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

Tuesday, 15 July 2014

BBC News

• Train tracks warning for studentsUniversity students are being warned not to use railway lines as shortcuts home following the death of an 18-year-old who was hit by a train.
• Hopes for airport hovercraft linkA hovercraft firm hopes to launch a service from the north Wales coast to Liverpool airport.
• The plant that dominates Britain's railwaysThe plant that dominates Britain's railways
• Summertime road safety plea madePolice in Dumfries and Galloway urge motorists to be
• £208m 'smart motorway' work beginsA £208m project to cut congestion along two key dual carriageways in Greater Manchester begins.

The Guardian

• Britain's new railway revolution - the shop arriving at platform 2 is for youNetwork Rail has been steaming ahead making millions by turning stations into retail honeypots - now click-and-collect centres plan to electrify the processMount the steps in a discreet corner of London's King's Cross station and you find yourself in a light, airy bar-restaurant with distressed wooden floors and comfy vintage leather sofas reminiscent of a hipster hangout.Once the station's parcel sorting office, in plans for the £500m rejuvenation of the station that was completed last year the space had originally been earmarked for staff locker rooms. Instead it has become part of...
• Why can't all cities have bike bridges like Copenhagen's new Cycle Snake?The two-lane elevated orange Cykelslangen the latest of the city's continuous and safe bike lanes is a joy to ride as it wriggles its way over the harbourAfter years of waiting (eight to be exact), Copenhagen finally got its missing link. Cykelslangen, or Cycle Snake, is an elevated orange bike lane, wriggling its way over the harbour, seamlessly connecting the highway and the harbour bridge. Up until now our only options consisted of pushing our bikes up and down steep stairs, or taking ridiculous detours, in a narrow space haphazardly shared with pedestrians. Looking at it now, the solutio...

The Herald

• Stray balloons cause trams to shut down for two hoursEdinburgh's costly trams have come under fire again after they were brought to a halt by stray balloons.

This is Money

• Farnborough gives Airbus a lift as aerospace giant unveils new A330 versionThe first day of the air show was dominated by Airbus, which launched the show with a flight demonstration of its famous A380 superjumbo, pictured.

Network Rail

• Services between Liverpool and St Helens resume as railway reopens on timeThe line between Liverpool and St Helens has reopened today (14 July) after a nine-day closure to improve the railway in the north west of England.
• Roundham level crossing users get safety messageUsers of Roundham level crossing in Kidlington are being targeted this week in a campaign by Network Rail and British Transport Police (BTP) to help them stay safe on the railway.

Birmingham Mail

• Travel giant Thomas Cook to base new jet at Birmingham AirportNew Airbus A320 will fly from city as airline replaces fleet to increase capacity

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Rail regulator considers bid for more services between Bradford and London PLANS for a new inter-city rail service linking Bradford with London six times a day are now being considered by the rail regulators.

London Evening Standard

• Putney Bridge closes to motorists for three months from today A busy bridge over the Thames closed for three months today as £1.5million repair works got under way.
• Third runway at Heathrow to cut noise levels for up to 325,000 Heathrow airport today published official figures to hit back at claims from London Mayor Boris Johnson that it had underestimated the noise of a proposed third runway.

Sheffield Star

• Sheffield MP signs railway motionSheffield MP David Blunkett has expressed concern about Government plans for northern rail services.
• Thousands raised for campaign to stop M1 service station plansMore than £8,000 has been raised for a campaign fighting plans for a motorway service station in Sheffield woodland.

Wales Online

• 'Shirty and unprofessional' - which train company got up the nose of First Minister Carwyn Jones?Mr Jones issued the rebuke to Arriva Trans Wales after a snarky response to criticism of a lack of Welsh announcements at a Cardiff station

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Thomas Cook to expand at Birmingham AirportHoliday airline Thomas Cook is to base another aircraft at Birmingham Airport from next year and add new flights to Greece, Turkey and Tunisia, it revealed today.

Yorkshire Post

• Expansion of northern airports ‘at risk from emissions targets’EXPANDING airport capacity in the south would worsen the north-south divide by driving northern airports out of business, according to environmental groups.

Bucks Free Press

• Tributes to leading HS2 campaigner AN MP has led the tributes to a prominent HS2 campaigner, who died last week.

North Wales Live

• Dutch firm starts dredging Mersey Estuary as part of £300m Liverpool2 schemePeel Ports' deepwater river terminal will be able to handle the world's biggest cargo ships

Other Regional Press

• Edwina Hart to review transport following faith schools question TRANSPORT minister Edwina Hart is to look again at Welsh legislation, following questions over plans to change aspects of school transport in Swansea.
• Department of Transport approve earlier, faster trains between Devon and London Devon is to get earlier, faster trains to London in the first significant redesign of the mainline timetable in a decade.
• Portsmouth Cycle Forum urge council to bid for transport money to improve roadsCALLS have been made by cyclists for politicians to bid for government cash to help improve roads.
• New speed sign is to be installed on a busy main road through a Stockton rural villageStockton Council has agreed to install the electronic speed sign on Seamer Road through Hilton village
• Bus campaigners hopeful for solution after meeting CAMPAIGNERS fighting to get their bus service reinstated are hopeful of a solution after meeting transport managers.

Freight on Rail

• Landmark Planning Permission for Radlett Rail Freight Terminal.Planning permission1 for the Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFIs) at Radlett in Hertfordshire sets a crucial precedent which will allow more freight to be removed from our congested road network2, according to Freight on Rail.

Global Rail News

• Senate backs French rail reformThe French senate has adopted draft legislation which aims to re-establish cut ties between the country’s infrastructure manager and operator.
• DfT ‘confusing’ industry with train procurement stanceThe Department for Transport (DfT) has ‘created confusion’ within sections of the rail industry with its involvement in several multi-billion pound train orders, a new report has suggested.
• DB passenger compensation hits record highDeutsche Bahn (DB) has had to pay a record €40 million in compensation to passengers who had their trains delayed or cancelled last year.
• Stations as a serviceSo what are railway stations for? The answer is obvious: they are the places where you go to catch or get off trains. For many this is true; cold, draughty platforms that are not nice to hang around on – especially if trains are delayed. Writes Clive Kessell

Railnews

• Dawlish report 'due this week' Unconfirmed reports suggest that the DfT is about to publish a report which examines an alternative route to the far south west avoiding the vulnerable sea wall at Dawlish in south Devon. Two fierce storms closed the route in early February after a stretch of the coastal line was demolished by high seas. The line reopened in April, hut in the wake of the storms Ministers and Network Rail promised to examine a relief route avoiding the sea wall.

Aviation Industry

• Third runway to ‘cut Heathrow noise levels for up to 325,000’CAA analysis claims fewer people will be affected by aircraft noise if runway is built
• BA parent firm IAG announces more job cuts1,581 jobs axed at Spanish airline Iberia
• Gatwick reports strong passenger traffic growth3.6 million passengers passed through airport in June
• Airport expansion delay ‘strangling’ British growthCampaign group criticises government for lack of response to Airport Commission's report
• Ryanair introduces mobile boarding passesFeature part of airline’s new app

Other News Sources

• MPs HS2 petitions committee will not meet outside LondonThe Committee of MPs who will hear the petitions of people wanting changes to the HS2 Hybrid Bill has announced their timetable for hearings.
• Bombardier Aerospace Releases Annual Business and Commercial Aircraft Market ForecastsToday, Bombardier released its annual 20-year forecasts for the business and commercial aircraft markets.While the world economy has grown at a slower than expected rate, signs of improvement in ...