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

Saturday, 15 June 2019

BBC News

• Crossing Divides: A train chat that still gives me goose bumpsReaders share their brief encounters talking to fellow passengers on trains and buses.
• Proposal for 'faster' trains between Cardiff and LondonA new express train service could cut journey times from Cardiff to London by 20 minutes.
• Passenger numbers rise at NI airportsAlmost nine million passengers used airports in Northern Ireland in 2018 - up 29% since 2013
• Notting Hill cycle lane: £42m plans rejected by councilThe future of the route between Wood Lane and Notting Hill is thrown into doubt at a council meeting.
• Caledonian Sleeper passengers face further disruptionTwo more Caledonian Sleeper services are cancelled after the wheels of a train in its new £150m fleet were damaged.
• Two more Glasgow Airport strikes announcedIt follows another day of industrial action on Friday in an ongoing dispute over pay and pensions.

The Guardian

• Blue badge scheme now open to people with invisible disabilities New guidance means those with conditions such as dementia or anxiety may be eligible for parking permit
• Climate crisis: aviation industry hears clamour for electric planes Shift from fossil fuels top of agenda for Paris air show, industry having lagged behind other sectors

Times Online

• Ross defends €5m grant to airport without passengers [Subscription]The transport minister has defended his decision to grant €5 million to Waterford airport despite it having had no passenger flights for the past three years.
• Bespoke cycling project unit to be created as funding goes up a gear [Subscription}The National Transport Authority is to set up a unit for delivering cycling projects in response to a major increase in spending on sustainable transport.
• Green mini-trains to reverse Beeching’s cuts [Subscription]Trains no bigger than a single-decker bus could be rolled out across Britain under plans to cut emissions and reopen branch lines.
• Electric car chargers to plug 800 miles of gaps [Subscription]More rapid electric car chargers are to be introduced after research found that drivers face almost 800 miles of charge-point “deserts” on motorways.
• Heathrow plans runway over M25 in 30-year expansion [Subscription]New plans to build Heathrow’s third runway over the M25 have been drawn up as the airport prepares to stagger its huge expansion over three decades to minimise disruption.
• Tory leadership hopefuls Stewart, Hunt and Gove vow legal right to clean air [Subscription]Tory candidates back Times campaign
• Failure to cut air pollution could land politicians in court, warns UN health expert [Subscription]Politicians could end up in court for failing to protect their citizens from air pollution, according to the UN’s top public health official.

Reuters News

• Local labour laws apply to Ryanair employees - Belgian courtBelgium's labour laws can apply to Ryanair employees based in the country, a local court ruled on Friday, in a case that could set a precedent elsewhere in Europe and upholds a 2018 agreement reached between the airline and Belgian unions.
• Police warn Extinction Rebellion not to use drones at Heathrow protestPolice warned environmental campaign group Extinction Rebellion not to use drones as part of a planned protest at London's Heathrow airport on June 18.

City AM

• Nearly one in five UK flights cancelled in disruptive start to 2019 Nearly seven and a half million people have been affected by flight disruptions this year, according to new data.

Mail Online

• Police plead with climate protesters not to follow through with threat to use drones to shut down Heathrow for 11-days starting next Tuesday because it will drain resourcesPolice are pleading with Extinction Rebellion protesters not to use drones as part of a planned 'shut-down' of London's Heathrow Airport next Tuesday.
• Drivers with mental health conditions will get disabled badges - putting millions more Blue Badges on the roadsMillions of people with mental health issues are to become eligible for Blue Badge parking permits at the end of summer.

Sky News

• Blue badges rolled out for people with 'invisible' disabilitiesThe government has announced that people who have an "invisible" disability are now able to apply for a blue badge parking permit.

Liverpool Post

• Two new stations have now been opened on a Welsh railwayThe stations at Caernarfon and Waunfawr will help to increase visitors on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways by around 5,000 passengers a year

London Evening Standard

• UK commuters encouraged to strike up conversation with strangers for happier tripsCommuters across Britain's public transport network are being encouraged to do something that many find unnatural in order to lift their moods.
• Extinction Rebellion Lewisham: London roads blocked off by climate change activists in major rush-hour protestExtinction Rebellion protesters stopped traffic on major roads in south-east London as they launched a rush-hour protest over air quality.
• Police say Extinction Rebellion Heathrow drone protest activists could face life in jailPolice have issued their strongest warning yet to Extinction Rebellion activists, saying they could face life in jail ahead of a potential drone protest at Heathrow Airport next week.

Wales Online

• New rail company wants to run trains between Cardiff and London and you'll get a discount if you can't find a seatGrand Union Trains has submitted an application to operate an hourly service between Cardiff and London

Other Regional Press

• Don't fill up just yet – a further fuel price drop is coming this weekendANOTHER fuel price cut is heading motorists' way this week as the supermarket price war continues.

Aviation Industry

• PARIS 2019: Air France-KLM eyes Airbus, Boeing aircraft for fleet renewalAir France-KLM will consider Boeing 737 MAX, Airbus A320neo and A220 aircraft types as it prepares to renew its short- and medium-haul fleet, CEO Ben Smith told ATW on the sidelines of the Paris Air Forum June 14. read more
• Ryanair opens second French baseIreland-based LCC Ryanair has opened its second base in France, at Bordeaux; it already has one at Marseilles. read more

Other News Sources

• Holyrood Committee rejects rollout of 20mph zones from Restricted Roads BillHolyrood Committee rejects rollout of 20mph zones from Restricted Roads Bill

EIN News Subscription

• Ryanair accused of 'scamming' passengers who pay in pounds rather than euros by consumer watchdog … airline of using "rip-off tactics" to charge passengers … the currency of the departure airport – for example, flights leaving … hidden behind a "more information" hyperlink, which leads … complies with all applicable EU and national laws on …
• Still Grounded: Boeing 737 Not Welcome in German Airspace During Repositioning Flight … airspace," Norwegian Air said in a statement. Flight-tracking data … Air spokesperson, the airline was never handed that bit of necessary information … through European airspace on … Airlines 737 Max 8 plane crashed after takeoff, killing all 157 passengers …
• Paris Airshow: Difficult decisions for Boeing lie ahead … light of day. Image copyright Airbus Image caption Airbus is expected to launch a … step closer to all-electric air transport starting in 2022," says … maritime patrol aircraft. Yet much interest will centre on fighters, as European nations work …
• Clean Air Day: Top tips to reduce your vehicle's emissions … World Health Organisation, claims road transport accounts for up to 30 … ;s recommended service intervals. Similarly, air filters prevent foreign particles such … the vehicle you are driving European environmental regulations have added pressure …
• Gathering clouds cast shadow over Paris Air Show … two years ago, when airlines worldwide were optimistic about … traffic". The International Air Transport Association reports that freight traffic … tries to forge a common EU strategy, the official said. … to build a new European fighter jet which they …