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

Saturday, 07 November 2015

BBC News

• Road layout a 'factor' in deathThe former layout of Swansea's Kingsway road was a contributory factor in the death of a pedestrian, an inquest is told.
• VIDEO: Sharm passenger: Cameron did right thingSome of the first passengers arriving at Gatwick from Sharm el-Sheikh say the decision to stop flights was right - but that they had little support after planes were grounded.
• Fatal crash pilot's body repatriatedThe body of a US pilot who died when his jet crashed in a field in Cambridgeshire is repatriated to the US.
• Skipper fined �20,000 over deathA fishing boat skipper and owner is fined �20,000 after a crewman died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Uber taxi app to launch in EdinburghThe controversial Uber taxi app is launching in Edinburgh after the company reported
• ScotRail fined for standards failingsTransport Scotland fine ScotRail over �250,000 for failing to meet standards for trains and stations.
• Stranded Brits in Sharm to fly homeTight security including separate transportation for hold baggage is in place as airlines start to bring back Britons from Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh.
• WW2 bomb-find forces road closuresAn unexploded World War Two bomb is found at a former munitions factory in Greater Manchester, leading to a partial evacuation of the area.
• Boost for '�6bn' Peak District tunnelPlans to build a �6bn road tunnel through the Peak District linking Sheffield and Manchester are likely to be backed by a key feasibility study, the BBC understands.
• Scots due to fly back from EgyptHoliday operator Thomson Airways says it will begin to fly people back from Sharm el-Sheikh on Friday evening.
• VIDEO: What should Zafira owners do now?After Vauxhall announces a recall of 220,000 Zafira-B cars to investigate problems with the heating and ventilation systems, mechanic Brian Miller explains what will be checked on the cars and what owners should do in the meantime.
• VIDEO: Vauxhall boss's message on Zafira recallVauxhall chairman and managing director Rory Harvey posts a video in which he explains directly to customers what is happening in the recall of 222,000 Zafira-B cars after more than 100 of them were reported to have burst into flames.
• Lufthansa strike hits 290 flightsGerman airline Lufthansa will cancel 290 flights on Friday afternoon due to strike action by cabin crew over cost saving measures.
• Vauxhall recalls 220,000 ZafirasVauxhall announces a recall of 220,000 Zafira B cars, in order to repair defects that have caused a series of fires.

Financial Times

• Putin calls for halt to Egypt flightsConfusion at airport as thousands left stranded by UK decision to halt flights after bomb link

The Guardian

• On the road: Vauxhall Adam S – car review‘If you have driving aims other than feeling like a giant and going extremely fast, think again’The Vauxhall Adam Grand Slam was a variation on the Adam, designed to be more appealing to men; then, manliness being such a difficult quality to pin down, they changed the name to the S. Everybody knows that men love initials, especially consonants.You cannot fault it on performance. Its 1.4-litre, turbo-charged, four-cylinder petrol engine could get a tractor to a decent speed over time; a car this size is at 62mph from cold in the time it takes you to wonder how long it will be before you have a ...
• Sharm el-Sheikh flight from Stansted dodged missile in AugustThomson Airways plane heading to Egyptian resort forced to take evasive action after projectile spotted by pilot, British government confirmsA plane carrying British holidaymakers to Sharm el-Sheikh came within 300 metres (1,000ft) of a missile as it neared the Egyptian airport in August, the government has confirmed.A Thomson Airways flight from London Stansted to the Red Sea resort, carrying 189 passengers, took evasive action after the missile was spotted in its trajectory by the pilot. The crew of flight TOM 476 landed the plane safely and passengers were not advised of the incident, which...
• Russian plane crash: flight recorder captured 'sound of explosion'Vladimir Putin orders halt to all flights to Egyptian airports as evidence mounts that flight 9268 was brought down rather than suffering mechanical failureThe sound of an apparent explosion can be heard on the flight recorder of the Russian-operated plane that came down over the Sinai peninsula, killing all 224 people on board, adding to mounting evidence that a bomb was smuggled aboard, French media sources said on Friday. Giving further credence to the idea that the plane crash was a terrorist act rather than because of structural failure, Russia, which for a week has been resistant to spec...

The Herald

• Scotrail handed �265,000 in fines over train and station standardsScotRail has been fined more than �250,000 over three months for failing to meet strict standards for trains and stations.
• Train cancellations set to affect U2 fans ahead of Hydro concerts in GlasgowScotrail are carrying out significant engineering works throughout the weekend meaning many services will be changed from trains to back-up buses.�
• ScotRail job cuts avoided after talks, according to transport unionProposed job cuts at train operator ScotRail will be avoided after successful talks with management, according to a transport union.
• Motorway rooftop park would be BOLD plans to cover Scotland's busiest motorway stretch with a public park would be

The Scotsman

• Rail campaigners pledge to continue fight to extend lineThe Campaign for Borders Rail hit the green signals at its annual meeting last week in Stow – less than two months after the re-opening of the former Waverley line, closed in 1969.
• Chaos in Egypt as only eight rescue flights take offTHE planned rescue of 20,000 stranded British holidaymakers descended into chaos yesterday after Egyptian airport officials said they had no space for them to leave their suitcases behind.

The Telegraph

• Police double the money they pocket from speeding driversNumber of people attending National Speed Awareness courses more than doubles to 1.19 million and police forces can keep �100 charge per person
• British flights grounded after Sharm airport CCTV showed security lapsesDavid Cameron ordered flights suspension after British officials examining security footage found poor checks on airport staff entering and leaving airport

Daily Express

• I warned travel chiefs about Egypt airport terror risk, reveals Scots touristTRAVEL bosses were warned about security lapses at an Egyptian airport weeks before the suspected terror attack on a Russian plane.

Daily Record

• Heard the one about the public park running ACROSS the busy M8 in Glasgow?THE bold vision isn't a joke and is one of a number of proposals to regenerate the Charing Cross area set to go before the city council.
• U2 fans face transport mayhem in Glasgow ahead of Hydro shows EXTENSIVE works on railways in the west end of the city mean a number of services will be cancelled and replaced by buses with the SECC station one of those affected.
• Big-hearted MS sufferer is on a one-man drive to solve pothole crisis that has blighted his village RONALD Stewart fills in the potholes on the 200-yard approach road to his local community, Invergarry, in Inverness-shire.

Mail Online

• Explosion can be heard on Russian plane's black box, reports say MI5 heard 'chatter' from extremists in the Sinai Peninsula and believe a 'flash' in the sky when the plane came down and the lack of a distress signal points to an explosion on board.
• Thomson flight with 189 passengers dodged missile above Sharm El Sheikh EXCLUSIVE: The Thomson flight from London Stansted only took evasive action after the pilot spotted the missile speeding through the air. Passengers were not told about the incident.
• Egypt flight ban could now take in MORE countries if security in airports is lax Transport sources said no other airports were under review. But the events at Sharm El Sheikh could prompt an examination of security in trouble spots.

The Mirror

• Sharm El Sheikh Briton claims passengers are bribing officials to skip Egyptian airport security for �20 Emma Beeney, 45, alleges airport staff were accepting bribes to fast-track security upon arrival and some were even spotted playing Candy Crush on their mobiles  

This is Money

• Buyers stick £2.64bn worth of cars on finance in just one month Buyers hungry for new 65 plate cars launched in September bought 157,000 new cars on finance, said the FLA – borrowing almost £17,000 for each one.
• Taxpayers short-changed to tune of �2.3bn from sale of Eurostar stake as Government rushed to offload it before election Taxpayers have also missed out on a potential �747million in future share dividends following the sale, the report suggests.

Birmingham Mail

• Stranded Sharm El Shiekh passenger 'asked to pay �20 bribe to skip Egyptian airport security' Emma Beeney, 45, is due to fly back into Birmingham Airport on Saturday night

Birmingham Post

• Volkswagen emissions scandal: Fuel economy IS affected, admits car maker 800,000 small VWs, Audis, Seats and Skodas have dishonest fuel consumption figures
• Motorbike giant Yamaha reveals what would happen if it designed cars Japanese bike brand works with Brit designer Gordon Murray to produce radical small sports car concept
• UK new car sales dip but Jaguar Land Rover continues its growth Figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show UK new car registrations dropped for the first time in more than three and a half years
• Road policing at 'tipping point' as budget slashedSupt Keasey, who is also head of the Central Motorway Police Group, told MPs drivers thought they were less likely to be caught because they saw fewer officers on the roads

Bolton News

• Road safety campaigner wants new rules to protect cyclists A ROAD safety campaigner from Radcliffe is calling for new measures to keep cyclists safe and encourage more people to get on their bikes.
• Badly-parked car causes 5 buses and traffic to get stuck in Bolton town centre FRUSTRATED bus drivers became stuck in Bolton town centre after a car blocked a narrow road.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bike squad officers seize more than 200 illegal motorcycles in Bradford in 2015 POLICE bike squad officers have topped the 200 mark for vehicles seized this year which were being ridden in an anti-social way.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Grounded Wales airlink firm say they can still make success of the Anglesey to Cardiff route Linksair had its fleet grounded by the Civil Aviation Authority last month when its safety certificate was revoked

Manchester Evening News

• Passengers ordered to 'brace' during terrifying emergency landing and 'check for flames' when leaving aircraftThe pilot declared a mayday and turned back to Manchester about 30 minutes into the flight to Inverness

The York Press

• Fire engines off the road because of staff shortages, union claims GROWING staff shortages left Acomb fire station unable to send out either of its fire engines on Hallowe'en and early last Sunday, a union leader has claimed.
• More than 7,000 residents helped to get on their bikes, buses and feet MORE than 7,000 households across York have been given advice and incentives this year to take up cycling, walking, car sharing and public transport.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Big names are set to go on the buses in LeedsTransport chiefs are asking Yorkshire Evening Post readers to play their part in a moving tribute to the great and good of Leeds.

Blackpool Gazette

• Egypt trips cancelledWorried families are cancelling trips to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt amidst flights being halted due to security fears.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Drivers stranded at BP petrol station in Ipswich due to water-contaminated fuelFour vehicles “comically” broke down one after another as they tried to leave the petrol station in Woodbridge Road on Wednesday night.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Evening sessions added for Peterborough transport consultationEvening consultation events have been added for people to share their views on Peterborough’s transport vision.

Reading Evening Post

• 20mph in Amersham Road: council must wait for new rules Reading Borough Council will be writing to the Secretary of State for Transport to get him to speed up the publication of new rules for 20mph zones
• Northumberland Avenue to close during the day for three weeks Roadworks start in Northumberland Avenue in Whitley next week and the road will close between 8am and 5pm on weekdays

Sleaford Standard

• UPDATE 4.10pm: Network Rail apologise over A17 Swineshead level crossing closureNetwork Rail has apologised for the inconvenience caused by today’s extended closure of the A17 level crossing at Swineshead.

The Shields Gazette

• Safety fears at Metro station: Bosses make improvements to helpWork has been carried out to improve visibility at a Tyneside metro station after residents raised concerns over safety.

Other Regional Press

• ‘Thanks but no thanks’ say Northampton residents as they are given unwanted bus shelterAn inconveniently placed bus shelter has enraged a group of Northampton residents who were given it as a planning sweetener outside their homes - even though they do not want it.
• Busway bus stops to close for landscape maintenanceA number of bus stops along the Luton Dunstable Busway will be closed over the next two Sundays for essential landscape maintenance work on the route.
• Busway to see improvements worth �800kTwo new bus stops will be added to the Luton-Dunstable busway in the new year.
• Medway council's �135k Japanese roundabout finally finished - this is who paid for itA controversial, and inaccessible, Japanese garden on a busy roundabout has been completed a year later then planned - this is who paid for it.
• 10 sets of roadworks to avoid on major North East routes next weekHere is a summary of roadworks taking place from Monday November 9 to Sunday November 15.
• Overnight closures on A46 in Coventry A week of roadworks will be taking place on the bypass later in November
• Plaid Cymru tells UK Government rail electrification delay is 'unacceptable' FRESH fears have surfaced that the electrification of rail links between London and Swansea could be hit by further delays.
• Mixed views over new link road schemeTHE long-awaited plans for the proposed M58/M6 link road were finally unveiled during a public consultation event.
• Man on railway track halts trainsA MAN stopped train services for several hours and sparked a major emergency operation after standing on the railway track in a remote spot.
• Road accident and deaths figures revealedHUNDREDS of pedestrians across the borough have been injured in a road incident over the last year, shocking new figures reveal.
• Roadworks in place on the region’s motorways next weekRoadworks will be in place on Yorkshire and the Humber’s motorway network next week while Highways England carries out planned improvement works.
• Retirement housing earmarked for Stagecoach bus depot RETIREMENT housing has been earmarked to replace the Eastcott Road bus depot Stagecoach is selling off and residents are being asked for feedback.
• Maldon Chronicle published Maldon speed limits to be slashed in the wake of 'boy racers'SPEED limits are due to be slashed around Maldon after councillors vowed to stamp out "outrageous" and "irresponsible" driving in the town.Back in August, more than 120 drivers were caught and prosecuted by Essex Police in and around the town, with 71 arrested after attending a 'boy racer' meet-up.And while Essex Highways boss Councillor Rodney Bass denied that the changes to Limebrook Way, Wycke Hill and Maldon Road were prompted by the string of dangerous driving in the...
• TONIGHT AND TOMORROW: Bridgwater Carnival road closures A NUMBER of roads will be closed during the carnival events.
• Western Daily Press published Work underway for new £17.5million home for Concorde at...Work is under way on the first stages of creating a new £17.5million home for Concorde at Filton Airfield.Scaffolding has been erected on a former First World War hangar which will form a major part of the new aviation centre.The preparatory work is to get the hangar ready before the main contractors move in early next year.This work includes the removal of asbestos, treating lead paint, restoring wooden roof trusses, providing a new roof and demolishing some outbuildings.The work has to...
• ‘The more you interfere, the slower it gets’ says transport expert A TRANSPORT expert has warned changes to two major North Oxford junctions could make congestion problems worse.
• Formula One fans get chance to drive like racing champions DRIVING in excess of 200mph an hour and then crashing on a race track sounds an alarming prospect.
• CitizenNews published Vauxhall recalls a staggering 220,000 Zafira B cars due to fire...Motor giant Vauxhall is recalling a staggering 220,000 Zafira B cars following a recent outbreak of fires.The announcement has been made two weeks after more than 130 fires were first reporter on social networking website Facebook, the BBC reports.The fires have occurred behind the glove-box, in the heating and ventilation system.The model affected is the Zafira B, built between 2005 and 2014. The cars are all right-hand drive, and have manual, or no air conditioning.The company said faulty...

Rail Magazine

• Nearly two million travel on new Manchester Airport lineNearly two million journeys were made on Metrolink’s Manchester Airport line in its first year.

Rail Technology Magazine

• South West Trains and Network Rail open training campus in England The South West Trains (SWT) and Network Rail (NR) alliance has opened a joint training and development centre at the Basingstoke training campus in northeast Hampshire, the UK.
• Bombardier opens new Rail Control Solutions office in Delhi, India Bombardier has opened a new Rail Control Solutions (RCS) engineering and product development (EAPD) office in Gurgaon, Delhi National Capital region (NCR) in India.
• Plugging the skills gap: apprenticeships in the rail industry The UK Government recently announced an ambitious plan to create an additional 30,000 rail and road apprenticeships by the end of the current parliament. With concerns regarding the widening skills gap in the industry, this is a crucial moment for th…
• New Northern Rail Displays Ideal for Small Stations Customers at over 130 Northern Rail stations are benefiting from real-time customer information screens (CIS) designed and manufactured by Infotec.

Railnews

• Eurostar sale left taxpayers more than �2bn out of pocket The sale of Eurostar left taxpayers more than �2 billion out of pocket, a National Audit Office report has concluded. The NAO said although the sale was 'run well', its timing was 'primarily driven' by the Government's desire to complete the deal before the election in May this year. One union leader condemned the deal as a 'gross rip-off'. It has also been revealed that the Treasury was concerned about the high costs involved, of some �8 million, which was shared by financial adviser UBS and legal adviser Freshfields.

Railway Gazette

• c2c offers contactless payment wristbandsUK: Essex to London commuter operator c2c has offered free contactless payment wristbands to...

Aviation Industry

• 2,186 gassy goats blamed for false smoke alarm, flight diversion
• Lufthansa one-week strike goes aheadGerman carrier forced to cancel 290 flights on Friday as cabin crew walk out

Green Miscellany

• Car seat that shouts if you’re having a heart attackCities are becoming such a stressful environment for drivers that the latest design of car seat has an in-built electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor health. If the system detects the early signs of a heart attack it alerts the driver. According to researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS), heart attack and cardiac arrhythmia are the main catalysts of sudden incapacity… The post Car seat that shouts if you’re having a heart attack appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Cash boost for community transport A COMMUNITY transport scheme will benefit from a �200 boost.
• Road repairs accolade puzzles Ledbury residents NEWS that Herefordshire has the most improved roads in the country has been met with puzzlement, disbelief and derision by Ledbury residents.
• First new McLaren sports car rolls off the production line in Woking The first of a new generation of McLaren sports cars has rolled off the production line at the car maker's centre in Woking.
• Pothole vehicle damage claims exceeded 1,400 last year, survey showsSurrey County Council paid out on 31 claims last year for pothole damage along one single stretch of road along the Surrey-Hants border
• Independent ambulance service is first to receive Van Excellence accreditationAcute Ambulance & Medical Services (AAMS) has become the first independent ambulance service to achieve Van Excellence accreditation. ...
• Maersk Group’s Q3 Profit Cut by Almost a HalfDanish shipping and offshore energy conglomerate Maersk Group delivered a profit of USD 778m (USD 1.5bn) for the third quarter of 2015, negatively impacted by the lower oil price and lower average container freight rates, down 51% and 19% respectively compared to the same period last year. The return on invested capital (ROIC) was 7.6% […]
• Spanish, Portuguese Ports Hit by StrikesAn indefinite towage strike has been launched today at the Port of Barcelona, Spain, Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) informed. The action has been announced by the Confederaci�n General de Trabajadores (CGT) union and will be followed by Tug Barcelona SAR. The strike will comprise three shifts of three hour stoppages, creating in total nine hours […]
• Ford and ASI team up to licence robotic driving for vehicle durability proving tracksFitting a robotic autonomous driving apparatus to vehicles to drive them around demanding test circuits improves the repeatability amd reliability of the trails and saves test drivers from an arduous and physically tiring task.
• Sharm el-Sheikh: confusion over evacuation plansThe Transport Secretary says most British tourists in Sharm el-Sheikh will be home by this evening; but EasyJet says its planned rescue flights

Other Subscription Services

• Mace and CPC chosen as sub-surface rail partner Transport for London has appointed a joint venture of Mace and CPC Project Services as programme support partner for the upgrade of the London Underground District, Circle, Metropolitan and...