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

Saturday, 02 August 2014

BBC News

• Airport probe after runway closedAn investigation is launched after Edinburgh Airport had to close its runway following a crash between two vehicles.
• 'N' plates for Ireland's new driversAn 'N' plate law for novice Irish drivers come into operation in a bid to cut road casualties.
• Road works to close airport roadA key section of motorway near Manchester Airport is to close for most of the weekend while a bridge is demolished.
• Cobbles lifted for tram link workHundreds of cobbles in a Manchester square are to be photographed to ensure they are returned in the same position once a new tram link has been built.
• VIDEO: On board 'safety shield' London busNew software will be trialled on a number of London buses to try to reduce collisions, Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed.
• Bus cyclist detection system testedFour London buses will be fitted with pedestrian and cyclist detection software as part of a six-week trial.
• Aberdeen and Glasgow airports saleAberdeen and Glasgow airports have been put up for sale by owner Heathrow Airport Holdings.
• BA owner IAG moves into profitBritish Airways owner IAG moves into profit for the first half of 2014 after an improved performance by its Iberia airline business.

Financial Times

• Airlines split over safety of Iraq routesConflict prompts US regulators to order carriers to fly higher over country ‘due to potentially hazardous situation’ after MH17 crash
• Berkshire admits BNSF standards slippedThe rail operator is struggling to clear backlogs but the rest of Warren Buffett’s conglomerate increased second-quarter earnings by 10.5 per cent
• Congress passes infrastructure spending billFinance for 6,000 road and bridge construction projects has been running out partly because revenues from a national petrol tax have been not high enough
• Iberia adds to fleet as outlook improvesSpanish airline’s restructuring programme continues to have ‘a positive impact’ and British Airways posts a 34% rise in operating profit
• BA threatens to end Gatwick baggage pactWarning comes as passengers are told there will be no repeat of the scenes that left thousands of passengers waiting hours for their luggage

The Guardian

• Train tickets: the best bargains and the worst ripoffsYou can buy a train ticket for £3 from Birmingham to Edinburgh – or £107 arriving slightly later. We highlight some of the extraordinary anomalies of Britain's bewildering rail fare system
• Labour would cap train fares to stop hike of up to 5.6%, says Ed MilibandLabour would bring in a "tough cap" on all rail fares in contrast to David Cameron's failure to stop another hike of up to 5.6% for some commuters from next year, Ed Miliband said on Friday.
• Brighton's cycle shed crackdown highlights car-centric officialdomThe Green-run council has been busy telling people to remove bike sheds from their front gardens and it is not the only oneFor some years Kieran Barnard and his family have had a small bike store in the front garden of their terraced house in Brighton. Its the one you can see in the picture compact and unobtrusive, partly hidden by a garden wall and a bush. Its even painted a pleasant shade of blue.It means Barnard, his wife Claudia and their two young sons dont have to carry their sometimes muddy, greasy bikes through the home to keep them safely. This in turn means they ride the bikes more...
• Are more people getting drunk and disorderly on planes?This week saw a drunk passenger attack cabin crew with her prosthetic leg and even Kate Moss boarding her flight looking worse for wear. With drunken in-flight incidents on the rise, one airline has taken actionIn one of the more bizarre stories to make the news this week, a flight to Edinburgh was forced to make a diversion after a drunk passenger attacked cabin crew with her prosthetic leg. While this incident had a particularly surreal twist the 48-year-old woman demanded cigarettes and a parachute before advancing on staff with her improvised weapon intoxicated passengers are not an unco...
• Let the quiet carriage rest in peace – it's had its dayThankfully text, email and Facebook have reduced the number of people shouting into their mobiles. There are plenty of other ways to improve the passenger experience

The Herald

• Sale of Glasgow and Aberdeen airports could boost businessPLANS to sell off Glasgow and Aberdeen airports are an opportunity to reinvigorate the businesses, an aviation expert has said.

The Telegraph

• Airport misery: the airlines just don't seem to careEven worse than the delays is the companies' apparent indifference to their passengers' travails, says Matthew Norman
• Diesel drivers should be fumingPlans to charge diesel cars extra in London is proof that the petrol alternative is flawed, says Geoffrey Lean
• Diesel car drivers 'betrayed' as EU cracks down on Britain over air pollutionAs Britain is sued by the European Commission for breaching pollution limits, drivers of diesel motor vehicles are warned that they face higher costs
• Airlines differ on safety of flying over IraqA number of airlines are re-routing planes to avoid crossing Iraq due to the threat from militants on the ground, while other companies believe it is safe to keep flying across the country

Mail Online

• Passenger charged after 'cracking window with single punch' at 35,000ft on board flight from Florida to UK The pilot of Thomson Airways flight Tom145 radioed a message to police at Manchester Airport after the window cracked as the plane travelled at about 35,000ft over Ireland.
• Unmasked: City high-flier Jonathan Burrows who dodged £43,000 in rail fares (then paid up in 3 days) Jonathan Burrows, 44, spent five years avoiding fares between Stonegate station in Kent and Canon Street in London - but can now be unmasked by the Mail despite his efforts to keep the story quiet.

London Evening Standard

• Senior MP accuses taxi app Uber of 'opting out of UK tax' A senior Tory MP has accused cab-hailing smartphone app Uber of “opting out of the UK tax regimeâ€�.
• Commuters warned they face another inflation-busting round of fare rises Commuters face inflation-busting fare rises of up to 5.6 per cent next year, Labour leader Ed Miliband warned today.

Wales Online

• Just how could they? Mum of disabled toddler left in tears when bus passengers 'refuse' to give up their seatsBus company apologises after bus driver also 'refused' to act and ask the people, who were in their 60s or 70s, if they would move to one of the other free seats

Yorkshire Post

• Drivers of foreign cars get away with millions in parking finesMillions of pounds worth of unpaid parking fines have to be written off each year by councils unable to trace drivers of foreign vehicles, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).
• Commuters face fare rises over inflationSome rail commuters could face inflation-busting fare rises of 5.6 per cent in the new year, Labour leader Ed Miliband has warned.

Bucks Free Press

• M40 Junction 4A would be "a win" for Wycombe, says Cllr CONGESTION at Handy Cross would be reduced and the west of Wycombe opened up for development if a motorway junction was built near Booker, according to a councillor.

Doncaster Free Press

• Diesel fire at Balby train depotFirefighters were called to a diesel fire at the Roberts Road train depot in Balby last night.

Aviation Industry

• IAG to take eight A350-900s and eight A330-200s for IberiaInternational Airlines Group (IAG) will firm up eight Airbus A350-900 options for Iberia, along with eight A330-200s that will come from existing options or be sourced on operating lease. read more
• Gatwick drafts in extra staff to ease baggage issuesAirport 'not anticipating' any further problems with arriving baggage
• Qantas and LAN extend codeshare agreementOneworld members Qantas and LAN have strengthened their codeshare agreement by adding routes in Australia and South America.

Other News Sources

• Campaign group refuses to discuss airport's £500m runway compensationConsultatin "puts cart before the horse" says Heathrow campaign group leader