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

Monday, 27 October 2014

BBC News

• Helicopter safety call response dueA report from the UK government responding to a call for a public inquiry into offshore helicopter safety is due to be published.
• Cars stuck between A82 landslipsAbout 15 cars were stuck between two landslips on the A82 in the Highlands as heavy rain caused flooding and travel disruption.
• 'HS3' backed for north of EnglandPlans for a high-speed "HS3" rail link in the north of England have moved a step closer after a report by the boss of the HS2 scheme, Sir David Higgins.

Department for Transport

• Students challenged to design audio and visual tools to improve travel for blind and deaf bus passengersTransport Minister Baroness Kramer launched a competition for students aimed at devising new ways to make bus travel easier for people who have visual or hearing impairments.
• Accessibility improvements at Leighton Buzzard station are close to completion.Transport Minister Baroness Kramer was in Bedfordshire today (24 October 2014) to inspect the progress of much needed works to improve accessibility at Leighton Buzzard station.
• PM and Chancellor give green light to develop HS3The rail link is part of a radical plan to improve transport in the north: the proposals will be key in creating a northern powerhouse.

Financial Times

• HS2 hailed ‘catalyst’ for northern growthSir David Higgins, the project’s chairman, has given a boost to calls for HS3 and a super-city

The Guardian

• Pennines tunnel key to HS3 plans for the northMinisters back HS2 chiefs radical overhaul of service with claims that cuts in east-to-west journey times are a necessityPlans for high-speed rail links beneath the Pennines are to be developed after the government backed proposals from HS2s chairman to radically reduce journey times between Manchester, Leeds and cities across the north.David Higginss review of the second phase of HS2 endorsed the two planned routes joining the first London-Birmingham line to Manchester and Leeds, but stressed that urgent additional work was needed to forge transformational connections from west to east. Conti...

The Herald

• PM backs HS3 plans to cut journey timesDAVID Cameron and George Osborne have welcomed a report which suggests journey times between northern English cities could be slashed under proposals put forward yesterday by the boss of the £50billion HS2 high-speed rail project.
• Road safety group urges softer penalties for drink-driversLEADING road-safety campaigners have urged police and prosecutors to hit with softer penalties some motorists breaking Scotland's new drink-drive limits.
• Rail-journey times 'could be halved'DAVID Cameron and George Osborne have welcomed a report which suggests journey times between northern English cities could be slashed under proposals put forward yesterday by the boss of the £50 billion HS2 high-speed rail project.
• Calls for MSPs to back campaign for cycle law changeTHE families of two cyclists killed in accidents on Scotland's roads have urged MSPs to back changes to ensure drivers would have to prove they were not at fault in road accidents.

The Independent

• Manchester to Leeds in half an hour: HS3 rail plan is ready to depart Train journey times between the north of England’s biggest cities would be halved under plans published on Monday for new high-speed rail services across the Pennines.

Mail Online

• Ministers give the go-ahead for THIRD high speed rail link: And we don't even know what HS2 will cost us yet!  The government has green-lit the project saying it will part of a 'long-term economic plan for the north', despite protestations over the cost of HS2 - thought to be around £50billion.
• Residents in trouble...for mending their road! Dithering council penpushers accuse them of trespassing  Volunteers got together to take action after the council had failed to repair a road devastated by a landslide on the Isle of Wight.
• Insurance companies refuse to insure Range Rovers in London unless owners have secure parking after spate of thefts  Range Rover owners in London may not be able to insure their cars after high-end motor insurers have refused to insure expensive vehicles following a series of thefts across the capital.

The Mirror

• Leeds to Manchester in 26 minutes as new HS3 train service to halve journey timesPlans for new high speed rail line will see journey times in northern cities halved - but is it worth the £50b?

Manchester Evening News

• 'HS3' plan would cut journey times between Manchester and Leeds by halfRail chiefs have finally outlined plans for the so-called High Speed 3 scheme linking Manchester with Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Hull.

Metro

• Manchester to Leeds in just 35 minutes as part of ‘HS3′ planTrain journey times between northern English cities could be reduced by half in the next stage of the high-speed rail project, a report has revealed.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Quality Contract Scheme: What will changes to the bus system in Tyne and Wear mean for you?The North East Combined Authority has voted for a plan which could give councils power over when and how often bus services run in Tyne and Wear

Sheffield Star

• Get on your bike for challenging Doncaster cycle ridesCyclists in Doncaster are being ured to get out on their bikes this autumn.
• Breaking: New HS3 rail link to connect north and slash Sheffield journey timesA multi-billion high speed rail link to connect northern cities - slashing journey times between Sheffield and Leeds by up to half - has been unveiled.
• Sheffield Council leader - HS3 rail plans focus on ‘speed not economy’Sheffield Council leader Julie Dore has said the HS3 rail link plans focus on ‘speed and not economic growth’.

The York Press

• Train journey times between northern cities could be slashed TRAIN journey times between northern cities, including York, could be slashed under proposals put forward by the boss of the £50 billion HS2 high-speed rail project.

Wales Online

• School bus concerns raised over auction system for award of contractsSome bus operators say the online auctions 'trivialise' the task of transporting children safely and result in low prices which are unsustainable

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Overhaul planned for Leeds train station in plans for new high-speed rail linkLEEDS railway station is set to be completely re-modelled under plans to create a new high-speed rail line reducing journey times between the biggest cities in the north of England.

Yorkshire Post

• Big benefits for North in high-speed rail revolutionToday this Government takes the next step in our long-term economic plan for the North: giving the go-ahead to plans that will bring the high speed rail revolution to Yorkshire, writes David Cameron.

Plymouth Herald

• LETTER Why don't we close our bus lanes?I WAS interested to read that Liverpool City Council is to consider closing some of its bus lanes.

Other Regional Press

• Bus service not justifiedA bus service between Mapperley and Ilkeston that was scrapped in March will not be reinstated despite a petition that residents sent to Derbyshire County Council.
• Commuters may be offered half price fares if they move to Ebbsfleet garden city says Michael Cassidy, development corporation chairman-designateHalf price rail fares could be used to entice commuters to move to a new garden city in Kent, according to the man set to get construction happening.
• New tracks would mean better service regardless of HS2 plans say campaignersNeed for more work on existing lines say rail campaigners

Other News Sources

• Changes to buses as Hampshire County Council cuts £1.5m costsSUNDAY bus services are to face the axe as the county council looks to cut £1.5m from the money it uses to subsidise bus services.
• Future looks fare for bus company apprenticeA NEW career is just the ticket for Peterlee student Peter Billyard.