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

Saturday, 21 March 2015

BBC News

• Parties 'must be bolder' on cyclingLeading British companies are urging politicians to give more money to cycling, saying existing support is
• TfL to become a private landlordTransport body to rent out flats
• Multi-billion pound plans for railPlans to overhaul transport across the North of England, including multi-billion pound rail schemes, are laid out by the government.
• Jaguar Land Rover in China recallJaguar Land Rover is recalling more than 36,000 sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in China after a state television report aired complaints over its gearboxes.

Financial Times

• Expressways and WiFi to ease congestionHighways Agency unveils plans for upgrades to the 18 busiest A-roads
• UK businesses lobby for more cycle lanesCoalition of companies calls for increased spending to help boost bicycle journeys
• HS2 arriving at Crewe due six years earlyRail service could reach north of England ahead of 2033 schedule
• Rail passenger complaints on the riseGrievances with Virgin Trains drive upward trend

The Guardian

• Cardiff evaluates plans for £100m cable car systemBusiness groups say scheme would attract tourists and help ease commuter congestion, but critics point to east London project that is hardly usedAn ambitious scheme to build a £100m-plus cable car system that would zip commuters and visitors around Cardiff is being investigated by the Welsh city’s investment arm. Cardiff Business Council is asking an engineering firm to draw up a feasibility study for the system, which could operate between the city centre, the bay area and the town of Penarth.Nigel Roberts, chairman of the CBC, said: “We’ve been thinking and talking about this for t...

The Herald

• Scottish motorists hit by steepest fuel price rise as AA warns there's no sign of latest oil price fall being passed on at pump MOTORISTS in Scotland have been the worst hit by a rise in fuel prices since February, with motoring campaigners warning that price volatility is now as bad as it was in May 2011.

The Telegraph

• 140mph trains for the North as new HS3 plans revealedThe Chancellor heralds plans for HS3 and says they could 'revolutionise' transport in the North of England

Birmingham Post

• American Airlines to spread the news of Birmingham US airline says it is keen to promote city as a destination ahead of launch of flights to JFK Airport in May

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• MP eager for new faster rail service A BRADFORD MP is lobbying for Bradford to benefit from a new high speed rail line for the north, dubbed HS3.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Plans for seaplane service to fly from Bala The proposed seaplane service would have flights between Cardiff and North Wales with Lake Vyrnwy another proposed destination from the capital

London Evening Standard

• Emirates Air Line cable car closed 354 times in just two-and-a-half years, figures reveal The Emirates Air Line cable car was closed 354 times in its first two-and-a-half years of operation, Transport for London figures showed today.
• 'Congestion charge should be hiked when pollution is high', Labour hopeful says The congestion charge should be  tailored to make it more expensive to drive on days when air pollution is high, a potential mayor of London candidate suggested today.

Sheffield Star

• FirstGroup signs new year-long rail franchise dealTransport operator FirstGroup has signed an agreement to continue operating the First TransPennine Express rail franchise for another year.

The York Press

• Railway police now only a text away to tackle trouble BRITISH Transport Police officers were out and about at York Railway Station yesterday promoting a discreet way people can report trouble on train journeys.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• REVEALED: HS2 executives among highest paid public servants in UKThey are among the highest paid public servants in the country yet work on a project that may never go ahead.

Crewe Chronicle

• Pay-by-phone for car parking across Cheshire EastThe council has rolled out its RingGo mobile phone payment system to all its pay and display car parks - but you can still pay by cash

East Anglian Daily Times

• May completion for resurfacing work on A12 over Suffolk/Essex border but no firm date given by Highways AgencyThe Highways Agency is unable to give a latest date for the completion of roadworks on the A12.

Reading Evening Post

• Bracknell MP's rage at unannounced Heathrow flight path changesDr Phillip Lee called staff from NATS and the airport to a meeting at the House of Commons

Other Regional Press

• Tayside Aviation’s Jim Watt makes case for Dundee AirportThe managing director of Tayside Aviation has described a top Scottish economist’s recommendation that Dundee Airport should close as being as shortsighted as the Beeching rail cuts.
• 'We're sorry': Heathrow and NATS apologise to residents after admitting flight routes were changed last yearAIRCRAFT routes from Heathrow were changed last year and did lead to more planes flying over Bracknell, Binfield and Ascot it has been revealed.
• MP candidates for Uxbridge and South Ruislip make HS2 and Heathrow vowsCandidates from four of the five main political parties made promises at a public debate about how they would vote if elected to parliament

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• First TransPennine franchise extendedFirst Group will continue to run the TransPennine rail network for a further year, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced. Before the franchise ends in April 2016, the operator has promised to deliver a host of improvements to make the passenger experience more pleasant. These include providing free Wif-Fi at all stations on the route, better customer service training for staff, capacity improvements and installing new ticket barriers that will enable passengers travelling to or from Huddersfield to use the West Yorkshire smart “mcard” for their journeys. Rail min...

Rail Magazine

• Hull Trains launches first on board real-time passenger information systemVery first real-time passenger information system has been installed on a passenger train
• Paddock Wood fully accessibleNew lifts at station improve disabled access

Rail Technology Magazine

• Alstom to build emission-free trains for Calw district in Germany French train manufacturer Alstom has signed a letter of intent with the Calw district in Germany for the planned use of new emission-free fuel-cell drive trains on the Hermann-Hesse railway line.
• UK DfT signs TransPennine Express rail extension contract with FirstGroup The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has signed a TransPennine Express rail extension contract agreement with FirstGroup, offering more seats, better services and Wi-Fi at stations across the north of England.
• London Underground contracts NFM Technologies to support Northern line extension France-based NFM Technologies has been contracted by London Underground (LU) to design, manufacture and deliver two tunnel boring machines (TBM) to construct the Northern line extension.

Railnews

• Major rail investment plans for North unveiled Ministers are publishing plans for a multi-billion upgrade of the rail network in the north of England today. They include a ˜TransNorth™ network – with sections capable of speeds up to 225kmh (140mph) - linking Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and Hull. But shadow rail minister Lilian Greenwood said the Northern Hub project was in danger of falling behind schedule because of the delay in gaining Transport and Works Act approval. She also warned that the cost of electrification in the west of England is set to double.
• First wins TransPennine Express extension The Department for Transport has moved forward with its franchising programme by extending the First TransPennine Express contract by a year to 1 April 2016. The widely-expected agreement means that FTPE will now end at the same time as Northern. First said it would continue with various improvements between now and 2016, including the extension of free WiFi at stations. It is also shortlisted for the next franchise.

Aviation Industry

• Bombardier to use additional CSeries test aircraft The fifth and final test vehicle for the initial CS100 version of Bombardier’s CSeries airliner has begun flying, but additional aircraft will be used in the test program in a bid to meet the target of certification toward the end of the year. read more
• Qantas unveils app for Apple WatchAustralian airline will launch app for new wearable device

Other News Sources

• HACAN says expansion not necessary for economic prosperityOver a hundred people packed Brentford Methodist Church last Wednesday to consider the proposals for extra airport capacity in the South East. The meeting was organised by Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate, Ruth Cadbury, in advance of the Davies Commission’s report
• Plan to reopen railway line which would ease "severe pressure" on the Brighton Mainline given £100k boost HOPES for a new train line in Sussex have been revived following the announcement of a new government study.
• Wifi boost for Trans Pennine rail networkFree internet access at stations included in franchise extension deal
• High-speed rail plan revealed for the northGovernment unveils proposals to slash travelling times between key cities