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

Thursday, 12 February 2015

BBC News

• Transport, broadband key to Cardiff Capital RegionA metro transport network and faster broadband are top of the shopping list for the new Cardiff Capital Region.
• Borders Railway track laying completeA new rail link between the Borders and Edinburgh reaches a major milestone as track-laying is completed.
• England bans smoking in carsDrivers in England will be banned from smoking in their car from October if they are carrying children as passengers.
• Villiers wants to keep airport slotsNorthern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers says it is vital that any new owner of Aer Lingus retains Heathrow Airport slots for Belfast and Dublin.
• London bus driver strikes postponedStrike action over pay by bus drivers across London planned for Friday and Monday is postponed.
• Airports report flying start to yearScotland's major airports report a flying start to the year as passenger numbers soar in Edinburgh and Glasgow..
• VIDEO: Close-up: How a driverless car worksDriverless cars could soon be a permanent feature of British roads.
• Cheaper oil 'will not boost growth'Lower oil prices will fail to give a
• Oil firms 'need fresh strategies'Many oil and gas firms will need to transform the way they operate in order to grasp future opportunities in the sector, according to a report.
• Tesla losses mount over China woesElectric car maker Tesla reports a fourth-quarter loss of $108m (£71m), compared to a loss of just $16m during the same period a year ago, as investments ramp up and China sales disappoint.

Department for Transport

• Launch of 'The pathway to driverless cars' reportThe UK is in pole position for developing a driverless car industry.
• Smoking in cars set to become illegalParliament has approved regulations which will make smoking in cars carrying children illegal.
• Free wi-fi to help rail commuters stay connectedRail passengers will benefit from free wi-fi on trains across England and Wales from 2017, Rail Minister Claire Perry announced

Financial Times

• Cameron promises free WiFi on trainsPM pledges £50m on plan if the Conservatives win in May elections
• UK buses fail to meet emission standardsThe industry holds back from ordering cleaner vehicles even as the European law on emissions was tightened at the start of last year

The Guardian

• Boris Johnson advised his London air pollution plans are too little, too lateMayor’s proposed ultra low emission zone to reduce vehicle pollution should happen sooner than 2020 and cover a wider area, says London Assembly Boris Johnson’s plan for an “ultra low emission zoneâ€� (ULEZ) to reduce London’s air pollution from dirty vehicles should not be delayed for five years and must be widened to cover a much larger area of the capital, the London assembly has told the mayor.The zone, which Transport for London (TfL) hopes will enable the city to avoid heavy fines from Europe and cut the number of premature deaths from air pollution each year, will not ban traffic but will...
• David Cameron announces arrival of free Wi-Fi on trains from 2017Prime minister pledges £50m to four train operators for wireless connectivity, funded by fines on Network Rail for tardiness David Cameron has announced the roll-out of free Wi-Fi on trains from 2017.Responding to a question from Maria Miller, the former culture secretary, who said passengers were frustrated by poor Wi-Fi on rail services, Cameron told MPs in the Commons that it was “vital for businesses and for individuals to be able to access Wi-Fi and do their work and all other contact while they are on trainsâ€�. Continue reading...
• MPs approve ban on smoking in cars with childrenBan which comes into force in England on 1 October is hailed by chief medical officer as significant victory for chidren’s healthSmoking in cars with children present will be outlawed in England from 1 October, after MPs voted in favour of the measure. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Buchanan Street Subway station in line for £3m revampPLANS for the next station to be revamped under a multimillion-pound modernisation of Glasgow's Subway have been unveiled as the operator seeks approval for a £3 million investment.

The Independent

• Two London bus strikes cancelled by union to allow negotiations over pay and working hours Two 24-hour bus strikes that were planned to disrupt the whole of London during the next week have been postponed.

The Telegraph

• David Cameron announces free WiFi on UK trains by 2017TSGN, Southeastern, Chiltern and Arriva Trains Wales will all offer free WiFi by 2017, the Prime Minister has announced
• Smoking in cars with children to be banned from next OctoberMore than 700 senior doctors backed a legal ban last year, saying that being in a car significantly worsened the harm done to children by cigarette smoke
• British victims to sue ferry operator over Concordia wreckBritish families are preparing to sue the Costa Concordia operator following the jailing of the ship's captain, say their lawyers

City AM

• Spanish airports operator Aena takes off with soaring demandEUROPE’S largest initial public offering since 2011 launched to a dramatic start yesterday after shares in Spanish airports group Aena surged 16 per cent on their market debut. The €3.88bn (£2.88bn) sale sparked strong demand from investors for the group that enjoys relatively few rivals in its domestic market. Aena, which priced its shares for €58 a piece to value the group at €8.7bn, opened at €65.1 per share and closed up at an even higher €70 valuing the group at over €10bn. That compares with valuations of €10.5bn and €5bn respectively for France’s ADP and Germany’s Fraport, Aena...

Mail Online

• East Coast trains worker 'sacked for telling the truth about sub-standard food on board' Mark Doughty, 39, was fired after explaining to customers on the London-bound train that a staff shortage and broken boiler meant they would not receive their usual cooked breakfast.

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham Uber taxi app launch: Company promises 'We're the safest choice for passengers'Controversial firm opens for business on same day as rival smartphone app for city's black cabs

Birmingham Post

• Driverless car testing gets the green light The benefits of driverless cars are plentiful and more of a reality than we might realise, argues Professor David Bailey
• Apps Uber and GetTaxi to battle for Birmingham Mobile services to pit black cabs and private hire against each other in the city as they launch in Birmingham on the same day

Bolton News

• Bolton MP hits back at 30-year-old trains claim A BOLTON MP has hit back at the Government after suggestions that 30-year-old pacer trains still have a role in the country’s rail service.

London Evening Standard

• Free Wi-Fi to be available on trains from 2017, David Cameron pledges Rail passengers will benefit from free Wi-Fi on trains from 2017, David Cameron promised as he set out plans for a £50 million investment.

Yorkshire Post

• Video - Two ministers and no driver: Some day all cars will be this wayTWO Government ministers have been taken for a ride - on an automated vehicle being used in driverless car trials that started today.

Carlisle News & Star

• Further strikes on historic Carlisle rail line Rail staff have announced two further strikes in a continuing row over a compulsory redundancy.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Fears over price rises when East Coast rail services privatisedThe Government’s plans to return a key London to Scotland rail route through Peterborough to the private sector after five years of public sector operation have hit a major problem.

The Shields Gazette

• MP demands answers after Metro delays cause misery for passengersSOUTH Shields MP Emma Lewell-Buck has organised an urgent meeting with a transport boss over concerns at the recent problems on the Metro system.

Other Regional Press

• How Heathrow growth could affect BuckinghamshirePeople living in South Bucks have submitted their responses over how the possible expansion of Heathrow Airport could affect their homes.
• Trains in Wales to get wifi - David Cameron RAIL passengers will get free Wi-Fi on trains in Wales from 2017 the Prime Minister has pledged.
• Wales motorways 'among safest in UK' - figures show WALES has among the lowest motorway casualty rates in the UK, according to official figures.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Major improvements begin on Scarborough rail bridgeAn extensive programme of refurbishment is set to get underway on the 140 year-old Scarborough rail bridge, including the replacement of the entire bridge deck. However, this will prevent trains running over the bridge between February 14th and 23rd. The last trains before the works will leave Scarborough at 10:07pm and York at 10:00pm on February 13th, and resume operations on February 23rd. Instead of First TransPennine trains, rail replacement buses will run between York and Seamer for the duration of the improvements, with an express coach and a stopping service available once per hour in ...

Rail Magazine

• New bogie overhaul facility at LongsightThe facility will be used for overhauling Class 334s, ‘175s’ and ‘180s’ as well as heavy maintenance of the Pendolino fleet.
• First '66' to Sunderland marks return of freight to portDB Schenker locomotive marks first train in 20 years to north-east port.

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow chief ‘overwhelmed’ by business supportAirport posts record traffic figures for January

Green Miscellany

• Retro-fit electric bicycle wheelsRetro-fit electric bicycle wheels promise twice the practicality and half the price of a conventional e-bike. Retro-fit electric bicycle wheels There is much talk about battery-powered cars, but electric bicycles are already being bought around the world in their hundreds of thousands. And while it’s easy for cyclists to scoff at electric bicycles as expensive and superfluous, they make sense for… The post Retro-fit electric bicycle wheels appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Are driverless cars the future of travel? The key questionsThe government is announcing three projects to test and promote driverless cars. But will they ever be significantly safer than vehicles driven by humans? And who is responsible if an accident occurs?
• Free Wi-Fi to help rail commuters stay connectedRail passengers will benefit from free Wi-Fi on trains across England and Wales from 2017, Rail Minister Claire Perry announced today.
• Bombardier Announces GMR Aero Technic Limited as First Authorized Service Facility for Commercial Aircraft in IndiaBombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today that it has further strengthened its global presence by appointing GMR Aero Technic Limited (
• Records tumble and passenger numbers soar at London Luton AirportRecord passenger numbers for January with an increase of 11.3% on 2014. New transatlantic flights confirmed London Luton Airport (LLA) experienced an 11.3% uplift in passenger numbers during...
• Visa changes announced to boost UK businessBusiness travellers can now use one visa for both leisure and work trips
• Virgin America signs for Travelport’s content and branding platformTravelport has announced that Virgin America has signed up for its Rich Content and Branding solution.