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

Monday, 21 July 2014

BBC News

• Chorley flying arches: Historic railway feature to be rebuiltWork has begun to rebuild 16 Grade II listed arches over a railway line in Lancashire.
• London Midland bans alcohol on Liverpool train departures at weekendsA train firm has banned alcohol on trains leaving Liverpool on Friday and Saturday nights.
• City named as new HS2 headquartersThe headquarters for construction of the HS2 rail line are to be based in Birmingham, it is revealed.
• Months of closures on major routeWork begins on Monday on a major route between London, Surrey and the East Sussex coast, with road closures scheduled for several months.

Department for Transport

• Rail minister launches new services to Stansted AirportRail minister Claire Perry unveils improved rail connections between Cambridge and Stansted.

The Guardian

• Cameron tells Putin shooting down of MH17 was 'unacceptable'Anger grows in EU and leaders prepare fresh sanctions against Moscow as separatists obstruct access to crash siteDavid Cameron expressed anger about the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin on Sunday as EU leaders started preparing fresh sanctions against Moscow for its alleged role in the attack.Ten Britons died when flight MH17 was shot down with a missile on Thursday and sources indicated that Cameron was furious that it took the Russian president three days to respond to his request for a telephone conversation. Continue reading...

The Herald

• New drivers prove to be kings of roadLearner drivers gearing up to take their first driving test are twice as likely to pass in Scotland as those in London, according to research.
• Union boss warns rail staff could strike in 32-hour week bidTHE would-be leader of the rail union RMT has warned of the prospects of Scottish strikes to win more pay and shorter working weeks for workers.
• New development around HS2 will bring economic boost to BirminghamA HUGE redevelopment around the HS2 rail project, creating 14,000 jobs, 2,000 homes and worth up to £1.3 billion a year to the economy, is due to be announced by the Government today.

The Independent

• Stuck at Heathrow: the live animal cargo smuggled into Britain Criminals caught smuggling rare and exotic animals should face swingeing jail sentences in an attempt to stamp out an illicit trade that threatens the survival of endangered species, a minister said.

The Telegraph

• Wi-fi on planes to come as standardJean-Bernard Levy, boss of French defence giant Thales says broadband services will be available for all passengers within a couple of years
• Swiss Billionaires to inject cash into Monarch for third time in five yearsThe travel group behind Monarch Airlines and Cosmos Holidays is understood to be receiving a £60m cash injection from Switzerland’s Mantegazza family
• Ex-Heathrow boss Colin Matthews to lead Highways AgencyFirst responsibility is major modernisation of the roads and renegotiating construction costs
• Malaysia Airlines crash: families fear dead being held as bargaining chipsAs David Cameron tells Vladimir Putin he is partially responsible for MH17 catastrophe, relatives of victims describe treatment of their loved-ones' bodies as 'horrific'

The Mirror

• Malaysia Airlines crash: Putin says Russia will "do everything" to ensure security of international crash investigatorsMoscow is under intense international pressure to allow access to the site and to secure the release of the bodies of those who died

Birmingham Mail

• 1,500 jobs bonanza as HS2 HQ comes to BirminghamThe new city base will oversee the building of the £50 billion scheme, with the decision-making powers shifting from London

Birmingham Post

• West Midlands appoints new transport authorityNew regional body will strive to ensure area acts in a unified way and seek funding for major transport projects

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Wyke bus lane catches more than 3,000 drivers in first year THOUSANDS of motorists have so far been fined for straying into new bus lanes along one of the district's busiest roads.

Sheffield Star

• Rail fares ‘may double in North’Rail fares could double in the North, including in South Yorkshire, under new plans being considered by the Government.

Yorkshire Post

• HS2 headquarters ‘set to bring £1.3bn boost to city economy’A huge redevelopment around the HS2 project, creating 14,000 jobs, 2,000 homes and worth up to £1.3bn a year to the economy, is being announced by the Government today.

Other Regional Press

• 5,000-strong petition against reductions to rail services in North East Lincolnshire handed in to Department of Transport A NEARLY 5,000-strong signature petition against reductions to rail services across North East Lincolnshire has been handed in to the Department for Transport (DfT).
• Samaritans to talk to people at Huddersfield railway stationBid to reduce number of suicides on train tracks
• Anger over ‘diabolical’ railway bridge road closureDecision by Network Rail/South West Trains Alliance to pull down and rebuild a bridge over a three month period has been slammed
• Businesses urged to sign up to campaign to improve A27BUSINESSES badly affected by congestion along the A27 have been adding their weight to the campaign to improve it.
• We’re faring better with roads and housing, says Central Beds leader James JamiesonDespite the England football team’s disappointing World Cup display I’m pleased to say that Central Beds has been faring much better in national performance rankings for roads and housing – two key areas for our residents.

Aviation Industry

• US Airways to codeshare with FinnairCodeshare starts on July 24

Other News Sources

• Heathrow's stairway to heavenForget their sci-fi image: airships really could be the answer for Heathrow in a post-airport future
• Conservative councillors criticise rivals over failure to back road campaign Councillors have criticised their rivals for failing to back a new road campaign.
• Eurostar to launch London – Marseille routeService to start spring 2015