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

Saturday, 01 October 2016

BBC News

• M6/A38: Why so many road works into Birmingham?For drivers commuting in and out of Birmingham during rush hour it can feel like there are 'always' roadworks. Is this the case?
• New stretch of A9 south of Aviemore opened to trafficA new stretch of carriageway on the A9 has been opened to traffic between Kincraig and Dalraddy south of Aviemore.
• New 999 ambulance priorities pilotedA new response system for 999 calls is to be piloted by the Scottish Ambulance Service.
• Lorries face London ban 'to protect cyclists'Thousands of lorries could be banned from London to make the roads safer for cyclists.
• Car makers plan for electric futureThe BBC's Theo Leggett has been taking a look at some of the car manufacturers' latest electric concepts at the Paris Motor Show.
• Nissan boss warns on UK investmentThe boss of Nissan warns that Brexit uncertainty and possible tariffs could damage investment in the UK's biggest car factory.

Financial Times

• London to ban 35,000 trucks in safety pushMayor wants lorries with better visibility to stop cyclist deaths
• Uber Dubai future threatened by new rulesRegulator to add further surcharge, with Uber already 30% more expensive than taxis

The Guardian

• Tower Bridge to close for repairs until end of DecemberRoad traffic will not be able to cross the London landmark, although it will stay open for river traffic and pedestriansTower Bridge is to close to road traffic for three months from Saturday to allow extensive maintenance work to take place. The structure in London will shut on 1 October and is scheduled to reopen on 30 December.The City of London Corporation, which owns the 122-year-old landmark, needs to repair timber decking that was last refurbished in 1970, as well as carrying out maintenance on the lifting mechanism and waterproofing its brick arches. Continue reading...
• Thousands of lorries to be banned from London for cyclist safetyMayor to introduce rating system that will ban vehicles with the worst driver visibility from capital’s roads by 2020Tens of thousands of lorries with poor visibility will be banned from London’s roads within four years to better protect cyclists and pedestrians, the city’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, has announced.Road safety campaigners have long called for action against some types of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), especially high-wheeled construction lorries, which have significant blindspots. Continue reading...

Times Online

• Uber takes wheel of self-driving trucks [Subscription]Uber will already order your lunch, deliver your parcel and, of course, hail you a taxi. Now the aggressively ambitious Silicon Valley start-up has set its sights on autonomous trucking.

Mail Online

• Isle of Wight campaigners unveil plans for �1.2bn TUNNEL to replace car ferries The proposal would see a four mile long dual-carriageway built between Whippingham on the island (pictured) and Gosport, Hampshire, cutting the journey time from an hour to six minutes.

The Mirror

• Nissan jobs warning shows the very real dangers of the Brexit vote Car giant threatens to claim compensation if there are financial implications to Brexit

London Evening Standard

• Tower Bridge closure: Drivers and cyclists braced for chaos as London crossing shuts for three monthsThe man in charge of Tower Bridge today said there was no choice but to close it for three months because the road surface was falling apart.
• Sadiq Khan announces ban on dangerous lorries but delayed cycle safety measuresSadiq Khan today announced plans to ban the most dangerous lorries from London by 2020 by introducing a "star rating" for vehicles based on the driver's view of pedestrians and cyclists.
• Classic Jaguar to be restored in public at Alexandra PalaceThe one-off 1954 XK120 will star at the Classic & Sports Car Show in October.

Northern Echo

• School crossing needed, say campaigners CAMPAIGNERS claim Stockton Council is “failing in its duty of care” to children by not providing a crossing across a busy road in Yarm.
• New traffic lights on Durham roundabout due to be switched on WORK on a busy city roundabout are almost complete with traffic lights due to be switched on on Monday [October 3].
• New housing plans spark traffic fears in Bishop Auckland PLANS to create up to 550 new homes on farmland on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland have prompted concerns about increased traffic on rural and residential roads.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Roadworks causing major delays in Peterborough City CentreThere are major delays to traffic throughout Peterborough City Centre today due to roadworks.

Sunderland Echo

• Major roadworks set to be completed in DurhamMajor roadworks which have disrupted drivers in Durham for months are set to come to an end.

West Sussex Gazette

• Call for action as road death reduction ‘stalls’The Government has been urged to do more to address road safety after a charity said the latest figures on deaths showed a risk of stagnation, despite a slight drop.

Other Regional Press

• Taxi app Uber to launch in Newport today THE cashless taxi app Uber is set to launch in Newport today at 4pm, adding Newport to its UK city base.
• Where can you park for free in Watford? Priciest and cheapest car parks revealed Car parks in Watford have been revealed to charge more by the hour compared to towns in the Three Rivers District and Bushey. Spending an afternoon exploring Cassiobury Park or wandering round the pubs and shops in Watford town centre, while leaving your car at the Gade Car Park, on Rosslyn Road, will cost �1 for an hour or �6 for 12 hours.
• Busy commuter route will be shut for weeks for archaeological dig An archaeological dig�to investigate a medieval causeway before Oxford's �120m flood channel is built will close a key commuter route for up to six weeks.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Mayor of London sets out ground-breaking measures to rid London of dangerous lorriesThe Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced ground-breaking proposals to make London’s roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists by removing the most dangerous lorries from the capital’s roads by 2020.  TfL’s Direct Vision Standard, a world first, will use a ‘star rating’ from 0 to 5 stars to rate construction and other heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) based on the level of vision the driver has directly from the cab.  Under the plans to be consulted on shortly, the most dangerous ‘off-road’ HGVs will be banned from London’s streets enti...

Other News Sources

• Blue Badge eligibility criteria expandedThe Blue Badge Scheme in Wales will be expanded tomorrow to include those experiencing temporary but substantial injuries or illness, the Economy and Infrastructure Secretary Ken Skates has announced.
• Industry needs time to adapt to Mayor’s five star planThe ‘five star truck safety plan’, announced by the Mayor of London today, has been described as “a much more targeted approach and a step in the ...
• FTA Safety in Logistics speaker to focus on drivers using hands-free phonesThe 2016 Freight Transport Association (FTA) Safety in Logistics Conference will include a thought-provoking presentation on the impact of making ...