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

Monday, 31 March 2014

BBC News

• Bus-free Loughborough town centre decision dueTown planners will make a decision this week on whether to stop buses from travelling through Loughborough town centre for a trial period.
• Bournemouth's congested Castle Lane to get cycle lanesA £650,000-scheme to aid cycling, walking and bus travel on a congested Bournemouth route will be complete by September, the council there has said.
• South East rail network to get £2.3bn investmentNetwork Rail has assigned £2.3bn of investment to increase the number of seats available and improve stations in the South East.
• Network Rail plans £38bn investment in tracks and stationsNetwork Rail has announced a five-year plan to invest £38bn in rail infrastructure. It includes the construction of new tracks, the renovation of stations and the upgrade of existing lines.
• Network Rail expects £70m fineNetwork Rail says it expects to be fined about £70m - a record figure - for delays suffered by UK passengers.

Financial Times

• EasyJet pursues expansion at LutonAirline agrees to double the number of passengers it flies from the airport despite doubts over whether expansion of the airport will push through
• Network Rail in storm repair cost warningThe railways operator has $38bn to spend over five years, but fears that it may need extra cash from the government to meet the climate challenge

The Independent

• Black Death skeletons dug up during London Crossrail excavations Skeletons unearthed during excavations for London’s Crossrail project are those of Black Death victims who were buried during the 14th and 15th Century pandemics, DNA analysis has revealed.    

The Telegraph

• More seats for rail commuters in Network Rail planNew £38bn investment programme will boost capacity and improve punctuality on Britain's trains, Network Rail says    

Daily Express

• British secret agents probe missing Malaysian Airlines terror linkSECRET agents from Britain are investigating the disappearance of the Malaysian jet, raising fears it was targeted by terrorists.

Mail Online

• New Network Rail boss says sorry for poor performance as firm is threatened by £80m fine: He pledges to make Britain's trains most punctual in EuropeMark Carne accepted that the company 'must do better' but pledged to make Britain's trains the most punctual in Europe as part of his £38billion 'five year plan' which begins tomorrow.

The Mirror

• Missing flight MH370 live: Black box locator heads to search zone as U.S. says no evidence points to terrorism The black box locator is expected to arrive in the area in the next couple of days as the hunt continues for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane

Network Rail

• EMBARGOED: A better railway in the West Midlands as Network Rail kicks off five-year investment programmeRail passengers in the West Midlands can expect more trains, more seats, reduced congestion and improved stations as Network Rail today embarks on the largest national railway spending programme since Victorian times.
• EMBARGOED: A better railway in the north west as Network Rail kicks off five-year investment programmeRail passengers in the north west of England can expect more trains, more seats, reduced congestion and improved stations as Network Rail today embarks on the largest national railway spending programme since Victorian times.
• EMBARGOED: Network Rail Scotland begins massive five-year, £5bn railway investment programmeEMBARGOED UNTIL 01:00 MONDAY MARCH 31Scotland’s passengers are set to benefit from an ambitious five-year, £5bn spending and investment programme that will transform today's railway.
• UNDER EMBARGO: Millions to benefit from massive multi-billion pound railway investment programmeMillions of people across the country are set to benefit from an ambitious five-year £38bn spending and investment programme – part of the biggest sustained investment programme ever – that will transform today's railway giving passengers more trains, more seats, reduced congestion and bigger, better stations.
• UNDER EMBARGO East Midlands set to benefit from £multi-billion five-year rail investment programmePlease note this information is embargoed until 31 March 2014Rail passengers in the East Midlands can look forward to more trains, more seats, reduced congestion and bigger, better stations as Network Rail embarks on its next five year investment programme.

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham bus route inspires £226k project charting history of famed Brum balti area ‘My Route’ will start with a wide-ranging investigation covering how the various lifestyles, languages, religions, cuisines and generations mesh together to create a vibrant, diverse city quarter

London Evening Standard

• Network rail, facing £70m fine for poor punctuality, admits trains are running late too oftenNetwork Rail has admitted that not enough trains are running on time as it faces a reported record £70 million fine for poor punctuality.

Northern Echo

• Intercity Express Programme test track part of £4.2bn rail investment programme announced by Network RailNORTH-East rail passengers are set to benefit from a £4.2bn investment to reduce congestion, add more trains and create better stations, rail bosses say.
• Rail passengers set to benefit from £4.2bn investment NORTH-East rail passengers are set to benefit from a £4.2bn investment to reduce congestion, add more trains and create better stations, rail bosses say.

Sheffield Star

• Sheffield city station hope for HS2 lineTransport Minister Baroness Kramer promised to examine the potential for a city centre station on Sheffield’s high-speed rail route.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Road plans to beat landslipsPlans to bypass a landslide blackspot in Wester Ross were put before the public yesterday.

Wales Online

• North to South Wales air link enjoys subsidies as bus grants are slashedQuestions asked over Welsh Government transport priorities as figures show that the air link between Anglesey and Cardiff continues to enjoy public funding

East Anglian Daily Times

• East Anglia: New five-year plan for rail starts but more investment still soughtNetwork Rail’s new five-year plan starts tomorrow with the promise of improved services in the region.

Other Regional Press

• Network Rail confirm storm-damaged Dawlish rail line to reopen at the end of this week The storm-wrecked railway line at Dawlish in Devon will reopen as planned at the end of this week, Network Rail (NR) has confirmed
• Plans for Elland station as Network Rail announce investment programmeYorkshire’s rail passengers can look forward to more trains, more seats, reduced congestion and bigger, better stations, incuding proposals for one in Elland, as Network Rail embarks on its next five year investment programme.
• Network Rail announces £2.3bn investment in South East to provide new platform, Train passengers are to get a new station, faster routes and better signalling as a multi-billion pounds spend for the region is announced.

Railnews

• Network Rail launches £38 billion planNETWORK RAIL is poised to begin Control Period 5, which involves a budget of £38.4 billion and will run until the end of March 2019.