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

Tuesday, 17 March 2015

BBC News

• Rail users braced for Easter engineering delaysRail users have been warned of travel disruption over Easter with lines being shut in many areas.
• Driving tests could be updated to include sat-navsOfficials at the Department of Transport are looking at whether the driving test needs to be updated to reflect the challenges faced by modern drivers.
• Call for better transport for tourism by Baroness RandersonThe Welsh tourism industry is a vital part of the economy and the right transport infrastructure is needed to support it, Baroness Randerson has told event in London.
• Unions oppose transport police moveThree rail unions have criticised the Scottish government's plan for Police Scotland to takeover the work of the British Transport Police in Scotland.
• Documents show Dublin Airport delaysPassengers arriving into Dublin Airport have had to wait for up to an hour to get through immigration, according to documents seen by Irish state broadcaster RTÉ.
• Translink services under reviewTranslink releases a list of 35 Ulsterbus services that it's reviewing and asks the public to offer feedback through an online consultation.
• Ryanair eyes US flights in five yearsBudget airline Ryanair says it hopes to offer flights between Europe to the US in four to five years time.
• Lufthansa pilots to go on strikePilots at German national airline Lufthansa said they would go on strike on Wednesday, affecting the airline's short and medium haul flights.
• New Malaysian airline in $1.5bn dealMalaysia's government unveils plans to create a new airline and signs a $1.5bn (£1bn) deal with Bombardier for 20 new aircraft.

Financial Times

• Ryanair on board ‘£10’ transatlantic planBacking suggests Irish airline intends to operate Europe to US flights
• Emirates urges Airbus to decide on A380Airline stresses need for superjumbo to be fuel-efficient to help with its expansion plans

The Herald

• A82 to reopen after rock fallEXPERTS have warned further work is needed to protect motorists on the A82 as the road was scheduled to reopen early this morning after a rock fall.
• Motherwell coach company stripped of licence over lack of fundsA LANARKSHIRE coach firm has been stripped of its licence after failing to prove it had sufficient funds to operate.

The Telegraph

• Drivers face five-mile queues for ferriesFamilies to 'fry in their cars in five mile queues' because of new passport checks at ferry ports from April 8, the Wednesday after Easter
• Rush hour chaos strikes London station againA major London railway station has again been struck by rush hour problems despite measures to reduce crowding

City AM

• Gatwick slams new findings on HeathrowGATWICK Airport has hit out at the findings of the National Connectivity Taskforce (NCT), which singled out Heathrow as being in need of government attention.

London Evening Standard

• 'Axe empty night buses to save money,' says mayoral hopeful Stephen Greenhalgh Night “ghost busesâ€� in London are running virtually empty during some weekdays and should be axed to allow for more frequent services during busy times, one of Boris Johnson’s deputy mayors urged today.
• Ryanair to launch flights to the US that 'could cost as little as £10' each way Budget airline Ryanair is set to launch transatlantic flights that “could cost as little as £10â€�, according to reports.
• London Bridge: Rail bosses under new pressure as station hit by rush hour meltdown hours after new measures brought in Railway bosses were today forced to apologise again after chaos at London Bridge station hours after new measures designed to combat the rush-hour stampede were unveiled.

Wales Online

• Ever been stuck behind an Army tank at 20mph on a rural road? Now, there are plans to double their speed limitMinisters fear existing limit of 20mph is too slow and causes motorists to attempt dangerous overtaking

Yorkshire Post

• Making Yorkshire’s transport fit for purposeThe next 20 years will see a string of major transport infrastructure projects taking shape in the region. High speed rail will link Yorkshire south to London and possibly west to Manchester and Liverpool.

North Wales Live

• IPS carries out work on Stena vessel as it continues to sail across the Irish Sea Birkenhead firm undertakes essential work on the  car deck of the Stena Adventurer

Other Regional Press

• Next government must make quick decision on Heathrow's futureHounslow Council leader Steve Curran says any delay "will lead to continuing uncertainty"
• Transport scheme for elderly faces cutbacksA DOOR-to-door transport service for the elderly and vulnerable is being cut back.
• Ukip councillor eyes up hotel and bars for old bus stationAN ‘EMBARRASSING’ bus station was at the centre of a visit by Ukip’s transport spokesman MEP Jill Seymour.
• Abington Street has reopened to cars following the demolition of Greyfriars bus stationCars are now able to drive along Abington Street after it was closed during the demolition of the bus station.
• Durham Tees Valley Airport 'moving in right direction' as business passengers rise 3%News comes after the airport suffered a massive drop in people using its services in 2013
• West Yorkshire bus users want more passenger informationMetro bosses are examining ways to provide more bus information to passenger following the latest Passenger Focus survey

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Minister: Better transport needed to boost Welsh tourismBaroness Randerson, a UK minister in the Welsh Office, has said that Wales needs better transport links to fully exploit the potential of its tourist industry. She was speaking to mark the start of Wales Tourism Week, to celebrate one of the country’s major sources of income. In 2014, 84 million tourists visited Wales on day trips, bringing £2.5 billion to the local economy. A total of 121,400 people have jobs in the industry. Baroness Randerson said: “We need good roads and a strong rail network for the industry to continue to thrive. The UK government has alread...

Rail Magazine

• Portishead station site agreedPreferred site for new Portishead station selected by ORR
• Network Rail's Easter engineering plansLondon Bridge, Great Eastern Main Line, Reading and Watford set for major improvements
• D-train conversions progressing20 vehicles on-site at Long Marston
• Rail freight contributes £1.6 billion to economy says reportBenefits of rail freight to Britain are growing, says RDG.

Railnews

• Network Rail to deploy Easter army of 14,000 Network Rail has revealed that engineering works over the Easter holiday will involve 14,000 people and more than £100 million worth of investment. Following the problems with engineering overruns after Christmas, the infrastructure owner is emphasising that transport is being co-ordinated to ensure that 'Britain keeps moving' over Easter, even though fewer people than usual use the railways because most commuters do not travel.

Aviation Industry

• Nicole Kidman launches Etihad advertising campaignHollywood film star Nicole Kidman was in Abu Dhabi to launch the advertising campaign for Etihad’s new products onboard its A380s and B787 Dreamliners.Kidman joined Etihad CEO James Hogan and COO Peter Baumgartner onstage for a press conference at the Emirates Palace hotel.

Other News Sources

• KENT AND WEST SUSSEX SIDE WITH GATWICKThe majority of residents in Kent and West Sussex support an expansion at Gatwick, according to the results of two separate YouGov polls.
• Congestion on UK roads – worst for over 10 years, FTA survey revealsA Freight Transport Association survey has revealed that congestion on UK roads is the worst it has been for over 10 years. ...
• Ryanair Launches Winter 2015 ScheduleRyanair, Europersquo;s favourite airline, today (16 Mar) launched its Winter 2015 schedule (3 months earlier than 2014) with more routes, additional flights and improved schedules. nbsp;Ryanair...
• Co-operative Travel Management rebrands as ClarityTMC led by CEO Pat McDonagh plans 'disruptive' approach to business travel