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Wednesday, 09 January 2019

BBC News

• Heathrow airport drone investigated by police and military
• Hyundai shows off 'walking car' at CESThe concept car has wheels on robotic legs which can unfold in rough terrain.
• Heathrow airport: Drone sighting halts departuresDepartures at London's Heathrow airport were temporarily stopped after a drone was seen.
• 'Impossible' for Seaborne's Brexit port to be ready for MarchOstend will not be ready to run Seaborne's Brexit ferry services in March, the city's mayor tells the BBC.

The Guardian

• Heathrow may add 25,000 flights a year before third runwayAn extra 25,000 flights a year could come through Heathrow before the third runway is built, in plans revealed by the airport as it launched a fresh consultation over its airspace and operations.
• Failing Grayling is a method loser worthy of an OscarTransport secretary’s only outward sign of sentience is a twitch in his left cheek
• Hampshire motorway 'may become lorry park after no-deal Brexit'Portsmouth preparing to relieve Dover in ‘worst-case scenario’, Vince Cable told
• Heathrow: police investigate after drone sighting disrupts flightsArmed forces called in as departures grounded for an hour at London hub

The Telegraph

• Heathrow Airport: flights resume after suspension due to 'drone sighting' [Subscription]Heathrow suspended all departures on Tuesday due to reported drone sightings just weeks after a similar debacle caused chaos at Gatwick.

Times Online

• Heathrow plans: Half of flights may take off over London [subscription]Heathrow is planning the biggest reorganisation of flight paths in 70 years after warnings that more than 650,000 people living in the area will suffer “significant” noise as a result of an expanded airport.
• Almost 2.5m drivers a year will be caught by London pollution chargeThe pollution charge being introduced in London in April could affect almost 2.5 million cars and vans a year, official figures have suggested.
• ScotRail operator Abellio told to improve services or lose contract [Subscription]The operator of ScotRail has been threatened with fines and the termination of its contract within the next six weeks if reliability does not improve.
• Another day, another chance to beat 50 shades out of Grayling [Subscription]It was a red-letter day for Chris Grayling, the first anniversary of his greatest, indeed only, period of success as a cabinet minister.
• Mirror on traffic light tested in drive to stop cyclist deaths [Subscription]A new safety mirror is being tested at a busy road junction in an attempt to help drivers to see cyclists more easily.

City AM

• Heathrow Airport suspends departures after possible drone sightingPlanes have been grounded at Heathrow after the airport confirmed there had been drone sighting just weeks after a similar problem at Gatwick forced the airport to a grinding halt.
• London City Airport sees record passenger numbers despite a decrease in flightsLondon City Airport welcomed a record number of passengers in 2018, with a total of 4.m passengers using the airport.

Conservative Party

• Shaun Bailey: Mayor Khan has taken his eye of the ball on CrossrailShaun Bailey is a member of the London Assembly and the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London

Bristol Live

• Why Bristol train delays could soon be a thing of the pastTrain delays could be a thing of the past thanks to a system that predicts when railway tracks or signalling equipment might fail.

London Evening Standard

• Paddington Station plunged into darkness as lighting failure sparks travel disruption at busy transport hubPaddington Station was plunged into darkness last night when the busy transport hub's lighting failed, sparking delays to services.
• Heathrow drone sightings: Scotland Yard launches probe after flights grounded following disruptionScotland Yard has launched a investigation and the military has been called in after all flights were grounded at Heathrow Airport following drone sightings.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Will Roberts: HS2 is a vote of confidence in the North which must not be stopped – here’s why EVERY few months – and more often recently – comes the call to scrap HS2 and spend the money on something else

Lancashire Telegraph

• Transport Secretary looking at Colne-Skipton rail link studyTHE case for extending the East Lancashire Line across The Pennines by reopening rail link from Colne to Skipton is now on Transport Secretary Chris Grayling's desk.

Train Operators

• Heathrow shutdown prompts new alarm over drone defences [Subscription]Fears were raised over security at British airports yesterday after Heathrow grounded flights for almost an hour over a suspected drone sighting.

Rail Magazine

• Focus on passenger services on trans-Pennine routeThere is not enough money for both freight and passenger services on the revamped trans-Pennine route, members of the House of Lords were informed during a debate on January 7.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Network Rail Digital Railway boss David Waboso to retireThe managing director of Network Rail’s Digital Railway, David Waboso, will retire in March. An internal memo from chief executive Andrew Haines said that Waboso was leaving with a “fantastic legacy” and a “clear direction for delivery through CP6 and...
• Porterbrook signs supply deal for new rail parcel servicePorterbrook has signed a deal to supply specialist train operator the Rail Operations Group (ROG) with bi-mode FLEX trains to help the group enter the rail postal industry. The derby-based company is the largest owner of passenger trains in the UK and has agreed to renovate two of its FLEX...
• Concerns raised over HS2 as Treasury chief warns government must be prepared to scrap 'white elephant' projectsChief secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss has warned that HS2 could be scrapped as she said the government must be prepared to “junk white elephant” projects after Brexit. Truss is leading a major government spending review this year and says she is examining “all major...

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow wants to add 25,000 flights a year ahead of third runway London’s Heathrow Airport has opened an eight-week consultation on its planned expansion that includes a proposal to add up to 25,000 additional flights a year through more efficient use of its two existing runways, ahead of the opening of a third in 2026. read more
• Airbus achieves 800 commercial aircraft deliveries in 2018Airbus has confirmed it “achieved 800 commercial aircraft deliveriesâ€� in 2018, thus concluding the year in a close finish against Boeing, which handed over 806 commercial aircraft. read more
• UK government proposes tighter UAV restrictions The UK government is proposing to expand no-fly zones near airports for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and increase police powers in response to the drone-related disruptions at London Gatwick Airport last month. read more
• Heathrow briefly suspends departures after drone sightingWeeks after reported drone sightings disrupted operations at London’s Gatwick Airport, London Heathrow Airport briefly suspended departures on Jan. 8 to investigate a drone sighting. read more
• Boeing delivers 806 commercial aircraft in 2018Boeing reported deliveries of 806 commercial aircraft in 2018, exceeding its previous record-high delivery total of 763 in 2017, and surpassing rival Airbus’ 800 commercial jet deliveries for the past year. read more

Other News Sources

• Transport boss admits Crossrail might not finish until middle of next yearTfL finance chief says group now planning for 18 month delay