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

Saturday, 21 October 2023

BBC News

• Wales' 20mph speed limit: Bus route cuts consideredArriva Buses Wales says lowering the default speed limit has led to an
• Leeds Bradford Airport closed after plane skids off runway in stormTUI says it is
• Transport for London: Fare dodgers cost network £130m a yearLast year there were about 18,000 offences reported by TfL revenue teams for possible prosecution.

Financial Times

• Peru's megaport aims to reshape region's maritime traffic Project offers a new model for infrastructure but raises concerns over Chinese influence
• Can weight-loss drugs save the aviation industry (some money)?No, but it's mildly interesting to ask
• Avanti to cut services on some of UK's busiest intercity routes before ChristmasDecision comes month after west coast rail operator was awarded long-term contract following services improvement
• Chinese ship becomes focus of inquiry into Baltic pipeline damageFinland looking at potential role of Hong Kong-registered container vessel

The Guardian

• Chinese ship is focus of investigation into damaged pipeline, Finland saysPolice focusing on Newnew Polar Bear cargo ship that was in the area when gas pipeline was damagedFinnish police have said a Chinese ship whose movement coincided with the time and place of the suspected sabotage of a pipeline between Finland and Estonia that was damaged this month is now the focus of their investigation.After a leak led to the shutdown of the Balticconnector pipeline on 8 October, Finnish authorities have been investigating the damage they say was caused by “external” activity. Continue reading...
• Avanti West Coast to cut number of services in DecemberAndy Burnham says news is a 'kick in the teeth' when rail operator has just won nine-year contractAvanti West Coast is to cut the number of services it operates in December because of staff shortages, reducing weekend train frequency on one of Britain's main intercity lines before Christmas.The Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, described the news as a “kick in the teeth”, with the operator confirming the decision only weeks after it was awarded a nine-year contract by the government, after having been put on notice to improve its performance. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Storm Babet: Train misery as fallen tree leaves hundreds strandedPassengers have been left stranded on a train in Lockerbie with no food, water or power after Storm Babet caused a tree to collapse onto overhead cables.

Times Online

• The plane tech that could make turbulence a thing of the past [subscription]Nervous flyer? This smart solution anticipates and avoids turbulence rather than reacting to it — and has the potential to reduce its impact by a whopping 80 per cent
• Britain’s most expensive parking space costs £19 an hour [subscription]Council says the charge will reduce emissions but shopkeepers say it is killing trade
• Storm Babet: three dead as red weather warning extended [subscription]Plane comes off runway in Leeds as 400 households in Scotland evacuated

City AM

• London routes disrupted by extreme weather as Storm Babet batters Scotland London transport routes were disrupted on Friday, as severe adverse weather and heavy rain continued to cause problems on the rail network. Network Rail told City A.M. there was severe disruption on services to and from King’s Cross, due to flooding in Grantham. According to National Rail’s website, other routes affected by the bad weather [...]

Daily Record

• Infrastructure collapses as Storm Babet sweeps through ScotlandIn Angus, a 200-year-old bridge on the Rottal Estate was washed away by torrential flooding while a road connecting Marykirk also collapsed.

Mail Online

• Luton Airport's car park graveyard: Shocking images reveal extent of devastation 10 days after 1,500 vehicles went up in flames as bosses admit it's 'unlikely any will be salvageable'Shocking pictures have revealed the extent of the damage to vehicles which were parked in the Luton Airport car park when it went up in flames last Tuesday. 

The Mirror

• Worrying number of Brits 'don't know' what common road sign means when drivingThere are a number of common road signs you'll see whenever you're out driving but it seems there's one that many people aren't 100 percent sure about in a worrying turn of events

This is Money

• Fuel retailers not playing fair with motorists as they've kept pump prices artificially high, says AARetailers are accused of pocketing profits at drivers' expense, with the AA claiming 'old habits die hard in the fuel trade' as they persist with lowering pump prices far slower than they should.
• When will all new cars in the UK be electric? Dates for every brand from Alfa Romeo to VolvoIn this guide we take a look at 44 major car firms and what they have said about their electrification own plans, including when they intend to stop selling motors with petrol and diesel engines.

Sky News

• Passenger aircraft skids off runway at UK airportA plane has skidded off the runway at Leeds Bradford Airport while landing in heavy rain.
• 'Future-proofing' a classic or 'taking away its soul': Ferraris enter 21st century with electric enginesOwning a classic car is a sensory experience.

Birmingham Post

• Belfast International Airport £100 million five-year investment plan launchesThe new ultra-modern facility will remove the need for passengers to remove liquids from bags going through security

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• When will Leeds Bradford Airport reopen after plane incidentLEEDS Bradford Airport has issued a statement informing passengers when they are set to reopen.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Storm Babet causes chaos with roads closed, schools shut and properties flooded amid torrential downpoursWeather alerts including amber warnings were in force as bad weather caused havoc

Manchester Evening News

• Shock after week of carnage on the buses as bosses share concern over 'unusually high number' of crashes"We are concerned by the unusually high number of incidents involving buses over recent days, which is far above what we might normally see on any given week"

Northern Echo

• Plane ends on grass at Leeds Bradford after going off runwayA PLANE has gone off the runway in terrible weather at Leeds-Bradford Airport this afternoon.

Cambridge News

• Emotions still raw as councillors argue over idea of Cambridge congestion chargingCouncillors at Cambridgeshire County Council argued this week over whether the idea of congestion charging should be kept on the table.

Leeds Live

• Leeds Bradford Airport new statement after TUI plane skids off runwayA Tui plane left the runway at the airport during Storm Babet on Friday afternoon

Reading Evening Post

• Heathrow Airport withdraws plans for staff park-and-ride service outside ULEZNon-compliant cars must pay £12.50 per day for entering the ULEZ

Other Regional Press

• Chaos at train station as deep Storm Babet floodwater turn rail lines into a riverFlooding has caused serious disruption at Wood End train station as Storm Babet creates disruption across Warwickshire and the West Midlands
• 'Parking today is a breeze compared to years gone by'Car parking around Kent is never any fun - but it used to be a lot worse, says columnist Chris Britcher.

Railnews

• RMT members approve another six months of strikes Members of the RMT have voted in favour of continuing strikes for another six months in the long-running dispute with the Rail Delivery Group over pay and jobs. In the wake of the result, the union has warned that it is prepared to call further stoppages over the autumn and winter unless there is a settlement in the meantime. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘The government who controls this dispute through a contractual mandate over the train operating companies, must now allow the Rail Delivery Group to put forward a revised offer so we can work towards reaching a settlement.’

Other News Sources

• Hopes for East Lancs and Yorkshire Dales rail link talks amid HS2 axeNEW talks could be held about expanding rail links between East Lancashire, the Yorkshire Dales and Manchester after the government cancelled the northern leg of the high speed HS2 project, councillors have heard.