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

Saturday, 01 April 2017

BBC News

• British endurance cyclist Mike Hall killed in road raceThe Indian Pacific Wheel Race was cancelled shortly after Mike Hall died in a collision with a car.
• Lorry freed after getting stuck in Cardiff city centreThe vehicle was wedged into a junction for several hours.
• No trains between Cardiff Central and Queen StreetEngineers are replacing tracks between Cardiff Central and Queen Street this weekend.
• Flying Scotsman marks Settle-to-Carlisle line reopeningThe famous Flying Scotsman locomotive travels over the Ribblehead Viaduct.
• Smartphone use blamed for road deathsA sharp rise in US pedestrian deaths could be partly down to the rise in the use of smartphones.
• Bombardier's Belfast operation returns to profit in 2016Bombardier's Belfast operations returned to profit in 2016, according to its latest accounts.
• Bus �ireann strike: Bus and rail services resume after picketsSome bus and rail services in the Republic of Ireland were severely affected by unofficial pickets.
• Passenger jet approaching Heathrow in drone 'near-miss'Pilots spotted the device in the air as they prepared to land at Heathrow Airport.

The Guardian

• Drone flew 'within wingspan' of plane approaching HeathrowReport on near-misses also reveals pilots were shocked to see another drone hovering as high as 3,000 metresA drone flew within 20 metres of a plane on the approach to Heathrow, while another shocked pilots by appearing at 3,000 metres (10,000ft), a monthly update on near-misses has revealed.Commercial jet pilots reported two “category A” incidents, the most serious class of near-miss, involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), known as drones. Continue reading...
• Victims in Snowdonia helicopter crash namedPolice name five passengers who died when privately owned Twin Squirrel aircraft crashed en route to DublinThe bodies of five members of the same family who died when their helicopter crashed in Snowdonia have been recovered, police have said.The victims, all from the Milton Keynes area in Buckinghamshire, were named by North Wales police as Kevin and Ruth Burke, aged 56 and 49, Donald and Sharon Burke, aged 55 and 48, and Barry Burke, 51. It is believed they were three brothers and two of their wives, with their mother Noeleen reported to have lost all of her sons in the crash. Continue readi...
• Atlanta: three arrested as major interstate bridge collapses after huge fireState of emergency declared as officials say no indication when Interstate 85, which carries 250,000 vehicles a day, can reopenThree people have been arrested after an elevated section of a major north-south highway in the south-east of the US collapsed in a massive fire.Atlanta’s notoriously tangled commutes were thrown into disarray when a bridge on Interstate 85 collapsed after a fire burned for more than an hour under the northbound lanes, shutting down the busy highway through the heart of the city during rush hour on Thursday afternoon. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Video: Barrier lifted on Queen Street Station redevelopmentTHE total overhaul of one of Scotland's busiest railway stations has been given the formal green light, a move expected to trigger major city centre development.

The Telegraph

• Passenger jet in near-miss with large drone at 10,000 feet on Heathrow approach
• SpaceX makes history by successfully launching first recycled rocket booster

Times Online

• Killed cyclist feared dangerous drivers [Subscription]A world-class British endurance cyclist has died in a collision with a car during the final stage of a 3,300-mile race across Australia.
• VW cars ‘lost power’ after being recalled [Subscription]Hundreds of cars affected by the Volkswagen emissions scandal have been damaged after being recalled, it was claimed.
• Bus Éireann can be replaced, strikers warned [Subscription]Bus Éireann workers have been told that the part state-owned company is “not essential” and could be replaced by private operators.
• Emissions ‘fix’ ruined our cars, say VW drivers [Subscription]Volkswagen owners in Ireland claim that the company’s “fix” to deal with the emissions scandal has caused their cars to malfunction and lose fuel efficiency.
• Ministers under fire for ‘lack of information’ on air taxes [Subscription]Flagship Scottish government plans to cut air taxes have been criticised by a Holyrood committee dominated by SNP members.
• State calls for lethal drones to tackle mass shootings [Subscription]Police forces in Connecticut could be equipped with lethal drones under a proposal to be considered by state legislators.

Reuters News

• VW has fixed fewer than half of UK cars hit by diesel scandalLONDON (Reuters) - Volkswagen said it has so far fixed fewer than half of the 1.2 million cars affected by the diesel emissions scandal in Britain, 18 months after the revelations first came to light.

Mail Online

• Glasgow bin lorry driver avoids jail for driving again Harry Clarke, 60, admitted driving a car in Glasgow in September 2015 - just months after six people died when his refuse lorry ran out of control.
• South Korean ferry that sank, claiming 304 lives The salvaged wreck of South Korea's Sewol ferry finally reached port in Mokpo on Friday, nearly three years after setting out on a doomed voyage that killed more than 300 people.

The Mirror

• Volkswagen drivers in new fix as cars 'suddenly lose power' after diesel scandal upgrades Although there is no evidence the apparent flaws are connected to the software tweak, a British law firm is representing worried VW owners

Bolton News

• 'Crumbling' road will be shut and rebuilt A ROAD linking Bury and Bolton will be closed and rebuilt after it emerged the lane is crumbling.
• Timetable changes will not end overcrowding, warn rail users CAMPAIGNING train passengers say that proposed timetable changes will do little to put an end to overcrowded carriages.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• LIVE: The Flying Scotsman steams through the district on historic journeyCrowds line the railways as The 'nation's favourite locomotive', the Flying Scotsman, visits the district to mark the reopening of the Settle to Carlisle railway.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• A55 roadworks at Conwy tunnel finish on time but Old Colwyn misery to continue until next week Economy Secretary Ken Skates says latter emergency work at Rainbow Bridge 'unavoidable'

London Evening Standard

• Southern Rail commuters braced for further strike chaos as decision on fresh walkout loomsHundreds of thousands of Southern Rail commuters will learn on Monday whether they face yet more strike action.
• Pilots stunned as passenger jet narrowly misses large drone near Heathrow airportTwo pilots were left stunned after a large drone came within metres of crashing into their passenger jet as it approached Heathrow.
• Woman faints in 'sweltering' temperatures on board train as operator leaves heating on for hottest day of the yearA woman fainted and commuters complained of "sweltering" temperatures on board trains after a rail operator left the heating on for the hottest day of the year so far.
• Police hunt Victoria line Tube passenger over 'prolonged sex attack' on man in rush hourDetectives have released an image of a passenger they want to trace after a "prolonged" sexual assault on a man in a packed Tube train.
• Tube passenger 'fires fake gun after begging row' on Hammersmith and City linePolice are appealing for witnesses after a passenger allegedly fired an imitation gun during an argument about begging on the Tube.
• Shepherd's Bush Green: 'Panic' after bystanders mistake BBC film crew for real police emergencyAn actual police incident was happening just yards away as a man was dragged from his car in a 'road rage' attack
• Team GB's brilliant but broken bikes mean riders will be on old frames at World ChampionshipsBritish Cycling has admitted all of the bikes its track riders used in Rio have broken - meaning the team will be on old frames at the World Championships next month, though they denied it is a concern.

Northern Echo

• Volunteer-led bus service to national park to expand THE Moorsbus service is to double the number of days it runs across the North York Moors when it restarts this spring.

The York Press

• Transport improvements on bus forum agenda THE next meeting of the York Bus Forum will discuss the Bus Services Bill, and the chance it creates for a new structure for bus services improving transport in York.

Wales Online

• Scheme to keep cyclists safe on the road not set to be introduced in South Wales "Operation Close Pass" was set up by West Midlands Police

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Gridlock! Motorists struggle to get into Wolverhampton - with more roadworks on the wayMotorists face more than three months of disruption – thanks to the latest in a long line of roadworks.

Bucks Free Press

• M4 CLOSURES: Motorway shut over weekend & overnight closures- roadworks round-up ROADWORKS round-up

Crewe Chronicle

• HS2 hub station the centrepiece in Constellation bid Announcements on Crewe station, Royal Arcade Plan and Local Plan expected in July

East Anglian Daily Times

• Aldeburgh car park re-opens in time for the Easter holidaysThe Suffolk Coastal car park will re-open on April 1 following improvements.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Bridge closure hits pub hardThe landlord of a village pub has called for last orders to be rung on roadworks which have hit his business hard.

Reading Evening Post

• Loddon Bridge Road to close for a month for electricity works Essential electricity works will be carried out during the closure

Other Regional Press

• Plans to charge to park at resort on hold thanks to new �1 coin Hartlepool Council has said it cannot go ahead with charging to park in Seaton Carew from tomorrow after pay and display machines were delayed
• New DVLA car tax rules change TODAY - and could cost you hundreds of poundsThe cost of owning a high-polluting car has gone up :: Here's how it will affect you
• Watch: Flying Scotsman marks re-opening of famous Yorkshire rail lineSettle-Carlisle line had been closed by landslip
• Kirklees Council orders utility companies to re-do HUNDREDS of road repairsCouncils can tell utility companies to re-do road work if the job isn't good enough
• 'One return to Broadchurch please' - Jurassic Coast bus driver to be featured on ITV's Good Morning A BUS driver has spoken out about having
• Cheap Jet2.com flights from Birmingham Airport - where you can go and for how much The arrival of the low-cost carrier and package holiday company means more choice and better value

Buying Business Travel

• Qatar Airways introduces ‘laptop loan’ after electronics banOffer available to Business Class passengers after US laptop ban

Rail Magazine

• National Rail Conference to focus on HS2’s significanceIn association with HS2 Ltd, this year’s NRC will focus on HS2 and its ability to transform Britain. Keynote speaker: HS2 Ltd Chairman Sir David Higgins

Rail Technology Magazine

• Whitehall dismisses plans for further rail devolution to WalesCentral government has rejected plans for further devolution of rail powers and responsibilities to Wales, the Welsh Affairs Committee has today confirmed. In January, Welsh MPs submitted a request for devolution to the region as it cited an “urgent need” for new trains on the Wales...
• RMT slams 'crazy' First MTR decision to drop new �200m SWT trainsFirst MTR is reported to be abandoning £200m worth of carriages that are being built in Germany – a decision that union RMT has described “crazy” as it called on the government to undertake an investigation into the decision. The company, which is a partnership between...

Aviation Industry

• Boom Supersonic receives $33 million for passenger travelBoom Supersonic has received a new $33 million round of funding for its work to create supersonic passenger travel. read more
• AAPA: Asian airlines feel effect of cabin electronics banAsian carriers are being affected by the US and UK cabin electronics ban even though the new security rules do not target their home hubs or countries. read more

Other News Sources

• South West Trains franchise: New operator planning �35bn 20-metre elevated monorail from Woking to WaterlooPapers seen by Get Surrey today (April 1) reveal a staggering £35bn project to create a "beautiful commuter experience" between Woking and Waterloo
• Holyrood’s Finance Committee endorses Air Departure Tax Bill but criticises the Government’s lack of evidenceThe general principles of the Scottish Government’s Air Departure Tax (ADT) Bill have been endorsed in a parliamentary report published today.
• Shipping Industry to Reduce EmissionsThe introduction of new environmental regulations is leading the shipping industry to look for ways of reducing its emissions of harmful gases, says Clarksons Research. The research report focus on two separate but related issues: the way in which vessels are powered…
• Grieving Hampshire family plea for drivers to stop using phones at the wheel following death of grandad-of-four NO phone call or text is more important than a life.
• Ashford parking debate: Residents warn lack of spaces will lead to 'town's demise' Among other issues, residents are unhappy about the decision to sell the town's multi-story car park
• Egham level crossing crash: Truck rips off barrier causing rail delays and traffic tailbacks A photo has emerged of the truck that appears to have speared one of the barriers with the yellow pipe it was carrying
• M3 Smart Motorway: More night time closures announced by Highways England As the M3 Smart Motorway improvement project continues, find out where and when road improvements will affect your journey