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

Wednesday, 15 October 2014

BBC News

• Thames tunnel crossing plan unveiledDetailed plans for a £750m tunnel under the Thames in east London are unveiled, but opponents says Transport for London's plans to cut congestion are
• Oil prices slide on IEA reportGlobal oil prices fall further after the International Energy Agency reports higher output and cuts its forecast for growth in demand.

Financial Times

• ANA boss calls for new runway at HeathrowAirline boss’s comments on congestion come ahead of Airports Commission report on capacity
• China lines up Carnival for cruise shipsJoint venture to design and build China’s first luxury cruise vessels
• TCI invited on board Spain airports sell-offHohn fund will be one of three key shareholders for Aena

The Herald

• Motorway set for night-time worksONE of Scotland's busiest motorways is to be partially closed at night to allow for resurfacing work.
• Drivers get message about city bus gateTHE number of motorists illegally driving through a controversial city centre bus gate has fallen by almost 77 per cent since its introduction.

The Independent

• Ebola panic spreads as screening reaches Heathrow “I’m going to London St Pancras,â€� a worried caller told BBC Radio Leicester today, “which is very, very popular with people from all over the world, so I’m possibly going to be in contact with someone who has Ebola.â€�

The Telegraph

• London Underground upgrade: a driverless future?London's subway is due an update. Here's an artist impression of what their future trains will look like and what kind of features they will have
• Slow worms halt work on new railway stationEcologists spend a month moving colony of 25 slow worms from site of new Exeter Newcourt train station

City AM

• Coca-Cola looks to put fizz into Boris BikesCoca-Cola could replace Barclays as the main spon­sor of London’s Boris Bikes in a deal at an annual cost of at least £5.5m, acc­ord­ing to Sky News. A Coca-Cola spokesperson said: “We are always looking at partnerships which are a good fit for our brands.â€�
• Balfour names Leo Quinn as new chief execBALFOUR Beatty has snagged Leo Quinn, chief executive of QinetiQ, to lead it out of troubled waters after a turbulent year and a series of profit warnings. Quinn, who has headed up defence technology company QinetiQ since 2009, takes over from Andrew McNaughton who stepped down after Balfour issued a profit warning in May. He had been in the job for a year. In August, Balfour shocked analysts and some investors by rejecting an offer from rival construction company Carillion in a possible £3bn merger deal. At the time, Balfour said the offer was not in the best interests of its sharehol...

Daily Express

• Tories demand plan to fix our crumbling roads COUNCILS have spent £600,000 a day fixing Scotland’s crumbling roads over the past seven years, it was revealed yesterday.

Mail Online

• The drivers who are too vain to wear their glasses: One in eight who need specs admit not always wearing them behind the wheel Millions of motorists are putting themselves and others at risk on Britain's roads because they are too vain to wear their glasses while driving.

Network Rail

• Residents' views sought on Marsh Gibbon and Calvert crossingsResidents from Marsh Gibbon and Calvert will have the opportunity to give their views on how railway crossing safety can be improved in their area by attending a public consultation event on Wednesday 22 October.
• Opportunity for the public to have their say on the future of the Western route rail networkPeople across the Thames Valley, the West and South West of England can have their say on the future of the region’s rail network following the publication by Network Rail of the rail industry’s draft Western route study.

Bolton News

• Four teenagers charged with £60,000 bus smashing rampage Four teenagers have been charged with causing thousands of pounds of damage at a Bolton bus depot.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Shipley bus lane catches out eight drivers a day DRIVERS who stray into a Shipley bus lane are being caught at a rate of eight a day, new figures reveal.

London Evening Standard

• Londoners on the road: Beware the SMIDSY* .. (*sorry, mate, I didn’t see you) The very first thing other Londoners — the Tube kind, the car kind, the cab kind — will say to a cyclist who explains that they run the gauntlet of the capital’s roads on two wheels twice daily is “You’re brave.â€� Actually, I don’t feel particularly unsafe cycling in London but it would be false to suggest that I have never been scared, never made a mistake or not been the near-victim of someone else’s errors on the road.
• Ebola screening begins at Heathrow Airport The first passengers to be screened for Ebola at Heathrow today said they were “shockedâ€� that the process is voluntary and called for more stringent measures. 
• John Lewis opens first station store in St Pancras John Lewis has today opened its first-ever railway station shop within St Pancras International aiming to take advantage of tourists and commuters.

Manchester Evening News

• MAG's chief operating officer Andrew Cowan named chair of BITC's North West Regional Advisory Board MAG was one of the big winners at this year’s BITC North West Responsible Business Awards, recognising the business’ commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Northern Echo

• Newport Bridge repairs to take longer than expected but road may reopen this month THE repainting and repairing of the Newport Bridge is set to take much longer than originally planned Stockton Council has announced plans to change its programme of works to the bridge so the A1032 which runs across it can reopen as soon as possible.

Sheffield Telegraph

• Sheffield travel pass now available as smartcardA travel pass which lets passengers get around Sheffield by bus and tram is now available as an electronic pass.

Wales Online

• Swansea Bay draws inspiration from the London Underground for a map to help cyclists around the the cityA London Undergound-style map showing cycling routes in Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot aims to boost tourism in the area

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Monarch Airlines expands routes to LeedsHOLIDAYMAKERS will be able to fly to two new routes from Leeds Bradford Airport after a airline announced an expansion of its service there.

Yorkshire Post

• Ports giant and developer to battle it out over £440m planPORTS giant ABP and rival developers Able remain at loggerheads ahead of a parliamentary hearing today into ABP’s objections to a £440m marine energy park on the Humber.

Blackpool Gazette

• Anger over airport as staff face job lossThe finger of blame has been pointed at Jet2 and Balfour Beatty on the eve of the last flights from Blackpool International Airport.

Daventry Express

• M1 to be closed overnight for emergency repairsA series of overnight closures of the M1 in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire will begin tonight (14 October) so emergency resurfacing can be undertaken.

North Wales Live

• Taxi bus operator clashes with Arriva and airport officials at Liverpool John Lennon AirportTony Mullane, director of A&J Taxis, had agreed to take passengers from the airport to the city centre

Other Regional Press

• Aircraft manufacturer’s talks with firmsBosses at an aircraft manufacturer have been holding talks with several aviation businesses from Blackpool Airport, to offer support.
• Think tank Centre for London publishes report chaired by Lord Adonis calling for new Thames crossing near to Dartford QEII bridgeA think tank is calling for four new crossings to be built on the Thames, including near to the current bridge in Dartford.
• Full steam ahead for Huddersfield and Penistone community rail projects at prestigious national awards ceremonyFriends of Huddersfield Station and Huddersfield University student, Jessica Kopka, who won prizes for the projects
• Ebola screening set to be introduced at Birmingham Airport with TEN cases predicted in UK within weeks Health Secretary reveals contingency plans to check travellers at risk as they enter UK through Midlands airport

Aviation Industry

• Etihad reports 29% revenue boost for Q3Passenger number increase by 30% between July and September

Other News Sources

• Heathrow holds back Virgin Atlantic’s expansionDALLAS — Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Atlantic Airways, said a shortage of operating slots at London’s Heathrow airport is so acute that it is holding back the airline’s expansion.
• Four new London river crossings needed for growth, Adonis urgesA new report has called for four new river crossings to be built in East London to unlock economic development and new homes.