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

Saturday, 28 October 2017

BBC News

• WW2 pilot takes to the skies aged 96George Harvey's carer found a note saying he wanted to be airborne once more
• Additional Dumfries train services announcedAn improved timetable is introduced for services from Dumfries to Carlisle and to Glasgow.
• HMS Vigilant: Nine sailors dismissed after failing drugs testsThe men were dismissed from duty from HMS Vigilant - which carries the Trident nuclear deterrent.
• Volkswagen diesel scandal still hitting profitsProvisions for the cost of settling the scandal put a big dent in the carmaker's earnings.

Financial Times

• Profits jump at British Airways owner IAG
• Uber hires ex-DoJ and Pepsi lawyer as chief legal officerTony West will have to deal with litigation and regulatory action on multiple fronts
• Pilot relations in spotlight ahead of Ryanair resultsInvestors will seek assurance but airline still has highest operating margin in Europe

The Guardian

• 'Sorry I threw up': new Uber feature reveals passenger confessionsDriver reviews intended to provide insight into the person picking you up often say more about who they have had in the back of their carA new Uber feature allowing users to check previous reviews of their drivers has opened up a world of drunken apologies, private confessions and angry complaints.The feature, rolled out to users worldwide on Friday, is intended to provide more insight into who will be picking customers up. It helps align the app with Uber’s long-running claim to be simply a middleman, linking what the company calls “driver-partnersâ€� with “ridersâ€� in a largely hands-off manner...

Times Online

• Trident sailors sacked after drugs test [Subscription]A Trident submarine at the centre of a sex scandal has been plunged into further disarray after nine sailors were reportedly dismissed for testing positive for cocaine.
• Brexit keeps hundreds of homes and tube upgrade on drawing board [Subscription]Plans to build 300 social homes, an upgrade to the London Underground and support for economic development in the northeast are among public sector projects worth £1 billion put on hold because of Brexit.
• Petrol and diesel sales down as fuel goes way of all fossils [Subscription]Traffic is increasing but consumption of petrol and diesel has fallen for the first time, according to the AA, which says that vehicles powered by fossil fuel are en route to “joining steam and horse transport in the history books”.
• New F-35 warplane costs $1 trillion to operate [Subscription]The estimated lifetime cost to operate and support the world’s most expensive warplane has risen by almost a quarter in four years, a US spending watchdog has found.

Daily Record

• Passengers outrage as Scotrail train on 'slippy tracks' overshoots platform Dozens of commuters were left stranded at Rosyth station when the 06.32 train to Edinburgh flew past.

Mail Online

• BA boss says firm will continue to fly planes after Brexit In an apparent rebuke to the Chancellor yesterday, International Airlines Group chief executive Willie Walsh said BA will continue to fly after Britain quits the EU in March 2019.

The Mirror

• Nine sailors kicked off Brit nuclear submarine after 'sex and cocaine-fuelled parties while docked in US'The crew from HMS Vigilant - which carries Trident - were sent home

This is Money

• Lorries crashing into bridges costs taxpayers £23m a year New figures released by Network Rail said there were almost 2,000 cases last year of HGV drivers misjudging the height of their vehicle and smashing into rail infrastructures.
• British Airways owner IAG eyes Monarch landing slots Chief executive Willie Walsh said IAG was 'interested in slots'. He added that profits were also expected to hit £1.3bn for the three months to September.
• RAY MASSEY: Honda’s sporty electric coupe stars in Tokyo Slightly retro, but with a contemporary twist, it’s the coupe version of the Honda Urban EV with a 150-mile range.It’s due to be built from 2019 and is expected to cost in the region of £26,000.
• Car insurance is most expensive it has ever been, says ABI The average motor premium has reached £485, an increase of £45 in the last 12 months and the highest it's been since the ABI has been tracking prices.

Birmingham Post

• The number of A380s flying out of Birmingham has just doubled Emirates launches second service to Dubai today using iconic aircraft

Bolton News

• Bus strikes to continue throughout November, an union announces FIVE more walkoutsBUS strikes on Arriva services are set to continue throughout next month, after pay talks broke down.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Call for more buses to serve busy station CALLS are being made to increase bus services to one of the city’s most popular stations to try and reduce traffic and congestion in the area.

London Evening Standard

• African Americans warned to avoid American Airlines over discrimination claimsAfrican Americans have been warned not to travel on American Airlnes fiights.
• ES Views: Heathrow expansion plan is reckless and expensiveHave your say Twitter: @esviews Email: esviews@standard.co.uk
• Week of disruption expected as burst water main tears hole in major road and floods busy London EustonA week of disruption on a major London road is expected after a burst water main tore a hole in the street and flooded a busy rail station.

The York Press

• City rail bridge struck 14 times in last five years A YORK railway bridge has been struck by lorries 14 times in the past five years - delaying both rail passengers and motorists.
• Railway launches £2.5 million fundraising drive A HERITAGE railway that has been running for 50 years has launched a major fundraising drive to keep it going for another half century.
• Campaigners slam York Central consultation as roads decision looms CAMPAIGNERS have slammed the consultation over York Central’s planned access road as a vital decision looms on the route.
• Rail workers scoop £1m - on Friday 13thA SYNDICATE of workers scooped a £1 million lottery win on Friday 13th - proving it can be very lucky for some.
• York roadworks to last an extra day ROADWORKS in Micklegate, York, are set to overrun by one day.

Wales Online

• The people who clamp your untaxed car (and what happens to it next) 'You get the odd person running out in their underwear asking what you are doing'
• The Severn Tunnel will be closed this weekend as thousands travel to Cardiff At least 70,000 visitors are expected to travel to Cardiff ahead of the Anthony Joshua fight 

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• 4,000 hit with parking finesNearly 4,000 parking fines were handed out in just three months in the Dudley borough this summer.
• More anger over A41 roadworks Businesses affected by Midland Metro roadworks in Wolverhampton - which have not received compensation - have now been told firms in Birmingham were aided during works there.
• Metro and light rail wall to cost moreA major project bringing together the Midland Metro extension and light rail centre development in Dudley will cost half a million pounds more than expected, it has been revealed.

Bucks Free Press

• Planned improvements to congested road 'could be short-lived amid influx of new homes'A councillor fears planned improvements to a congested High Wycombe road could be short-lived amid an influx of thousands of new homes in the town. 
• Council accused of not caring about town after announcing plans to introduce controversial parking measures A council has been accused of not caring about a town after it planned to introduce controversial parking measures to its High Street.

Daventry Express

• Northants Police warn drivers over speeding fine scamMotorists in Northamptonshire are being warned to ignore a scam email claiming they have been caught speeding.

North Wales Live

• What the public are saying about Liverpool's rail and bus strike ON THE SAME DAY Arriva bus drivers will walk out on same day as train guards

Other Regional Press

• No cars on Bridge Street this Saturday night to help keep party-goers safe for Halloween in NorthamptonA main Northampton night club strip will be closed to traffic this Saturday night.
• Council defends 'throughabout' plans for A66 after £12m Darlington scheme is scrapped Middlesbrough Council plan to build a 'throughabout' on the A66 at Cargo Fleet Lane that they hope will speed up journey times
• How high-sided lorries are giving railway bridges a 'battering' Network Rail, bus and lorry operators are campaigning to prevent low bridges getting hit
• Here's how to de-ice your car safely in the morning You can risk doing damage to your motor in a bid to get to work quickly
• Why you could soon be fined for leaving your car engine running Proposals from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and Public Health England say "no-idling zones" should be brought in outside schools
• Unattended backpack left on bus causes passenger panicWorried passengers were forced to change their travel plans after a “suspect packageâ€� was discovered on a bus in Rickmansworth.
• Group plots to re-install station footbridge canopyA GROUP of railway enthusiasts in Bradford on Avon are working on plans to restore the canopy to the town’s railway station footbridge.
• Hot air balloon pilot fined for flying without a licenceA commercial hot air balloon pilot from Malmesbury who continued to fly passengers despite not holding a valid pilot’s licence has been fined and ordered to pay costs, following a successful prosecution by the Civil Aviation Authority.
• Concerns as Bridgwater car park prices to rise by up to 25% SHOULD car parking in Bridgwater town centre be free for the first two hours?
• Major West Somerset road closure postponed until after Christmas THE MAJOR roadworks planned for the A39 at Dragon Cross next month have been postponed.
• VIDEO: 'An accident waiting to happen' - Westgate shoppers dodge buses in 'dangerous' Bonn Square BUSES driving through crowds of shoppers outside the main entrance to the new Westgate Centre are ‘an accident waiting to happen’ and should be re-routed immediately, frightened pedestrians have warned.
• Launch date announced for Claudia safer cycling charterA CHARTER for safer cycling in Oxford, inspired by the death of a city cyclist, will be launched next month.
• Campaigners demand a say over controversial route for new Oxford-Cambridge ExpresswayHOW a the route of a new £3bn road – which could plough through a 10-mile stretch of the Oxford green belt – might be chosen has been criticised as undemocratic.
• PHOTOS: 'One of Southampton's best loved ships' since 1934SHE was the first of Cunard’s superliners and one of Southampton’s best-loved ships.
• 80 pictures from the Ford site over the years - £70k project wants volunteers SHIPS, aircraft, trains, vans – Southampton has produced them all.
• Major rail deal will create 40 jobsTHE region’s new rail operator has announced that work on a multi-million pound makeover of its rolling stock will take place in Eastleigh.
• Commuters facing disruption as station car park to partially shutCOMMUTERS face an even bigger fight for car-parking spaces at Southampton Central station from next week.
• MP calls for government to cough up funds for £20million city bridge schemeA SOUTHAMPTON MP has called on the government to back a £20million scheme to save two of the city's most important road bridges.
• Biggleswade woman’s warning after rock dropped onto car from A1(M) bridge near Baldock servicesA Biggleswade woman wants to warn other motorists after what she believes to be a rock smashed her windscreen while driving on the A1(M) last night.

Buying Business Travel

• Govt seeks to “revolutionise airport screeningâ€�Fund set up to develop new technology

Rail Technology Magazine

• Rising complaints, changing priorities?On average this year, more people in the UK are complaining about the quality of the rail service. Yesterday, the ORR released its quarterly analysis of complaints received about train punctuality, ticket-buying and onboard facilities and capacity. Although the number of complaints has only...
• London Midland's West Coast services to be renamed London NorthwesternThe group behind the new West Midlands franchise have today announced that the west coast service will be called London Northwestern. Abellio, JR East and Mitsui have chosen the name as a tribute to the London and North Western Railway – formerly the largest in Britain and seen as the...
• Majority of passengers prefer to wait on train than take replacement busesPassengers would rather wait on a train for 40 minutes than be forced to take a replacement bus service, research has found - even if this means a longer journey. Independent watchdog, Transport Focus has updated its 2012 research, ‘Passenger priorities during disruption'. The latest...

Railway Gazette

• West Midlands Trains announces London Northwestern brandUK: Services on the West Coast Main Line to be operated as part of the next West Midlands franchise...

Other News Sources

• Ship Operating Costs to Increase for 2017 and 2018Vessel operating costs are expected to rise in both 2017 and 2018, according to Moore Stephens' survey. Repairs & maintenance and spares are the cost categories which are likely to increase most significantly in each of the two years. The survey…
• Shipping prepares for 2020 sulphur deadlineAs shipowners and operators face the 2020 sulphur emissions cap deadline, some sectors are stepping up and installing systems, while others have yet to be convinced.
• Another win for GatwickGATWICK Airport won an award at the London Construction Awards event in recognition of its programme of work to develop its North Terminal which was completed last year.
• Five marvels of the jet age from The Engineer’s archiveThe birth, development and application of the jet engine is well-documented in the pages of The Engineer. The Engineer has covered the entire history of powered flight, from the Wright brothers to the latest plans for exploration of other planets. It took a particular interest in one of the most momentous shifts in aerospace: the […] The post Five marvels of the jet age from The Engineer’s archive appeared first on The Engineer.
• Trump initiates drone integration research programmeUS President Donald Trump has signed a directive to establish a new research programme to test and validate the use of drones in partnership with states and local governments. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Programme will aim to unlock the potential economic benefit of drones while at the same time reducing their risk […] The post Trump initiates drone integration research programme appeared first on The Engineer.
• Airlander 10 set for maiden international flight with luxury travel companyAirlander 10, the world’s largest aircraft, is set to make its maiden international flight with Henry Cookson Adventures, a British luxury travel company. Hybrid Air Vehicles’ Airlander 10 will be flown by the HCA in 2018 and the company is working alongside a team of scientists and engineers to ready her for launch. Once airborne, […] The post Airlander 10 set for maiden international flight with luxury travel company appeared first on The Engineer.
• South Western Railway windscreen smash incident caused by 'root vegetables' say police (not a brick!)A train guard assisted the South Western Railway service's arrival at Basingstoke railway station after the driver's view was obscured by the broken windscreen

News from Europe

• Forbes: Green Group Says Electric Cars Beat Diesels For Lifetime CO2, Despite Marchionne Claim