Public Transport news

• Giving a big thumbs-up to the lost art of hitchhiking

  30-09-2016 19:47
  
  Like Anne Perkins, I used to hitch everywhere as a teenager and in my twenties (Hitchhiking has been left by the roadside, 22 September ). That was in the 1960s. I have often wondered why people appear to hitch no more. Is it because no one is willing these days to give a lift, or is it for some other reason?A few years ago I decided on an experiment. I would see if I could travel from Wigan to Lindisfarne on my thumb. So I set off on a slip road to the M6. Within two minutes the police arrived
  
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• Northern powerhouse at risk from south-east bias, says airport boss

  30-09-2016 19:21
  
  Manchester airport chief says government ‘paranoia’ over Heathrow expansion harms efforts to close north-south economic divideThe northern powerhouse risks being derailed by the government’s “absolute paranoia” over Heathrow expansion and an “over-emphasis on the south-east at the expense of everywhere else”, the managing director of Manchester airport has said.
  In a stark message to Theresa May, who is due to decide this month on the contentious third r
  
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• Virgin Trains East Coast workers to go ahead with 24-hour strike

  30-09-2016 14:32
  
  Talks fail to resolve dispute with members of RMT union threatening walkout on 3 October over jobs and conditionsA 24-hour strike on Virgin Trains East Coast is to go ahead after talks failed to resolve a dispute over jobs and conditions.Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ union (RMT) will walk out on Monday. Virgin has said that services will not be affected. Continue reading...
  
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• Out now: Issue 144 of Passenger Transport

  30-09-2016 13:29 via passengertransport.co.uk
  Issue 144 of Passenger Transport is published on September 30
  Contents include:
    
  LEAD STORYRail campaign can start ‘honest conversation’
  Rail Delivery Group wants multi-million-pound ‘Britain Runs on Rail’ campaign to trigger a public debate about issues the industry must tackle
   
  NEWS
  Arriva and Stagecoach sign up to bus alliance
  Partners claim a new era for Merseyside’s buses with the signing of a bus alliance agreement that aims to improve servic
  
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• The fascinating concept with a terrible name

  30-09-2016 13:28 via passengertransport.co.uk
  Transport Systems Catapult held a conference last week in Birmingham on the game-changing ‘Mobility as a Service’ concept. But what exactly is it?
   
  Could new ‘Mobility as a Service’ providers enjoy a healthy symbiotic relationship with public transport?
   
  By ROBERT JACK
  So what exactly is ‘Mobility as a Service?’” asked Alex Warner. I was stumped. I’d been banging on about how “MaaS” was going to change everything, and yet I
  
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• Read our supplement: Scotland’s Buses 2016

  30-09-2016 13:28 via passengertransport.co.uk
  Welcome to Scotland’s Buses 2016, a publication devoted to Scotland’s main mode of public transport.Scotland’s buses make a enormous contribution to the nation, offering vital links that enable communities to function and help them to prosper. This publication from passenger transport puts the spotlight on those involved in delivering Scotland’s buses, celebrates their achievements and considers the challenges they face.
  Bigger and better than last year’s inaug
  
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• Rail campaign can start ‘honest conversation’

  30-09-2016 13:28 via passengertransport.co.uk
  Rail Delivery Group wants multi-million-pound ‘Britain Runs on Rail’ campaign to trigger a public debate about issues the industry must tackle
   
  A ‘Britain Runs on Rail’ highlights investment by the industry
   
  Rail Delivery Group chief executive Paul Plummer has called for an “open and honest conversation” about the future challenges facing Britain’s railway.
  His plea accompanied the launch of RDG’s new multi- million-pound ‘Britain
  
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• Welsh bus company ‘restructure’ plan

  30-09-2016 13:26 via passengertransport.co.uk
  First minister Carwyn Jones says Welsh Government will use new powers to intervene in the bus industry to protect services from company failures
   
  Carwyn Jones hopes that restructuring bus companies will prevent the kind of disruption seen recently on the Barmouth-Wrexham route, where Arriva withdrew in 2014 and was replaced by GHA Coaches which went into administration in July
   
  Carwyn Jones, Wales’ First Minister, has said his government will restructure bus companies from 2018
  
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• Wiltshire community rail plan approved by DfT

  30-09-2016 02:00 via railtechnologymagazine.com
  
  Rail Technology Magazine - The DfT has approved a bid for the TransWilts line to be the twentieth formally recognised community rail service in the country. This means that the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership, which includes local councils, train operators and community groups, will work with Great Western Railway...
  
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• VW boss: Emissions scandal 'a huge mistake'

  30-09-2016 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Matthias Mueller, the chief executive of German car giant VW, says the firm made a 'huge mistake' in using technology in its diesel cars to cheat on emissions tests.
  
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• Tram plans on display in Hereford tomorrow

  30-09-2016 02:00 via herefordtimes.com
  
  Other News Sources -PLANS for a tram system in Hereford will be on display in the city centre tomorrow.
  
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• Train line disruptions to some Cardiff and Valleys lines next month

  30-09-2016 02:00 via walesonline.co.uk
  
  Wales Online -The temporary changes will take place at the weekends due to maintenance work
  
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• TOM UTLEY: I'm all for this plan to get strangers on the train talking to each other. With one crucial exception...

  30-09-2016 02:00 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Mail Online - A well-meaning American Jonathan Dunne has begun handing out badges to travellers on the London Underground, bearing the legend 'Tube chat?'
  
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• Three non-executive directors appointed to ORR board

  30-09-2016 02:00 via railtechnologymagazine.com
  
  Rail Technology Magazine - Three non-executive directors have been appointed to the board of the ORR by the transport secretary. The new directors are David Franks, currently chief executive of Irish Rail, Graham Mather, chair of the European Policy Forummp;rsquo;s Regulatory Best Practice Group, and Anne Heal, who has...
  
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• Theresa May has MPs backing for Heathrow expansion

  30-09-2016 02:00 via buyingbusinesstravel.com
  Buying Business Travel - Patrick McLoughlin says PM will have enough support to approve plans for a third runway at Heathrow
  
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• Thales bags Saudi railway maintenance contract

  30-09-2016 02:00 via eupolitics.einnews.com
  EIN News Subscription - mp;#8230;yearsThales to open Egyptian transport academyThales opens new Oman mp;#8230;predictive maintenance, which will enable rail operators to fix assets before mp;#8230;largest railway construction and the longest route to adopt the European signaling mp;#8230;
  
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• Sheffield Green Party call on council to withdraw support for 'over budget and unwelcome' HS2 line

  30-09-2016 02:00 via thestar.co.uk
  
  Sheffield Star - The Sheffield Green Party has called on the council to withdraw its backing for HS2 and focus on better transport links with northern cities.
  
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• School bus company hits back over unfair petition

  30-09-2016 02:00 via lutontoday.co.uk
  
  Other Regional Press - A petition asking for Central Bedfordshire Council to remove Barton Coach Company from providing the councils school transport has reached more than 100 online signatures.
  
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• Retail booming at Network Rail stations

  30-09-2016 02:00 via ciltuk.org.uk
  Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport - Forget about the high street, Britains train stations are the real heart of retail and seemingly the go-to place for tourist souvenirs. According to quarterly retail sales figures from Network Rail, like-for-like sales at its 18 train stations were up by 4.14 per cent in the first quarter of 2016. Thats more than eight times greater than what the British Retail Consortium reported for the same three months earlier this year, says Network Rail. Sal
  
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• Record passenger numbers for Leeds Bradford Airport

  30-09-2016 02:00 via yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk
  
  Yorkshire Evening Post - Leeds Bradford Airport has recorded its busiest ever 12-month period.
  
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• Rail travellers urged to plan ahead - because next summer is on track to be chaotic

  30-09-2016 02:00 via dorsetecho.co.uk
  
  Other Regional Press -DORSET rail passengers are being warned to plan ahead as major improvement works are carried out at a London terminus.
  
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• Protestors in robber outfits appeal for train transparency at Victoria station

  30-09-2016 02:00 via theargus.co.uk
  
  Other News Sources -PROTESTORS dressed in judges' wigs and robber costumes are complaining about poor Southern rail service at Victoria station.
  
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• Plans for Cardiff's new bus station and Central Square are now much less curvy

  30-09-2016 02:00 via walesonline.co.uk
  
  Wales Online - The new image of how Cardiff's new bus station will look shows some sizeable changes
  
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• Nissan urges Whitehall to promise compensation for post-Brexit tax barriers

  30-09-2016 02:00 via heraldscotland.com
  
  The Herald -NISSAN has urged Britain to pledge compensation for the erection of any tax barriers due to Brexit or face losing a potential new investment in the country's biggest car plant.
  
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• Nissan delays Sunderland investment plans

  30-09-2016 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Chief executive Carlos Ghosn says decision on hold due to concerns over EU tariffs after Brexit
  
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• Nissan boss warns on UK investment

  30-09-2016 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - The boss of Nissan warns that Brexit uncertainty and possible tariffs could damage investment in the UK's biggest car factory.
  
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• New checks on concessionary travel will prevent misuse of bus passes

  30-09-2016 02:00 via hartlepoolmail.co.uk
  
  Other Regional Press - Additional checks are being introduced on buses across the region to ensure that passes meant for older and disabled people are not misused.
  
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• Monarch 'still in talks' over licensing agreement ahead of Friday deadline

  30-09-2016 02:00 via manchestereveningnews.co.uk
  
  Manchester Evening News -The firm has until Friday to reapply for its expired Air Travel Organisers Licence or face being banned from selling package holidays
  
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• Lorries overtake cars in technology race

  30-09-2016 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Silicon Valley is showing an interest in how trucks have stolen a march in the use of self-driving systems
  
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• London to run Europes largest electric bus fleet

  30-09-2016 02:00 via ciltuk.org.uk
  Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport - London will become home to the largest fleet of electric buses in Europe by the end of the year, in a bid to dramatically improve air quality in the capital. This claim came as Londons first ever fully-electric bus routes were revealed. Before 2016 is through, 51 electric buses will run along the 507 and 521 routes in central London. Combined with the 22 battery-powered buses already operating in outer London, this pushes the capitals electric bus
  
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• London Architect Peter Murray 'wants to be the cycling czar after two friends died in crashes'

  30-09-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - An architect who has had two friends killed while cycling in London has applied to become Sadiq Khan's new cycling and walking commissioner.
  
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• Knorr-Bremse to take full ownership of ICER Rail

  30-09-2016 02:00 via railwaygazette.com
  
  Other News Sources - ICER RAIL: Knorr-Bremse announced on September 28 that it would buy out Berkelium Groups stake in...
  
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• Honda boss : We want a fast decision on Brexit

  30-09-2016 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Following the UK's vote for Brexit, Japanese car manufacturer Honda reaffirms its commitment to the UK as a major manufacturing base., but says it wants a
  
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• Hoboken train crash: at least one dead and 100 injured as train smashes into New Jersey station

  30-09-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - At least one person has reportedly been killed and around 100 injured after a packed commuter train crashed into a station in New Jersey.
  
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• Hoboken crash raises rail safety questions

  30-09-2016 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - At least one dead and 108 injured after NJ Transit train rams station
  
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• Historians appeal over plans for a second Forth rail bridge

  30-09-2016 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Historians are appealing for help from the public over recently-discovered plans for a second rail bridge over the Firth of Forth.
  
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• Heathrow touts extra flights in runway push

  30-09-2016 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Airport expected to set out plans on first day of Conservative conference
  
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• Heathrow pledge extra Scottish routes from 2021 if third runway is approved

  30-09-2016 02:00 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  The Herald - AIRPORT bosses at Heathrow have vowed to launch up to 21 extra daily domestic flights by 2021 if ministers give the go ahead to expand the hub, with a direct flight for Dundee among the potential new routes being tabled.
  
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• Heathrow expansion fantasy should be binned, says Boris

  30-09-2016 02:00 via ciltuk.org.uk
  Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport - The prospect of Heathrow Airport opening a third runway is a fantasy and should be consigned to the dustbin, according to foreign secretary Boris Johnson. Bosses at the airport argue that its much-disputed expansion would result in 100,000 new jobs in the UK and fuel £56 billion of growth. However, the former London mayor has opposed Heathrows third runway for years and has backed a new report which outlines potential risks to the taxpayer.
  
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• Heathrow Airport bosses propose raising cap on flights to 500,000 a year

  30-09-2016 02:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - Heathrow bosses today controversially proposed raising the cap on flights at Heathrow to around 500,000 a year.
  
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• Hang back from HGVs, cyclists warned

  30-09-2016 02:00 via ciltuk.org.uk
  Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport - Cyclists are being urged to stay behind lorries near corners as part of the Department for Transports (DfT) relaunched THiNK cycling safety campaign. In 2015, one in five crashes where cyclists lost their lives involved HGVs and road safety minister Andrew Jones is keen to reduce the number of cyclist deaths to make Britain a cycling nation. Although cyclist deaths have dropped to their lowest level since 2010, almost a third of all crashes betwee
  
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• Freight sector told to review fatigue management systems following SPADs

  30-09-2016 02:00 via railtechnologymagazine.com
  
  Rail Technology Magazine - Following two signal passed at danger (SPAD) incidents on the same freight route last year, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has called for the freight industry to carry out a review of its fatigue management system. The two SPADs involved DB Cargo trains on the Acton to Westbury...
  
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• Flintshire councillors plea over community transport scheme

  30-09-2016 02:00 via leaderlive.co.uk
  Other Regional Press - A COUNCIL boss is pleading with communities to get behind running their own transport services or risk losing them for good.
  
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• First MRJ test aircraft arrives in the US

  30-09-2016 02:00 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  Aviation Industry- Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp.s first MRJ90 test aircraft has arrived at Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake, Washington, where it will build hours toward type certification.read more
  
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• EU's £1bn bribe to make teens back Brussels: Free inter-railing! Every 18-year-old to get a ticket in desperate scheme to win support

  30-09-2016 02:00 via eupolitics.einnews.com
  EIN News Subscription - mp;#8230; largest group in the European Parliament, after the othermp;#8230; £1.6billion. Ukips transport spokesman Jill Seymourmp;#8230; very clearly how the EUs euro-straightjacket impoverishesmp;#8230; now facing the Eurozone. European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker earlier mp;#8230;
  
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• EU's 1bn bribe to make teens back Brussels: Free inter-railing! Every 18-year-old to get a ticket in desperate scheme to win support

  30-09-2016 02:00 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Mail Online - Every teenager in Europe will receive a free rail ticket on their 18th birthday to backpack across the continent in a move Eurosceptics have dismissed as desperate bribery.
  
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• EU Refers Germany to Top Court on Road-Toll Plan

  30-09-2016 02:00 via eupolitics.einnews.com
  EIN News Subscription - mp;#8230; :52 p.m. ET The European Union announced it was taking Germany mp;#8230;Itkonen, a spokeswoman for the European Commission, the EUs executive arm. The mp;#8230;mistake that they made. German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt, also a mp;#8230;
  
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• Elliott pushes to shake up Colombian airline

  30-09-2016 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - US hedge fund holds talks with senior executives
  
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• Educating drivers on smart motorways is key, says FTA

  30-09-2016 02:00 via fta.co.uk
  Other News Sources - It is important to concentrate on educating drivers on the safe use of smart motorways, the Freight Transport Association has said following a ...
  
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• Dry flights and blacklist of drunken passengers? UK and Spanish governments urged to crackdown on alcohol-fuelled problems on planes and at airports

  30-09-2016 02:00 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Mail Online - The political group More for Majorca has called for every airline travelling between the UK and Spain to introduce booze-free flights and a blacklist of drunken passengers to curb flight rowdiness.
  
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