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

Friday, 12 April 2019

BBC News

• Police detectors to warn mobile phone-using driversMobile phone detectors are to be used by police to find drivers using devices at the wheel.
• Jet Airways cancels international flights as crisis deepensIt comes after the struggling Indian airline grounded 10 more planes over unpaid fees to leasing firms.

Department for Transport

• New appointments made to strengthen HS2 Ltd boardDame Judith Hackitt and Stephen Hughes appointed to the HS2 Ltd board as non-executive directors.

The Guardian

• Virgin Trains is a Bransonian dystopia – good riddance to itI’m not misty-eyed about British Rail, but I do want a world where trains run as a service and don’t niff like a used nappy
• Richard Branson's Virgin Group has made £300m from rail franchisesSir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group will have taken at least £306m in dividends from Virgin Trains by the time the firm’s 22-year tenure as a rail operator comes to an end within the next 12 months.

The Independent

• JetBlue to launch transatlantic flights in 2021'JetBlue will offer the elevated flying experience for a fraction of what other airlines are charging today for premium seats'
• Space is doing strange things to astronauts' bodies, Nasa study reveals'We were surprised, that was the first reaction. But that's what science is all about, right?'

The Telegraph

• Inside the revamped Caledonian Sleeper, with double beds and hotel-style keycards [subscription]The Caledonian Sleeper has revealed its long-awaited makeover.

Times Online

• Grayling under fire for Stagecoach ban [Subscription]Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, came under fire from MPs after the government disqualified Stagecoach from bidding for rail franchises.
• On fast track for state-owned rail [subscription]So much for Jeremy Corbyn. Who needs him to renationalise the railways? If he ever gets to power, he’ll find the job already done — by that arch leftie Chris Grayling.
• Drivers using the Uber app are not taxis ‘plying for hire’An Uber driver using the Uber smartphone app was not a taxi plying for hire.

City AM

• Liz Truss is right to hit the brakes – HS2 would put us all on the train to nowhereThe bogeyman of politics may be ousted for good, if the chief secretary to the Treasury has anything to say about it.
• Council blasted for 'incompetence' over Hammersmith Bridge closureHammersmith and Fulham council have been criticised for an apparent lack of transparency over the Hammersmith Bridge, which has been closed indefinitely over safety concerns.
• Rail union boss threatens national shutdown following Stagecoach pensions rowThe boss of one of the UK's largest transport unions has threatened a national shutdown on the railways following a row over pensions that escalated after the government barred Stagecoach from bidding for three rail franchises.

Bolton News

• Testing of £500m train fleet delayed after engineers discover a faultTESTING of a £500m fleet of new trains has been partially halted after a fault was discovered. A problem was found in Northern’s 98 trains, built by Spanish train manufacturer CAF in Irun and Zaragoza, which have been undergoing testing since the first unit arrived in the UK in late 2018.

London Evening Standard

• National rail strike threat as operator's pension row with Grayling escalatesUnion barons today warned of the first national rail strike for more than two decades in an escalating row over staff pensions.

North Wales Live

• With Virgin Trains disqualified - these are the firms that could run our rail services in the futurePassengers were left shocked yesterday by decision to stop Virgin from bidding for new West Coast franchise
• Anglesey railway bridge damaged when lorry got wedged under it must be repaired The crossing at Llangefni carried the Gaerwen to Amlwch line which enthusiasts want to reopen

Coach and Bus Week

• Ghent opts for gasFour gas-powered Scania Interlink LD school buses have recently been delivered to the Belgian city of Ghent. They are replacements for four older diesel buses and the city now aims to change all nine school buses in its fleet to more sustainable alternatives.
• Clarke’s capital connectionExecutive Support Officer, Eugene Clarke, gives his own perspective on his long career and working for Go-Ahead London both in the capital and Singapore
• First Midlands’ investment in Worcester and Leicester fleetsFirst Worcester has re-launched its most popular route with refurbished vehicles and new branding, whilst First Leicester is preparing for the LEZ. Richard Sharman speaks to First Midlands Managing Director, Nigel Eggleton for an update on the division
• Lothian announces new travel hubLothian Country has announced on 3 April, that it will be opening a new travel hub in The Centre, Livingston. The operator also announced that it will be adding an additional service to the area.
• Scania’s new Gatwick premises inaugurated by Swedish AmbassadorHis Excellency Mr Torbjörn Sohlström, Sweden’s Ambassador to the UK, visited Gatwick on Tuesday 2 April to inaugurate Scania’s new commercial vehicle service centre. His Excellency was joined at the ceremony by an estimated 150 transport operators together with senior Scania executives and representatives of the site developer/owner, Gallagher Group.
• Stagecoach releases trading statementAccording to the statement, the company has seen an increase in expected earnings per share thanks to ‘strong trading and positive progress’ in the UK Rail division.

New Civil Engineer

• Hyperloop network could replace Heathrow third runway, expert claimsHyperloop technology could be used to expand airport capacity in London, replacing the need for a third runway at Heathrow, Hyperloop One managing director for the Middle East and India Harj Dhaliwal has claimed.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Branson says Virgin Trains could be gone by November after 'baffling' DfT franchise decisionVirgin Trains could disappear from Britain’s railways by the end of the year, Sir Richard Branson has announced after the government disqualified its joint franchise bid with Stagecoach. Branson he was “devastated” by the decision after Virgin, which is 49% owned by Stagecoach...
• Train 'fortunate' to avoid collision after breaking through barriers at a level crossing, RAIB reportsThe RAIB has published a raft of safety measures after a train ran onto a level crossing and broke through the barriers in what could have been a fatal incident. The engineering train was approaching a level crossing at Penrhyn in Wales on 6 January 2019 and did not stop, striking the closed...
• 'Huge challenges ahead' as Crossrail bosses say new rolling stock coming in DecemberA possible opening date for Crossrail could be announced by the end of month and Class 345 Elizabeth Line trains to be introduced in December but there are “huge challenges ahead,” Crossrail bosses have warned. Crossrail chief executive Mark Wild has warned that progress continues to...

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• London’s ULEZ enacted to improve air qualityOperators reminded of charges for non-compliance with Euro 6 emission levels within central zone
• DVLA addresses tacho woes as exemption agreedCompatible workshop cards dispatched to calibration centres; affected have until 30 April to comply
• NatEx celebrates its partnersNational Express (NatEx) UK Coach celebrated its partner operators at its annual awards ceremony in Coventry.
• BASE announces upgrades to its coach rangeHigher version of MOBIpeople Explorer is coming, and a replacement for Barbi Galileo HD will follow
• New name takes top honour at UK Coach RallyThe industry put on another good show over the weekend of 6-7 April when the 65th UK Coach Rally was held in Blackpool. Some old names triumphed; so did some newcomers to the annual event, too

Aviation Industry

• US Sen. Markey introduces ‘Safety is Not for Sale Act’ US Sen. Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts) has introduced legislation that would prohibit aircraft manufacturers from charging airlines extra for safety-critical systems. read more
• MRO Americas: WestJet reshuffles cabin mods to manage MAX groundings Canadian LCC WestJet Airline is managing the Boeing 737 MAX grounding in part by re-shuffling its cabin-modification schedule, pulling 737 Next Generation (NG) models out of planned upgrade lines and subbing in MAXs. read more
• European Union votes to postpone Brexit until Oct. 31Britain’s aerospace industry has cautiously welcomed the European Union’s approval to postpone the UK’s exit from the EU, or Brexit, by six months. read more

Other News Sources

• Final bill for Crossrail could rise even further, admits transport ministerTory peer says last year's £2.8bn bailout might still not be enough
• Liz Truss is right to take a hard look at HS2The kings of Siam used to gift a white elephant to courtiers to whom they took a dislike. The elephants would be incredibly costly to maintain as they required special food and housing and it was illegal for the owner to sell them or to put them to work. What is more, the owner would have to arrange for the public to worship them. The unfortunate recipient would thus be reduced to penury.

EIN News Subscription

• EU and China sign a Mandate of Trade Heaven … transfers, while the EU promises its own transport network Sparks did fly … the Chinese market to EU companies. The EU is the largest combined … with the Trans-European Transport Network – a rail, road and air connectivity drive …
• Climate change shames Swedes into rethinking air travel … . Emissions from Swedes’ international air travel have soared 61% since … by rail rather than by air to minimise their environmental … introduce night trains to major European cities before the end of … 3.2% in 2018, the transport authority said in its latest …
• Clean air zones: Where will UK drivers pay for polluting? … then be reinvested in local transport schemes. Why are they … with court action by the European Commission over its longstanding … from the EU's. Where are charging clean air zones … authorities". The Freight Transport Association says more public funds …