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

Friday, 04 August 2017

BBC News

• Welsh railway network to be privatised, RMT union claimsThe rail workers' union, the RMT, has said it is "appalled" about plans which it claims will lead to a £5bn privatisation of the Welsh railway.
• Drivers could face delays at ports after Brexit, AMs sayAction is needed to avoid disruption and ensure ports can cope with border controls, warns report.
• Croydon tram crash: More speed restrictions likely say investigatorsThe Rail Accident Investigation Branch will also urge tram operators to improve passenger safety.
• DronepreneursDrones are offering a growing range of commercial possibilities, but pilots must be aware of the risks.
• Hyperloop One: Passenger pod tested successfullyHyperloop One has carried out the first trial of the technology to include a large pod that may one day carry passengers at speeds of up to 650mph.
• Tesla revenues double but losses also growDespite growing losses the electric car maker's shares rose by more than 7% in after hours trading.
• Car insurance market dysfunctional, says AvivaThe car insurance market does not reward loyal customers, says the boss of insurance giant Aviva.
• Uniqlo shirts at push of a button in airport vendingThe Japanese fashion brand is chasing US consumers with vending machines dispensing clothes.
• More Brits complain about car hire in EU countriesComplaints about hiring cars in Europe have risen by a third in the last year.

ITV News

• RMT Union urges stop to '£5b rail privatisation plans for Wales'The biggest rail workers' union is calling for a halt to plans it says would lead to a £5 billion rail privatisation. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union has written to Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones claiming that a decision had already been made to privatise Network Rail infrastructure in Wales and the South Wales Valley lines.

Financial Times

• Uber's next chief faces uncomfortable rideNew CEO will need to tackle multiple challenges over its long-term business model
• Cracks appear in cash-starved German infrastructureBridges and roads crumble as local authorities use funds to reduce deficits

The Guardian

• Britain is still a world-beater at one thing: ripping off its own citizens | Aditya ChakraborttyFrom energy and water bills to exorbitant rail fares, we’re all busy lining the pockets of wealthy ‘investors’And so to the big question. The one that has dogged us ever since the EU referendum and haunts every Brexiteer’s chlorinated daydreams. What is Britain for? Cliche-mongers will tell you that Britain lost an empire then couldn’t find a role. They are wrong. After careful study of recent newspaper articles, I have discovered just that new part – and today, dear reader, I am going to share it with you.The British are now world-beaters at paying other people to rip them off. We are number ...
• Carmakers accused of 'clutching at straws' over retrofitting polluting dieselsVW, BMW, Opel and Daimler’s promise to fix 5 million cars not enough to undo the damage done by emissions scandal, say campaigners Major car makers are being accused of clutching at straws after they agreed to fit software to 5m diesel vehicles in Germany to reduce harmful emissions by up to 30%.VW, Daimler, BMW and Opel made the decision at a summit with leading politicians in Berlin. They have been under pressure since the diesel emissions scandal two years ago exposed how VW and – it is suspected – other manufacturers have been cheating the testing regime. Continue reading...

The Independent

• Pain in Spain: now an airport security strike hits passengersAirlines are warning passengers flying from Barcelona airport to arrive three hours before departure, as a sequence of strikes by security staff begins, affecting thousands of British travellers.

The Scotsman

• Platform: All aboard the Hyperloop expressAn average train ride from Edinburgh to London costs £80 and lasts just under five hours; the same trip via plane sets one back £50 and is close to three hours total travel time. The dry reality of high costs is a facade for an even higher loss of time that could have been spent actively with colleagues, friends and family. Using Hyperloop technology, students from Edinburgh University have the ambition to shape the future of transportation in the UK, drastically reducing both the cost and journey time of the trip.

The Mirror

• "You won't have the opportunity to buy overpriced gin and tonics": Train driver's incredible pilot-style announcement leaves passengers in hystericsThe train driver could be heard joking about emergency exits, duty free and the weather as commuters travelled into Liverpool

Bolton News

• MP pledges to help make new bypass road a priority for governmentCHRIS Green has written to Bolton Council in a bid to secure funding for the long-awaited Westhoughton Bypass.

London Evening Standard

• Rail chiefs say £400m Waterloo rebuilding work is vital ahead of month-long passenger chaosAt 1am on Saturday, five minutes before the last train — the 01.05 to Southampton — has even left, an army of 1,000 Network Rail engineers will begin more than £400 million of major rebuilding work at Waterloo.
• Tories call to axe 'over-inflated' taxpayer-funded £2.89bn TfL pension potTaxpayers are being "ripped off" by the "gold-plated and over-inflated" pension scheme run by Transport for London for thousands of staff, City Hall Tories claimed today.
• Air Canada jet almost caused one of worst aviation crashes in history in near miss with four passenger planesA Canadian plane almost caused one of the worst aviation disasters in history after pilots almost crashed into four planes parked near the runway.

Manchester Evening News

• Everything you should know before you drive on the M60 smart motorway We speak to a smart motorway expert as we prepare for their arrival on the M60 and M62

Morning Star

• Welsh Assembly Accused Of Plan To Flog Off Its Rail FranchisesTHE Labour-controlled Welsh Assembly was accused of planning a £5 billion sell-off of the country’s rail operations yesterday.

Bucks Free Press

• Long-awaited relief road given green light 'in principle' A long-awaited relief road to cut congestion in Beaconsfield Old Town has been given the green light.
• Anger as customers driven away after parking price hike blunder Furious business-owners based on a High Wycombe shopping street were shocked to discover parking charges had more than doubled this week without any notice from the county council.

East Anglian Daily Times

• CAA orders improvements at air traffic controller NATS after complaints by Stansted Airport and RyanairStansted Airport and Ryanair have welcomed a ruling which requires a series of improvements at air traffic control organisation NATS.

Other Regional Press

• There's a railcard app coming later this year and it could save train passengers hundreds of poundsRailcard holders rejoice. An app is on its way which could save people hundreds of pounds in rail penalty fines.
• STEPHEN LLOYD MP: Shades of David and Goliath in Southern Rail dispute In the long ongoing saga of the Southern Rail dispute I’d like to acknowledge the excellent work done by a local rail passenger group called ABCommuters.
• "This means you can top up easily without having to return to your carâ€�: New car parking meters will accept card payments Visitors parking at car parks in Dorset will no longer have to dig deep for change when paying for a parking ticket.
• Improvements planned for railway stations in and around Huddersfield Train firm Northern to invest for benefit of passengers

Buying Business Travel

• Barcelona airport security staff set to strikeTravellers warned about delays for passengers using El Prat airport
• Hyperloop achieves higher speeds in latest testNew transport system completes second phase of testing

Aviation Industry

• Austrian Airlines confirms A320/321 design limit extensionLufthansa subsidiary Austrian Airlines has confirmed a design limit extension for its aging Airbus A320/321 fleet, CEO Kay Kratky told ATW. read more

Green Miscellany

• Air pollution policy shambles sees speed humps removedThe shambles that is the British government’s policy on air pollution has taken a surreal twist as it transpires councils in England will be funded to tear up speed bumps on the basis they cause pollution as drivers accelerate between them. In a perfect example of political dis-jointed thinking, it seems likely that fewer traffic humps will increase vehicle speed,… The post Air pollution policy shambles sees speed humps removed appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Filey's MP Welcomes U-Turn on Train CutsAs planned reductions in train services in Hunmanby and Bempton now look unlikely to go ahead, Filey's MP has welcomed the u-turn by operator Northern.
• MP welcomes huge response to plans for rail freight hubThe MP for Stafford has welcomed the response of villagers in south Staffordshire to the recent public consultation on plans to build a massive rail freight interchange near Gailey.
• London Waterloo upgrade: The seven 'red' stations that will give you a headache this month No trains will call at Norbiton and Queenstown Road stations, among other issues