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

Monday, 21 August 2017

BBC News

• Motorists using dash cams to inform on dodgy driversA pilot scheme which has seen action taken against dangerous drivers is being expanded across Wales.
• Train derails as it departs London Paddington stationIt is the second time a train has partially come off the tracks at a London station in one week.
• Rail services disrupted by building fireThe line between Kilmarnock and Ayr is closed while experts assess the stability of a damaged building.

Financial Times

• CSX chief under pressure to improve freight railwayCustomers complain 21,000-mile network has worsened since Hunter Harrison took over

The Guardian

• Diesel scandal is a risk to German economy, says ministryThe cheating on diesel tests are bracketed with Brexit and possible US tariffs as potential threat to growthThe emissions scandal ensnaring German carmakers is a risk to Europe's largest economy, the finance ministry said on Monday. In its monthly report, the ministry named the issue, which broke out almost two years ago after Volkswagen admitted to cheating US diesel emissions tests, as a threat to Germany along with Britain's decision to leave the European Union and protectionist trade policies by the US government.
• Day of moaning declared in north of England over transportCommuters urged to flood TV and radio phone-ins after transport secretary's cancellation of rail electrification upgrades in the north. A day of moaning has been declared across the north of England, with public transport users encouraged to let rip about their terrible journeys.Commuters are urged to write to their MPs and flood radio and TV phone-ins on Monday to express their frustration with the region's poor transport provision.

The Herald

• Young drivers more likely to own electric carMIDDLE-AGED and older drivers are the least convinced about the benefits of buying an electric car, according to new research.
• Major shift from air to rail has saved nearly 700,000 tonnes of carbon emissions on Scotland-London routeA RADICAL shift in travel habits by Scots has cut carbon emissions equal to two years of traffic on the M8, a new report has found.
• Train emissions blamed for turning straight road into slippery death trapPOLICE are expected to look into a theory that crashes on a notorious straight stretch of road next to a railway line which has claimed three lives in a year may be the result of it becoming slippery due to diesel particulate from trains settling on the tarmac.

The Independent

• Voters in Conservative seats join call for more Northern rail cash Thousands of voters in Conservative seats in the North have joined calls for Chris Grayling to invest in the region’s railways.

The Scotsman

• Scotland’s highest village to finally get rail link restored A remote narrow-gauge railway which became a lifeline when a road was closed last year is being finally extended to Scotland’s highest village.
• Big emissons savings as air passengers switch to rail Scotland-London passengers switching from plane to train have saved the equivalent of the carbon dioxide emissions from traffic on the M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow, a report revealed today.
• Glasgow looks to Venice with water taxi service to airportA Venetian-style entry to Glasgow is in prospect with plans for a water taxi service from the airport.
• Robert Aldridge: Let's put the brakes on this 20mph zone fiascoAs the next phase of the 20mph speed limit rolls out in various parts of the city it is clear that parts of the scheme need review. No one can seriously object to a 20mph limit in residential streets. But variable speed limits on main roads is a recipe for confusion and resentment.

Mail Online

• 'Uber drivers commit 62% of London minicab offences' Police emails show that 62 per cent of alleged private hire driving offences in London are reportedly committed by Uber employees as the firm faces accusations of drink-driving.
• Runaway London bus rolls across Marylebone Road The footage shows the taxi cruising along the road, before having to come to a grinding halt when the red bus comes right across both lanes from Great Central Street in London.

Network Rail

• Apprenticeship boost as Network Rail doubles the number of opportunities availableNetwork Rail is set to double the number of apprenticeships offered nationwide , including exciting new opportunities in cyber security and digital railway, as it seeks to future-proof the skills needed to enable the British public to make over 4 million journeys a day.

Bristol Live

• This strip of Bristol river bank cost the council three times its value to buy in latest Metrobus "mistake"Council had to buy the land in Spike Island after former mayor George Ferguson changed the Metrobus route

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Gwynedd bus chiefs face Traffic Commissioner today over French crash The hearing in Welshpool stems from an incident in July last year when an Express Motors coach crashed on a motorway in France

London Evening Standard

• Paddington delays: Passengers face rush hour cancellations after train derails at stationPassengers travelling through Paddington are being warned of rush hour travel chaos today after a train derailed over the weekend.

Sheffield Star

• Standing room only How is it that Sheffield always seems to get shafted by Tory governments? I don’t just mean that the north generally doesn’t get the attention/funding it needs (it doesn’t!), I mean specifically Sheffield.
• Railway fiasco will cripple this cityTThe decision will leave several major cities dependent upon diesel-powered/bi-modal trains for the foreseeable future. This is a cheap fix and follows a dismal pattern of binary investment decisions regarding the electrification of the mainline railway system within Britain.

The York Press

• New station entrance and public square on cards for York A NEW entrance building is set to be constructed at the back of York railway station as part of the York Central development, The Press can reveal.

Cambridge News

• Cambridge's main railway station has been nominated for a top industry honour.The Greater Anglia-run station joins five other competitors in the large Station of the Year category in the National Rail Awards 2017.

Other Regional Press

• South West Trains to become South Western Railway as £2.4bn railway takeover begins tomorrowPASSENGERS will spot very little difference when a British and Hong Kong partnership take over the running of a Hampshire rail franchise this weekend in a £2.4bn deal.
• RMT union to hold demo as new operators take on South West Trains servicesThe biggest rail workers union is holding a protest as new operators take over one of the country's leading train franchises, as part of a campaign to retain guards on trains.
• More Scots passengers choose train over plane to UK capitalA RAIL operator has hailed a “historic shift” in travel patterns as more Scotland-London passengers choose train over plane than at any time in more than 20 years.
• Havant MP calls on new rail franchise provider to deliver on promises Alan Mak, who is Havant MP, has challenged new train operators for the region First Group and MTR to deliver on the promise for better rail transport after they take over the franchise this week.

Construction News

• Network Rail: No contracts cancelled despite electrification cullNo construction contracts have been cancelled despite the government’s decision to scrap a number of electrifications schemes across the country, Network Rail has confirmed.

Transportxtra

• Rail passengers paying more and more but seeing less day-to-day spending, says The TelegraphThe Telegraph has thrown down a marker to the Chancellor who is under pressure to stop scheduled rail fare increases with an article that outlines how passengers are paying more and more, but seeing less day-to-day spending, with busy commuter lines suffering the most.

Other News Sources

• Bus chiefs hit out at ‘knee-jerk’ low emission zone plans that could lead to fare hikesSCOTLAND’S first low emission zone aimed at tackling air pollution is set to be introduced without any enforcement measures, transport chiefs have admitted.
• A new dawn for rail travel in Surrey and Hampshire?After more than 20 years, South West Trains will no longer be taking commuters between Surrey, Hampshire and London.
• RMT union to hold protest outside Waterloo station as new operators take on South West Trains servicesThe biggest rail workers union is holding a protest this morning as part of a campaign to retain guards on trains as new operators take over one of the country’s leading train franchises.
• New HS2 film viewed by 100,000 peopleA new film highlighting the families whose lives will be affected by HS2 has been viewed by more than 100,000 people in its first week.

EIN News Subscription

• Transport strategy needs a rethink … the East Coast rail route Transport Minister Humza Yousaf says on a review of National Transport Strategy, the related