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

Thursday, 17 July 2014

BBC News

• South Wales to get new £1bn motorwayA route for a £1bn motorway for south Wales to ease congestion around Cardiff and Newport is announced to mixed reaction.
• VIDEO: Electric plane at Farnborough AirshowNigel Cassidy looks at the E-fan, an experimental electric plane from Airbus, on display at the Farnborough International Airshow.
• Night vision fighter helmet unveiledA new helmet that allows pilots to see in the dark via an integrated night vision camera is unveiled at the Farnborough Airshow.
• Bombardier jet has tricky take-offThere is a lot of talk about an aircraft that is not flying at Farnborough – and it is not the F-35 fighter - it is Bombardier’s C-Series passenger jet.

Financial Times

• Labour hits out at railway plan fearsLabour leader Ed Miliband’s plan involves creating a state-owned operator that would be able to compete for franchises as they come up for renewal
• Low-cost airlines struggle to fly furtherIt will be hard for the likes of Norwegian Air Shuttle to replicate their short-haul success on longer routes, even though some barriers have fallen
• Network Rail faces equal pay claimClaim launched by TSSA against the rail operator involves 30 women and possibly many more, who it says are paid up to £4,000 less than male colleagues

The Guardian

• How badly will Boris Johnson's 'cycling vision' penalise bus-users?The London transport-users watchdog has asked Transport for London for more information about possible negative effects of the mayor's latest plans to make life better for cyclists

The Herald

• One in five speed cameras workingONLY 20% of speed cameras work at any given time, according to new figures.

The Independent

• Ed Miliband to resist trade union calls for renationalisation of railways if Labour win next election Ed Miliband will resist demands from trade unions and Labour members for the railway network to be taken back into full public ownership if he wins power next year.

The Telegraph

• Do you know your penalty points?As ministers consider doubling the penalty for using a mobile phone while driving, do you know the maximum number of points each offence is worth?
• Irresponsible train driver caught playing on iPadA commuter films Mexican Metro driver playing Farmville while operating a train

Network Rail

• Passengers reminded of Chorley Tunnel closure as part of £1bn+ railway investmentPassengers are being reminded that train services between Chorley and Leyland will be disrupted from Saturday (19 July) until the end of August as part of Network Rail’s investment in the railway in the north west.
• Rochdale Road bridge to be replaced as part of railway improvements in the north westThe bridge over the railway on Rochdale Road in Manchester is to be rebuilt as part of Network Rail’s £1bn+ investment in the north west.
• Stark safety warning to Grimsby level crossing usersNetwork Rail and the British Transport Police (BTP) have today issued a warning that reckless and dangerous behaviour at Grimsby town centre level crossing could end in tragedy.

Bolton News

• Caught on CCTV: Smirking yobs who smashed up Farnworth buses in £60,000 rampage THESE smirking vandals are suspected of being responsible for causing £60,000 of damage at a Farnworth bus depot.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Commuters' anger as Government warns regional rail fares could soar to pay for improved services RAIL passenger groups reacted with anger last night as the Transport Secretary warned regional fares might have to soar to pay for better services.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Bangor: School bus campaigners celebrate victory after council U-turn Gwynedd Council is in negotiations to provide school buses to Ysgol Friars and Ysgol Tryfan despite previously saying they would be axed

Lincolnshire Echo

• Lincolnshire puts its case for East Coast Main Line investment to the Government Councils including Lincolnshire are setting out their stalls for East Coast Main Line prosperity in London tomorrow.

London Evening Standard

• Tube chiefs were 'too optimistic' on collapsed Bombardier contract which left taxpayer with £100m bill Transport chiefs failed to carry out sufficient checks ahead of awarding a major Tube signalling contract which collapsed leaving taxpayers to foot an estimated £100m bill, according to a highly-critical report published today.

Manchester Evening News

• Airbus seek patent for fold-away seats branded 'the most uncomfortable ever designed' - but Manchester is safe for nowAirbus gets patent for 'bike saddle' seats on planes
• MP blasts highways bosses over 'utter carnage' of Denton roadworksAndrew Gwynne says the latest phase of work on Denton Island has been poorly planned

Wales Online

• New £1bn motorway to relieve M4 bottleneck at Newport gets Welsh Government go-aheadThe Welsh Government has opted for the most expensive option to relieve congestion on the M4 around Newport

Yorkshire Post

• Alcohol-fuelled crime on railway ale trail ‘nipped in bud’ as police come out in forceRowdy behaviour on the Transpennine Real Ale Trail which saw it labelled a “monster” by locals has been curtailed after bans on lager and spirits were introduced at pubs.

Bucks Free Press

• Committee rules HS2 court decision 'breached European guidelines' AN INFLUENTIAL committee has ruled not referring a key decision on HS2 to the European Court of Justice was incorrect.
• New HS2 compensation scheme revealed NEW compensation measures for residents living near the planned route of HS2 have been announced by the Transport Secretary.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Werrington and Peakirk residents hit out at Network Rail changesConcerned residents grilled Network Rail officials on Tuesday night (15 July) over changes being made to train tracks outside their homes in Werrington and Peakirk.

Other Regional Press

• New jobs for Hayes and Boles after Government reshuffleA major shake-up of government at both senior and junior ministerial levels today has ended with new jobs for MPs John Hayes and Nick Boles.
• National Express terminal in Northampton comes under fire for lack of facilitiesA ‘poorly planned’ National Express terminal in Northampton has come under fire once more as further calls were made for toilets and shelters on Victoria Street.
• Eurostar brings south of France closer with direct route to Marseille from Ashford from next MayKent travellers are to get a direct train route to Marseille in the south of France from next May.

Railnews

• New transport ministers named The Prime Minister's summer reshuffle has meant some changes at the Department for Transport. Claire Perry has replaced Stephen Hammond as Parliamentary under secretary, and John Hayes has become the new minister of state. Baroness Kramer remains as minister of state as well, representing the Department in the House of Lords.
• New Essex Thameside franchise confirmed The Department for Transport has confirmed it has officially signed the contract for the new Essex Thameside franchise with National Express Essex Thameside Trains Limited. The 15-year contract will allow the company, trading as c2c, to invest £160 million in various improvements. The franchise provides commuter services between London, Barking, Basildon, Tilbury, Southend and Shoeburyness.

Aviation Industry

• Airlines: Expect a Bumpy SummerDelta Air Lines , American Airlines and United Continental have had bumpy rides recently , even if they have, for the most part, kept flying.
• Restrictions on UK 'night flights' extended until 2017Government responds to Airport Commission’s interim report
• Qatar Airways places $40bn Boeing 777-9X order Largest single order in the airline's history

Other News Sources

• John Hayes appointed as new UK shipping ministerMP John Hayes has been announced as the new shipping minister, and is joined by Department for Transport under-secretary Claire Perry, following a reshuffle of the UK parliamentary cabinet.
• Claire Perry appointed as transport ministerThe Prime Minister has appointed Claire Perry MP as transport minister to replace Stephen Hammond.
• £7.7m boost for zero-emission engine ENGINEERING experts are a step closer to developing an engine that boasts near-zero emissions thanks to a government grant.
• New service will allow commuters to pick up parcels from Sussex station set to be launched The frustration of finding a ‘sorry we missed you’ card on your doormat could be over for train passengers.
• American Airlines Group Customers Gain More Access To Finland And Key European Destinations Through Codeshare Agreement With FinnairAmerican Airlines merger partner, US Airways, today launches its codeshare agreement with trans-Atlantic joint business partner Finnair, further enhancing its relationship with the fellow...
• Eurostar plans Brussels-Midi business lounge refurbishmentLounge to close for two months from August