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

Monday, 02 May 2016

BBC News

• Airport flying high after 50 yearsGlasgow Airport celebrates 50 years
• Lost ships recorded in sea off ScotlandArchaeologists working with communities along Scotland's west coast record more than 100 shipwrecks and maritime artefacts.

Financial Times

• Janaillac takes controls at Air France-KLMNew chief executive faces one of toughest jobs in global aviation
• Feedback – Lucy Kellaway on London cyclingFT readers offer their thoughts on whether it is worth the risk

The Guardian

• Freight train leaks hazardous material after derailing near Washington DCMore than 10 cars reportedly left tracks, with at least three of them leaking dangerous material, but official says danger is ‘pretty well contained’A freight train derailed close to Washington DC early Sunday and is leaking hazardous material and causing disruption in the area of the capital.More than 10 cars are understood to have left the tracks, a small portion of the long, 175-car southbound train. No injuries have been reported. Continue reading...
• Newborn baby among dead after shipwrecks in MediterraneanNinety-nine people are believed to have drowned in two separate incidents off the coast of Libya over the weekendA newborn baby is among 99 people believed to have drowned in two separate shipwrecks off the Libyan coast this weekend, according to survivors who arrived in Italy.Twenty-six survivors were rescued by a commercial vessel after a rubber dinghy in which they were travelling sank in the Mediterranean on Friday, a few hours after departing from Sabratha in Libya. They were transferred to Italian coastguard ships before being brought ashore in Lampedusa, Italy’s southernmost island, acc...
• Helicopter had to return to base twice in days before Norway crashOperator confirms warning light appeared in cockpit of Super Puma last Tuesday and during subsequent test flightA helicopter that crashed in Norway, killing 13 people including a Briton, had to return to base twice in the days before the incident owing to a warning light.The Super Puma had to turn back to Bergen airport, Flesland, last Tuesday when the pilot spotted the indication light, the operator CHC Helicopter confirmed on Sunday. Continue reading...
• Pair killed in Yorkshire light aircraft crash thought to be RAF pilotsPolice yet to name two men who died when their plane crash-landed in field near Castle HowardTwo men who died when their plane crashed into a remote field were thought to be RAF pilots.The pilot and his passenger were killed as the light aircraft crash-landed in a field off Mains Lane, between Castle Howard and the A64, in North Yorkshire, at about 10.40am on Saturday. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Norway helicopter 'returned to base twice' because of warning lightHelicopter operator CHC confirmed that the Super Puma had to turn back to Flesland Airport in Bergen last Tuesday when the pilot spotted the indication light.
• Scotrail figures reveal 'unacceptable' delaysStatistics on punctuality, performance and cancellations show more than 40 per cent of trains arrive late at Glasgow Central, Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley.
• Police launch crackdown on speeding driversPolice are embarking on a week-long anti-speeding campaign in a bid to save lives on Scotland's roads.

The Huffington Post

• This Is What Happens When You Cut The Engines On A Helicopter Helicopters, unlike planes are not naturally aerodynamic objects. That means that without their power source, they are not best placed for returning to Earth in a calm and orderly fashion. For starters there are no wings to help it glide, and secondly it's a large big ball of heavy metal. Despite all of this, helicopters do not plummet to the ground as you might assume and it's all thanks to a seriously clever piece of flying. YouTuber SmarterEveryDay decided to become the guinea pig for this particular myth busting session and placed himself in a helicopter without an engin...

The Scotsman

• ScotRail passengers could be in line for refunds for shorter delaysDelayed ScotRail passengers would receive refunds if their trains are as little as 15 minutes late compared to the current 30-minute threshold under plans to follow the lead of new train franchises in England.
• SNP’s cycling ‘vision’ is now impossible, say campaignersThe SNP’s ambition to have one in ten journeys made by bike within four years is now “impossible” at any likely funding levels, Scotland’s leading cycle lobby group has claimed.

The Telegraph

• Ministry of Defence unveils new armed drone that can spy on targets for twice as long to double RAF fleet Britain will double its fleet of armed surveillance drones with a new upgraded generation of unmanned aircraft able to fly for nearly twice as long, laden with more bombs, missiles and sensors, the MoD has disclosed.

Times Online

• ScotRail pledges to act on ‘unacceptable’ delays [Subscription]The head of ScotRail has pledged to improve the performance of train services after admitting to “unacceptable” delays for thousands of passengers.
• Hopes for Luas pay deal dashed by drivers [Subscription]A Luas strike planned for Wednesday is set to go ahead despite hopes for a compromise between bosses and the unions.

Mail Online

• Argos issue urgent recall for Mamas and Papas baby car seats Argos has issued an urgent recall for several baby seats manufactured by Mamas and Papas after confirming 'a potential safety concern' had been identified in testing.
• Ambulance service facing �50million in cuts spends �500k on a fleet of luxury cars A Freedom of Information request by workers at the East of England Ambulance Service revealed the trust bought a fleet of expensive vehicles, including a Jaguar XF and Mercedes C220.
• Brussels Airport departure hall reopens for the first time since ISIS bomb attacks The Brussels Airport reopened its departure hall for the first time since ISIS's deadly suicide bomb attacks in March.

The Mirror

• Investigation begins into crash that killed light aircraft pilot and his passenger One witness thought the men were performing an aerobatic stunt but were unable to pull out of a dive before crashing in a field

This is Money

• Rolls-Royce to design �200m 'Boaty McBoatface'�polar research vessel The ship will be one of the most sophisticated floating laboratories in the polar regions when it takes to the seas in 2019.

Birmingham Post

• New car registrations in Europe reach almost 4 million in the first quarter of 2016 The figures show a strong start to the year despite a dip in March.

London Evening Standard

• Quiz: Can you guess the Tube station from its unique wall mosaic?We recently learned that most Tube stations have a unique tile pattern or mosaic created decades ago to help illiterate people find their way around the London Underground.
• London-bound BA flight intercepted by Hungarian fighter jetsA London-bound British Airways flight was intercepted by fighter jets over Hungary after it lost contact with air traffic controllers.
• Hedgehogs could derail HS2 scheme, London Zoo warnsA small group of hedgehogs living in London Zoo's car park have become the latest problem threatening to derail the High Speed Two scheme.
• 'I thought it was ready to shoot us down': Woman tells of terror as BA flight intercepted by Hungarian fighter jetsA British Airways passenger feared fighter jets were about to "shoot us down" as they intercepted her flight over Hungary.
• Carnage during cycle race as stalled motorbike causes terrifying pile-upThis is the shocking moment a motorbike caused a massive pile-up when it stopped in the middle of a cycle race.

Northern Echo

• Pilot and passenger killed in light aircraft crash near Castle Howard planned to do 'bit of aerobatics' A MAJOR investigation is underway after two men died when their light aircraft hurtled into the ground in North Yorkshire at the weekend.

The York Press

• When trams ruled the roads: 7 great photos from 100 years ago ON January 20th, 1910 the then Lord Mayor of York, Alderman James Birch, took a ride on a new-fangled electric tram to celebrate the dawn of a new era for transport in York.
• Pilot and passenger die as plane crashes near Castle Howard TWO men died in a light aircraft crash near Castle Howard on Saturday.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• ‘Fantastic’ Tour de Yorkshire worth £50m-plus to economyThere can be no doubt that the people of Yorkshire have taken the spectacle of professional cycling to heart, and this weekend offered yet further proof of such glowing sentiments.

Blackpool Gazette

• Check your car battery, tyres and engine before setting off on Bank Holiday trips, warns breakdown serviceBATTERY problems, punctures or engine faults will be the biggest causes of misery for North West drivers expected to break down this Bank Holiday weekend.
• Driverless cars are coming! Would you be happy to give up the right to drive?More than 65 per cent of motorists want to retain the right to drive even though driverless cars are coming, two new pieces of research released today have shown (April 28th 2016).

North Wales Live

• What was that HUGE ship sailing down the Mersey? The Zhen Hua ship set off from a dock in Nantong, China, in mid March
• Airbus celebrates confidence-boosting orders from four airlines Orders will help raise flat first quarter performance from aircraft manufacturer

Peterborough Telegraph

• Truckfest returns to East of England ShowgroundIce Road Truckers stars Lisa Kelly and Todd Dewey are the big names at this year’s Truckfest - the UK’s largest truck show - which returned to the East of England Showground yesterday (Sunday, May 1).

Other Regional Press

• Rodbourne Road: massive crane begins work on bridges, shutting road to pedestrians PEDESTRIANS are now feeling the same frustration as drivers after Network Rail closed Rodbourne Road to them as well.
• Shipbuilding strategy will boost Royal NavyA NEW shipbuilding plan will keep the navy as one of the top fighting forces in the world, a minister has said.
• UPDATED: Drivers face traffic gridlock in and around Oxford as A34 emergency gas works continue Major trunk road closed for emergency repairs work
• Lane closed on Newport Bridge due to 'dangerous' road surface Diversions were put in place after damage which saw jagged metal raised on the road
• Pothole fall prompts fresh call for actionResident Michelle Barnett is the latest to suffer from road problems
• New town centre cycle lane is going in the wrong direction up a one-way street The new lane on Ramsden Street which has people baffled comes to a dead end at a busy junction
• All the planned West Midlands roadworks for May 2-8 Don't get caught out on the roads this week by using a comprehensive list of planned works
• New car registrations in Europe reach almost 4 million in the first quarter of 2016 The figures show a strong start to the year despite a dip in March.
• Horse road safety campaign gathers momentumA campaign to make drivers more aware of issues around the safety of horses and riders on the roads is gathering momentum, as petrol pump advertising for the British Horse Society’s Dead Slow campaign is rolled out across major supermarkets.

Other News Sources

• Motorists urged to avoid Blackburn road after crash MOTORISTS are being urged to avoid the A666 Bolton Road, Blackburn after an accident.
• 'It has been a long time coming' - Blackburn's new 'state-of-the-art' bus station officially declared open BLACKBURN'S new bus station has been officially declared open.
• EU vote delays the Gatwick expansion decision again A GOVERNMENT decision on the expansion of Gatwick could be delayed again – this time by the EU referendum.
• Temporary traffic light to be used while power lines replaced A �20,000 upgrade of power lines should stop trees and storms causing power cuts.