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

Sunday, 14 August 2016

BBC News

• London Mayor urges takeover of 'failing' Southern railThe Mayor of London repeats his offer to put Transport for London (TfL) in charge of
• Eurostar strikes by RMT and TSSA suspended for talksStrikes by Eurostar workers at the RMT and TSSA unions will be suspended from midnight to allow further talks, they have said.
• 'Millions' of Volkswagen cars can be unlocked via hackA sizeable proportion of 100 million Volkswagen cars sold since 1995 can be unlocked remotely by hackers, a team of researchers says.

The Guardian

• Large cruise ship voyage through Arctic ice rekindles rowsCampaigners say Crystal Serenity trip puts at risk very environment tourists are travelling to see in Northwest PassageA decision to proceed with plans to sail the first huge cruise liner through the Northwest Passage on Tuesday with 1,000 passengers on board has rekindled rows with environmentalists about the Arctic.The wildlife charity WWF has accused Crystal Cruises of putting at risk “the very thing that tourists would come to see” – a pristine wilderness and home to endangered species such as polar bears and walrus. Continue reading...
• Man dies after being struck by cars on M66 motorway near BuryMan is believed to have been walking along road when he was struck by northbound and then three southbound vehiclesA man has died after being struck by several cars on the M66 motorway near Bury.Greater Manchester police said they were called to reports of a collision between junctions 2 and 3 just before 2am on Saturday. Officers found a man with fatal injuries as well as four damaged vehicles. Continue reading...
• Has the RMT union's moderate Mick Cash turned militant?Strikes and disputes have led to crisis in the railways. But the RMT says a fluke of timing is to blame as fights come to a head at onceEven for a union that has never been shy of a fight, it has been a busy week. As a conductors’ strike on Southern rail left hundreds of thousands of commuters struggling, the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ union announced that its members on Virgin Trains East Coast had also voted to strike. It followed up by calling a walkout by train managers on Eurostar.General secretary Mick Cash, elected to succeed Bob Crow after the union’s leader died suddenly in...

The Scotsman

• Scottish Government’s controversial China deal with ‘could still be on track’One of the key figures involved in setting up discussions between the Scottish Government and potential Chinese investors believes that the opportunity for business remains alive, despite criticism over alleged links to human rights abuses and corruption.
• Gordon Dewar: Response to Edinburgh Airport criticismsThe Edinburgh Airport chief executive replied to Alastair Dalton’s Inside Transport column in a letter in The Scotsman today.
• Passengers hit out at Borders Railway ‘shambles’ as 70 trains cancelled in ten daysTrain punctuality on the Borders Railway has sunk to a new low as Scotland’s newest line prepares to celebrate its first birthday.

The Telegraph

• Ministers urged to give councils the power to charge utility companies �2,000 a day for road works�
• Families going on holiday will pay �161 taxes before they even board the plane, says report�
• Rail passengers face higher fares despite strike chaos

Mail Online

• Thailand plans to TRACK all tourists using a special SIM card A new plan by Thailand to monitor the whereabouts of tourists through special SIM cards has been endorsed by the country's telecommunications regulator. Thailand deny the plan will limit rights.
• Rail commuters face new �40-a-year ticket hike from the New Year News of the increase of about 1.5 per cent comes after the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said it will strike on Virgin East Coast next Friday and bank holiday Monday.

This is Money

• How to claim a rail refund through a mobile app (with no forms to fill in) If you are delayed by more than half an hour you can usually claw back some money, but it requires filling in forms that are often hidden at the back of ticket counters and must be asked for.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Woman rescued from level crossing at Steeton POLICE community support officers from Keighley helped avert a potential disaster after receiving a call that someone was acting suspiciously on the tracks near the Skipton road level crossing at Steeton.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• More of North Wales' worst parking car-tastrophes Readers have been out in force documenting some of the worst parking disasters to be found in the region
• North Wales X-Files: UFO 'close encounters' at Denbigh hospital Numerous reported sightings at former asylum over the last 50 years, adding to the mystique of this iconic building

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• The North's most dangerous places for driving at night revealedOnly Hackney and Tameside have a higher proportion of road accidents between midnight and 4am than Newcastle

Sheffield Star

• Doncaster motorists on alert as thieves target cars for sat navsMotorists are being urged to be on their guard after a series of raids on cars in Doncaster.

Wales Online

• Motorists stuck in 40-minute delays on the M4 Severn Bridge Traffic reports show the queues are stretching for 14 miles from the westbound tollbooths

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Yorkshire misses out on the chance to host major cycling eventYorkshire has missed out in its late bid to host the European Road Cycling Championships next month.

Yorkshire Post

• Councils attempt to curb traffic disruptionPowers to make it easier to charge utility companies for every day they spend digging up roads causing traffic disruption are being demanded by councils.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Call for more action on drink-driving as fatality figures stagnateRoad safety charities and motoring groups have called on the Government to do more to address drink-driving after the latest figures showed that drink-related fatalities have not fallen since 2010.

Reading Evening Post

• Week long road closures in Bracknell as resurfacing work starts Roadworks in the town will begin on Monday, August 15

Other Regional Press

• Thousands of Gwent drivers on the roads with penalty points MORE THAN 26,000 people in Gwent are driving with penalty points, according to research from car insurance dealer esure.
• Warning after thefts from vehicles in GosportPOLICE are warning people to ensure their cars are locked after a series of thefts.
• Planned roadworks for South England: From August 12The following summary of planned new and ongoing road improvements over the coming week is correct as of 12 August but could be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. All our improvement work is carried out with the aim of causing as little disruption as possible.
• Fire service warns Pokemon GO users to take "extra care" near roads THE fire service has warned Pokemon hunters in Oxfordshire to be
• Parents fork out �22bn helping kids learn to driveUK parents are collectively spending £22 billion to help get their children on the road and three quarters of mums and dads in the South East admit paying for their child’s driving lessons.
• Double-check before you park at Kassam, warns Oxford United FOOTBALL fans planning to drive to home games at the Kassam Stadium this season have been warned to keep a close eye on where they park after a 'crackdown' last week.
• 'Millions' of cars can be hacked and unlocked with �30 radio MILLIONS of cars sold by Volkswagen since 1995 can be easily unlocked by hackers, researchers have said.
• Call for more action on drink-driving as fatality figures stagnateRoad safety charities and motoring groups have called on the Government to do more to address drink-driving after the latest figures showed that drink-related fatalities have not fallen since 2010.

Rail Magazine

• New London Underground signalling system reaches critical testing stageTesting of new signalling system to be introduced by Thales and London Underground has reached the point where a train is running at LU’s line speed of 50mph.

Railnews

• RMT announces Bank Holiday strike on VT East Coast The RMT has named strike days on Virgin Trains East Coast in a dispute over jobs, working conditions and safety. All VTEC RMT members, except those working on maintenance at depots, are now set to walk out for 24 hours by not booking on for duty between 03.00 on 19, 26 and 29 August until 02.59 the following day. The union claims that nearly 200 jobs are threatened by staffing cuts.

Other News Sources

• Bus boss: We do need to improve our relationship with our staff BUS bosses have admitted improvements could be made with their relationship with staff amid talks aimed at ending a strike threat.
• Beach is deserted as rail dispute takes its toll on tourism PLENTY of space on Brighton beach and empty seats at Albion reveal the impact of the disruptive rail strike on the city’s economy.