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

Saturday, 14 January 2017

BBC News

• Education Authority considers ending free school transportCharging families for school transport is part of a package of measures being considered by the Education Authority (EA) to save money.
• Southern rail: Train drivers stage further walkoutSouthern rail train drivers stage a third day of strike action this week, bringing severe disruption.
• Regional airport operator Hial reports record figureHighlands and Islands Airports Limited says its passenger numbers rose to a new record level last year.
• Fiat Chrysler and Renault face diesel emissions probesFrance to investigate Renault's emissions software as the UK seeks details of the US Fiat Chrysler probe.

ITV News

• Sadiq Khan rejects invite as relations sour with Transport SecretarySadiq Khan today rejected an invitation from ministers to a play a key role in awarding commuter rail franchises.
• Sadiq Khan rejects invite as relations sour with Transport SecretarySadiq Khan today rejected an invitation from ministers to a play a key role in awarding commuter rail franchises.
• Sadiq Khan rejects invite as relations sour with Transport SecretarySadiq Khan today rejected an invitation from ministers to a play a key role in awarding commuter rail franchises.

The Guardian

• Aslef rail union boss Mick Whelan: ‘I'm not a great fan of glorious defeats’After months of strikes causing transport chaos across the south-east, Mick Whelan is fast becoming Britain’s most-hated union leader. But the stakes are so high he won’t be backing down, he says

The Herald

• ScotRail chief says attacks on railways have become personalTHE head of under fire ScotRail has admitted that criticism of the railways had become personal after details of his contract became the centre of media reports.

Times Online

• EU makes us pay when uninsured drivers collide [subscription]The transport secretary has criticised European Union regulations under which motorists will have to cover the cost of repairs to the cars of uninsured drivers hit by other uninsured drivers.
• EU makes us pay when uninsured drivers collide [subscription]The transport secretary has criticised European Union regulations under which motorists will have to cover the cost of repairs to the cars of uninsured drivers hit by other uninsured drivers.
• Worst train delays in ten years add to anger at fare rises [subscription]The number of trains running late or being cancelled altogether has reached a ten-year high just as passengers suffer an above-inflation fare rise.

The Mirror

• Ministers REFUSE to guarantee British steel will be used to build £55.7billion HS2 railwayThe Department for Transport will not promise to buy the two million tonnes of steel needed for the vast project from UK suppliers

London Evening Standard

• Southern rail drivers go on strike for the third day this weekSouthern rail drivers have started their third day of strike action this week, bringing fresh misery to hundreds of thousands of commuters.
• RMT union boss denies plotting strike 'stitch-up' for commutersThe RMT's leader today denied plotting strikes with other unions to maximise travel misery and "stitch-up" commuters, suggesting this week's simultaneous walkouts were a coincidence.
• Sadiq Khan rejects Chris Grayling offer of rail franchise deal roleSadiq Khan today rejected Transport Secretary Chris Grayling's offer of a seat at the table awarding rail franchises.
• Tour bus designed specifically for dogs launches in LondonThe first ever tour bus designed specifically for dogs is coming to London.

Wales Online

• No guarantee that British steel will be used in massive HS2 rail schemeThe UK Department for Transport will not promise to buy the two million tonnes of steel needed for the vast project from UK suppliers
• Around 50 train passengers were left on a platform as signalling fault causes misery Problems Cardiff Central have lead to major delays and cancellations on rail network
• This is what happened when the transport secretary joined Welsh commuters on a train homeTransport secretary Chris Grayling took a seat on the 6.01pm train from Cardiff Central to Llanishen on Friday night

Other Regional Press

• HS2 plans are revealed to residentsResidents were given the clearest impression so far what living near a planned high-speed rail network will be like at a consultation event.
• Southern Railway drivers to strike again with more walkouts planned Southern Railway will be at a standstill again because of another strike by drivers, with a series of further walkouts being planned in bitter disputes over staffing.
• Transport secretary to discuss second Brighton mainline Campaigners have welcomed the news that Chris Grayling, the Secretary of State for Transport, has agreed to meet with them to discuss a second Brighton mainline.
• New bike hire scheme for rail passengers in Oxford A bicycle hire scheme using smartphone technology has been launched at Oxford Parkway station. 
• County's roads receive �16million boost DORSET has been allocated almost �16million to improve road safety, repair potholes and cut congestion.

Buying Business Travel

• British Airways cabin crew call second strike over ‘poverty pay’Mixed fleet crew set to walkout for 72 hours next week

Rail Magazine

• EXCLUSIVE: Steam to run timetabled Northern trains on S&CFirst timetabled main line-steam service trains in England for 50 years to run next month on S&C

Rail Technology Magazine

• Grayling rules out independent assessment on TfL rail devolutionThe transport secretary, Chris Grayling, has ruled out an independent assessment on whether to devolve suburban rail services in the capital to Transport for London (TfL). Grayling was asked the question by the shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald, in a House of Commons debate yesterday...
• RMT threatens further Tube strikes in station staffing disputeRMT has confirmed it will renew strike action on the Tube next month unless London Underground can meet its demands on station staffing and safety. The threat marks continuation of the union’s industrial action last weekend, when LU staff associated with RMT and the TSSA went on strike...
• ScotRail's improvement plan spurs PPM turnaround after recent crisisScotRail has announced a third consecutive increase in its public performance measure (PPM) figures in a stark improvement over its summer and autumn troubles. The franchise’s PPM performance for period 10 – the four weeks from 11 December to 7 January including Christmas and...

Aviation Industry

• Government misses opportunity to reduce night flights at Heathrow, Gatwick or StanstedThe Government has published its proposals�for changes to the night flights regime for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, the only three airports in the UK at which the Government imposes noise controls. The Government sets caps on the number of aircraft …
• British Airways cabin crew to strike againBritish Airways (BA) is facing a fresh bout of industrial action from some of its cabin crew after the union involved said staff would strike for 72 hours next week over pay rates. read more

Other News Sources

• Lords amendments to HS2 BillEnabling legislation for the £56bn High Speed 2 rail project is working its way through the House of Lords. Richard Flenley, senior associate of Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, reports.
• Southern Railway drivers to strike again, with more walkouts planned Southern Railway�services will be at a standstill again today because of another strike by drivers, with a series of further walkouts being planned in bitter disputes over staffing.