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

Friday, 11 January 2019

BBC News

• Jaguar Land Rover and Ford moves shake Welsh car firmsThere are fears that moves by Jaguar Land Rover and Ford could spell problems for component firms.
• German airport strike grounds jetsMore than 600 flights are cancelled as security staff strike over pay at major German airports.
• Air France looking to scrap low-cost airline JoonThe lower-cost airline aimed at younger customers which launched in 2017 would be integrated into Air France.
• Gatwick drones: December sightings were in critical areasDrones were seen in, or close to, Gatwick's takeoff and landing zones in December, the BBC has learned.
• Honda plans six-day shutdown post-BrexitThe car giant says the shutdown will help it to cope with the risk of disruption at its Swindon plant.
• Jaguar Land Rover confirms 4,500 job cutsThe car maker says it will cut thousands of jobs as part of a £2.5bn cost-cutting plan.
• Carlos Ghosn: Ex-Nissan chair faces 'two new charges'Carlos Ghosn has previously denied all wrongdoing over charges of financial misconduct.

The Guardian

• UK train firms named and shamed over late compensationGTR received 1m of the 3m claims sought over timetabling chaos, rail regulator says
• Ofo cycle hire firm pulls out of LondonThe Chinese bike-sharing firm Ofo, known for its yellow bikes that users can leave in the street, is pulling out of London.
• UK airports need to buy anti-drone technology, says defence secretaryGavin Williamson appears to contradict transport secretary who said tech not yet available

The Independent

• Flybe: Cash-strapped airline to be rescued by Virgin-led consortiumRegional airline, losing £7,000 per hour, put itself up for sale two months ago

Times Online

• Rail chaos triggers three million payout claims [Subscription]Delay-hit passengers made more than 3 million compensation claims against rail companies during last summer’s timetable chaos as complaints over shoddy services soared.
• Ofo bike-sharing scheme abandoned amid vandalism and rising costs [Subscription]The boom in dockless bike hire schemes appears to be over after Britain’s biggest provider went bust and suddenly vanished from inner-city streets.
• Eurotunnel sets freight traffic record [Subscription]The owner of Eurotunnel has reported a record year for freight movements after transporting almost 1.69 million trucks.
• Ministers turn screw over ScotRail failure [Subscription]Ministers are seeking advice on appointing “an operator of last resort” for ScotRail amid warnings that Abellio does not expect to meet punctuality targets until 2021.

Reuters News

• Siemens, Alstom making new offers to win EU approval for rail plan - sources BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Industrial groups Siemens (SIEGn.DE) and Alstom (ALSO.PA) are discussing additional divestments with the European Commission to win approval for their plan to create a joint Franco-German rail champion, sources told Reuters.

City AM

• Ofo pulls bikes from London streets as international division closes downCycle-sharing platform Ofo has reportedly taken its bikes off the streets of London as the Chinese firm closed its international arm this week.
• Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Group and Cyrus Capital make offer for struggling airline FlybeFlybe has advised shareholders to accept a formal offer from Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Aviation and Cyrus Capital Partners to buy the struggling airline in a deal that values it at just £2.2m.

Office of Rail and Road (ORR)

• Redbridge Council will ‘keep on’ at Crossrail to ensure there are no more delays to Ilford StationRedbridge Council will “continue pushing” Crossrail to ensure there are no more setbacks to Ilford Station revamp plans.

Edinburgh Evening News

• ScotRail expects trains to keep running late for at least 2 yearsScotRail bosses have admitted they do not expect trains to hit punctuality targets for another two years.

London Evening Standard

• Tube strike off: Planned walkout on the Bakerloo line cancelled after 'significant progress' in talksA planned strike by London Underground workers has been suspended after progress in talks.
• Hoverbikes could be deployed to bring down illegal drones at airports CEO of Hoversurf says he was contacted by an MP to discuss the product during the Gatwick drone mayhem

Manchester Evening News

• Angry councillor ranting 'liars' and 'I'll see you in court' sees town hall meeting cut short - preventing debates on HS2 and mental health supportWigan leader Coun David Molyneux moved a vote to suspend proceedings as outspoken independent Coun Bob Brierley shouted 'you're liars' and 'I'll see you in court'

Sheffield Telegraph

• VIDEO: Doncaster Sheffield Airport expecting its busiest year with 1.5 million passengersDoncaster Sheffield Airport is forecasting its busiest year ever for passengers with almost 1.5m set to fly from the airport in 2019, bosses announced today.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Train bosses come under fire for slashing the number of direct services between Stonehaven and GlasgowTrain bosses have come under fire amid claims they have slashed the number of direct services between a north-east town and the Central Belt.

This Is Local London Network

• Former Crossrail boss under fire for Sadiq Khan commentsThese comments came yesterday during a London Assembly transport committee meeting with former Crossrail chairman Terry Morgan.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Hull Trains and TransPennine Express 'slowest to deal with compensation claims'Two rail operators in Yorkshire have been named as the slowest at dealing with compensation claims, following widespread disruption last year

Lancashire Telegraph

• Bolton could get two new railway stations if plans are 'feasible'A PAIR of new railway stations in Bolton are among future plans being considered by transport authorities.

Coach and Bus Week

• East Coast Buses launches contactless travelLothian Buses subsidiary East Coast Buses launched contactless payment on its services on Thursday 20 December.
• Six routes transfer in latest TfL tender resultsThe latest round of TfL tender results have been announced, with six routes changing hands and one new route finding its first operator.
• Ann Gloag made Dame in New Year Honours list – other industry figures awarded OBEsStagecoach co-founder is recognised for services to business as well as her extensive charity work, some of which is estimated to have directly helped more than 120,000 women and children in Africa
• Birmingham’s route 50 goes PlatinumWell-known Birmingham route 50, today operated by National Express West Midlands, is set to receive Platinum branding.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Sir Terry Morgan launches attack on TfL and claims it altered his reports on Crossrail's progressFormer Crossrail chair Sir Terry Morgan has accused TfL of altering reports on the schemes progress and manipulating the information on whether the flagship project would be delayed. Appearing before the London Assembly’s Transport Committee, Morgan repeatedly pointed to a slide given to...
• Rail industry urges policymakers to save Crossrail 2 in wake of major Crossrail delays The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has urged Crossrail policymakers not to postpone Crossrail 2 after it emerged that there are “thousands of hours of construction work still to be done” on Crossrail. Following discussions at a London Assembly Transport Committee meeting, the RIA...
• One in three train operators failing to pay out compensation on time, according to ORR Statistics revealing which train operators have failed to pay compensation to passengers on time have been released by the ORR for the first time, revealing that more than one in three companies are failing to meet target response times. Over three million compensation claims were made in total...
• Investigation launched after track worker forced to dodge train with two seconds to spareAn investigation has been launched after a track worker removing cables from a rail line was forced to dodge a train less than two seconds before the vehicle passed him at 51mph. According to the RAIB, the employee was removing cables which were temporarily attached to a rail line near Gatwick...

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Southend Pier set for £3.25m upgradeAn ageing train service is set to be replaced in a £14m revamp of the longest pier in the world.
• Leeds park-and-rides pass 2m passengers markTwo Leeds park-and-ride services offering city centre links on ultra-low emission buses have now recorded a combined total of more than two million passenger journeys.
• Self-testing should be an option for ER membersDVSA figures show that 98% of PCV and LGV MoT tests are now carried out at its 578 Authorised Testing Facilities (ATFs).
• Post-Christmas work return boost for mobile ticket salesThe full post-Christmas return to work and school on Monday saw Brits spend a massive £1.45m on smartphone transport tickets, according to leading m-ticketing provider Corethree.
• Stagecoach Merseyside brings more Gold to WirralIncreasing demand has led Stagecoach Merseyside to expand its luxury brand bus fleet in Wirral.
• Free wi-fi access at 8 West Yorkshire bus stationsFree wi-fi is now available at the eight busiest West Yorkshire Combined Authority-managed Metro bus stations.

Aviation Industry

• EasyJet inks A319 sale-leaseback deal in neo fleet transition UK LCC easyJet has signed a sale-and-leaseback deal with Willis Lease Finance on 10 Airbus A319s, in order to reduce the costs and risks associated with transitioning to an A320neo-family fleet.
• Emirates SkyCargo, Avianca deepen partnershipEmirates SkyCargo is deepening its cooperation with Avianca to assist the Colombia-based carrier in transporting cargo from Latin America across its network in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
• Enders to British lawmakers: Allow for an orderly, agreed BrexitAirbus CEO Tom Enders has called on British Parliamentarians to quickly agree on an orderly exit from the European Union (EU).

Other News Sources

• Ministers and Cross-party Parliamentarians United to Back HS2High Speed Rail Industry Leaders (HSRIL) Parliamentary reception saw enthusiastic backing for the HS2 project from Ministers and MPs including the Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling MP; HS2 Minister Nus Ghani MP and Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Andy McDonald MP.
• Contractors named for £7bn Network Rail frameworkThree firms win routes across the south of England
• MP raises issue of disabled access at Northwich Station in ParliamentNORTHWICH MP Mike Amesbury has raised the issue of disabled access to Northwich Railway Station during a transport debate in Parliament.
• Local train operators delayed compensation paymentsTwo North Yorkshire train operators have been accused of "dragging their heels" over compensation payouts.