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

Wednesday, 13 March 2019

BBC News

• Boeing: Europe and India join wave of countries grounding the 737 MaxCountries across the world close airspace to Boeing 737 Max aircraft but the US says they are safe to fly.
• Nissan cuts two models from Sunderland plantJapanese car maker pulls the Infiniti brand out of Western Europe due to poor sales.
• US refuses to ground Boeing 737 Max crash aircraftThe US Federal Aviation Authority finds no

The Telegraph

• We are taking action against the menace of illegal drones [Subscription]The chaos at Gatwick Airport last December demonstrated just how disruptive drones can be in the hands of those intent on causing havoc. Illegal drone flights put others at risk - both in the air and on the ground - so it’s vital they are used safely.

Times Online

• Why free bus travel might be just the ticket [subscription]Deregulation isn’t working. Labour wants to put the sector back into state ownership to serve public need, not profits

City AM

• Private jet hub Biggin Hill to slash airport charges and simplify fees from AprilPrivate jet airport Biggin Hill Airport will slash its airport charges and simplify fees for customers from April.
• Rail review head Keith Williams hints at compensation role for regulatorThe former British Airways chief executive tasked with a full-scale review of the railways has hinted that the industry regulator could be tasked with handling compensation claims.

The National

• ScotRail in sports partnership to promote rail safety messageSCOTRAIL and basketballscotland have teamed up to promote rail safety in a scheme which will benefit more than 500 children.

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham Airport flights cancelled after Boeing 737s groundedTurkish Airlines flights into and out of Birmingham have been affected after aviation chiefs issued ban on troubled Boeing model

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Kirklees bus users vent fury over changesA PACKED public meeting called by Batley and Spen MP Tracy Brabin saw dozens of angry bus users vent their frustration at transport bosses over the recent timetable overhaul.

Bristol Live

• Live: North Bristol to the city centre race - bus vs train vs car vs bikeAnyone who has to travel from the North Bristol Fringe into the city centre, or to the M32, will know how much the road layout and public transport has changed in the last 12 months.

Liverpool Echo

• New high-speed rail station for Liverpool city centre takes step forward - and Everton chief executive is on boardTransport leaders want to build a new high-speed line into Liverpool to connect with HS2 to London and the planned Northern Powerhouse rail line across the north

London Evening Standard

• Train services to be halved on troubled 'Goblin' Barking to Gospel Oak lineDelayed upgrades to a busy London commuter line will leave passengers
• Eurostar Brexit chaos: French customs staff 'humiliated' London studentEurostar has called for an investigation after French officials
• Boeing 737 Max aircraft banned from skies of Europe after Ethiopia Airlines crash which killed 157 peopleTwo models of Boeing 737 aircraft have been banned from operating across the whole of Europe after the Ethiopia Airlines plane crash, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has announced.
• Just 98 small firms sign up to £23m Ulez van scrappage plan to avoid pollution levyOnly about 100 small businesses have applied for financial help to scrap their vehicle and avoid Sadiq Khan's new pollution levy, the Evening Standard can reveal.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Better train service and faster broadband - the wish list the North of Tyne leaders want to deliverDreams of a rejuvenated train service and faster broadband in the North of Tyne have been given a boost, as the region’s leaders pledged new cash to make their ambitious wish list a reality.

Northern Echo

• New Darlington pedestrian link to station officially opensA NEW 36-metre bridge providing a vital pedestrian link from Darlington rail station was officially opened yesterday.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Airport announces electric bus contractBirmingham Airport has awarded Volvo Bus UK the contract to supply the airport with six 7900e single deck electric buses.

Northern Transport Summit 2019

• Northern Transport Summit 2019 [Paid Inclusion] With better transport the linchpin to growth across the Northern Powerhouse, we bring you the third annual summit on this topic, giving an in-depth view of the opportunities and challenges presented by investment in transport. [For an exclusive discount on tickets for TransportInfo readers, please click on the link]

North Wales Live

• Gwynedd mountain bike centre submits expansion planAntur Stiniog wants to create three new trails at its Llechwedd Slate Caverns complex

Other Regional Press

• Bus companies pick up pieces after Buses Excetera goes underCommunities faced their bus routes being cut when Buses Excetera ceased trading without notice
• £150k grant awarded to help fund Stow station house refurbPLANS to bring the former Stow rail station house back into community use have taken a step forward.
• Basingstoke MP backs plan to overhaul 'outdated and unfair' rail fare systemRADICAL plans to overhaul the UK's rail fares system have been praised by Basingstoke's MP.
• Stirling MP condemns prolonged toilet closures at stationSTIRLING MP Stephen Kerr has written to Scotrail for a second time asking for details as to why the main toilets at the city's train station have been closed for months.

Train Operators

• Rail passengers across Coventry and Warwickshire to benefit from new services and faster journey times this MayRail passengers across Coventry and Warwickshire will benefit from new services, quicker journey times, more carriages and enhanced timetables from May.

New Civil Engineer

• Spring Statement | Industry awaits rail, road and energy decisionsIndustry leaders are waiting for rail, road and energy decisions in today’s Spring Statement.
• Metro-style service mooted to connect Leeds and BradfordImplementing Northern Powerhouse Rail could unlock the potential for a metro-style service between Leeds and Bradford by upgrading existing lines, according to Bradford District Council.

Aviation Industry

• Trump and US senators weigh in on MAX safetySeveral US senators are urging the FAA to follow the lead of countries including China, Germany and France by temporarily grounding all Boeing 737 MAX 8s, following the deadly crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 on March 10. read more
• MAX crash divides US from rest of world on aviation safety calls The immediate aftermath of the Ethiopian Airlines’ Boeing 737 MAX crash is stunning. While it is not unprecedented for the aviation authorities and airlines of non-US countries to diverge from FAA on when an aircraft grounding is necessary, it is unusual. And the scale of this divergence is unprecedented. read more
• TSA may get $7.8 billion in funding for fiscal 2020The Trump Administration is seeking to send $51.7 billion to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in FY2020, a 5% increase over the previous year’s enacted level, according to estimates released by the Office of Management and Budget on March 11. read more
• FAA: No MAX groundings, stays course with planned changesThe FAA is pressing on with planned changes to Boeing 737 MAX aircraft stemming from the October 2018 Lion Air flight JT610 crash, but has not seen evidence from the recent Ethiopian Airlines MAX 8 crash to take additional steps, such as the precautionary groundings around the globe. read more

Other News Sources

• Train companies promise improved servicesPassengers across the West Midlands will benefit from extra services, and direct trains to a range of new destinations, when West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway introduce new timetables this May.
• Shaun Bailey on Crossrail, housing and crime in Bexley and BromleyThe Tory hopeful looking to oust Sadiq Khan from City Hall next year has thrown his weight behind an extension of Crossrail through Bexley and out to Ebbsfleet.