Public Transport news

• Out now: Issue 134 of Passenger Transport

  12-05-2016 15:34 via passengertransport.co.uk
  Issue 134 of Passenger Transport is published on May 13
  Contents include:
    
   
  LEAD STORYKhan faces clash over TfL ‘trading arm’ plan
  New mayor wants to set up a Transport for London commercial arm with the ability to operate local transport services in London, the UK and abroad
   
  NEWS
  Rapid recovery needed after VTEC falls behind
  Analysts worried about franchise ‘won on aggressive terms’
  Is this the return of East Thames Buses?
  London mayor Sadiq Khan
  
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• Khan faces clash over TfL ‘trading arm’ plan

  12-05-2016 14:54 via passengertransport.co.uk
  New mayor wants to set up a Transport for London commercial arm with the ability to operate local transport services in London, the UK and abroad
   
  Sadiq Khan arrives at London Bridge Tube station on his first day at City Hall (Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire/Press Association Images)
   
  London’s newly elected mayor, Sadiq Khan, is likely to face opposition to his plans to establish “a trading arm that can run bus and other local transport services” and sell Transport f
  
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• First Group to launch budget London to Edinburgh rail service

  12-05-2016 14:07
  
  Train operator aims to compete with low-cost airlines after regulator grants it open-access rights on east coast mainlineA London to Edinburgh rail service that promises to compete with budget airlines and Virgin Trains East Coast has been given the go-ahead.First Group will launch a rival operation, which is says will offer lower fares and an earlier arrival in the Scottish capital, from 2021 after the rail regulator granted it open-access rights on the east coast mainline. Continue reading...
  
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• Why Britain has no transport policy

  12-05-2016 13:57 via passengertransport.co.uk
  If you want to know why Britain’s transport policy is a mess and how to put it right, you have to study history and learn from it
   
  One of my favourite tricks during my 20 years or so as a transport journalist has been to ask newly appointed ministers and shadow ministers a very simple question: ‘Do you want more transport or less transport?’. Generally, it results in the collapse of stout party as they have never much thought about it.That is the problem. Over the past 1
  
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• ‘Sorry’ has become an over-used word

  12-05-2016 13:52 via passengertransport.co.uk
  We used to be an industry that struggled to say ‘sorry’ for failing customers, now it’s a word that is used so often that at times it has become noise, writes Alex Warner
    
  Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word by Blue featuring Elton John is my favourite song of all time – run a close second by Tiger Feet, the 1974 hit from Mud.Blue’s hit was a classic of late 2002, around the time where I was a relatively senior manager on Britain’s railway and when
  
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• Shaping the future of transport in Glasgow

  12-05-2016 13:43 via passengertransport.co.uk
  Next month the global Intelligent Transport Systems community gathers in Scotland’s largest city for the four-day ITS European Congress
   In less than a month ITS will take over the vibrant city of Glasgow for a brief week to celebrate the annual get together of all who are shaping the future of transport today. From policy-makers and businesses to students and researchers, Glasgow will be hosting the enthusiastic ITS community from June 6 to 9 this year.
  Third largest city in the
  
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• When will The Flying Scotsman be back in the region?

  12-05-2016 02:00 via thenorthernecho.co.uk
  
  Northern Echo -The great days of steam have returned on the East Coast Main Line - as the world's best known loco rubs shoulders with modern electric expresses.
  
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• West Coast franchise consultation starts

  12-05-2016 02:00 via railmagazine.com
  
  Rail Magazine - Consultation on the next InterCity West Coast franchise, which starts in April 2018, began on May 10.
  
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• We are suckers in airline cabin class war

  12-05-2016 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - The dividing curtain triggers envy, researchers say, but the surprise is that there is not more anger
  
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• Watch as last Clyde-built turbine steamship begins journey home to Glasgow after Sunday Mail campaign

  12-05-2016 02:00 via dailyrecord.co.uk
  
  Daily Record -THE TS Queen Mary is being towed from Tilbury Docks in Essex to the River Clyde where she was built and launched more than 80 years ago.
  
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• VIDEO: M4 hold-ups affect firms' 'bottom line'

  12-05-2016 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Work on a planned M4 relief road cannot start soon enough for businesses because congestion is having an effect on their
  
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• Vantage Busway Service reaches 150,000 customer journeys

  12-05-2016 02:00 via ciltuk.org.uk
  Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport - Atherton resident Yvonne Sixsmith boarded the V2 service at Bag Lane this week (Monday 9 May) heading towards Manchester and became the 150,000th customer to board Vantage since services were first launched on 3 April. Presenting Yvonne with a Vantage goody bag and a month's free travel was bus driver Phil Ainsworth from Tyldesley who is one of the seventy-five specially trained Vantage drivers.Customer Yvonne Sixsmith said,
  
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• Unique designs for new Crossrail stations released

  12-05-2016 02:00 via railtechnologymagazine.com
  
  Rail Technology Magazine - New images of the remodelled stations along the Elizabeth Line, as Crossrail will be named, have been released to the public. The images, which are also featured in a free exhibition at the Royal Institute of British Architects, provide a new glimpse of the Elizabeth Line, which is now...
  
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• UK's Heathrow says will limit environmental impact of new runway

  12-05-2016 02:00 via uk.reuters.com
  
  Reuters News - Britain's Heathrow Airport, seeking government permission to build a new runway, said it would comply with an extended ban on night flights and meet European air quality rules if the project gets the go-ahead.
  
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• Train firm given permission to compete on East Coast Main Line

  12-05-2016 02:00 via sunderlandecho.com
  
  Sunderland Echo - More services on the way as FirstGroup is given the go-ahead to compete with Virgin Trains on the East Coast Main Line.
  
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• This furious horse riding business says low flying aircrafts are spooking their animals without warning

  12-05-2016 02:00 via walesonline.co.uk
  
  Wales Online -Jenny Dimond said the health and safety of horses and riders is being put a risk, after a horse was spooked on a small local road
  
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• The complicated politics of Heathrow airport expansion

  12-05-2016 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Cameron can no longer rely on Labour support to pass a vote on a third runway, writes Sebastian Payne
  
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• Takata to overhaul airbag inflator unit

  12-05-2016 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Japanese group to restructure amid deepening safety crisis
  
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• Stunning images show how Crossrail stations along the Elizabeth line will look

  12-05-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - These stunning images show how stations along the 15 billion Crossrail route through London will look.
  
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• South West Trains delays: Flooding causes problems on lines into London Waterloo

  12-05-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - Flooding has triggered delays on commuter routes into Waterloo after torrential rain hit London last night.
  
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• Shaw report recommendations need quick implementation

  12-05-2016 02:00 via railtechnologymagazine.com
  
  Rail Technology Magazine - Adrian Shaw, senior vice-president of global programme management and rail sector head, Europe, Middle East, India and Africa at Aecom, reflects on the Shaw Report's recommendations and the need for changes to be adopted quickly.
  
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• Sadiq Khan's help for London City Airport expansion 'breaks green pledge'

  12-05-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - Green campaigners today claimed Sadiq Khan has already broken his pledge to be London's "greenest ever" mayor, after he removed a key obstacle to the expansion of City Airport.
  
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• RMT accused of 'cynical ploy' over changed strike dates

  12-05-2016 02:00 via railtechnologymagazine.com
  
  Rail Technology Magazine - The industrial dispute over plans to introduce driver-operated only (DOO) trains on Southern has grown more heated after a sudden change of strike date from union RMT. Southern accused RMT of trying to deliberately maximise the disruption caused by the strikes by changing the date from 20 May to...
  
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• Revenue threat on East Coast Main Line

  12-05-2016 02:00 via railnews.co.uk
  RailNews.co.uk - NEW open access services on the East Coast Main Line have been approved by the Office of Rail and Road, but a warning has been sounded that Virgin Trains East Coast's revenue could come under pressure as a result.
  
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• Revealed: The most bizarre items confiscated from passengers at London City Airport

  12-05-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - Tins of tuna, 40,000 in cash and a wooden meat hammer are among some of the most bizarre items confiscated from passengers at London City Airport.
  
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• RAIL 800: Chris Green

  12-05-2016 02:00 via railmagazine.com
  
  Rail Magazine - Celebrating 800 issues of the market-leading modern rail magazine, 35 years of coverage, 21 years edited by Nigel Harris
  
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• PM confirms rail electrification plans are still under consideration

  12-05-2016 02:00 via hulldailymail.co.uk
  Other Regional Press - EAST YORKS: The Prime Minister confirmed plans to electrify the train line between Hull and Selby are still under consideration by transport officialsdespite having the proposals in-hand for two years.
  
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• Plan to improve Portsmouth transport unveiled today

  12-05-2016 02:00 via portsmouth.co.uk
  
  Other Regional Press - TRANSPORT links in the Solent area need to be drastically improved to cope with the growing population and to improve productivity, according to a report published today.
  
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• Northern Rail: We're aware Boro service needs sorting - but we only have a limited number of trains

  12-05-2016 02:00 via gazettelive.co.uk
  
  Other Regional Press -Hundreds of fans were again squeezed into the local matchday service for the Brighton game :: Northern Rail has again apologised
  
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• Nissan in tie-up talks with Mitsubishi

  12-05-2016 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Japanese car makers Mitsubishi Motors and Nissan confirm talks of a capital tie-up as the former struggles with a scandal over falsifying fuel efficiency.
  
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• Nissan eyes 30 stake in Mitsubishi Motors

  12-05-2016 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Mitsubishi seeking outside capital to survive a fuel economy scandal
  
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• New train routes to link Weymouth and Dorchester to Gillingham and Sherborne this summer

  12-05-2016 02:00 via dorsetecho.co.uk
  
  Other Regional Press -ALL ABOARD- dates for the new summer service connecting Dorset towns and villages by rail have been confirmed.
  
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• More trains on crowded InterCity West Coast may be delayed until after HS2

  12-05-2016 02:00 via railtechnologymagazine.com
  
  Rail Technology Magazine - Stakeholders are being invited to submit their views on the InterCity West Coast franchise in order to shape requirements for future bidders. The consultation, aimed at groups including passengers, employees, communities, businesses and railway industry groups, includes...
  
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• MH370: two new aircraft fragments 'almost certainly' from missing plane

  12-05-2016 02:00 via theguardian.com
  
  The Guardian - Australian announcement about pieces found in South Africa and Mauritius means a total of five pieces of debris have now been confirmed from missing jetTwo aircraft fragments found on the beaches of South Africa and Mauritius are all but confirmed to be from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which mysteriously disappeared two years ago with 239 people on board. A piece of engine cowling featuring a Rolls-Royce stencil, which was found in South Africa earlier this year, is al
  
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• Leeds Trolley Vehicle System Order: decision letter

  12-05-2016 02:00 via gov.uk
  
  Department for Transport - Announcing the Secretary of State's decision not to make the Order.
  
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• InterCity West Coast franchise

  12-05-2016 02:00 via ciltuk.org.uk
  Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport - Rail passengers are being asked for their views on how the InterCity West Coast (ICWC) line can deliver better rail services in a government consultation launched today (10 May 2016).Passengers, businesses and local councils can have their say on the planned improvements for the new franchisewhich runs between London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Holyheadahead of the start of the competition for a new operator later t
  
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• Heathrow to open Uber car park after drivers 'litter and urinate in residents' gardens'

  12-05-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - Heathrow is opening a special car park for Uber drivers after they were accused of making life a misery in villages around the airport.
  
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• Heathrow pledge to reduce night flights in bid to build third runway is 'good outcome' for Spelthorne

  12-05-2016 02:00 via getsurrey.co.uk
  
  Other News Sources - The borough council's leader, Cllr Ian Harvey, said he wants to see the airport expand in a way that is sympathetic to the environment
  
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• Heathrow offers to curb night flights

  12-05-2016 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Heathrow Airport promises to reduce night flights and curb both noise and pollution if it is allowed to build a new, third runway.
  
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• Heathrow launches dramatic bid to clinch David Cameron deal for new runway

  12-05-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - Heathrow launched a dramatic bid today to clinch a deal with David Cameron for a third runway.
  
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• Heathrow agrees no fourth runway in an attempt to secure third as it 'meets or exceeds' Airports Commission conditions

  12-05-2016 02:00 via richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk
  
  Other Regional Press -
  
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• GWML wires will meet Hendy targets - Network Rail

  12-05-2016 02:00 via railmagazine.com
  
  Rail Magazine - Network Rail says the Great Western Route Modernisation (GWRM) will be completed to targets set after the Hendy Review.
  
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• Green light for East Coast Main Line expansion

  12-05-2016 02:00 via thebusinessdesk.com
  
  The Business Desk - VIRGIN has been given the go-ahead to introduce new train services on the East Coast Main Line.New services will be introduced to Middlesbrough, York, Newcastle, Morpeth, Lincoln, Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate and Stevenage.
  
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• Great Western wires in use by September

  12-05-2016 02:00 via railmagazine.com
  
  Rail Magazine - Network Rail tells RAIL the first section of electrified track to be completed on the GWML will be between Reading and Didcot at the end of September.
  
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• Go-Ahead orders Flirt EMU fleet

  12-05-2016 02:00 via railwaygazette.com
  
  Other News Sources - GERMANY: The German subsidiary of UK-based rail and bus group Go-Ahead has awarded Stadler Pankow a...
  
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• GB Railfreight names last Class 66 locomotive 'Evening Star'

  12-05-2016 02:00 via railtechnologymagazine.com
  
  Rail Technology Magazine - GB Railfreight has named the last Class 66 locomotive to be built for the UK and European markets mp;lsquo;Evening Starmp;rsquo;. Locomotive 66779, which has been liveried in lined passenger express mp;lsquo;brunswick greenmp;rsquo;, was named after the last steam locomotive to be built by Swindon Works...
  
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• FTA hopes new runway is a step closer

  12-05-2016 02:00 via fta.co.uk
  Other News Sources - The Freight Transport Association (FTA) says it hopes todays response by Heathrow to recommendations by the Airports Commission will bring the ...
  
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• FirstGroup to challenge Virgin with £25 Scotland-London fare

  12-05-2016 02:00 via scotsman.com
  
  The Scotsman - Plans for FirstGroup to compete with Virgin Trains on the east coast main line have been approved by regulators.
  
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• First Group to run Edinburgh to London budget rail service

  12-05-2016 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - A new budget rail service between Edinburgh and London has been given the green light by the Rail Regulator.
  
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• First class carriages to be axed on busy commuter trains to ease overcrowding

  12-05-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - First class carriages could be axed on peak-time trains to make more room for passengers on overcrowded journeys.
  
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