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

Saturday, 27 February 2016

BBC News

• Car ban pilot near three schoolsMotorists will be banned from driving near three schools during drop-off and pick-up times in a council trial.
• Dogs on road cause three-car crashA woman is injured in a three-car crash on one of Cardiff's main roads after two dogs run on to the carriageway.
• Free school transport reinstatedCampaigners claim victory in a row over free school transport in rural Denbighshire.
• VIDEO: Dashcam video of motorway near missPolice have released footage of the moment an officer was nearly hit by a skidding car on the M57, as part of their effort to persuade motorists to slow down in bad weather.
• �63.8m investment in Dundee WaterfrontThe Scottish government invests �63.8m in Dundee's Waterfront including funding for the city's railway station and improvement of civic spaces.
• Four in running for A96 contractFour bidders are in the running for a �50m contract to design a stretch of the proposed A96 dual carriageway in Moray.
• Plan to ease major event trafficA study looks set to be carried out in an effort to ease traffic congestion around two major events - Belladrum and the Black Isle Show.
• Fife Council agrees �30.9m savingsCuts to road maintenance are among a package of savings amounting to �30.9m agreed by councillors in Fife.
• Thieves stage 'cunning' bike rack scamA cyclist who had her bike stolen after it was secured to a sabotaged bike rack warns others about the
• Drone missed jet landing at HeathrowA drone came within 20ft of hitting a passenger jet on its final approach to Heathrow Airport, an aviation safety board hears.
• Saved shipyard takes on 150 apprenticesFerguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow is to take on 150 new apprentices - two years after being saved from closure.
• London City Airport bought for �2bnLondon City Airport in London's Docklands has been bought by a consortium led by a major Canadian pension fund for an estimated �2bn.

Financial Times

• Crossrail builders unearth London historyRich collection of archaeological finds provides fascinating insight into capital’s past
• UK airports entice overseas investorsLondon City deal part of an accelerating trend for foreign private equity funds and pension groups

The Guardian

• Mercedes-Benz swaps robots for people on its assembly linesCar makers switch to smaller and safer robots working alongside humans for greater flexibility Bucking modern manufacturing trends, Mercedes-Benz has been forced to trade in some of its assembly line robots for more capable humans.The robots cannot handle the pace of change and the complexity of the key customisation options available for the company’s S-Class saloon at the 101-year-old Sindelfingen plant, which produces 400, 000 vehicles a year from 1,500 tons of steel a day. Continue reading...
• Snacks on a plane: budget airlines accused of extortionate in-flight pricesPrice comparison study finds the likes of Ryanair and EasyJet charging more than triple the supermarket price for popular food and drink brandsLow cost airlines are hiking up the price of snacks and drinks by more than 1,000% compared with everyday prices, according to research that shows that a 12p cup-a-soup sachet can cost passengers as much as �2.50.A comparison of six major budget airlines serving the UK market found huge price increases on basic refreshments, with most carriers charging �2.60 for a tea and �1.80 for a 500ml bottle of water. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Scottish 'Oyster Card' begins final testing on transport networkFinal testing of a new single card payment system for nationwide public transport is under way.
• Transport chiefs parachuted in to quash battle between Edinburgh Trams and Lothian BusesA ROW between Edinburgh's transport firms has erupted just over a year since boardroom infighting saw four directors pushed out.

The Independent

• British Airways: Fury as airline regains monopoly on flights between Heathrow and Scotland British Airways this weekend regains its monopoly on flights connecting Scotland with Heathrow for the first time since 1982. The final Virgin Atlantic flights from Aberdeen and Edinburgh to Europe’s busiest airport depart on 26 September, following heavy losses by Sir Richard Branson’s airline.

The Telegraph

• Hurrah for the Scotsman that still flies fearlesslyWhat is it that so appeals about the age of steam in an age of the internet?
• Entire train lines could close for engineering worksDepartment for Transport tells Network Rail to consider closures in order to speed up improvement works

Times Online

• It is not easy running a high-profile railway, but you don’t have to make a meal out of it [subscription]Virgin Trains is determined to put the customer first on the east coast main line
• Road chaos feared as young and old swap bus for a driverless car [Subscription] The introduction of driverless cars will lead to a huge increase in traffic as pensioners take to the road instead of using public transport, according to research.

Mail Online

• Nissan disables Leaf electric car app after hacker revelation The flaw, which also affects the eNV200 van, was exposed by tech blogger Troy Hunt this week, finding functionality in the car could be controlled remotely when not in motion.
• Brighton car crash sees third person arrested after shocking CCTV video A third person has been arrested after a shocking hit-and-run incident in Brighton in January where a pedestrian was thrown into the air 'like a rag doll'. CCTV of the incident has been viewed three million times.
• Looking for a dogfight, Alfie? Ground-breaking TV documentary teaches lurcher-collie cross to take control of an AEROPLANE  It may seem barking mad. But this lurcher-collie cross’s training is part of a TV experiment in Sussex which will attempt to produce the world’s first four-legged pilot.
• Low-cost airlines mark up in-flight snacks by up to '2,600 per cent' New research has claimed that some low-cost airlines are charging more than �2.30 extra on products that in supermarkets cost as little as 12p.

The Mirror

• Cyclists warned of 'cunning' bike rack scam as thieves use tape to cover sabotaged frames Sarah King inspected the cycle rack and discovered the metal frame had been cut through and taped over to hide the damage

Birmingham Mail

• M6 Toll Roadchef review: Can you get a decent breakfast at a motorway service station? Is it worth spending the extra money to eat at this roadside cafe?

Birmingham Post

• Vintage Trains cancels more services after operator gets ban Tyseley-based Vintage Trains axed services but said it was hopeful of running its popular Shakespeare Express
• Car review: 2016 Toyota Avensis business edition Avensis aims for class honours with new diesels, honed suspension and fresh styling
• This Mercedes can survive a rocket-propelled grenade attack Bullets, mustard gas, rocket-propelled grenades… all in a day’s work for Merc’s new armoured limo

Bolton News

• Leaders cut ribbon at Radcliffe's new bus station RADCLIFFE'S refurbished bus station has been officially opened.
• Electrification of Bolton train lines delayed by a YEAR THE long-awaited electrification of Bolton’s rail network will be delayed by a year, it has emerged.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Couple start petition calling for revival of regular, direct bus service between Keighley and Halifax A COUPLE have launched a petition to try and have a regular, direct bus service between Keighley and Halifax restored.
• Six arrests made in 'highly sophisticated' �2 million car cloning ring TWO men from Bradford and Yeadon are among six people arrested by detectives investigating a
• VIDEO: Racing driver involved in 70mph six-vehicle smash that injured three people and caused �230,000 damage walks free from court TWO drivers racing through Bradford in powerful cars caused a six vehicle pile-up in which three people were injured.
• 'Ridiculous' booze cruise ended in tragedy when grandad fell overboard and drowned A

London Evening Standard

• Thieves cut through cycle racks and tape them up again to steal bikesThieves are apparently slicing through London's bike racks and taping them up to appear intact in a new ploy to steal bicycles.

Manchester Evening News

• Bus firms blasted for making 'super profits' while passengers lose servicesBus firms have defended their value, fares and investment in services across Greater Manchester

Northern Echo

• Faith school bus service facing the axe in council cuts PARENTS and teachers fear cutting faith school buses will leave east Cleveland children isolated and struggling to get to lessons.

Sheffield Star

• Revised Sheffield tram service due to engineering works this weekendThe phase of essential weekend engineering works to prepare Sheffield’s tramlines for Tram Train will conclude this weekend

Bucks Free Press

• Road surfacing work announced for south Bucks Road-surfacing work is set to take place across south Bucks over the upcoming weeks, it was announced today.
• Councillor accuses cabinet of being 'negligent' or 'asleep' after 49 car park machine thefts A district councillor has blasted the Cabinet for being “negligent” or “asleep” after thieves managed to target new car parking pay machines 49 times in the last year.

Daventry Express

• All change on the buses as cuts bite?Some rural bus routes may be gone within four years as Northamptonshire County Council tries to save more money.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Completion date for �15million Eastern Relief Road in Bury St Edmunds announcedBuilding work on a major relief road project for Bury St Edmunds will start next month, it has been announced.

North Wales Live

• £10.5m for Wirral highway works – is your road on the list? Wirral Council says the money will be used in the areas of highest need

Northamptonshire Telegraph

• Work on removal of traffic lights at busy Kettering junction to start next weekRoad users in Kettering will see an increase in traffic from Monday (February 29) as work on the removal of traffic lights from a busy junction gets under way.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Lincolnshire man ‘totally overwhelmed’ by flight offer after Flying Scotsman ‘photobomb’The Lincolnshire man who missed out on seeing The Flying Scotsman yesterday (Thursday, February 25) because of a passing Virgin train says he is ‘totally overwhelmed’ to have been offered a trip to America in return.
• Report abandoned vehicles in Bourne and the Deepings, council urgesPeople in Bourne and the Deepings can report vehicles abandoned on public land in their community.
• Rail upgrade study ‘could cost £5 million’, Downham Market summit toldA feasibility study into upgrading a key interchange on the rail network serving Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire will cost £5 million alone, a meeting has heard today.

Sleaford Standard

• VIDEO: Lincolnshire man offered trip to America after Virgin ‘photobombs’ Flying ScotsmanA Lincolnshire man appears to have won himself a trip to the States after having his view of The Flying Scotsman obscured by a Virgin train.

Other Regional Press

• Video shows how Metro could work in Newport THE latest details of the ambitious South Wales Metro project are being showcased in a new 3D animation, interactive maps and a series of public exhibitions.
• On your bikes for spring promotion A CYCLING promotion to get workers in the saddle is springing into life.
• Work begins for flood alleviation project on rail track THE first work on clearing the ground for Oxford's �120m flood alleviation scheme has begun.
• �12.5m Headington congestion scheme revealed to the public at series of exhibitions A SERIES of public exhibitions about how junctions in Headington are to be overhauled will take place from this weekend.
• Web-based taxi firm Uber could launch in Oxford due to high demand TAXI companies are gearing up for a battle after controversial firm Uber revealed it could launch in Oxford.
• Range Rover the most stolen car last yearThe Range Rover Sport was the most stolen and recovered vehicle in 2015 thanks to keyless entry and ignition systems, according to a new report.

Bus and Coach.com

• Bus travel �1,000 a year cheaper than commuting by car, says Stagecoach

Rail Magazine

• More needed to boost Calder Valley lineThe new Northern franchise that starts on April 1 will offer greater capacity, upgraded trains, better station facilities and increased frequency of trains
• East Leeds Parkway location in doubtDoubt remains as to the exact location of an East Leeds Parkway station, to be sited west of Garforth station and targeted to open around 2022
• Heavy rail link to Leeds/Bradford Airport undeliverable?A direct rail service link between Leeds and Leeds/Bradford Airport provides the most attractive solution in terms of journey times

Rail Technology Magazine

• c2c launches automatic compensation scheme for delayed trains UK train operating firm c2c has reportedly launched its new automatic compensation scheme to allow passengers using its smartcard to receive compensation for train delays.
• Mobile maintenance: Network Rail’s workshop on wheels Network Rail’s first batch of mobile maintenance trains is getting ready to hit the rails over the next year, promising numerous cost, safety and environmental benefits for both workers and passengers. What can the technology really deliver and shoul…

Railway Gazette

• Isle of Wight light rail conversion proposed UK: Next month Isle of Wight Council is due to consider a report into the future of the Ryde –...

Other News Sources

• 'This is a landmark moment in our plans to create the Blackburn town centre everybody wants to see' says regeneration chief ON Wednesday night the long-awaited Freckleton Street Link Road opened to traffic giving Blackburn's famous �12million 'Bridge to Nowhere' somewhere to go. Reporter Bill Jacobs was in the first car to drive the �7 million highway with borough regeneration boss, Cllr Phil Riley and Capita's regional director Ian Richardson.
• Father of young boy struck by car demands improved safety at Guildford school crossing"I thought he (my son) had died, I thought that was it, I was hysterical and shocked," said the dad recalling the incident
• Chertsey Bridge Road traffic island 'causing collision danger' Lynne Smith has filed a report to the county council after she and her son-in-law were in the first of three vehicles to hit the unmarked island in quick succession
• Disabled man may never drive again after terrifying road rage ordeal A DISABLED motorist has been left in deep shock and uncertain whether he will ever sit behind a steering wheel again after a terrifying road rage ordeal.
• "I owe the RNLI and coastguard my life", says sailor rescued from drowning A SAILOR who was saved from drowning by the RNLI has spoken of how a freak wave catapulted him from his boat into freezing waters.