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

Tuesday, 15 January 2019

BBC News

• Cardiff Plasdwr cycle routes 'stop short of railway stations'Safe networks planned for a 7,000-home scheme fall a mile short of rail links, campaigners say.
• Clean Air Strategy: Traffic pollution 'significant problem' in NIThe plan aims to address issues such as road traffic emissions and ammonia emissions from agriculture.
• London trams to get automatic braking systemThe decision was among 15 safety recommendations after an investigation into the 2016 Croydon tram crash.
• Crossrail delay: Maps being included in 2019 diariesDiaries for 2019 being sold by WHSmith show the delayed railway in London as being open.

ITV News

• City centre railway bridges to be restored to Victorian splendourA project to refurbish three historic railway bridges over streets in Manchester city centre will begin this week.

The Guardian

• Average UK car mileage falls again on back of higher petrol pricesAnalysis of 23m MOT tests shows average car is driven 10% shorter distance than a decade ago

The Telegraph

• Rail revolution off track with private funding plan stuck in sidings [Subscription]hris Grayling, the Transport Secretary, has made a name for making people angry, not excited, about the railways. But last March he did something that caught the eye of those desperate for change on the trains.

Times Online

• 500,000 expats may have to take driving tests again [subscription]Up to half a million British expatriates may be forced to take their driving test again in the case of a no-deal Brexit.
• Gove’s strategy is a load of hot air [subscription]The environment secretary’s just published his Clean Air Strategy, complete with the rallying cry: “We must take strong, urgent action.” And what sort of action has the government he represents got in mind? That’s right: building a £14 billion third runway at Heathrow. Yes, the same one that transport secretary Chris Grayling admits may well cause more pollution. Or, as last year’s Airports National Policy Statement put it: “Increases in emissions of pollutants during the construction or operational phases of the scheme could result in the worsening of local air quality.”
• Online map will reveal London’s most polluted streets [Subscription]The most polluted roads will be published to help people choose cleaner routes in a project using Google’s Street View cars to test air quality at tens of thousands of locations.

City AM

• Luton Airport enjoys busiest ever year in 2018 as passenger numbers soar to 16.6mRecently revamped London Luton Airport (LLA) enjoyed its busiest year last year, welcoming 16.6m passengers to the airport.
• Crossrail begins dynamic testing on the Elizabeth Line after series of delays and setbacksCrossrail began operating test trains on the Elizabeth Line today, allowing a crucial part of the project to get back on its feet after months of delays and setbacks.

Conservative Party

• James Palmer: We need a Minister for East West RailJames Palmer is the directly elected Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

London Evening Standard

• Scotland Yard asks volunteers to help police skies over Heathrow after airport drone chaosScotland Yard is appealing for sharp-eyed plane spotters to help police the skies around Heathrow after drone sightings caused chaos at Gatwick.
• Misleading transport map including unfinished Crossrail line printed in diaries sold by major retailerA misleading transport map that includes the delayed Crossrail line has been printed inside 2019 diaries being sold by a major retailer.

Manchester Evening News

• If you do any of these things on the tram you can now be fined £1,000 by Metrolink bossesTram passengers who swear, vape, get too drunk or litter on trams and at stations now stand to be fined £1,000.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• HS2 could make North East trains SLOWER and the region poorer, leaders warnRegional political and business leaders have warned that unless the East Coat Main Line is given a major upgrade, HS2 trains will clog up the North East's main route

Northern Echo

• Business leaders' urgent call for investment in North-East railwayBUSINESS and political leaders have issued a call for urgent investment in the East Coast Main Line.

Blackpool Gazette

• Blackpool MPs at odds over bold tram extension plan Blackpool North Tory MP Paul Maynard’s ambitious proposal to extend the Fylde coast tram system would be too costly, his resort rival has said

New Civil Engineer

• Eleven firms named on Gatwick Airport frameworkEleven companies have been named on Gatwick Airport’s Minor Works framework. Set up as part of the airport’s five-year expansion plan, the Minor Works framework has been set up to take on projects under the value of £150,000.

Rail Magazine

• Gospel Oak-Barking fleet plan remains unclearThe plan for Transport for London’s introduction of electric trains on the Gospel Oak-Barking line remains unclear, with two of the Class 172 diesel multiple units currently used on the route already taken off-lease from its operator Arriva Rail London for transfer to West Midlands Trains.

Railnews

• New automatic system to brake speeding tramsTHE first automatic control system for trams in Britain should be introduced in London this year.
• DB may sell Arriva to plug €4bn funding gapGERMAN state rail operator Deutsche Bahn may be set to sell Arriva, according to reports in Berlin.

RMT

• RMT warns of loss of 1000 cleaning jobs on UndergroundRMT warns of loss of 1000 cleaning jobs on London Underground and confirms lobby of Parliament

Aviation Industry

• Flybe, Vueling agree to $5.8 million London Gatwick-slot transactionUK regional carrier Flybe plans to raise £4.5 million ($5.8 million) from a London Gatwick Airport slot deal with Spanish LCC Vueling, boosting the Exeter-based airline’s funds immediately after announcing a change of ownership. read more
• TUI investigates incident of passengers flown without seatsTUI Group’s UK airline has launched an investigation into an incident in which three passengers with paid tickets, seat assignments and boarding passes had to sit on the aircraft floor because their seats did not exist. read more
• Airbus negotiates with suppliers to cut A220 costsAirbus now has “a very good understanding of the cost baseâ€� of the A220 program, but negotiations with suppliers, key to bringing down costs, are still ongoing, Airbus-Bombardier partnership CEO Philippe Balducchi said. read more
• Air France, ground handling staff ink pay dealAir France-KLM CEO Benjamin Smith has said a fresh pay deal, signed by Air France and its ground handling staff, further demonstrates improved labor relations at the French carrier. read more
• FAA to issue new rules for drone flights over people, at nightThe FAA will soon publish a proposed regulation that would allow flights of small drones for commercial purposes at night and over people under certain conditions. read more

Other News Sources

• RailAir coach links gets £2.5 million investmentReading's long running coach service between Heathrow airport and the town's railway station has been revamped with a new 9 coach fleet offering luxury travel.