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

Tuesday, 01 September 2020

BBC News

• Coronavirus: 'Covidiots' criticised on Tui quarantine flightA flight from Zante which left nearly 200 people facing two weeks' self-isolation was a "debacle" and a "free-for-all", passengers say.
• Great Central Railway: 'Bitter blow' as lottery bid failsThe organisers of a heritage railway have said being turned down for lottery support is a "bitter blow".
• Tesla Autopilot detects speed limits and green lightsThe new update is available to drivers in the US with Autopilot activated.
• Coronavirus: Portugal return to quarantine list would cause 'chaos and hardship'The head of BA's parent company warns against new measures, as coronavirus cases in Portugal rise.

Financial Times

• Swissport fears thousands more job losses in pandemic fallout World’s largest baggage-handling business announces €1.9bn debt-for-equity swap
• Activist hedge fund urges European shift to rail from flights and ferriesOceanwood writes to ministers in UK, France, Netherlands and Belgium arguing move would cut emissions

The Guardian

• Hundreds in France stuck on TGV train overnight after power failuresHundreds of travellers spent the night stranded and hungry on a French TGV train after an electrical failure saw it reach its destination almost a day late.
• Coronavirus: 'selfish covidiots' on flight to UK from Greek island criticisedTui launches investigation after almost 200 passengers told to isolate after outbreakCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageA flight from the Greek island of Zante was “full of selfish ‘covidiots’ and an inept crew”, according to a passenger among the almost 200 onboard who have been told to self-isolate after a coronavirus outbreak.Tui said it had launched an investigation after 16 people tested positive for Covid-19 linked to its flight to Cardiff on 25 August, including seven passengers who were infectious or potentially infectious on the plane. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Design change work to try to resolve Scots ferry building chaos being done in RomaniaWORK in carrying out design changes to resolve the fiasco over the delivery of two new lifeline Scottish ferries is being carried out in Romania with the blessing of ministers, it has been confirmed.

The Independent

• Thousands of French train passengers trapped on board overnight after electrical faultThousands of passengers were trapped for as long as 20 hours on high-speed trains in southwestern France after the electrical problems caused the trains to halt on the tracks over night.
• Coronavirus: Heathrow airport trials Covid-19 test that ‘gives results in 30 seconds’Aviation chiefs hope government will approve rapid checks that avoid need for quarantine

Times Online

• Coronavirus in Scotland: Douglas Ross outlines Tory plans for recovery [subscription]... Reform of business rates and cuts to the number of quangos are also included. There are plans for a fully integrated transport system, with an Oyster card-style payment method that would work across all public transport networks, along with faster rail links and a three-lane M8.

Daily Record

• Dumfries and Galloway bus campaign group calling for new timetable signs to be installed on A75Haud the Bus says panels along the Euroroute are advertising the 500 service at prelockdown timetables

Mail Online

• TUI passenger on Zante flight claims 'inept' crew did nothing as flyers took off masksStephanie Whitfield, who was on TUI flight 6215 to Cardiff from the Greek holiday resort, claimed crew 'couldn't care less' about covid rules after sixteen passengers fell ill.

Sky News

• Thousands trapped on trains in France for up to 24 hours after 'major' electrical failureA passenger on one train said the bar had run out of food and that there was no more soap after a nearly 24-hour journey.

Belfast Telegraph

• Translink investigating after shocking pictures show packed trainTranslink has launched an investigation and apologised after pictures showed a packed Dublin to Belfast service.

Birmingham Mail

• Scrap metal boss accuses HS2 of failing to pay agreed compensation deal year onRussell Taroni claimed HS2 had only paid £42,000 from an agreed £1.2million deal and outsourced expensive consultancy firms to block paying the full amount for Aston site
• Bus lane fines in Birmingham rake in over £2 million a year for council Birmingham City Council earned over £2 million in a single year after it issued more than 70,000 fines to motorists caught driving in bus lanes

Bolton News

• London-style ban would be 'nightmare'PARKING on pavements could be banned across England under Government plans to ease journeys for disabled people and parents pushing prams.

Bristol Live

• Cycling schemes set to become permanent fixtures following coronavirus measuresTemporary measures to help social distancing have become a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the city

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Go North East unveils new £4.5m Consett bus fleet - including free Wi-FiGo North East, the region's largest bus operator, has invested £4.5 million into new buses for Consett in County Durham.

Wales Online

• Health warning as diesel is pumped from fire-ravaged freight trainsThe wagons are set to be removed from the scene from tomorrow

Other Regional Press

• ScotRail nominated for LGBT+ award at national ceremonyScotRail have been nominated for an award at this year's RBS Proud Scotland Awards. 
• New West Midlands Railway timetable unveiled will return services to pre-lockdown levelsWITH PASSENGER numbers on the increase, West Midlands Railway is increasing the number of services it runs back to near pre-Covid levels.
• West Yorks taxpayers paying £2.5m a month for non-existent bus journeysConcerns have also been raised about how bus services will cope when government support ends

Train Operators

• ScotRail introduces Stonehaven shuttle service to keep customers movingScotRail has introduced a shuttle service between Aberdeen and Stonehaven to keep customers in the north east moving.

New Civil Engineer

• Network Rail completes £105M of bank holiday engineering workEngineering work was carried out across the UK rail network at the weekend in a bid to complete planned projects ahead of the predicted return of many workers to offices this month as pandemic restrictions continue to be lifted.
• Changing travel demands add weight to very light rail solutionsAffordability, environmental factors and changing travel patterns are increasing the attractiveness of very light rail (VLR) as a solution to unlock a complete intermodal transport system across the county.

Other News Sources

• Ross and Jack press PM on Alexander Dennis bus orderScottish Tory leader Douglas Ross and the Scottish Secretary Alister Jack are due to hold talks with the Prime Minister on the crisis at bus builder Alexander Dennis.
• Brighton and Hove bike parking rows over railing signs A CYCLIST says signs forbidding locking up bikes on railings should be banned to stop rows.