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

Saturday, 02 April 2022

BBC News

• ScotRail goes back into public ownershipAn arms-length Scottish government company takes over running the rail franchise from Abellio.
• TransPennine conductor strike to disrupt Easter and Jubilee travelRail passengers face further disruption on Sunday services and over three bank holidays.
• Manchester Airport: Councillor says queues due to management failureManchester Airport's bosses should have foreseen a quick recovery after Covid, a councillor says.
• Easter airport queue warning amid staff shortagesThe Airport Operators Association warned staff shortages and absences could put operations under strain.

Financial Times

• P&O Ferries faces criminal investigation into sacking of 800 sailorsUK Insolvency Service confirms probe into redundancies after being called in by Kwasi Kwarteng
• Airlines under pressure to pass on costs as fuel prices surgeCarriers fear raising ticket charges will hit passenger demand but they may have little choice

The Herald

• Scotland gains 'holiday' and £30k from 'embarrassing '£105m deal to build CalMac ferries in TurkeyMINISTERS have come under fire after it emerged that the Scottish benefits from a £105m ferry contract to Turkey was £35,000 and a week long "holiday" for apprentices.
• Scottish Secretary accuses Nicola Sturgeon of "broken promises" over A75FREIGHT companies say they have been “let down” by the Scottish Government and are considering moving their business away from Scotland due to a lack of progress in upgrading two vital trunk

Times Online

• Nationalised ScotRail may cut fares to win back passengers [subscription]Incentives will be used to lure commuters back to train travel, the transport minister said as ScotRail returned to public ownership for the first time in 25 years.
• P&O Ferries under criminal investigation after mass sacking [subscription]A formal criminal investigation has been launched into P&O Ferries, the Insolvency Service has confirmed.

City AM

• Criminal probe launched against P&O over sacking of 800 seafarersThe Insolvency Service has launched criminal and civil investigations into the sacking of nearly 800 seafarers by P&O Ferries. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps wrote on Twitter: “The Insolvency Service has reviewed P&O Ferries’ actions and placed it under criminal investigation for its actions. “Peter Hebblethwaite stood before MPs and admitted to breaking the law, and [...] The post Criminal probe launched against P&O over sacking of 800 seafarers appeared first on CityAM.

Mail Online

• Passengers paying hundreds of pounds extra to fly business class with British AirwaysIt comes as British Airways scrambles to get customers off the ground after more than 900 flights were cancelled or delayed following an IT glitch on Wednesday.

The Mirror

• Drivers unaware of special SOS button in cars that could save your lifeNational Highways is now joining forces with vehicle manufacturers and motoring groups to raise awareness of a special SOS button in cars that is potentially life saving technology

This is Money

• RAC warns of 'avalanche of wrongly-issued fines' for drivers from 1 JuneAll councils across England and Wales will soon be able to apply to the Department for Transport to take minor traffic offence enforcement away from the police and issue fines themselves.
• Car tax costs 2022: Drivers to be stung with an extra £10-30 riseVehicle Excise Duty - or car tax - has from today been increased in line inflation. It translates to annual increases for the majority of drivers of petrol and diesel cars.

Birmingham Post

• P&O Ferries: Criminal inquiry launched into decision to sack 800 workers without warningThe company has been under fire since the news broke on March 17

Bolton News

• Highway Code: UK drivers could face £5,000 fine for driving with dog in the carThe Highway Code contains advice and rules for people on Britain’s roads.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Council won’t adopt roads on new estates left unfinished by house-builderUnfinished roads on new housing estates in Kirklees will not be adopted by the local authority until they are finished to the proper standard, council bosses have confirmed.
• MP calls for greater police resources to halt bus attacksAN MP has called for more investment into Bradford’s police force so a permanent solution can be found to prevent yobs from disrupting bus services by smashing their windows with rocks and snowballs.

The York Press

• Wigginton Road level crossing in York to closeWigginton Road level crossing in York will be closed from 11.35pm on Monday, April 11 until 5.55am the next day.

Reading Evening Post

• M4 closures this weekend near Slough set to cause delays for driversM4 roadworks continue in Berkshire and Swindon with drivers facing long diversions and increased journey times

Other Regional Press

• A41 bridge repairs in Edgware to cause 'significant delays'Transport for London (TfL) is warning of
• Transport changes including Zero Emission Zone will benefit cyclistsRobin Tucker, Co-Chair of the Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel, looks at developments in Oxford after councils introduced a Zero Emission Zone.
• Cycle lane plans scrapped after backlashProposals for a controversial cycle lane have been scrapped by a council after concerns from residents about a loss of parking.
• Operation Brock causes motorway traffic chaosThe closure of the coastbound M20 at Operation Brock to all but freight traffic caused chaos as drivers sought to avoid the area.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Dawlish coastal rail route protected with further £32 million from the GovernmentA further £32 million of funding to add netting and fencing along the iconic Dawlish and Holcombe route has been announced by Rail Minister Wendy Morton. It will protect passengers and safeguarding access to the network for local residents. This latest round of funding, which follows on from 3 earlier phases of work and takes the total to more than £150 million, will prevent storm debris from reaching the railway, creating strong resilient transport links to the area and giving passengers safer and more reliable journeys. Following the storms of 2014, which saw the railway damage...
• ScotRail now under public sector controlFirst Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that ScotRail is officially coming under public control and ownership, and heralds a new beginning that truly puts passengers and staff at the heart of rail services. Speaking at Glasgow Queen Street Station, the First Minister marked the transition date that means ScotRail services will be delivered by a Scottish Government owned operator. Alex Hynes, Scotland’s Railway Managing Director, said: “This is very important day for Scotland’s Railway, and it is a significant moment as we make the transition to public ownership. &ldq...

Railnews

• End of an era as ScotRail leaves private sector Trains run by the public sector have returned to the domestic network in Scotland for the first time since March 1997, after the Abellio contract with the Scottish Government ended at 02.00 this morning. The RMT has called for Caledonian Sleeper, which is run by Serco, to be taken back into public ownership as well.

Other News Sources

• Drivers warned to expect ’avalanche’ of fines under new rulesDrivers are being warned to expect an ’avalanche’ of fines as councils across England will soon be able to enforce yellow box junctions.

EIN News Subscription

• Ferry delays, strikes, new flights, train deals: France travel updates … catch any TGV Inoui, Intercités or night train service to … eventually be able to travel on through-trains from London to … days. We are advising travellers of alternative arrangements. We … Air Algérie. Passengers can travel to 79 different destinations from …
• Major Airlines Are Pleading To Drop Mask Mandates On Planes … face coverings; requiring passenger health acknowledgements and contact tracing information; and enhancing … S. Meanwhile, over in Europe, the data suggests that summer 2022 … Leary, CEO of the popular European budget airline, Ryanair, recently said that …
• Arrive at ’busy’ Dublin Airport with time to spare, cautions Varadkar … for some flexibility from the European Commission particularly when queues get … several other Irish airlines called on the Department of Transport to have … early meeting of the National Air Transport Facilitation Committee to urgently address …