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

Friday, 27 February 2015

BBC News

• New northern rail franchises 'must scrap Pacers trains'The government has confirmed it wants to scrap the 30-year-old Pacer trains on railways in northern England.
• 'No free school bus' angers parentsA group of parents in Lurgan say they feel they are being bullied into sending their children to a new all-ability school in the town.
• Cambridge cyclist 'caught' by rail crossingCCTV footage has been released that shows how a cyclist got trapped on a level crossing in Cambridge after riding under the barriers when he appears to have ignored the lights.

Department for Transport

• Transforming the north’s railwayAnnounces publication of the invitations to tender for the next Northern and Transpennine Express rail franchises.

Financial Times

• Amadeus set to soar on airline bookingsResults expected to show the growth of IT solutions business
• India plans $137bn rail investmentFive-year plan to transform the country’s huge but ageing network
• Wizz Air shares rise after delayed IPOBudget airline’s revived offering benefits from improved market sentiment

The Independent

• The head of Network Rail: A lack of women working on railways leads to 'macho' culture where hundreds are injured each year A lack of women working on the railways has led to a “machoâ€� culture that is partly to blame for hundreds of employees being injured every year, the head of Network Rail has said in a speech.

Mail Online

• 'I'll hire women to make trains run on time': Rail boss unveils plan to double female staff to end the industry's 'macho culture' Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne has declared war on the 'macho-culture' of the industry and unveiled a blueprint to more than double the proportion of female staff he employs.
• 'We don't make it for people who wear pink ties': Jeremy Clarkson launches bizarre attack on Labour transport chief who called him an 'idiot' and said Top Gear was 'old blokes wearing jeans' The presenter launched the bizarre attack after Labour's transport chief Michael Dugher tore into the show, warning anyone with a car is wrongly portrayed as a 'petrolhead'.

Network Rail

• High output team grows with new £50m ballast cleaner and 500 new Network Rail staffNetwork Rail is expanding its world-leading track renewal programme by purchasing a new £50m ballast cleaner and welcoming more than 500 employees, previously contractors, into the company. The move represents part of Network Rail’s commitment to minimise passenger disruption, reduce the cost of running the railway by 20 per cent over the next five years, and improve sustainability.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Stena Line's Superfast X sails into HolyheadThe ferry, which will sail from Holyhead to Dublin Port for the first time next week, arrived in the Anglesey town in the early hours of the morning

London Evening Standard

• Airports report will fail to come up with long-term strategy, warns Justine Greening Justine Greening today warned that the Airports Commission’s long-awaited final report will fail to provide the long-term aviation strategy Britain needs.

Sheffield Star

• Fares hike for Sheffield bus usersSheffield bus users are set to see a hike in some fares next month as a South Yorkshire operator tries to meet the increasing costs of operation.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Wolverhampton taxi drivers threaten strike in licence row Taxi drivers and the council are on a collision course over the number of cars in Wolverhampton.

Doncaster Free Press

• Dearne MP Michael Dugher explains why Labour would ban second jobs for MPs’Shadow Minister for Transport and Dearne MP, Michael Dugher, has penned an article on why Labour would ban second jobs for MPs’ involving consultancies and paid directorships if they win the General Election in May.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Peterborough man jailed for jumping lights and barriers at level crossingA Peterborough man who twice risked his life and those of other rail and road users at a level crossing has been jailed for six months and banned from driving for two years.
• Drivers face months more misery as revamp delayedMotorists face more months of delays on a major road because a huge water pipe has to be moved to allow trees to be planted along the central reservation.

Reading Evening Post

• Reading Buses: more passengers, more money, more journeys, more staffReading's transport boss Cllr Tony Page praises the performance of the council-owned bus company

Sleaford Standard

• VIDEO: Is this the worst road in Lincolnshire?Is this one of the worst roads in Lincolnshire? Boston Standard reporter Daniel Jaines took a drive out to a section of Fodderdyke Bank, between Stickney and New Leake, strapped a camera to the car and took a very bumpy drive – to conditions of course.

Other Regional Press

• Spina bifida sufferer and wheelchair user Jamie left humiliated and disgusted by treatment as Hitchin bus driver refuses to let him boardA bus company has mounted an investigation after a complaint that a driver refused to allow a Hitchin man suffering from spina bifida man on to his bus – because he was in a wheelchair.
• Rail electrification could be delayed, chiefs admit NETWORK Rail managers have admitted their electrification scheme for the railways in the Thames Valley could fall behind schedule.

C.N.N.

• Dumping subway trains into the ocean ... in a good wayUsually, dumping metal into the ocean is a bad thing, but for once throwing disused items into the sea is working out for the greater good. Over 2,500 New York subway cars have been used to create an underwater reef for crustaceans and fish in the Atlantic.
• United Airlines issues warning to pilots after review shows mistakes in cockpit
• United Airlines memo to pilots outlines safety concerns
• Atlanta airport steps up securityThe country's busiest airport has started screening employee bags before allowing workers into secure areas and shutting down access doors to the airfield in the wake of a gun-smuggling operation, CNN has confirmed.

Bus and Coach.com

• Ultracap e-bus on show in Germany
• Wrights wins first order from Wilson’s of Rhu
• Budget cuts lead to changes in South Yorkshire
• Demand drives service upgrades at Lothian
• Work to start on Manchester bus priorities
• More Sapphire investment from Arriva

Rail Magazine

• Railway work experience transforms life of local teenagerA local resident with autism has improved his confidence since working at Luton railway station
• First Virgin East Coast trainsVirgin East Coast announces its first trains this weekend
• Public supports new Old Oak Common stationsA public consultation favours two new London Overground stations.

Aviation Industry

• Air France-KLM seeks three to four Asian partnersAir France-KLM is remaining tight-lipped on negotiations with both new and existing Asian partners, aimed at expanding its network reach. read more

Green Miscellany

• Helix: Folding titanium bicycle for £800Helix is a fully-folding titanium bicycle with 24â€� wheels and a price tag of only £800. Claims that the Helix is smaller, lighter, safer and easier to use than any other folding bike in the world are bold, but the bike’s specifications are impressive. The Helix folds to 23â€� x 25â€� x 9â€� – narrower than a Brompton, which rides on… The post Helix: Folding titanium bicycle for £800 appeared first on ETA.
• British drivers most likely to claim for whiplashBritish drivers make more claims for whiplash per car collision than any other western European country, according to research this month. Breakdown Recovery from less than £30 Get your quote Your car’s in safe hands: 5,000+ qualified mechanics nationwide on call 24/7, 365 days a year Almost 80% of road traffic collisions where one driver admits liability will lead to… The post British drivers most likely to claim for whiplash appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• South West Trains director Sam McCarthy says Hampshire's train network is one of Britain's most underfundedHAMPSHIRE'S train network is one of Britain's most underfunded and urgently needs a major cash injection to cope with rocketing passenger numbers, according to a top rail boss.
• England-wide survey finds strong evidence of collaboration between public health and transport teams in local government Thursday, February 26, 2015 - Levels of collaboration have improved following public health’s ‘return’ to local government in April 2013 - Topic:  Cycling Public health
• Electric cars: £43m boost for infrastructure and innovation Hospitals, train stations and A-roads are among the locations set to benefit from new electric car charge points thanks to a new £43m green vehicle commitment from the Department for Transport (DfT).