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

Friday, 10 May 2019

BBC News

• Clutha inquiry: Helicopter modifications 'could have prevented crash'A senior engineer tells the Clutha inquiry fuel pump modifications could have prevented risk of human error.

The Independent

• Extra rail staff deployed for train timetable changesRail firms have limited ambitions this May after the 2018 fiasco

The Scotsman

• Amsterdam-style cycling could transform Scotland – Alastair DaltonIt was a mesmerising sight – a serene procession of people of all ages efficiently getting around their city.
• Teachers fail to escape £400 parking tax as details are unveiledTeachers in Scotland won’t be exempt from a proposed new Workplace Parking Tax, it has emerged, after details of the controversial plan were unveiled last night.
• Third tram extension part of ten-year plan for EdinburghA city centre tram loop would be built in the heart of Edinburgh under the biggest proposed transport overhaul of the Scottish capital in living memory.

The Telegraph

• Tube etiquette: How to ride the Underground with style [Subscription]here's a familiar sound on the Tube that belies collective contempt for those who don't know the rules. It goes: "Eye roll, tut, tssk". The unwritten etiquette guide for the Underground ensures that every passenger can travel anonymously, without undue attention. If you break it, you are thrust front and centre stage as punishment.
• Controversial airline ‘protection’ tax could add 50p to the cost of all flights [Subscription]Airline passengers are to be taxed 50p on every ticket purchased to bolster the protection available to those left stranded abroad when a carrier collapses.

Times Online

• Teachers and police officers not given national exemption for SNP-Green workplace parking tax [Subscription]Teachers and police officers will not have a national exemption from a controversial workplace parking tax agreed by the SNP and Greens, under plans lodged in the Scottish Parliament.
• Teachers threaten to quit over parking levy [Subscription]Teachers could be among those forced to accept a workplace car park tax, prompting claims that their recent pay rise would be wiped out.
• Railway timetable changes threaten more disruption [Subscription]Passengers could face more rail disruption after operators unveiled the biggest overhaul of timetables since the meltdown of services last summer.
• Lives on the line as reckless trainspotters target Flying Scotsman [subscription]It is one of the world’s most famous locomotives, drawing huge crowds whenever it takes to the tracks. Flying Scotsman’s appeal is so strong, however, that overeager trainspotters may be endangering their lives and those of passengers.
• Wake up to air pollution, doctors tell ministers [subscription]Ministers are ignoring medical advice and doing the “minimum possible” on air pollution, the leaders of Britain’s doctors say today.

London Evening Standard

• Blue Moon lunar lander: Amazon's Jeff Bezos unveils spacecraft he plans to blast off to the moonAmazon boss Jeff Bezos has announced plans to land his newly-unveiled Blue Moon spaceship on the lunar surface.

Northern Echo

• Team completes £1m project to help environment at Bishop AucklandA TEAM from Northumbrian Water swapped drainage for "trainage" when they called in at Bishop Auckland Railway Station at the end of a £1m project aimed at protecting the local environment.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Abellio confirmed as new operator of East Midlands railway franchise - despite Stagecoach launching legal actionThe new operator of the East Midlands rail franchise has been officially confirmed - despite transport firm Stagecoach launching legal action against the Department for Transport.

Sheffield Star

• Mayor Dan Jarvis on tram-train expansion across South Yorkshire and tackling the north/south divide in transport funding South Yorkshire metro mayor Dan Jarvis has said more needs to be done to address the funding gap the region receives in transport funding compared to London.

Yorkshire Post

• No repeat of chaos this time, rail firms are warnedThe rail industry must “pull out all the stops” next week to avoid a repeat of the chaos that crippled services in Yorkshire at the same time last year, the passenger watchdog has warned.

Coach and Bus Week

• ArrivaClick introduces sustainable transport to new developmentIn a new initiative, ArrivaClick has formed a partnership with the Drummond Estate for New Lubbesthorpe, one of the largest new housing developments in the East Midlands. A £15m motorway bridge has also already opened in order to provide greater connectivity for future residents of the area.
• The case for coachesThe Independent Transport Commission held its Spring Discussion Evening on 30 April, considering what the future holds for coach travel in Britain. James Day reports
• FirstGroup announces board changesOn 2 May FirstGroup announced its most recent board changes. Ryan Mangold has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) which will take effect from 31 May 2019.
• New Stagecoach Express service set to link East Kent to LondonThe new service will operate under the Stagecoach Express brand between Canterbury and North Greenwich. North Greenwich offers excellent connections to the capital and is also the location of The O2 arena.

Rail Technology Magazine

• RAIB to investigate track worker near miss in WalesThe RAIB has launched an investigation into a near miss incident where a track worker narrowly avoided being hit by a passenger train. The train was travelling between Dovey Junction and Borth stations at approximately 59mph on 2 April when it nearly hit a track worker at Ynys Hir. The track...

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Stagecoach launches new Manchester Airport serviceStagecoach Manchester has launched a non-stop bus service from Stockport to Manchester Airport. The x30 runs non-stop via the M60 and M56 and partially replaces the 330 service from Ashton to Manchester Airport. Combined, the x30 and the 103 services will provide up to four buses an hour between the World Freight Terminal and the main Airport.
• Is it time to tackle buses' perception problem?Research conducted by the rail industry has revealed that a perception problem surrounds buses. Is it time to tackle it? Yes, says our Westminster man, although some of the views expressed are ‘ridiculous’
• Welsh gov pushes for diversity in bus driversBusiness Wales, part of the Welsh Government, has launched a new pilot scheme to help bus operators recruit a more diverse range of drivers.

Aviation Industry

• Air France to begin voluntary redundancy plan for ground staff Air France plans to launch a voluntary redundancy plan for short-haul ground staff at a works council meeting May 13. read more
• Norwegian offers staffing options to deal with Gatwick crew surplus Scandinavian LCC Norwegian Air Shuttle is offering staff part-time working and unpaid leave in a bid to get around a temporary crew surplus at London’s Gatwick Airport. read more
• Eurowings to open first Eastern Europe base in PristinaLufthansa’s lower-cost affiliate Eurowings will open its first Eastern Europe base, in the Kosovo capital of Pristina, from June 19. read more
• OP-ED: How lower aviation fuel taxes boost local economiesEach year, a handful of cities, counties or states contemplates higher taxes on jet fuel to raise funds for projects that do not benefit the flying public or shippers, such as construction at airports used solely or predominantly by owners and operators of private aircraft.

Other News Sources

• Past and present Crossrail bosses to face MPs, all at the same timeThe current and previous project leadership teams will be questioned next week
• Virgin Trains is working to minimise UK rail disruption with ServiceNowThe Back on Track app connects control centre operators and frontline staff, and could save Virgin as much as £400,000 a year

EIN News Subscription

• UPDATE 2-French airport privatisation delayed by referendum bidShares in French airport operator ADP closed nearly six percent lower after the constitutional council approved plans for a referendum that could delay or block the government’s plans to sell shares in the company.