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

Thursday, 15 November 2018

BBC News

• Stansted Airport expansion plan approved by councilPlans to increase the number of passengers using Stansted Airport have been approved.
• Lewis crofters and airport firm in land disputeCrofters and Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (Hial) are in dispute over an area of land near Stornoway Airport in Lewis.
• Train factory bid for former power station siteThe site of Longannet power station in Fife has been chosen by a Spanish train manufacturer as the location for a new factory, employing 1,000 people.
• Terrorism training exercise at Edinburgh AirportOfficials at Edinburgh Airport tell the public not to be alarmed if they see increased emergency service activity.
• Trying to cut London's road deathsTransport bosses are aiming to ensure no-one dies on the capital's roads over the next few years.
• Pollution linked to 'stunted lung capacity' in London schoolchildrenExposure to diesel fumes was linked to an approximate 5% reduction in lung capacity in London children.
• Ford Bridgend: Ineos Land Rover Defender decision expectedA UK government letter emphasises

ITV News

• New rail timetable to be rolled out for a second timeThousands of South East commuters will face new rail timetables next month as Govia Thameslink Railway makes another attempt to improve services and reduce overcrowding.

The Guardian

• Is it ever OK for a train company to block you on social media?Northern Rail was criticised for blocking a passenger who had complained on Twitter. But customer service in the digital age is hard to manage
• Spanish train firm to create 1,000 jobs at new factory in ScotlandTalgo, which is bidding to win HS2 rolling stock contracts, will build its first UK base in Fife
• Cars without drivers still need a moral compass. But what kind?Humans will soon subcontract their ethical dilemmas to machines. We must be prepared to make some tough choices

Times Online

• Spanish trainmaker Talgo on track to create 1,000 jobs [Subscription]A train manufacturer is preparing to create about 1,000 jobs after deciding to build a plant in Scotland.
• Addison Lee loses appeal over drivers’ rightsOne of the country’s biggest minicab and delivery companies has lost its bid to overturn a ruling that entitled its drivers to a range of workers’ rights.
• Scotrail given early funds despite poor performance [subscription]ScotRail was handed an advance payment of taxpayer funding despite concerns over falling performance levels, a committee was told.

City AM

• Easyjet marks milestone in efforts to get more women piloting jetsEasyjet has reached a key point in its journey to increase its proportion of female pilots, as it sets a course for one-fifth of its new recruits being women by 2020.
• New Crossrail boss to be paid £45,000 more than predecessor Simon Wright amid ongoing project troublesIncoming Crossrail boss Mark Wild is set to earn £415,000 – a £45,000 increase on the earnings of his predecessor, Simon Wright.
• New Crossrail boss to be paid £45,000 more than predecessor Simon Wright amid ongoing project troublesIncoming Crossrail boss Mark Wild is set to earn £415,000 – a £45,000 increase on the earnings of his predecessor, Simon Wright.

The National

• Spanish train maker Talgo may bring 1000 jobs to FifeBased outside Madrid, the multi-national aims to build a 70,000 sq ft factory at Longannet.

Belfast Telegraph

• ScotRail franchise described as ‘shambles’ but MSPs reject bid to end dealScottish Labour has called for Scotland’s railway services to be taken back into public ownership at the earliest opportunity.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• New face is behind the wheel of bus teamIan Chadwick has been appointed fleet engineer by Keighley Bus Company’s parent operator, Transdev Blazefield

Bristol Live

• Spate of attacks on buses by youths sees operator divert Bristol Airport route after latest incident"We are not willing to take the risk of potentially putting passengers in danger. "

Daily Post (North Wales)

• The long term vision to transform Wales's road, rail and digital infrastructure for economic successEconomy and Transport Secretary Ken Skates has created the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales

Edinburgh Evening News

• Labour move to truncate ScotRail franchise thrown outA Scottish Labour move to end Abellio's ScotRail franchise early was today rejected by MSPs.

London Evening Standard

• TubeChat: The app that wants to get London Underground commuters to talk to each other on the TubeDevelopers have launched a new app aimed at getting Londoners talking to one another on the Tube.
• Revealed: the £200m cost of Crossrail delayThe Crossrail delay will cost Transport for London almost £200 million next year in lost revenue, the Standard has learned.

Morning Star

• Scottish nationalists and Conservatives unite to reject motion to nationalise ScotRailSCOTTISH nationalists and Conservatives in Holyrood united to reject a Labour motion today to nationalise Scotland’s failing railways.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• West Bromwich bus lane makes £2 million in two yearsA notorious bus lane has cost drivers nearly £2 million in fines since enforcement cameras were switched on just under two years ago.

Yorkshire Post

• Scrapping HS2 could jeopardise new fast rail links across Pennines, Yorkshire leaders say in letter to Chris GraylingYorkshire leaders have issued a plea for unity on HS2, arguing that if it is scrapped it could jeopardise plans for new faster east-west rail links across the Pennines.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Councillors give green light to Stansted airport expansion plansStansted Airport’s expansion plans have been approved by Uttlesford District Council’s planning committee.

Other Regional Press

• £810,000 to connect railway from Leekbrook to LeekChurnet Valley Railway will be responsible for raising the funds for the project - with construction expected to take 18 months

Train Operators

• All aboard as first South Western Railway refurbished long distance train enters passenger serviceSouth Western Railway’s first fully refurbished and reconfigured Class 444 train has entered passenger service, offering additional seating capacity and high-quality improvements to passenger accommodation.

New Civil Engineer

• Crossrail delay to hit TfL with almost £200M in lost revenue, warns reportThe Crossrail delay is set to cost Transport for London (TfL) nearly £200M next year in lost revenue, a new report has revealed.

Rail Technology Magazine

• 'Broken' rail complaints system failing to deal with passengers effectively or even with 'basic courtesy' The rail complaints system is “broken” and train companies are failing to deal with passenger complaints effectively or even with “basic courtesy,” new analysis has revealed. An investigation by Which? found that less than half of passengers were satisfied with how their...
• Grayling 'sees no reason' to follow European standard in post-Brexit rolling stock regulation   The transport secretary has categorically opposed the following of European Union rail standards when Britain leaves the EU, arguing he can see ‘absolutely no reason’ to follow the regulations. Speaking to the Lords EU Internal Market Sub-Committee this morning, Chris...
• Taking to the skiesNetwork Rail’s commitment to driving innovation is best encapsulated by its latest scheme involving high-definition imagery drones, or UAVs. RTM’s Jack Donnelly sat down with the Thameslink Programme Network Rail project sponsor, Paul Ashman, to find out more. When a piece of...
• Crossrail contractors in row over overtime payA pay row has broken out over overtime payments for contractors working on the Elizabeth Line as it raced to get the project finished on time. TfL and Crossrail are said to be questioning bills from contracts after workers undertook overnight and weekend overtime over worries about delays to the...
• Talgo names Fife as the chosen site of its first UK train factory Spanish train manufacturer Talgo has revealed that is new train-building factory will be built at Longannet in Fife, bringing more than 1,000 jobs to Scotland. Talgo will build its first UK manufacturing base at the site of a decommissioned power station on the north shore of Firth of Forth...

Railnews

• FirstGroup starts renegotiation of SWR franchiseFIRSTGROUP has started talks with the Department for Transport over a rethink of the contract terms for South Western Railway.

Other News Sources

• Antoinette Sandbach slams HS2 for failing to provide visual plansHS2 is ‘refusing to deliver’ on a promise to provide sufficient information about its plans to mid Cheshire residents, Winsford’s MP has claimed.
• Heathrow appoints delivery commercial director for expansionHeathrow has announced that Emma-Jane Houghton will be joining the airport as delivery commercial director for expansion in February 2019.
• Bus users react to plan to charge 20p at bus station loos as officials close it for refurbWork has begun on improving the public toilets across East Lindsey bus stations in time for the new year - but the plan is dividing opinion.
• The London Victoria 'ghost trains' that cost more but don't existYou can buy tickets from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport for weekday nights even though there aren't any trains between the stations at that time
• 'This franchise is a shambles' says MSP of ScotRailScottish Labour are calling for railway services to come back under public ownership.
• ‘This seems to be happening more often’: Passengers furious as ScotRail cancels Perth trains due to staff shortagesCommuters have hit out at ScotRail after being forced to wait an hour for their train at Perth station, because of staff shortages.
• The 80 year old tube train that could run on the Underground againA train that hasn’t been seen on the London Underground since 1971 could make a return if plans to restore a collection of Q-Stock carriages can be completed.