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

Sunday, 31 July 2016

BBC News

• Humphrys takes rail firm rep to task over faresRail companies have an obligation to tell us what the cheapest fares are when we buy our tickets. But when The Times checked out 50 journeys, it found it was possible to get a cheaper fare on 33 of them than the advertised fare.

The Guardian

• Drivers told to avoid Dover travel on 'Black Saturday'Motorists have been told to avoid travelling through Dover on “Black Saturday” in a bid to avoid the traffic chaos that trapped thousands of drivers for hours last weekend.
• Airport drinks ban? What a joyless prospect | Barbara EllenThere’s more than a touch of class warfare at play in plans to curb drinking opportunities before flyingAt first glance, the proposed crackdown on the sale and consumption of alcohol in British airports seems a no-brainer. Why should airport staff or plane crew be forced to deal with abusive or violent passengers? In an era of critical security issues, why should police time be wasted on inebriates? Does it enhance the journey when people have alcohol-fuelled “disagreements” in their seats or someone vomits into their cupped hands on take-off?On this note, I’d like to apologise for my past mis...

The Telegraph

• Airlines warn Britain's airports are becoming a 'wild west' with fast food chains and coffee shops selling alcohol to passengers�

Times Online

• Bombardier set to queen it over rest on Elizabeth Line [Subscription]A key element of London’s future infrastructure was unveiled an hour and a half by rail north of the capital yesterday, as the first of a new fleet of 66 trains for the Elizabeth Line made its appearance.
• SNP will replace air passenger duty despite strong opposition [Subscription]The Scottish government is to push through reducing and replacing air passenger duty (APD) despite an official consultation showing that majority opinion is against a cut in the tax.
• Sober truth about Uber’s boast of lower drink-driving [Subscription]Uber prides itself on helping to cut drink-driving by offering the inebriated an alternative to getting home safely with only a few taps on their smartphone. Scientists believe, however, that the taxi-hailing app has done nothing of the sort — partly because drunks are unwilling to pay for a ride home.
• Northern powerhouse is a ‘threat to Scotland’A leading economist has warned Westminster’s commitment to creating a northern powerhouse could send Scotland’s faltering economy into permanent decline unless the Scottish government does more to help struggling businesses.

Mail Online

• Ryanair passengers travelling with an under-12 must pay for reserved seat The Dublin-based airline said allowing passengers to choose to be randomly allocated seats has led to 'boarding issues', as crews try to re-seat adults and children who have been separated.
• Video shows drunken woman stumbling on railtracks at Woking station Horrifying footage showed the female tottering around and narrowly avoiding electrocution from the live third rail at Woking station. Panicked staff managed to pull her onto the platform.

The Mirror

• Rail watchdog launches probe into rip-off ticket machines at train stationsThe Office of Rail and Road has decided to act after research suggested at least one in 20 passengers are overpaying

Birmingham Post

• Time to speak up on Greater Birmingham's economic future Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership wants to hear the views of public and businesses to shape the economic future of the West Midlands over the next 14 years

Edinburgh Evening News

• New bus link for East LothianA NEW day ticket is being introduced allowing passengers to travel across East Lothian and Edinburgh.
• Edinburgh’s 20mph speed limit launches tomorrowIt will come into force with the introduction of a Traffic Regulation Order formalising the reduction.
• Capital trunk road named ‘one of Scotland’s most dangerous’ONE of the Capital’s trunk roads has been named among the most dangerous in Scotland.
• SNP to press on with plans to scrap air passenger dutyTHE Scottish Government is to press ahead with plans to scrap air passenger duty (APD) despite a majority of people who responded to a public consultation raising concerns about the move.

Lincolnshire Echo

• 'Give us an idea how long we would be waiting at the rail barriers' Although it's unlikely to be regarded as a priority right now, Andy Holman's suggestion that Network Rail displays a countdown of the time pedestrians will have to wait if they choose not to make use of the new footbridge seems perfectly reasonable (Echo, July 21, P41).

London Evening Standard

• East London is the toughest place to pass a driving test in the UKEast London is the toughest place to pass your driving test with the highest failure rates in the country, research shows.

Yorkshire Post

• Motorist stopped by Yorkshire police driving at 116mphPolice in North Yorkshire have stopped a driver on the motorway travelling at 116mph.

Other Regional Press

• Will Heathrow expansion ever be cleared for take off?Ever since the first passengers departed from the newly created Heathrow Airport in 1946, the debate over its expansion has rumbled on. One year on since the Airports Commission recommended a third runway, concerns remain over country’s most significant infrastructure project. Express news editor Paul Miles spoke with external affairs director at the airport, Nigel Milton, to discuss the expansion plans and whether he believes they will ever be cleared for take off.

Other News Sources

• SNP vows to push on with APD cut, despite environmental concernsFinance Secretary Derek Mackay has vowed to push on with plans to cut Air Passenger Duty (APD) in half by the end of the parliamentary term, despite its own consultation analysis showing the majority of respondents had raised environmental concerns over the plans.
• Call for rail investmentPosted on 30 Jul 2016 and read 137 times inShare Call for rail investmentA campaign to secure £1 billion of improvements to the North Wales and Cheshire rail network, which could create 70,000 jobs over 20 years, has been launched.
• Train Simulation/Zombie Survival mashup The Final Station arriving in August, watch the trailer hereThe Final Station is a post-apocalyptic survival game in the same vein as games like “This War Of Mine”. The aim of the game is to survive as long as possible by keeping the train you are riding adequately fueled and operational, while also protecting your passengers from hordes of the hungry undead at each station.
• Transport Committee supports FTA’s claim- driver shortage won’t solve itself‘Industry and Government must work together to beat haulage driver shortage,’ says the Transport Committee – echoing the message from the Freight ...
• See the dramatic moment railway station staff pulled woman to safety from tracks Members of the public helped South West Trains staff deal with the woman, who was then "left in the care of health professionals"