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

Sunday, 27 September 2015

BBC News

• 400-tonne bridge lowered at stationA 400-tonne footbridge is being lowered into place at Port Talbot Parkway station as part of an £11.4m upgrade.
• VW models sale halted in SwitzerlandSwitzerland temporarily bans the sale of some Volkswagen diesel-engine models in the wake of the emissions-rigging scandal in the US.

Financial Times

• Switzerland bans sale of some VW dieselsSwitzerland bans sale of VW diesels as new chief executive vows to win back trust

The Guardian

• Driver tries to scare off spider using lighter, sets gas station on fireVideo footage shows driver’s panic as flames spread from his gas tank to the pump after ill-judged attempt to get rid of the arachnidA motorist scared of spiders gave himself a double shock when he accidentally set a gas station on fire trying to get rid of one using a cigarette lighter.The man told authorities he saw a spider on his gas tank as he went to fill up and unwisely decided to use a lighter to remove it. Continue reading...

The Observer

• Take vehicles that fail diesel test off the streets to protect public healthCar industry and the government need to prove that cars can deliver clean emissions for the sake of public health
• From Hitler to Herbie and hubris – how Volkswagen was brought lowVolkswagen built its art gallery, its stadium, even planted flowers in its streets. Now the town that gave birth to the car giant fears for its futureJennifer Rankin
• Hopeful buyers think Volkswagen’s ocean of troubles might get them a showroom discountBargain hunters expect VW to do the right thing on emissions and cut prices at the dealershipsNigel BunyanJulia KolleweGraham Ruddick
• VW lost the plot. But that’s the danger when business lacks social moorings | Will HuttonVW’s existential crisis has revealed the weaknesses inherent in western economies. Change must now happenWill Hutton

The Scotsman

• Emissions scandal leads to Swiss VW sales banSWITZERLAND has temporarily banned the sale of Volkswagen diesel-engine models which could have devices capable of providing false emissions data.
• ScotRail short of trains for its busiest routesSCOTRAIL is so short of trains following the opening of the Borders Railway that it may be forced to hire extra carriages to cope with booming demand across the network.

The Telegraph

• Switzerland bans sale of Volkswagen diesel carsAuthorities in Switzerland have moved to ban diesel cars manufactured by Volksgwagen group, including Skodas and Seats, in the wake of the emissions rigging scandal
• VW scandal: 'Cover-up' of British tests that showed diesel fume cheatingThe Government knew diesel cars were emitting deadly pollutants at levels four times greater than the official safety limits - and yet ministers continue to offer tax incentives promoting diesel cars

Times Online

• ECB hits Volkswagen with ban on loans (Subscription)THE European Central Bank has dealt Volkswagen a fresh blow by refusing to buy the loans that finance sales of its cars.
• Toxic diesel risk rises (Subscription)DEADLY pollution from diesel vehicles in Britain could be up to four times higher than shown in government figures because of inaccurate emissions claims by car companies, scientists have revealed.

City AM

• Switzerland bans sales of some Volkswagen modelsThe backlash against Volkswagen has hit its hardest point yet as Switzerland has banned sales of Volkswagen diesel cars after the company admitted to cheating in emissions tests.The emissions cheating scandal has escalated over the week as the German car maker admitted that as many as 11m cars could have been equipped with a device enabling them to cheat emissions tests in the US and Germany.In what is the most severe response yet, Switzerland has moved to ban Euro5 Volkswagen diesel cars, which is the category containing the majority of the affected cars. Drivers who already own this model wo...
• Uber wants to bring the party to its customersNeed some help getting the party started? Ride-sharing app Uber is trialling its new service UberEvents for business customers.The pre-paid service allows event organisers to buy rides for their guests, and the company envisions it being used for things like company parties and weddings, as Kimiko Ninomiya, Uber’s senior marketing manager wrote on the company’s blog:When planning a company happy hour, client appreciation dinner, or even upcoming nuptials, there is a lot that goes into ensuring that your event goes off without a hitch—including how your guests can safely get t...

Mail Online

• Switzerland bans VW diesel cars with 'defeat devices' for cheating emissions tests Details of investigation conducted by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre was published in 2013 but no immediate action was taken to prevent car manufacturers like VW from cheating the system.
• New fuel con that hits EVERY driver because car makers are overstating efficiency A bombshell report about to be released by a Brussels-based think-tank reveals that drivers are paying an average of £350 more than they would if their car had the declared fuel efficiency.
• Yorkshire Air Show 2015 wows the crowds with vintage military planes Thousands of aviation enthusiasts gather to watch Second World War planes soar over Leeds East Airport, while acrobatic pilots weaved in and out of each others' paths at breakneck speed.

This is Money

• Fast, green cars... Pull the other one ! VW deceived the public over an issue crucial for public health, says SIMON WATKINS If it turns out that gaming the emissions tests is widespread in the car industry, as many now suspect, can Europe afford to punish its car makers as severely as they may deserve?

Sky News

• VW Scandal: UK Motorists Consider Legal ActionLawyers are being approached by large numbers of Volkswagen owners and shareholders as motorists wait to hear how the UK is affected by the emissions scandal

Birmingham Post

• Car review: 2016 Peugeot 308 GTI Peugeot has injected plenty of pace and power into its hot 308. But did it remember to bring the thrills?

Bolton News

• Minibus death crash driver faces jail over insurance fraud A MINIBUS driver convicted of causing the death of a motorcyclist has been told he faces jail after he failed to disclose his conviction to insurers.

Northern Echo

• £750,000 of unsold Tour de France merchandise contributed to £1m Welcome to Yorkshire losses STAGING the Tour de France left Welcome to Yorkshire (WTY) with losses of more than £1m - including £750,000 worth of unsold merchandise, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Tour de France left Welcome to Yorkshire ‘£1m losses’Welcome to Yorkshire, organisers of the Grand Depart, was left with £750,000 worth of unsold merchandise after the event and £1m losses overall, it has emerged.

Yorkshire Post

• Woman taken to hospital after aircraft crashA pilot has been taken to hospital after crashing on landing at an airfield at Beverley.
• Questions raised over British car testing in wake of Volkswagen scandalMINISTERS are facing new questions about the effectiveness of Britain’s automotive testing regime in the wake of the Volkswagen emissions scandal.

Blackpool Gazette

• Zig-zag parkers warnedParents stopping on yellow zig-zag lines outside Baines secondary school in Poulton have been told they face a police crackdown.
• Loose cows closed motorwayThe M55 had to be partially closed this afternoon after a cow transporter overturned and cattle began roaming on the carriageway.

Bucks Free Press

• OPINION: Colin Baker - How to make air travel a little more bearable It is no surprise to learn that, despite the clear guidance given in the airlines’ emergency evacuation procedure briefings given by video or the cabin staff before take-off, more than 50% of passengers bring their hand luggage with them when evacuations actually take place. In Las Vegas recently, when a BA plane caught fire on the runway, triggering an emergency evacuation, a large number of passengers were seen emerging with hand luggage and even suitcases taken from the overhead lockers while other passengers were trying to exit.

Carlisle News & Star

• 999 crews deal with two separate bus crashes Emergency services have dealt with crashes west of Carlisle and near Keswick.

North Wales Live

• Wallasey road sealed off following reports of a high-speed car chase Residents spoke of 'terrifying' chase with reports of one of the cars carrying what looked like a gun

West Sussex Gazette

• Grit lorries practice on Sussex roads ahead of winter freezeGrit lorries have been practicing their routes in Sussex this morning (September 26) as forecasters predict now and ice in the coming months.
• Car sharing schemes in West Sussex promotedThe number of people sharing cars or becoming members of car clubs is growing in West Sussex.

Other Regional Press

• Major roadworks planned in the south this weekTraffic England have warned drivers of the following roadworks planned around the south in the week starting Monday September 28.
• Border Force officials discover 12 illegal immigrants in the back of a container at North portOfficials discovered 10 Albanians and two Syrians entering the UK illegally at Teesport three weeks after 20 immigrants were found in North Shields
• New car fuel price warWIGAN motorists can expect to see another drop in their petrol prices after Asda fired the first shot in a predicted new fuel war.
• Grimsby Telegraph published Where will the speed camera van be this week, commencing...The mobile speed camera van operated by Safer Roads Humber will be at a number of locations in our area this coming week. On Tuesday it will be on Cromwell Road, Grimsby and on Thursday it will be sited on Weelsby Road. On Friday it will be on the 50mph stretch of the A18 Barton Street. Keep checking for updates.
• Fuelling debate: The A40 dual carriageway option ASK any Oxfordshire resident about the A40 and you are likely to find they have their own idea of how to ‘fix’ the notorious route.
• Motorists held up as crossing work continues TRAFFIC ground to a near-standstill in the centre of Abingdon yesterday morning because of roadworks.

Rail Magazine

• Contactless ticketing booms in LondonTransport for London says that more than 180 million journeys have been made using contactless payments
• Public transport is ‘worst for customer service’A survey claims that public transport and train operators provide the worst customer service and experience
• Boagey chairs Railway Engineers ForumAndrew Boagey is to succeed Lawrie Quinn as chairman of the Railway Engineers Forum.
• Canary Wharf Group completes Crossrail stationThe first Crossrail station to be completed was handed over by its builder, Canary Wharf Group

Aviation Industry

• Near miss between drone and Air NZ flightThe pilot of an Air New Zealand A320 en route from Christchurch to Auckland reported seeing the

Green Miscellany

• Forget VW diesels, the future belongs to the BMW i3As the world was rocked by the news this week that VW had designed its diesel cars to cheat emissions testing, we took the opportunity to test the BMW i3 - the latest in electric car technology. Much is written about electric cars and they are often dismissed as little more than novelty vehicles; exotic runabouts for the wealthy, toys for early adopters or badges of honour for the environmentally devout. The post Forget VW diesels, the future belongs to the BMW i3 appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Committee backs smoking in vehicles banLegislation which would introduce a ban on smoking in vehicles in the presence of those who are under 18 has been backed by the Scottish Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee.
• £100m improvements announced for Winchester M3 junction HIGHWAYS England have revealed how they will spend hundreds of millions of pounds on improving major roads in Hampshire.
• Petition calls for rethink on Clay Lane link road in Jacobs WellPetitioners say Guildford Borough Council's proposed route will increase the risk of flooding and create more pollution

EIN News Subscription

• French firms set to revamp Tehran airport in $2.8b project The largest-ever transport project in Iran, a $2. … of Tehran’s main international airport, will reportedly be developed by … Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, the Guardian reported Friday. In … expect “fierce competitionâ€� from other European and American firms seeking a …