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

Saturday, 23 July 2016

BBC News

• The world's first graphene car is unveiled in ManchesterThe world's first car made with graphene in its bodywork is unveiled in Manchester.
• Virgin Trains East Coast staff to hold strike ballotA union is to ballot its members over industrial action in a row with Virgin Trains East Coast over possible job losses.
• Air Transat suspends Glasgow drink charge pilotsTwo pilots accused of being impaired by alcohol as they prepared to fly a passenger jet from Glasgow Airport are suspended by their airline.
• First Glasgow bus strike threat avertedThe prospect of strike action by First Glasgow bus drivers is averted after talks.
• MH 370 pilot's sister speaks outAs the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 is close to being suspended, the BBC talks to the sister of Zaharie Shah, the plane's chief pilot.

Financial Times

• Heathrow expansion ‘vital’ after BrexitAirport operator says third runway needed to help UK maintain position in global trade
• Tough competition hits American AirlinesTop US carrier predicts Brexit could boost transatlantic traffic in the near term
• London requires better service from trainsThe structure of the railway service contract is part of the problem

The Guardian

• Brexit vote has bolstered Heathrow's fortunes, says airport chiefFalling pound has attracted foreign investment and strengthened case for third runway, says John Holland-KayeThe Brexit vote has delivered a boost to Heathrow’s fortunes, with the weak pound attracting foreign investors, encouraging international passengers to spend more in its terminals, and strengthening the airport’s case for expansion, the chief executive has claimed. The airport has reported an 8% rise in profits for the first six months of this year, driven by an increase in retail sales that John Holland-Kaye suggested could accelerate with the further drop in sterling since the referen...

The Herald

• Two pilots charged with being drunk as they prepared to fly passenger jet are suspended by airlineJean-Francois Perreault, 39, and Imran Zafar Syed, 37, were arrested before they were due to take off on the Air Transat flight from Glasgow Airport on Monday afternoon.
• Plane chiefs compensate passengers booked on flight where pilots were arrested for allegedly being drunkThe president of Canadian airline Air Transat has announced that all those due to fly on the plane from Glasgow to Toronto on Monday will now be compensated for the scrapped journey.
• Bus drivers roll back on strike threat after union negotiations with First GlasgowDrivers at Glasgow's biggest bus company have resolved a dispute with their employer First.

The Scotsman

• Authorities raise tracking standards to avoid MH370 repeatThe airline industry is still working to raise safety standards to prevent another plane from going missing, as investigators prepare to wind down the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 search after more than two fruitless years.

The Telegraph

• MH370 search to be suspended within weeks unless missing aircraft is found
• Commuters warned about dangers of playing Pok�mon Go at train stations�
• British Airways flight to Crete turns back to Gatwick after 'cannabis smell' fills cabin
• Liam Fox warns Britain must not 'put off big decision' on whether to build third runway at Heathrow �

Times Online

• Consumers may get cash for insurance policy cons [Subscription]Thousands of buyers of car, travel and general insurance have been sold policies by agents who faked documents and misrepresented the details, the City regulator has found.

Daily Record

• Airline chiefs to pay �500 to passengers of Glasgow flight grounded by 'drunk' pilots THE president of Canadian airline Air Transat announced that all those due to fly on the plane from Glasgow to Toronto will now be compensated for the scrapped journey.

Mail Online

• Aegean Airlines flight from Gatwick cancelled after pilot 'assaulted ground staff' The 9:20pm Aegean Airlines flight from Gatwick to Heraklion on the Greek island of Crete was first delayed and then scrapped after the alleged fight last night
• British Airways flight to Crete forced to make emergency landing The 8.15am flight from Gatwick to�Heraklion in Crete was diverted over Paris and forced to return to the UK after passengers were told crew had fallen ill after the 'unmistakable' stench filled the plane.
• Bolton traffic warden filmed slapping tickets on cars near broken machine Dominic Walker says his money was swallowed by a machine next to spaces in Bolton, Greater Manchester, which didn't issue a ticket for his windscreen
• Indian air force plane missing with 29 on board after leaving Chennai for Port Blair The last contact with the plane, which was carrying service personnel and six crew members, was made around 15 minutes after take-off from the southern Indian city of Chennai, the spokesman said.
• Sleaford traffic warden spotted preparing to ticket first responder’s car The parking officer was photographed by a member of the public hovering next to the medic's vehicle in the centre of Sleaford, Lincolnshire, on Tuesday afternoon.
• Bill for Britain's high speed rail link advisers is �180M despite no track being laid Consultancy fees and lawyers cost the HS2 project �185million last year, despite the fact not a single piece of track has been laid, according to the annual for the UK's new high speed rail link.
• Savvy motorists who renew their package exactly a week early reap rewards Savvy motorists who sort out their car insurance cover just a week earlier than they need it can slash almost 8 per cent off their annual bills, according to exclusive research conducted for Money Mail.

The Mirror

• Men who shone laser pen into police helicopter cockpit during missing person search jailed The pilot was forced to take evasive action and call off the search after Martin Jayes and Oktawain Plaskiewicz targeted the chopper

This is Money

• Self-driving buses: Next big idea from world’s most eccentric billionaire Elon Musk, who has pioneered the self-driving car, has set out his masterplan of next big ideas.

Network Rail

• New train underpass at Acton reaches structural completionA new dive-under at Acton, being constructed by Network Rail as part of the Crossrail programme, is now structurally complete and is on schedule to open early next year.
• Dover to Folkestone railway will reopen this autumnA �39.8m project to rebuild the line between Folkestone and Dover will be completed by autumn, Network Rail has confirmed.
• Final platform upgrade at Moorfields station to be completed this weekendPassengers will be able to use all three platforms at Moorfields station from tomorrow (Saturday 23 July) when the fully refurbished platform two, upgraded as part of a �12m investment, reopens.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Hospital plans to create extra parking spaces in bid to be 'good neighbour' BRADFORD Royal Infirmary has unveiled plans to create more car parking spaces in a bid to alleviate congestion in the area.
• Would parking charges put you off visiting this beauty spot? CAMPAIGNERS fear planned parking charges at a beauty spot could destroy years of work improving the site.
• Cars blocking new �29m cycle route FIFTEEN parking tickets have been issued to vehicles parked illegally along a new cycle route since it opened three weeks ago.

Northern Echo

• RMT members to vote on action against Virgin East Coast THE biggest rail union today announced it is to ballot members over strike action at Virgin East Coast.
• Battle to beat jams in traffic-choked town A NEW effort has been launched to tackle the continuing congestion problem caused by the railway level crossings in North Yorkshire’s county town.
• All aboard the Flying Scotsman for the Shildon Big Bash SITTING inside the cab of the Flying Scotsman is an unforgettable experience. Its whistle, a sound that delights so many when it roars through the countryside, is almost deafening. The heat from the glowing fire that powers the engine is intense and, as the world famous locomotive pulls away from the platform billowing steam, it is clear why it is as revered today as it was in the 1920s.

The York Press

• UPDATED: Jobs at York Railway Station under threat, union claims A UNION fears staff working in travel centres at stations on the East Coast Mainline, including York, could have their jobs cut.

Wales Online

• The great summer getaway is here as 'one of the busiest weekends for travel' awaits Cardiff Airport say they expect over 250,000 passengers to fly to sunnier climes throughout the six-week summer break
• Major traffic diversions lasting eight months are set to start in Cardiff this weekend Beresford Road bridge in Splott will be fully closed until March 2017

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Bearwood road junction ready for �700,000 revampMajor improvements are planned for a busy junction in Bearwood as part of a �700,000 scheme, council bosses have revealed.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Just the ticket for passengers – latest Leeds bus strike is OFFThe bus strike planned for next week in Leeds has been called off.

Yorkshire Post

• HS2 set to give economic boost to the regionYORKSHIRE will see an economic impact worth more than £200m a year from HS2 with even bigger benefits if services are connected to Scotland, according to a new report.
• YP Comment: Clarity needed over HS2 plans - Work to do to convince publicIF the HS2 project is to deliver maximum benefit to Yorkshire and the rest of the North – as we were told was its raison d’etre – then it is imperative that every opportunity is taken to use it to establish better links between major Northern towns and cities, along with emerging rural economies.

Blackpool Gazette

• REVEALED: 5 notorious speeding spots in BlackpoolAlmost 8,000 speeding drivers were caught out on the roads of Blackpool in just the last 12 months.

The Shields Gazette

• Motorists driven to distraction already by year-long South Shields roadworksThe traffic jams have begun. A year-long project to transform a major road in South Tyneside has started to cause hold-ups.

Other Regional Press

• Truck stop on edge of Northampton has licence reviewed after immigration raidA truck stop on the edge of Northampton will have to ensure its staff have the right to work in the UK after having its licence reviewed.
• Travellers unhappy at bus company’s price hikeFrom Sunday, Preston Bus Ltd will raise some of its fares by up to £3 following years of frozen prices.
• Bus users' views made public - five months after decision to axe 'lifeline' routes CAMPAIGNERS are concerned that a consultation report into rural bus services has only just been made public – months after the decision was taken to axe routes.
• Fast and regular Coventry rail service to London vital, says city council Campaign underway to retain three fast trains per hour to Euston after government proposal to cut Coventry services to improve Birmingham to London journey times
• Agonising 10 week road closure ahead for Harwell village A TEN-week closure of the main road out of a village has caused uproar among its residents and councillors.
• UPDATE: Great summer getaway causes traffic nightmare tonight for commuters AS school is out for summer the great getaway begins and with it long delays for commuters.
• See how flood prevention work in Hinksey will affect your train journey TRAIN commuters are reminded to plan their journeys for the start of next month as flood protection works between Oxford and Didcot Parkway get underway.
• Traffic mayhem looms during bridge closure this weekend RESIDENTS in a Hampshire community are bracing themselves for traffic chaos this weekend when a major road bridge going through their village closes.
• Victims of pothole between Stotfold and Letchworth launch appeals after Herts County Council refuses to pay compensationMotorists whose cars were damaged by a mammoth pothole between Letchworth and Stotfold have had their claims for compensation rejected by Herts County Council – and several are launching appeals.
• ‘Lucky it was a glancing blow’ – Latest motorist targeted by Stevenage A602 brick throwers describes late night attackA Stevenage motorist had a brick thrown at his windscreen while he was driving down the A602 Broadhall Way in the early hours of yesterday morning.

C.N.N.

• Report: MH370 pilot conducted similar route on home computerThe pilot of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 conducted a flight simulation that closely matched the missing plane's suspected route, reports New York magazine.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Midlands Rail Hub needed to deliver 10 extra services an hourRail connections in the Midlands will need funding to meet growing pressures on capacity, a new report has said. Midlands Connect, a group of 28 local authorities and 11 Local Enterprise Partnerships, has published the interim report of a £5m government-funded project to explore how to...
• Calls for TfL to take over Southern if services not restored within a month The troubled Southern franchise should be taken over by Transport for London (TfL) if services are not restored within a month, London TravelWatch has said. Following widespread delays, Southern has introduced an emergency timetable that cancelled 341 services a day for the next four weeks...

Railnews

• New transport secretary reaffirms case for HS2 The new transport secretary Chris Grayling has told an audience in the East Midlands that the case for HS2 remains, and that he will not be �backing away from it�. He was addressing business leaders and local politicians in Derby in his first public appearance since he succeeded Patrick McLoughlin in last week�s cabinet reshuffle. Opponents of HS2 have already called on Mr Grayling to reconsider the scheme, but he said: �One of the first things I did in my role was to confirm that there are absolutely no plans to back away from the HS2 project. It�s an integral part of our blueprint for an ef...

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow: expansion decision strengthened by BrexitAirport says Britain needs a ‘positive post-Brexit’ plan
• Flybe calls for opening of RAF Northolt to ease Heathrow capacity crunchAirline claims military base could contribute �7m annually to economy

Other News Sources

• Grayling urged to deliver on transport Pressure is mounting on the government to make swift and decisive decisions over areas of major transport policy
• New driving test hopes to make roads safer Greater emphasis is to be placed on learner motorists’ ability to drive without direction from the examiner
• Changes on way for polluted Leominster road WORK could begin in September to improve traffic and air quality issues on a polluted Leominster road.
• Mayor of London Sadiq Khan wants Transport for London to take control of Southern Rail Following months of disruption due to strikes and staff sickness, Sadiq Khan wants a top team at TfL to take control of the embattled rail operator
• British Airways plane returns to Gatwick after 'unmistakable cannabis smell' reported A BA spokeswoman said no evidence of cannabis or anybody smoking cannabis was found on board the plane after firefighters were called
• Government under new pressure to act against Southern Railway after travel misery The Government is coming under fresh pressure to take action against Southern Rail over the spate of delays and cancellations which has caused travel misery for passengers for weeks.
• ‘Appalling’ rail firm has not breached contract COMMUTERS have said they are “sickened and gobsmacked” to learn that a rail company responsible for bringing misery to the lives of thousands of commuters has not breached its contract.
• Transport improvements to improve air quality in Brighton and Hove’s most polluted street to be explored NEW transport improvements to improve air quality in Brighton and Hove’s most polluted street will be explored after hundreds of residents called for action.