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

Monday, 21 October 2019

BBC News

• Pacer trains: Politicians call for passenger compensationSenior politicians say rail firm Northern should reduce fares for passengers using Pacer trains.
• Train driver describes 'horrific' impact of trespassersIn Eddie Fanton's long career as a train driver he has had to cope with a death on the track.

The Guardian

• Naming and shaming the polluters – podcastGlobal environment editor Jonathan Watts discusses the Guardian’s investigation into the fossil fuel industry, and the structures that need to change to halt the climate emergency. And: Gary Younge on Donald Trump’s mental health The Guardian’s global environment editor, Jonathan Watts, tells Anushka Asthana about the polluters series, which identified 20 fossil fuel companies whose relentless exploitation of the world’s oil, gas and coal reserves can be directly linked to more than one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions in the modern era.The project shows many of the worst offenders are in...
• Scores more heart attacks and strokes on high pollution days, figures showData reveals acute impact on people’s health and the strain it puts on emergency servicesScores of children and adults are being rushed to hospital for emergency treatment on days of high pollution in cities across England, figures show.Each year emergency services see more than 120 additional cardiac arrests, more than 230 additional strokes and nearly 200 more people with asthma requiring hospital treatment on days of high pollution compared with the average on days of lower pollution. Continue reading...

The Independent

• Air pollution is now a 'health emergency', head of NHS England warnsPoor atmosphere causing hundreds more cases of stroke, asthma and cardiac arrest, scientists say
• ‘No third runway at Heathrow before 2035,’ predicts Emirates bossThe president of one of the world’s most successful airlines has predicted the planned expansion of Heathrow airport will be delayed or cancelled.

Times Online

• Clean air for all: Strokes and cardiac arrests rise when air is dirtier [subscription]Spikes in air pollution trigger hundreds of cardiac arrests, strokes and acute asthma attacks in cities compared with days when the air is cleaner, according to research by King’s College London.
• Disabled passengers shouldn’t have to tweet to be heard [subscription]There’s a sentence we’ve all uttered when we encounter problems travelling on public transport: “I’ll be writing a strongly-worded letter about this.”
• We may now have a majority for the deal, so let’s not waste it - Grant Shapps [Subscription]I have been a member of parliament for well over a decade and, like anyone, there have been ups and downs, highs and lows. But it’s hard to remember a more frustrating moment than parliament’s inexplicable behaviour this past Saturday.
• Diesel pollution charge has cut London’s toxic fumes by a third [subscription]The level of a toxic gas produced by diesel engines has fallen by a third in central London since charges for the most polluting vehicles were introduced.

City AM

• HS2 is 'out of control': Andrea LeadsomHS2 is “out of control” and its management is insensitive, according to business secretary Andrea Leadsom
• Rising costs threaten to scupper 4G Tube rollout plansPlans to roll out 4G mobile networks on the London Underground are said to be under threat as operators fret over soaring costs.
• Extinction Rebellion patron buys stake in Heathrow AirportA billionaire backer of Extinction Rebellion has been revealed to have a stake in Heathrow Airport.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Call for free parking over Christmas period is dismissedFREE parking in the run up to Christmas would not help independent businesses, a senior Councillor has claimed.

Lincolnshire Echo

• Who had the CRAZY idea to let trains run right through Lincoln city centre?Everyone who's walked through Lincoln city centre knows the same sinking feeling. You're heading along the High Street or Brayford Wharf East and hear a sudden two tone noise - signalling that the barriers on one of the notorious level crossings are about to descend.

Manchester Evening News

• What happens next with Northern Rail?With a new PM in Downing Street, rumours have been swirling that government could finally send the operator packing. This week the transport secretary fuelled that speculation further

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Northern Rail confirm future plans for 'outdated' Pacer trains amid calls to compensate passengersLeaders have called for Northern Rail to compensate passengers who are forced to use outdated Pacer trains

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• University launches staff parking planThe University of Wolverhampton is planning to charge staff for car parking under a new

Other Regional Press

• Campaigners say councillor's Oxford to Cambridge Expressway motion is wrongAN action group against the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway is calling for an ‘otiose and disingenuous’ motion put forward by a council leader to be struck off the agenda in a meeting today.
• Sarah Newton MP welcomes rail investmentFALMOUTH and Truro MP Sarah Newton says that railway investment plans will "make a real difference to the community" in Cornwall.
• The first 100 carriages of Greater Anglia's new trains have been builtTHE first 100 carriages of Greater Anglia's long-awaited electric commuter trains have been built.
• Serco new sleeper trains now operating from Fort WilliamSerco Caledonian Sleeper has completed the roll out of its new overnight trains with the fleet now operating between London and Fort William and elsewhere in Scotland.
• Violence towards train staff in Scotland sees 1,400 police call-outs in five yearsBritish Transport Police have been called to more than 1,400 instances of violence towards train staff in the last five years, figures show.
• Hawstead, Lawshall, Nowton and Shimpling villagers concern as axe hangs over thrice-weekly bus serviceVillagers in Hawstead, Lawshall, Nowton and Shimpling face being cut off when their thrice-weekly bus service ends on November 2.
• Pedestrian and cycle safety in Brent should be prioritised urge campaignersBrent ranks among London's worst local authorities for the number of residents who choose to walk and cycle - and campaigners say it's partly because the roads are so dangerous.

Construction News

• Crossrail 2 team using delays to avoid procurement issuesCrossrail 2 managing director Michèle Dix has said delays to London's first Crossrail scheme are being used as an opportunity for her team to avoid procurement problems with the second project. Ms Dix, who is also a member of the Oakervee HS2 review panel, said…

Rail Technology Magazine

• Arup and Network Rail publish innovative report on 'Tomorrow's Living Station' Arup, in partnership with Network Rail, have published their ‘Tomorrow’s Living Station’ report, exploring the exciting part that stations will play in our towns and cities. The report outlines the importance of evolution with society and stations keeping up with the pace of...

Other News Sources

• Transport for London looks for feedback on proposalsTransport for London has announced that it is inviting local communities to provide feedback on its proposals for over-station development at Southwark Tube station. This follows on from the previous consultation in June 2019.
• Coffee waste to solid biofuels for London Stansted Airport London Stansted to become the first airport in the world to convert all its coffee waste to solid biofuels
• Residents in area of Mansfield being offered free bus travel for three monthsResidents in an area of Mansfield with no bus stops are being offered a free bus pass for three months as a new service comes to the town.
• Questions raised over bus services across NorthumberlandConcerns have been raised about bus services linking communities across Northumberland