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

Friday, 22 March 2019

BBC News

• Train punctuality standards to be tightenedA more exacting standard for punctuality will be brought in on UK railways next month in an attempt to improve performance.
• Future transport: How will we get around in 2050?The push for cleaner air will mean more electric vehicles that are driverless and shared, according to experts.
• Garuda looks to scrap Boeing 737 Max 8 order after crashesThe airline has asked to cancel an order for 49 jets after the plane was involved in two fatal crashes.

ITV News

• Rail firms face tougher punctuality measures from next monthA tougher standard for punctuality will be introduced on Britain’s railways next month in an attempt to improve performance.

Department for Transport

• Government funds bus industry to improve air qualityLocal authorities to be awarded £25m to further bus retrofitting plans

The Herald

• £100m Edinburgh to London 'bullet-inspired' rail service due 2021A RAIL firm has ordered a “Japanese bullet train-inspired fleet” to run a low-fare service between Edinburgh and London.

The Independent

• Waterloo disruption: London train station in rush-hour chaos as all services cancelledFriday morning commuters are being urged to avoid Waterloo train station, as overrunning engineering works stopped all trains to and from the key London hub.

Times Online

• London to Edinburgh for £25 on new budget train [subscription]EasyJet-style budget trains will operate between London and Edinburgh with average fares of £25 and no first-class seats, it was announced today.
• Worst rail firms exposed as loophole for late trains closes [subscription]Rules that allow trains to be classed as “on time” even if they arrive up to ten minutes late face being scrapped under measures to improve punctuality.
• Volvo cars to pull off road if they detect drunk driversFor motorists who might be tempted to take the wheel after a drink or two there is a new brake on bad behaviour: a car that can tick you off for drink-driving.
• ScotRail ‘now in last-chance saloon’ [subscription]ScotRail is drinking in the “last-chance saloon”, Nicola Sturgeon has said as one of her own MSPs railed against the company’s shoddy performance.
• East coast order small comfort at Hitachi factory [subscription]A £100 million order to build rolling stock for a new £25 each-way rail service between London and Edinburgh is unlikely to stave off an impending crisis at Britain’s newest train manufacturing factory, supporting thousands of jobs in the northeast.

The Mirror

• Train companies to face tougher punctuality rules from April - explainedA train is deemed to be "on time" if it reaches its final destination within five or 10 minutes of the timetable - but this is all about to change

London Evening Standard

• Eurostar delays: 'Brexit drill' strikes 'to last until end of month' as passengers urged not to travel 'unless necessary'Eurostar chaos caused by Brexit-related strikes in Paris is set to last until the end of the month.

Northern Echo

• Hitachi secures £100m order for Newton Aycliffe site - but bosses warn big orders still neededA NORTH-EAST train builder has secured a £100m deal to build new high speed trains linking London and Edinburgh.

Other Regional Press

• New railway co-operative wants to run direct services between Swindon and OxfordTRAIN passengers could speed between Swindon and Oxford in under an hour, if a new railway co-operative has its way.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• FirstGroup and Hitachi announce new partnership for high speed trainsA new high-quality, low fare rail link between London and Edinburgh has come a step closer for customers with news that FirstGroup has confirmed an order for five brand new AT300 125mph intercity electric trains and ongoing maintenance, following completion yesterday of a £100 million deal for the trains between FirstGroup and Hitachi Rail, financed by Beacon Rail.

Coach and Bus Week

• Government responds to consultation on use of Section 19 and 22 permitsThe government has responded to the consultation on the use of section 19 and 22 permits for road passenger transport in Great Britain.
• Leicester receives nearly £8m for transport schemesLeicester has been granted £8m from the Department for Transport (DfT) as part of the council’s ‘Transforming Cities’ work.
• Convenient coachingAlongside coach operator Marett’s Chariots, Anthony Marett is also the man behind Don’t Travel Empty, a technology suite which has now progressed far beyond a tool to help coach operators find passengers for empty legs. James Day finds out the full story
• Almost nine in 10 passengers satisfied with bus journeysThe results from the latest Transport Focus bus passenger survey has been released, with satisfaction close to 90% across England and Wales, and 91% in Scotland
• Government responds to consultation on use of Section 19 and 22 permitsThe government has responded to the consultation on the use of section 19 and 22 permits for road passenger transport in Great Britain.

New Civil Engineer

• HS2 clears way for Old Oak Common tunnel crossover boxHigh Speed 2 (HS2) promoter HS2 Ltd has cleared a key construction site close to the new Old Oak Common “super-hub” station.
• Green light for trans-Pennine roads upgrade studyHighways England has announced a new feasibility study for major improvements to road links along the trans-Pennine corridor.
• WSP to assess scope for East West rail at Oxford stationThe body set up to improve rail links between Oxford and Cambridge has appointed WSP to examine the infrastructure and capacity required to enable more trains to run in and out of Oxford station.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Government promises to look 'very carefully' at £218m bid for second Chelmsford stationThe government will look “very carefully” at a £218m funding bid for a new railway station in Chelmsford, Theresa May has said. Essex County Council has bid for £218m from the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund to help develop a station and a bypass between...
• Government's role in new passenger-centric railway 'will have to change', says Williams Review leadThe man leading the Williams Rail Review has warned that the government’s role in the UK railways “will have to change” as the industry switches to a more passenger-centric railway. Keith Williams, the man leading the “root and branch” review of the railways...

Railnews

• First, Hitachi move ahead with East Coast open accessFIRSTGROUP’S plans to run budget-priced open access services on the East Coast Main Line have taken a major step forward with the order of five new trains from Hitachi.

Railway Gazette

• Trains ordered for 2021 launch of ‘high-quality, low fare’ London – Edinburgh serviceUK: FirstGroup has finalised an order for five Hitachi AT300 electric trainsets which it will use to launch a London – Edinburgh open access service in autumn 2021.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• UK partners in UK firstrouteone attends the media demonstration of technology that could be driving the coach and bus industry sooner than you may think
• LandFlight upgrades entire fleet to Euro 6Solihull-based LandFlight is upgrading its entire fleet of 13 coaches, midi-coaches and buses to comply with Euro 6 – a total investment of around £2.3 million.
• How do your passengers feel?How satisfied were 50,000 bus passengers with their journeys? All is revealed in Transport Focus’ Autumn 2018 Bus Passenger Survey

Aviation Industry

• Boeing 737 MAX AOA warning light was an optionDetails of Boeing’s plans to upgrade the 737 MAX’s flight control system are increasing the spotlight on flight-deck human factor breakdowns in the model’s design. read more
• Boeing exec: 737 MAX changes to be approved soonChanges to the 737 MAX as a result of the crash of Lion Air flight JT610 are expected to be approved by US authorities “in the coming weeks,â€� Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ (BCA) top salesman said March 21. read more

Other News Sources

• Will HS2 bridge the north-south divide?Some argue the high-speed rail project could help UK reach full potential
• TfL confirms £1bn deal to sell and leaseback Elizabeth line trainsTransport for London says it will be able to invest £1bn in frontline services, including introducing new trains on the Piccadilly line, after completing the sale and leaseback of its Elizabeth line trains.
• Unmarked 'superfast futuristic trains' spotted being tested near HuddersfieldTransPennine Express confirms it is testing new rolling stock set to be released this year