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

Friday, 07 July 2017

BBC News

• Birmingham HS2 Curzon Street station plans approvedPlans to redevelop an unused railway station for high-speed rail are backed by the city council.
• Cardiff anti-violence scheme could tackle road crashesThe Cardiff Model was launched 20 years ago to fill gaps in police knowledge to reduce violent incidents.
• Baidu boss investigated for riding in self-driving carPolice are investigating because autonomous vehicles are not yet allowed on China's public roads.
• Whisky-fuelled car makes first journeyThe fuel made from whisky residue is claimed to be a direct replacement for petrol and diesel.
• Aer Lingus sorry for cancelled flights from BelfastThe airline is stopping two summertime routes from Belfast a month earlier than planned.
• France set to ban sale of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040After Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Paris climate deal, France doubles down on pollution.
• Brexit: Airbus would suffer constraints, Barnier warnsEU negotiator says the Flintshire wings plant could see restrictions on movement of parts and staff.

The Guardian

• Qatar Airways gets out from under US laptop ban on Middle East carriersAirline does not outline what its new procedures are that satisfied US homeland security authorities, amid diplomatic dispute with bordering countriesQatar Airways joined two other major long-haul Gulf carriers on Thursday in getting off a US ban on laptops and large electronics in airplane cabins, despite facing logistical challenges amid a diplomatic dispute with several Arab nations. Related: Laptop ban on planes came after plot to put explosives in iPad Continue reading...
• France to ban sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2040Move by Emmanuel Macron’s government comes a day after Volvo said it would only make fully electric or hybrid cars from 2019 France will end sales of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040 as part of an ambitious plan to meet its targets under the Paris climate accord, Emmanuel Macron’s government has announced.The announcement comes a day after Volvo said it would only make fully electric or hybrid cars from 2019 onwards, a decision hailed as the beginning of the end for the internal combustion engine’s dominance of motor transport after more than a century. Continue reading...

The Scotsman

• Martin Flanagan: Has Volvo sparked the end of petrol engines?Volvo is in the process of making history. The Swedish carmaker has said that from after next year no new automotive model it brings off the assembly line will rely solely on an internal combustion engine.

The Telegraph

• Shocked commuters gawp as woman brings desktop computer on First Class Virgin train
• Video shows fatal 2013 Asiana airliner crash in San Francisco and the rescue efforts in aftermath
• France to 'ban all petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040'�

Times Online

• Advice to freeze taxi fares ‘was an error’ [Subscription]A recommendation not to increase taxi fares that had angered cab drivers and prompted calls for industrial action was deleted from a transport report published yesterday evening.
• ‘New Cousteau’ Victorien Erussard sets sail for greener world in self-powered boat [Subscription]A French sailor described as the new Jacques Cousteau arrived in Paris yesterday on the first leg of a world tour on a pioneering hydrogen-powered vessel.
• Sticky-back spaceship BepiColombo’s Mercury mission [Subscription]From a distance, Europe’s newest and most ambitious spaceship looks as though it might have been assembled from tin foil and sticky-back plastic under the eye of a Blue Peter presenter.
• Short drives around town are the dirtiest [Subscription]Drivers who make short car journeys are causing the highest levels of air pollution because exhaust clean-up systems do not work properly on cold engines, a study has found.
• Deliveroo breaks ranks by offering riders sick pay [Subscription]Deliveroo has broken ranks with rival companies by pledging to offer sick pay and injury insurance to workers before a government review into the so-called gig economy, which is expected to be published next week.
• Clean the air as you ride on pollution-eating bikes [Subscription]Bicycles that absorb pollution and pump out clean air while you pedal could soon be seen on British streets.

Mail Online

• Victorian steam train is back on mountain track in Wales The locomotive, which first launched in 1896, is carrying passengers 3,500ft up to the summit of Mount Snowdon in Wales, after a �60,000 renovation returned the engine to its former glory.
• France ban the sale of petrol or diesel vehicles by 2040� The move to end diesel and petrol car production is part of an ambitious plan to meet its targets under the Paris climate accord, new Ecology Minister Nicolas Hulot announced today.

Birmingham Mail

• HS2 wins approval for revamp of world's oldest railway terminus in BirminghamWork to start in November turning the derelict Curzon Street Station into visitors centre, cafe and offices
• Motorists warned ahead of A38 Aston Expressway closures Seven weekend shut downs are planned for maintenance work at Spaghetti Junction and on busy motorway

Birmingham Post

• Major plans unveiled to revamp railway station New images show how West Midlands station will under major transformation aimed at boosting passenger comfort and increasing safety

Bolton News

• Virgin Trains launches summer sale - with seats from a FIVER FANCY a weekend away with your other half or got mates�to visit this summer?

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Oops! Contractors ordered back to replace road humps after just four months SPEED bumps on a prominent Bradford road are being replaced because they have become misshapen only four months after being installed.

London Evening Standard

• Cycle lane plans unveiled for new US embassy zone in Nine ElmsThe new US embassy in Nine Elms could be accessible via more than a mile of segregated cycle lanes as part of the area's �1 billion redevelopment.
• France to 'ban all petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040'France plans to ban all petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040, the country's new environment minister has announced.
• Clean air campaigners urge car-makers to follow Volvo's plan for electric enginesClean air campaigners today urged other car-makers to follow Volvo's example after it announced plans to exclusively manufacture electric or hybrid-powered vehicles by 2019.
• Paddington delays: Furious commuters face second night of rush hour chaos at major transport hubLondoners faced a second night of chaos at Paddington as a signal failure sparked a meltdown at one of the capital's busiest transport hubs.
• London's transport network notches up one billion contactless journeysThe billionth journey using contactless payment on capital's public transport network has been made, Transport for London has confirmed.

Manchester Evening News

• What you can claim if your flight gets delayed or cancelled at the airport Don't just groan and put up with it if your flight gets delayed or cancelled - You could be entitled to free food, drink, accommodation and even compensation

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Take a look at the private jets owned and used by world leaders, billionaires, and monarchs From the Emir of Qatar’s billion-dollar fleet to the Queen's personal helicopter, how the world's most influential travel in style

The York Press

• Three days of train strikes PASSENGERS are facing three days of disruption on services operated by York rail firm Northern, as the latest strike by RMT union members gets underway tomorrow morning.
• Drive to dual the A64 is launched BUSINESSES, MPs, local authorities and trade organisations will today join forces to press for the A64 east of York to be dualled.

Wales Online

• Lorry load of chocolate bars spills over the road causing major delaysOne lane of the A4042 at Pontypool was closed for most of the morning
• This main road running through the middle of the Rhondda will close for two weeks It could cause problems for motorists travelling between Treorchy and Treherbert

Bucks Free Press

• Hope for shoppers as council considers new pedestrian crossing in busy roadA new pedestrian crossing across a busy town centre road has been welcomed by a prominent Marlow businessman.

East Anglian Daily Times

• East Suffolk rail line to close for nine days while miles of new track is laidThe East Suffolk rail line is to be closed between Ipswich and Halesworth for nine days to allow a team of engineers to install five miles of new track.

North Wales Live

• Merseyrail 'has most reliable trains in Britain' new figures show Official figures show only one train in every 59 was officially late or cancelled

Peterborough Telegraph

• Road closures set to cause travel problems ahead of dog show at arenaDog lovers who are visiting a top pet show in Peterborough this weekend are being urged to check travel arrangements after roadworks near the venue started yesterday.
• Temporary lights on Bishop’s Road draw to a close after week-long delayTemporary evening traffic lights on Bishop’s Road which have been causing huge delays in the city centre are set to come to an end after this evening (Thursday, July 6).

Reading Evening Post

• Campaigners branded 'irresponsible' for 'misleading' public over new road to ease traffic in East ReadingThere has been a war of words between councillors Tony Page and Rob White over the council's transport plans

Other Regional Press

• Wheelchair user who can't use coaches handed �800 of first class train ticketsIT'S the sort of free ride most of us dream of.
• Bus firm considering major city-centre route change after vehicles damaged‘MINDLESS’ yobs who pelted busy buses with rocks have left the operator considering changing one of its main city routes.
• Free bus travel extended to weekendsFREE bus travel will be available on some routes in Wales on weekends from this weekend, it has been announced.
• New school bus scheme aims to reduce congestionA NEW private school bus network could ease the load for parents and reduce congestion into the city centre.
• Anger as thousands of surgery patients asked to use packed hospital car park THOUSANDS of patients at a new doctor's have been told there will be no extra parking on site and visitors must use the already busy John Radcliffe Hospital car park instead.
• Teesside passengers watch as police storm plane to arrest 'wanted man' - then let him return to flightPassengers, including a couple from Billingham, told of their shock as officers stormed the Ryanair flight from Newcastle Airport
• Car park closure could affect elderly and disabled churchgoers, vicar warns A vicar�has expressed concerns over the closure of a car park near his church and its effect on elderly and disabled churchgoers.

C.N.N.

• Germany's railroads: Tips for riding the trainsMany people on holiday in Germany use German Rail, or Deutsche Bahn. It's inexpensive and (usually) punctual. Travelers may find these tips handy.
• Tesla loses most valuable U.S. car company title after stock slideTesla loses most valuable U.S. car company title after stock slide.

Buying Business Travel

• US trials airport fingerprint scanning technologyTests at Atlanta and Denver airports
• British Airways: cabin crew announce fresh strike actionWorkers to walk out for 16 days from July 19

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• One billion journeys made by contactless payment on London’s transport network (Image Source: Mastercard) London’s transport network has now seen more than one billion pay as you go journeys made by contactless payment cards – as the new payment option has substantially changed the way customers pay for their travel around the city. The landmark figures, published by Transport for London (TfL), show that, on average, two million journeys are now made using contactless every day. In total, 40 per cent of all pay as you go journeys are now made using contactless. This is up from 25 per cent in early 2016. Of these, almost one in 10 contactless transactions ...

Rail Technology Magazine

• GTR rolls out automatic delay compensation system for smartcard customersGTR has this week announced a new system that will allow customers using a ‘key smartcard’ to be automatically compensated for delays to services of 15 minutes or more. Passenger on Great Northern and Thameslink who use the smartcard will now be automatically compensated for delays...
• DfT considers measures to reduce 'safeguarding' controls around HS1A public consultation to look into lifting development restrictions around the site of HS1 will be opened by the DfT on Monday. The route, which was completed in 2007, runs between London St Pancras and the Channel Tunnel and is protected under planning regulations which stop development...

Aviation Industry

• US laptop ban lifted for Qatar & Turkish Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines announced Thursday that passengers can once more carry onboard their laptops after US authorities approved new security arrangements at Doha’s Hamad International Airport and Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport. read more
• SAS confirms Heathrow base details Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has confirmed that London Heathrow Airport will be the first base outside Scandinavia to be used by its new, Ireland-based operating unit. read more
• British Airways cabin crew announce another two-week strikeThe long-running dispute between British Airways (BA) and the airline’s London Heathrow-based “mixed fleet” cabin crew shows no sign of being resolved, with the July 6 announcement of a further two weeks of strike action. read more
• FAA awards $335 million in US airport infrastructure grantsFAA will award $335.3 million in airport infrastructure grants to a total of 237 US airports beginning in July, including $32.5 million in discretionary spending to five airports, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) said July 6. read more

Other News Sources

• Motorway driving: How this one manoeuvre could cost you dear One driver was fined £100 and three points for crossing the motorway verge