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

Saturday, 01 October 2016

BBC News

• M6/A38: Why so many road works into Birmingham?For drivers commuting in and out of Birmingham during rush hour it can feel like there are 'always' roadworks. Is this the case?
• New stretch of A9 south of Aviemore opened to trafficA new stretch of carriageway on the A9 has been opened to traffic between Kincraig and Dalraddy south of Aviemore.
• New 999 ambulance priorities pilotedA new response system for 999 calls is to be piloted by the Scottish Ambulance Service.
• Rough seas hamper efforts to load Transocean rig on to shipRough seas are hampering the final preparations for loading the oil drilling rig Transocean Winner on to a ship off Lewis.
• Newry-based MJM Marine doubles pre-tax profitMJM Marine, the Newry-based cruise ship and fit-out company, more than doubled its pre-tax profit to �4.94m in 2015.
• Dublin Bus strikes suspended pending ballot on pay proposalBus strikes in Dublin are suspended pending a ballot of staff, after talks between management and unions at the Workplace Relations Commission.
• Londoners launch anti-Tube Chat campaignLondon commuters attempt to prove they are insular and unfriendly by wearing badges discouraging fellow passengers from talking to them.
• Lorries face London ban 'to protect cyclists'Thousands of lorries could be banned from London to make the roads safer for cyclists.
• Car makers plan for electric futureThe BBC's Theo Leggett has been taking a look at some of the car manufacturers' latest electric concepts at the Paris Motor Show.
• Nissan boss warns on UK investmentThe boss of Nissan warns that Brexit uncertainty and possible tariffs could damage investment in the UK's biggest car factory.
• Monarch holidays protection extendedBudget airline Monarch receives a temporary extension to its licence to sell package holidays and says it has secured

Financial Times

• Airbus brings passenger jets under its wingChanges will strengthen chief executive’s grip over the commercial business, as well as cut costs
• London to ban 35,000 trucks in safety pushMayor wants lorries with better visibility to stop cyclist deaths
• Uber Dubai future threatened by new rulesRegulator to add further surcharge, with Uber already 30% more expensive than taxis

The Guardian

• The glory days of airline food are behind us, but it's painful to let go | Tim HaywardBritish Airways is moving with the times in ditching free meals in economy, but in-flight food was never just about practicalityWhen British Airways announced earlier this week that it was reducing the number of meals provided to passengers on some economy flights and providing the opportunity to buy M&S sandwiches instead, one or two commentators deplored the change. But, in general, the news was greeted with a collective sigh of relief by a travelling public increasingly ground down by the indignities of air travel.I have a dirty little secret about airline food. I love it. I know of...
• Tesla Autopilot not to blame for bus accident in Germany, company saysThe automotive company claimed the bus swerved into vehicle’s lane, which which caused ‘unavoidable’ collision that driver said was unrelated to AutopilotTesla claims that one its cars operating in Autopilot mode was not to blame for a collision with a bus in Germany on Wednesday.The company claims the accident in Ratzeburg was unavoidable because the bus swerved into the vehicle’s lane. Continue reading...
• Tower Bridge to close for repairs until end of DecemberRoad traffic will not be able to cross the London landmark, although it will stay open for river traffic and pedestriansTower Bridge is to close to road traffic for three months from Saturday to allow extensive maintenance work to take place. The structure in London will shut on 1 October and is scheduled to reopen on 30 December.The City of London Corporation, which owns the 122-year-old landmark, needs to repair timber decking that was last refurbished in 1970, as well as carrying out maintenance on the lifting mechanism and waterproofing its brick arches. Continue reading...
• Virgin Trains East Coast workers to go ahead with 24-hour strikeTalks 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...
• Thousands of lorries to be banned from London for cyclist safetyMayor to introduce rating system that will ban vehicles with the worst driver visibility from capital’s roads by 2020Tens of thousands of lorries with poor visibility will be banned from London’s roads within four years to better protect cyclists and pedestrians, the city’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, has announced.Road safety campaigners have long called for action against some types of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), especially high-wheeled construction lorries, which have significant blindspots. Continue reading...
• Monarch Airlines given licence reprieve hours before deadlineCAA awards extension to Atol after airline announced it has received ‘significant investment from shareholders’ Monarch Airlines has been given a last-minute reprieve by the aviation authorities, who agreed to temporarily extend its licence to fly with only hours to go before Friday’s deadline. Related: Monarch in crisis talks to extend flying licence for package holidays Continue reading...

The Herald

• Virgin Trains East Coast strike to go aheadA 24-hour strike on Virgin Trains East Coast is to go ahead after talks failed to resolve a dispute over jobs and conditions.

The Scotsman

• East Coast Virgin Train workers to strike on MondayPassengers on the East Coast Mainline service face potential disruption to services after strike action was confirmed.

The Telegraph

• As a nattering Northerner, I'm horrified by these Tube Chat badges – you can't force conversation
• Heathrow's expansion shows British businesses are not sulking children – they are ready to embrace Brexit

Times Online

• Uber takes wheel of self-driving trucks [Subscription]Uber will already order your lunch, deliver your parcel and, of course, hail you a taxi. Now the aggressively ambitious Silicon Valley start-up has set its sights on autonomous trucking.

Mail Online

• Tube Chat badge launched on the London Underground ridiculed on Twitter Jonathan Dunne, originally from Colorado, handed out 500 badges encouraging Londoners to talk to each other on the tube but his efforts have been met with mockery across social media.
• EasyJet ordered to let new mothers stay on the ground and work shorter shifts EasyJet had refused requests from flight attendants Cynthia McFarlane and Sara Ambacher (pictured with her son Sydney) to be able to express milk during working hours.
• Birmingham cyclists' fury after council puts a METAL BARRIER in the middle of a bike lane The railing, on Chester Road in Birmingham, is next to a pedestrian crossing, but there are no alternative routes for cyclists. Rider Michael Scott said the barrier could cause a serious crash.
• Isle of Wight campaigners unveil plans for �1.2bn TUNNEL to replace car ferries The proposal would see a four mile long dual-carriageway built between Whippingham on the island (pictured) and Gosport, Hampshire, cutting the journey time from an hour to six minutes.
• On board the USS Eisenhower as its Top Guns blast ISIS with bombing missions DailyMail.com had exclusive access to the US aircraft carrier whose pilots are flying missions over Iraq and Syria to bring death to the fundamentalist Islamic terror group.

The Mirror

• Nissan jobs warning shows the very real dangers of the Brexit vote Car giant threatens to claim compensation if there are financial implications to Brexit

This is Money

• Crunch talks to keep Monarch flying go right to the brink as budget airline battles to renew a crucial licence The Luton-based firm, which flies more than six million passengers every year, was forced to deny speculation which emerged last weekend that it was on the verge of going bust.

Network Rail

• Passengers urged to plan ahead before major improvement works at Waterloo station next AugustNetwork Rail and South West Trains are asking rail passengers to plan their journeys ahead of a major phase of works taking place at London’s Waterloo station on 5-28 August 2017.

Birmingham Mail

• Monarch Airlines seals deal to continue flying package holiday customers Airline secures extension to ATOL licence after crisis talks with aviation bosses

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Row over Anglesey to Cardiff airlink after passenger numbers fall by more than a QUARTERThe revelation has sparked a war of words among politicians while the Welsh Government has pledged to review the service
• GHA Coaches bosses BANNED INDEFINITELY from running bus services Traffic Commissioner Nick Jones said directors of firm had given 'precedence to income over maintenance and public safety'

London Evening Standard

• Tower Bridge closure: Drivers and cyclists braced for chaos as London crossing shuts for three monthsThe man in charge of Tower Bridge today said there was no choice but to close it for three months because the road surface was falling apart.
• Sadiq Khan announces ban on dangerous lorries but delayed cycle safety measuresSadiq Khan today announced plans to ban the most dangerous lorries from London by 2020 by introducing a "star rating" for vehicles based on the driver's view of pedestrians and cyclists.
• Heathrow in row with John McDonnell over 'outrageous' call to remove airport from his constituencyHeathrow was embroiled in a furious row today over an alleged bid to "gerrymander" the constituency of shadow chancellor John McDonnell – an opponent of its third runway plans.
• Waterloo Station works next summer to cause travel chaos for commutersCommuters have been warned they face travel chaos during redevelopment work at Waterloo station next summer.
• British Transport Police officer could face sack over video of man hit with baton at St Pancras stationA police officer could face the sack after video footage emerged of a man being struck repeatedly with a baton during an arrest at St Pancras station.
• Classic Jaguar to be restored in public at Alexandra PalaceThe one-off 1954 XK120 will star at the Classic & Sports Car Show in October.

Northern Echo

• School crossing needed, say campaigners CAMPAIGNERS claim Stockton Council is “failing in its duty of care” to children by not providing a crossing across a busy road in Yarm.
• New traffic lights on Durham roundabout due to be switched on WORK on a busy city roundabout are almost complete with traffic lights due to be switched on on Monday [October 3].
• New housing plans spark traffic fears in Bishop Auckland PLANS to create up to 550 new homes on farmland on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland have prompted concerns about increased traffic on rural and residential roads.

The York Press

• Pilot injured in glider crash A PILOT was injured when a glider crashed in East Yorkshire today.
• 18 photos: York Railway Station in the 1970s, inside & out Join us on a trip down memory lane...

Peterborough Telegraph

• Roadworks causing major delays in Peterborough City CentreThere are major delays to traffic throughout Peterborough City Centre today due to roadworks.

Sunderland Echo

• Major roadworks set to be completed in DurhamMajor roadworks which have disrupted drivers in Durham for months are set to come to an end.

The Shields Gazette

• Councils set for share of �43m windfall as part of Newcastle Airport plansCouncils and an airport partner are set to share a windfall of £43million after Newcastle Airport announced a project to refinance its bank debt.

West Sussex Gazette

• COUNTY NEWS: Protest by Southern Rail commuters in London backed by MPsA protest was staged by Southern Rail commuters last night at London Victoria station, with vocal support from MPs in the South East.
• Call for action as road death reduction ‘stalls’The Government has been urged to do more to address road safety after a charity said the latest figures on deaths showed a risk of stagnation, despite a slight drop.

Other Regional Press

• Taxi app Uber to launch in Newport today THE cashless taxi app Uber is set to launch in Newport today at 4pm, adding Newport to its UK city base.
• POLL: Direct rail link between St Albans and Watford could be ripped up and converted into busway A direct rail link between Watford and St Albans could be ripped up and converted into a concrete
• Where can you park for free in Watford? Priciest and cheapest car parks revealed Car parks in Watford have been revealed to charge more by the hour compared to towns in the Three Rivers District and Bushey. Spending an afternoon exploring Cassiobury Park or wandering round the pubs and shops in Watford town centre, while leaving your car at the Gade Car Park, on Rosslyn Road, will cost �1 for an hour or �6 for 12 hours.
• More say over TransWilts line handed to community by rail minister RAIL passengers can expect more of a say on how their services are run after the TransWilts line was designated as a community rail service.
• Westbury depot under scrutiny after investigation into train driver fatigue THREE recommendations covering shift planning at DB Cargo's Westbury�depot have been made by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) following an investigation.
• Busy commuter route will be shut for weeks for archaeological dig An archaeological dig�to investigate a medieval causeway before Oxford's �120m flood channel is built will close a key commuter route for up to six weeks.

Buying Business Travel

• Airlines see sharp rise in unruly passenger behaviourData from IATA shows alcohol and drug use in 23% of incidents last year
• Air France-KLM to install wifi on long-haul fleetAir France-KLM has signed an agreement w

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Mayor of London sets out ground-breaking measures to rid London of dangerous lorriesThe Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced ground-breaking proposals to make London’s roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists by removing the most dangerous lorries from the capital’s roads by 2020.  TfL’s Direct Vision Standard, a world first, will use a ‘star rating’ from 0 to 5 stars to rate construction and other heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) based on the level of vision the driver has directly from the cab.  Under the plans to be consulted on shortly, the most dangerous ‘off-road’ HGVs will be banned from London’s streets enti...

Rail Technology Magazine

• DfT confirms CrossCountry franchise extension for ArrivaArriva has promised an extensive programme of improvements on the CrossCountry franchise, as the government formally announced today that it has extended the contract until October 2019. The extension was expected, and was listed as 'anticipated' on franchise charts issued by the DfT. As part...
• Passengers warned to 'start planning ahead' for major Waterloo works next summerPassengers can expect significant disruptions at London Waterloo from 5 to 28 August 2017 to allow for major upgrade work, Network Rail and South West Trains (SWT) have warned. Platforms 1-9 at the station will be closed while work is carried out to extend platforms 1-4. This is intended to...
• Milestone moment as Metrolink's final M5000 tram leaves Vienna depotTransport for Greater Manchester has celebrated the successful upgrade of the Metrolink tram fleet as the 120th vehicle left Bombardier’s Vienna depot. Tram 3120, the final tram in the fleet, left the manufacturer’s depot on 27 September and is due to arrive in the UK this...
• Could this be the station of the future?New images have brought to life a future where stations will be places to shop and socialise and not simply catch a train. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) has released the images from bpr architects, which illustrate Station Place, a concept based on the ‘Vision for Stations’ the RDG...

Aviation Industry

• UK CAA allows Monarch Airlines to continue flying Monarch Airlines has received a 12-day extension of its Air Travel Operators’ License from UK regulators, allowing the carrier to keep flying. read more

Green Miscellany

• Sainsburys returns to cargo bikes after 100 yearsAfter more than a century, Sainsbury’s is to resume a customer delivery service using cargo bikes. Sainsbury’s first delivered groceries using cargo bikes and tricycles in 1900, but the revived service has been updated and digitized for today’s time-pressed shopper. Using the Chop Chop app, customers in London can request, pay for and track an order for up to 20 items, and have… The post Sainsburys returns to cargo bikes after 100 years appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Blue Badge eligibility criteria expandedThe Blue Badge Scheme in Wales will be expanded tomorrow to include those experiencing temporary but substantial injuries or illness, the Economy and Infrastructure Secretary Ken Skates has announced.
• Industry needs time to adapt to Mayor’s five star planThe ‘five star truck safety plan’, announced by the Mayor of London today, has been described as “a much more targeted approach and a step in the ...
• FTA Safety in Logistics speaker to focus on drivers using hands-free phonesThe 2016 Freight Transport Association (FTA) Safety in Logistics Conference will include a thought-provoking presentation on the impact of making ...

EIN News Subscription

• German Rail Company to Cut Service to Belgium if Passenger Registration Enforced … newspaper, The Community of�European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) … Jambon, and Minister of�Transport Francois Bellot, to�question … �the registration for�the railways and its negative effect … station located near�the EU institutions in�the center …
• The EU is planning to give free Interrail passes to every 18-year-old in Europe on their birthday … the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker called for greater cooperation within the EU … use to travel the vast railway network connecting most major cities … to use other modes of transport free of charge under the …
• Airbus Tightens Belt With Shake-Up … the combination of European aerospace and defense assets. Airbus in 2013 moved … than planned. Its A400M military transport plane has suffered technical problems … study developing cheaper satellite-launch options. Airbus also faces stiff competitive pressure …