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

Monday, 23 March 2015

BBC News

• Railway 'golden ticket' up for grabsA competition giving Borderers the chance to nominate a deserving person for a special journey on the Borders Railway is launched.
• Heathrow woos Scots with link pledgeBosses at Heathrow airport promise a review of airport charges to boost air links to Scotland if their expansion plans are approved.
• 'Idling' motorists to face £20 finesMotorists in Westminster who sit in a stationary car with the engine running and refuse to turn it off are to be fined £20.
• FirstGroup awarded new rail dealTransport company FirstGroup extends its franchise to run rail services between London, South Wales and the South West until 2019.

Financial Times

• Ryanair targets digital lift-offAirline seeks to match rivals’ innovations with media lab
• Ports in dogfight for container trafficLondon Gateway’s opening, expansion in other ports and slow business growth means competition is fierce
• FirstGroup to expand commuter servicesTrain operator to add 4,000 seats as part of Great Western line deal

The Guardian

• FirstGroup to run Great Western trains for four more yearsTransport group to create more seats and services for passengers but unions blast franchise agreement as ‘outrageous contract by default’First Group has been handed the keys to the Great Western franchise – which operates services out of London Paddington – for at least four more years.The government said the new contract, which will run from September this year until April 2019, with a possible year’s extension, would require First to bring in more seats and services for passengers as modern fleets of trains are introduced on the line between London Paddington, the Cotswolds, South Wales and ...

The Herald

• Battle of the runways ramped up as Heathrow promises boost for Scotland if expansion gets green lightA THIRD runway at Heathrow airport will pave the way to better timed and more frequent flights between the hub and Scotland's three busiest airports after a decade of declining access, bosses have said.
• Running of Edinburgh trams and buses under review THE running of the entire public transport system in the Scottish capital is under review after the implosion of the board at Lothian Buses.
• Questions raised as to who pays the ferryLABOUR have called for

The Scotsman

• Heathrow plan could boost flights to ScotlandHeathrow Airport’s owners have announced a shake-up of the charges it imposes on airlines, raising the prospect of cheaper flights to and from Scotland.

Mail Online

• New M4 speed trap catches 80 drivers a day in just two months Eighty drivers a day are being snapped by a new speed camera on the M4 motorway in south Wales, generating £450,000 worth of fines, it has emerged.

Bolton News

• More seats and station wi-fi promised after First TransPennine Express wins trains contract MORE seats and wi-fi at stations have been promised after First TransPennine Express was awarded the contract for key services through Bolton for another year.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Heathrow announces plans to improve connections with Leeds Bradford Airport IMPROVED links between Leeds Bradford and Heathrow airports are set to give regional businesses a £9 billion boost and create more than 11,000 jobs, it will be announced today.
• New website set up to encourage Bradford drivers caught in bus lanes to appeal fines A MOTORIST who took Bradford Council to a tribunal over a bus lane fine has set up a website to encourage others to dispute their penalties.

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph published The changing face of Chaddesden, told in bus picturesFormer Derbeian Barry Edwards, who now lives in Nailsea, concludes his look at the development of Chaddesden, with the help of archive photographs from his collection:IN February 1950, three new Chaddesden transport services were inaugurated. They were the 74 to Sussex Circus (extended to the borough boundary at Cambourne Close in 1954), the 77 to Max Road, via Chaddesden Park Road (extended to Martin Drive in 1952), and the 70 to Wollaton Road via Wiltshire Road.The 77 via Chaddesden Park...

London Evening Standard

• Flight changes into Gatwick are ruining lives, claims minister A cabinet minister today told of local people’s “horrorâ€� at changes to flights into Gatwick which were making their lives “a miseryâ€�.
• FirstGroup defies commuter ire to keep Great Western route Commuters into Paddington station will be able to fight over more morning rush-hour seats as part of a four-year, £68 million deal to extend FirstGroup’s operation of the Great Western line to Oxford, Bristol and the west country.

Northern Echo

• UPDATED: Trains stopped for 'trespasser' on line at Durham POLICE are dealing with a suspected trespasser on the line near Durham railway station.

Other Regional Press

• Middlesbrough cyclists to say fond farewell to annual Sky RideThis month, a free family-oriented cycle fun day will mark the end of Middlesbrough’s partnership with Sky Ride

Rail Magazine

• Patrick McLoughlin’s TransPennine Express announcementSecretary of State for Transport makes official announcement regarding Direct Award for TPE
• New trains for South West in new First Great Western franchise dealMore than 360 AT300 vehicles destined for Devon and Cornwall.

Railnews

• More new Great Western trains are part of franchise award FIRSTGROUP has reached agreement with the DfT for a further Intercity Great Western contract, after months of detailed negotiations. The new contract runs until April 2019. The GW network faces major changes between now and 2019, including electrification and new Intercity Express trains.

Other News Sources

• Plans to upgrade parts of the A27 into a mini-motorway to be announced Parts of the A27 could be turned into a mini-motorway under new Government plans.