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

Saturday, 26 November 2016

BBC News

• Joint bid for �7m Magor and Undy rail stationA joint funding bid is submitted for a new �7m railway station to serve Magor and Undy in Monmouthshire.
• UK revises safe flying drone codeThe UK's drone code has been revised and updated to help pilots of the unmanned craft ensure they fly the gadgets safely.
• Noise main issue in Edinburgh Airport flight path consultationAlmost 6,000 responses are submitted to a first consultation on changes to Edinburgh Airport's flight paths.
• Oxford Street buses 'could be halved' under TfL proposalsThe number of buses on London's Oxford Street could be almost halved from next year as part of plans to reduce congestion and improve air quality.
• Heathrow third runway 'to breach climate change laws'Plans to expand Heathrow Airport are set to breach the government’s climate change laws, advisers warn.
• Lufthansa grounds long-haul flights as strike drags onMore than 100,000 Lufthansa passengers are facing disruption as a strike by pilots drags on for a third day.

Financial Times

• JLR aims for 10,000 UK jobs in electric car pushGovernment investment key to carmaker’s expansion plans
• Striking Lufthansa pilots reject new pay offerGerman carrier cancels 2,755 flights but walkout on Sunday suspended

The Guardian

• Car insurance premiums to rise to £600 after tax hikeAA warns of soaring costs from June following autumn statement announcementCar insurance premiums are set to break through the £600 barrier for the first time next year as insurers pass on higher costs and this week’s premium tax hike, experts are warning. On Wednesday the chancellor, Philip Hammond, announced he is to increase insurance premium tax (IPT) from 10% to 12% from June.This means drivers, now typically paying around £50 a year to the Treasury when they insure their car, will see it rise to above £60. Some young drivers could have to pay more than £250 just in the IPT part of their ...
• Dozens killed in train collision in IranA moving passenger train hit a stationary train near the town of Semnan, according to reportsA train collision in northern Iran has killed at least 36 people and injured 95, Iran’s state TV reported.The TV said the accident happened in subzero temperatures when a moving passenger train hit a stationary train at a station about 150 miles (250km) east of Tehran. Continue reading...

The Herald

• 43 killed in Iran train collisionA train collision in northern Iran has killed at least 43 people and injured 100, state media reported.
• Kezia Dugdale launches campaign for rail fare freeze following ScotRail 'shambles'Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale launched a campaign for a rail fare freeze in Edinburgh today as signalling problems caused more disruption in Glasgow.
• Only THREE councillors responded to Edinburgh Airport consultation requestJust 1% of councillors contacted over controversial plans to alter flight paths above Scotland's busiest airport responded to a consultation on the issue, a new publication shows.
• �1.5m for 19 ways to walk, scoot, skate or cycle to schoolWALKING, scooting, skating or cycling to and from school is about to get easier and safer through a charity funding boost.
• Rail passengers in line to save up to �100 on fares under disruption payback planRAIL passengers who have suffered disruption could be in line to save �100 on season passes next year if prize freeze plans are adopted.

The Scotsman

• Councillors snub Edinburgh Airport flight path consultationJust 1% of councillors contacted over controversial plans to alter flight paths above Scotland’s busiest airport responded to a consultation on the issue, a new publication shows.
• Labour peer dies following road accident outside WestminsterA Labour peer who was injured in a road accident ­outside the Houses of Parliament has died, a party spokesman said.

The Telegraph

• 'Splitting' your ticket could save you �100s on train fares this Christmas
• World’s worst traffic jam? Cars stuck in Thanksgiving getaway 'gridlock' 
• Lufthansa pilots reject new pay offer from airline

Daily Record

• Police patrols carried out across Scotland in counter-terrorism awareness campaign The day of action saw British Transport Police (BTP) officers showing an increased presence in crowded public areas such as Edinburgh Waverley station.
• Scotland's rail service crumbles while official in charge of Scotrail chaos rides gravy train to �105K salary THE Record can reveal Aidan Grisewood also landed a jaw-dropping 10 per cent payrise last year despite a plague of delays and costly gaffes.

Mail Online

• Luton Airport's passport control area is crowded due to staff shortages The hall at Luton Airport ahead of passport control was packed – because too few staff were manning the desks to let the crowds back into the country. The scene was pictured at 11pm on November 13.

The Mirror

• Woman fined �100 and gets car clamped - because she didn't tax her TAX-FREE car Despite being a zero tax vehicle, Margaret Hicket still had to renew her disc and has warned others to get it done before this happens to them
• Glass used on tram which killed seven people in Croydon crash could have contributed to deaths A hospital source, who treated many of the victims, said many suffered "terrible" lacerations
• Contractors moved car to paint double yellow lines then dragged it back onto them and ticketed driver Garage owner David Buckland said the workers also caused damage to his vehicle by dragging it while the handbrake was on

This is Money

• Jaguar Land Rover wants to build electric cars in Britain The nation's biggest car builder has revealed plans to build electric models in Britain during an industry meeting this week. According to reports, it could mean an extra 10,000 UK jobs.

Birmingham Mail

• HS2 and Bodymoor Heath: Aston Villa's future will be held back by train disruptionsHS2 will have a big effect on Aston Villa says Perry Barr MP

Birmingham Post

• First drive: Ford Ka+ Zetec What additions does the Ka+ bring?

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Family of disabled passenger left for hours on a Council bus speak out THE FAMILY of a disabled passenger overlooked and left on a Bradford Council transport bus for up to five hours after the vehicle was parked in its depot, has told of the trauma it has wreaked on their lives.

London Evening Standard

• Thameslink delays: Rail operator has worst performance for six yearsRail operator Thameslink had its worst period for punctuality in at least six years over the past month, new figures show.
• Residents say 'chaos' of Lancaster Gate cycle superhighway building work is making their lives a miseryAngry residents say the extension of London's flagship cycle superhighway is making life "unbearable".
• Heathrow Airport expansion 'may breach Government's own climate change laws'The third runway planned for Heathrow may breach the Government's own climate change laws if other sectors do not make big cuts to emissions, an independent advisory body has warned.
• Boris bike scheme 'should be expanded to Richmond'A call was made today for Boris bikes to be extended to a London borough with one of the highest rates of cycling in the capital.
• Number of buses on Oxford Street could be slashed by HALFThe number of buses running along Oxford Street could be cut by almost half under plans to pedestrianise Britain's busiest shopping street.
• Piccadilly Line delays: Tube chaos to continue for days as half of trains taken out of servicePassengers fear delays and cancellations on the Piccadilly Line could last for days as work continues to fix faulty wheels caused by wet leaves.
• Business fears U-turn on TfL taking over railBusiness bosses today warned that a government U-turn on handing over suburban trains to City Hall control would be "hugely disappointing".
• Government backed Heathrow Airport third runway 'using old pollution data'Transport Secretary Chris Grayling today admitted the Government backed a third runway at Heathrow without fully understanding the implications of ground-breaking new evidence on vehicle emission standards.
• Shocking moment risk-takers with young children dice with death on west London level crossingBritish Transport Police have released the footage as a warning.
• Train worker 'put in headlock and dragged around' at London Paddington stationPolice are hunting a man who put a train worker in a headlock and dragged him around in a row over a ticket at one of London's busiest stations.
• Tube workers 'threatened with knife' at Walthamstow Central stationPolice are hunting a man who allegedly threatened Tube workers with a knife at a station in east London.

Northern Echo

• Bus driver charged following fatal crash in Darlington town centre A BUS driver has been charged with causing the death of a pensioner who was killed in Darlington town centre.

The York Press

• Tiredness causes most crashes MORE than 185,010 people were injured or killed on the road in the first six months of 2016 and�nearly 139,000 could have been prevented if motorists were less distracted when driving.

Wales Online

• Cars could be back in Bridgend town centre – but it would cost more than £500,000Vehicles are set to get 24-hour access to streets that are currently pedestrianised
• Dashcam footage shows a 44-tonne truck nearly flatten a small car The car had been on the wrong side of the road
• Contractors painted double yellow lines around a car – which was then dragged on to them and ticketedCardiff council says it was 'unacceptable' if the car had been dragged down the road
• Work is due to begin on installing more than 13,000 street lights on Cardiff's roads More than 24,000 energy-efficient street lights will be installed

Yorkshire Evening Post

• New homes near Leeds motorway put on hold after pollution fearsA housing development near the M621 motorway in Leeds has been put on hold after claims that it would put local families at higher risk from air pollution.

Blackpool Gazette

• Lifeboats rescue two people after boat reported missing off Fleetwood coastTwo people have been found safe and well following an extensive search after their boat was reported as overdue off Fleetwood in Lancashire.
• Leather seats and wifi on new busesA multi-million pound investment in Blackpool’s bus fleet will give passengers access to the latest technology while they travel.

Bucks Free Press

• MOMENTS FROM DISASTER: Overweight truck attempts to cross Marlow Bridge again - minutes after reopening An overweight van tried to cross Marlow Bridge just five minutes after it was officially reopened after two months this morning.�

Peterborough Telegraph

• DRIVE FOR JUSTICE CAMPAIGN: Number of driving bans handed out by courts falls by 62%One of the aims of the Drive For Justice campaign is to lobby for greater use of driving bans given out when sentencing and longer bans for those who kill or seriously injure on the roads.

Sunderland Echo

• Metro delays highlight need for investment, says Sunderland MPWearsiders faced hours of Metro misery –on the day a £20million upgrade to the transport system was announced.

The Shields Gazette

• Nexus launches investigation after Metro delays cause misery for passengersTransport chiefs have launched an investigation after yet more Metro chaos for passengers.

Other Regional Press

• Safety campaigners call for road improvements after pedestrian killed in crash SAFETY campaigners are calling for improvements to a stretch of road where a pedestrian died.
• "Driving distracted" survey finds quarter of all motorists admit to driving when tired IN Great Britain alone, there were more than 185,010 road traffic injuries and fatalities last year, yet nearly 139,000 could have been prevented if motorists were less distracted when driving.
• New 'superhighway' could help solve A34 problems THE �27m�committed to develop plans for an Oxford to Cambridge Expressway road by Chancellor Philip Hammond could also help to deliver a solution to congestion on the A34.
• Longer journey times for weekend trains between Oxford, Didcot and London Rail passengers planning to travel between Oxford, Didcot and London on Sunday morning are being warned to allow extra time for their journeys, due to engineering work.
• Buses could remain on Queen Street after council U-turn on pedestrianisation plan THE PEDESTRIANISATION of Queen Street has been thrown into doubt after transport bosses recommended the city centre road be kept open for buses despite safety concerns.
• DRIVE FOR JUSTICE CAMPAIGN: Number of driving bans handed out by courts falls by 62%One of the aims of the Drive For Justice campaign is to lobby for greater use of driving bans given out when sentencing and longer bans for those who kill or seriously injure on the roads.
• DRIVE FOR JUSTICE CAMPAIGN: Number of driving bans handed out by courts falls by 62%One of the aims of the Drive For Justice campaign is to lobby for greater use of driving bans given out when sentencing and longer bans for those who kill or seriously injure on the roads.

Bus and Coach.com

• Transport Committee criticises lack of detail from government in Buses Bill report

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Proposed changes to bus routes to improve reliability and reduce congestion in central London • The Elizabeth line and a switch to other forms of travel prompt fresh thinking on a number of bus routes in central London • Proposals would reduce buses on Oxford Street, helping reduce congestion and improve air quality and safety • The forthcoming TfL Business Plan will see total bus mileage maintained across London over the five year life of the plan Transport for London (TfL) has today launched a consultation on proposed changes to 23 central London bus routes to better match bus services with demand from passengers.     The changes would improve the reliabili...

Aviation Industry

• Government must prove that Heathrow expansion won’t breach climate legislation, say official climate advisersThe Chair of the Committee on Climate Change, Lord Deben, this week challenged the Government to come up with an answer on aviation emissions if it wants to go ahead with Heathrow expansion. Deben set out the Committee’s concerns in …

Green Miscellany

• Dangerous and illegal parking outside schoolsThere is little doubt that parking near school entrances is dangerous. Unfortunately, messy traffic regulations make it unclear�whether drivers are permitted to stop on zig zag lines or not. Parking outside schools: Is it legal to stop on yellow zig zag signs? You would assume so, but the law is far from clear. Yellow zig zag lines outside schools that… The post Dangerous and illegal parking outside schools appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Surrey bus service reductions: Changes announced as council attempt to fill gaps left by Abellio "We have managed this as best we could in the existing circumstances," said a Surrey officer
• First Northern Ireland operator awarded FTA Van ExcellenceHenry Brothers (Magherafelt) Ltd has become the first organisation in Northern Ireland to receive Van Excellence Operator Accreditation from the ...