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

Saturday, 15 October 2022

BBC News

• M42 in Birmingham to close at weekend for bridge workTwo bridges will be installed to make journeys smoother to Birmingham Airport and the train station.
• No money for Brierley Hill tram extension, council says.Rising inflation blamed as council says there is no money to extend the tram route to Brierley Hill.
• ScotRail staff to strike at the end of October after overtime banThe strike for later in October was confirmed after an overtime ban took effect for members of the RMT union.

The Guardian

• Avanti West Coast admits: we’re not good enough but are making progressOperator insists service will be turned round by Christmas as travellers report late and overcrowded trainsAvanti West Coast bosses have admitted ’we’re still not good enoug’, a week after its contract was controversially renewed, but insisted that the failing intercity train service will be turned round by Christmas.The train operator cut back its schedules and stopped selling advance tickets in August, blaming a lack of staff overtime – causing enormous disruption to Britain’s major rail artery linking cities between London and Glasgow. Continue reading...
• Full-steam ahead at 100: the Flying Scotsman set for centenary UK tourThe iconic green locomotive, which turns 100 next year, is about to leave the station for a fortnight of special trips – and celebrated by a new story book from Michael MorpurgoIt’s looking pretty spry for a centenarian. Its body painted in mirror-finish British Rail green, its wheels and smokebox gleaming black and its name picked out in bright gold. The Flying Scotsman, the world’s most famous steam locomotive, turns 100 in February, and for the past six months has been undergoing a thorough overhaul in a Lancashire workshop in preparation for a national programme of events to celebrate its ...

The Herald

• Shipbuilding magnate to table new deal for CalMacCALMAC ferries could yet be the jewel in the crown of Scottish nationalised industry.

The Independent

• Head of zero-emission truck venture found guilty of fraudThe founder of Nikola Corp. has been found guilty on charges he duped investors with exaggerated claims about his company’s production of zero-emission 18-wheel trucks

Times Online

• BMW to move production of electric Minis from UK to China [subscription]Major blow to domestic zero-emission car assembly

Daily Record

• Passengers evacuated from Edinburgh Waverley Station after 'emergency' alertsPassengers were asked to leave the station this afternoon at around 1:30pm after a 'reported emergency.'

Mail Online

• Nearly 22k e-bikes being sold on Amazon and Walmart are being recalled due to batteries exploding The bike that is recalled has a model number of AM001907, which can be found on the instruction manual, but not on the bike.
• Evocative newly colourised images show London Underground tunnels being built in 19th centuryOne of the oldest celebratory images shows men working on the central line of the London Underground, dating from 1898. The Underground has been open to the public since 1863.

This is Money

• Vehicle defects linked to more than 1,700 road casualties last yearDodgy brakes, worn tyres and defective lights caused rise in road casualties last year, new figures reveal.
• Power stations on wheels! Zero-emission cars can power our homes tooShould you fancy a relaxing getaway with a difference, a unique pop-up hotel sparks into life from this weekend - powered by electric cars.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Taxi consultation to look at age of vehicles in DenbighshireCouncillors extend grace period for older cars
• People living on road blocked in school drop-off row say they are 'mentally and physically drained'Residents say parents use their street as a car park while dropping off at school

Northern Echo

• Tyne and Wear Metro workers to go on strike over payMetro passengers have been warned to brace for disruption after train engineers voted to go on strike.
• Station would embarrass the railway founders, but we're getting it back on trackDARLINGTON is undergoing unprecedented investment in our railways and our rail heritage.
• Teesside Airport was 'the most punctual airport in the country' this summerNew figures have revealed which of the UK’s airports had the fewest delays this summer – and it’s good news for holidaymakers flying from Teesside.

Wales Online

• The chaotic school drop-off scenes leaving residents 'mentally and physically drained' People living in Lon Derw in Bridgend are seemingly at the end of their tethers with parents using their street as a car park while dropping off and collecting their children from school

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Union to 'fight tooth and nail' for Metro workers with strikes set to begin this weekendYet more strikes misery looms for commuters with train and tram staff poised for further walkouts.
• New trains to be rolled out on Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury line as part of almost £700m investmentNew trains will be introduced on a line connecting the West Midlands and Shropshire
• West Midland Metro bosses accused of paying staff 'pittance' as first of 53 strike days beginsUnion bosses have accused West Midland Metro bosses of paying staff 'pittance' as the first of 53 days of walkouts gets under way.

Cambridge News

• Stagecoach East shortlisted for top operator weeks after cutting Cambs routesThey have been nominated more than any other operator in the country

Reading Evening Post

• M4 weekend closures near Reading return and smart motorway roadworks scheduled near Slough and M25Updates on M4 closures in October and November as smart motorway project is due to come to an end

Other Regional Press

• 'Serious incident' investigation after flight's descent drama into Birmingham AirportAir Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has released a report into the incident as a flight descended into the airport
• Southampton City Council warned over 'short sighted' move on electric car chargingTHE Green party has hit out at Southampton City Council for its plans to bring in fees for electric chargers.
• HS2 encourages businesses to take advantage of 400,000 contractsBusinesses are being encouraged to register their interest in around 400,000 contracts to work on HS2.
• How cyclists in Oxfordshire can stay safe in winterCyclox members Andy Chivers explains how cyclists can be safe, legal and comfortable riding a bike in winter.
• Pictures show sinkhole at railway bridge after road sealed offImages have captured the extent of a possible sinkhole which has appeared on a railway bridge.
• Villagers isolated after 'vital' bus service axedResidents who relied on a now axed bus service to get to their nearest hospital say they will become isolated with the service taking much longer.
• Anger over Transport Secretary's latest response to Doncaster Sheffield Airport closureThe government has been criticised
• New Highway Code warning for all drivers aged over 55Drivers over 55 admitted they have not revisited the Highway Code since passing their test

New Civil Engineer

• DfT: ’No plans to cancel HS2’ despite inflationary cost hike claimsThe Department for Transport (DfT) has said that "no plans" are in place to cancel High Speed 2 (HS2) despite claims that costs are rising due to inflation.

Railnews

• ScotRail services at risk of disruption as overtime ban starts Passengers on ScotRail are being warned that some short-notice train cancellations are likely from today as 2000 RMT staff begin an indefinite overtime ban. The ban follows a 24-hour strike on Monday after pay talks broke down on 4 October. The RMT members now refusing to work overtime until further notice include conductors, ticket examiners, station staff, supervisors, CCTV control room operators and depot staff, including cleaners.

Green Miscellany

• Male drivers three times more dangerous than womenNext time you hear lazy stereotyping about who makes the better drivers, consider this. Male drivers are almost three times more likely than women to kill or seriously injure pedestrians . Analysis of government road crash data by The Guardian reveals that in the first six months of 2021, 4,363 male drivers were involved in crashes that seriously injured or… The post Male drivers three times more dangerous than women appeared first on ETA.
• Back-to-front road traffic law charges cyclist for delaying van by secondsIf you’re looking for a good example of how road traffic law enforcement is back to front, how about the case of the cyclist who was charged for delaying traffic by nine seconds? Following an intervention by the Cyclists’ Defence Fund, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has dropped its case against Tom Bosanquet who used his helmet cam to film… The post Back-to-front road traffic law charges cyclist for delaying van by seconds appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Shipping Industry Working to Reduce Harm to WhalesThe shipping industry has been taking steps to reduce its impact on endangered whale populations globally.
• New cycle lane on busy Blackburn road causing 'long delays' for driversA new cycle lane and changes to traffic lights sequences are causing ‘queues and delays’, drivers have claimed.
• Gatwick Airport increases US flights in time for ChristmasGatwick Airport has announced over 50 flights a week to New York, Boston and other American cities over the Christmas period.