Public Transport news

• M4 widening plan given go-ahead

  02-09-2016 21:59
  
  Decision to allow hard shoulder to become fourth lane on 32-mile stretch of motoway angers environmental and safety groupsPlans to convert the M4 hard shoulder into a fourth lane of traffic have been given the go-ahead by the government.The proposals would see a 32-mile stretch of the motorway widened to four lanes from Hayes, west London, to Theale, Berkshire. This stretch of road, from junction three to 12, would also be subject to variable speed limits under the scheme. Related: MPs call to s
  
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• We need more aboard to keep our Dales bus going | Letters

  02-09-2016 19:34
  
  Wow! What a reaction to All Aboard! The Country Bus on Bank Holiday Monday (Watch this, TV and radio, G2, 29 August). Viewing figures from ratings agency overnights.tv show that at its peak 973,000 people were watching the BBC4 programme, the latest slow travel programme to hit our screens. Nearly a million viewers! Great credit must go to The Garden Productions Ltd for producing what must be one of the best films ever made about the Dales landscape and capturing it so perfectly in the late spri
  
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• Southern rail boss waives bonus and pay rise as profits rise 27%

  02-09-2016 13:48
  
  Go-Ahead’s chief executive Dave Brown apologises to passengers after summer of travel miseryLive: commuters react to Southern rail profitsThe boss of Go-Ahead, which owns the Southern rail operator Govia, has waived his bonus as the company reported profits of nearly £100m, despite widespread problems at Britain’s busiest commuter franchise.David Brown, Go-Ahead’s chief executive, apologised to passengers after a summer of travel misery. He said he took the decision to tu
  
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• Quiz: who owns Britain's rail companies?

  02-09-2016 13:19
  
  After the company which owns Southern announced profits of nearly £100m, how well do you know who is behind Britain’s train operating companies?Who owns Southern? Southern is a joint venture between Arriva UK Trains and the MTR CorporationGovia Thameslink Railway, which in turn is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between Go-Ahead and KeolisDeutsche BahnFirstGroupWho owns South West Trains?Stagecoach GroupArriva UK Trains, a subsidiary of Deutsche BahnFirstGroupNational Express
  
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• 'The service is completely useless': commuters react to Southern rail profit hike - as it happened

  02-09-2016 12:42
  
  As co-owner of the Southern rail franchise the Go-Ahead Group announces a 27% rise in profits, Martin Belam joins commuters to find out what they think about some of the busiest rail journeys in the UKSouthern rail owner reports £99m profits 11.37am BSTSo, what did I learn this morning, apart from that it is quite difficult to get up at 4.30am and avoid waking up the rest of the household?1) It was one of the easiest possible days I could have done this story. With schools back imminently,
  
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• Out now: Issue 142 of Passenger Transport

  02-09-2016 11:38 via passengertransport.co.uk
  Issue 142 of Passenger Transport is published on September 16
  Contents include:
    
  LEAD STORYKeolis starts driverless minibus trial in Lyon
  Multinational group teams up with Navya to launch one-year trial of automated shuttle service in growth area of France’s third largest city
   
  NEWS
  RMT announces more strike action at GTR
  Day of action over plans to pilot new station host role
  Extra services for West Mids
  Capacity uplift and extra services confirmed as part of the new Wes
  
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• Southern rail boss waives bonus and pay rise as group profits rise 27%

  02-09-2016 11:30
  
  Go-Ahead’s chief executive Dave Brown apologises to passengers after a summer of travel miseryLive: commuters react to Southern rail profitsThe boss of Go-Ahead, which owns Southern rail operator Govia, waived his bonus as the company reported profits of nearly £100m, despite widespread problems at Britain’s commuter franchise.David Brown, Go-Ahead’s chief executive, apologised to passengers after a summer of travel misery. The group said he would forgo his annual bonus a
  
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• Keolis starts driverless minibus trial in Lyon

  02-09-2016 11:05 via passengertransport.co.uk
  Multinational group teams up with Navya to launch one-year trial of automated shuttle service in growth area of France’s third largest city
   
  Sans chauffeur: A Navya vehicle in Confluence, Lyon
   
  Driverless vehicles reached  a new milestone this week when French transport group Keolis launched a one-year trial of automated electric minibuses in Confluence, a new growth area in the south of Lyon.
  This is the first time that automated vehicles have been trialled for public tra
  
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• A new breed of public transport campaigner?

  02-09-2016 10:59 via passengertransport.co.uk
  Young professionals are harnessing the power of social media to put pressure on transport operators and policy-makers
   
  A demonstration by Southern passengers
   
  Rail operators will have to deal in future with a new type of passenger lobby group organised by young professionals who are adept at using social media, the Campaign for Better Transport predicts.
  One Facebook group launched by disaffected Southern passengers has designs on becoming a charity for rail passengers nationally. Th
  
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• What did you do in #traingate, Daddy?

  02-09-2016 10:55 via passengertransport.co.uk
  Jeremy Corbyn claims that renationalisation would fix problems like crowding on East Coast Main Line services. I don’t agree
   
  New IEP trains will help deliver extra capacity. Nationalisation would not
   
  Once the fuss around Jeremy Corbyn’s #traingate has died down, what should we make of it? In some ways this was a massive fuss about nothing, just a silly-season distraction. For me the important element was nothing to do with seating or privatisation; it was the obvious d
  
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• Rejuvenation for Arriva in Leicester

  02-09-2016 10:49 via passengertransport.co.uk
  A series of improvements to Arriva’s Leicester network have now been completed. It aims to provide a firm basis for the future
   
  Simon Mathieson (fifth from left) with Arriva’s Leicester team
   
  Arriva’s Midlands bus business has been working hard over the last year to revamp and relaunch its product in the city of Leicester. The impetus for the move started as a result increasing traffic congestion that area managing director Simon Mathieson admits was starting to cre
  
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• Automation to solve ‘last mile problem’

  02-09-2016 10:40 via passengertransport.co.uk
  Davide Brizzolara and Andrea Toth consider the impact that self-driving vehicles could have on cities and passenger transport
   
  A demonstration by Southern passengers
   
  A growing urban population is creating unprecedented challenges in Europe’s cities: pollution, congestion, housing, loss of space and rising energy consumption among the many. One of the most apparent side-effects of a more urbanised Europe we experience every day is the worsening traffic conditions.London, Stuttg
  
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• Southern rail owner reports profits of nearly £100m

  02-09-2016 09:51
  
  Rise in profits of 27% come a day after the government unveiled a £20m fund and a new review board to improve Southern rail servicesLive: commuters react to Southern rail profitsGo-Ahead, which owns Southern rail operator Govia, has reported profits of nearly £100m, despite widespread problems at Southern.David Brown, Go-Ahead’s chief executive, apologised to passengers after a summer of travel misery. The group said he would forgo his annual bonus and had declined a pay rise.
  
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• 'The service is completely useless': commuters react to Southern rail profit hike - live

  02-09-2016 08:56
  
  As co-owner of the Southern rail franchise the Go-Ahead Group announces a 27% rise in profits, Martin Belam joins commuters to find out what they think about some of the busiest rail journeys in the UKSouthern rail owner reports £99m profits 7.56am BSTMany rail commuters have been getting in touch. Here are some of the contributions so far: Walter commutes on the Hope Valley line, which connects Sheffield and Manchester - he travels between there and Rose Hill, Marple. He tells us:The trai
  
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• Southern rail owner reports £99m profits

  02-09-2016 08:44
  
  Rise in profits of 27% come a day after the government unveiled a £20m fund and a new review board to improve Southern rail servicesLive: commuters react to Southern rail profitsGo-Ahead, which owns Southern rail operator Govia, has reported profits of nearly £100m, despite widespread problems at Southern.The travel group’s statutory profits before tax increased 27% to £99.8m in the year to 2 July, with revenues up 4.5% to £3.4bn.Related: 'The service is completely
  
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• With no new trains is Birmingham being short-changed in new rail deal?

  02-09-2016 02:00 via birminghampost.co.uk
  
  Birmingham Post - Hundreds of new trains ordered across UK, but none in new West Midlands Rail franchise deal
  
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• Wholl be the judge of the best rail network? letter

  02-09-2016 02:00 via theguardian.com
  
  The Guardian -
  
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• Uber wins right to legal challenge over TfL English test for drivers

  02-09-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - Uber has won the right to take Transport for London to court over "stifling" rules which would see private hire drivers forced to take a 200 English exam.
  
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• Uber wins right to challenge driver English tests

  02-09-2016 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Uber wins right to take Transport for London (TfL) to court over new rules that would force its drivers to pass English tests.
  
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• Two passenger planes involved in near miss at Gatwick following air traffic controller error

  02-09-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - A passenger jet taking off from Gatwick airport was involved in a near miss with a preceding aircraft, an official investigation has reported.
  
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• Strike update National Express vow to add extra seats as needed

  02-09-2016 02:00 via nationalexpressgroup.com
  National Express - Following the announcement of further planned strike action by Southern Rail staff National Express today vows it will continue to add extra seats to cater to people in Brighton as necessary.
  
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• Stretch of M20 to close all weekend after bridge collapse

  02-09-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - A section of the M20 will be closed in both directions all weekend to enable a damaged footbridge to be removed.
  
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• SpaceX rocket explodes on launch site in Florida during testing

  02-09-2016 02:00 via theguardian.com
  
  The Guardian - Buildings shook and multiple explosions continued for several minutes at site where SpaceX was scheduled to carry Facebooks first satellite launch into orbit A SpaceX rocket exploded on the launch pad at the air force station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Thursday morning, as it prepared to carry a communications satellite into space this weekend. The satellite was intended to be used by Facebook, as part of its effort to extend internet access in Africa. Related: Zuckerberg lame
  
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• Southern Railway workers suspend 24-strike over ticket office closures but guards will 'still stage walkout'

  02-09-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - A 24-hour strike by Southern Railway workers planned for next week has been suspended but guards are still set to walkout, a transport union has warned.
  
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• Southern railway: £20m fund unveiled to 'improve' services

  02-09-2016 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - A £20m fund and a new review board is unveiled aiming to improve Southern rail services and
  
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• Southern rail owners report 99m profits

  02-09-2016 02:00 via telegraph.co.uk
  
  The Telegraph -
  
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• Southern rail network gets £20m injection for rapid improvement

  02-09-2016 02:00 via ciltuk.org.uk
  Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport - The Department for Transport (DfT) will invest £20 million in a bid to rapidly improve running of the southern rail network. Chris Gibb, non-executive director at Network Rail, has also been appointed to head up a new project board which will explore how the money should be spent, with plans due to be presented in the autumn. So far, 2 million will be spent on more rapid response teams to fix faults quicker, with 2.5 million going on speedin
  
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• Southern Rail handed 20m government pot to fix embattled train service

  02-09-2016 02:00 via getsurrey.co.uk
  
  Other News Sources -The announcement comes just days before the RMT union prepares to hold fresh industrial action over the role of train guards and conductors
  
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• Setback for Musk as SpaceX rocket explodes

  02-09-2016 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Business loses second rocket in just over a year
  
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• Scotland needs a commitment to more infrastructure projects, says CBI chief

  02-09-2016 02:00 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  The Herald - SCOTLAND requiresa commitment to more infrastructure improvementsto boost the economy, according to the director general of Britain's premier business organisation.
  
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• Sadiq Khan and megacity mayors urge G20 climate change action

  02-09-2016 02:00 via theguardian.com
  
  The Guardian - 30 mayors from cities including London, Paris, Tokyo, Sydney, New York, Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro call for rapid ratification of Paris climate dealLondon Mayor Sadiq Khan has joined forces with city leaders from around the world to call on governments to take urgent action on climate change.Ahead of a meeting of the G20 group of leading nations in Hangzhou, China, 30 mayors from cities including London, Paris, Tokyo, Sydney, New York, Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro called on nati
  
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• Rail firm blasted for cancelling trains due to lack of drivers

  02-09-2016 02:00 via bucksfreepress.co.uk
  
  Bucks Free Press -A furious traveller has blasted a train company for cancelling services on the busy bank holiday weekend due to a shortage of drivers.
  
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• Powernet to Present New Rail Battery Management Systems at Innotrans 2016

  02-09-2016 02:00 via railway-technology.com
  Other News Sources -At Innotrans 2016 Powernet will show the new BCS Battery Management System (up to 12.8kW) for rolling stock applications as well as exhibit the whole ADC9000-series modules for auxiliary power need in the 500W-3,200W range.
  
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• One in four Londoners fear they won't get home safely in minicab in early hours, research finds

  02-09-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - One in four Londoners fear they will not make it home safely in a minicab in the early hours of the morning, new research suggests.
  
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• On-Board Service for Railway Maintenance Machines

  02-09-2016 02:00 via railway-technology.com
  Other News Sources -Over the years, m2 railgroup has developed an evolutionary process of growth focusing on the guiding principles established since the foundation of the company, which are: impartiality, equality, efficiency and effectiveness.
  
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• Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman tells of mum's 'needless' death as he backs bike campaign

  02-09-2016 02:00 via dailypost.co.uk
  
  Daily Post (North Wales) - Carol Boardman died after being struck by a pick-up truck while riding her bike in Connah's Quay
  
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• London airports named as top networking spot for travellers

  02-09-2016 02:00 via buyingbusinesstravel.com
  Buying Business Travel - London airports have been named as Europes number one most popular spot for business travellers to network.
  
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• Is urban cycling worth the risk?

  02-09-2016 02:00 via ig.ft.com
  
  Financial Times - How do the benefits of exercise compare to the harm from pollution?
  
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• IRIS Evolving an ISO Standard: the World's First Training Courses

  02-09-2016 02:00 via railway-technology.com
  Other News Sources -In our last press release, we announced that in course with the next fundamental IRIS revision UNIFE will transform requirements (IRIS Chapter 3) into an ISO standard until the beginning of 2018. CC-Rail belonged to the core team that had submitted t
  
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• How Uber turns around its $1.2bn loss by delivering things

  02-09-2016 02:00 via ciltuk.org.uk
  Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport - Uber must get serious about delivering packages as well as people if it wants to make money, says global courier ParcelHero. The news that taxi App Uber has run up losses of over $1bn in the first half of 2016 comes as no surprise; says the international courier ParcelHero.com. The global taxi industry is scarcely large enough to warrant the investment in technology Uber has made developing its crowdsourcing App, says ParcelHero: and it must make
  
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• 'Hot weather' and faulty train radiators blamed for spate of Borders Railway breakdowns

  02-09-2016 02:00 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  The Herald - A SPATE of breakdowns on Scotland's new flagship railway has been blamed on a fleet-wide fault affecting the route's newly-refurbished Class 158 trains which causes them to overheat in hot weather.
  
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• Honour our success by building more cycle lanes, say Team GB Olympic heroes

  02-09-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - Great Britain's Olympic champion cyclists have urged Theresa May to commit five per cent of the Government's transport budget for cycle lanes on Britain's roads.
  
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• Green light for north-south cycle superhighway linking King's Cross and Elephant and Castle

  02-09-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - A new cycle superhighway linking King's Cross with Elephant and Castle has been given the go-ahead by Sadiq Khan.
  
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• Government 'hit squad' given 20m to tackle Southern Rail chaos

  02-09-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - A government 'hit squad' was sent in to struggling Southern Rail today to tackle the chaos suffered by passengers.
  
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• Extra 20m to improve Southern rail service

  02-09-2016 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Public anger mounts over disruption
  
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• Edinburgh airport plans £5 queue-jumping scheme subscription

  02-09-2016 02:00 via thetimes.co.uk
  
  Times Online - Scotland s busiest airport is to become the first in the country to charge arriving passengers to jump passport queues.Travellers at Edinburgh airport will be able to take advantage of a new fasttrack service if they are willling to pay an additional charge of about £5.
  
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• Edinburgh airport considers fast-track charge lane at passport control

  02-09-2016 02:00 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  The Herald - Passengers arriving at Edinburgh Airport could soon skip queues at passport control by paying a 5 charge.
  
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