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

Wednesday, 24 September 2014

BBC News

• Air France abandoning Transavia plans, says ministerAir France has dropped plans to expand its Transavia low-cost airline, the government has said, following a week-long strike by its pilots.
• Labour pledges to put 'rail passengers before profits'Labour has pledged to put "passengers before profit" in how the railways are run if it regains power.
• Tube to run 24-hour weekend serviceThe Tube will run a 24-hour service at weekends from next September, it is announced.
• Tube carriage 'filled with smoke'A commuter describes coughing and feeling scared after a Tube carriage filled with smoke on Tuesday morning's rush hour.
• Air France pilots protest in ParisUp to 200 Air France pilots have demonstrated in Paris over the company's plan to expand its low-cost airline.

The Guardian

• Labour conference: shadow transport secretary warns of ‘market failure’Investing in the UK transport system has clear economic benefits, but how should new schemes be funded?
• How can I reduce traffic in my area?Your street should be more than a road. Emma McGowan looks at how to reduce the noise of traffic and increase the noise of play in your neighbourhoodThe carbon-cutting transport scheme helping the Black Isle go greenPeople are growing much more aware of the impact of traffic, including air pollution and crowded residential streets, says Sian Berry from the Campaign for Better Transport. Its not surprising that communities are taking action to make their streets quieter, cleaner and friendlier.There are a number of approaches you can take. The charity Sustrans helps communities redesign their s...

The Independent

• Commuters on London Underground 'choked' during rush hour fire alert Commuters have described how they struggled to breathe on a busy London Underground tube carriage this morning after it filled with smoke.

The Telegraph

• Buses as popular today as in 1980sGrowth in journeys driven by working adults as economy continues to grow, official figures suggest
• Routemaster Bus marked with Google DoodleGoogle is marking the 60th anniversary of the iconic Routemaster bus 60 years after it was unveiled.

The Mirror

• Routemaster bus: Google Doodle celebrates 60 years of London's iconic double-decker New Google Doodle marks 60 years since London's Routemaster bus was unveiled to the public

Network Rail

• Dunblane station’s new £3m footbridge opens for Ryder CupTransport Minister Keith Brown today (Tuesday, September 23) joined Network Rail to officially open the new fully-accessible footbridge and lifts at Dunblane station.
• Find out more about the impact of railway upgrades in WalsallResidents and businesses in Walsall are urged to find out more about the latest planned work in the area as part of the electrification of the railway between Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Buses lead over safetySIR – It is significant that the plea for better road safety (September 18) was from a bus driver. Buses are as safe as trains, and ten times safer than cars

Journal Live

• Labour Shadow Transport Secretary backs controversial North East bus contractsMary Creagh said we should allow councils decide on timetables and services by bus operators in the region

London Evening Standard

• Cycle Superhighway 2: Boris Johnson announces £25m upgrade to notorious Bow-Whitechapel cycle route Enhanced safety measures along London’s most notorious bike route will be installed by 2016, the mayor announced today.
• Commuters left 'choking and screaming' on rush hour Tube as carriage fills with smoke Commuters were left "choking and screaming" on a busy Tube train this morning when the carriage filled with smoke.
• London's best folding bikes Sada
• Lucy Tobin: We’re feeling the squeeze on the Tube now My sprint into the closing doors of a Northern line Tube this morning was greeted by the usual carriage nonchalance. As I burst into the carriage, gasping from my run to avoid waiting another three minutes (with the resultant decrease in empty-seat probability) no one looked up from their phone.
• London Routemaster bus celebrated with Google Doodle The original London Routemaster bus has been transformed into a Google Doodle to celebrate 60 years since the first model was unveiled.

Manchester Evening News

• Transport for Greater Manchester boss calls for more power and control over cashCoun Andrew Fender, chair of the Transport for Greater Manchester committee, told a Labour Party fringe meeting that a move away from a centralised political economy would be welcome
• Labour to promise cheaper, better buses for ManchesterShadow transport secretary Mary Creagh is expected to tell delegates at the Labour conference that the city will get London-style powers to stop bus firms ripping off passengers and axing routes.
• Wrong turn! Metrolink services disrupted as a motorist drives onto the tracks at Ashton-under-LyneA car took a wrong turn and ended up rattling up the Metrolink track beside the Ashton West Stop at 8.50pm

Sheffield Star

• Rail firm on track for successRail bosses from across Doncaster were on track for a meeting aimed at bringing millions of pounds of business steaming into town.

Wales Online

• Cheers Drive! Bus driver Peter Mascall is named best in Wales for the second time in three yearsPeter Mascall was named the best bus driver in Wales - for the second time in three years at the annual Bus Driver of the Year competition.

Blackpool Gazette

• Train chiefs new route ‘aspiration’Rail bosses today told The Gazette they will look at introducing more direct routes between Blackpool and London – if initial plans to run a daily return service to the capital are a success.

North Wales Live

• Major rail disruption | Virgin Trains driver injured by electric shock en route to Liverpool Lime Street Chaos as all trains on Liverpool to London route are brought to standstill with passengers advise to assess their travel arrangements for Wednesday

Peterborough Telegraph

• Peterborough students’ work being viewed by thousands at rail stationCreative students are showcasing their talents to thousands of rail travellers in a unique art exhibition taking place in the waiting room at the city’s train station.

Other Regional Press

• Manston Airport sold to Trevor Cartner and Chris Musgrave - specialists in regeneration - who developed Discovery Park at PfizerManston Airport has been sold to a team of specialists in regeneration - with plans for a £1bn redevelopment.
• New fleet of X5 buses serving Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge18 new coaches are being introduced on the intercity X5 service from Oxford to Cambridge.

Aviation Industry

• IATA chief accuses US of regulatory overreach IATA DG and CEO Tony Tyler has accused US regulatory authorities of micromanaging the airline industry’s relationships with its customers to such an extent it runs directly against the grain of the US Airline Deregulation Act. read more
• Monarch bidder chosen as focus switches to low-cost marketGreybull Capital could complete deal for group next month
• UK airports suffer drop in 'on time' flightsFlight punctuality falls 3% from 2013

Other News Sources

• Direct-vision lorries to save hundreds of lives – studyAn 80cm longer cab with a rounded nose, smaller dashboard, expanded glazed areas and a slightly lower driver position could drastically reduce fatal blind spots around the lorry cab, a new study by the Loughborough Design School
• Signal failure causes mayhem on trains TRAINS were cancelled and delayed after a signal failure caused chaos yesterday.