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

Monday, 23 September 2019

BBC News

• Thomas Cook collapses as last-ditch rescue talks failThomas Cook has collapsed after last-minute negotiations aimed at saving the 178-year-old holiday firm failed.
• London Car Free Day: Tower Bridge shuts for mass yoga sessionMore than 16 miles (27 km) of streets in central London have been closed to traffic.

Financial Times

• Ryanair’s clampdown on pilot sick leave draws criticismAirline sends letters threatening disciplinary action over repeated absenteeism

The Guardian

• Wrightbus in last-minute search for buyer to avoid collapseNorthern Ireland maker of London’s new Routemaster buses employs 1,400 workers
• Reports of sexual assaults on London Underground soarCampaigners say incidents are still underreported and more must be done to stop attackers
• Thomas Cook collapses, stranding 150,000 UK holidaymakersThomas Cook has ceased trading after talks failed to produce a funding lifeline for the ailing travel company, placing 9,000 British jobs at risk and triggering a huge repatriation effort to bring home 150,000 UK holidaymakers overseas.

The Telegraph

• First 'Boris bikes' ... now it’s 'Corbyn cars': Labour offers 30,000 electric cars for hire [subscription]abour will make 30,000 electric cars available for hire on streets “in every community”, the party will announce today.
• Rival travel agents fear fallout from Thomas Cook failure [subscription]undreds of smaller travel agents are braced for the fallout from a failure of Thomas Cook, with industry experts warning of a “domino effect” sweeping across the sector.

Times Online

• Railway fans solve mystery of missing Manchester plaque [subscription]It is an artefact that recalls the Victorian age of steam, when railway companies sprouted up all around the country. The problem is that the valuable piece of trainspotter memorabilia had not been seen for 20 years — until, that is, it turned up this summer on eBay, the online trading marketplace, with a price tag of £3,700.
• Notes from the front line: truckers brace for no-deal [subscription]Only now, with the rapid approach of Brexit, is essential information reaching transporters
• The Times view on Heathrow’s congestion charge for cars: Hot Air [subscription]The airport needs better public transport links if it is to meet emissions pledges
• Heathrow congestion charge is expected to raise £1.2bn a year [subscription]Heathrow airport could make £1.2 billion a year from a congestion charge levied on drivers arriving at the airport by car, according to analysis.
• Thomas Cook collapses after rescue negotiations fail [subscription]Britain’s biggest peacetime repatriation mission was launched today after holiday giant Thomas Cook collapsed, leaving 150,000 UK tourists stranded abroad for up to a fortnight.

City AM

• Uber poised to bag further temporary licence from TfLUber will have its fate sealed on Wednesday when Transport for London (TfL) makes a decision on the ride-hailing app’s licence in the capital.
• Debate: Should rail firms be rewarded for running trains on time? OpinionYes – Matt Gillow is a research associate at the Adam Smith Institute. Transport secretary Grant Shapps isn’t just offering incentives for operators to deliver an agreed service, but repercussions if they fail.

Sky News

• Thomas Cook collapse: Holidaymakers' return to take two weeksThomas Cook has collapsed, prompting the UK's biggest ever peacetime repatriation to bring 150,000 stranded customers home.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Poor performance of Bradford train services highlighted by authority THE POOR experience of rail passengers in the North is today highlighted by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority as it makes the case for investment in the network in the short, medium and long term.

Liverpool Echo

• Metro Mayor 'optimistic' about Anfield stadium train station planCity Region leader speaks out about Liverpool FC rail link potential

London Evening Standard

• Car Free Day in London 2019: Londoners flock to quiet streets as Sadiq Khan criticises 'anti-walking, anti-cycling' boroughsSadiq Khan has criticised some
• Thomas Cook collapses: 150,000 British holidaymakers left abroad as historic tour operator ceases tradingAll Thomas Cook bookings and flights cancelled Government and Civil Aviation Authority have dozens of planes to fly customers back to the UK Repatriation will be 'UK's largest in peacetime' 21,000 employees across the world lose their jobs Holidaymakers can go to thomascook.caa.co.uk, for advice and information

Manchester Evening News

• All flights and holiday bookings cancelled as tour operator Thomas Cook collapses"Thomas Cook customers in the UK yet to travel should not go to the airport as all flights leaving the UK have been cancelled."

Wales Online

• Train firm plans to launch new hourly service between Wales and LondonGrand Union Trains are hoping to launch the service, initially every two hours, in May 2021 before making journeys more frequent

Carlisle News & Star

• Plans unveiled for new London to Stirling rail service via CarlisleRAIL bosses have unveiled plans to launch new daily London to Stirling services - with stops in Carlisle and Lockerbie.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Thousands of holidaymakers stranded as Thomas Cook goes bustTravel company Thomas Cook has fallen into compulsory liquidation.

Other Regional Press

• Broad Street in Oxford ditches vehicles for World Car Free Day BROAD Street has been 'given back to the people' today as Oxford marks World Car Free Day for the first time.
• Over 100 passengers left behind on Leeds to Manchester trains every day due to overcrowdingLatest research from think-thank IPPR North shows transport spending increased 2.5 times per person more in London compared to the North over the last decade

Rail Advent

• Wales Rail Industry Gears up for AutumnTransport for Wales and Network Rail has announced that they have been working hard to ensure Wales is prepared for the autumn period.

The Business Desk

• Rail bosses join forces to improve services for passengersRail industry bosses have joined forces in a deal to drive up standards for rail passengers in the West Midlands. Areas the new West Midlands Grand Rail Collaboration (GRC) will tackle include train service performance, simplifying fare structures, improving the quality of trains and stations, sharing busy track capacity in the most efficient way and delivering timetables to improve reliability.

Other News Sources

• West Yorkshire rail network and HS2 needs 'vital funding to help re-balance UK economy'Latest research shows transport spending increased 2.5 times per person more in London compared to the North over the last decade