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

Saturday, 08 December 2018

BBC News

• 'I was carried on board a plane by drunk passengers'Mary Doyle is a wheelchair user who says she has had multiple bad experiences at airports.
• Prince Charles arrives in Cardiff by steam locomotiveThe Prince of Wales chats with the driver about the engine as he arrives for his latest visit.
• No-deal Brexit report: 'Bodies may be uncollected'Congestion could also hinder journeys to school and affect food deliveries, a report warns.
• No-deal Brexit: Disruption at Dover 'could last six months'Fresh government warnings about Channel ports are dismissed as
• Rail regulator says industry 'must put passengers first'Passengers must be put first in the future following
• Shipyard to launch claim against ferry firm amid design rowFerguson Marine will try and claw back its extra costs on a delayed contract to build two new CalMac ferries.
• Williams railways review to look at 'all options'John Lewis deputy chair Keith Williams does not rule out future rail nationalisation in the UK.
• Motability charity boss to go after extra bonus revealedMike Betts, the head of the firm providing cars and scooters for the disabled, will step down by 2020.
• Virgin Atlantic pilots plan Christmas strikeThey will strike from 22 December to Christmas Day in a dispute over union recognition, the PPU says.

The Guardian

• Virgin Atlantic pilots to strike in run-up to Christmas Day Union, which represents about a third of airline’s pilots, is locked in dispute with carrier over recognition

Times Online

• Avolon flying high with $11bn deal for 100 new aircraft [Subscription]Avolon, the international aircraft leasing company, has announced the acquisition of 100 new aircraft valued at more than $11 billion.
• Airline loyalty schemes criticised as waste of money [Subscription]Airline loyalty schemes are a waste of money and frequent fliers could save far more by shopping around for cheap flights, a travel expert has claimed.
• Brexit: Minister’s letter warns of chaos at borders for six months [Subscription]A disruptive no-deal Brexit could lead to six months of chaos at the borders, the government has warned.
• Refund if you don’t pick the cheapest train ticket [Subscription]Rail passengers will be protected from the baffling fares system under plans to guarantee the cheapest ticket on every trip.

Reuters News

• No-deal Brexit disruption at UK ports could last up to six months - ministerA no-deal Brexit could cause up to six months of disruption at some ports, a British minister warned on Friday, vowing to prioritise pharmaceuticals as the UK develops contingency plans less than four months before it is due to leave the EU.

City AM

• 'Systemic failures' led to commuter chaos after May's timetable changes, says regulatorTrain companies must put passengers at the heart of decision-making to prevent a repeat of May’s timetable chaos, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said today.
• Commuters brace for fresh Christmas strikes on South Western RailwayRail union RMT has revealed that there will be further strike action on South Western Railway on 22 December, the final Saturday before Christmas.

Mail Online

• Scandal-hit disabled car charity reveals record £516million profits on the same day it was exposed for overcharging customers while hoarding billions of poundsMotability yesterday revealed record profits – on the day it was exposed for overcharging disabled customers while hoarding billions of pounds.

Liverpool Echo

• Here's when the Mersey Tunnels tolls will be FREE over ChristmasThe gesture is going to help a lot of people
• Family's '100 days of broken promises' from Ryanair after £2,000 luggage 'went missing'Mum Pamela Maxwell, 50, was on her way to a holiday to Spain with family and friends when it quickly turned into a nightmare

London Evening Standard

• Appoint timetable 'czar' to avoid repeat of rail chaos, watchdog says in damning reportA
• South Western Railway workers to strike on December 22 in long-running dispute over guards on trains, RMT union saysRail passengers are facing fresh travel misery as workers on South Western Railway are set to strike the Saturday before Christmas, the RMT union has announced.
• Project Bloodhound bid to create 1,000mph supersonic car scrappedProject Bloodhound was founded in 2007, with plans to race the car at a specially built track in the deserts of South Africa.
• Virgin Atlantic pilots to strike over ChristmasVirgin Atlantic pilots are due to strike from December 22 to Christmas Day.
• Off-duty Met sergeant cycling home from work foils 'moped muggers' in south west LondonAn off-duty police officer who was cycling home from work foiled two would-be moped muggers just before they were about to carry out a robbery in south west London.

Wales Online

• Major road into Cardiff left under water as heavy rain and flooding hits WalesThere had been a severe weather warning for rain on Friday morning

Other Regional Press

• Cyclist who nearly lost life in crash calls for road to be made saferA KEEN cyclist who nearly lost his life following a collision with an overtaking car is urging Somerset County Council to help make a key road near Bridgwater safer.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Glaister Report: ORR forces Network Rail to report back on 'failing' timetabling process by AprilAfter deciding that Network Rail is breaching its network licence by failing to deliver on its performance obligations, the ORR has ordered the infrastructure owner to publish a plan, by 1 April 2019, outlining a series of major points regarding its operation of an effective and transparent...
• London mayor criticised after appointing former auditor and advisor to investigate Crossrail delaysSadiq Khan has come under fire over a Crossrail probe after he appointed a former auditor and adviser for the Elizabeth Line project to investigate the delays and spiralling costs. Conservative MP and former minister Greg Hands has written to the National Audit Office, claiming the London mayor...
• Consultation confirms public support for new rail link between Heathrow and the westPlans for a new rail link between Heathrow and the west have been overwhelmingly supported in a new consultation published by Network Rail. The proposals set out a new rail link between the Great Western Main Line and London Heathrow Airport, and will allow passengers to travel to the airport...

Aviation Industry

• Virgin Atlantic pilots warn of Christmas strike over union recognitionHundreds of Virgin Atlantic pilots threatened to strike Dec. 22-25, with further stoppages planned, to protest the airline’s refusal to recognize the union representing them. read more

EIN News Subscription

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• Record Number of Air Passengers Carried at More than 1 Billion in 2017 … billion passengers travelled by air in the European Union (EU), up by 7% … ) of total air passenger transport in the EU and extra-EU transport over a third … , the statistical office of the European Union      
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