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Monday, 23 January 2017

BBC News

• RMT union reveals 'damning' figures on driver-only servicesMany more Southern trains than promised are travelling without a second member of staff, the RMT union has claimed.
• New seat alert app for pregnant commutersDevelopers launch a new app to help pregnant women get a seat on public transport while commuting.
• Virtually cycling the length of BritainA digital games programmer from Angus is thought to be the first person to cycle from Land's End to John o'Groats in virtual reality (VR).
• Southern urges RMT to abandon Monday's strikeSouthern rail renews its call for the RMT union to abandon Monday's strike and engage in talks.
• Four-year MOT exemption for new cars proposedThe time new cars are allowed on the road before being tested could rise under government proposals.

Financial Times

• LNG project boosted by trials of icebreaker shipTanker will move gas from Russia to Asia through the Arctic, using northern sea route
• AirAsia denies wrongdoing in dealings with Rolls-RoyceCarrier says it followed ‘all procedures’ over private jet’s maintenance
• Investment in infrastructure assets soars to recordStatic deal numbers show a surplus of money chasing too few projects

The Guardian

• Southern train services face further disruptionConductors’ strike on Monday threatens fresh misery for passengers but rail firm claims more than 70% of trains will runLong-suffering Southern rail passengers face further disruption on Monday due to a strike by conductors.Planned action by drivers on the network on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday was suspended last week after Southern’s owner, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), and the drivers’ union, Aslef, agreed to talks. Continue reading...
• 60mph speed limit for M1 under consideration to combat air pollutionHighways England plans to introduce Britain’s first pollution-linked speed limits to help reduce smog over SheffieldA proposal to impose Britain’s first pollution-linked speed limits in order to help ease smog over Sheffield is being considered by Highways England.A 60mph speed limit at rush-hour when vehicle numbers are highest where the M1 runs close to schools and homes in the city could help address air quality concerns, a report commissioned by the agency found. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Port authority told to start againThe body behind plans to transfer up to nine million tonnes of crude oil between tankers at the mouth of the Cromarty Firth has been ordered to withdraw its application.

The Scotsman

• ScotRail boss denies exit is linked to poor performanceScotRail Alliance chief Phil Verster has condemned the linking of his surprise departure with poor train performance as “totally wrong”.

The Telegraph

• Rail workers could be banned from striking to protect people’s ‘right to get to work’ under plans to be considered by MPs

Times Online

• New car won’t need an MoT for four years [subscription]Millions of drivers will be able to wait an extra year before needing an MoT certificate for a new car under government plans to be announced this week.
• Cycling target ‘will not be hit for 300 years’ [subscription]It will take more than 300 years for Scottish government ministers to achieve their ambition of 10 per cent of everyday journeys being taken by bike if current trends continue, cycle campaigners have forecast.
• Energy experts call for ban on diesel and petrol vehicles [Subscription]Green energy experts have called on the Scottish government to consider banning diesel and petrol vehicles.

City AM

• A new app has launched to solve that ever awkward question: "Should I give up my seat on the Tube?"Many of us have had the awkward moment of hovering awkwardly out of a Tube seat.

Daily Record

• ScotRail chief quit days before survey revealed passengers' damning verdict on railway servicesA survey has shown almost three-quarters of rail users do not believe the train service has got any better in the past three months.
• Motoring misery for long-suffering commuters as major roadworks to begin on Scotland's busiest route Diversions are expected next month on the eastern edge of Glasgow as part of the missing motorway link to Edinburgh is completed.

Mail Online

• One in eight of us cannot ride a bike survey finds A British Heart Foundation survey of 2,000 people has found one in eight Brits do not know how to ride a bike and one in 10 have forgotten because it has been so long since they last cycled.
• ANYONE could get to the UK on Eurostar without a passport Terrorists and criminals can travel to Britain on the Eurostar without any form of identification for as little as �2.60 by taking advantage of a loophole from the Schengen Agreement.

Labour Party

• Tube dispute has its roots in the Tory rule which ran London for the 1 per cent not the 99 per cent, TSSA chief writesTSSA negotiators will resume talks with London Underground (LU) at the Advice, Conciliation and Arbitration Service today to try to resolve the long running dispute about under-staffing and the serious decline in safety standards for both Tube’s passengers, and our members, since April last year.

Belfast Telegraph

• Northern Ireland train users paying up to £9 a day to park cars at costly rail stationsCommuters in Belfast are now shelling out up to £9 a day for the privilege of parking at a train station, it can be revealed.

Birmingham Post

• Strike threat looming on Cross City rail line Union members furious over new security staff on trains

Derby Telegraph

• Derby's Bombardier 'very keen' to bid for £2.75bn HS2 train contract Derby train-maker Bombardier is "very keen" to bid for a £2.75 billion contract to design, build and maintain high speed trains for the new HS2 rail link, the Derby Telegraph understands.

London Evening Standard

• New laws to limit union strike action to be proposed in Commons following Southern Rail rowNew laws which will limit strike action by unions and claim to protect people's "right to get to work" will be proposed in the Commons on Tuesday.
• Southern rail strike: Rail operator urges RMT union to call off 24-hour strikeSouthern rail has urged union bosses to call off a planned 24-hour strike.

Wales Online

• Theresa May on the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, Tata and rail electrificationThe Prime Minister will today launch the UK Government's industrial strategy

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Wakefield council leader’s bid to de-rail HS2The fight against a proposed high speed rail link which campaigners say will “carve up” Wakefield district’s towns, village and countryside will go on tonight.

East Anglian Daily Times

• More people now travelling by bus following changes to Norwich’s road networkOne of the county’s largest bus operators believes changes to the city’s road network have led to more than 350,000 new passenger journeys.

North Wales Live

• Liverpool 'most affordable' city for rail commutersThe city came out on top in a league table of major cities

Reading Evening Post

• Reading Buses staff help raise �14,000 for male suicide charity CALM Reading Buses annual fundraising drive in 2016 was for suicide prevention charity, CALM.

Other Regional Press

• More trains on the way for regionExtra trains are being brought in on the main line between Ipswich and London in a bid to maintain services while an upgrade is carried out.
• MPs' report calls for better trains between Wales and the Midlands An influential MPs’ committee has called for newer trains and major investment on the network between Wales and the Midlands.
• Trainees on board to help Beverley transport firm LTP keep moving forward A "clear skills and training investment strategy" is bearing fruit for a Beverley company.
• P&O's Pride of Burgundy and Pride of Canterbury head to Gdansk, Poland for £14million refit dealA £14million refit deal will see two P&O ships head to Poland for necessary improvements
• New lane to be added to A2 to ease delays at Brenley Corner roundabout, FavershamA new lane will be added to the A2 to ease chronic rush hour congestion at one of Kent's busiest roundabouts.

Rail Magazine

• Third runway access costs dismissednment does not accept Transport for London’s potential costs for surface access provision for a third runway at Heathrow Airport

Railway Gazette

• CZ Loko supplies Italian operatorsITALY: CZ Loko has delivered three more Class 741.7 shunting locomotives to Italy. Locomotives...

The Business Desk

• Greater Birmingham firms must take advantage of HS2 contractsBUSINESSES in Greater Birmingham need to take full advantage of the Government’s HS2 development programme, the area’s chamber of commerce has said.

Other News Sources

• East West Rail names Phil Verster managing directorEast West Rail has chosen Phil Verster to manage delivery of its proposed Oxford-to-Cambridge rail project unveiled by transport secretary Chris Grayling last month.