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

Saturday, 17 August 2024

BBC News

• Transport probe expected to begin within weeksMayor Richard Parker orders an investigation into the funding and delivery of West Midlands projects.
• Tram services to restart after landslip repairsTrams between two Greater Manchester towns are to restart after month-long repair work.
• Heathrow Border Force officers to go on strikePCS members working at Heathrow's Border Force team will engage in three weeks of industrial action.
• Is Wizz Air's 'all you can fly' subscription too good to be true?The budget airline's subscription has sparked excitement in some - and angered others who have suffered delays and cancellations.

Financial Times

• New wave of UK strikes looms as pay deals spur unions to bargain harder Health, transport and local government groups ballot for further action
• Train drivers to stage autumn strikes on UK's east coast line Walkout comes as Labour government faces calls for higher pay across public sector
• The welcome demise of 'day return' business air tripsTechnology, cost-cuts and climate change are at last curbing out-and-back work flights

The Guardian

• Border Force staff at Heathrow to take strike action for most of SeptemberUnion says forced changes to working hours and practices have most harmed those with caring responsibilitiesHundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow will take industrial action for 23 days from the end of the month over a long-running dispute about changes to their terms of employment.About 650 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union will go on strike from 31 August to 3 September at which point a period of work to rule -“ where no overtime is undertaken and no extra work is done beyond what is contractually required - will begin and continue until 22 September. Continue ...
• London City airport: 54% of journeys take under six hours by train, data showsExclusive: Most popular routes can be reached quickly by train, as government mulls expansion proposalMore than half of the journeys taken from London City airport last year can be reached in six hours or less by train, data reveals.The Labour government is preparing to make the final call on the airport's application to significantly increase its passenger numbers. The airport wants to increase capacity from 6.5 million to 9 million passengers a year by putting on more weekend and early morning flights. Continue reading...

The Independent

• Aslef says rail strikes called amid 'toxic situation' in dispute with LNERTrain drivers working for LNER will walk out on weekends from the end of August in a dispute about working agreements.
• Train strikes return less than 48 hours after government offers pay deal Labour has been played by its 'union paymasters', shadow home secretary James Cleverly claims as Aslef announces three months of walkouts
• LNER drivers to stage weekend strikes claiming breakdown in industrial relationsThe action is separate from the long-running row over pay.

Times Online

• Has Labour been played by the rail unions? [subscription]Sir Keir Starmer’s hasty capitulation to Aslef is at the country’s expense, say the Tories, after the party’s ’paymasters’ announced a new wave of strikes
• Has Labour been played by the rail unions? [subscription]Sir Keir Starmer’s hasty capitulation to Aslef is at the country’s expense, say the Tories, after the party’s ’paymasters’ announced a new wave of strikes

City AM

• More rail strikes coming: Aslef accuses LNER of ’bullying’ and breaking agreements The Aslef train drivers union has called for industrial action every weekend until November, citing a “breakdown” in relations with the LNER train company. In an announcement this morning, the leader of the union said the company’s “continued failure” to sort out long-standing issues had “forced us into this position.” Drivers on the east coast [...]
• Traveltok takes off: Why Hilton, Ryanair, Expedia and British Airways are flocking to Tiktok It's highly likely that someone you know has been to Montenegro, Albania or Slovenia in the past year. This is no coincidence. These destinations have soared in popularity after going viral on Tiktok’s 'travel dupes' trend, where users seek out lesser-known or less-touristed alternatives to popular locations. Savvy travellers are swapping Paris for Bruges, London [...]
• Heathrow Airport: Border force staff to strike bringing chaos to tail-end of summer Border force staff at Heathrow Airport are to strike for 23-days in a dispute over new terms and conditions. 650 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union will walk out from 31 August to 3 September, with further disruption until 22 September. The hundreds of staff will be ’working to rule’ and will [...]

Daily Record

• Scots charging travellers over £200 per week to park on driveway close to airportLucrative deals are being made near Edinburgh Airport as ­travellers look to park up safely.

Mail Online

• Labour is 'played by its union paymasters' leaving Britain facing summer of travel chaos with 23-day Heathrow strike and fresh rail walkout despite £100m pay deal for train drivers (including those who have ALREADY quit)Travellers faced a double nightmare today as dual strikes were announced for the end of August hitting the last major weekend of the summer school holidays.

The Mirror

• How to steer clear of car rental insurance excess scams on your next holidayA new report by Which? has found that some car hire firms are scamming motorists by selling them insurance that they do not need. Here's what you need to know

This is Money

• Petrol drops to a six-month low but warning of 'perma-high' prices remains with fuel duty hike loomingAverage petrol price has fallen to the lowest level since February - 143p per litre. But this good news might be short lived...
• Should motorists be taxed based on how far they drive? Fresh calls for pay-per-mile scheme that could cost the average driver £444 a YEARThere's growing speculation that the Treasury will bring in pay-per-mile scheme to fill the road taxation black hole left in the switch to EVs.

Bolton News

• Traffic lights driving motorists to distraction as work gets underwayComplaints have been made about temporary lights at road resurfacing works in Bolton.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• 'Boat taxis and cable cars' - seven local ideas to end gridlock chaos at iconic Anglesey beachResidents were asked for suggestions and their ideas make sense

The York Press

• 'Ultra-rapid' electric vehicle charging coming to busy York car parkUltra-rapid electric vehicle charging is coming to Union Terrace car park, off Clarence Street.
• Train drivers at York-based rail firm to walk out every weekend for three monthsTrain drivers at a York-based rail firm will walk out every weekend for three months, their union announced.

Burnley Express

• Traffic misery for drivers on busy Blackburn road set to continueOne lane on a busy Blackburn road is closed and the roadworks are causing further delays on adjoining routes.

Cambridge News

• Northamptonshire council responds to MP's open letter asking them to address 'sub-par' potholesThe executive members argued that highway contractor Kier's performance had improved after the council held them to account

North Wales Live

• Airline with the least legroom and it's not Ryanair or easyJetIf you're spending hours on a flight, you want to be as comfortable as possible

Other Regional Press

• Uber granted licence to operate private hire cars in townUber said it follows local authority standards to ensure all vehicles are fit for purpose and safe to transport passengers
• Last chance to secure funding in ULEZ scrappage schemeThe ULEZ scrappage scheme is closing soon as drivers have just weeks left to secure funding to swap their car for a compliant vehicle.
• Fears village will be cut off due to planned crossing closureLiberal Democrat councillors have expressed fears Kidlington near Oxford could be cut off if Yarnton and Sandy Lane level crossings close.
• New slip roads will divert A40 traffic away from town centreMilestone Infrastructure has been awarded the contract to build new slip roads at the Shores Green junction.

Railnews

• Industrial pressures continue in wake of drivers' pay offer Negotiations over pay are set to restart with the RMT, following ASLEF's provisional acceptance of the government's pay offer to drivers, which will now be put to ASLEF members with a recommendation to accept. Transport secretary Louise Haigh said the new deal for drivers will be 'better value' for taxpayers than allowing strikes to continue. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: 'All things being equal, we are expecting a parallel, synchronised offer.'