Public Transport news

• Transport providers come under pressure to improve disabled access

  03-01-2017 20:31
  
  Paralympians Anne Wafula Strike and Ade Adepitan back fines for companies that fail to provide facilities for disabled peoplePressure is mounting on transport providers and other companies to improve access for people with disabilities after the Paralympian Anne Wafula Strike revealed in the Guardian that she had been forced to wet herself on a train because the accessible toilet was out of order.Wafula Strike, a British wheelchair racer and a board member of UK Athletics, has called for compani
  
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• 'I worry I'll be forgotten on the train': our readers' experiences of accessible facilities

  03-01-2017 19:35
  
  After Paralympian Anne Wafula Strike was left humiliated after a long train journey with no accessible toilet, we asked for readers’ experiences of disabled accessAn award-winning Paralympic athlete, Anne Wafula Strike, has spoken out about being forced to wet herself on a train without an accessible toilet. Wafula Strike, a disabilities campaigner, was on a three-hour journey when the accessible toilet was out of order. Related: What are your experiences of disabled facilities?Continue re
  
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• Politicians must act on disability access | Letters

  03-01-2017 19:32
  
  How many MPs could get from their constituencies to the Commons by train as a wheelchair user? And what would they do if they could not access the toilet? Very few would be willing to go public about the humiliation caused by the train company as in Anne Wafula Strike’s case (Paralympian forced to wet herself on train without accessible toilet, 3 January). Neither of the main political parties treat disability access seriously. We need a commitment from Labour to appoint a shadow minister
  
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• 'I feared for my health': disabled actor tells of nightmare train journey

  03-01-2017 18:41
  
  Samantha Renke, who starred in Maltesers ads, says accessible toilet and disabled area were blocked with luggage during two-and-a-half-hour tripA disabled actor has told the Guardian she was left “really upset” and fearful for her health after a train company failed to provide easy access to her reserved space and an accessible toilet during a two-and-a-half-hour train journey.Samantha Renke, who recently starred in high-profile adverts for Maltesers, has brittle bone disease, which
  
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• The cave of wonders that is Travel in London report number nine

  03-01-2017 17:48
  
  Transport for London’s latest annual orgy of statistical delights tells of ongoing successes and growing challenges with keeping the capital moving Don’t get too excited by recent “news” that Sadiq Khan is buying no more New Routemaster buses for London’s fleet. After all, he first informed the world that he has dumped the “Boris Bus” near the end of May last year, confirming a manifesto promise he had made loud and often during the mayoral election camp
  
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• When nature calls, we should all be able to answer – disabled or not | Penny Pepper

  03-01-2017 14:20
  
  It is enraging, though sadly unsurprising, that a Paralympian was left to wet herself for lack of an accessible train toiletWe all need to go. And however we need to do this, we should have privacy – as well as access to fulfil this most basic biological need freely and with dignity.I ached with sympathy on hearing about Anne Wafula Strike’s experience. The award-winning Paralympic athlete and disabilities campaigner says she was “robbed of her dignity” after a train comp
  
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• It’s a disgrace that a Paralympian had to wet herself on a train – but not a surprise | Penny Pepper

  03-01-2017 14:20
  
  It should hardly need saying, but an accessible train toilet is a basic human right. Disabled people are all-too-often denied thisWe all need to go. And however we need to do this, we should have privacy, as well as access to fulfil this most basic biological need freely and with dignity.I ached with sympathy on hearing about Anne Wafula Strike’s experience. The award-winning Paralympic athlete and disabilities campaigner says she was “robbed of her dignity” after a train compa
  
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• Rail campaigners hold station protests against fare increases

  03-01-2017 12:59
  
  Demonstrations take place across England and Scotland after commuters hit by average increase of 2.3%Campaigners have braved freezing temperatures to protest against the new year’s hike in rail fares at dozens of stations in England and Scotland.Action For Rail staged the demonstrations after fares rose on Monday by an average of 2.3%, almost four times the rate of inflation. '27p per minute just to get to Stevenage'. No ode to joy pic.twitter.com/lV5wIZEkBBLocal Labour members out support
  
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• What are your experiences of disabled facilities?

  03-01-2017 12:27
  
  Anne Wafula Strike was left humiliated after a three-hour train journey with no accessible toilet. What is your experience of disabled access generally?An award-winning Paralympic athlete, Anne Wafula Strike, has spoken out about being “completely robbed of her dignity” after a CrossCountry train did not provide an accessible toilet on a three-hour journey. Related: Paralympian forced to wet herself on train without accessible toiletContinue reading...
  
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• Rail fares cost commuters up to 14% of their income, says study

  03-01-2017 01:01
  
  Some season tickets cost six times as much as those in Europe, say campaigners, as average 2.3% fare increase comes into effectBritish workers are spending up to a seventh of their income on rail fares, about six times as much as employees across Europe, a new study reveals.Rail fares have increased twice as much as wages and inflation over the past decade, leading to fresh charges that rail privatisation in the UK has failed. Related: Rising fares and crowded trains: the misery of Britain's rai
  
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• YP Letters: Spending thousands on cycle lanes in Leeds... to benefit the few

  03-01-2017 01:00 via yorkshirepost.co.uk
  
  Yorkshire Post - From: Andrew Kilburn, Alandale Crescent, Garforth, Leeds.
  
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• York MP condemns soaring rail fares

  03-01-2017 01:00 via yorkpress.co.uk
  
  The York Press -SOARING train fares have been condemned by York Central MP Rachael Maskell as she called for a new way of running Britains railways.
  
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• Wirral line users braced for disruption as track renewal works get under way

  03-01-2017 01:00 via liverpoolecho.co.uk
  
  Liverpool Post -No rail services at all between Wirral and Liverpool for six weeks
  
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• Vision to transform rail travel in the north a step closer after Christmas work

  03-01-2017 01:00 via networkrailmediacentre.co.uk
  
  Network Rail - Network Rail is delighted to announce the vital work to transform train travel in the north has completed on time and is thanking passengers and the local community for their patience.
  
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• UK rail fares take up 14 of our pay.. in France its just two per cent

  03-01-2017 01:00 via mirror.co.uk
  
  The Mirror - Fares here have gone up over 50 in the last ten years while earnings have only gone up 24
  
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• Translink debit card system on trains cost almost £2m to implement

  03-01-2017 01:00 via mirror.co.uk
  
  The Mirror - The huge profits raked in by rail firms are used to pay fatcat wages and dividends as passengers have to deal with overcrowding and delays
  
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• Train pain forces 200,000 to quit jobs Subscription

  03-01-2017 01:00 via thetimes.co.uk
  
  Times Online - More than 200,000 people have given up work as a result of rising rail fares, research suggests.Pollsters for Sainsburys Bank also found that 77,000 commuters were considering quitting their jobs in the next two years and that more than 600,000 people had changed jobs in the past three years to reduce the cost of getting to work.
  
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• Train fares rise by an average of 2.3

  03-01-2017 01:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Passengers face higher rail fares across the UK as average price increases of 2.3 are introduced.
  
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• Train carriage evacuated as scorpion crawls from passenger's bag

  03-01-2017 01:00 via telegraph.co.uk
  
  The Telegraph -
  
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• Trade union campaigners protest at Weymouth and Dorchester stations against "rip-off" rail fares as costs increase

  03-01-2017 01:00 via dorsetecho.co.uk
  
  Other Regional Press -TRADE union campaigners are today protesting against rail fare hikes at some of South Wests train stations - including Weymouth and Dorchester.
  
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• The passenger pays too big a price for the future of our railways

  03-01-2017 01:00 via independent.co.uk
  
  The Independent - Regular rail users are right to question whether such a significant rise in fares can be justified at a time when services have become more unreliable
  
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• Sweden's best-selling car not a Volvo

  03-01-2017 01:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - A Volvo was not Sweden's best-selling car last year, for the first time in more than half a century.
  
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• SpaceX to resume rocket flights after explosion

  03-01-2017 01:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Space company founded by billionaire Elon Musk plans another launch on January 8
  
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• Southern rail strike: Rail unions urged to stop 'pointless action'

  03-01-2017 01:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Rail unions are urged to stop their
  
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• Southern Rail 'should freeze fares to rebuild trust' until strikes are over

  03-01-2017 01:00 via telegraph.co.uk
  
  The Telegraph -
  
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• Scottish Government threaten to strip Abellio of Scotrail franchise after abysmal performance stats

  03-01-2017 01:00 via glasgowlive.co.uk
  
  Other News Sources - The firm have been hit with £1.5million in fines for failing to meet standards since taking over the contract in 2015.
  
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• Sadiq Khan scraps London 'Boris buses' in latest blow to Boris Johnson's mayoral legacy

  03-01-2017 01:00 via independent.co.uk
  
  The Independent - Critics have suggested Mr Johnsons legacy after eight years in office has failed to take hold
  
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• Sadiq Khan axes new 'Boris bus' Routemasters on London streets in cost-cutting drive

  03-01-2017 01:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - Sadiq Khan has quietly axed new Routemasters from London streets in a bid to make savings to the capital's transport budget.
  
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• Sadiq Khan axes new 'Boris bus' Routemasters on London streets in cost-cutting drive

  03-01-2017 01:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - Sadiq Khan has quietly axed new Routemasters from London streets in a bid to make savings to the capital's transport budget.
  
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• Resort rail fares rise as services hit by upgrade

  03-01-2017 01:00 via blackpoolgazette.co.uk
  
  Blackpool Gazette - Fylde coast rail passengers will see massive investment in 2017 but will pay the price with an average 2.2 per cent rise in fares.
  
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• Rail services simply not good enough as fares rise

  03-01-2017 01:00 via feedproxy.google.com
  
  The Herald - RAIL fares across Scotland will rise from today, with Scotlands transport minister claiming performance on the trains network during 2016 was simply not good enough.
  
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• Rail passengers to stage station protests against fare increases

  03-01-2017 01:00 via theguardian.com
  
  The Guardian - Groups to protest for two days at stations including Kings Cross and Glasgow Central after fare increase of 2.3 comes into effectCampaigners will be protesting outside train stations in England and Scotland this week in response to higher rail fares coming into effect, as commuters return to work after the festive break.Three campaign groups, We Own It, Action For Rail and Bring Back British Rail have joined forces and organised two nationwide days of action in England on Tuesday
  
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• Rail passengers set to voice anger over 'unfair' fare rise

  03-01-2017 01:00 via oxfordmail.co.uk
  
  Other Regional Press -CAMPAIGNERS outraged about rising rail fares will voice their anger during protests at the countys stations today.
  
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• Rail franchises timetable subject to delays to boost operators profits subscription

  03-01-2017 01:00 via thetimes.co.uk
  
  Times Online - The changeovers of four of the largest rail franchises have been delayed by up to a year as transport officials admit that they are having to alter terms and conditions to enable train operators to make big enough profits.
  
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• Rail fares six times higher than in Europe subscription

  03-01-2017 01:00 via thetimes.co.uk
  
  Times Online - Rail commuters are paying up to six times as much as their counterparts in Europe after the latest round of inflation-busting fare increases.
  
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• Rail fare increase: London train cost rise 'a kick in the teeth' after Southern chaos

  03-01-2017 01:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - London commuters are faced with a rise in rail fares as average ticket prices increases of 2.3 per cent were introduced across the UK.
  
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• Rail boss: Fare hike 'a success story'

  03-01-2017 01:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Chief Executive of the Rail Delivery Group says increase in rail fare is for investment
  
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• Passengers on Peterborough train sealed off after police called to deal with escaped scorpion.

  03-01-2017 01:00 via peterboroughtoday.co.uk
  
  Peterborough Telegraph - Rail passengers en route from London to Edinburgh were delayed at Peterborough after a scorpion was spotted on the train.
  
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• Norwegians plans for new transatlantic routes to help shrink costs

  03-01-2017 01:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Airline plans ultra-low fare of £56 for one-way flight between Edinburgh and New York
  
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• New platform at Cardiff Central station is officially opened as part of Network Rails Railway Upgrade Plan

  03-01-2017 01:00 via networkrailmediacentre.co.uk
  
  Network Rail - A new platform at Cardiff Central station, designed to help ease congestion, has officially been opened today (Monday, 2 January).
  Network Rail Chief Executive Mark Carne, Route Managing Director of Network Rail Wales Andy Thomas and the project team were joined by guest of honour Ken Skates AM, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, to witness one of the first trains departing from the platform at the opening event this afternoon.
  
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• London to Edinburgh Virgin train delayed by escaped scorpion

  03-01-2017 01:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - Passengers on a train from London to Edinburgh were delayed after a scorpion got loose in one of the carriages.
  
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• Learner drivers set to be allowed onto Hampshire motorways

  03-01-2017 01:00 via hampshirechronicle.co.uk
  
  Other News Sources -LEARNER drivers will be allowed to practise on motorways for the first time, if a government plan to improve road safety is given the go-ahead.
  
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• Labour councillor calls for nationalisation of railways

  03-01-2017 01:00 via portsmouth.co.uk
  
  Other Regional Press - TRAIN operators should be brought back under public ownership, a Labour councillor has said.
  
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• Jaguar Land Rover wins trademark battle over Defender

  03-01-2017 01:00 via birminghampost.co.uk
  
  Birmingham Post -Luxury car maker takes action against a Canadian company which named its new off-road vehicle Defender
  
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• Huge surge in prosecutions over untaxed vehicles

  03-01-2017 01:00 via thetelegraphandargus.co.uk
  
  Bradford Telegraph & Argus -THERE has been a huge surge in the number of Bradford drivers successfully prosecuted for having untaxed vehicles.
  
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• How safe are our roads? Research reveals crashes cost Dorset 200million over just three years

  03-01-2017 01:00 via dorsetecho.co.uk
  
  Other Regional Press -CRASHES in Dorset cost the county more than 200million in three years according to a road safety organisation.
  
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• Heathrow expansion: Government spent 'eye-watering' £10k a day on consultants over third runway

  03-01-2017 01:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - The Government has been slammed for spending an average of £10,000 per day on consultants and law firms to decide if a third runway should be built at Heathrow.
  
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• Heathrow expansion: Government spent 'eye-watering' 10k a day on consultants over third runway

  03-01-2017 01:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - The Government has been slammed for spending an average of 10,000 per day on consultants and law firms to decide if a third runway should be built at Heathrow.
  
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• Edinburgh Airport set to land 100 new retail jobs

  03-01-2017 01:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Edinburgh Airport announces plans to further expand its retail offering this year, leading to about 100 new jobs.
  
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• Commuters to start 2017 in GRIDLOCK as three major road projects are launched

  03-01-2017 01:00 via manchestereveningnews.co.uk
  
  Manchester Evening News - Metrolink, bus lane and a developer's scheme all hitting city centre
  
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