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

Saturday, 21 November 2015

BBC News

• Ice on roads warning to driversThe Met Office warns commuters about difficult driving conditions across Wales due to ice on the roads.
• VIDEO: How much does it cost to upgrade the rail lines?An estimated �1.2bn hike in the cost of electrifying the Great Western Main Line is
• Two released over airport bomb hoaxTwo men who were arrested at Manchester Airport on suspicion of making a bomb hoax have been released, police say.
• Driver blackout bus death 'avoidable'A bus driver who killed a colleague after passing out at the wheel should have followed medical advice after previous faints, an inquiry finds.
• Crossrail carriage designs unveiledTransport for London says the trains which will carry passengers on the �14.8bn Crossrail route will be accessible with free Wi-Fi access.
• Rail electrification costs 'staggering'An estimated �1.2bn hike in the cost of electrifying the Great Western Main Line is
• Tesla's Musk seeks 'hardcore engineers'Tesla boss Elon Musk appeals for software engineers to accelerate plans to build self-guiding cars, as the carmaker recalls all Model S cars sold over a potential seatbelt problem.

Financial Times

• VW cuts €1bn spending to pay for scandalAnalysts disappointed by size of reduction ahead of diesel emissions fines
• MPs call for review of rail regulatorOffice of Rail and Road failed to ‘robustly scrutinise’ Network Rail’s plans and cost estimates
• EasyJet boss is in for the long haulChief faces challenge of terror attacks and competition after changing the budget airline’s fortunes

The Guardian

• Airline loses Boston Marathon bombing survivor's prosthetic legAmerican Airlines ‘terribly sorry’ to dancer Adrianne Haslet-DavisHaslet-Davis tweets her dismay as ‘$250k’ luggage goes missingA professional dancer who was injured in the Boston Marathon bombing says American Airlines lost her luggage, which included her prosthetic leg.Adrianne Haslet-Davis tweeted on Thursday night: “u lost my luggage w over $250k of leg & dance parts.” Continue reading...
• Surge in car clamping after tax disc changeRemoval of paper tax discs has led to nearly 60% jump in clampings by DVLA in past year, with some drivers facing fines of more than �800Nearly 100,000 cars have been clamped or towed away by the DVLA following the removal of paper tax discs last October, with some drivers facing fines of more than £800. The DVLA said 99,307 vehicles had been immobilised or towed away in the past 12 months, a 58% rise compared with the previous year. It added that the changes to tax discs had been widely publicised and that it posts almost three million reminders each month. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Motorists facing biggest hike in car insurance since 2011, report warnsMOTORISTS could face the biggest hike to their premiums since 2011 as insurers seek to improve their profits, a new report has warned.

The Telegraph

• First look at new Crossrail trains - with free Wi-Fi and 4G accessThe trains are due to enter service on the new cross-London line in 2017
• Now you can charter a private jet to Europe for less than �500Flight sharing and empty leg booking services for private air travel have opened up a whole new world to travellers looking for a premium experience

Times Online

• Bike messengers risking lives with illegal ‘alleycat’ races on city streets (Subscription)A group of professional cyclists are risking their lives, and the lives of pedestrians and motorists, in illegal races on city streets, an investigation by The Times has found.

Reuters News

• MPs criticise Network Rail over upgrade failures LONDON (Reuters) - Network Rail faced strong criticism for its handling of an over-budget programme to upgrade the country's tracks in a report by MPs which could intensify questions about the future of the state-backed rail infrastructure operator.

Daily Record

• Man rescued from harbour water after fire broke out on fishing boat THE vessel was ablaze for an hour as the RNLI searched the harbour for two people reported missing.
• British security services brace themselves for potential Islamic State maritime attack ROYAL Marines have been training in Scottish waters after fears that IS could hijack a vessel bound for a British port to use a dirty bomb against UK citizens.

Mail Online

• Elderly lady filmed standing in front of a bus to stop it driving off at Chorlton Bus Station The unidentified pensioner was angry that a Stagecoach bus in Manchester was pulling away from its stop before she got on, so she chased it down and confronted the driver.

The Mirror

• Helicopter crashes at New Zealand glacier with seven people on boardThe fate of the pilot and passengers is as yet unknown after the chopper came down at Fox Glacier, a popular tourist spot

This is Money

• Motorists to face �30 increase in car insurance costs in 2016 Motorists will see car insurance costs accelerate by �30 next year as providers look to boost profits, a report warns. Hikes are expected to be the biggest since 2011.

Birmingham Post

• HS2 should be going north, not south, Jeremy Corbyn claims The Labour leader tells the Post that HS2 should be about benefiting the regions - not London
• Best hybrid cars for 2016 chosen by motoring experts Hybrids are now an established part of the new car market. So rather than treating them like a novelty, the time has come to starting sorting the best from the rest

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Bomb scare at Airbus factory in France A box containing three cans of fizzy pop connected with wires was found at the plane manufacturer’s main assembly line in Toulouse - sparking a terror alert
• A55 drivers blamed AGAIN for roadworks chaos by Edwina Hart The Transport Minister made the comment in a written response to a North Wales AM
• Airbus steps up Broughton security in response to increased UK terror threat Aerospace giant says it has 'adjusted" security measures but added no specific threat had been made against the wing plant

Derby Telegraph

• Derbysport published Cycling: Women-only session a big hit at Derby Arena; will be...A WOMEN-ONLY track cycling session at Derby Arena proved so successful that another will be held in the New Year. Kate Samways, a director of city bike shop Samways Cycles, organised the event with the help of British Cycling. She was thrilled when 48 riders of varying abilities from beginners to experienced club racers turned up and confirmed yesterday that further sessions will be scheduled. Riders were spilt into three categories – absolute beginners, those who had been on the...

London Evening Standard

• Revealed: The £1bn new Crossrail trains... with fewer seatsCrossrail's £1 billion fleet of new trains was revealed today — but passengers will face an even greater battle to find a seat.
• Hammersmith and Fulham 20mph plan ‘scaremongering over safety’Town hall chiefs were today accused of “scaremongering” over plans to introduce a blanket 20mph speed limit in Hammersmith and Fulham.
• Paris terrorist mastermind ‘was riding Metro as attacks unfolded’Abaaoud was able to wander onto train despite being on most-wanted list
• Jim Armitage: VW is damaging its case by frustrating regulatorsThe self-inflicted car crash engulfing Volkswagen is so vast that any company would struggle to survive it.
• Armed police called to reports of gunman at Stevenage station - but find man with sandwichArmed police were called to reports of a gunman at a railway station in Hertfordshire - but discovered it was just a man with a sandwich.

Manchester Evening News

• HS2 and Northern Powerhouse could bring �1bn of music tourism to regionSlashing journey times and making access from Manchester Airport easier is key to the huge benefits Baroness Susan Williams thinks Manchester could see

Northern Echo

• New speaker for transport conference MOVES to draw up a regional road safety strategy in a bid to cut the number of injuries and accidents on the North-East’s roads have won backing from the newest member of an influential regional transport body.

Sheffield Star

• Barnsley MP backs bid for Tour de Yorkshire to be extendedBarnsley MP Michael Dugher has called on British Cycling to support a bid by Tour de Yorkshire to extend the 2016 cross-county cycling event to four days, after this year’s event drew crowds of over 1.5 million spectators to Yorkshire.
• Fundraising cyclists help pay for minibuses for two Sheffield schoolsTwo Sheffield schools have been presented with minibuses after a cycling challenge raised £200,000.
• Icy roads warning after snow falls in Sheffield overnightCouncil gritting teams have worked through the night in Sheffield as snow fell in the city.

The York Press

• Faulty points blamed for train derailment between York and Harrogate SIGNALLING problems and faulty points are likely to have caused the derailment of a York to Harrogate train.

Wales Online

• Controversial road layout was a 'contributing factor' in pedestrian death on Swansea's Kingsway Daniel Foss was killed in September 2013 after he stepped into the city centre’s Kingsway, the same stretch of road where a Cardiff police officer also died earlier this year

Blackpool Gazette

• Gritters set to treat Lancashire’s roadsGritting teams are gearing up to treat Lancashire’s roads for the first time this winter, following forecasts of freezing conditions.

Burnley Express

• Burnley students on track for win in ‘eco car’ competition STUDENTS from Burnley have been tipped to claim victory in a competition to design and build ultra-energy-efficient vehicles and see how far they can travel on one litre of fuel.

Carlisle News & Star

• Cumbrian council branded hypocritical over parking charges plan Independent traders in Workington have hit out at plans to raise parking charges in their town while others in nearby Maryport could see them scrapped.

Crewe Chronicle

• Driving the first Praga supercar for 68 years First car from Czech maker for 68 years is a lightweight racer priced at £140,000

Daventry Express

• Gritters to go out across Northamptonshire as road temperatures plummetGritting lorries will be out on main roads tonight across Northamptonshire after forecasts of wintry showers and low temperatures.

Doncaster Free Press

• Overturned lorry closes M18 to M1 link roadA lorry has overturned on the link road between the M18 and the M1 in South Yorkshire.

Sunderland Echo

• Road rage: Anger over poor turn out for driver survey which caused traffic hellThe news that just 14% of motorists responded to a traffic survey which caused rush-hour misery in Sunderland has created fury among Echo readers.

The Shields Gazette

• Could this be the answer to traffic hell at blackspot roundabout?A major new road project aims to combat traffic congestion between two notorious South Tyneside roundabouts.

West Sussex Gazette

• Plans to solve Pulborough parking problems refused by councilPlans to solve major parking problems in and around Pulborough Railway Station were refused on Tuesday.

Other Regional Press

• MPs' anger as price of rail electrification soars to �2.8 billion MPs have slammed the increasing cost of electrification of a major train line which runs through Gwent
• Warning that next year's Velothon will make residents prisoners in their own homes MONMOUTHSHIRE residents have been warned by their county council that some of them will be disrupted again when it plays its part in hosting a controversial cycle race next year.
• Roadworks planned in the south for w/s Monday November 23Highways England has issued this list of roadworks planned in the south next week.
• Extra park and ride buses laid on to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard’s Festival of ChristmasTHERE will be extra park and ride buses to the Victorian Festival of Christmas next weekend at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
• Network Rail "lost its grip" on electrification of Great Western Mainline DELAYS and
• “Uncertainty” over Midland mainline electrification, MPs warnMPs have raised serious concerns about rail investment in the UK following a series of delays to large-scale projects including the Midland mainline.
• Could this brine-pumping winter buster be the answer to our icy woes?Meet the new addition to our winter-busting road team.
• Coventry petrol prices: Petrol plummets to its lowest price in SIX years Motorists are set to benefit as the average cost of a litre of fuel could drop by 2p
• New way to keep up with travel detailsANYONE travelling in or around Greater Manchester can now sign up to receive a new weekly email alert covering major events and planned changes affecting roads, buses, trains and trams.
• 10 tips for making sure your car copes this winter AS the first snow flurries are forecast for this weekend, Motor Codes, the Government-approved consumer watchdog for the automotive industry, is urging motorists to ‘winter-proof’ their cars.
• Hacktrain goes live as hackers try to solve railway bugs WHILE the rails fall silent here in Swindon this weekend more than 120 of the best hackers in the world will take to trains to try and combat some of the biggest technological fails facing the railway industry.
• Great Western Electrification programme 'over budget and late' A NEW report has said the Great Western Electrification programme is currently more than a billion pounds over budget and two years behind schedule.
• Essex Chronicle published Feedback given by 2,800 people to Essex County Council in bus...THE consultation into a massive overhaul of Essex bus services which could see some routes scrapped and others replaced with "on demand" minibuses has been completed.The county council's cabinet meets today to discuss the response to its proposals, designed to make about £1.5 million in savings by redirecting some 38 routes, scrapping a further 30 and using "Demand Responsive Transport" in some rural areas.Cllr Roger Hirst, Essex County Council cabinet member for...
• Tonnes of lard, baked beans and thousands of lager cans: What have been the strangest spills on motorways We have sat in traffic on the motorway and wondered what exactly is the hold up, well sometime the truth is stranger than fiction. Days after 24 tonnes of lard closed the M11 for 24 hours, Highways England reveals the strangest items ever spilled on its roads.
• Technology experts will gather on trains to find rail industry solution More than 40 technology experts will work on innovative solutions to rail industry challenges by working together on Great Western Railway services at the weekend.
• Scheme to help cut car crash death toll A ROMSEY man is behind a scheme aimed at making Hampshire’s roads safer.
• CitizenChip published Calls made for all Gloucester car parks to be made free for Small...INDEPENDENT traders have called for the council to rethink their "underwhelming" support for small businesses in Gloucester by providing free car parks for just one day.As part of Small Business Saturday on December 5, which is supported nationally, Gloucester City Council has offered to allow people to park for free at four of their car parks from 10am on the day.However those needing to park at the other 12 will be charged the usual rates - and traders want it to get fully behind...
• RWhitehouse commented Truro bus lane will be scrapped on MondayA BUS lane created on Tregolls Road in Truro has been scrapped after officials found it had trebled journey times for commuters heading into the city.The lane, which will have cost taxpayers £60,000 in construction and removal costs alone, was meant to improve congestion on the road since the opening of the new park and ride scheme at the top of the hill. However, motorists were finding the journey from Tresillian to Truro had increased from seven minutes before the lane opened, to 21...
• Armed police called to Stevenage railway station after reports of man acting suspiciouslyArmed police were called to Stevenage railway station yesterday after reports that a man was acting suspiciously nearby.
• Police warning as Vauxhall cars are being canabalised by criminal gangsCriminal gangs are targeting parked Vauxhall Corsas and stripping them for parts.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• C & D Express relocates to new depot in SheffieldTransport firm C & D Express has announced the purchase of a new 69,000 sq ft depot in Rawson Spring Way, Sheffield.� The site was acquired from IMI Property Investments for a sum in the region of �1.5 million and the deal was brokered by industrial property specialists Gent Visick. Founded in 1987, C & D Express has endeavoured to offer its customers a fast and efficient road transport service.� It specialises in diverse small and part loads of goods that require special handling and attention, with UK-wide delivery options. Managing director of C & D Express Lee Ducker said the acquisition o...

Rail Magazine

• VIDEO: London's new Crossrail train revealedBombardier’s Class 345 Aventras will provide space for 1,500 passengers
• Better connection for EustonWhen rebuilt for HS2, London Euston will be one of the best connected railway stations in Europe, according to Rail Minister Claire Perry.
• Late delivery of rail projects “unacceptable”, says regulatorOffice of Rail and Road says review of its own role in Network Rail projects is “appropriate”
• HS2 will start to re-establish pride in the transport network - PerryHS2 will start to re-establish pride in the transport network, Rail Minister Claire Perry claimed on November 5 at the National Rail Conference.

Railnews

• Network Rail looks like 'Greece on rails' The Institute of Directors has launched a stinging attack on Network Rail in the wake of today's report from the Commons Public Accounts Committee which dubs the rise in cost of electrifying the Great Western Main Line as 'unacceptable'. Today's report warns that there could be more delays to Network Rail's enhancement programme, which includes several electrification schemes, and says the plans have proved to be 'unrealistic'. It also calls for a 'fundamental review' of the regulator�s role and effectiveness in planning rail infrastructure.

Aviation Industry

• BA and Skyscanner sign deal to sell tickets through NDCTravellers will be able to browse elements such as cabin details, baggage allowance and upgrade options

Green Miscellany

• Arcimoto SRK electric trike: Future transport todayThe Arcimoto SRK electric trike might just be the Holy Grail of motorised personal transport. Short enough to��park�to like a motorcycle, but boasting�a roof and seat belts like a car, the lightweight electric trike can squeeze up to�130 miles out of a single charge. With an estimated 230 MPGe, the trike nevertheless manages 0-60 in 7.5 seconds and is capable… The post Arcimoto SRK electric trike: Future transport today appeared first on ETA.
• Blaze Burner bicycle light aimed at urban ridersAs bike light patterns become ever more complex, designers are resorting to ever higher specs to help rider stand out from the crowd. The BLAZE Burner features a bank of 24 LEDs, each with 60 levels of brightness. In the visual cacophony of today's cities, the Burner offers almost endless variations of flashing and pulsing. The post Blaze Burner bicycle light aimed at urban riders appeared first on ETA.
• Driving test changes herald more HGVsDriving test changes�proposed by the government�represent the�biggest shake up to new driver regulation in a generation. The post Driving test changes herald more HGVs appeared first on ETA.
• Grasp a fingerprint operated bicycle lockIf you've ever fumbled with your bicycle lock with cold fingers, you'll understand the merit of key-less fingerprint operated security. The Grasp lock combines the world's smallest optical fingerprint sensor with hardened steel alloy to create. The post Grasp a fingerprint operated bicycle lock appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Vysionics introduces Vector-Z cameras for number plate recognition UK-based company Vysionics has added a new product, Vector-Z, to its family of automatic number plate recognition (Vector ANPR) cameras.
• Zac Goldsmith would scrap all London's bus lanes Tory mayoral candidate believes electric cars will make bus lanes obsolete
• Top trends for 2016 that will reshape maritime's futurePlagued by overcapacity and ongoing losses, the container shipping industry is rife with talk of potential mergers and acquisitions.
• MPs slam Network Rail planning and budget failures and order ORR reviewThe influential public accounts committee has called for a review of the ORR and slammed what it described as Network Rail’s unrealistic plans for Control Period 5.
• Argus Appeal bike ride to Paris will go ahead as show of solidarity A CHARITY bike ride to Paris has vowed to go ahead as a show of solidarity following last week's devastating terrorist attacks.
• Sunday's Shoreham Airshow memorial service is a chance for grief to be shared TOMORROW is a chance for grief to be shared, to be recognised and understood, with no need to explain.
• Expedia signs deal with Silverrail to expand in rail sectorPlatform expected to launch in 2016