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

Monday, 04 March 2019

BBC News

• Railway line to reopen after gunman threatens workersTranslink has confirmed a train line in Lurgan will reopen on Monday following an incident in which rail workers were approached by a gunman.
• Storm Freya: M4 and A465 closed as Storm Freya arrivesTraffic is diverted from sections of the two key roads as rain and strong winds cross Wales.

The Telegraph

• Train operators ‘playing the system’ over delay payouts [subscription]he Government has been hit by a barrage of criticism for allowing train companies to collect more than £1.3bn from the taxpayer for delayed services and passing only a fraction on to beleaguered commuters.
• American rail U-turn fuels doubts over HS2 [Subscription]If anybody wanted a demonstration of how China is stealing a march on the West, then a trip on the 400kph (249mph) Shanghai Transrapid should do the trick.
• German car industry to invest €60bn over next 3 years in electric and self-driving cars [Subscription]Germany’s automotive industry is gearing up for the future of mobility as it plans to invest close to 60bn euros (£51.5bn) on electric vehicles and driverless technologies over the next three years.
• Police watch motorists from buses to clamp down on mobile-phone use at the wheel as prosecutions drop [Subscription]olice are carrying out surveillance operations on motorists from the top of double-decker buses in attempts to clamp down on mobile-phone use at the wheel, as it emerged prosecutions for the offence plummeted by nearly 50 per cent.

Times Online

• Elderly saddle up as Dutch lead charge into electric bikes [subscription]The Dutch love affair with the traditional pushbike is well known but now it seems they have a younger object of desire. According to the latest figures they are buying more electrically assisted bicycles than the purely pedal-propelled type.
• Train commuters face week‑long shutdowns to speed up repairs [subscription]Parts of the railway could be closed for a week at a time under proposals to speed up engineering work and keep trains running at the weekend.

City AM

• Drop rail franchise system for head-to-head competition to slash fares, says Adam Smith InstituteRail fares for British passengers could be slashed if the franchise system was dropped in favour of head-to-head competition, a leading thinktank has argued.
• UK ports propose 10-point plan to boost investment and tradeA new 10-point plan to be revealed today will set out proposals aimed at boosting investment in the UK’s ports.
• HS2 hit with legal claim from American engineering giant Bechtel over Old Oak Common contractHS2 has been hit with a legal claim by American engineering giant Bechtel after it failed to secure a £1bn contract to build Old Oak Common station.

The National

• City's biggest bus firm fails to apply for fund to help cut pollutionGLASGOW’S biggest bus company is ignoring an £8 million Scottish Governmentfund to help stop toxic exhaust fumes polluting city streets. First Bus has failed to apply for grants from the fund to clean up bus exhausts, despite the lethal dangers that air pollution poses to public health.

Belfast Telegraph

• Arrest after BBC cameraman attacked at site of Lurgan railway threatsA man has been arrested after a BBC cameraman was attacked near a railway line in Lurgan where workers were allegedly threatened with a firearm.

London Evening Standard

• Illustrator produces stunning artworks of London Tube station architectureAn artist has produced dozens of illustrations showcasing the

Nottingham Evening Post

• New photo of HS2 Toton hub revealed ahead of special meeting"If we leave this to chance then it won’t happen"
• Oldest will be hit the hardest if bus cuts get the go-ahead, say charity'Nottingham has a great reputation for its award-winning public transport network, we must ensure that this continues'

Other Regional Press

• Exeter Airport's shocking number of air traffic 'interventions'Air traffic controllers at Exeter Airport were forced to intervene more than 600 times in the past seven years to keep passenger planes from colliding with light aircraft.

New Civil Engineer

• Civils contractors for Edinburgh tram extension revealedA Farrans, Sacyr, Neopul JV (SFNJV) has won a £90M contract to build the extension of the £196M, 4.6km Edinburgh tram to Newhaven.

Rail Advent

• New platforms at Edinburgh Waverley enter serviceNetwork Rail has announced that Edinburgh Waverley’s newly-extended platforms 5 and 6 have now entered service

Other News Sources

• Govia Thameslink commits to increasing diversity on the railwaysCalling at all stations to equality: UK’s largest rail company launches recruitment campaign to increase diversity on the railways.
• Why the Glasgow Central station tours are a real must-do for people in the cityGlasgow Live was treated to a special 30 minute tour of the station by historian and tour guide Paul Lyons - and we were totally blown away by what we saw and heard.