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

Monday, 24 April 2017

BBC News

• 'I fell asleep while driving a tram'Four drivers and ex-drivers have admitted falling asleep while in control of a tram on the Croydon line.
• Croydon tram crash: Drivers 'fell asleep' on fatal lineFour drivers have admitted falling asleep while operating trams in Croydon, where seven people were killed after a tram derailed in November 2016.
• Major airline event in Belfast raises new flight hopesAirline conference lands in Belfast raising hopes for new flights
• Steam tug boat sails along Manchester Ship Canal after �3.8m revampThe Daniel Adamson was previously used as a gin palace on the Manchester Ship Canal.
• Talks due in bid to resolve Southern rail row with RMTThe dispute over driver-only operated trains started nearly a year ago.

ITV News

• Flying Scotsman among four trains involved in historic railway event in YorkWorld famous locomotive Flying Scotsman travelled alongside three modern trains to celebrate the "past, present and future" of Britain's railway this morning.

Financial Times

• United suspends automatic promotion of MunozAirline group takes steps over customer abuse incident ahead of hearing
• Airline group IAG buys stakes in tech start-upsInvestments in Esplorio and VChain come amid sector push into digital innovations

The Guardian

• Do former transport ministers dream of electric buses?Vince Cable and Ed Davey, the former business and energy secretaries respectively, are among the Liberal Democrats that lost their seats in 2015 who are plotting their way back to parliament in this general election.

The Herald

• 'Missing link' of new M8 motorway opens a week early MAJOR works on Scotland's busiest motorway has opened to traffic today.

The Telegraph

• British railway first as four generations of trains, including the Flying Scotsman, arrive at the same station

Times Online

• Driverless cars taught by Grand Theft Auto [subscription]Developers at automotive giants such as Ford and Google’s Waymo division are using the virtual world of the 18-rated computer game to train their driving software while opportunities for real road trials remain limited.
• Past, present and future go head to head [Subscription]It wasn’t a race but according to the National Railway Museum in York it was a world first. Four locomotives spanning what will be nearly 100 years of service on the east coast main line came together for the first time in one of the great compare-and-contrasts for trainspotters.
• Clampdown on driving test cheats who use Bluetooth [subscription]Restrictions on cheats in driving theory tests are to be introduced because of alarm over the number of candidates who use wireless earpieces to obtain answers.
• Dirty diesels hit the roads ‘to beat tougher standard [Subscription]Car manufacturers are rushing out their dirtiest new diesel models before a tougher pollution test is introduced in September, according to an independent testing service.
• No 10 uses poll excuse to delay diesel curbs [Subscription]A plan to improve air quality could still be published before the election despite ministers’ claims that rules prevent it, The Times has learnt.

The Mirror

• Choo choo-se your favourite: Train spotters' delight as four iconic trains travel side by side The Flying Scotsman the Virgin Trains' new Azuma and the Intercity 225 and HST travelled 25 miles together in a celebration of railway heritage

This is Money

• Jaguar Land Rover reaches deal to cut pensions Car maker Jaguar Land Rover is set to link thousands of workers’ pensions to career average pay rather than final salaries.

Birmingham Mail

• West Midlands mayor candidates clash over future of Birmingham Airport in heated public debate Labour candidate Sion Simon accuses Tory rival Andy Street of taking orders from party bosses in London
• Why cycle investment will be increased whoever becomes West Midlands mayorCandidates across the board pledge to increase spending on cycling to boost health and tackle traffic congestion

Bolton News

• Why i think the Tories are the answer to our transport needsTHE excellent news on the front page of the Bolton News' 'sister' paper-the Leigh Journal, concerning TfGM's decision to finally consider developing a rail station for Leigh (at Kenyon Junction) illustrates yet again that once Conservatives are elected they 'get things done' with local Conservative Cllr. James Grundy supporting local residents in a five year campaign to persuade those in authority.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• ‘Shock’ as Bradford drivers are hit by £2.3m of bus lane fines in a year MOTORISTS in the district had to pay fines totalling nearly £2.3 million in one year for driving in bus lanes, the Telegraph & Argus can reveal today.

London Evening Standard

• Four fifths of motorists support London's new cycle lanes, study claimsFour fifths of motorists support the construction of new cycle lanes in the capital, a recent survey has claimed.

Manchester Evening News

• Tories refuse to deny reports that high-speed rail to Manchester could be axed... to pay for Brexit "This would be the final nail in the coffin of the Northern Powerhouse."

Other Regional Press

• HS2 threat to ancient woodlands branded ‘a disgrace’The planned construction of the HS2 high-speed rail line will pose a threat to ancient woodland between Worksop and Sheffield, according to a new report.
• Contactless tickets to be rolled out by Oxford Bus Company BUS passengers in Oxford will soon be able use contactless payment methods to buy tickets when a pilot scheme is introduced in the city.
• Cyclists unite with election candidates for mass rallyCYCLISTS and election candidates from across Oxfordshire rallied together under the beaming sunshine as they shared their vision for a county-wide bicycle network.

Bus and Coach.com

• Reading Buses scraps paper tickets as smart options grow in popularity
• New airport service launched by Lothian
• TfL confirms plans to cut number of buses in Oxford Street
• Go Ahead confirms contactless roll-out
• Longest ever Wrightbus single-decks for East Coast Buses
• Diesel reins as Stagecoach confirms 2017/18 fleet order for 344 vehicles

Railnews

• RMT urges no interference as Southern DCO talks restart Talks are set to take place today (Monday) and tomorrow between the RMT and Govia Thameslink Railway in the long-running dispute over the introduction of driver-controlled working on Southern. The union has called for no interference with the negotiations. The dispute has been running for a year, and has caused 31 strikes by the RMT alone.

Railway Gazette

• Chinese locomotive arrives in SerbiaSERBIA: The first of two CRRC Zhuzhou locomotives ordered by state electricity generator...

Aviation Industry

• United’s board, Munoz agree he will not become chairman next yearThe board of directors of Chicago-based United Continental Holdings, the parent company of United Airlines, has for the second time in two years amended CEO Oscar Munoz’s contract to deny him the role of board chairman. read more

Other News Sources

• Port Talbot £5.6m Integrated Transport Hub – New Access RoadTonight (Monday 24th April), the new permanent access between the A48 Heilbronn Way and Station Road in Port Talbot will be open to vehicles. This will help to improve traffic flow and facilitate further construction of an open pedestrian space.
• Cheap £30 fares lead to record numbers on Glasgow to London trainsWe're choosing train over plane when it comes to visits to the UK capital, according to Virgin.
• MP Wants Emergency Debate On HS2Before Parliament is dissolved ahead of the election, Amersham's MP is trying to get an emergency debate on HS2
• Brexit may threaten car makers’ competitivenessThe news that Toyota is to invest £240 million in upgrading its UK factory is a strong signal that the company sees the UK as part of its long-term future.