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

Friday, 04 April 2014

BBC News

• Trams part of Oxfordshire transport plansCity centre trams and a new train station are included in proposals for the future of transport in Oxfordshire.
• Government help sought as Manston Airport faces closureThe government has been urged to step in over the threatened closure of Manston Airport after an offer from an unnamed buyer was withdrawn.
• VIDEO: Trams tested ahead of serviceThe first five vehicles in a new fleet of hi-tech Midland Metro trams undergo tests ahead of taking passengers.
• VIDEO: PM denies airport is 'overlooked'Prime Minister David Cameron has denied suggestions that Birmingham Airport is being overlooked in the government's long term aviation strategy. =
• Rail journeys hit by cable theftRail commuters faced disruption on Thursday morning following the theft of railway cables in south Wales.
• VIDEO: Dawlish railway repairs in two minutesTime-lapse footage of the two months of repairs to the coastal railway line at Dawlish in Devon.
• Storm-damaged rail line reopensThe main railway line through Dawlish reopens to passengers after part of the track was destroyed during winter storms.
• Rural fuel scheme to be reviewedThe UK Treasury is to look at finding a
• IoM air link 'delights' Alex SalmondScotland's First Minister Alex Salmond says a restored Isle of Man airline is a

Department for Transport

• New stations for Coventry to Nuneaton rail line£4.75 million investment will build two brand new stations and upgrade another.

The Guardian

• Ed Miliband: Labour may take rail franchises back into public ownershipLabour leader says that his party 'are interested in innovative solutions' to the railways but says it has to be 'affordable'

The Herald

• Lower petrol prices but demand dropsPLUNGING petrol prices have failed to push up purchases at the pumps, according to Government figures highlighted by the AA.
• 'Reckless' pedestrians are warnedA SAFETY campaign has been launched after test drivers of Edinburgh's long-awaited tram service said some pedestrians had been behaving recklessly towards the vehicles.

The Telegraph

• Future modes of transport: 10 inventions that will supercharge your journeyFlying bikes and electric unicycles are just two ways you could be getting from A to B in the near future    

Network Rail

• Dawlish railway reopens in time for Easter holidays as Network Rail's 'orange army' wins its war with the elementsThe communities and businesses of south and west Devon and Cornwall were celebrating today as their rail link with the rest of the country was restored in time for the Easter holidays, following eight weeks of painstaking repairs to the storm-ravaged railway at Dawlish.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bradford Council scraps couple's fine over bus lane use after T&A intervenes A couple who were caught out by strict bus lane cameras after pulling over to let an ambulance pass have had their fine cancelled, after their case was taken up by the Telegraph & Argus.

London Evening Standard

• Cyclist dies in crash with lorry at Ludgate Circus junctionA cyclist died after being hit by a truck in central London this morning.

Manchester Evening News

• Manchester critical to airline's rebirthThe Flybe chief executive said Manchester and the surrounding region is at the backbone of his 'new look' company

Northern Echo

• RMT rail union warns of threat to front-line jobs and safety as a result of re-privatisation of East Coast Mainline THE RMT rail union is to hold a protest next week after warning that front-line jobs and safety are at risk as a result of the re-privatisation of the East Coast Mainline.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post published £150k Mansfield Road junction is safer for cyclistsArticle

Sheffield Telegraph

• Stagecoach to increase fares on some bus routesSingle bus fares on some Stagecoach routes in Sheffield are to increase by between 10p and 20p from Sunday, April 13.

Wales Online

• Cable theft causes major disruption to Valleys Line trainsPolice describe thieves as 'parasitic opportunists' after cable theft leads to enormous disruption for passengers

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• New Kidderminster rail station at heart of £45m plan A new mainline railway station for Kidderminster could be on its way.
• 20mph speed limits in £200k Walsall high street safety movePlans for a 20mph speed limit through a busy town centre are being drawn up by council chiefs.

Bucks Free Press

• New motorway junction should not be built, say residents association A NEW £12 million motorway slip road which could be built on Spring Lane, Flackwell Heath, would not benefit the village, the residents association say.

Burnley Express

• Work at Burnley's ‘blue fin’ station on track WORK is progressing well on the construction of Burnley’s newest railway station, in Manchester Road.

Carlisle News & Star

• Checks may have prevented Cumbria coast train derailment A train derailment which left more than 100 passengers stranded for hours could have been avoided, says a new report.

Other Regional Press

• Wales' potholes will take '12 years to fill' IT could take Welsh councils 12 years to clear a maintenance backlog of potholes and road improvements, according to a nationwide survey published this morning.
• Unite union members submit short and long-term rescue plan to Manston Airport owner Ann GloagUnion members have submitted proposals to safeguard the future of Manston Airport.

Global Rail News

• Southern managing director to join ArrivaSouthern’s managing director, Chris Burchell, is to step down from the company to take over as head of UK Trains for Arriva. Southern said in a statement that the operator had been “transformed with better quality of service for customers, improved employee engagement, new trains and enhanced station facilities” since Burchell took over a decade […]
• JR-East to advise on HS2Japan’s high-speed rail operator East Japan Railway Company (JR-East) has been awarded an advisory role on HS2. JR-East is to offer both “technical and management” advice to the £46 billion[...]

Railnews

• Japanese operator agrees HS2 contract Only two weeks after Hitachi said it was moving its global rail headquarter to London, high speed rail operator East Japan Railway (JR-East) announced today it is to open offices in the City– initially with what it described as a ˜landmark contract™ with HS2 Ltd, but with the clear aim of doing business long-term with Britain™s booming rail industry, as well as with other European suppliers.

Aviation Industry

• Need to rebook a flight? Do it on Twitter.A United Continental Holdings aircraft lands at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago in 2012.

Other News Sources

• Why are trains late?Tom Edwards, BBC London transport correspondent, goes beyond ‘the wrong kind of snow’ to uncover the complex reasons for rail delays and cancellations