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

Wednesday, 10 September 2014

BBC News

• Reading green power station opens for busesA £1m environmentally-friendly gas station has opened in Reading to power public transport in the town.
• Plans to enlarge Bank Tube stationAn application to enlarge Bank Tube station is submitted to the government by Transport for London.
• East Coast rail increases profitThe publicly-owned railway company, East Coast, returned almost £220m to the taxpayer last year, according to its annual results.

The Guardian

• State-owned East Coast paid £225m to Treasury but still faces privatisationTransport union leader says reprivatisation of most popular long-distance railway franchise is 'all about Tory dogma'The state-owned East Coast railway paid £225m to the government in the year to March 2014, the last financial year before it is reprivatised.Results published by Directly Operated Railways (DOR)

The Herald

• East Coast franchise makes £217m profitA PLAN to re-privatise the East Coast franchise
• CO2 emissions 'rising at fastest rate for 30 years'SURGING carbon dioxide levels have pushed greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to record highs, the World Meteorological Organisation has said.

The Telegraph

• England to get first solar powered ambulancesSolar panels fitted to roofs of ambulances in Yorkshire will remove need for paramedics to leave engine idling

Mail Online

• Three MILLIONTH new Mini rolls off production line - but German owner BMW says success means more will have to be made outside Britain  First manufactured in 1959, the Mini has sold more than 5.3 million cars worldwide between 1959 and 2000. It is so successful that its new production plant must be opened in Holland.
• Northern Rail staff wouldn't help pensioner who fell down Leeds station escalator The elderly lady 'fell backwards' while travelling up an escalator at Leeds station. But astonishingly, rail staff refused to help her because they hadn't been trained in 'people-handling'.

Birmingham Post

• David Bailey: Jaguar Land Rover needs the XE to sell well Will Jaguar succeed with the new XE saloon and finally challenge a sector dominated by German manufacturers?

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Deputy prime minister joins calls to scrap Bradford's decrepit 'Pacer' trains NICK Clegg has joined calls to scrap the district’s decrepit Pacer trains – arguing it is “ludicrousâ€� they are still running.

London Evening Standard

• London cabbies protest at Mayor’s scheme to scrap ‘cleaner’ old taxis London cabbies were today due to hit out at one of Boris Johnson’s flagship anti-pollution policies with a go-slow protest in the capital.

Manchester Evening News

• Manchester Airport jobs boost as Ryanair announces new routesAirline to increase passenger numbers by 300,000 and create 400 jobs as part of new business plan

Northern Echo

• Nick Clegg joins calls to scrap Pacer trains NICK Clegg has joined calls to scrap the North’s decrepit ‘Pacer’ trains – arguing it is “ludicrousâ€� that they are still running.

Sheffield Star

• Rail cuts protestors ‘shocked’ at South Yorkshire travel bodies’ firm stanceTransport organisations in South Yorkshire will not change their stance on travel pass cuts – after a meeting with protesters ended in failure for campaigners.

The York Press

• Selby rail service resumes after repair of swing bridge RAIL passengers were able to catch their regular trains from York to Selby after Network Rail reopened Selby Swing Bridge yesterday after £14 million of repairs.

Bucks Free Press

• HS2 advice to be given at council seminar A FREE seminar offering advice to Bucks residents who will address a leading government committee on HS2 is being held by a council this week.

Carlisle News & Star

• 15-tonne steelworks 'sculpture' set for busy roundabout A tribute to west Cumbria’s steel heritage could become a reality – two years after it was first proposed.

Other Regional Press

• Main entrance of Northampton train station ‘will be at the back’The steep steps leading into Northampton’s new rail station are not intended to be the main entrance to the building, Network Rail has claimed.
• Flight MH17: Latest updates as investigators say Malaysia Airlines plane was hit 'with large number of high-energy objects' Preliminary report will be issued today into the downing of the flight over Ukraine, which killed 298 people

Railnews

• East Coast profits and passenger numbers up The nationalised Intercity East Coast franchise has reported a rise in profits to £225.3 million before tax. The comparable figure last year was £208.7 million. East Coast paid premiums and dividends of £216.8 million to the Department for Transport in 2013-14, up from £202.8 million in the previous year, and the results seem likely to fuel fresh opposition to the reprivatisation of East Coast in 2015.

Aviation Industry

• Majority of MPs back Heathrow expansionIndependent poll finds 58% of MPs back airport's third runway plan
• MH17: Flight downed by ‘high-energy objects’Preliminary report finds ‘no evidence of technical or human error’
• Heathrow ground handlers to strike Friday24hr action planned in dispute over pay
• Lufthansa pilots to strike in Munich on WednesdayThird strike in two weeks for Lufthansa

Other News Sources

• Rail staff consider strike over rotas RAILWAY staff are looking at strike action amid a row over conductors’ rotas.