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

Tuesday, 09 September 2014

BBC News

• Trams carry 1.5 million passengersEdinburgh's new tram line has carried 1.5 million passengers since services began operating 100 days ago.
• Evening peak rail fares take effectProtests take place at railway stations after peak evening fares started to take effect on several rail routes in the north of England.
• London fares rise 'at most by 2.5%'Transport fares in the capital will rise by a maximum of 2.5% from January, the mayor of London says.
• Fears raised before helicopter crashA heliport operator raised concerns about flying close to a high-rise building in south London four years before a fatal helicopter crash, a report says.
• Ryanair buys 100 Boeing planesBudget airline, Ryanair, agrees an order valued at $10.4bn for 100 new Boeing aircraft, with an option for further 100.

Financial Times

• Creaking transport threatens German growthLack of spending on roads and IT threaten to damage trade, turning the strengths of the eurozone’s economic powerhouse into its weakness

The Guardian

• Luton airport bomb scare: disposal experts carry out controlled explosionThousands of passengers evacuated and all incoming flights suspended after suspect package is found in security areaBomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion at Luton airport on Monday in the first security alert of its kind since the terror threat was raised to severe last month.Police were called after a suspicious package was discovered in the security search area, prompting thousands of passengers to be evacuated and incoming flights diverted. Continue reading...

The Independent

• Luton Airport evacuated after 'suspicious item' found in security area London Luton’s airport is to re-open after passengers were evacuated from the premises and all incoming flights suspended when a suspicious item was found in the security search area.

The Telegraph

• Heathrow: Six out of ten MPs support a third runwayAirport publishes Ipsos Mori poll, which it claims, "explodes the myth that Heathrow is politically undeliverable".
• The 117 per cent rail fare rise now arrivingPassengers using the Northern Rail train company will experience price rises described by unions as a 'kick in the teeth'
• Luton Airport evacuated over alert on hair straightenersMore than 2,000 passengers affected as bomb squad called in for controlled explosion on suspect hand luggage

The Mirror

• Welsh road sign confuses drivers - after popping up on one of BIRMINGHAM'S busiest roadsIt was all double-Dutch to city drivers - because one of the firms involved in the street scheme put out a sign from a previous job in Wales instead

Network Rail

• Track improvements in Malton areaNetwork Rail is completing essential improvement works to replace 2, 410 yards of track in the Malton area. This investment, worth £1.8 million, is essential for the smooth running of passenger services. The new track will also be welded together, which means trains passing over the track will be quieter.
• New lifts open at Hitchin railway stationNew lifts are providing step free access for rail passengers at Hitchin station.
• Rail services resume as Selby Swing bridge re-opens for businessRail passengers are able to catch their regular train on the York-Selby-Hull routes this morning after Network Rail completed key stages in its £14m investment at Selby Swing Bridge.

Birmingham Post

• Comment: XE saloon could be Jaguar's most important car everEnda Mullen assess the impact of the car-maker's new compact executive saloon as the Midland firm gears up to take on the German masters
• New Jaguar XE saloon represents 'pivotal moment' Midland manufacturer launches new car to take on the might of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the compact executive saloon market
• Birmingham Airport records busiest month in 75-year historyAnother record breaker for Midland transport hub as Toulouse and Milan prove popular destinations

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• New rail prices kick in as operator's 'off-peak' policy changes RAIL passengers on some local lines will not be able to use off-peak tickets if they are travelling between 4pm and 6.30pm from today.

London Evening Standard

• Third of trains on some of London’s busiest commuter lines ran late last year despite passengers paying highest fares in Europe One in three trains on some of London’s busiest commuter lines ran late last year, official figures reveal today.
• Vauxhall helicopter crash 'could have been prevented' Warnings of threats to safety caused by high-rise buildings could have prevented a helicopter crash which killed two people in London last year, a report is expected to claim.
• Commuter rail fares cap may only last one year, Tories admit A cap on rail and bus fares ahead of next year’s general election may only last a single year, the Treasury admitted today.
• Car tax disc abolition ‘will cause chaos’ The abolition of vehicle tax discs at the end of the month could cause chaos for some motorists, town halls in London warned today.
• Luton Airport evacuated: Travel chaos sparked by security alert Thousands of passengers are experiencing travel chaos after a major airport was closed due to a security alert.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds rail passengers hit by new ‘evening peak’ ticket pricesRAIL passengers travelling into Leeds face fare rises of up to 64 per cent today.

Daventry Express

• HS2 campaigners ask for public responses ahead of parliamentary debateThe Stop HS2 Campaign is urging people affected by HS2 proposals to get in their responses to the current compensation consultation quickly, before the Government announces changes to Phase 1 on Tuesday, 9th September.

Other Regional Press

• Deadline looms as council dash for cashThe LEP said a South Holland contender – a rail freight hub at Deeping St Nicholas – “was not suitably advanced to deliver in 2015-2016”.
• Three in five MPs back third runway at Heathrow, new poll suggestsHeathrow hails Ipsos MORI survey but protest group HACAN says the shortage of poltiicians responding means it counts for little
• Station protest over change to off-peak railway travelA protest over ticket prices will be held at Preston Railway Station tomorrow.
• Major rail works ahead Dorset rail passengers are warned major infrastructure improvements will be undertaken at London Waterloo by South West Trains to enable the introduction of a new fleet of trains which will run on lines around the capital and into Hampshire and Berkshire.
• Quiz the bus managers online PASSENGERS can put bus managers on the spot during an online event ahead of timetable changes.

Aviation Industry

• Virgin Atlantic: Little Red must deliver Virgin Atlantic is remaining tight-lipped on the performance of its Little Red short-haul venture, amid suggestions of possible closure. read more
• US trialing smartphone app to replace paper customs form US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has launched a limited trial at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) of a program that allows passengers arriving on international flights to use a smartphone app in place of a paper customs form. read more
• Boeing launches high-capacity 737 MAX 200; Launch customer Ryanair says it will be low-cost game changerBoeing announced Monday a new high-capacity version of the 737 MAX, taking the 189-seater to up to a 200-seater, with Irish low-cost carrier (LCC) Ryanair the launch customer with a commitment for 100 aircraft plus options on 100 more. read more
• Bombardier’s CSeries takes to the air for the first time since engine failureBombardier Commercial Aircraft resumed flight testing of its CSeries aircraft Sunday with flight test vehicle two (FTV2) taking to the air at the manufacturer’s facility in Mirabel, Quebec. read more
• Norwegian agrees Gatwick lounge deal with No.1 TravellerAirline’s premium-class passengers can now use No.1 lounge at Gatwick South Terminal
• Luton airport evacuated after ‘suspicious item' foundAll incoming flights suspended after following security alert

Other News Sources

• Rolls Royce announces plans for new Bognor centre employing 200 staff Luxury car maker Rolls-Royce has announced plans for a major new development which will secure 200 jobs.