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

Monday, 12 November 2018

BBC News

• Southeastern wants more women train driversA rail company has launched a campaign to recruit more female train drivers.
• West Croydon bus station crash leaves 20 injuredThe double-decker bus driver has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.

ITV News

• Half of cycle network ‘unsafe for 12-year-olds’Almost half of the UK’s National Cycle Network is in a poor or very poor condition, according to new research.

The Guardian

• I’m 86 and my CrossCountry train journey was my worst everOver the last weekend of October, I travelled from Bournemouth to Stoke-on-Trent by CrossCountry trains to visit my grandson at university.
• Addison Lee drivers challenge clients to uphold UN pledgesAddison Lee drivers challenge clients to uphold UN pledges
• National Cycle Network has many 'crap' paths, says charity in chargeIt spans 16,505 miles, is seven times longer than our motorway system and carries half as many people each year as the UK’s creaking railways – all for free and with no carbon emissions. But the National Cycle Network is so starved of funding that many of its bike paths are “crap” and desperately need improvements, according to the charity responsible for its development and upkeep.

The Independent

• Line closures, strikes and speed restrictions to bring winter wave of misery for train travellersA winter wave of line closures, strikes and speed restrictions is set to disrupt rail services for the rest of 2018, with continued uncertainty about what services will operate over Christmas and the new year.
• London-bound flight grounded after pilot in charge of airline safety fails breathalyser test‘Only a bloody stark raving alcoholic is bloody drunk at 1.30pm in the afternoon,’ says Air India pilot

The Scotsman

• MSPs to vote on public ownership of trainsA Holyrood move to bring Scotland’s trains back into public ownership amid anger about delays and overcrowding will come before MSPs this week.

Times Online

• Bus lane on hard shoulder to free up M8 [subscription]Transport officials are considering turning the hard shoulder of the M8 into a bus lane to ease congestion.
• Speed cuts plan after rural roads declared unsafe for cyclists [subscription]Ministers are considering plans to reduce the speed limit to 40mph on rural roads in Scotland that are shared by cyclists and drivers.
• BA owner IAG seeks Spanish help amid Brexit fears [subscription]The owner of British Airways is seeking the support of the Spanish government as it steps up its preparations for a no-deal Brexit.

Reuters News

• German rail operator wants more cash to improve serviceBERLIN (Reuters) - German rail operator Deutsche Bahn [DBN.UL] is lobbying the government for a 4.9 billion euro ($5.55 billion) investment to reduce train delays and cancellations dampening passenger satisfaction, the Bild newspaper reported on Sunday.

The National

• MSPs face calls to renationalise rail network as they vote on ScotRail contractTRANSPORT Secretary Michael Matheson will be urged this week to end a contract with the Dutch company which runs Scotland’s trains and bring them into public ownership.

This is Money

• Secretive billionaire Philip Day faces court in Stobart civil war over company rowBosses at Stobart Group will appear in court this week over its ousted founder’s failed bid to replace the firm’s chairman with secretive businessman Philip Day.

Yorkshire Post

• The Yorkshire Post says: Rail opportunity to promote North MP to key policy briefAS THE Government becomes paralysed by Brexit, the abrupt resignation of Jo Johnson as Rail Minister provides Theresa May with an unexpected opportunity to respond strategically to the North’s disquiet about her approach to domestic policy. She should take it.
• West Yorkshire bus concerns to be raised with government Bus companies have been criticised for making huge pay-outs to shareholders at a time when job seekers are being “locked out” of employment opportunities by “unreliable and unaffordable” public 
transport.
• Region leads way on cycle paths, but ‘national overhaul is needed’Yorkshire has more miles of cycling networks than anywhere in the country, new analysis reveals, amid warnings that an overhaul is needed nationwide to open up access and prevent it falling short of its potential.

Other Regional Press

• £1m improvement plan for Boots Bridge, Manea, welcomed by MP but concern over 22 weeks closure and impact of diversion and bus servicesCounty council plans to spend £1 million to replace Boots Bridge, Manea, have been welcomed by MP Steve Barclay but he has raised questions about the impact on villagers of a proposed 22 week closure.

New Civil Engineer

• Forth Road Bridge joint replacement work beginsA £5.9M plan to replace the main expansion joints on the Forth Road Bridge is scheduled to start today.
• Network Rail launches drone maintenance frameworkNetwork Rail has published a prior information notice (PIN) for its upcoming Unmanned Aircraft System framework.
• Transport heavyweight backs more tolls to fund new roadsFormer transport secretary Steve Norris has backed calls for more pay-as-you-go toll funded roads.
• Calls for UK hyperloop centre of excellenceBritish transport researcher Gavin Bailey has called for a hyperloop centre of excellence to be established in the UK.
• ‘Game changing move’ for Euston HS2 station entrancesIn a “game changing move” Camden Council has agreed with High Speed 2 Ltd (HS2) that there will be entrances on all four sides of the newly extended Euston station in London.

Other News Sources

• Campaigners against Gatwick Airport expansion will be at Churchill Square todayCAMPAIGNERS fighting plans for a third runway at Gatwick Airport will be urging people to join their cause at a public consultation event today.
• Cross border rail meetingThe Berwick Regeneration Commission (BRC) is hosting another rail meeting in the new year.
• Mayor faces more flak for Crossrail delayLondon Assembly members said Sadiq Khan showed “incompetence, or at the very least, disinterest” in his handling of Crossrail