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

Monday, 04 August 2014

BBC News

• Temporary toll road for A431 at Kelston opens to trafficA temporary toll road made of rolled chippings that bypasses a closed section of the A431 between Bath and Bristol has been opened.

The Guardian

• Driverless cars' green light, SmartBell and hearing aid: this week in techFunding pot of £10m available for UK tests in January 2015, a way to catch deliveries, and a wireless hearing aid iPhone linkThe designated driver question could soon be a thing of the past, as the government has greenlit the testing of self-driving cars on public roads starting next year.A funding pot of £10m from government is available for cities and research companies looking into driverless cars. Three cities across the UK will be chosen with tests beginning in January. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Edinburgh Airport's streamlined security hall will speed up air traveller checks PASSENGERS will trial-run Edinburgh Airport's new security lounge for the first time this month, as a £25 million terminal extension nears completion.

The Telegraph

• Entrepreneur builds private toll road after landslipMike Watts is charging motorists £2 per journey to use his bypass made from rolled chippings and avoid the closed section of the A431 between Bath and Bristol
• More misery for diesel driversCrackdown begins on drivers who leave engines running, as council officials say they will target diesel vehicles

Mail Online

• Businessman Mike Watts gives an aerial view of his toll road [video]Businessman Mike Watts gives an aerial view of his toll road which is raking in the cash while an existing road undergoes repairs.

This is Money

• East Coast Main Line pays the taxpayer a record £235million sparking renewed calls for it to stay nationalisedEast Coast Main Line paid a record £235million in profits back to the taxpayer in its final full year as a state-owned company, a 12 per cent increase on the previous year.

Birmingham Post

• Traffic calming at Birmingham death junction 'is not working' Traffic calming measures at the junction of Edward Road, Hallam Street and Lincoln Street, in Balsall Heath, have been met with disappointment from local people
• An Aston Martin as you've never seen it before - made from clayMidland-based luxury carmaker Aston Martin aims to create the best of tomorrow’s automotive design talent – by recruiting clay sculpting trainees

London Evening Standard

• Gatwick airport sees 'business as usual' amid fears of baggage chaos during getaway Extra staff brought in to deal with potential baggage chaos at Gatwick airport have reported "business as usual", with customers experiencing little or no delay at reclaim carousels.
• Cyclist dies in collision on London Bridge A cyclist has died following a collision with a car on London Bridge.

Manchester Evening News

• WATCH: First video of new Metrolink route to airportEngineers started at the St Werburgh’s Road end and are working their way up the line in sequence to the airport.
• That's T-annoying! Neighbours furious about booming adverts at Metrolink stopsAdverts for a Lowry show were pumped out of loud speakers at stations across the network on Sunday morning

Northern Echo

• Museum honours First World War railway workersAN exhibition honouring the contribution of the North Eastern Railway and its workers during the First World War has officially opened to the public.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Fresh call to re-nationalise East Coast railway linkThe UK Government is facing fresh calls to re-nationalise the East Coast Main Line after accounts revealed it paid a record £235million back to the taxpayer last year.

Yorkshire Post

• Rail franchise’s £1bn payback to stateEast Coast Main Line paid a record £235million in profits back to the taxpayer in its final full year as a state-owned company, it was reported.

Burnley Express

• Pressure growing for rolling stock for Todmorden Curve SHADOW Rail Minister Lilian Greenwood toured East Lancashire’s railways stations yesterday to talk to communters as part of the campaign to improve rolling stock and train services in the area.

North Wales Live

• Top urban studies professor: HS2 will close growing gap between the North and SouthProfessor Michael Parkinson believes this is a once-in-a-lifetime investment and Liverpool must makes its case

Other Regional Press

• Gatwick CEO: 'Planes over Reigate could be from Heathrow' AIRCRAFT disturbing residents in Reigate could be coming from Heathrow. That is the claim from Gatwick Airport's chief executive Stewart Wingate, who has assured residents the offending noise is not due to flight path changes from his airport.
• New bus route and cycle training in Torbay to benefit from government grant CYCLE training, a new bus route and Smartcard ticketing across Torbay will all benefit from £695,000 of revenue funding given to Torbay Council from the Department of Transport.
• There’s more in store as Stevenage railway station gets a welcome liftStevenage railway station is newly refurbished and with new passenger lifts which were opened by Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage
• New bus route mirrors old Adur Valley railway lineNew bus route mirrors old Adur Valley railway lineNew bus route mirrors old Adur Valley railway line
• British Transport Police warn youngsters of the dangers of trespassing on railway lines Hundreds of children and young adults – as many as 14 a day – risk their lives and those of rail passengers and staff every year by trespassing on railways, according to the British Transport Police(BTP)

Aviation Industry

• Delta to launch Amsterdam to Salt Lake City serviceDaily route to start in May 2015