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

Thursday, 02 October 2014

BBC News

• Rail lines open after trackside fireA fire involving 200 tonnes of metal at a scrapyard in Smethwick is brought under control.
• Ex-ministers attack M4 relief roadTwo former environment ministers criticise Welsh government plans for an M4 relief road south of Newport.
• Airlines told to replace cockpit kitThe US air safety regulator has ordered airlines to replace cockpit displays in more than 1,300 planes because of fears that wi-fi signals can make them go blank.
• Virgin adds new flights from GlasgowVirgin Atlantic add 3,500 departure seats to its 2015 service from Glasgow Airport to Orlando, Florida.
• Thousands unable to renew car taxThousands of customers trying to renew their car tax online are experiencing problems with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) website.

Financial Times

• Skymark and Airbus near A380 settlementJapanese budget carrier said it was nearing settlement over a cancelled superjumbo order

The Herald

• Queen Street station makeover will have extra bike stands and wider stairsUpdated plans for the £104m transformation of Queen Street station in Glasgow, including extra cycle stands and wider stairs at the George Square entrance, have been published today.
• Website chaos on first day of tax disc changesTHE first day of the ­paperless car tax system descended into chaos with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) website buckling under
• £104m vision for new Queen Street station revealedUPDATED plans for Glasgow Queen Street station's £104 million transformation have been published.

The Scotsman

• East Coast train marks Edinburgh depot centenaryAN East Coast locomotive has been decorated with new insignia to mark the centenary of the train line’s main depot.

The Telegraph

• Christmas trains: you can buy advance fares from today and save up to £148Advance train tickets for the Christmas period go on sale today - with an average saving of £50
• Tax discs: thousands of motorists denied discount by DVLAThe Government will pocket up to £3.3 million from a surcharge paid by drivers who renewed their vehicle tax last month, calculations for The Telegraph indicate
• Bullet train at 50: rise and fall of the world's fastest trainAs Japan's Shinkansen network celebrates its 50th anniversary, Julian Ryall charts the history of the game-changing locomotive
• Women in Rail: How WWI created rare career opportunities for womenHow the First World War created rare career opportunities for women

Birmingham Post

• HS2 viaduct plans for South Staffordshire scrappedGovernment responds to local campaign as protesters warned over impact on countryside around Lichfield

Daily Post (North Wales)

• More investment needed for A55 and North Wales transport, says Rhun ap IorwethAnglesey AM will push for greater improvements to the dual carriageway and region's railway line

London Evening Standard

• Government funds may not be needed for £3bm Bakerloo Line extension, says city hall The proposed £3billion extension to the Bakerloo Line can be built without cash handouts from the government, City Hall today as a public consultation on the route was launched.
• Chaos on Central Line platforms as police are called to deal with 'unsafe' overcrowding Hundreds of commuters faced 'unsafe' overcrowding on platforms in this morning's rush hour as severe delays hit the central line.
• Cyclist taken to hospital with serious injuries after collision with National Express coach in Oxford Street A cyclist has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after a collision with a National Express coach in Oxford Street.

The York Press

• High speed rail college comes to Yorkshire THE proposed high speed rail college is coming to Yorkshire as Doncaster is selected to co-host the training centre.

Wales Online

• DVLA's car tax website crashes after demand soars following abolition of paper discsSome motorists have spent hours trying to access the DVLA's new car tax website which has been hit by huge demand...

Blackpool Gazette

• 20mph limits ‘may stop race track drivers’Plans to lower the speed limit across a raft of streets in Blackpool could stop bad drivers from using suburban streets as “race tracks”, neighbours said today.

Crewe Chronicle

• Crewe misses out on HS2 collegeThe new national training college will be at Birmingham and Doncaster

Other Regional Press

• 'We didn't think you'd notice': Heathrow apologises for not informing residents of new flight paths RESIDENTS in the Bracknell area were not warned there would be noisy aircraft roaring over their homes because it was thought they would not notice, a Heathrow Airport boss has said.
• Network Rail works to fix serious damage to track, causing delays for Southeastern train passengers across KentTrain passengers could face travel misery due to diversions and cancellations for most of October, after a main piece of track was seriously damaged.
• Residents of west Kent pleased by Gatwick Airport revealing it will delay decision on controversial airspace consultationGatwick Airport is to delay a decision on whether to go ahead with new flight paths until next year, it's been revealed.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• A Vision for Transport PlanningA framework for better, more prosperous places (pdf document)
• Osborne pledges Tory focus on infrastructureGeorge Osborne says Conservative government would prioritise investment in infrastructure and create a connected “powerhouse” of northern cities.
• MPs call for direct rail link between Oxford and BristolTen MPs have written to transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin calling for the introduction of a direct train service between Oxford and Bristol.

Aviation Industry

• Abu Dhabi airport reports strong passenger traffic growthTraffic up 24.8% in August compared to same period in 2013
• KLM offers airport navigation service at SchipholDutch airline to use beacon technology for route planner app
• Qatar signs deal with Vueling to boost European trafficGulf carrier agrees interline deal with Spanish airline

Other News Sources

• Heathrow finance chief to stand downThe finance chief of Heathrow is to stand down in the spring after eight years.
• Transport body proposes national spatial planning strategyGovernment should create a 'national spatial planning strategy' for transport projects in order to help address the nation's transport problems, according to a report.
• Bus named after primal screamer A ROCK guitarist has been honoured with a bus being named after him following his funeral.
• ITM Scotland to discuss 'personalisation of risk management'Travel symposium to be held in Edinburgh on October 7