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

Wednesday, 11 March 2015

BBC News

• Valley lines upgrade 'dithering' claim by Lib DemsThe Liberal Democrats have accused the Welsh government of "dithering" over the electrification of railway lines in the south Wales valleys.
• No speed cut on death crash roadThere are no plans to cut the speed on the section of the A470 which saw four people die in a crash.
• No buses or trains because of strikeThere will be no scheduled bus or train services in Northern Ireland on Friday due to strike action, Translink says.
• Heathrow HS2 spur plans droppedA proposed new rail link to Heathrow Airport as part of the HS2 high-speed network is ruled out by the transport minister.
• Rail staff 'spat at' by passengersRail staff have been threatened and spat at by frustrated passengers following months of delays and cancellations at London Bridge railway station, a union claims.
• Restrictions for motorways upgradesTraffic restrictions are being brought in next week on some of Scotland's busiest motorways as work ramps-up on a £500m improvement scheme.
• Diesel car 'demonisation' condemnedThe Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, a car industry group, launches a campaign to combat the 'demonisation' of diesel in the wake of a Paris ban on the cars.

Financial Times

• Bus groups fear English devolutionIndustry alarmed at prospect of public control choking business opportunities and slashing margins
• Heathrow HS2 link ruled out before 2033Spur not needed even if airport is expanded, minister decides

The Guardian

• Ryanair to become first airline to fly to Spain's ghost airportBudget carrier comes to rescue of Castellón airport, which opened in 2011 but lay unused for years and became an emblem of reckless spending before recessionRyanair is set to become the first airline to operate scheduled flights from the Spanish “ghost airportâ€� of Castellón.The Irish carrier will announce plans on Wednesday to fly from the airport, which cost €150m (£107m) to build but stood empty for almost four years and is widely regarded as a symbol of regional governments’ profligacy during Spain’s long-gone property boom. Continue reading...
• FirstGroup bids to take on Virgin Trains on east coast mainlineFirst planning low-fare, one-class service to compete with budget airlines as well as Stagecoach-operated Virgin venture but will need to convince rail regulatorFirstGroup is bidding to run competing trains on the east coast mainline, barely a week after its rival Virgin Trains started operating the franchise on that route.First has submitted plans to the rail regulator for a low-fare, open-access service, which it claims would compete with the budget airline market between London, Newcastle and Edinburgh – although Stagecoach, which operates Virgin Trains East Coast, said First’s plans were “...
• Ministers' cars to be swapped for electric versions in green drive140 vehicles to be added to government fleet in move hailed as important step by minister, but only four ministerial cars will be replaced in first roundGovernment ministers will have their first taste of greener driving soon, with the first of a new fleet of electric vehicles to replace older fuel-guzzling ministerial cars.The replacement is part of a £5m investment in the government’s fleet of vehicles that will result in electric cars and vans being used more widely across the public sector. Continue reading...

The Herald

• ScotRail operator vows to compete with low fare budget airlines between Edinburgh and London OUTGOING ScotRail operator, FirstGroup, is bidding to launch a low-cost rail service between Edinburgh and London to compete with budget airlines.
• Section of Caledonian Canal to close for water damage repairsA SCENIC canal is being closed to boats until the end of next month after significant damage caused by high water levels, hitting a key tourist spot over the crucial Easter period.
• Ministers urged to rethink handing transport policing in Scotland to single forceMINISTERS have been accused of political point scoring as it was confirmed the country's single force will take over the policing of the railways once the function is devolved.

The Telegraph

• 'Sexist' Uber vows to create a million jobs for female drivers by 2020Taxi app Uber is working with the United Nations to employ a million female drivers in the next five years after months of criticism for being 'sexist'

Mail Online

• Passengers to get cash back if train is two minutes late Rail passengers will get an automatic compensation pay-out if their train is more than two minutes late under a new crackdown according to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, left.

Belfast Telegraph

• Translink cancels all buses and trains due to strike action on Friday 13 MarchNo Metro, Ulsterbus or NI Railway services will operate during the day of industrial action

London Evening Standard

• London Bridge commuters 'could trip in crush and die... and staff are being spat at' Rail chiefs are to rush in plans within days to avoid further chaos at one of London’s busiest stations after being “read the riot actâ€� by the Government.
• Boris Johnson hails 'big day for cycling' as work starts on flagship superhighways across London Boris Johnson today hailed a “big day for cyclingâ€� as he began construction work on the first of two flagship segregated cycle superhighways in central London.

Manchester Evening News

• Manchester Airports Group to reveal Airport City office planGroup will speculatively develop a 75,000 sq ft block as part of £800m scheme

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• FirstGroup bid for East Coast rail access with plan for more trains between London and EdinburghStagecoach and Virgin say proposals for new services put before Office for Rail Regulation don't fit with the new timetable

Northern Echo

• Bus routes under threat as coach firm announces closure ALMOST a dozen bus services on Teesside are under threat after a small operator announced it was closing due to crippling insurance costs.

Burnley Express

• Bus route could be diverted as tight squeeze on corner raises new fears FEARS have been raised that a public transport route through a rural village may be changed as bus drivers are finding it difficult to negotiate past parked cars.

Plymouth Herald

• Rail taskforce highlights slow train connections from Plymouth to London TRAINS from London to Plymouth are slower than to a tiny Cumbria market town, new figures have revealed. Read more: http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Rail-taskforce-highlights-slow-train-connections/story-26149111-detail/story.html?#ixzz3U3erL1gc Follow us: @heraldnewslive on Twitter | theplymouthherald on Facebook

Other Regional Press

• Boris Johnson discusses Heathrow expansion at South Ruislip meetingThe Uxbridge and South Ruislip PPC reiterated his objection to the airport's expansion, and also discussed HS2
• Green candidate helps shape railways policyA Green Party candidate has helped make party policy at the party conference. Alan Francis, who is standing for the Buckingham constituency, attended the Green Party conference in Liverpool over the weekend.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Derby's Garrandale Group secures £15m Bombardier contractsA Derby-based engineering firm has beaten off competition from Europe and the Far East to secure £15m worth of contracts with train makers Bombardier. The Garrandale Group will supply all the assembly and production line equipment as part of a £1bn Crossrail deal

Rail Technology Magazine

• Department for Transport to Speak at WiFi on Trains Conference in Light of Major New Project BWCS is delighted to announce a major new keynote speaker for this year's WiFi on Trains Conference - Train Communications Systems 2015 (London, 10th and 11th of June).

Railnews

• FirstGroup lays down gauntlet on East Coast Virgin Trains East Coast faces a new challenge from its defeated rival FirstGroup less than two weeks after the reprivatised franchise was launched. First has revealed that it has submitted a formal track access application to the Office of Rail Regulation, which involves 'several' open access trains a day between London and Edinburgh. There would be intermediate stops, but only at Stevenage, Newcastle and Morpeth. First said it intends to compete with aviation, and does not mention the new East Coast franchise, launched on 1 March.

Aviation Industry

• Edinburgh airport outlines benefits of devolved APDStudy claims cut to tax could provide £200m boost for Scotland

Green Miscellany

• 30 mph bicycle motorways for e-bike commutersIntercity bicycle motorways dedicated to 30 mph e-bikes could soon get the green light in Holland.   30 mph bicycle motorways for e-bike commuters E-bikes with the speed of a 50cc moped are popular in Holland and the e-bike freeway would allow commuters to zip between Groningen, Haren, Assen and Tynaarlo. Henk Brink, a deputy from Drenthe, told newspaper  Die Krant van Midden-Drenthe,… The post 30 mph bicycle motorways for e-bike commuters appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Chris Annetts, Heathrow Airport, Presentation: Understand the impact of analytics and mobile for airlines, airports, trains and transport suppliersChris Annetts helps us understand the impact of analytics and mobile for airports.
• Eurostar resurrects 15-year old marketing strategy to reach Dutch and US consumersEurostar is going back to basics in a bid to drive awareness outside of its key markets and reach consumers in The Netherlands and US.
• Easyjet unveils app for Apple WatchApp will be available on the wearable technology from launch date