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

Sunday, 05 July 2015

BBC News

• Motorcycle doctor dies in accidentDr John Hinds, one of the so-called 'flying doctors' of Irish road racing, is killed at a motorcycle event in the Republic of Ireland.
• Eurotunnel increases migrant securityEurotunnel says it is preparing for a
• Major disruption to ScotRail trainsAbout a third of ScotRail's trains are cancelled due to a lack of drivers willing to work on a Sunday.

Financial Times

• Yamaha aims high with agriculture droneJapanese motorcycle group looks to expand sales by its unit making unmanned aerial vehicles

The Guardian

• Why Zac Goldsmith’s views on Heathrow and Europe are a problem for CameronThe MP now tipped to be London’s mayor has long been the face of green Toryism . But his passionate opposition to a third runway could put him on a collision course with his partyShortly after he was elected leader of the Conservative Party in 2005, David Cameron appointed a wealthy fellow Old Etonian to a new policy group to look into ways to improve “quality of lifeâ€� in Britain. Cameron was in his ultra-green phase and wanted Zac Goldsmith, former editor of the Ecologist magazine, to develop ideas on how to tackle climate change, cut carbon emissions and promote green transport.When the grou...
• Thousands of Ashes spectators could be hit by rail strike affecting Cardiff• Strike would affect First Great Western trains for first three days of Test• Final talks to try to avoid strike to be held on SundayThousands of cricket fans could be hit by a rail strike affecting First Great Western trains serving Cardiff during the first three days of the first Ashes Test. Talks will be held on Monday in a final attempt to avert the strike due to start at 6.30pm on Wednesday evening, the opening day of the Test at the Swalec Stadium. Related: Darren Lehmann’s nous gives Australia Ashes edge | Jason Gillespie Continue reading...
• George Osborne’s £13bn ‘northern powerhouse’ fund includes routine council spending on potholesEmbarrassment for government as it confirms only £5bn of announced £13bn funding is allocated for major road schemes and £3bn for railGeorge Osborne’s pledge to build a “northern powerhouseâ€� has been condemned as “cynical pre-election spinâ€� as it emerged that the £13bn committed to build it includes routine spending on potholes and maintenance for the A1, which comes out of London.In further embarrassment, a communities minister was also accused of misleading parliament over the money after he claimed to MPs in the Commons last week that the government was “investing £13bn ...
• Channel tunnel delays after points failure and migrants storm CalaisCalls to address Calais crisis renewed after 150 migrants try to enter restricted areas of terminal with problem compounded by points failureCalls to address the crisis in Calais have been renewed after about 150 migrants tried to storm the Channel tunnel terminal in northern France in a bid to board UK-bound freight trains.Services were delayed and cancelled after migrants accessed restricted areas on the French side overnight on Friday, Channel tunnel operator Eurotunnel said. Continue reading...
• Police criticise motorists for taunting woman who threatened suicide on M3Social media taunts of distressed woman on footbridge ‘totally unacceptable’ say Surrey police after road closure caused traffic jamPolice have criticised motorists stuck in a traffic jam for taunting a woman on social media as she threatened to jump to her death from a bridge on Saturday.They said the remarks on Twitter were “totally unacceptableâ€� and called on the public to be more understanding of people in distress. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Calais migrants disrupt Eurotunnel Channel Tunnel services were disrupted yesterday after about 150 migrants tried to storm the Calais terminal.

The Independent

• Network Rail embroiled in conflict of interest row over its new 'special director' Network Rail is embroiled in a conflict of interest row after the Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin drafted in a “special directorâ€� to keep an eye on the ailing organisation.

The Observer

• Be sure your travel insurance will pay out if disaster strikesGreece and Tunisia highlight how crucial good insurance is. But everyone needs to check the small print, as Rosie Murray-West reports

City AM

• Channel Tunnel services disrupted as 150 migrants storm terminalSome 150 migrants have caused chaos for Channel Tunnel services, as they attempted to storm the terminal in Calais.The people entered restricted areas overnight, causing severe delays and cancelling trains, according to operator Eurotunnel.Read more: UK immigration: These charts show how net migration has increased, where migrants are coming from and why they migrateThe company called for more security, saying that action needed to be taken to prevent a large-scale crisis.Despite the disruption, passenger services have now returned to normal, but freight operations are still facing delays...

Mail Online

• Forth Bridge set to become Unesco World Heritage site The cantilever railway bridge sits over the Firth of Forth estuary in the east of Scotland, nine miles west of Edinburgh City Centre. the decision is due to be finalised tomorrow night.

The Mirror

• EasyJet air hostess claims cabin crew feel unfairly treated by the budget airline The girl, who asked not to be named, said: “The issue is that we want the same basic pay as easyJet staff in Italy and France.
• easyJet cabin crew planning pay strike that could bring misery to holidaymakers More than 2,000 workers at the budget airline are set to walk out in a row over pay

This is Money

• SIMON WATKINS: Government's tough talk isn't enough when it comes to deciding on airport expansion The longer this decision is postponed, the greater the chance that Britain loses its status as the landing point in Europe for many global travellers and businesses.
• Gatwick's still very much in the game, insists boss despite Airports Commission's recommendation for Heathrow Gatwick boss Stewart Wingate does not sound like a beaten man, despite the Airports Commission favouring Heathrow for a new runway.
• 'We only expand if we meet air quality targets': Heathrow boss calls it 'a lovely week' but opponents insist the fight is far from over The environment will come first in any expansion of Heathrow, its boss John Holland-Kaye has pledged.

Liverpool Echo

• More than 700 cyclists and motorcyclists were killed or injured on Merseyside roads in the last four years Liverpool tops the list for number of accidents across the region

London Evening Standard

• Driver arrested after car struck by lightning in freak electrical storm accident in south-east London A driver had a lucky escape when a lightning bolt struck his car and launched it into the air during last night's electrical storm.
• Drivers condemned for 'taunting' distressed woman who brought M3 to standstill for two hours Drivers began "taunting" a distressed woman who police feared was about to jump from a bridge above the M3, after the motorway was brought to a standstill.

Manchester Evening News

• Train strike looms in Greater Manchester as rail workers vote to stage walkoutMembers of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union plan to stage a walkout on Northern Rail services in a row over jobs and safety.
• Police and Metrolink probe suspected vandals after tram derailedGMP and engineers have launched a joint investigation after vandals were suspected of causing major disruption to Metrolink services

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Holland America Line's Eurodam cruise ship set to sail back into the Port of TyneHolland America Line's Eurodam cruise ship will visit the North East for the first time since 2012

Northern Echo

• Deal struck to save A167 street lights A DEAL has been struck to keep more than 100 street lights along a busy North-East road.

This Is Local London Network

• Double trouble: Cancellations and rail replacement buses disrupt SE London Two sets of engineering works have hit Lewisham this weekend, disrupting journeys and cancelling trains in south east London.
• Major improvements to New Addington bus routes due later this year Bus services to New Addington are set to improve following a Transport for London (TfL) consultation.

Carlisle News & Star

• Northern Rail staff vote to strike Workers on Northern Rail, which runs services across Cumbria, have voted to go on strike in a row over jobs and safety.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Rail services return to normal between Ipswich and FelixstoweTrain services have returned to normal between Ipswich and Felixstowe this evening following problems caused by a broken down train.

Other Regional Press

• New Oxford station could be delayed due to Network Rail’s failings THERE are fears the £75m overhaul of Oxford Railway station may not take place for almost a decade.
• Delay for £10m Coventry roadworks - after cables were buried in the 'wrong place''Pinch point' work around Woodway Lane in Walsgrave will be put on hold for weeks while BT fixes mistake
• Baden Powell’s granddaughter opens roadGirl Guides invited spectators to join in a traditional conga at a fun-filled event to launch the longest road in Europe to be named after the Scouting movement’s famous founder.

Aviation Industry

• Danish Unions Maintain Ryanair Strike ThreatDanish labor union representatives said Friday they were maintaining their threat to take strike action against Ryanair Holdings PLC even after the Irish discount airline said it would withdraw its only plane based at Copenhagen airport. Local labor groups have demanded that Ryanair's staff based in Denmark be covered by Danish worker agreements.

Other News Sources

• Traders say reduced parking charges need to be just the start of seafront regeneration SEAFRONT businesses are welcoming lowered parking charges during disruptive preservation work but warn much more is needed to turn around an area which has become an “embarrassmentâ€�.