train's going to be late'The BBC follows one Northern rail user, Lorna, on her daily commute from Burnley to Leeds.
• Tesla makes more cars as revenue jumpsQuarterly revenue rises as Elon Musk's firm increases output, but it still loses more than $700m.

The Guardian

• Transport gap: London gets £419 more per head than north of EnglandNorth has missed out on £63bn over 10 years due to chronic underfunding, thinktank says

The Independent

• Ryanair passengers forced to evacuate plane after mobile phone bursts into flames‘All passengers were safely evacuated back to the terminal and cabin crew dealt with the mobile phone,’ the airline said

Times Online

• Garden Bridge backers ‘may have to pay’ [Subscription]The backers of the Thames Garden Bridge, including Joanna Lumley, could be held responsible for the project’s failure, an expert in public and procurement law has said.
• Potholes harm the economy, warn MPs [Subscription]The economy is being hit by a plague of potholes, MPs said as they began an inquiry into the state of Britain’s roads.

The Mirror

• Tory George Osborne's think tank calls on Government to pump £100billion into road and railScores of MPs and peers backed a letter from the body chaired by ex-Chancellor, who pioneered six years of Tory austerity

London Evening Standard

• Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary waives bonus after 2017 flight cancellation chaosRyanair boss Michael O’Leary has given up his large bonus for 2017-18 after last year’s flight cancellation chaos.
• Hail a life-saver... Black taxi drivers given defibrillators to help save heart patientsTaxi drivers are having their cabs fitted with defibrillators to help them save Londoners who suffer cardiac arrest.
• Talks aimed at stopping further South Western Railway strikes break downTalks aiming at stopping further strikes on South Western Railway have broken down without reaching an agreement.
• Laura Craik on ending the airport ban on liquids, Hackney’s stifling midnight curfew and hot dressing“‘Take those plastic bags through for me,’ I say to my eight-year-old as if they are crack cocaine. Which they may as well be”

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Aberdeen International Airport monthly passenger figures take hit for first time since last AprilAberdeen International Airport (AIA) has suffered a decline in its monthly passenger figures for the first time since April 2017.

The York Press

• North Yorkshire MP demands £100 billion for northern roads and railA NORTH Yorkshire MP has sent a letter to Philip Hammond urging him to commit £100 billion to transform northern England’s rail and road network to prevent future generations enduring the misery faced by today’s commuters.

Yorkshire Post

• he Yorkshire Post says: Theresa May’s chance to end North’s travel miseryTHERESA May began the week by conceding that the North’s rail services were still not good enough. She can end it by promising to look favourably at the Budget submission being made on behalf of the whole region by the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.

Carlisle News & Star

• Transport for the North meeting: 'More must be done to help Cumbrian rail passengers'Representatives from Northern, TransPennine Express and Network Rail spoke at the event Northern Rail pacer units at LancasterRMT trade union officer Craig Johnston

Other Regional Press

• Victorian style lanterns to be installed at railway stationThe design of new specially commissioned vintage style lighting for Lowestoft Railway Station has been revealed as the finishing touches are made.
• The Windsor Link Railway plan to fast track the route to London comes a step nearer realityA FORMER councillor's seven year fight to realise his dream of a new direct Windsor railway link to London has taken a giant step towards becoming a reality.
• First Group announces plans to keep Number Three running to Ocean VillageA BUS route that was set to be axed from a Southampton community has been saved after an outcry from residents.
• Hull MPs and LEP leader call for £100bn investment into rail network in the northMore than 80 MPs and peers have signed the letter urging the government to commit to recommendations made by Transport for the North
• CrossCountry rail shake-up has implications for Weymouth-Waterloo operatorThe Department for Transport (DFT) has revealed plans to restructure the CrossCountry franchise which operates a basic hourly from Bournemouth to destinations across the North of England. Part of the route goes over the Weymouth-Waterloo mainline.

Global Rail News

• Consortium submits proposal for Windsor Link Railway in the UKA consortium including global investor Meridiam has submitted a market-led proposal to the UK government to build the Windsor Link Railway.

Railway Gazette

• UK railway news round-upA proposal for a privately financed tunnel to connect the South Western and Great Western lines in Windsor was submitted to the government on July 31 by the Windsor Link Railway consortium which includes infrastructure investment fund Meridiam SAS.

Aviation Industry

• Wizz Air, easyJet launch new services from UKLCCs Wizz Air and easyJet said they were launching new routes from UK airports as their expansion plans continue. read more
• Virgin Australia steps up product offerings on New Zealand routesVirgin Australia is taking steps to ramp up its product offering on Australia-New Zealand routes, in preparation for increased competition when its partnership with Air New Zealand ends. read more
• Bombardier wins approval for 90-seat Q400, eyes more ordersTransport Canada has certified Bombardier's 90-seat Q400 configuration, clearing the way for deliveries to launch customer SpiceJet starting later this year, and the manufacturer said more orders are on the way. read more

Other News Sources

• The Windsor Link Railway plan to fast track the route to London comes a step nearer realityA FORMER councillor's seven year fight to realise his dream of a new direct Windsor railway link to London has taken a giant step towards becoming a reality.
• Plans to link Heathrow to the west by trainA plan to build new rail links with Heathrow Airport and connect Windsor's two train stations have been submitted to the Government.
• Britain’s golden age of rail starts at WindsorBritain’s rail buccaneers are back, and hopefully soon in business. Ambitious plans for the first privately-funded railway line to be built in Britain since the First World War will tonight (Tuesday) be submitted to the government for approval.
• Windsor Link Railway submits market-led proposal for new lineBRITAIN’s Windsor Link Railway (WLR) has formed a consortium to submit a market-led proposal to construct a rail tunnel in Windsor west of London to deliver a through railway connecting the South Western and the Great Western main lines.
• MPs Demand £100 Billion To Spare Future Generations From Northern Rail Network MiseryIt's estimated businesses have lost almost £38 million because of Northern Rail disruption.
• Worrying-looking platform collapse at Leatherhead station unearths Network Rail and Southern communication breakdownMentioning the damaged platform at Leatherhead station to both Network rail and Southern caused confusion over whether it had been previously reported