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

Saturday, 17 September 2016

BBC News

• West Midlands Police target drivers too close to cyclistsPolice officers are getting on bikes to spot motorists who drive too close to cyclists while overtaking.
• Death on the roadsAs two young drivers are jailed for causing the deaths of two men in Bradford, BBC News examines the case for and against a review of sentencing for such crimes.
• Tesla Autopilot safety row escalatesTesla and its former business partner MobilEye have traded more angry remarks over the safety of the vehicle's Autopilot system.
• Highlands airports boss in challenge to Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson is challenged to fly to Inverness Airport after describing Heathrow expansion plans as
• Derailment to cause hours of disruptionA train derailment will cause hours of disruption, says London Midland trains.
• Fiat Chrysler recalls 1.9 million vehicles over air bag defectCar maker Fiat Chrysler is to recall 1.9 million vehicles over an air bag defect linked to three deaths and five injuries.
• Stephen Rea slams A6 upgrade plan near Seamus Heaney home as 'desecration'Leading Northern Ireland actor Stephen Rea says building a new road through the landscape that inspired Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney would be
• Tube strike ends on Hammersmith and City LineLondon Tube drivers on two underground lines end 24-hour strike.
• Two hurt as train derailed in flood landslide near Watford JunctionTwo people are injured as a train derails near Watford Junction in a landslide caused by heavy rain.
• Car testing: How to perform a 'corkscrew'BBC News visits a car test centre that has invested in new kit to flip over vehicles at speed.
• Northern Powerhouse: Osborne to stay and fight for projectFormer Chancellor George Osborne tells the BBC he will stay in the Commons to

Financial Times

• Pilotless in Pittsburgh is Uber’s futureTesting of first fleet of driverless cabs shows ambition but long way to go
• Flash floods bring London commuter chaosDerailment near Watford and Tube strikes add to transport disruption

The Guardian

• Man jailed for shining powerful torch at RAF jets flying over his homeJohn Arthur Jones, described in court as a ‘Victor Meldrew type’, jailed for 18 months for endangering aircraft in Anglesey, WalesA man has been jailed for 18 months for endangering aircraft after shining a powerful torch at RAF jets flying training missions over his island home.John Arthur Jones, a former council housing director, was so upset by the roar of the jets flying over his land in Anglesey, north Wales, that he took to aiming the beam at pilots. The lights were “dangerously distracting” and sometimes pilots of Hawk jets who were being trained for combat had to abort landings. Contin...
• Train derails after landslide as heavy rain causes UK travel chaosHalf a month’s rain falls in a few hours, flooding roads, homes and stations and leading to derailment near WatfordHave you been affected? Share your photos, videos and storiesA landslide resulting from torrential rain has caused a train to derail injuring two people, after half a month’s rain fell in a few hours and caused travel chaos across the UK.The heatwave that the UK had experienced for much of the week ended spectacularly on Friday morning, with the east, south and south-east of England worst affected. They all had amber weather warnings in place, the second-highest alert level, accor...
• Undercover bike cops launch 'best ever' cycle safety scheme in BirminghamCampaigners hope the operation, that sees plain clothes police on bikes pull over drivers that pass too close, will be taken up across the countryWhen Mark Hodson gets on his bike in the morning, like many cyclists in the UK, he has come to expect a few close calls. Perhaps drivers will whizz past him too close, or someone will even try a ‘punishment pass’.Luckily, Hodson is a West Midlands Police traffic officer, albeit in plain clothes, and just yards up the road a colleague in a police car is waiting to pull over drivers that give him less than 1.5m space when overtaking (a distance that in...
• Lose the phone or get off the road: that’s the message texting drivers need to hear | Martin PorterDrivers will change their behaviour only when they know for sure all loopholes are closed, and magistrates have no choice but to disqualify themIn a survey carried out by the RAC, 31% of motorists admitted to the illegal use of a handheld mobile phone in the previous 12 months. The figure does not surprise many of us who cycle through our major towns and cities and get a good view while we glance at those driving around us. It is perhaps less obvious from another car, yet still if a vehicle is weaving unpredictably as it makes its way down a motorway the explanation, more often than not, turns...
• The driving mentality is what really killed Lee Martin | Deborah OrrThose who repeatedly use their phone behind the wheel need something stronger than safety campaignsWhen Darrell Martin talked to the media about the death of his brother Lee, the soundbite that emerged was: “Dog walk text message killed my brother”. What actually killed Lee Martin, though, was the arrogance, stupidity, irresponsibility, lies and casual defiance of 30-year-old Christopher Gard. Related: Lose the phone or get off the road: that’s the message texting drivers need to hear | Martin Porter Continue reading...

The Herald

• Government 100% behind Northern Powerhouse despite early 'wobble', says George Osborne Former chancellor George Osborne said the Government was now
• Mid-air emergency causes flight bound for Canada to return to GlasgowA plane�bound for Canada�was forced to return to Glasgow Airport after declaring a mid-air emergency.
• Highlands airport boss says Heathrow 'in desperate need' of expansionTHE boss of Scotland's regional airports said Heathrow is

The Telegraph

• Drivers who get too close to cyclists face prosecution
• Drivers caught using mobile phones twice will be banned, Government to announce
• UK weather: Train derails after striking landslip as flash flooding washes away heatwave

Times Online

• Ross refuses to intervene in Dublin bus strike [Subscription]Shane Ross has ruled out government intervention in the Dublin Bus pay dispute as an escalation in strike action looms.

Mail Online

• Boris Johnson calls for return of Royal Yacht Britannia as floating embassy for trade deals The UK Foreign Secretary is considering plans to recommission the vessel and use it to host trade deals around the globe in a bid to boost the economy following Brexit.
• Passengers stuck in a tunnel after a London midland train is derailed Four people were injured when the 6.19am London Midland train from Milton Keynes hit a landslip and derailed just north of Watford Junction, before being struck by an oncoming train.
• An airline captain reveals everything you ever wanted to know about turbulence� The serving pilot talks to MailOnline Travel about turbulence in a bid to help ease passengers' nerves about the phenomenon. He reveals how turbulence once stalled his 747 over Africa.
• Great Western Rail bosses tell commuters to give up their Friday after train delays Commuters have been asked to try to make their journeys tomorrow instead of getting home for the weekend tonight as rail companies try to reinstate the usual timetable after a day of delays
• Police on bikes lead crackdown to prosecute motorists who drive within 5ft of cyclists The scheme, launched in the West Midlands, sees officers radio colleagues in patrol cars, giving the vehicle details of any so-called close-pass drivers so they can be intercepted.
• UK's �6billion fleet of Type 45 destroyers spend 1,515 days at port The six vessels, which are based in Portsmouth, notched up a staggering 1,515 days in our harbours in the year between April 2015 and 2016.
• Three migrants get into UK by hiding in bus full of British soldiers The trio, who are reportedly all men, were�found on Thursday afternoon when the coach pulled up at their barracks near Windsor Castle, Berkshire.

The Mirror

• Reckless drivers who use mobile phones behind the wheel WILL face tougher penalties in Mirror victory Tory Transport ­Secretary Chris Grayling is looking to raise the punishment to an automatic six penalty points
• Petrol prices soar as Brexit marks the end of cheap fuel in Britain Petrol is up 1.59p compared with last month and it's almost a penny dearer than this time last year.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Public views sought on �7 million Keighley road-widening scheme PUBLIC views are being sought on a multi-million pound scheme to transform a notorious Keighley bottleneck into dual carriageway.
• Man uses phone app to track his stolen �40,000 car A CRIME victim who turned private detective with the help of a smartphone app tracked down his stolen �40,000 Mercedes-Benz and led police to premises where an operation was continuing today.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Anglesey businessman John Arthur Jones JAILED for shining lights at jetThe 66 year-old former Anglesey councillor of Parc Cefni, Bodffordd appeared before a judge at Mold Crown Court to learn his fate today

London Evening Standard

• London Euston chaos: Severe disruption after Watford Junction train derails in landslide and clips oncoming trainUp to 400 people were stranded on a train for over five hours after it hit a landslip, derailed and was "lightly struck" by an oncoming train following torrential downpours.
• Tube strike: Passengers' frustration as walk-out over toilet breaks coincides with heavy downpoursFrustrated commuters vented their anger today as heavy downpours coincided with a Tube strike and sparked fears of journeys from "hell".
• London weather: Hundreds face missing flights after lightning strikes Stansted Express rail lineHundreds of passengers faced missing their flights amid severe rail disruption sparked by lightning striking the Stansted Express line.
• Travel chaos: Major signalling problems and landslide spark rush-hour 'carnage' at Paddington and EustonMajor signalling problems have sparked a "meltdown" at Paddington station as commuters face "carnage" at Euston following a landslide.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Need to fill up? We reveal the North East's cheapest places for petrol and dieselAs AA's latest Fuel Price Report reveals the price of fuel is on the rise, we look at the cheapest places within 15 miles of Newcastle

Northern Echo

• Volunteer drivers needed across Richmondshire A VOLUNTARY action group is appealing for drivers to help across its transport services in Richmondshire.
• New Northern Powerhouse think-tank launched by George Osborne WARNINGS have been made that the Northern Powerhouse must extend to the North-East as former chancellor George Osborne says the Government is 100 per cent committed to the project.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Special delivery of new planes at Leeds Bradford AirportThe first of 30 new aeroplanes for Jet2 have been delivered to Leeds-Bradford Airport, as the airline looks to support its biggest ever flights and holiday programme in 2017.

Crewe Chronicle

• Seat reveals a 'feminine' car for women drivers The 'easy to park' car has eyeliner-shaped headlights and will be launched next year.

Daventry Express

• Disruption to London services to last over the weekend following Watford landslipLondon Midland is warning passengers to expect delays and disruption to services for the rest of the day and into the weekend.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Actress’s death at Suffolk rail crossing ‘a crime against humanity’, court toldNetwork Rail could face a fine of up to £6million over safety failures after an 82-year-old former TV and film actress was killed on a Suffolk railway foot crossing.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Phone use behind the wheel at ‘epidemic’ levelsThe illegal use of mobile phones by drivers has reached “epidemic” proportions, according to a leading motoring group.

Other Regional Press

• Hundreds rescued and four injured after train derails near Watford Junction All trains are delayed after a train derailed near Watford Junction station this morning.
• Delay-hit Southern Rail in running for service award 'beyond satire' Unions have reacted with disbelief to news that the owners of Southern Railway have been shortlisted for a community award.
• Hit by the train chaos? Here’s how to get a refund for your ticket if your train is cancelled or delayed Commuters faced travel chaos this morning after a train derailed at Watford Junction and a landslide trapped passengers inside a tunnel on a London Midland service.
• Rails to fall silent over the weekend PASSENGERS hoping to travel by train this weekend will be disappointed as many services will be replaced by buses.
• Steam railway at top Hampshire attraction set to be extended THE QUEEN will be chuffed – and so will the thousands of passengers who use it every year.
• Government agency could spend 'significantly more than �100m' on infrastructure at new town near Oxford BOSSES behind plans for a new town in the Oxfordshire countryside say the Government is ready to spend more than �100m on transport and infrastructure.
• Caught driving without a proper child car seat? This is what could happen to you Woman had her Mercedes seized after the car was found to have no child seat for the driver's five-year-old daughter
• Phone use behind the wheel at ‘epidemic’ levelsThe illegal use of mobile phones by drivers has reached “epidemic” proportions, according to a leading motoring group.
• Further delays for commuters as road works pushed back againAnother delay has hit commuters in the north of Preston with ongoing roadworks being delayed for a second time.
• Phone use behind the wheel at ‘epidemic’ levelsThe illegal use of mobile phones by drivers has reached “epidemic” proportions, according to a leading motoring group.

C.N.N.

• Hot car deaths of children prompt car alert legislationAfter a Texas boy dies in a hot car, legislation is introduced in Congress to require car makers to install an alert system if children are left behind.

Buying Business Travel

• Virgin Atlantic hails ‘breakthrough’ in biofuel productionBranson says ‘we are closer than ever’ to bringing a sustainable fuel product to market

Rail Technology Magazine

• Bi-mode fleet needed by 2020, says major East Midlands rail strategyA new fleet of intercity-style bi-mode trains is needed to deliver a greater level of service as part of the upcoming 2018 East Midlands franchise, according to the results of a consultation into the future of the region's rail network. The vision for rail travel in the East Midlands, set out...

Aviation Industry

• CEO: Zodiac seat producer on road to recoverySeating and cabin interior manufacturer Zodiac Aerospace said it is overcoming the problems that have led to aircraft being delivered late, but more remains to be done. read more
• First Bombardier CSeries simulator unveiled in FrankfurtFlight Training Alliance’s (FTA) first full-flight simulator for Bombardier’s CSeries aircraft has been unveiled in Frankfurt, Germany. read more

Other News Sources

• Car industry turns to simulators to combat motion sicknessThe arrival of the autonomous car is set to pose a lot of technical challenges, but one that has been largely overlooked until now is car sickness. A recent study by the University of Michigan concluded that 22 per cent of adults are likely to experience some degree of motion sickness in an autonomous car. […]