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

Wednesday, 16 April 2014

BBC News

• Jobseekers to get 50 free bikes under £5,000 Sustrans schemeJobseekers in Derby will be given free bikes refurbished by prisoners in a bid to help them find work.
• Disabled man's rail 'discrimination'A train company investigates after a disabled man claimed he was not allowed to board a crowded carriage.
• VIDEO: Fears over Lough Swilly bus jobsA trade union says that time is running out to save 80 jobs at the Lough Swilly bus company following the appointment of a liquidator
• Jobs to go at City of Derry AirportThe chairman of City of Derry Airport confirms jobs will go as part of major cost-cutting drive.
• EU safer lorries plan may cut deathsMEPs overwhelmingly back new rules to make big lorries safer for other road users and more fuel-efficient.

ITV News

• Improving Wales' transport network 'critical' for futureA section of the A477 between St Clears and Red Roses will be officially opened later after £68m of improvements, which the Transport Minister Edwina Hart has described as a "vital" part of the trans-European road network.

Financial Times

• Passengers’ share of rail costs up to 60%Government subsidy shrinks to £4bn of total £12.3bn cost as ticket sales rise 4% with increasing numbers taking train in 210-13

The Herald

• Scottish rail subsidies triple England'sGOVERNMENT subsidies for rail fares are three times higher in Scotland than England, according to figures from the regulator.
• Station buildings brought back to life BUILDINGS at a railway station which have lain derelict for 20 years have been brought back to life.
• Runway repair noise alertRESIDENTS close to Scotland's busiest airport have been warned about the possibility of increased aircraft noise while the regular flight path is temporarily changed.

The Telegraph

• Heathrow worst airport for punctualityHeathrow has been named Britain’s worst airport for flight punctuality last year, according to recent figures collected by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
• England lags behind over £4 billion rail subsidy cashThere is a huge disparity between the level of government funding for train journeys in England and those in Scotland and Wales, according to a report from rail regulators

City AM

• Passengers paying for more of the railway’s running expensesPASSENGERS are now paying for almost 60 per cent of the running costs of Britain’s railways, as the government cuts its share of the bill and more Brits take the train. Tickets generated £7.7bn across the rail network in 2012-13, up 3.6...

Daily Record

• Video: Stunned bus passenger films driver counting money with both hands off wheel while doing 60MPH on M8 THE driver, who was operating the busy Edinburgh-Glasgow Citylink service, claimed to be sorting the cash, not counting it when confronted by a concerned passenger.

The Mirror

• Publicly-owned East Coast Mainline rail service is best value, official figures reveal It provides the best value for money for the taxpayer - returning a net surplus of £16m to the government’s coffers
• MH370 live: Maritime expert says three pings have to have come from missing Malaysia Airlines planeThe search, which includes the Royal Navy, is up against the clock as the device is expected to run out of battery by tomorrow

Birmingham Post

• Land Rover in Virgin Galactic deal to supply astronauts Solihull-based Land Rover has revealed a long-term global partnership with Richard Branson’s pioneering commercial spaceline, Virgin Galactic

Bristol Live

• The Bristol Post commented New scheme to encourage cycling in Bristol unveiledTHE latest in a series of measures to encourage commuters to join the swelling ranks of Bristol's cyclists has been unveiled.But the planned new traffic system will not be popular with drivers, who will only be able to pass under the railway bridge on St Luke's Road, Windmill Hill, in one direction at a time.The city council believes the change will create more space for a safe cycle and pedestrian route to the city centre from Totterdown and Windmill Hill. It will be one of the key links to the...
• The Bristol Post commented North Somerset firm Pier Buses closes down amid row with FirstAN independent bus company that ran a service between Bristol and Clevedon has ceased operating. Pier Buses, which was set up by Shaun Craigie, had run three cream and green single-deckers since last March.Mr Craigie has alleged that bus operator First deliberately ran its own buses late so they would run in front of his vehicles and therefore take all the bus users on the route.This has been strongly denied by First, which has dismissed the allegation as "nonsensical".Mr Craigie...

London Evening Standard

• TfL 'tried to put a spin on Boris bikes cash'Labour today called for an inquiry into Transport for London emails which suggested officials considered how to gloss over problems about the funding of the Boris bike scheme.
• Trucks longer than two double decker buses could come to London's roads under EU voteMegatrucks longer than two double decker buses could be allowed onto London’s roads under EU proposals being voted on in Brussels today.
• Housing crisis overtakes transport as biggest concern for Londoners, poll suggestsHousing has overtaken transport to become the biggest issue of concern for Londoners, a poll revealed today, as figures showed property prices have soared nearly 18 per cent in a year.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post published Minister wants city to get 'fair whack' of HS2 advantagesNOT having a high-speed rail station in the East Midlands would be "unthinkable", according to a business leader.And Transport Minister Baroness Kramer, touring the region, added that places like Nottingham needed a "fair whack" of the benefits that HS2 could bring.Peter Richardson, chairman of regional development organisation D2N2, said: "HS2 is critical to our area because we need an international gateway to enhance East Midlands Airport. When we have the opportunity...

Sheffield Star

• University cycle hub to give big boost to bikersBikers are to be given a boost at Sheffield University with the creation of a new cycle hub for staff and students.

Wales Online

• Hundreds turn out to protest against Cardiff bus service cutsAnger over reduction in service which campaigners claim will lead to isolation

Other Regional Press

• 'Secret' HS2 report should be made public before crucial vote, say campaignersCAMPAIGNERS battling plans for high-speed rail have said the Government will mislead Parliament if it does not publish a secret report on HS2. Read more: http://www.lichfieldmercury.co.uk/Secret-HS2-report-public-crucial-vote-say/story-20965721-detail/story.html#ixzz2z2m3jALK
• Southampton is 'the Heathrow of cruise ships'SOUTHAMPTON has been dubbed the “Heathrow of cruising” because of the huge number of people now using the port to begin an overseas voyage.
• Crawley News published Alan Davies becomes the latest celebrity to slag off the Gatwick...IF trains had feelings the Gatwick Express would surely by now be crying in a corner and in serious need of counselling. Last September the "high speed" service between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria incurred the wrath of Radio 1 DJ Greg James who questioned whether the word express was particularly merited. And now it has annoyed another famous face - Jonathan Creek star Alan Davies. The comedian, who is also a permanent panelist on BBC2 show QI, shared his general...
• New lit sign to go up to stop wrong-way cyclists A PETITION calling on Oxfordshire County Council to improve signs to prevent cyclists travelling the wrong way down a street has been handed in.
• Luton Dunstable Busway passenger figures fall short of projected levelsCouncil bosses have said that passenger figures for the £91m Luton Dunstable Busway are ‘exceptionally pleasing’, despite being just 41 per cent of what was predicted for the scheme.
• Footbridge to replace West Coast main line level crossing as part of route-wide safety commitmentA footbridge is to replace a footpath level crossing on a busy section of the West Coast main line where trains travel in excess of 100mph.
• Green party dubs Kent 'air pollution capital' of South East after Public Health England report into pollution-related deathsThe county has more deaths from pollution than anywhere else in the South East, latest figures show.
• Campaign to prevent cuts to bus service A PETITION has been created calling on First Bus to stop a ‘catastrophe.’ The company plans to cut down the number of Number 31 buses through Martinstown and Winterbourne Steepleton Jon Walker, 52, who lives in Martinstown and started the petition, said this would be a ‘blow to the communities.’ West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin has also spoken out about the plans.

Global Rail News

• Contactless payment installed across Merseyrail networkContactless payment has been rolled out across all 63 Merseyrail stations as the operator seeks to improve its ticketing services. The technology, which has been developed by Fujitsu and Ingenico, allows passengers[...]
• High-speed rail link between Hong Kong and China delayedConstruction of a new high-speed rail link between Hong-Kong and China has been delayed by nine months after one the project’s tunnel boring machines (TBMs) was “severely” damaged by flood[...]
• Funding earmarked for Port of Gdansk rail upgradePolish infrastructure manager PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe has signed a contract worth around 1.8 million zÅ‚ to carry out a feasibility study into proposed improvements to rail infrastructure surrounding the Port of[...]
• Train operators apply for space on Swedish networkTwenty passenger train operators and 16 freight operators have submitted track access applications to Sweden’s state infrastructure manager, Trafiverket. The design process will now begin for the 2015 timetable, which is[...]
• Copenhagen Metro to replace overly sensitive safety systemCopenhagen Metro is to replace a highly sensitive safety system in the hope that it can reduce disruption on the network. Between now and 2015, the existing Obstacle Detection System[...]
• RATP and STC promote technology share agreementThe operator of Paris Metro, RATP, and its Mexico City counterpart, Sistema De Transporte Collectivo (STC), have signed a technology share agreement designed to boost cooperation between the two cities.[...]
• Dutch government plans full ERTMS rollout by 2030European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) will be installed on Holland’s busiest routes by 2028 following a ruling by the Dutch government. ERMTS Level 2 will be rolled out across[...]

Aviation Industry

• American Eagle Airlines renames itself Envoy Air Inc.The regional carrier owned by American Airlines Group adopted a different name Tuesday, but will still fly under the American Eagle brand.
• BMI Regional adds second codeshare with Brussels AirlinesAgreement confirmed on East Midlands to Brussels route

Green Miscellany

• Land Rover develops ‘invisible’ car bonnetA new gizmo developed by Land Rover that allows drivers to see through their vehicle’s bonnet to the road directly in front and beneath the front bumper could help make roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Breakdown Recovery from less than £30 Get your quote Your car’s in safe hands: 5,000+ qualified mechanics nationwide on call 24/7, 365 days a…

Other News Sources

• Rail report shows huge disparity in government funding for journeysFunding in 2012/13 varied from £2.19 per passenger journey in England to £7.60 in Scotland.
• Silver Rail raises $40m to expand train ticketing platformFirm looking to expand its technology into Asia

News from Europe

• Parliament votes to harmonise electric cars in Europe

Other Subscription Services

• M25 hard shoulder dropped for all-lane running The M25 has become Britain's first motorway to introduce all-lane running, dispensing with the traditional hard shoulder available for emergency use.Under the managed motorway - now smart motorway -...