Public Transport news

• War on wheels: an Uber driver and a black-cab driver debate London’s taxi trade

  12-02-2016 16:30
  
  This week saw another mass protest by London black-cab drivers against Uber – so we brought two drivers from opposite sides of the road together to discuss the pros and cons of this ongoing disruption to the traditional cab industry Related: Black-cab drivers' Uber protest brings London traffic to a standstill This week, 8,000 London taxi drivers brought central London to a standstill in protest at the rise of Uber, the industry-disrupting ride-hailing app, and the light-touch regulation t
  
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• Rail franchising could shortchange taxpayers due to 'lack of interest'

  12-02-2016 01:01
  
  Public accounts committee warns taxpayers may lose out because fewer companies are bidding to run train servicesBidding for rail franchises could soon shortchange the taxpayer because fewer firms are competing to run train services, a committee of MPs has warned. In a report into how the rail franchising system has recovered since the West Coast debacle at the Department for Transport in 2012, the public accounts committee (PAC) said there were still gaps in the department’s ability to man
  
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• Rail franchising could cost more due to lack of competition, MPs say

  12-02-2016 01:01
  
  Public accounts committee warns that taxpayers may lose out because fewer companies are bidding to run train servicesBidding for rail franchises could soon shortchange the taxpayer because fewer firms are competing to run train services, a committee of MPs has warned. In a report into how the rail franchising system has recovered since the West Coast debacle at the Department for Transport in 2012, the public accounts committee (PAC) said there were still gaps in the department’s ability t
  
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• Why did the half-plane, half-helicopter not work?

  12-02-2016 01:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Why has mass helicopter transport never taken off?
  
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• Whitehall putting off bidders for railways Subscription

  12-02-2016 01:00 via thetimes.co.uk
  
  Times Online - Stifling micromanagement and the strategic incoherence of transport ministers and bureaucrats are deterring train operators from bidding for new rail franchises, a committee of MPs has concluded.
  
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• UK's first toll motorway for sale

  12-02-2016 01:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - The loss-making M6 Toll road is put up for sale for nearly 2bn, the BBC understands.
  
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• Ubers human drivers are mapping out the system ahead of self-driving cars

  12-02-2016 01:00 via theguardian.com
  
  The Guardian - Uber built a following quickly because it was cheap and easy to book - if only its drivers werent protesting against their treatmentThere is a distinct but now amusing memory I have from a little over seven years ago of looking through all the apps in the iPhone app store, which was then brand spanking new. It seems unfathomable now, but in late 2008 apps were very far from the mainstream, and lacking the imagination and ubiquity of today. The success and pervasiveness of mobile c
  
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• Uber to pay $28m over safe rides suit

  12-02-2016 01:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Plaintiffs had argued company misled passengers about safety practices
  
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• Transport for London misses out on South Western rail franchise

  12-02-2016 01:00 via getsurrey.co.uk
  
  Other News Sources - First South Western Trains Ltd and Stagecoach South West Limited are to battle it out for the South Western franchise
  
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• Train crew shortages causing delays

  12-02-2016 01:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Train crew shortages have caused almost one in 10 rail delays over the past few years, the BBC learns, with London Midland having one of the highest rates.
  
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• The new cycling technologies on show at the London Bike Show this week

  12-02-2016 01:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - The UK's largest cycling show returns to ExCeL with a raft of new innovations
  
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• Taxi drivers claim victory after New Street charges are dropped

  12-02-2016 01:00 via birminghampost.co.uk
  
  Birmingham Post -The RMT union had been campaigning against what it claims were increased costs for taxi drivers at the newly-redeveloped station
  
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• Skills shortage top of Agenda at FTA meeting with Secretary of State

  12-02-2016 01:00 via fta.co.uk
  Other News Sources - Addressing the issue of driver shortage in the freight industry was at the top of the Agenda during a meeting between the Freight Transport ...
  
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• Scrapping air passenger tax in Wales would cost England's south west region millions, warns airport boss

  12-02-2016 01:00 via walesonline.co.uk
  
  Wales Online - Bristol Airport claims the abolition of APD in Wales would cost the South West economy £843m and more than 1,500 jobs
  
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• Robert Goodwill tours Cornwall Airport Newquay and opens Aerohub Business Park

  12-02-2016 01:00 via ciltuk.org.uk
  
  Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport - Aviation Minister hears how Cornwall Airport Newquay and its enterprise zone are boosting economic growth in the region. Aviation Minister Robert Goodwill visited Cornwall Airport Newquay today (11 February 2016) to see how government investment is helping the airport go from strength to strength. The minister toured the airport, which generates millions of pounds for the Cornish economy per year, and officially opened the Aerohub Business Park wi
  
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• New 20mph limits lead to 50pc boom in speed bumps

  12-02-2016 01:00 via telegraph.feedsportal.com
  
  The Telegraph - Growth of 20 mph speed limits has driven up spending on speed bumps by 50pc despite police refusing to prosecute speeding drivers
  
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• Maersk stumble highlights sluggish trade

  12-02-2016 01:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Several freight markets look weak, including air and dry bulk ships
  
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• Lufthansa boss denies errors over crash

  12-02-2016 01:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - The boss of the airline Lufthansa, Carsten Spohr, has told the BBC that there was nothing that Lufthansa could have done to prevent the Germanwings crash last year.
  
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• London Midland hires rolling stock to plug sports gap

  12-02-2016 01:00 via railnews.co.uk
  RailNews.co.uk -London Midland and Wasps RFC have announced a special train service for Coventry Arena on match days, using spot hired rolling stock. Coventry Arena station opened last month, but it was the subject of controversy because the new six-car platforms alongside the Ricoh Stadium also display notices warning that trains will not call before or after major events. However, London Midland has now arranged trial services using a six-car train on two match days.
  
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• 'Lack of interest' in rail franchises

  12-02-2016 01:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Taxpayers could end up out of pocket because not enough companies want to bid to run rail franchises in England and Wales, a group of MPs warn.
  
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• Heathrow: record rise in passenger traffic to emerging markets

  12-02-2016 01:00 via buyingbusinesstravel.com
  Aviation Industry- 5.5 million passengers passed through the airport last month
  
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• Heathrow criticised over Crossrail levy plan Subscription

  12-02-2016 01:00 via thetimes.co.uk
  
  Times Online - The rail regulator criticised Heathrow yesterday over plans to make Crossrail trains pay a huge levy to use track that the airport owns.
  
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• FTA seminars return to Multimodal in 2016

  12-02-2016 01:00 via fta.co.uk
  Other News Sources - The Freight Transport Association is once again teaming up with Multimodal to put together a programme of workshops, masterclasses and panel ...
  
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• Electric taxi firm trebles cars in drive to be UKs biggest

  12-02-2016 01:00 via scotsman.com
  
  The Scotsman - A Scottish firm will boast the UKs largest fleet of electric taxis when it trebles its number of vehicles to 100 this summer, The Scotsman has learned.
  
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• Dublin Luas tram two-day strike begins

  12-02-2016 01:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Thousands of people who use the Luas tram service in Dublin are facing disruption as a two-day strike begins.
  
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• Diversion from traditional taxis in Paris

  12-02-2016 01:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Like Uber, ride-hailing app Heetch angers established cab drivers and its model faces a legal test
  
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• Cybersecurity Analysis-Cyber Security Services for Passenger and Freight Rail Applications

  12-02-2016 01:00 via railway-technology.com
  Other News Sources -Cybersecurity Analysis is a US-based consultancy providing standards-based cybersecurity services to agencies and organisations in the rail (freight and passenger), oil and gas, and pipeline sectors.
  
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• Critics slam Edinburgh airport over 'disingenuous' flightpath report

  12-02-2016 01:00 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  The Herald - AIRPORT bosses have been accused of downplaying community opposition to a trial flightpath after blaming a handful of local residents for the majority of complaints.
  
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• Crew shortages cause rail delays with service through Huddersfield badly hit

  12-02-2016 01:00 via examiner.co.uk
  
  Other Regional Press - 1.9m service disruptions logged last year
  
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• Consultation to improve rail between Swindon and Westbury

  12-02-2016 01:00 via ciltuk.org.uk
  Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport - The government is opening a consultation to the public for them to have an input on local rail services in Wiltshire. It is community groups and passengers who will have more say in aspects of design and the operation of their local rail services between Swindon and Westbury, according to the Department for Transport. The government is consulting on this 32-mile TransWilts line and plans to designate it as a community rail service. By doing this,
  
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• Class 385 route introduction plans revealed

  12-02-2016 01:00 via railmagazine.com
  
  Rail Magazine - ScotRail reveals which routes brand new Class 385s will be introduced, and when.
  
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• Bus stop changes announced for York

  12-02-2016 01:00 via yorkpress.co.uk
  
  The York Press -TEMPORARY changes are to be made to key bus stops in two city centre streets as the first step towards a number of improvements later this year.
  
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• Bus chiefs pull Conwy Valley service leaving hundreds of rural passengers stranded

  12-02-2016 01:00 via dailypost.co.uk
  
  Daily Post (North Wales) -Arriva Buses Wales will no longer run Conwy Valley number 19 service from May 1
  
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• British Airways customer told she can't get a full refund unless she is DEAD

  12-02-2016 01:00 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Mail Online - EXCLUSIVE: Jahmila Kelly, 32, from Bethnal Green, east London, has been left distraught after being told she cannot get a refund for BA flights to St Lucia despite being diagnosed with a tumour.
  
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• Bristol airport: end devolution of APD to Wales

  12-02-2016 01:00 via buyingbusinesstravel.com
  Aviation Industry- CEO Robert Sinclair says move will create significant disadvantage to rival Cardiff
  
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• Bridges in public ownership 'by 2017'

  12-02-2016 01:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - The Severn crossings could revert to public ownership as early as autumn 2017 an MP says.
  
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• Bike & Go rail scheme hailed by TripAdvisor division

  12-02-2016 01:00 via liverpoolecho.co.uk
  
  Liverpool Post -Holiday Lettings praises bike hire operation in list of top seven operators
  
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• Back Heathrow hope David Cameron will 'swipe right' on their Valentine's Day proposition

  12-02-2016 01:00 via getwestlondon.co.uk
  
  Get West London - Pro-Heathrow expansion group sends Prime Minister a cheeky Valentine's message to the "commitment phobe" in the style of dating app Tinder
  
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• A55 traffic jams 'holding back' Holyhead port

  12-02-2016 01:00 via dailypost.co.uk
  
  Daily Post (North Wales) -Stena and Irish Ferries have urged the Welsh Government to improve the expressway to boost marine economy
  
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