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

Friday, 25 September 2020

BBC News

• Coronavirus: Helsinki airport trials sniffer dogs as Covid-19 detectorsSniffer dogs are a familiar sight at airports all over the world, where border agents use them to detect illegal substances and contraband.
• Sammy Wilson MP pictured not wearing mask on tubeA photo has emerged of DUP MP Sammy Wilson not wearing a face mask on public transport in London.
• Covid: Cardiff 'could go into local lockdown'City council leader Huw Thomas warns of restrictions on travel and households mixing.

Financial Times

• UK car output falls 44% in August as orders dry upIndustry warns of potential second hit to factories from lockdown measures
• Time for a carbon levy on shipping fuelFee of $250-$300 per tonne of CO2 will drive users to low emission fuels, says Trafigura

The Guardian

• UK transport boss urges ministers to get people back on trains and busesDavid Brown says encouraging people into pubs but not back onto public transport is absurd. The boss of Go-Ahead, one of Britain's biggest bus and train operators, has accused the government of maintaining 'absurd' and contradictory coronavirus policies over public transport and pubs. David Brown, Go-Ahead's chief executive, urged ministers to change an approach that has encouraged people to go to pubs and restaurants while staying cautious about using public transport.
• Volkswagen to pay compensation for collaborating with Brazi's dictatorshipBrazilian investigation found company was one of several that secretly worked with 1964-85 military government The German carmaker Volkswagen has agreed to pay millions in compensation to former employees in Brazil who were persecuted during the country's military dictatorship.

The Scotsman

• Big questions over future of ScotRail as post-Covid shake-up looms The cost of running Scotland’s main train operator has spiralled after commuters deserted the railways – and now the way it’s run could be about to change significantly

Times Online

• National Express has recovery timetable [subscription]National Express has been operating at just half its usual rate but relief that the situation is no worse than that and should improve gave some succour to investors.
• Hydrogen plane in zero‑emission flight [subscription]The world’s first full-scale hydrogen plane took to the skies over Britain yesterday in a key step towards the commercial launch of zero-emission flights.
• Electric scooter hire firm to pay for police spot checks on users [subscription]Police will carry out spot checks on electric scooter riders under new measures to prevent them being used by drunks or on pavements.
• Car production in Britain close to being cut in halfBritish car factories are sending vehicles down assembly lines at barely half the rate they were a year ago.

City AM

• Car production plunges as surge in cases slams breaks on sector recoveryCar production plunged again in August, falling 44.6 per cent year on year as factory output stalled amid ongoing disruption The post Car production plunges as surge in cases slams breaks on sector recovery appeared first on CityAM.
• We must find a new way of funding Transport for LondonLondon without the tube would be like the Shard without any lifts. And, just like the lifts in the Shard, The post We must find a new way of funding Transport for London appeared first on CityAM.

Birmingham Post

• Ford engine factory in South Wales closes after 40 yearsSome 150 staff will remain for a few months de-commissioning the factory
• Rolls-Royce's 300mph electric plane moves step forwardThe company is hoping to beat the current all-electric flight world record with its aircraft
• When not to travel to London - East Coast Main Line closures revealed£1.2b project to increase capacity "making good progress" according to Network Rail boss
• Green light for new Birmingham stationAfter years of campaigning, work can finally start on building new station in busy Birmingham suburb

Bolton News

• New plan will solve traffic delays outside Bolton train stationPlans have been revealed to transform Bolton's main train station and improve access to all.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• East Coast Main Line upgrade to disrupt trains between London King's Cross and West Yorkshire Network Rail and train operators on the East Coast Main Line are urging passengers not to travel to or from London King’s Cross on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October, as vital work continues on the East Coast Upgrade.

Liverpool Echo

• Mystery of smoke that shut down Liverpool Lime Street and Central Station solvedMerseyrail has revealed what triggered a fire alarm activation at Liverpool Lime Street and Central station.

London Evening Standard

• London cyclist numbers 'up by nearly 120 per cent' amid pandemic bike boomThe number of cyclists in London has grown by nearly 120 per cent as people have turned to bikes as their transport method of choice during the coronavirus pandemic.

Bucks Free Press

• Henry, 7, to have his name on an Intercity Express train A seven-year-old schoolboy from Stoke Poges is one of several 'community heroes' who will have their names featured on the side of a high-speed Intercity Express Great Western Railway train.

Cambridge News

• Ryanair launches first ever ‘buy one, get one free’ offerCustomers who book a flight for travel up to December 14 on selected routes will get a second ticket at no extra charge

Other Regional Press

• Eastleigh BID supports Southampton Airport runway extensionAn Eastleigh organisation has voiced its support for the runway extension at Southampton Airport.
• MP’s Edinburgh Airport jobs fearsThe local MP has expressed further concerns about the future of Edinburgh Airport workers’ jobs.
• Delays to Reading to Heathrow trains scheme 'frustrating and unacceptable'The coronavirus pandemic has been partially blamed for the Great Western Rail Link problems
• MP to press minister for electrification of railwayShropshire's political leaders are to meet with transport minister Chris Heaton-Harris to lobby for the electrification of a major rail line through the county.
• Newhaven Marine 'ghost station' closure confirmedA RAILWAY station will formally close next month, 14 years after it was last served by a passenger train.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Thames Estuary Growth Board sets out criteria for freeport proposalsThe Thames Estuary Growth Board, led by Estuary Envoy Kate Willard, has set out guiding principles for freeport proposals within the region. Putting the needs and interests of Estuary residents first, the principles lay out what the Board expects from a freeport and how this will benefit the Estuary region.    Freeports have different customs rules to the rest of the country. The government aims for freeports to become innovative hubs, boost global trade, attract inward investment and increase productivity. As well as tariff flexibility, customs facilitations and tax measures, freepo...

Coach and Bus Week

• Ulsterbus Tours to close as Translink targets £20m in cost savingsTranslink’s long standing coach unit to close in order to maintain front line services
• End of an era as UK’s last conductors outside London face redundancy25 years after they were re-introduced, Stagecoach has brought to an end what is believed to be the last use of bus conductors outside London. The firm announced last week that after temporarily withdrawing crew operation on its Tayway 73 service at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, they will not be returning. The 73 runs up to every 10 minutes between Arbroath and Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital via Dundee city centre, using a fleet of route-branded Enviro400MMC hybrid double-deckers.
• Bus Users investigates attitudes of passengers in latest surveyFollowing the change in government messaging encouraging people to return to public transport, Bus Users has carried out a survey to find out how passengers feel about getting back on board. The survey attracted 440 responses, and asked people about their use of coach and bus services before and after lockdown, and their attitudes towards face coverings.

Rail Magazine

• Prime Minister leads gratitude for “railway family”Prime Minister Boris Johnson has given his heartfelt thanks to “the entire railway family”, for what he described as their heroic efforts to keep the country moving during lockdown.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Stephen Walsh takes up Optare Regional Sales Manager roleOptare has appointed Stephen Walsh (pictured) to the position of Regional Sales Manager for Scotland and East of England.
• Sunak’s ‘missed opportunity’ for coach industry support: CPTThe Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has welcomed Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s decision to introduce a Job Support Scheme, but it says that Mr Sunak has “missed an opportunity” to further help the coach industry.
• Heavy vehicle testing review by DfT and DVSA gets underwayA review of heavy vehicle testing has commenced, with Department for Transport (DfT) and DVSA officials having already met with stakeholders.
• Wales Bus Emergency Scheme extended to financial year endThe Welsh Government has extended the Bus Emergency Scheme in Wales to the end of the current financial year with an allocation of a further £84.6m of funding. The additional money will allow bus provision to be sustained at current levels and help to develop “enhanced levels of service” ahead of a wider adoption of partnership working.
• Brand the Bus competition returns for third year runningThe Oxford Bus Company’s (OBC’s) annual Brand the Bus competition is back by popular demand for a third year running.
• Aura Air ramps up for 1,000+ COVID-19 filter systems to be fitted in UK coaches by year endAfter its spectacular launch success, Aura Air is hoping to become the industry standard for coronavirus COVID-19 protection on UK coaches.
• Long-term bus funding deals needed for recovery, says UTGLong-term government funding settlements for the bus industry and an expansion of the powers of city region local transport authorities (LTAs) are required if services are to recover from the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, the Urban Transport Group (UTG) has claimed.
• New Deputy Managing Director appointment at RotalaRotala has appointed Matt Rawlinson as its new Deputy Managing Director for the business’ north-west operation.

The Business Desk

• New Birmingham railway station given green lightPlans for a new railway station at Moseley have been given the green light. The move will mean the reopening of Birmingham’s Camp Hill railway line after Birmingham City Council gave the green light to the construction of both Kings Heath and Hazelwell railway stations. Moseley is the third and final station planned to re-open as part of the re-introduction of passenger services to the south Birmingham line.

Aviation Industry

• AEF responds to CAA consultation on draft procedure for reviewing classification of airspaceAEF has responded to the Civil Aviation Authority’s consultation on a draft procedure for reviewing the classification of airspace (CAP1934) which closed on 17th September. AEF has raised a number of …

Other News Sources

• Deansgate overhaul top of MCC’s transport hit listManchester City Council has published a draft 20-year transport strategy that includes the permanent pedestrianisation of Deansgate and a city centre “triangle” cycling route linking Deansgate, Whitworth Street West and the Northern Quarter.
• Leaks send costs on ISG’s revamp of former Eurostar terminal through the roofThe cost of ISG’s contract to revamp Waterloo’s former International Eurostar Terminal has jumped by nearly 40% because of leaking roof.
• Forth Ports makes senior rail freight appointment to drive group rail offeringForth Ports, the UK’s third largest ports group, has appointed rail freight expert Ian Wilson as its new Intermodal and Logistics Development Manager to focus on the rail offering in Tilbury and Grangemouth.
• New plans unveiled for Britain's busiest single-platform station which has 650,000 passengers a yearWork has begun aimed at bringing a second platform at Hartlepool railway station back into use which could mean more options for train travellers.