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

Wednesday, 20 April 2022

BBC News

• Dublin Airport: Operator issues advice to reduce queuesThe airport has previously warned that delays for passengers could last until June due to staffing issues.
• Ticket sale on cross-border train journeysThe promotion is designed to encourage rail travel, but ScotRail journeys are not covered.
• Arran ferry out of action following engine failureA smaller ferry is to take over the service until at least Friday while repairs are carried out.
• Highway Code: Watching TV in self-driving cars to be allowedMobile phone use while driving will remain illegal, as changes to the Highway Code are announced.

Financial Times

• Airlines split on masks after US judge throws out mandateSome international carriers drop requirement to wear a face covering for flights

The Guardian

• Self-driving car users could watch films on motorway under new DfT proposalsProposed interim measures include making insurance companies liable for accidents in self-driving vehiclesUsers of self-driving cars will be able to watch films on the motorway under planned changes to the Highway Code, although it will remain illegal to use mobile phones.The update, proposed by the Department for Transport (DfT), will allow those in the driver’s seat to use a car’s built-in screens to watch movies and TV programmes. Continue reading...

The Telegraph

• Grant Shapps seeks to slash millions more rail fares [subscription]Transport Secretary hopes that 'Great British Rail Sale' will convince Treasury to allow lower prices
• Grant Shapps’ bargain train ticket deals descend into farce [subscription]Critics say ‘Great British Rail Sale’ will not help daily commuters, while website selling tickets crashes
• Great British rail sale: London to Edinburgh for £22 as train ticket prices slashed

Times Online

• We’ve paid enough for the Neptune ferry report, so let’s read it [subscription]Scotland’s first minister didn’t have the best of Easter weekends. Rather than roll an egg or two, she hit the local election campaign trail. And on a visit to an East Kilbride barber’s shop to give a customer a trim, she momentarily became detached from her designer tartan mask, as her team captured the event for all to see. That earned her a police warning but no fine.
• P&O: Lifeboat fears among 31 safety failings on detained ferry [subscription]Other issues that were found included an inflatable evacuation slide that was not properly maintained, insufficient fire prevention systems and a lack of familiarity with radio equipment by crew. Problems were also discovered with labour conditions, navigation and documentation.

City AM

• Highway Code updated with self-driving cars’ regulationThe Highway Code is set to be updated with regulation for self-driving cars, the Department for Transport said today. Under the proposed changes, users of driverless vehicles will not be responsible for crashes but instead the liability will fall onto insurance companies. The update will state that motorists must be ready to take back the [...] The post Highway Code updated with self-driving cars’ regulation appeared first on CityAM.

Daily Record

• ScotRail urges passengers to wear face masks on trains after legal rule liftedPassengers on Scotrail trains are asked to wear masks despite the law in Scotland being lifted.

Mail Online

• M6 Toll the Midland Expressway is crowned Britain's BEST motorway followed by M25 and M40The 26 mile six-lane motorway, the M6, was chosen by 32 per cent of the 100 HGV drivers polled despite the backlash the road has received since opening.
• Train ticket prices will be slashed by up to HALF in April and May to ease cost of living Grant Shapps launched the 'Great British Rail Sale' with more than one million train tickets reduced this spring, but only 1 per cent of all journeys taken are likely to be affected by the sale.

The Mirror

• Highway Code change would see drivers watch TV behind wheel at 37mph in self-driving carsNew changes to the Highway Code will allow drivers to binge TV, watch the latest movies and surf the web in self-driving cars as long as they remain in one lane and under 37mph

Birmingham Mail

• Highcode Code update will change rules on blame for crashes and using phonesThe Department for Transport has updated the Highway Code to take account of self-driving cars

Birmingham Post

• British Airways and Velocys extend agreements on Humber green jet fuel refinery developmentEuropean renewable fuels developer also brought on board

Bristol Live

• Bristol Airport sparks outrage as it ditches free bus travel for pensioners"Discriminatory" changes affect the A1 Airport Flyer from Sunday, April 24

Manchester Evening News

• Third 'mysterious' Greater Manchester candidate bidding to host Great British Railways HQ announced"The jobs, work opportunities and investment from GBR’s new HQ could be critical in helping us address the key disparities that we have"

Other Regional Press

• New documentary film to tell story of Stockton & Darlington Railway ahead of 200th anniversaryThe film is being produced and is set to be released towards the end of next year
• Pothole injuries and car damage trigger £300,000 of compo payouts for drivers from Yorkshire councilsLeeds is the area with the most compensation paid out, followed by Sheffield and Caldedale
• Anger over 'nightmare' of collapsing roadside wall still waiting for repairsFrustration is growing over lack of work to fix the problem and re-open roads in the Holme Valley

C.N.N.

• These are some of the US cities keeping and dropping their public transit mask mandatesAcross the US, local transit authorities are deciding whether they will continue requiring passengers to mask up after a federal judge struck down the public transportation mask mandate aimed at mitigating Covid-19 risk.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• First Great British Rail Sale launched by governmentThe government and rail industry launch first-of-its-kind Great British Rail Sale as over one million tickets will be slashed by up to 50%. The public is encouraged to take advantage of this unprecedented sale, which sees for the first-time multiple operators come together to offer nationwide savings. The government’s aim was to cut some of the pressures of family finances during a time when inflation is continually rising. It will also encourage people to visit different places, connect with friends and loved ones, and get out and about around the country. Transport Secretary Grant S...

New Civil Engineer

• Hydrogen transport hub to be built in GalwayThe Galway Hydrogen Hub (GH2) consortium has revealed its plans to build a green hydrogen multi-modal transport hub at the Galway Harbour in Ireland.
• HS2 | Contractors to turn temporary roads into 320km cycle pathA new 320km walking and cycle path will be created out of the temporary access roads used during the construction of HS2.
• National Highways announces new way of assessing abandoned rail structuresNational Highways has drawn up a new method of assessing abandoned railway bridges and tunnels.
• Shapps again delays decision on Portishead railway restoration due to cost concernsTransport secretary Grant Shapps has said he is “of a mind” to approve the development consent order (DCO) to restore the Portishead railway line, but will need more information on costs before giving the green light.

Other News Sources

• Grant Shapps: Transport secretary in bizarre promotional video by government for 'Great British Rail Sale'In the promotion, for what is being dubbed the 'Great British Rail Sale', the cabinet minister appears in a khaki coloured T-shirt and dark grey hoodie, talking to the camera in front of a green screen as lift music is played.
• Andy Street: Investing in transport is the perfect vehicle to deliver Levelling UpAs Mayor of the West Midlands, it’s my job to bring the region’s seven constituent boroughs together and ensure that no areas are left behind when it comes to investment – a kind of internal ‘levelling up’. Transport, which falls under my remit, provides a powerful tool in achieving this aim. It connects communities together, injects investment, and gives residents access to opportunities and jobs.
• MP backs bid for train station improvementsLee Anderson, MP for Ashfield, met with Network Rail and East Midlands Railway to discuss the potential renovation of Kirkby Station.