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

Thursday, 16 April 2015

BBC News

• M6 Toll 'should be free for trucks'A Birmingham councillor is calling for the M6 Toll to be made free for lorries during peak hours.
• High hopes in airport strike talksAirport bosses and union leaders say they are hopeful of settling a dispute which saw security staff strike earlier this month.
• Maaxi - will we care for sharing?Maaxi, Uber, Splyt, Hailo - is the competition in the taxi app market really improving consumers' lives?

The Guardian

• Huge oil reserves found near Gatwick may not be viable, company warnsUK Oil & Gas Investments sounds note of caution over its discovery of 100bn barrels at Horse Hill, Surrey, saying it needs proof of ‘commerciality’An oil company whose shares rose 200% after it announced a discovery of huge reserves near Gatwick airport has tried to dampen expectations by stressing that production may not even be commercially viable.UK Oil & Gas Investments said on Wednesday that estimated volumes of 158m barrels per square mile “should not be considered as either contingent or prospective resources or reservesâ€�. Related: Gatwick oil find 'could produce 100bn b...

The Telegraph

• Maaxi: the app that wants to make black taxis cheaper than busesMaaxi, the black cab sharing app funded by Nat Rothschild, launches in London on Wednesday
• London's businesses back Heathrow for new runway over GatwickPoll reveals twice as many businesses in the capital believe Heathrow should be given a new runway, compared with 25pc who back Gatwick

Times Online

• Pollution alert over plans for Heathrow [Subscription]Plans for a third runway at Heathrow are likely to be “undeliverable” because of high levels of pollution around the west London airport, according to a report.

Daily Record

• Passengers outraged after West Lothian to Glasgow bus route axed without warningFirst Bluebird's X14 service between West Lothian and Glasgow city centre has been axed, with the company claiming the service was running at a loss

The Mirror

• UKIP declares war on cycle lanes - because they 'discriminate against the elderly and infirm'A leaflet distributed by the anti-EU party complains that cyclists “carry no number plates or insurance” and suggests motorists are used as 'cash cows'

Birmingham Post

• 'Stay away' from Paradise as transport chiefs warn of gridlock Next phase of traffic works in £500m redevelopment to start in May with Paradise Circus island to be partially closed and several bus routes diverted

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Lib Dems pledge to transform northern rail linksTHE Liberal Democrats have vowed to “deliver” an ambitious strategy to transform Northern rail links - despite its multi-billion pound price tag.
• Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin visits Keighley Railway Station THE key role of Keighley's railway station was stressed by a senior Government transport minister who visited the town today.

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph published General election: UKIP plan to scrap HS2 would 'hit county jobs'...A UKIP pledge to scrap HS2 shows the party does not understand the economic benefits of moving "the centre of the economy" to the Midlands and the North, the Conservatives have said.The UK Independence Party General Election manifesto was released yesterday and featured the claim that the high-speed train plan was "an unaffordable white elephant".The route will carry 250mph trains from London through Birmingham to Leeds via a station at Breaston or Toton Sidings.UKIP's...

Journal Live

• New era in training for rail engineers could bring thousands of job opportunities for North EastTraining for the next generation of rail engineers has begun in the North East and could lead to thousands of job opportunities

London Evening Standard

• Commuter misery set to strike London rush hour as Southern train is derailed and signalling problems hit Commuters are facing a long journey home on the hottest day of the year as a series of problems hit the transport network.

Doncaster Free Press

• Doncaster bike scheme helps people get en route to work and trainingA new bike scheme has been launched in Doncaster to support residents to access employment, training or college.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Freight train fault cancels services between Ipswich and FelixstoweA train fault has cancelled services between Ipswich and Felixstowe throughout the day.

Other Regional Press

• Transport Secretary dismisses means testing for bus passes during visit to HalifaxConservative Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has dismissed introducing means testing for bus passes during a visit to Halifax.
• New delay for £70m bus station schemeTHE multi-million redevelopment of Exeter's bus and coach station is facing further delays, the Echo can reveal.
• Morebus launches 24 hour bus services in Bournemouth and PooleNEW night-time bus routes, offering a 24 hour service, will be launched in Bournemouth and Poole next month.
• More scrutiny of transport is expectedThe stranglehold of the Road Traffic Act of 1930 on the licensing of bus services began to be relaxed in 1980, with full de-regulation in 1986.
• Gatwick Airport targets west London with flyers warning of Heathrow noiseGatwick will distribute 400,000 flyers to homes across west London, with Uxbridge and South Ruislip being targeted more fiercely than any other constituency
• Tees Transporter Bridge closes as scaffolding removedTHE iconic Tees Transporter Bridge is set to close tomorrow (Thursday, April 16) while scaffolding used for improvement works is removed.

Bus and Coach.com

• Rural innovation project heralds its successes
• Taking on the sustainability challenge
• UK Bus Awards open for entries in its 20th year
• New sleeper reservation system for megabusGold
• First of 2015 fleet order for NCT
• Latest Live Edition 10 Apr 2015
• BYD wins first Swedish order for ebuses
• VDL Citea Electric on trial in Maastricht

Aviation Industry

• Easyjet updates app for Gatwick passengersPersonalised instructions and reminders added
• UK airlines ‘disappointed’ over APD absence in Conservative manifestoMain parties face renewed calls for scrapping of tax
• Lib Dems remain opposed to airport expansionParty’s manifesto cites air and noise pollution issues as reasons to reject expansion

Other News Sources

• Virgin Trains is testing a new way to track your lost luggageUK train operator Virgin Trains is currently trialling HomingPIN – a new system that aims to help you track down your lost luggage. 1,000 customers are testing it out at the moment.
• Lib Dems would not allow new runways at Heathrow or GatwickA Liberal Democrat government would not allow expansion of Heathrow or Gatwick, the party declared today.
• FTA Roadworthiness Awards – Celebrating operators excellent safety standardsThe Freight Transport Association (FTA) has recognised the excellent work of several of its members, highlighting their high standards of ...
• UPDATE: Train services resume after locomotive derails outside Brighton Station A train has derailed outside Brighton station.
• Airlines need to guard against criminal proceedings, says ERAThe criminalisation of air accidents is increasing, particularly within the EU, and is an alarming element of the responsibilities of directors and key post holders in air operating companies....
• Ryanair Joins Instagram Ryanair, Europersquo;s favourite airline, today (15 Apr) joined Instagram, offering behind the scenes images of life inside Europersquo;s biggest carrier, snapshots of its 190 destinations and ...