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

Sunday, 29 May 2022

BBC News

• Lorry strikes railway bridge and sheds paint over roadIn 2020, the bridge was dubbed the
• Elizabeth line overcharging solution sought by Transport for LondonPassengers are having to leave Farringdon and touch in on re-entry to get the correct fare.
• ScotRail warns of more cancellations on SundayThe operator says it cannot extend its timetable after putting on extra trains on Friday and Saturday.
• Half-term travel: EasyJet and Tui cancel flights as queues form at DoverFlights are cancelled, long queues form at London's St Pancras station, and delays mount at Dover.

Financial Times

• Business flights are in trouble in the world of net zeroCompanies have started to launch ever more inventive ways to cut back on air travel

The Guardian

• Car insurance firms use loopholes to keep costs high for loyal customersIt is banned from charging more for renewals than new deals, but the industry still has some tricks up its sleeveCar insurance premiums for renewing customers are up to double the price quoted to new ones despite a recent ban on loyalty penalties, according to motorists who have contacted Guardian Money.One customer was informed that his renewal premium would be £368.74 but similar cover with the same firm was quoted at £215.22 on a price comparison website. When he complained his renewal price was revised down to £245. Continue reading...
• Tui apologises for flight cancellations as UK faces half-term travel chaosHolidaymakers face delays and disruption at airports and ports as the half-term getaway beginsTui has apologised after cancelling multiple flights, blaming 'operational and supply chain issues', adding further disruption to half-term travel plans.The travel company on Saturday announced a 'small number' of flight cancellations - six in total - and delays at Birmingham, Gatwick and Manchester airports. Continue reading...
• Rail staff are set for battle, but a post-Covid strike could run off trackThe working-from-home revolution has altered the dynamics of industrial action on the transport networkThe railway has long been quietly gearing up for what is being headlined as the biggest industrial battle in a generation. Now, with the weapon of a national strike ballot primed, the RMT rail union has to decide whether to pull the trigger.Its national executive committee will discuss next steps in the coming days, after 40,000 members across Network Rail and 15 train operating companies voted overwhelmingly for action. For now, it is officially inviting more talks with train operating compa...

The Herald

• New concern over ScotRail driver recruitment 'scandal' that led to service cutsTHE nationalised ScotRail recruitment 'scandal' that has caused massive cuts to train services will not be resolved for five years, it is feared.
• Ferguson Marine failed to meet key financial requirements as Scots ferry fiasco deal legality in questionJIM McColl's Ferguson Marine failed to fulfil mandatory requirements to qualify as the ferry fiasco contract bidder raising fresh questions about the legality of the procurement process, the Herald on Sunday can reveal.

The Independent

• Air travelers face cancellations over Memorial Day weekendAirline travelers are not only facing sticker shock this Memorial Day weekend
• TUI cancels flights hours after easyJet scraps more than 200 over half-term holidaysTUI cancels six flights across airports in England this morning
• Superyacht carrying 8,000 litres of fuel sinks after going up in flames in DevonFirefighters had battled to extinguish the blaze as it ripped through the 85ft vessel in Torquay.
• Johnson 'planning to expose petrol stations not passing on duty cuts'The Government introduced a 5p per litre duty cut on March 23.
• Nepal plane with 22 onboard goes missing, officials sayPlane reportedly lost contact with airport authorities on Sunday morning at 9:55am

Times Online

• Glasgow’s ’Clockwork orange’ to face a driverless future [Subscription]It follows the launch of driverless bus trials in Scotland last month and amid indications that the planned rail link to Glasgow airport could also run automatically.
• Rail passengers’ ire as copper thieves steal power cables [Subscription]The high price of copper has led to a rise in the amount of power cables being stolen The high price of copper has led to a rise in the amount of power cables being stolen ANDREW MCCAREN FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES Share The next time your train is delayed or cancelled, it might be nothing to do with leaves on the line or a strike — and everything to do with a stolen power cable. Since the beginning of March, cable thefts on the rail network have soared, due to the rising price of copper and the soaring cost of living.

City AM

• EasyJet and Tui cancel flights ahead of school holidays and Jubilee WeekendAirlines EasyJet and Tui have said they plan to cancel hundreds of flights in the coming weeks, in disruption that threatens to cause chaos over Britain’s Jubilee Weekend. Budget airline EasyJet today said is set to cancel more than 200 flights over the next 10 days, just days after IT issues forced the firm to [...] The post EasyJet and Tui cancel flights ahead of school holidays and Jubilee Weekend appeared first on CityAM.

Daily Express

• Boris Johnson vows to name and shame petrol stations failing to pass on fuel duty cutBORIS JOHNSON has declared a war on petrol stations as he vows to name and shame those who fail to pass on the fuel duty cut, a news report has stated.

Daily Record

• Scotrail tells passengers to expect Sunday travel chaos amid driver shortagesThe railway operator - which is now under public ownership - announced via social media that it could not guarantee all services on Sunday would go ahead as planned.

Mail Online

• Exposed: The ruinous work practices of militant rail unions that date back to the 'steam age'Militant transport union RMT is threatening to bring Britain to a standstill have been accused of defending ruinous work practices that date back to the 'steam age'.

The Mirror

• Family 'sit on airport floor for 22 hours' as TUI flight cancellations cause chaosThe family were stuck at Birmingham Airport for nearly an entire day in the hopes of taking off for their Spanish break before they were told to finally go home

Belfast Telegraph

• 25 missing after cargo boat sinks in IndonesiaRescuers in Indonesia are searching for 25 people who are missing after a cargo boat sank in the Makassar Strait in South Sulawesi province, officials said on Sunday.

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham Airport parking charge rises slammed by passengers amid cost of living crisisBHX and NCP say charges across the seven car parks are regularly reviewed and benchmarked with alternative providers

Bolton News

• British Transport Police to arm volunteer officers with TasersBritish Transport Police to arm volunteer officers with Tasers. Read more:

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Doubts raised that bus driver shortage is 'temporary blip'A councillor has expressed doubts that the chronic shortage of bus drivers will end any-time soon, amid claims it's just a temporary blip'.

Bristol Live

• Mum and kids sob on the floor after easyJet chaos at Bristol AirportSarah Thomas, 38, says easyJet cancelled her flights to Turkey from Bristol Airport and then from Gatwick over a hellish two days
• First Bus issues Bristol Airport service update as tickets set to be rejectedFrom tomorrow (May 29) standard airport fares will be charged for all journeys on the A1 bus, meaning Bristol Zone tickets will no longer be accepted

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Manchester Airport Tui passengers facing huge bag drop queues describe wait time as 'disgraceful'People have been urged not to show up too early for flights ahead of the May half-term holidays

Wales Online

• Huge crowds at Cardiff train station as thousands of Ed Sheeran fans descend and some can't get inImages show huge queues and large crowds of people waiting for trains as operator says it was short of carriages after an incident

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Car manufacturers need to 'get their act together' as vehicle theft soars, police chief saysCar manufacturers need to
• Bringing new stations to life will ease roads chaos, MP saysNew railway stations will open up train travel for thousands of people across the region and ease gridlocked roads, an MP has said.

Reading Evening Post

• Reading Buses extend services for Jubilee celebrations and announce route for Jubilee busThe Jubilee bus was unveiled in February
• Berkshire stations that were on 'underground' long before CrossrailThree Berkshire railway stations used to be on the 'underground' - arguably before the underground actually existed

Other Regional Press

• Complaints after Arriva makes changes to bus network in Watford areaComplaints have been made about overcrowding and services running late after a bus operator made major changes to its network.
• Transpennine Express strike action and everything we know about it The action is due to take place on Sunday 29 May
• HS2 jobs in numbers as rail line stays on track to hire 2,000 apprenticesWarwickshire College Group has been added to the growing list of educational settings involved with the project
• School demands road safety changes to Coventry crash hotspotWindmill Road has been the site of dozens of crashes, near misses and illegal manoeuvres in recent years, according to staff at Longford Park

Other News Sources

• Gatwick Airport braced for chaos as easyJet cancels over 200 flights during half termThe airline has said about 24 flights will be affected every day until June 6