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

Saturday, 01 April 2023

BBC News

• Water bikes: New law prompts calls for rider licencesAn MP says it is wrong that children as young as 12 can ride a water bike in the UK
• How campaigners saved the Dumfries to Edinburgh bus serviceA new operator takes over the Dumfries to Edinburgh route - which faced being lost last summer.
• Lives at risk over e-bike battery conversions - LFBLondon Fire Brigade warns e-bikes converted using cheap lithium batteries can be dangerous.
• Heathrow security guards begin 10-day strike during Easter breakMore than 1,400 security officers at the UK's largest airport have begun industrial action in pay row.

Financial Times

• 'They fuel anxiety': Paris to vote on ubiquitous e-scooters 'Trottinettes' are billed as eco-friendly, strike-proof transport but have caused angst on the streets
• Holidaymakers warned of disruption as Heathrow airport staff strike in UKIndustrial action starts after last-ditch talks to settle pay dispute break down

The Guardian

• 'It feels like a scandal': Wizz Air passengers claim website bug cost them extraTravellers reportedly forced to pay at airport to board plane after technical hitch stopped them checking in onlineIt was recently named 'the UK's worst airline' by the consumer body Which?, and has been hauled over the coals by the industry regulator. Now Wizz Air is facing criticism over yet another issue. Passengers have contacted Guardian Money after being forced to cough up substantial sums at the airport or face being turned away from their flight after apparently encountering technical problems with the airline's website that prevented them checking in online as planned.In December, Gra...
• Port of Dover declares critical incident as coaches face long wait to board ferriesP&O Ferries and DFDS Seaways say sailings hit by bad weather, surge of Easter getaways and border control hold-ups in France The Port of Dover has declared a critical incident as high levels of traffic caused lengthy delays for coach passengers.P&O Ferries and DFDS Seaways also reported delays to ferry and coach services, citing bad weather and hold-ups at French border controls. Continue reading...

The Herald

• 'Indescribable chaos': CalMac chief defends 'no mainland ferries' moveCALMAC chief executive Robbie Drummond has defended the 'no mainland ferries' crisis saying that decisions on cuts were made as a "last resort". ADVERTISEMENT AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE Enquire Now Witness the Emirates FA Cup Semi‑final in style. Enjoy exclusive access for unmissable events. Join Club Wembley today. AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE Enquire Now Witness the Emirates FA Cup Semi‑final in style. Enjoy exclusive access for unmissable events. Join Club Wembley today.
• 'Indescribable chaos': CalMac chief defends 'no mainland ferries' moveCALMAC chief executive Robbie Drummond has defended the 'no mainland ferries' crisis saying that decisions on cuts were made as a "last resort". ADVERTISEMENT AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE Enquire Now Witness the Emirates FA Cup Semi‑final in style. Enjoy exclusive access for unmissable events. Join Club Wembley today. AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE Enquire Now Witness the Emirates FA Cup Semi‑final in style. Enjoy exclusive access for unmissable events. Join Club Wembley today.

Times Online

• Rolls-Royce replaces finance chief in management shake-up [Subscription]Upheaval at the top of Rolls-Royce after the arrival of new chief executive Tufan Erginbilgic has prompted the abrupt departure of two of the engineer’s most senior executives.
• Potholes? Rishi Sunak’s looking into them [Subscription]All politics is local, even when you’re the prime minister. Less than three weeks after Rishi Sunak was in San Diego with two fellow world leaders inspecting US Navy warships, he was inspecting Darlington’s roads.
• Electric car ranges ’20% lower than advertised’ [Subscription]Official tests do not mimic real driving conditions, study finds

Daily Express

• Travel chaos grips port of Dover as mum rages that passport control took 12 hoursThe Port of Dover declared a

Mail Online

• When are Heathrow strikes, will my flight be cancelled, what time do I have to get to the airport?Travellers are being warned to expect severe disruption at Heathrow Airport over Easter, as security guards begin a 10-day strike. Around 1,400 members of Unite will walk out for ten days.
• Roads in five London boroughs will be turned into 20mph zones TODAY The new limits in Camden, Islington, Hackney, Haringey and Tower Hamlets will cover 17 miles of roads including major routes such as Euston Road, Pentonville Road and Mile End Road.

The Mirror

• Car tax rising from TODAY in blow for drivers - see how much more you'll payCar tax - known more formally as Vehicle Excise Duty - will increase in line with Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation of 10.1% from April 1, in bad news for drivers

Sky News

• Port of Dover declares 'critical incident' after long delays at French border controlThe Port of Dover has declared a "critical incident" after coaches experienced lengthy delays due to significant levels of traffic ahead of the Easter getaway.

Birmingham Mail

• Emirates looking for cabin crew in Birmingham - and the job perks are amazingEmirates is looking for 'natural team players' who fancy taking to the skies for their next career challenge
• National Express West Midlands' £2 bus fare cap extended with new end date announcedBus users across Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull can now take advantage of the £2 single fare for months longer

Birmingham Post

• Metro rail project needs to do more for Cardiff says Welsh ConservativesShadow Transport Minister Natasha Asghar has raised concerns over the cost of the electrification project now at £1bn
• Government funding keeps City of Derry-to-Stansted air route flyingDepartment of Transport and NI Department of Economy will subsidise the route to the tune of £1.1M for next year

Wales Online

• 20mph speed limit zones to be introduced on the M4The drastic move has been made in a bid to reduce air pollution, accidents and confusion caused by Welsh language road signs
• Hydrogen buses are coming to Swansea and Neath Port Talbot for the first time Residents will be able to ride on a hydrogen bus for the first time from May as part of a trial for cleaner public transport.

Bucks Free Press

• First set of ANPR cameras installed on Wycombe roadsTHE first set of ANPR cameras have been installed this week in three areas of Buckinghamshire.
• Council slams HS2 for chopping down trees in ancient woodlandTHE COUNCIL has criticised HS2 for the

Reading Evening Post

• Ten-day Heathrow Airport strike begins after last-ditch talks failThe strike could severely disrupt holidays over the Easter period

Other Regional Press

• Port of Dover declares critical incident as passengers slam 'disgraceful' 12-hour delaysSchoolchildren have been left without food and passengers stuck on coaches for hours as delays at Dover continue into a second day.
• RAC warning to all diesel drivers filling up their carsThe RAC has found that diesel is 17p more expensive than petrol, despite the wholesale price being the same

Railnews

• RMT calls on Scottish First Minister to keep ScotRail public The RMT is urging the new Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf to keep his promise that ScotRail stays in public ownership. The private sector contract to run ScotRail had been held by Abellio, and it was terminated a year ago when the Scottish Government exercised a break point in the contract, which could have lasted until March 2027.

Other News Sources

• Progress for Pulborough? by Eleanor Hindman, The WealdA29 set to reopen to single file traffic after landslip causes months of blockages. The landslip has had significant consequences for local residents and businesses and posed significant health and safety risks to the village.
• ULEZ: Brighton Green Party pledges London-style low emissions zoneThe Greens have pledged to expand the city's ultra-low emission zone if they gain majority control of the council.
• Removal of Brighton's parking machines gets under wayControversial work to remove the city’s pay and display machines is now under way, the council have confirmed.

EIN News Subscription

• Airlines juggle demand as fares skyrocket … World Tourism Organization predicts Europe and the Middle East … in Asia, according to airline data provider ch-aviation. China … the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global air passenger traffic … baht, according to data from online travel agents …
• 'It feels like a scandal': Wizz Air passengers claim website bug cost them extra … it is unacceptable for Wizz Air passengers to be left out of … the airline was delaying paying money owed to passengers. The regulator’s data … AirWizz Air says that hundreds of thousands of passengers across the UK and Europe …