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

Wednesday, 06 April 2016

BBC News

• Sliding scale for rail lost property feesRail operators are charging up to �25 for passengers to retrieve property lost while travelling, leading to calls for a more consistent pricing structure.
• Tesla blames 'hubris' for part delaysTesla blames over-engineering of its Model X electric car for delays in getting them to consumers.
• Thousands delayed by rail travel chaosThousands of rail passengers face delays and cancellations across England after overhead electric wires failed in the Midlands.
• Parties hit road for Holyrood campaignScotland's political leaders hit the road to campaign about transport infrastructure and finance ahead of the Holyrood elections.
• Does the north east make more cars than Italy?David Cameron claims more cars are made in the North East of England than in Italy. Is he right?
• Thousands delayed by rail travel chaosRail passengers in Manchester are among thousands facing delays and cancellations across much of the country after a problem with overheard electric wires in the Midlands.
• 'Demeaning' duck absent from statueA statue of railway engineer Sir Nigel Gresley is unveiled at King's Cross station - with the notable absence of a duck to keep him company.

Financial Times

• Air France-KLM chief steps downDe Juniac is to become head of the airline industry’s main trade body

The Guardian

• Zac Goldsmith flounders in quiz on London football teams and tube stationsConservative mayoral candidate did not know which football team plays at Loftus Road or location of Museum of LondonWhat are the basic facts every politician ought to know about the area they want to represent? How about the price of milk or bread? The easiest way to get from A to B on public transport?Or what about the names of the local football teams? Perhaps their grounds, managers and players too? Continue reading...
• Have you been groped or harassed on public transport?It’s been a year since Transport for London introduced its campaign to stop sexual harassment on public transport – but what’s the picture in the rest of the UK and the world? We’d like to know more about experiences of groping on public transport outside of LondonThis time last year, Transport for London launched its Report It to Stop It campaign, aiming to curb sexual harassment on its services.A year on, the video has been watched more than 4m times and 36% more people now come forward to report unwanted sexual behaviour on the Tube as well as a 40% rise in arrests. TfL hope they are beginn...
• Indian Railways brings Delhi to Agra express train into serviceGatimaan Express launch is part of overhaul of Asia’s oldest rail network which carries 23 million passengers a dayIndia has flagged off its fastest-ever train as part of a big modernisation of the crumbling railway system, though its top speed is still only half of those in China and other countries.The railways minister, Suresh Prabhu, hailed the Gatimaan Express, running from New Delhi to Agra and boasting hostesses and bone china crockery, as “a new era of high-speed rail travel”. Continue reading...
• Hundreds stranded after day of rail chaos following fault near BirminghamRoutes to London, Scotland and Manchester among those affected after incident between Birmingham and CoventryThousands of passengers across the UK endured a day of travel misery after trains were brought to a halt by a fault with overhead power.Routes to London, Edinburgh, Manchester, North Wales and Southampton were affected after 100 metres of electric wires in the Midlands came down at 6.30am on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Times Online

• Sturgeon signed China deal without full check on corruption claims [Subscription]Nicola Sturgeon signed a formal government agreement with two Chinese corporate giants even though her officials had not undertaken full checks into allegations of corruption by one of the companies.

Daily Express

• Manchester Airport chaos after delays hit holidaymakers following technical glitchFLIGHTS arriving and departing from Manchester Airport have been “significantly” reduced because of a technical fault.

Daily Record

• Nicola Sturgeon pressed as firm involved in Scottish government investment agreement faces 'corruption allegations' OPPOSITION parties have questioned Sturgeon's knowledge of the allegations before signing a memorandum of understanding with SinoFortone and China Railway No 3 Engineering Group (CR3).

Mail Online

• Retired West Midlands bus driver spends 27 years renovating 1940s coach Graham Harper bought the single-decker in 1967 after years travelling on its route through West Bromwich, West Midlands. He has spent more than �23,000 restoring the bus with friends.
• Mallard stream train engineer Sir Nigel Gresley statue is unveiled at King's Cross A statue of railway engineer Sir Nigel Gresley at London King's Cross station has ruffled a few feathers - because it did not include a duck at the designer's feet.
• Women lead the rush for Jaguar's first 4x4 ‘crossover', the F-Pace Women are driving the radical new ‘She-Type’ Jaguar roaring into the record books with one in three advance orders now coming from female customers, car bosses have revealed.

The Mirror

• Most drivers are clueless about their cars, 'shocking' new survey reveals A poll of 2,000 motorists found that 42% have no idea how to change a flat tyre – and even more don't know what MoT stands for

This is Money

• Diesel and unleaded up by 4p a litre in just one month says RAC The cost of filling up at petrol stations across Britain rose substantially in the last month thanks to higher oil prices, the latest fuel report from the RAC shows.
• AA’s annual profits plummet as firm counts costs of heavy investment in IT and problems with its insurance business In its first full year results since returning to the stock market in 2014, the motoring group reported a drop in pretax profits to £17million, down from £61million a year earlier.
• Eurofighter deal boosts British manufacturing: Kuwait agrees to buy 28 Typhoon jets The deal with the Gulf nation is thought to be worth £6.4billion – including service support and training. BAE shares fell 1.8 per cent or 9p to 492.5p.
• Sir Richard Branson to net �550m from takeover of Virgin America by Alaska Air The 65-year-old businessman, who has two grown up children and lives on his own private island with his wife, owns a 30 per cent stake in the US budget carrier through Virgin Group.

Birmingham Mail

• How bad are pot holes in Birmingham? We tested the state of our roads with this experimentWe drove around Birmingham with a full cup of water in our lap to see how much would spill

Bolton News

• 'Put a proper plan in place' — calls over traffic congestion on busy Bolton road A PETITION signed by more than 500 residents calling on Bolton Council to address traffic congestion concerns on Blackburn Road and across the borough has been handed in.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bradford 'making progress' in transport links - despite airport setback BRADFORD is making good progress in getting people out of their cars and onto trains, buses and bicycles - despite a setback in plans for a rail link to Leeds Bradford Airport, a meeting heard.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Could Stena Line gas powered ferry be heading to Holyhead? The ferry firm has signed a deal for a potential eight vessels which will be the 'most fuel efficient ferries in the world'

London Evening Standard

• Man dies after being hit by train at level-crossing in south-west LondonA man has died after being hit by a train at a level crossing in south-west London.
• 'Next level Inbetweeners': Man snapped taking CAR DOOR on the TubeThis was the bizarre moment a man casually carried a car door onto a Tube train.
• Union demands Ealing Broadway station closure over 'asbestos' fearA rail union is calling for a major west London station to be closed after roof tiles fell on to a platform and sparked fears over asbestos.
• Leicester Square Tube station evacuated after commuters smell smokeLeicester Square Tube station was evacuated following a fire alert.
• London mayoral candidates Zac Goldsmith and Sadiq Khan face-off over transport and housing in televised clashLondon's mayoral candidates faced-off over their transport and housing policies in the first televised showdown of the campaign.
• Cycle superhighway on Victoria Embankment 'being overrun with joggers'Cyclists have complained about having to dodge large numbers of joggers who have adopted London's newest cycle superhighway as a running path.
• Black cabs to stop charging fees on card paymentsBlack cab passengers will no longer be charged a fee for paying by card.

Manchester Evening News

• Flights from Manchester Airport running as normal after technical issue fixed Passengers at the airport were hit with delays on Tuesday after a fault affected flights in and out of the city

Northern Echo

• Car park revamp set to boost town regeneration A NEW look 300-space car park set to play a key role in the regeneration of a North-East town, has been officially taken over by the Auckland Castle Trust.
• New signs to stop speeding in County Durham villages NEW signs have been put into three villages to try and get speeding motorists to slow down.
• MP fights for future of hospital bus RICHMOND MP Rishi Sunak has joined the fight to keep a shuttle bus service connecting the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton with its sister hospital in Middlesbrough.
• Campaigners' bittersweet victory in bizarre A1(M) road sign saga TRADERS in a market town which saw business drop by up to 30 per cent after officials removed six signs to it from the A1(M) have declared a bittersweet victory following a seven-year battle.

Sheffield Star

• ‘A matter of time’ before death on Sheffield danger roadPeople living near a Sheffield road where a five-car collision took place this week have warned it is only a matter of time before someone is killed unless action is taken.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Flying Scotsman: Hundreds disappointed at Severn Valley Railway ticket sales chaosHundreds of people expressed disappointment as they struggled to get tickets to see the Flying Scotsman after the Severn Valley Railway's website and booking system crashed.
• Rail chaos as Birmingham New Street to International line shutsThousands of rail travellers had their journeys disrupted after the line between Birmingham International and New Street closed today.

Blackpool Gazette

• Blackpool Council approve �22m tramway planBlackpool Council has approved plans to buy a prominent building to make room for a new tram terminal.
• Danger fears as drivers use road as rat runDrivers using an urban rat run have been warned they are putting lives at risk.

North Wales Live

• Queen Square bus station reopens after �500,000 resurfacing project A million buses pass through the city centre station each year
• Uber's new 'luxury' service launches todayUber riders will be picked up in 'luxury' cars

Northamptonshire Telegraph

• New covered cycle storage opens at Kettering’s train stationCyclists using Kettering train station will now have access to covered cycle storage following the completion of a £70,000 project.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Safety of A16 junction in Crowland now in Government’s handsThe safety of a “scary” junction off the A16 in Crowland is now the Government’s business after an inquest into a woman’s death there.

West Sussex Gazette

• New patient transport service in Sussex ‘unacceptable’Hundreds of patients across Sussex have faced delays and cancellations after waiting for transport to and from hospitals.

Other Regional Press

• Torfaen train station set for �500,000 refurbishment PONTYPOOL and New Inn railway station is set for a revamp after receiving almost �500,000 in funding from the Welsh Government.
• Bus timetable changes in Fareham and Gosport are welcomed at showCHANGES to bus timetables in Fareham and Gosport are aimed at making bus journeys quicker.
• Widespread rail disruption as work continues to fix damaged overhead wiresNational Rail workers are continuing to work to fix the damaged overhead wires on the West Coast main line this evening.
• Petrol prices on the rise for Huddersfield motoristsEight months of falling fuel prices have come to an end with a spike in the cost of filling up on the forecourts
• Motorists told to prepare for petrol price increaseWigan motorists have been warned that the period of lower fuel prices is over after the cost of petrol rose last month for the first time since July 2015.
• Drivers warned 'good times are over' as price of petrol goes upMotorists have been warned that the period of lower fuel prices is over after the cost of petrol rose last month for the first time since July 2015.
• Farmers hope for community help to get M25 service station proposals stopped Farmers using a field earmarked for a motorway service station hope the community can unite to stop the plans.
• History was on the move at the weekend as a fleet of vintage vehicles took to the roads HISTORY was on the move on Sunday (April 3) as a fleet of vintage commercial vehicles took to the roads for the Commercial Transport in Preservation Ltd spring run.
• VIDEO: Someone will be hurt if residents' parking doesn't improve, say 999 crews BADLY parked cars in Royal Wootton Bassett are delaying lifesaving assistance, emergency services have warned.
• Overnight motorway closures set to continue OVERNIGHT closures of a motorway are set to continue.
• Fake speed camera returns A CONTROVERSIAL fake speed camera has reappeared by the side of a Hampshire road.
• Southampton Port to take off with new boss A man whose experience is in running airports is the new director of the Port of Southampton.
• PHOTOS: Do you remember these Southampton buses? FOR decades they have ferried Sotonians from A to B, making sure they get to work in the morning and home in the evening.
• Letchworth driver suspended after failing to let elderly passenger off busA bus driver from Letchworth was suspended from his duties for four weeks after he did not stop to let an elderly passenger off a bus.
• Widespread rail disruption as work continues to fix damaged overhead wiresNational Rail workers are continuing to work to fix the damaged overhead wires on the West Coast main line this evening.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Alstom's HS2 director appointed as acting managing directorAlstom’s HS2 director has hailed the ‘incredibly exciting’ developments taking place in the UK rail industry after being appointed as the company’s acting managing director for the UK and Ireland. Henrik Anderberg has worked for Alstom since 2010, formerly as the managing...
• New bridge opens at Iver over GWML as part of Crossrail preparationsA new bridge across the Great Western Main Line in Iver designed to be high enough to accommodate electrified Crossrail trains is now open. The 110m long Thorney Lane Bridge opened to vehicles and pedestrians in the early hours of 2 April. It allows room for overhead cables to be installed for...
• Blackpool tram extension comes closer as new terminal building approvedPlans to buy a building to become the terminal for a new Blackpool tram extension have been approved. Blackpool Council voted in favour of plans to buy the Wilkinson’s building on Talbot Road last night. The £22m extension, built to improve the transition between rail and tram...

Railnews

• Mystery overhead line damage disrupts West Coast Overhead lines have been damaged between Birmingham and Coventry -- but Network Rail has been unable to say how the damage occurred. Engineers are making repairs near Birmingham International after train services began to be disrupted at about 06.30 this morning. Intending passengers in the area are being advised to check before they attempt to travel. It is not yet known when the repairs will be completed.

Aviation Industry

• London businesses back City airport expansionStudy follows Boris Johnson’s refusal to grant planning permission at East London airport

Other News Sources

• Safety measures announced for Lightwater road but Bagshot High Street to miss out Highways chiefs have been prompted by petitions to announce new measure for Red Road
• 2 motorway lanes closed, 6 hours without water and 'up to 20 cars trapped in estate': What happened when 12-inch water main burst in Camberley The Maultway remained closed in the town on Tuesday afternoon as full repairs to the pipe were expected to be completed in the evening        
• Patients face delays following takeover of transport services PATIENTS missed hospital appointments and faced delays because of technical hitches in a new transport service.
• Large passenger ferry drifting off the coast of Brighton and Hove A FERRY normally only seen in the Solent has been spotted off the coast of Brighton and Hove.

Other Subscription Services

• Arriva returns to north as new franchise begins Arriva has begun operating trains across the north of England under a new rail franchise that is expected to run for at least nine years 11071.The Deutsche Bahn-owned company takes over...
• Hitachi to build first of two new TransPennine fleets First Group has finalised the first of two new train contracts for the TransPennine Express franchise.The initial contract is for a fleet of Hitachi bi-mode trains which will be used for inter-city...
• First goes solo with new TransPennine franchise First Group has begun operating a new TransPennine Express rail franchise which is due to last for at least seven years 11070.The company previously operated TransPennine Express in...
• Liverpool underground upgrade nears completion Work to upgrade the second of three platforms at Moorfields station in Liverpool has been completed.Platform 1 on the Northern line at Moorfields reopened on Saturday (2 April) after a three-month...
• Extra platform allows Wimbledon tram frequency hike Tram frequencies between Wimbledon and Croydon have increased following construction of a second tram platform at Wimbledon station.Transport for London introduced a new timetable on Monday (4 April...
• Galliford mobilises for Ilkeston station build Main construction of Ilkeston railway station begins this week.Enabling works - including mine investigation and ground stabilisation - have been completed. The site of the new station is now being...