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

Monday, 24 July 2017

BBC News

• Manchester Metrolink trams resume services after faultA communications failure led to the whole network being shut down on Saturday, Metrolink said.
• Regional airport operator Hial reports passenger increaseInverness, Barra and Islay airports have had a rise in customers, but numbers have fallen at Dundee.
• Changes to rail electrification plans a 'slap in face'The link between Liverpool and Newcastle may not now be fully electrified despite previous government promises.
• VW denies £2.5m London congestion charge billSadiq Khan claims VW owes Transport for London £2.5m in missed congestion charges following its emissions scandal.
• Takata scandal: Faulty airbags still used in refitsCarmakers say replacement airbags will be safe for several years because problems emerge over time.
• Changes to rail electrification plans a 'slap in face'The railway route between Liverpool and Newcastle may not be fully electrified despite a promise by the previous government.

ITV News

• Local train operators consider plans to axe First ClassLocal rail operators are considering proposals by the Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, to abolish First Class seats on commuter routes into London.
• Duke of Gloucester to open new railway facilities in CumbriaThe Duke of Gloucester is officially opening the new facilities at Alston station in Cumbria today, Monday 24 July.

Financial Times

• EU probes claims of German carmaker collusionIndustry battered by VW emissions scandal faces fresh allegations
• Vehicle technology: Tesla and Elon Musk’s moment of truthThe company hopes its Model 3 will be the first mass-market electric car and will set it on a path to profitability
• Uber-rival Grab rakes in $2.5bn in fresh investmentSoutheast Asian ride-hailing company valued at more than $6bn after latest funding

The Guardian

• Full speed ahead for train builders as minister pulls plug on electrificationThe bright, electric future of the railway has been dimmed: trains will now continue to run on diesel west of Cardiff to Swansea, as they will on the Midland mainline to Nottingham and Sheffield.
• Business secretary to announce investment in battery technologyGreg Clark to flesh out industrial strategy by setting out plans to increase productivity, including research projects A £246m investment in developing battery technology in Britain is to be launched by the government as part of its drive towards what it says is a modern industrial strategy. The business and energy secretary, Greg Clark, will announce the funding, including a £45m competition to make batteries more accessible and affordable, in a speech on Monday that should spell out further the government’s plans to increase productivity and growth. Continue reading...

The Herald

• We need full reform of rail ticket pricingYOU recently (June 7) published my letter on the iniquity of the penalising train ticket purchases made at short notice by charging very high prices for them. Virgin Trains, amongst others, shortly thereafter announced that it would make some advance prices available on the day of travel, after sustained dissatisfaction from passengers such as that expressed in your columns.
• Rail bosses warned that shake-up will increase sex attack riskRAIL passengers in Scotland face a higher risk of sexual assaults due to staffing changes and a controversial merger of the British Transport Police, campaigners have warned.

The Telegraph

• US aviation trade body urges Brexit negotiators to prioritise airline industry America’s biggest aviation trade body has called for the airline industry to be dealt with separately in Brexit negotiations, saying it is “absolutely essential” that new deals are struck with Europe and the US.

Times Online

• Challenge for Opec as output deal shows signs of unravelling [Subscription]Ministers from some of the world’s leading oil-producing nations are due to meet in St Petersburg today, amid mounting concern that an international deal to bolster crude prices may be at risk of unravelling.
• Faraday Challenge to boost battery technology [Subscription]A competition to boost British battery technology is to be announced today as part of a £246 million government investment.
• Pay-as-you-park app signals end of getting a ticket [Subscription]It is a particularly resented tax on motoring: the extra 50p or so that has to be slipped into the parking machine to make sure you are not caught out at the end of a long shopping trip.

City AM

• Revealed: Britain's best airports, as ranked by passengers based on WiFi, shopping, cleanliness and moreAh, summer... time to take break, sink your feet into some sand or see the sights of the closest city - after you've made your way through the stress of getting there, that is.
• UK taxi turnover falls for the first time in five years as Uber drives up its network expansionThe rise of Uber has driven taxi firms' turnover off course, according to research out today from accountancy firm Moore Stephens.
• Mayor Sadiq Khan says VW has shown 'utter contempt' by refusing to pay £2.5m London congestion charge bill after emissions scandalLondon mayor Sadiq Khan has said VW has shown "utter contempt" for Londoners after the German car giant has refused to pay £2.5m to compensate congestion charge money lost due to the emissions scandal.
• Severe delays across Tube network this morning: Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines hit by signal failuresThe Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines are all experiencing severe delays this morning due to a signal failure.

Daily Record

• Tourists slam Jet2 for 'conning' them after string of false promises to give up seats Thirty holidaymakers gave up places on the flight to Edinburgh after a stewardess fell sick but say the airline reneged on promises made to them.

Mail Online

• Tory MPs don't want to punish diesel drivers An early version of the Environment Secretary Michael Gove's air quality plan, published in the run-up to the election, suggested diesel drivers would be hit with pollution charges in some areas.

Birmingham Mail

• £246 million battery technology investment to be launched by Business Secretary in Birmingham Cabinet minister Greg Clark will outline Faraday Challenge fund to spur innovation, research and development of the next generation of battery technology

Bolton News

• Rail downgrades could 'derail' Northern Powerhouse, says Mayor Andy BurnhamTHE Government has been accused of breaking promises on rail improvements, after electrification schemes were downgraded.

London Evening Standard

• Transport Secretary Chris Grayling gives backing to Crossrail 2The £30 billion Crossrail 2 project took a major step forwards today as Chris Grayling confirmed that he supported the scheme.
• Mail Rail: All you need to know about the abandoned underground line opening to the public this summerLondoners will be able to take a trip on the Post Office's underground rail lines for the first time ever when the new exhibition opens this summer.
• Tube commuters face severe rush hour disruption with no service on large sections of Circle and District linesLondoners are facing chaos as they return to work this morning due to severe delays and part suspensions across the Circle and District lines.

The York Press

• Vandals damage historic North Yorkshire Moors Railway carriages VANDALS have seriously damaged historic railway carriages on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• £1.2m upgrade for canal stretch in SandwellMore than £1 million will be spent upgrading a three-mile stretch of the Birmingham Canal in Sandwell, council chiefs have revealed.

Reading Evening Post

• Future of ReadyBike secured as cycle company wins new contract National company Hourbike will operate the service for at least the next three years

Other Regional Press

• Trains to be adapted so they cope better in the hot weatherGREATER ANGLIA have responded to recent complaints regarding customer issues.
• Disappointment as city deal pushes rail link bid off trackThe Scottish Government has been urged to ensure alternative funding for the Levenmouth rail link after the project was left out of the £1 billion Edinburgh City Deal.
• Your MP writes: Newport East MP Jessica MordenHaving campaigned for many years, alongside Labour colleagues, for the Government to act on the Severn Bridge tolls, this week’s news that the tolls will be scrapped by the end of 2018 is welcome. For far too long, commuters and businesses in Newport East have had to absorb the extortionate toll charges and I will ensure the Tory Government is scrutinised, that we have a timetable for the bridges returning to public ownership, and that the tolls really are scrapped.
• Train track electrification will go ahead in OxfordshireTHE electrification of the railway between Oxford and Didcot will go ahead as planned despite the project being scrapped across parts of the country.
• Rail passengers left stranded outside locked station doors in staff blunder Rail passengers left stranded outside locked station doors in staff blunder

London TravelWatch

• Urgent action needed to make buses in London quicker and more reliableLondon’s independent passenger watchdog has written to the Mayor of London asking for urgent action to make buses in London quicker and more reliable.