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

Wednesday, 24 October 2018

BBC News

• Pothole problems: Call to fix Welsh roads before building new onesSevere weather has left councils with a backlog of road repairs and pothole problems.
• Young couples 'trapped in car dependency'Planners are allowing edge-of-town housing estates where car travel is only option, researchers say.
• South Western Railway workers begin five-day strikeThe walkout will be the longest yet in the dispute over the role of guards on trains.
• Rail disruption eases following earlier closure of lineThe problems, via Glasgow Queen Street high level station, were caused by a piece of machinery breaking down.
• London Uber drivers to charge electric car feeThe 15p fee will be handed to drivers to help them pay for an all-electric car, says ride-hailing firm
• Firms urged to use other routes if no-deal Brexit threatens vital drugsFreight firms will be urged to use Belgian ports if delays at Calais threaten vital drug shipments.
• Ford, Fiat and Nissan ads banned for dangerous drivingThe advertising watchdog condemns ads by three different carmakers for encouraging unsafe driving.

The Guardian

• Why I’m starting a revolt against poor, privatised bus services in BristolAs a new mother struggling to get her child to nursery I was so enraged I took to Facebook. Now hundreds of us are protesting

The Herald

• A83 flyover and tunnel plans face being resurrected in bid to stop landslidesPLANS to build a flyover or tunnel through one of Scotland’s most scenic landscapes may be resurrected as officials scramble to protect a landslide-hit stretch of road.

The Independent

• Dyson to build new electric car in SingaporeHuge plant to be ready from 2020 ahead of the project launch of the new car in 2021

Times Online

• Uber’s ‘clean air tax’ to pay for greener fleet [Subscription]Uber is to impose a 15p a mile “clean air” levy on passengers in London from early next year and is considering rolling out electric bike hire in the capital.
• Brexit: Charter ships could beat Dover chaos [Subscription]Cargo ships could be chartered by the government to bring in supplies of food and medicine if a no-deal Brexit leads to shortages.
• Dublin needs new runway not terminal, say airlines [Subscription]Shane Ross’s talk of a third terminal at Dublin airport is a distraction from its real needs, say airlines and politicians

Reuters News

• UK looking at chartering ships to ferry in supplies in no-deal Brexit - FTBritain is looking at chartering ships to ferry in critical food and medicines in the event of a

Mail Online

• World's oldest electric train that dates back to the North Eastern Railway in 1903 is running again 15 years after it was found abandoned in a bushThe world's oldest electric train has been able to hit the tracks once more after being found abandoned in a bush over 15 years ago.

Network Rail

• Seven days left to be part of iconic suffragette artwork at Birmingham New StreetThe final countdown is underway to be part of a unique piece of art work to celebrate 100 years of women's suffrage.

London Evening Standard

• London Waterloo delays: South Western Railway passengers told 'do not travel' after signalling meltdownRail commuters using a major route into central London have been told "do not travel" following a signalling meltdown.
• The Uber driver: Dara Khosrowshahi, the boss tasked with turning around the reputation of one of the world's most controversial companiesDara Khosrowshahi talks about going electric and his 4.76 rating
• Uber passengers in London to pay extra 15p per mile clean air fee to fund switch to electric carsLondoners making a trip in an Uber car will be charged an extra 15p a mile

Manchester Evening News

• The map that shows the 152 Greater Manchester roads with killer levels of air pollutionLeaders warn deadly pollution is more than 10 times worse than previously thought - and say drastic action is needed

Northern Echo

• Durham Tees Valley Airport deal terms can remain secretA JUDGE has ruled key elements of a deal between councils and an airport operator can be kept secret, despite there being a significant public interest in exposing the details.

Wales Online

• New Swansea Bay tidal lagoon projects being invited to come forwardA new project could be entirely private sector funded says Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart

Yorkshire Post

• Months of disruption for Yorkshire to London rail passengersRAIL passengers from Yorkshire travelling to London on the flagship East Coast Main Line face months of disruption as planned development works mean their trains will terminate short of the capital, The Yorkshire Post can reveal.

Carlisle News & Star

• 'New hope' for Borders Railway extension to CarlisleCAMPAIGNERS pushing to extend the Borders Railway to Carlisle had a lively debate during a 'question time' AGM on Saturday.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Greater Anglia refund Suffolk student's ticket in storage fee rowRail bosses have refunded a Suffolk student after staff took 10% of the cash in her purse as a “storage fee”.

Sunderland Echo

• System-wide delays hit Metro system after fault with trainsFaults with the first trains to head out on the Metro system are causing delays for passengers this morning.

Other Regional Press

• Airport wants to create thousands of jobs over coming yearsBristol Airport is looking to recruit thousands of people over the coming years.
• Heathrow Airport Limited fined £120,000 for serious failings in its data protection practicesHeathrow Airport Limited (HAL) has been fined £120,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for failing to ensure that the personal data held on its network was properly secured
• Anger as Network Rail eyes up trees for the chopDOZENS of trees are set to be chopped down at a train line in a move that has infuriated people living nearby.
• Plans to improve Calder Valley rail line Work is under way to improve the Calder Valley rail line - described as one of the “poorest performing” in the country
• Leatherhead railway station could become more accessible for disabled and elderly as funding bid submittedThe autumn Transform Leatherhead forum took place on October 17 and gave updates on the overall transformation plans for the town
• Train trouble for commuters due to poor rail conditionsPassengers travelling on the main line between Norwich and London Liverpool Street are being warned to expect disruptions due to poor rail conditions between Norwich and Diss.

New Civil Engineer

• Natural England and Met Office voice doubts about Kent airport upgradeNatural England and the Met Office have both raised concerns about plans to reopen and upgrade Manston Airport in Kent.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Electrification of railways sees CO2 emissions fallCO2 emissions from passenger rail has fallen in the last year as a result of the use of greener energy sources as part of electrifying the UK railway, new statistics from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) have shown. Overall CO2 emissions have decreased by 6.6% for passenger services and 2.9%...
• Planning Inspectorate reject plans for giant rail freight interchange in NorthamptonshirePlans for a massive strategic rail freight interchange (SRFI) in Northamptonshire has been rejected by the government’s Planning Inspectorate (PINS) because of “inconsistencies” in the proposals. The 600-acre proposal, submitted by Ashfield Land Management and Gazeley, would...
• Train's near miss with track workers caused by mix-up over locationTwo track workers working on a bridge near Dundee were almost hit by a train because the wrong section of the track was blocked off, an investigation by the RAIB has found. Their report said that the workers were on the bridge when the 22:48 from Glasgow, travelling at 72mph, approached the...
• Rail industry leaders reveal the extent of damage of 'boom and bust' funding Industry leaders have revealed the damage caused by ‘boom and bust’ rail funding, hitting business’s recruitment, investment and SME’s. Ninety-nine per cent of the 120 senior executives questioned in a survey, carried out by independent polling company ComRes on behalf of...
• Passengers 'deserve better' as ScotRail fined £2.2m for failing to meet performance targetsScotRail has been fined £2.2m across the first six months of the year after failing to meet a succession of targets. The train operator missed 15 out of 38 targets between April and June, according to a service quality report, and failed to meet targets in areas including toilets, litter...
• Grayling won't confirm halt to January fare rise, says TfL are in 'deep financial difficulties' due to Khan's fare freezeThe transport secretary has failed to confirm whether rail passengers struck by disruption will not have their train fares increased, arguing that TfL are now in “deep financial difficulties” as a result of mayor Sadiq Khan’s fare freeze. Speaking to the Transport Select...
• May timetables: DfT official tried to keep GTR compensation pay-outs under wraps A government official tried to keep a rail compensation scheme “low key” and hidden from the media, an FOI request has revealed. Liberal Democrat candidate for St Albans Daisy Cooper submitted the FOI request into the correspondence between Govia Thameslink (GTR) and the DfT...
• FCA probe: TfL could be fined for not telling LSE about Crossrail delayThe UK’s financial watchdog is considering whether to launch a formal investigation into TfL over its reported failure to tell the London Stock Exchange (LSE) that the Crossrail project would suffer a nine-month delay to its launch. A statement made by TfL to the LSE on 24 July made no...

Railway Gazette

• Eurostar to expand Amsterdam service next yearEUROPE: Cross-Channel high speed operator Eurostar expects to launch a third daily train between London and Amsterdam in June 2019, reflecting the initial success of the route which was launched with two trains per day in April this year.

Cammax Limited

• Ensuring successful adoption in the era of SMART Public Transport [paid inclusion]Over recent years operators, councils and other stakeholders have invested heavily in attempts to modernise the UK public transport sector in what some commentators are labelling ‘the SMART revolution’.

Aviation Industry

• Bombardier sues Mitsubishi over alleged theft of trade secretsBombardier has sued the aircraft unit of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., alleging the Japanese company recruited Bombardier employees with the intent of acquiring proprietary trade secrets for use in its Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) program. read more
• UK pilots urge faster action on UAV education, registrationThe British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) has urged the UK government to bring forward its program of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone, education and registration following a near-miss over London it said could have had disastrous consequences. read more
• British Airways unveils new customer service initiative British Airways (BA) will make a multimillion-pound investment in staff training at its London Heathrow Airport hub, 10 months after a light snowfall there brought chaos to its services. read more