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

Wednesday, 26 November 2014

BBC News

• HS2: Fear and anger in Ickenhamckenham is an affluent, leafy suburb in north-west London. But now due to the necessities of tunnel engineering it finds itself - along with Camden - at the forefront of the fight against HS2.
• Passengers stuck on early Tube trainBakerloo Line passengers are stuck on an early morning Underground train in north-west London for more than an hour.

ITV News

• Nottingham's new £60m Transport Hub to be openedNottingham's new Transport Hub will be officially opened today, after a £60m investment.

Financial Times

• Cadillac chief keeps brand’s prices highNew boss says strategy may cost carmaker market share
• Fraport bids for Greek airport concessionPrivatisation would mark first German investment since debt crisis

The Guardian

• FirstGroup slides on talk it will miss out on East Coast franchiseReports suggest Eurostar and Keolis frontrunners for controversial privatisation of rail service

The Herald

• 400-bus order boost for Alexander DennisALEXANDER Dennis has secured an order for up to 400 buses from Canadian transport company Metrolinx, which is believed to be worth about £300 million.
• French favourites for East Coast lineUNIONS and opposition politicians have criticised reports that the UK's only Government-run rail line is to be taken over by a consortium largely owned by the French state.

Mail Online

• Manchester workmen save driver stuck on railway line after wrong turn The pensioner's car, pictured, was stuck on the tracks in Wythenshawe, Manchester for more than 30 minutes. Eventually workers freed the woman's car, rocking the car over the tracks to freedom.

The Mirror

• Britain's East Coast main line set to be sold off to French government consortiumA bid by Channel Tunnel rail operator Eurostar International and sister company Keolis is front-runner to win the contract for the route
• Train passengers told to 'run, hide and tell' if terrorists launch attackBritish Transport Police hand out leaflet giving commuters advice on what to do if they are caught up in an attack

Network Rail

• SUSSEX - Four-week countdown until major train changes for passengers travelling to or from London Bridge rail stationWith only four weeks to go until a 16-day part closure of London Bridge railway station and the start of long-term service changes, passengers are being urged to plan their alternative routes.
• Four-week countdown until major train service changes for passengers in KENTPassengers in Kent are being urged to check before they travel on Southeastern services as the countdown to major changes to trains through London Bridge railway station begins.
• New bridge and lifts to be installed at Chippenham stationPassengers are set to benefit from a better travelling experience after Network Rail announced today that work will soon begin to increase accessibility at Chippenham station by installing a new footbridge and lifts.

Birmingham Mail

• Historic Birmingham canal drained for work on new cycle schemeCanal in Birmingham city centre is drained for cycling and pedestrian improvements

Bolton News

• Bolton train station clock runs backwards RAIL commuters and passersby in Bolton were left confused when a clock outside Bolton train station started going backwards.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Grants to help with electric vehicle charging points ACCOMMODATION providers across the Bradford district can now access a council grant to install an electric vehicle charging point and encourage environmentally-friendly tourism.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Bus row bosses AWOL as bitter dispute continuesbus executives at the centre of a bitter boardroom row haven’t been seen at work for almost two weeks, it has emerged.
• French in line for East Coast rail franchiseTHE East Coast rail franchise looks set to be handed to two companies owned by the French state-run railway.

Lincolnshire Echo

• East Coast Main Line franchise: Keolis/Eurostar East Coast Ltd favourites to win contract Additional direct train services between Lincoln and London could be operated by Keolis/Eurostar East Coast Ltd in future after they were tipped as front-runners to win the East Coast rail franchise.

London Evening Standard

• London Bridge station's part-closure over Christmas 'will affect 12 million trips' The part-closure of one of London's busiest stations over Christmas could hit up to 12 million journeys, rail authorities warned today.
• TfL chief calls for calm in highly emotional cycle route debate London's transport chief has called for calm in the highly emotional debate over cycle superhighways as he revealed that there had been 20,000 responses to the consultation .
• More Londoners say cut in Tube fares is top priority An increasing number of  Londoners say cutting fares should be the priority for the Underground, a new poll reveals today.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Easington MP's anger over reports of rail take-over moveEasington MP hits out over reports Government-run rail line is to be taken over by consortium largely owned by French state

Blackpool Gazette

• Repairs on road to successMotorists may have been stuck in long queues and endless diversions – but Blackpool’s road transformation has won high praise.

Burnley Express

• M65 ‘standing water’ death smash fearsBurnley businessman Nick Emmott says people will die on the M65 if they hit standing water caused by poor maintenance.

Carlisle News & Star

• Work starts to redevelop Carlisle Airport Work is finally starting on the redevelopment of Carlisle Airport, bringing an end to decades of delays and false starts.

Other Regional Press

• D-Day for Cambridge bus lane blockers: thousands of drivers already caught on camera It's D-Day for bus lane blockers in Cambridge who now face being fined after thousands of drivers were caught on camera flouting traffic rules.
• North Wales transport upgrade plans go out to publicPLANS to upgrade transport infrastructure in North Wales have been released to the public.
• Delays expected as roadworks prepare Dartford Crossing for Dart Charge systemDisruption is expected for several weeks as work is carried out in preparation for the new automatic Dart Charge 'free flow' system.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Bridge marks first Crossrail trackThe first section of track that will be used by Crossrail services has been laid in Hillingdon. The 120m Stockley Flyover is predicted to improve journey times between Heathrow and central London, and will be used by Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect services from 2016, in addition to Crossrail trains. The bridge will allow services towards central London to join the Great Western line without being held up by other trains using the route. Crossrail services will start running along the new track in 2018, serving the route between Paddington and Heathrow. The full route will becom...

Aviation Industry

• Flybe to add Liverpool to Belfast flightsRegional airline adds UK domestic route for next year

Other News Sources

• Medium-sized businesses want full devolution of local transport, skills and business rates to help their growthA survey of leaders from medium-sized businesses (MSBs), by Grant Thornton UK LLP, reveals that ahead of Autumn Statement their top priorities for city devolution are budgets and control for local transport (59%), training (52%) and business rates (44%).
• Details revealed of Sleaford Transport Strategy after plans approved Widening town centre junctions, more frequent public transport and improved bike and walk-routes are to be explored after councillors approved a new transport strategy for Sleaford.