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

Wednesday, 03 December 2014

BBC News

• VIDEO: Midland roads receive £1.4bn boostImprovements are to be made to the M42 east of Birmingham as part of a £15bn investment announced by the government.
• Bus chief in devolution warningHanding transport powers to England's new "city regions" could lead to a "confiscation of assets", the chief executive of Stagecoach, the UK's biggest bus operator, has warned.

Financial Times

• Future of driving just around the cornerTechnology to transform journeys may sound like science fiction but is already being trialled
• Schlumberger cuts fleet as oil weakens$800m writedown on ships marks industry’s first significant cutback since crude’s recent drop

The Telegraph

• The end of potholes? UK scientists invent 'self-healing concrete'Researchers at three British universities are developing a special concrete that uses bacteria to plug cracks and crevices

Network Rail

• Camden businesses get festive boost from Euston station Christmas pop-up marketSmall businesses in Camden will have a chance to sell their wares outside one of London’s busiest stations this December as Euston station hosts a pop-up market selling ethically sourced products and Christmas gifts.
• Britain’s busiest railway station turns into art gallery for Landscape Photographer of the Year exhibitionNetwork Rail has transformed Britain’s busiest station into a multimedia art gallery, as London Waterloo plays host to the Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards exhibition from today until the end of January.
• Let there be light at Birmingham New Street daylight reaches station concourse for the first timeNatural light hit the floor of the new concourse at Birmingham New Street station today as the final layer of concrete was broken through as part of the developments new atrium.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bradford businesses hail plans to increase number of lanes on M62 BRADFORD business executives and haulage firms have backed Government plans to increase the number of lanes on the M62.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• First class to be retained on controversial North to South Wales train after U-turnRebranded 'business class' carriages will remain on express train to Cardiff says transport minister Edwina Hart revealed.

London Evening Standard

• George Osborne: Transport, homes and culture - the keys to a new plan for London I grew up in London, and am proud of our beautiful, dynamic, diverse capital city. It is not surprising that an ever-increasing number of people are choosing to find jobs in the capital and raise their families here. But this poses a challenge — London’s population has grown by more than a million since 2001, the largest-ever increase in the city’s long history. We need to meet that challenge with a long-term plan for London’s infrastructure — so Londoners can afford homes, travel to work easily and have good jobs.  
• Flybe calls for domestic flights from South Ruislip's RAF Northolt until new runway built at Heathrow or Gatwick South Ruislip’s RAF Northolt should be opened up for domestic flights until a new runway is built at Heathrow or Gatwick, Flybe has told MPs.
• 540 more buses by end of decade under £500m plan An extra 540 buses will be on the streets of London by the end of the decade as part of a £500 million investment plan announced today to cope with soaring demand.

Manchester Evening News

• Council leader slams expansion plans for Heathrow or Gatwick and calls for investment in regional airportsSir Richard Leese said the regions have ‘disbenefitted’ for years from the lack of investment in every aspect of transport infrastructure

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Nissan workers must don 'space-age' gear and take 'air showers' at secretive new plantWe take a tour around Nissan's 'space-age' electric car battery plant for the popular Nissan LEAF car
• North East boasts largest number of electric car charging points in UK after LondonOwners of electric cars can now choose from one of the 942 charging points across the North East

Northern Echo

• Battle of the buffet car goes to Parliament THE department for transport was under fire last night in a growing row over plans to deprive North passengers of buffet cars on intercity trains.

The York Press

• Council joins battle to keep rail HQ in York YORK council chiefs have joined the fight to keep the East Coast mainline's headquarters in the city.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Black Country MP: Government has 'recycled' transport spending plansIt was heralded as "the biggest, boldest and most far-reaching roads programme for decades", but a former Transport Minister today branded the latest Government transport announcement as nothing more than recycled policies and a gimmick.
• Black Country MP: Government has 'recycled' transport spending plansIt was heralded as "the biggest, boldest and most far-reaching roads programme for decades", but a former Transport Minister today branded the latest Government transport announcement as nothing more than recycled policies and a gimmick.
• Transport chief welcomes M6 expansion schemeWalsall's transport chief has welcomed the approval of a multi-million pound congestion-busting scheme to expand junction 10 of the M6.

Northamptonshire Telegraph

• Future of public transport in the county debatedThe future provision of public transport in the county is the subject of a report to be heard by Northamptonshire County Council’s cabinet next week.

The Shields Gazette

• £7m needs to be found for South Shields transport hubA TRANSPORT revolution at the heart of South Shields Town Centre “may not be viable” unless £7m funding is secured, a new report reveals.

Other Regional Press

• Alternative to Dawlish railway line to be assessed RAIL passengers in Crediton could benefit from a Government proposal to re-examine the re-opening a railway line across Dartmoor to provide an additional line to avoid the vulnerable route at Dawlish
• £7m needs to be found for South Shields transport hubA TRANSPORT revolution at the heart of South Shields Town Centre “may not be viable” unless £7m funding is secured, a new report reveals.
• Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock joins fight to save transport scheme from axeCITY MP Mike Hancock has stepped up the fight to protect a transport scheme for vulnerable residents.
• Electric cars for Lancashire midwivesCommunity midwifes will be hitting the road in electric cars in the next few months as part of a new eco initiative.
• New Black Cat junction to smash roundabout bottleneckA £1.5billion road building programme across the region will finally see the Black Cat Roundabout become a flyover junction crossing the A1.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• EU funding for Welsh transport announcedThe European Commission (EC) has approved Welsh plans for the use of its grants, and will provide the country with £2 billion to realise its plans by 2020. The European Regional Development Fund will provide £1.1 billion of this funding, with a further £800 million expected to be approved by the European Social Fund in the coming weeks, after the EC approved of it “in principle”. A significant amount of the funding will be spent on urban transport development and other infrastructure improvements. Finance minister Jane Hutt has also suggested t...

Aviation Industry

• Airlines soar as oil prices plunge; but don't look for lower fares yetAirline stocks are flying high, thanks to a steep drop in oil prices, but don't expect a sudden slashing of fares. Air Canada shares had their best close in six years, ending the day at $11.51, while WestJet Airlines hit an all-time high during intraday trading.
• Air France to trial wifi on short and medium-haul flightsCarrier partnering with Orange to test service next summer
• Lufthansa strike hits long-haul servicesAround 150,000 passengers affected by two-day walkout