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

Friday, 10 July 2015

BBC News

• Union backs down over rail strikeA rail strike is called off after Northern Rail threatened to sue the RMT union.
• FGW users face rail strike turmoilTens of thousands of commuters are facing severe disruption on First Great Western trains as a 48-hour strike takes hold.
• Tube services resume after strikeServices are set to resume on the Tube, a day after strike action shut down the entire London Underground (LU) network.

Financial Times

• Network Rail funds to go to operatorsShake-up to see HS1 chief brought in to devise rescue plan
• London Tube strike in numbers10 facts that explain the city’s worst transport disruption in a decade
• Strike shuts down London UndergroundCommuters face struggle to get to work in most widespread disruption for a decade

The Guardian

• We can make a greener, more liveable London and expand HeathrowLondon can still become a world-leading green city with a third runway at Heathrow as long as it backs solar roofs, electric cars and a bigger congestion zone
• London tube strike: this is the queue for one bus - videoA giant bus queue snakes through London's Liverpool Street Station, as commuters struggle to find alternative routes to work after a 24-hour tube strike in London. 'This is still the queue for one bus,' says the cameraman, as he pans the crowd. More than 20,000 workers are on strike over pay concerns and new night shifts Continue reading...
• Vintage newsreel of London tube strikes - archive videoFrom the 1950s through to present day, we look back at vintage news broadcasts of transport strikes in London. Thursday's 24-hour tube strike, in which more than 20,000 workers walked off their jobs, was the largest in 13 years, but by no means the first time Londoners had to leg it to work Continue reading...
• Tube strike: commuters struggle in worst disruption for 13 yearsSome Londoners forced to walk miles as tube network shuts down completely and roads across city become gridlockedLondoners faced rush-hour misery on Thursday as the biggest strike on the London Underground for 13 years brought the city to a standstill. Commuters had to deal with severe disruption to their journeys to and from work after the entire tube network was closed down for the first time since 2002. With some rail and busservices reported to be full before 6am, and most cabs booked from Wednesday night, some commuters walked for miles to get across the city.One traveller said police had...

The Independent

• France gets tough with sexual harassment and sexist adverts on its public transport networksThe French government has unveiled a series of measures to combat sexual harassment on public transport, while saying it will “fight” against sexist adverts on the network.
• Tube strike: Video appears to show police 'removing' passenger from 'packed' London bus as Underground walkout causes chaos As commuters attempt to navigate London without the Underground amid strike action, footage has emerged appearing to show police removing a passenger from a bus in the centre of the capital.
• Tube strike: The charts that reveal the cushy life of tube drivers - £49k salary, 43 days off a year and a 36-hour week The tube strike has caused many heated arguments on social media over the course of the 24-hour transport black-out in London. 
• Tube strike: The Underground driver's letter that may change your mind on this week's walkout Londoners vented their anger today after thousands of Tube workers downed tools and walked out in the largest strike in over a decade – but one Tube driver’s open letter may change your mind about the strike.
• Tube strike: How will the walkout affect my journey on Friday? Millions of commuters have faced chaotic journeys across the capital as Underground workers staged a 24-hour strike across all lines.

The Telegraph

• French campaign against sexual harassment on public transport launchedTwelve-point plan including stops on demand for female passengers using night buses drawn up after survey finds all female passengers have suffered some sexual or sexist treatment
• Budget 2015: HS1 boss drafted in to review Network RailThe Government has also announced an overhaul of the way public money funds Britain's railways
• Why Uber was right to triple its fares during London's tube strikeThe fare hikes caused outrage among the capital's unhappy commuters - but it's all about supply and demand, says Peter Spence
• Tube strike: Queues, fights and chaos in the capital - in picturesIn pics: Tube shuts down completely for the first time in 13 years
• I pointed out how much tube drivers earn. Some people weren't happySome people didn't like me pointing out how well-paid the capital's drivers are

Daily Express

• Tube strike: Commuters removed from buses by police during scramble homeANGRY Londoners had to be removed from overcrowded buses by police last night as millions tried to commute home during the worst transport strike in more than a decade.

Mail Online

• London Tube passengers had secret biological warfare tests carried out on them Hundreds of thousands of Britons were subjected to 'mock' biological and chemical warfare tests in 750 secret operations, research by University of Kent's Professor Ulf Schmidt reveals.
• Wholesale diesel price fell 6 weeks ago but the forecourt price is the same The revelation prompted fuel price campaigners, backed by 32 cross-party MPs, to demand an official competition inquiry into alleged 'opportunistic and unfair profiteering' by retailers.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Drivers using phones at the wheel are warned MOTORISTS who use mobile phones while driving - putting other people's safety at risk - have been told by police that they will cop it.

London Evening Standard

• TfL Tube strike: Resilient Londoners walk, cycle and take scooters to work in glorious sunshine to beat the Tube strike Thousands of Londoners made their way to work on foot or by bike in glorious sunshine in defiance of the Tube strike.
• Tube strike: Uber accused of cashing in on walkout with 'insane' fare hikes Uber was today accused of cashing in on the Tube strike by increasing fares as the underground ground to a halt.
• In pictures: Faces of the Tube strike - weary Londoners battle their way to work From blank resignation, to extreme anger and the odd rare bout of happiness, these are the expressions of commuters enduring today's Tube strike.
• TfL Tube strike: Total shutdown of Tube set to cost London £300 million Desperate London commuters battled their way to work today as business leaders warned that the first total Tube shutdown for 13 years could cost up to £300 million.
• Boris Johnson hints introduction of Night Tube might be delayed Boris Johnson today hinted that the introduction of the Night Tube could be delayed.
• Boris bike use at twice normal level as Londoners seek to avoid the Tube strike Hundreds of Boris bikes were today stacked against each other in Soho as transport bosses prepared for fresh rush hour chaos caused by the Tube strike.
• ICEguard: the new helmet attachment that logs accident details for cyclists Every London cyclist knows the “near miss”. It’s the moment a vehicle passes so close that it makes your bike wobble, or taps your handlebars with its wing mirror; the time a driver doesn’t spot you and would have hit you but for some brisk braking or a dive out the way.
• Tube services return after strike which brought network to a standstill Tube services resumed this morning after the strike which shut down the entire Underground network.
• TfL brings vintage Routemaster buses back into service to help cope with Tube strike demand Vintage Routemaster buses drafted in to help carry thousands of extra bus passengers across the capital today brought a smile to the face of commuters caught up in the Tube strike.
• Tube strike: Police 'remove passengers from overcrowded bus by force' as strain of rush hour scramble gets to Londoners Londoners have battled through a second evening of travel chaos as the Tube strike pushed commuters on to overcrowded buses, Boris bikes and the capital's roads.
• Cyclists urged to slow down on canal towpath after beloved kitten killed by bike in east London A canal boater whose kitten was killed by a speeding cyclist has issued a heartfelt plea for riders to reduce their speed on the towpath.

Manchester Evening News

• Stop the #NorthernPowercut: MPs push for timescale on rail electrificationCalling Chancellor George Osborne's plans an 'insult', MP Andrew Gwynne said there was dismay across Greater Manchester

The York Press

• Evidence supports 20mph zones, campaigners say NATIONAL campaigners have spoken up against proposals that York could scrap widespread 20 mph limits on its residential roads.

This Is Local London Network

• Teacher raises A316 crossing concerns with TfL A headteacher is

Wales Online

• M4 relief road plans thrown into disarray as plans for £1bn route are 'quietly dropped'In July last year the Cabinet approved the so-called £1bn 'black route' favoured by Transport Minister Edwina Hart and big business interests

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Level crossing safety warning to ownersA new campaign urging people to keep their dogs on a lead near level crossings has been launched by Network Rail and the Dogs Trust.

Yorkshire Post

• MPs back call for inquiry into the price of dieselMore than 30 MPs are backing a campaign for the competition watchdog to fully investigate vehicle fuel pricing amid growing anger around the “rip-off” cost of diesel.

Other Regional Press

• MP vows to fight after electric rail link between Telford and Wolverhampton axedThere is no funding for the electrification of the train line between Wolverhampton and Telford, it was revealed today.
• Manston airport owners say use former airport as lorry park in place of Operation StackInstead of Operation Stack, use Manston, say former airport owners.
• History to be made with first cross-Channel electric flight from Lydd AirportToday a Kent airport is set to host the first ever cross-Channel flight powered entirely by electricity.
• New M62 junction at Outlane would mean moving motorway or demolishing dozens of homes in MountHighways England officer sets out why public calls for a new exit at Junction 23 isn't that straightforward - and where we are with an extra junction near Bradley

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Tesco renews RSU contract with XPOTesco has renewed a contract with XPO Logistics that sees the company oversee the management of 12 Recycling Service Units (RSUs) for the retail giant.  XPO will be responsible for the firm's recycling throughout the UK and Ireland, in addition to the maintenance of its loose equipment fleet, Logistics Manager reports.  Loose equipment and packaging waste from more than 2,700 Tesco stores will be handled by XPO - and assets will be backhauled to RSUs on store delivery vehicles owned by Tesco and its suppliers.  Around 17,500 returned vehicles are handled every single part of the week as part o...
• Revised plans see 265,000 sq ft rail hub move forwardHarworth Estates has unveiled its plans for a low-density rail hub in north Warwickshire, which will be situated at the former Daw Mill Colliery.  These represent the second revision to the planning application for the regeneration of Daw Mill, taking into account the views of community groups, local residents and councillors.  Although the planned size of the overall built development has been reduced by nearly two-thirds, it still covers 265,000 sq ft.  Proposed traffic to and from the site has also been cut, with HGV movements down to around 50 per day. Chief executive of Harworth Estates O...

Railnews

• Carne lays down digital railway challenge Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne has challenged his colleagues to see if the introduction of the 'digital railway' can be accelerated dramatically. Under present plans for the introduction of the European Rail Traffic Management System, which dispenses with lineside signalling in favour of cab displays and provides full automatic train protection, the whole network will not be equipped until 2062. Speaking at the Tomorrow's Rail conference in London, he said:
• 'Rock solid' strikes reduce London to a crawl Walkouts by members of four unions have closed London Underground today, and Transport for London said 'major disruption' was inevitable. Members of the RMT on First Great Western are also on strike today, which means that intercity and commuter services to Paddington have been badly hit. Many Londoners have struggled to work on crowded buses, although normal services are running on London Overground as well as the Docklands Light Railway and tram routes. Transport for London is running an extra 200 buses to boost capacity in central London.

Transportxtra

• Transport for the North gets firm legal footing to push TransPennine tunnelTransport for the North is to be given the statutory responsibility to promote improved transport connectivity across northern England, including to "push forward" the manifesto pledge of a TransPennine tunnel, according to the Summer Budget's documents.

Aviation Industry

• Gatwick Airport mulls response Heathrow third runway report London’s Gatwick Airport is considering its response to the Airports Commission’s final report, which endorsed a third runway for Heathrow Airport. read more
• Manchester airport marks 15 months of consecutive Annual rolling total 22.5 million passengers

Green Miscellany

• Electric bicycles: The good, the bad and the uglyAt over £3,500 it's certainly not cheap, but with its sleek hand-crafted aluminum frame and hidden battery, the LX1 is one of the world's best looking electric bicycles. A 250 watt rear hub motor boasts three levels of power plus a smart mode that assesses riding conditions and your pedalling power to decide on the optimal level of assistance - all of which can be controlled via your smartphone. The post Electric bicycles: The good, the bad and the ugly appeared first on ETA.