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

Saturday, 10 December 2022

BBC News

• Scottish government report backs Edinburgh trams expansionEdinburgh's tram network expansion is prioritised in a new Scottish national transport blueprint.
• RMT's London Underground workers vote to continue strike actionThe RMT's general secretary says the union's campaign will continue
• 'I was attacked when there wasn't safe travel home'Glasgow hospitality workers say free night transport home could help stop gender-based violence.
• Rail strikes: RMT boss calls for meeting with SunakThe RMT's general secretary says a meeting between the two was the best hope of making progress.

Financial Times

• Train strike chaos is a true nightmare before Christmas [Subscription]We live in an age of extraordinary human endeavours, but it seems impossible to run eight carriages along a fixed line
• Can the UK government legislate to break strike action? [Subscription]Lawyers warn Sunak's promised 'new tough rules' could backfire as public sector walkouts spread

The Herald

• Highlands and Islands: Strikes will shut three airports for two daysThree airports serving Scotland’s remote island communities will be closed completely when staff there walk out on strike for two days later this month.
• ScotRail warns of five days of disruption during latest RMT strikesThe dispute does not involve ScotRail staff, however, it will have a major impact on the train operator’s ability to provide services as the RMT planned action involves Network Rail staff in Scotland. 

The Independent

• Nasa's Orion capsule set for splashdown on Earth after moon missionA successful return would pave the way for humans to return to the moon.

Times Online

• Canterbury traffic zones ’like postwar Berlin without the wall’ [Subscription]Residents have said that a council’s plan to carve up a city into zones is reminiscent of post-war Berlin.
• Nasa Artemis mission takes aim for a precision landing of Orion capsule [Subscription]After an explosive launch atop a stream of fire, a lunar odyssey of 1.3 million miles and a 25,000mph plummet through the atmosphere, just getting the Orion crew capsule back to Earth safely would be considered an accomplishment.
• Misery on the trains every day for a month [Subscription]Strikes and overtime ban bring new warning

Daily Express

• UK heavy snow warning: Met Office updates three-day alert as icy -15C freeze to grip BritsThe Met Office has issued three days of yellow snow and ice warnings, as Britain braces for widespread disruption from freezing fog, sleet and snow.

Daily Record

• ScotRail passengers facing 'significant disruption' during railway strikes next weekNetwork Rail staff affiliated with the RMT union are set to walk out next week.

Mail Online

• Cyclists left confused by what is thought to be the UK's first bike roundaboutThe four-way junction, installed on a busy road in Salford as part of a £22million upgrade, is designed as an intersection between two cycle lanes.

The Mirror

• RMT's Mick Lynch demands meeting with Rishi Sunak in last-ditch bid to stop train strikesRailways will plunge into chaos from Tuesday in two 48-hour stoppages next week - but the RMT's Mick Lynch urged the Prime Minister to meet him personally to head them off

This is Money

• Third of drivers are likely to delay or skip their car's service to save moneyThis could result in over 10million motors on the road not having been checked over by mechanic for months, based on the number of cars registered in the UK.

Sky News

• Freezing fog, sleet and snow: Travel disruption expected as bitterly-cold weather continuesFreezing fog, sleet and snow could bring travel disruption to parts of the UK during the coming days, the Met Office has warned.

Birmingham Post

• Tough motors market blamed for collapse of £400m Evans Halshaw and Stratstone group bidShares in parent group Pendragon fell more than a quarter following the announcement
• Northern Ireland new car sales jump, but its all relativeIncrease comes from a low base due to Covid and outlook is dampened by cost-of-living crisis
• Global Centre of Rail Excellence urges UK firms to enter rail construction competitionGCRE, Innovate UK and BEIS are offering UK firms up to £7.44 million of grant funding for innovative ideas in rail construction
• Ryanair grows Bristol Airport flight schedule and aircraft fleetThe budget carrier has added four new routes from the South West transport hub as part of a $500m (£407m) investment
• RMT's Mick Lynch calls for urgent meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in bid to resolve rail disputeMore strikes set for this month and next

Bolton News

• GMP's advice for drivers to watch out for thieves and icy roadsGreater Manchester Police (GMP) is advising motorists to be vigilant of their cars being stolen and to drive carefully amid icy conditions this weekend.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Jet2 to offer flights from Leeds Bradford Airport to BergenAN airline is giving people the chance to visit Norway's famous Fjords in a new programme of flights from Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA).

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Speed camera van attacked while parked up trying to catch speeding drivers on Welsh roadPolice are appealing for witnesses after the incident

Liverpool Echo

• Motorists issued urgent warning to check under cars before driving in cold weatherIt could be dangerous and cause injury if you don't carry out the simple check

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Train operator cancels services from London to Birmingham and Black County for a monthA train company has announced it is axing all trains between Birmingham and London for nearly a month as rail strikes threaten to cripple Christmas services.
• Rail union boss Mick Lynch calls for urgent meeting with Prime MinisterThe RMT general secretary has written to Rishi Sunak saying a meeting between the two men was now the best prospect of making any progress.

Bucks Free Press

• Defrosting car warning from police as drivers fined for impaired viewsThe cold weather has caused many of us to add extra time to our commutes, with tips and tricks flying around the internet as to how best to defrost our cars.

Burnley Express

• New global air combat deal will have BAE Lancashire at its heartA NEW deal has been struck for next generation fighter aircraft to protect the UK's skies - with Lancashire at its heart.
• Changes to Lancashire rail services coming this weekendLancashire County Council say the new rail timetable being introduced this weekend must give an improvement in services to passengers.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Shoppers urged to steer clear of giving ’dangerous and illegal’ e-scooters as presents this ChristmasSafety and legal experts warn against gifting popular electric vehicles amid soaring accidents and police seizures
• ’Travel only if absolutely necessary’Peterborough rail passengers urged to plan ahead and make alternative travel arrangements during strike action next week

Other Regional Press

• Southampton Airport reacts to Ryanair comments on Bournemouth growthTHE boss of budget airline Ryanair has said Southampton Airport 'isn't top of our list' for expansion despite the planned extension of its runway next year.
• Residents 'gobsmacked' as Botley Road closure start date is scrappedResidents in west Oxford say they are 'gobsmacked' by Network Rail's decision to scrap the start date for the year-long closure of Botley Road.
• Plans for multi-million pound Brompton bike HQ submittedA huge bike factory promising £100 million of investment in Kent is now one step closer as official plans have been put forward.
• Taxi driver incentives to go electric branded 'drop in the ocean'Incentives to encourage taxi and private-hire firms to make the £50,000 switch to electric cars have been labelled 'a drop in the ocean'.
• Bournemouth Airport and Ryanair bosses say site will be good neighbourBOURNEMOUTH Airport will remain a 'good neighbour' while its passenger numbers increase dramatically with the aid of new Ryanair services, its boss has pledged.
• Parents fume over 'dangerous' parking near Coventry primary schoolOne resident said the road was 'dangerous' for pupils and drivers

Railnews

• Rail minister sees ETCS progress on East Coast route Rail minister Huw Merriman has visited King's Cross station in London to see progress with the installation of digital signalling on the southern section of the East Coast Main Line. During the past year the programme to introduce the European Train Control System has seen newly-equipped trains used on the Northern City Line between Finsbury Park and Moorgate, while the first retrofitted passenger trains have been tested.

Other News Sources

• World's Largest Cruise Ship Floated Out in FinlandFinland's Meyer Turku shipyard has floated out what it says is the world's largest and Royal Caribbean International's most environmentally friendly cruise ship, Icon of the Seas.During the upcoming weekend, the ship will be moved to the outfitting dock'¦
• EasyJet to run full schedule at Gatwick despite Border Force strikesEasyJet has announced plans to operate its full schedule despite looming Border Force strikes.
• £5,000 fine for driving in gloves, coats, scarves warning to driversWearing gloves, coats and scarves could impact your driving, and put you at risk of receiving a fine
• Rail Strikes lead Brighton people to ditch Christmas plansAs further rail strikes over the Christmas period have been announced, thousands of people’s Christmas plans have been turned upside down.
• Shoreham Airshow disaster: Pilot could have got his planes mixed upThe pilot of the Shoreham Airshow disaster could have got his planes mixed up before crashing on the A27.

EIN News Subscription

• London air pollution: expanding the ULEZ is good but it won't work by itself … transport is less accessible. The effects of ULEZ on air … vehicles that do not meet European emissions standards, specifically the … do not comply with European emissions standards. In October … expansion, nor indeed other European low-emission zones. Rather, …
• How Bad is Air Pollution on the London Underground? … far from protecting Londoners from air pollution, the Mayor of … several personal experiences with airborne particulates on the Underground. The … health costs from air pollution of any European city. This is … than any other mode of transport.  One of the lead …
• Set 2035 deadline for zero-emission trucks, major fleet managers urge EU lawmakers … a quarter of the EU's road transport emissions,' the letter explains … decarbonise trucking and tackle harmful air pollution are already here. A … build-out. On hydrogen, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) is …