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

Monday, 13 April 2015

BBC News

• Londonderry to Coleraine rail line upgrade delayed by four monthsWork on a second major upgrade to the Londonderry-to-Coleraine railway line has been delayed by four months.
• Election 2015: Lib Dems in energy and rail pledgesPeople will be able to switch energy suppliers within 24 hours under new plans set out by the Liberal Democrats.
• Bars 'hit by new drink-drive limit'The lowering of the legal drink-drive limit in Scotland has affected the hospitality sector, according to a Bank of Scotland report.
• 'Bending down' Tube-hit man 'stable'A man struck by a Tube train in south London. as it is believed he bent down to pick up a bag, is in a

The Guardian

• Flying on sunshine: Solar Impulse 2 in round-the-world flightFuelled only by the sun – lithium batteries store energy for use after dark – Solar Impulse 2 is about a quarter of the way through its circumnavigation of the globe, a four-month endeavour that is scheduled to touch down in Abu Dhabi in July. If successful, it will be the first solar-powered plane to complete the trip, an engineering triumph and inspiration for carbon-neutral travel. It’s a test of both man and machine. With room for only one person in the cockpit, the plane’s Swiss pilots, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, must alternate each leg of the mission, taking the helm for up t...
• Germanwings plane aborts takeoff after bomb threatFlight 4U826 from Cologne Bonn airport to Milan is stopped on the runway and evacuated after German police receive bomb threatA Milan-bound Germanwings flight was stopped on the runway on Sunday evening following a bomb threat against the aircraft as it awaited takeoff at Cologne Bonn airport.Air traffic controllers contacted the pilot of flight 4U826 to Milan’s Malpensa airport, after German police received a bomb threat. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Face-To-Face: Keith Irving, chief executive of Cycling ScotlandWHEN Keith Irving tells you to get on your bike, he means it in the best possible sense.
• Island business lose thousands following ferry disruptionISLAND hoteliers say they have lost thousands in revenue following 'shambolic' ferry disruptions during one of its busiest weeks for visitors.

Mail Online

• Sir Bradley Wiggins' final road race sees cyclists narrowly miss oncoming train A harrowing video shows how ultra competitive cyclists risked life and limb to cross a closed level crossing - seconds before a train speeds past - during the Paris to Roubaix race.
• Hidden speed cameras could be scrapped: 'Stealth' traps credited with 25% spike in fines could be banned no matter which party wins the Election  New figures revealed at least 112,000 motorists were given fines or appeared in court for motorway offences last year – a quarter more than in the previous year.

The Mirror

• Watch passenger jet take off SIDEWAYS as pilot battles against high windsThe video shows the skill of the passenger jet's pilot as they manage to control its take-off in testing night-time conditions

Birmingham Mail

• Watch: Astonishing new Birmingham Airport scenes as plane takes off SIDEWAYS during high windsAmazing footage shot at night during gales which battered Midlands last week

Bolton News

• Prime minister accused of 'broken promise' after train carriage announcement PRIME minister David Cameron has been accused of making “another broken promiseâ€� over Bolton trains by a Labour election candidate.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Demand for action over railway fly-tipping blight Large stretches of the line between Bradford Forster Square and Shipley are blighted by fly-tipping
• Moves made to acquire last of land needed for Low Moor railway station MOVES have been made to compulsory purchase a key piece of land for a new railway station at Low Moor in Bradford.
• 'Missing link' in cyclepath between Bradford and Shipley now completed A SECTION of cyclepath between Bradford and Shipley dubbed

Derby Telegraph

• ICrowsonDT published Bus frustrations: Sinfin service provided by Arriva comes under...PASSENGERS who use a Derby bus route have told of their frustration because they say the service sometimes fails to show up.Commuters claim Arriva's 37 service, which takes them from Sinfin into the city, regularly leaves them stranded. Daisy Giuliano uses the bus every day to commute to the University of Derby, where she is the student union's president.The 23-year-old said buses failed to arrive at her stop, Asda Sinfin, in the morning about twice every week.This means she risks missing...

London Evening Standard

• Bomb threat to Germanwings plane forces evacuation at Cologne airport A Germanwings plane has been evacuated after police were made aware of a bomb threat against the flight.

Manchester Evening News

• Support for HS2 high-speed rail link between London and Manchester at an all-time low according to new pollSurvey says just 22 per cent now say £50bn project should be a spending priority for the next government
• Police and security guards to patrol trams and buses – armed with body cameras and the power to BAN passengersThe unit will be a full-time dedicated force to be assigned to trams and buses in Greater Manchester.

Morning Star

• Privatisation : Chaos on the Railways Disgraced privateer Serco and homophobic bus tycoon Brian Souter are among those growing fat on our rail system. It’s got to stop, says JAMES WALSH

Nottingham Evening Post

• Support for HS2 has reached rock bottom, poll says Less than a quarter of the public are in favour of HS2 at the current cost of £50 billion, a new poll has revealed.

This Is Local London Network

• The Wimbledon station guard who puts a smile on the faces of commuters A woman from Wimbledon was among 15 people to be awarded South West Trains’ first ever I Make the Difference customer service awards at the Kia Oval, by Rachel Dickerson.

Bucks Free Press

• Speed signs purchased to fight dangerous drivers in village A journey to safer roads is soon to start for drivers in two south Buckinghamshire villages, as campaigners hope to implement moveable road signs alerting people when they are going over the speed limit.
• Increase motorway speeds to 90mph, says Marlow-based group in its radical 'manifesto' Maximum speeds of up to 90mph is one of the radical proposals put forward by a Marlow-based pressure group to ease problems on the nation’s roads.

North Wales Live

• Liverpool John Lennon Airport says 'we will talk to anyone' as Gatwick announces £20m fund London Airport competing with Heathrow for go-ahead to build a second runway

Other Regional Press

• Positive start hailed for new rail franchiseLocal SNP MSPs Alex Salmond and Christian Allard have hailed as “positive” the start to the new ScotRail franchise launched on Wednesday, April 1.
• More train delays, more apologies from Network Rail Network Rail has apologised for signalling problems caused by “ageing equipmentâ€� that delayed trains through Oxfordshire this week.
• Calls to ban all lorries without safety guards from city roads TRANSPORT bosses have been urged to introduce new rules in Oxford that would force lorries to fit life-saving side guards.
• Campaign to save 'iconic' 110-year-old Billingham railway signal box from demolitionCampaigners say that to remove the signal box and adjoining footbridge would see Billingham lose a part of its heritage
• Does this new Preston cycle path go against grain?Council chiefs have unveiled a “contraflow” cycle lane in Preston.
• Going loco over Katie, the new train for Kirklees Light RailwayHistoric engine brought to Huddersfield

Other News Sources

• Hitachi signs deal with Abellio for 70 new EMUsThe Scotrail franchisee Abellio (www.abellio.co.uk) has signed a contract with Hitachi Rail Europe (www.hitachirail-eu.com) for the supply and maintenance of 70 new electric multiple units (EMUs), which will be financed by Caledonian Rail Leasing
• Network Rail: Constructive talks lead to significant progress on pay offerDuring the course of three days of talks facilitated by Acas, Network Rail, RMT, TSSA and Unite trade unions have been discussing the pay deals for 2015 to 2018 for the operations (including controllers), maintenance and bands 5-8 bargaining groups.
• Cambridge to London rail users trial ‘virtual’ MultiPass ticket A virtual travel pass system for rail passngers journeying between Cambridge and London has been piloted.