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

Tuesday, 03 March 2015

BBC News

• Canal leak 'caused by hole in bed'A leak in a canal in Birmingham is due to a hole in the bed of the waterway, engineers say.
• Chinese wooed by Shakespeare airportCharter flights are to be introduced between Beijing and Birmingham over the summer, with a push to brand the destination as
• Railway's bike credentials queriedA Green MSP raises concerns about capacity plans for bicycles on the trains which will run on the new Edinburgh to Borders railway.
• Aer Lingus reassures staff over IAGThe boss of Aer Lingus has written to his staff to reassure them about the airline's future and their terms of employment under a proposed £1bn takeover.
• HS2 'U-turn' leads to uncertaintyProposals lead to uncertainty

Department for Transport

• Patrick McLoughlin in Wolverhampton to discuss future of local and regional rail network.Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin visited Wolverhampton today (2 March 2015) to discuss local and regional rail links, including potential improvements to Wolverhampton railway station and proposals to devolve control of the railways in the West Midlands.
• Rail Minister at official launch of Virgin Trains East Coast service between London and Scotland.Rail minister Claire Perry visited King’s Cross station today (2 March 2015) for the official launch of the new service between London and Scotland.
• New powers to tackle drug drivingA new law to make it easier for police to catch and convict drug drivers took effect today in England and Wales.
• Nick Clegg announces multi-million pound boost for cycling in 8 major citiesThe Deputy Prime Minister has outlined how a £114 million investment in cycling will be divided up between 8 major UK cities.

Financial Times

• Malaysia Airlines to pare back flightsCarrier to cut 10% of seat capacity to focus on Asia routes

The Guardian

• British Airways named UK’s most popular brandAirline retains title as the nation’s leading consumer superbrand while Google falls to 18th place and Marks & Spencer drops out of top 20British Airways has held on to its title as the UK’s leading consumer ‘superbrand’ as some of the oldest and most trusted household names including Cadbury, Heinz and Marks & Spencer dropped out of the list of favourite brands.The flag carrier trumped more than 1,500 companies to stay at the top of the annual ranking of brand strength in the UK, and as names such as John Lewis, Lego and Häagen-Dazs – now mainstays of British daily li...
• Repainted and rebranded Virgin Trains East Coast service leaves LondonThe reprivatised rail service embarked on its first journey on Monday but debate still rages whether it is best in private or public handsThe first repainted, rebranded and reprivatised Virgin Trains East Coast train left London Kings Cross station for Edinburgh at 11am on Monday, its new red-and-white livery signalling according to one set of politicians and businessmen – a fresh chapter and better services for passengers.After five years of public ownership, that view is disputed by unions and Labour, for whom East Coast became totemic in the argument over who should run rail transport.

The Herald

• Glasgow Subway to pilot technology that converts waste water into heat WATER seeping into Scotland's only metro system will be turned into heat as part of a pilot scheme launching this month.
• Company behind new East Coast franchise reveals plan for £3m community fund CUSTOMERS and communities along the new Virgin Trains East Coast network will be able to bid for a share of a £3 million innovation fund, the operator has announced.
• Company behind new East Coast franchise reveals plan for £3m community fund CUSTOMERS and communities along the new Virgin Trains East Coast network will be able to bid for a share of a £3 million innovation fund, the operator has announced.

The Telegraph

• Watch: new drug driving advert designed to make viewers feel paranoidA powerful new campaign video warns people who drive under the influence of drugs that a change in the law means it's now easier to get caught.

Network Rail

• Preparation work begins to electrify South Wales railway and improve journeysNetwork Rail will soon begin major preparation work in the run up to electrifying the South Wales Mainline.
• Don’t risk your life at Grays level crossingPedestrians are risking injury or death by taking shortcuts and climbing over fencing at Grays level crossing in Essex, Network Rail and Thurrock Council have warned.

London Evening Standard

• Drug-driving laws introduced as drivers warned of zero-tolerance approach Drivers have been warned they face prosecution if they are caught behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs.
• Rainbow Routemaster bus roars into sponsorship row Transport for London today struck a blow for gay rights as it launched its new Rainbow Routemaster bus.
• Eurostar passengers 'lose hope' of getting home after person killed on track sees services grind to a halt Eurostar services are returning to normal following a day of cancellations and delays caused by fatality on the line.

The York Press

• Q&A: What will the changes on the East Coast mainline mean for passengers? We look at what the latest railway shake-up will mean for fares, services and passenger input....

Doncaster Free Press

• VIDEO: Time lapse film of Doncaster bridge being builtA new time lapse film showing 80 tonne bridge beams being lifted into place over the East Coast Mainline in Doncaster as part of work building the new airport link road has been released.
• Doncaster to benefit from new East Coast rail serviceThe new East Coast train service between London and Scotland, passing through Doncaster, has been launched by Rail Minister Claire Perry.

North Wales Live

• Merseyrail wins 'Operator of the Year' at Rail Business AwardsIt is the first time the Liverpool-based operator has won the title

Peterborough Telegraph

• It is business as usual for Peterborough commuters on the new Virgin Trains East CoastIt seemed to be business as usual today (Monday) for thousands of rail commuters from Peterborough as they travelled on the newly privatised East Coast main line.

Other Regional Press

• New bridge over Thames will provide off-road cycle link after Government puts up cash A £3m cash boost will make a proposed cycling link between East Oxford and the city centre using a new bridge over the Thames a reality.
• Labour criticise “half-bakedâ€� transport plans in Northampton after Tories reveal transport hub idea for old bus station sitePlans to create a new transport hub on the site of Northampton’s old bus station are an admission the new bus station is not fit for purpose, according to opposition councillors.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Wales gets further devolved transport powersThe prime minister David Cameron has promised further control of transport decisions will be part of a new devolution deal agreed on St David’s Day (February 28th). It has been confirmed that the new arrangement would allow the Welsh Assembly to make decisions about port, taxi and bus regulations, in addition to the wider transport powers already devolved. The National Assembly will be able to take control in other areas, such as fracking, lowering the voting age and renewable energy projects. The agreement will also include a so-called ‘funding floor’, which is d...

Rail Magazine

• Approval for Doncaster ‘iPort’Local authority approves plans for 35-acre rail freight terminal
• Warnes: Northern must retain DMUsNorthern Rail says DMUs must be retained, even though cascaded EMUs are entering traffic
• Virgin Trains East Coast launchesNew-look East Coast train unveiled at King’s Cross on second day of new franchise.
• VIDEO: Pedestrians risking lives at Grays level crossingCCTV footage captures people taking dangerous risks at Essex level crossing

Railnews

• Virgin promises new £3m East Coast fund Virgin and Stagecoach have launched their East Coast franchise this morning with rail minister Claire Perry joining managing director David Horne at London King's Cross. The first train to bear the new livery throughout has formed the 11.00 from London to Edinburgh, and its departure marks the conclusion of a long-running campaign by Virgin Trains to take over on the East Coast route.

Aviation Industry

• Virgin Australia broadens role of A330 fleetVirgin Australia is deploying Airbus A330s on an international route for the first time, and introducing the aircraft on its busiest routes in Australia’s east coast corridor. read more
• ACI: Cargo rises 4.7%; passenger traffic up 5.1% in 2014Global air freight volumes grew 4.7% year-over-year (YOY) in 2014, up 3.7 points from 2013, as approximately 71 million metric tonnes of cargo were shipped by air—an increase of 4 million metric tonnes from 2013, according to preliminary data from Airports Council International (ACI). read more
• Enhanced flight tracking trialled after MH370 disappearanceNew system enables planes to be tracked every 15 minutes
• BA changes seat rules for Exec Club hand baggage only faresMembers booking hand baggage only fare will no longer be able to select a seat

Green Miscellany

• Bike Washing MachineWhat better way to guarantee clean gym gear than the Bike Washing Machine? Rather than spinning a heavy flywheel, pedalling the Bike Washing Machine operates a drum full of your dirty washing. The bike also generates electricity, with any left over being used to power the bike’s display screen or stored for future use. The project is the brainchild of students at… The post Bike Washing Machine appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Transport chiefs urged to press ahead with 20mph zones in Blackburn with Darwen TRANSPORT chiefs have been urged to press ahead with introducing 20mph zones in Blackburn with Darwen after an official advisory body said the changes could bring huge savings.
• Brighton and Hove bus company announce fare increases - but not for all passengers Passengers who buy bus tickets in advance will have to pay more from next month.