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

Friday, 10 October 2014

BBC News

• Borders railway track laying beginsTrack laying is under way on the multi-million pound rail link between the Scottish Borders and Edinburgh.
• Rail station set for improvementsThe company which won the franchise to run ScotRail services says it will invest £2.5m in improving the train station in Aberdeen.
• New Tube train designs unveiledNew train designs unveiled

Financial Times

• UK airports add medical checks for Ebola

The Guardian

• MH17: one passenger was wearing oxygen mask when he diedDutch prosecutors say Australian man had mask around neck, raising questions over what passengers may have known of fateThe body of one passenger on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was found wearing an oxygen mask, Dutch prosecutors said on Thursday, raising questions about how much those on board knew about their fate when the plane crashed in eastern Ukraine in July.The passenger, an Australian, did not have the mask on his face but around his neck, said Wim de Bruin, a spokesman for the Dutch national prosecutors office, which is carrying out a criminal investigation into the disaster. ...

The Herald

• Making tracks: Borders rail project is on timeWork is under way to install almost 30 miles of rail on the new Borders line, according to project chiefs.

The Telegraph

• Watch what new 'driverless' tube trains for London from TFL will look likeWatch an animation of the new London Underground tube trains that will come into service in the mid-2020s
• Boris Johnson unveils driverless trains for London UndergroundBoris Johnson has unveiled that the future of the London Underground will be driverless trains but stressed that staff should not feel their jobs are under threat

Daily Record

• Record View: Scotland's £6bn railway deal is on the wrong track RECORD VIEW questions the decision to hand the £6bn contract to run the country's railways to a Dutch firm and says an equal bid from the Scottish Government might have allowed money to stay here.

Mail Online

• Family booths and couple pods are the future of holiday flying says Thomson Airways as it unveils plans for child-free zones on flights Family booths and couple pods will be available to passengers on-board Thomson Airways flights as it unveils plans for child-free zones.
• Peace at last on a plane? Noise-cancelling device to be embedded in SEATS to create personal quiet zones Help could be at hand for aircraft passengers fed up with the sound of wailing babies, non-stop talkers or snorers.

This is Money

• Hitachi wins rail deal to build electric trains for Scotland Dutch transport group Abellio, which is taking over the ScotRail franchise from Aberdeen-based FirstGroup next April, has named Hitachi Rail Europe as preferred bidder for the contract.

Network Rail

• Network Rail comment on this week’s disruption on the Great Western Main LineA Network Rail spokesperson, said: “We are sorry for the problems that have affected train services on the Great Western Main Line this week. Performance has been well below the standards passengers deserve and expect.
• Drop-in session for Tufnell Park residents to find out more about Churchill Road footbridge reconstructionMembers of the public are invited to attend a drop-in-event to find out more about the reconstruction of Churchill Road footbridge in Tufnell Park, north London.
• Bexleyheath station accessible for everyone thanks to new liftsNew lifts and a new footbridge have been opened at Bexleyheath, making the station fully accessible for everyone.
• Strood station accessible for everyone thanks to new liftsNew lifts and a new footbridge have been opened at Strood, in Kent, making the station fully accessible for the first time in its 156-year-history.

Journal Live

• Hitachi named as preferred bidder for 70 Scotrail electric trainsA dutch transport group has confirmed that Hitachi Rail Europe is its preferred bidder for the construction of electric trains for Scotrail.

London Evening Standard

• Faded stretch of A4 from Chiswick to Syon Lane ‘to become a Golden gateway’ Ambitious plans to turn a congested stretch of the A4 Great West Road studded with faded Art Deco landmarks into a thriving new gateway to London are unveiled today.
• Revealed: Inside the new 'driverless' Tube trains to be phased in on London Underground from 2022 Transport chiefs today announced plans for a £16bn overhaul of some of the Tube’s most neglected lines, including a fleet of 250 “driverlessâ€� trains.
• London Tube strike suspended after 'substantial progress' made in talks, RMT announces Next week's planned Tube strike has been put on hold after constructive talks between union chiefs and London Underground officials.

Manchester Evening News

• Parents call for 'death trap' tram crossing close to schools to be moved - but Metrolink say it would cost too muchChorlton residents sign petition over plans which mean children could have to cross TWO tram lines on their way to school

Northern Echo

• North-East train builder to spearhead industry's future A NORTH-EAST train builder will spearhead the industry’s future after securing a lucrative Scottish deal, it was tonight claimed.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post published HS2 station will boost economyArticle

Sheffield Star

• On track to be a major player in HS2 rail projectDoncaster’s tradition as a railway town is powering into the future after it was selected for a £30 million High Speed Rail College.

The York Press

• Rail investment lined up to boost York services TRAINS calling at York will be given a share of almost £8million after a rail operator announced it is set to invest heavily in its services.

Yorkshire Post

• Action needed as bus cuts leave older people at risk of lonelinessOLDER PEOPLE left isolated by cuts to bus routes and concessionary fares will be asked about the impact of loss of services in a bid to reduce the effects of loneliness on their health.

Blackpool Gazette

• Union calls for more time in bid to help save airport jobsUnion bosses have called on Balfour Beatty to think again about the rapid closure of Blackpool Airport to give parties more time to come up with a rescue package to save jobs.

Doncaster Free Press

• On track to be a major player in HS2 rail projectDoncaster’s tradition as a railway town is powering into the future after it was selected for a £30 million High Speed Rail College.

Other Regional Press

• Kent Eurostar terminals will test passengers for ebola virus in Ashford and EbbsfleetPassengers on Eurostar services will be tested for ebola at Kent terminals.

Bus and Coach.com

• Record number of UK Bus Award finalistsBus operators and local authorities across the country have plenty to celebrate today after hearing they have been shortlisted to go forward in the prestigious UK Bus Awards.
• London to order another 200 BorismastersAn order for a further 200 New Routemasters is expected to be approved by Transport for London’s finance committee next week, taking the total fleet of the type to 800 by April 2016.
• Battle looms over quality contractsA decision on the future control of bus services in Tyne and Wear is to be made in less than two weeks, when the North East Combined Authority meets on 21 October to consider a recommendation from the PTE, Nexus, to introduce quality contracts.
• First aims to double bus profit marginsFirst reports trading in line with its expectations for the six months to 30 September.
• Megabus expands in BrusselsThe Brussels-based operation of megabus started this week, with six 72-seat Van Hool coaches and 20 drivers serving three routes, to Luxembourg, Lille and Rotterdam.
• Southern Vectis aids dementia projectGo Ahead-owned Southern Vectis is supporting Dementia Friendly Newport, a project aimed at raising awareness of the condition.
• Technology award for LuckettsLucketts Travel Group has won a regional award for the best use of technology to improve business performance.
• Enviro500 in Mexico trialThe first modern double-decker to operate in Latin America is undergoing a month-long trial with Metrobus in Mexico City.
• Crossway order by DB RegioGermany’s largest bus company, DB Regio, has ordered 400 Iveco Crossway buses for delivery in 2015-16.
• Big Lemon owner clearedTom Druitt, owner of Brighton bus company The Big Lemon, has been cleared of charges relating to the use of one of the company’s coaches in a protest against fracking in Greater Manchester last year.

Aviation Industry

• US starts enhanced Ebola screening of West African travellersIncreased security at five major US airports