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

Friday, 27 September 2024

BBC News

• Man arrested over rail terror message hackA man has been arrested on suspicion of computer misuse offences after railway stations across the UK suffered a cyber attack.
• Network Rail to improve Western train reliabilityNetwork Rail has successfully addressed issues around poor train reliability and punctuality in Western England and Wales, the regulator has said.
• Fallen tree blocks West Coast Main Line in south of ScotlandRail operators advised passengers to change travel plans with some told not to travel north of Preston
• Is the cruise ship stuck in Belfast finally ready to sail?The Villa Vie Residences cruise ship should have left four months ago but has been held up by repairs.
• Admin account blamed for rail terror message hackPeople logging onto the Network Rail wi-fi were shown a message about terror attacks.
• Jaguar Land Rover to invest £500m in car plantThe investment will allow the Halewood factory to produce electric versions of its current models.

ITV News

• Fresh transport misery for Isle of Sheppey with eight day Kingsferry Bridge closurePeople travelling between the Isle of Sheppey and Sittingbourne are being warned to expect disruption as the Kingsferry Bridge will close again for eight days.

Department for Transport

• Transport Secretary pledges to fix pothole plague as she sees cutting-edge repair technology in action on Blackpool visitGovernment plans to fix up to one million more potholes a year and help halt the decline of the country's road network.

Financial Times

• Is a stealth bomber-shaped plane the future of air travel?Global airlines look to new fuels and radical designs to offset rising carbon emissions
• HS2 Ltd could fall under direct state control after government review Whitehall and industry figures say governance at company responsible for High Speed 2 rail link to be scrutinised

The Guardian

• UK's busiest station to close for eight days amid Christmas rail worksClosures planned at Liverpool Street, Paddington and Crewe, and nine days of work planned north of St Pancras
• Wifi suspended at big UK train stations after 'cybersecurity incident'London Euston, Manchester Piccadilly and Birmingham New Street among those targeted with terrorism message
• Labour urged to scrap UK road schemes such as £9bn Lower Thames CrossingSuggestion would allow government to divert money earmarked for new roads to rail and other public transport. Campaign groups have urged the government to cancel major road building schemes including the Lower Thames Crossing, amid growing speculation that ministers could divert money earmarked for new roads into rail and other public transport.The transport secretary, Louise Haigh, is due to decide in a week whether to sign off a development consent order [DCO] for the £9bn road crossing linking Essex and Kent.

The Independent

• Man arrested after cyber vandalism hit wifi at UK's biggest railway stationsManchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street, Edinburgh Waverley, Glasgow Central and 10 stations in London were among those affected by the incident.
• Cyber vandalism shuts down wifi at 19 Network Rail stationsThe railway operator and the third-party wifi provider have both said no personal data was compromised in the incident.

The Telegraph

• Passengers shown terror attack message in Wi-Fi hack on railway stations. [subscription]Multiple stations across UK affected following an act of 'opportunistic hacktivism'

Times Online

• BA cancels private jet flights perk after greenwashing criticism [subscription]Ever wanted to experience flying in a private jet? the airline said as it offered staff a new benefit, days before boasting of a deal to remove CO₂ emissions
• Train passengers see terror messages after station wi-fi hack. [subscription]Man arrested for 'cyber-vandalism' after 19 stations are affected by technology breach
• Drivers' risk of dying in crash triples over the age of 75. [subscription]Official statistics on road casualties showed a sharp increase in deaths and serious injuries with advancing age, prompting renewed calls for mandatory retests

City AM

• Ten London train stations hit by "Islamophobic" cyber attack on Network Rail Nineteen stations across the UK have been affected by the cyber attack on Network Rail, with only London St Pancras not impacted.

Local Government

• Free travel offered to thousands starting new jobsMore than 9,000 people have been handed free or discounted travel to work to help them settle into a new job under the region's award winning Workwise scheme over the last eight years.

Network Rail

• Railway bridge upgrade to begin in ThorntonhallNetwork Rail will upgrade the railway bridge on Peel Road in Thorntonhall from Saturday 5 October.
• ORR accepts Network Rail's robust plan to improve train performance across Wales and WesternThe Office of Rail and Road today accepted Network Rail's detailed plan to improve train performance across Wales & Western England.

Sky News

• Man who works for WiFi company arrested after train passengers receive Islamophobic messagesPeople on trains at Manchester Piccadilly, Birmingham New Street and 11 stations in London are among those targeted in the attack.

Birmingham Post

• Plans for new Airbus skills centre near Bristol move forwardWork on the project is expected to start this month

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bradford taxi drivers' plea amid 'plunge in trade' due to city centre disruptionBradford taxi drivers have demanded financial support from the council, claiming they've been hit with a 50 per cent loss in trade amid ongoing disruption in the city centre.

Liverpool Echo

• Man arrested after 'cyber incident' affecting UK train stationsA man has been arrested following a "cyber security incident" that resulted in the Wi-Fi at UK train stations being overtaken with a terrorism message on Wednesday evening (September 25). An investigation began after the log-in pages for the Wi-Fi at Network Rail managed stations nationwide, including Liverpool Lime Street and London Euston, were changed to a website titled "We love you, Europe".

London Evening Standard

• DLR blow: New Docklands Light Railway trains due to be introduced from end of year are delayed indefinitelyNo new date has been set for the arrival of the new trains

Manchester Evening News

• Man arrested after terrorism message appears in Wi-Fi 'cyber incident' at UK train stationsAn employee for Global Reach, the provider of the Wi-Fi landing page, has been arrested

Sheffield Star

• Sheffield buses: 'Ludicrous' slip-up leaves passengers waiting for bus stops after popular route changesBus passengers in Sheffield have been left scratching their heads over missing stops on a new route through the city.

Blackpool Gazette

• Other towns could learn from Blackpool when it comes to fixing potholes, says Transport Secretary Louise HaighBlackpool's reputation for fixing potholes has been put in the spotlight as Transport Secretary Louise Haigh chose the resort to launch a national campaign to improve the nation's roads.

Bucks Free Press

• Disruption on trains between London and Bucks for ‘emergency repair works’Passengers travelling between London and parts of Buckinghamshire will face disruption this week while National Rail carries out emergency repairs.

Chester Standard

• Cheshire: Passengers told to plan ahead due to vital work on rail linePASSENGERS are being advised to plan ahead this festive period as vital engineering work, including in Cheshire, will be taking place to improve journeys on the West Coast main line.

Other Regional Press

• Cornwall Bus fares to increase in price amid 'rising costs'All but one ticket offered will rise in price - with some bundles scrapped

Bus and Coach Buyer

• Bus and coach passengers least likely to be killed on London roadsBus and coach passengers are the least at risk of being killed on the roads in London compared to all other transport modes, a TfL study has revealed.

Rail Magazine

• A step in the right direction to meet freights ambitionsAs further reform to rail continues apace, changes to rail freight and the charges attached to it have already been made. In a move designed to encourage further modal shift to rail freight, Network Rail and the Department for Transport (DfT) has waived track access charges for new freight flows for the next six months in a bid to bring new business onto the nation's tracks.

Railway Gazette

• FART train on show at InnoTransINNOTRANS: Stadler has unveiled a custom-designed electric multiple-unit for the narrow gauge Centovalli railway which runs for 52 km between Locarno in Switzerland and Domodossola in Italy.

Other News Sources

• Wi-fi hacked at railway stations to show anti-Islam attack message 19 stations have had wi-fi landing page hacked
• A new model for rail vehicle functional designModel-based system engineering (MBSE) is a relatively new discipline, which aims to move from a document-based to a model-based approach. Francesco Angerosa and Salvatore Muoio* explain how the global rail industry could benefit by adopting this innovative practice in vehicle functional design.
• Italy cancels subsidies for renewing rail freight rolling stock againWith another policy reversal, the Italian government will cut 55 million euros from the fund intended for rail freight operators to incentivise the purchase of new rolling stock. This is the second time in six months that the plans for these funds have changed, highlighting the ongoing uncertainty that the Italian rail freight sector continues to face.
• Nomad Digital and Blu Wireless announce mmWave rollout in USBristol-based wireless mmWave specialists Blu Wireless, global rail system integrator, Nomad Digital (an Alstom company) has announced the successful rollout of superfast wireless connectivity to a key commuter line through Silicon Valley, California, USA.
• Majority of rail network open over festive period but passengers urged to check before travelling as upgrade package deliveredOver Christmas and New Year, tens of thousands of railway engineers will be working round the clock across the country to improve our railway aiming to make it better, and more reliable.
• Navigating Rail Reform: The path to renationalisationWith a new government now in power, elected on promises including the renationalisation of the railways within five years, significant changes are on the horizon. Unlike the swift cancellation of the Rwanda Bill, rail reform presents a more complex challenge.
• Tens of thousands of engineers to work on major rail projects this ChristmasTENS of thousands of railway engineers are to work around-the-clock this Christmas to improve the UK's rail network.
• FMQs: Scottish Greens urge First Minister to Reverse Rail Fare HikeScottish Green co-leader Lorna Slater has urged the First Minister to mark Climate Week by halting the return of peak rail fares.
• Electric buses coming to Somerset in early-2025 as First Bus confirms upgradesELECTRIC buses will begin operating on five routes across Somerset from the spring as work begins on upgrading Taunton's bus depot.
• Consultation about bus services in East Lothian takes placeCONSULTATION events regarding bus services in East Lothian are being held next week.
• HG Construction lands £68m Old Kent Road contractLondon property developer Avanton has appointed HG Construction as main contractor for a residential scheme on London's Old Kent Road.
• New technology trial reduces delays for driversNew technology developed to help ease the pain of roadworks for road users and businesses saw 2,100 fewer journeys being delayed on the M6 in a two-month trial.