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

Monday, 07 April 2014

BBC News

• Bristol bus locater app downloaded by 31,000 in a yearA bus checker app has been downloaded by more than 31,000 people in a year, according to Bristol City Council.
• Rail station consultation extendedA consultation over proposals to install a new railway station in a mid Wales town is extended.
• Bristol wheelchair-adapted bike project 'promotes independence'Wheelchair-adapted bicycles are being offered in Bristol to people with disabilities wanting to learn to cycle.
• Mersey Tunnel users stage toll rise protestA demonstration has taken place outside the Mersey Tunnel on the eve of the latest toll price rise.
• Scottish spending on pavement repairs falls sharplySpending on pavement maintenance in Scotland has fallen sharply, according to figures obtained under freedom of information legislation.
• VIDEO: Businesses 'want Heathrow to stay'Some businesses near Heathrow want the airport to stay after the Mayor of London revealed plans for the area if his proposal for a Thames Estuary hub gets the go-ahead.
• East Coast Line: RMT in legal battle over franchiseRail unions launch a legal battle over reprivatisation of the East Coast line, and challenge two other franchise extensions.

Financial Times

• New signal in hunt for missing MH370Signal picked up by Australian vessel is consistent with an aircraft’s black box flight recorder but those hunting for the missing aeroplane warn that it will be several days before there is any confirmation of what they have found

The Guardian

• Rail unions launch legal action against East Coast reprivatisation plansAslef, RMT and TSSA seek judicial review of the government's decision to push rapid franchise competition for East Coast
• HS2 risks putting costs before countryside, MPs warnReport calls for full environmental surveys along length of route and ringfencing of cash to preserve habitatsAreas of irreplaceable natural value along the route of the HS2 rail project, including ancient woodlands that are the home to rare bats and butterflies, are at risk of being subordinated to "crude economic calculations", according to a report by MPs.The report says better safeguards for the countryside must be imposed, and warns that the high-speed trains of HS2 must run slower than the 225mph planned if the £43bn rail scheme is to be built without excessiv...
• MH370: black box-type signals picked up twice by Australia's Ocean ShieldSearch chief says vessel's discovery is most promising lead, though not yet confirmation of the location of the planeA signal consistent with transmissions from the black box flight recorder and cockpit voice recorder of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight was picked up for more than two hours in the Indian Ocean, according to the head of Australias joint agency co-ordination centre.In what may be one of the most promising leads yet in the search for the missing flight, the head of the Australian joint agency co-ordination centre, Angus Houston, announced on Monday that the Australian defence...

The Herald

• Unions bid to stop rail deal RAIL unions have launched a legal challenge to the Government over the awarding of franchises to train companies.
• Covert plan targets blue badge misuseDRIVERS who misuse 'blue badge' disabled spaces could be fined £1,000 by undercover council officials.

The Telegraph

• Boris Johnson turns to Denver to revive airport plansBoris Johnson has turned to politicians from Denver, Colorado, in the latest attempt to revive his plans for a new airport hub in the south east
• Make High Speed 2 trains go slower, demand MPsGovernment should examine option of maximum speed being slashed from 225 mph to 185 mph to reduce carbon emissions, Environmental Audit Select Committee says    

Mail Online

• Train lover builds Britain's largest indoor model railway which is 3,000ft long, has 28 trains and features scenes from around the worldThe display, dubbed 'Wroxham Miniature Worlds', was created by train enthusiast Sean Green, 45, and his son, Robert, 23, in Hoveton, Norfolk.
• Lights that help motorists identify cyclists hailed as major breakthrough in road safetyNew bike lights that display the international symbol of the cyclist have been hailed as a major breakthrough in road safety.

Birmingham Mail

• Transport enthusiasts were given a sneak peak at city's new trams One of the Urbos 3 trams - which will be in use later this year - was wheeled into Snow Hill Station to give visitors a closer look

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bus fans flock to vintage show in city with ride down memory lane Bus fans flocked to Bradford for rides down memory lane as 35 vintage buses filled the city’s squares and streets this afternoon.

London Evening Standard

• Missing MH370: Hopes grow after 'encouraging' lead in search for Malaysian airlinerNaval vessels carrying sophisticated deep-sea black box detectors are rushing to the site of an "important and encouraging" lead in the hunt for the missing Malaysian airliner.
• Thames Estuary airport would not lead to job losses, insists Mayor's aviation aideBoris Johnson's aviation aide has insisted that a new Thames Estuary airport to replace Heathrow would not result in thousands of job losses.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Newcastle bus crashes lead MP Chi Onwurah to call for traffic rethinkA Newcastle MP will write to the Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority to voice concerns over accidents in the city and what can be done to prevent them

Wales Online

• Petition condemning Junction 41 M4 closure plans attracts more than 1,200 signatures in bid to reverse policyTransport Minister Edwina Hart announced move for temporary trial closure of busy junction to ease congestion and reduce accidents
• Diesel cars needlessly worsen air pollution, warns Welsh expertWales is also 'lagging behind England in encouraging vehicle owners to switch to low-emission cars and buses'

Yorkshire Post

• Golden Olympian backs Let’s Get Cycling bidYorkshire’s most decorated Olympic cyclist has added his name to the growing list of sports stars and celebrities backing our Let’s Get Cycling campaign.

North Wales Live

• Mersey school bus run routes scrapped Transport chiefs bid to save £680,000

Other Regional Press

• Northamptonshire firm designs flywheel to give fuel boost to motoristsA leading motor manufacturer believes its cars of the future could save fuel in stop- start town driving thanks to a company with headquarters within earshot of the grand prix cars racing round Silverstone.
• Stay connected at Luton stationsFree WiFi is coming to key stations on the First Capital Connect (FCC) rail network.
• Our roads ‘are getting worse’The overall condition of roads in the UK has plummeted over the winter, an AA survey has uncovered.

Other News Sources

• Mayor backs 20 Miles More campaignLiverpool mayor Joe Anderson has pledged his support for the 20 Miles More campaign for a direct HS2 link to the city.
• Plane search ships to probe soundsSearchers hunting for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane are racing to a patch of the southern Indian Ocean to determine whether a few brief sounds picked up by underwater equipment came from the jet's black boxes.
• Huppert hosts Parliamentary event to push for default 20mph limitsCambridge MP Julian Huppert has hosted a Parliamentary reception in support of a national campaign to make 20mph the default urban speed limit.