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

Wednesday, 22 October 2014

BBC News

• 50mph lorry speed limit on A9 single carriageway agreedLegislation raising the speed limit for lorries on single carriageway stretches of the A9 between Perth and Inverness has been signed.
• Give cities more power to boost UK growth, says studyAllowing UK cities to make their own decisions on tax and spending could boost economic growth by £79bn a year by 2030, a year-long study has concluded.
• VIDEO: Chinese plant for Jaguar Land RoverCar manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover has opened a new £1bn factory in China.
• Rail conductors' strike called offTwo days of planned strike action by rail conductors in north Wales is suspended pending further talks, says Arriva Trains Wales.
• UK road levy 'threat to Irish firms'A new UK levy on road hauliers from the Republic of Ireland entering Northern Ireland could put small firms out of business, an Irish TD (MP) claims.
• VIDEO: Planes wobble as they land in stormPlanes wobble at they come in to land at Manchester Airport, during stormy weather on Tuesday.
• VIDEO: Call for traffic-free Oxford StreetLondon's Oxford Street is
• Phase two for cycle 'Quietways'The second phase of the cycle
• Flights axed due to weather warningHeathrow cancels about 10% of flights on Tuesday, as strong winds and rain from the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo hit the UK.
• Grant hope for mountain bike centrePlans to revamp a disused church into a mountain bike centre are on the brink of securing major funding.
• Lufthansa strike declared legalGerman airline Lufthansa fails in a court bid to force its pilots to call off their strike, while union leaders warn of more action.
• North East bus takeover plan agreed by combined authorityBus services in north-east England could be taken over by local government, after councils agreed to draw up a new transport scheme.

Financial Times

• Transport deemed more important than devolutionThe north and Midlands should have their own smart card modelled on London’s Oyster to allow workers to move between cities more quickly, the city growth commission says. Jim O’Neill, chairman of the commission, said transport was more important than devolution in improving economic fortunes of provincial cities.
• Go-Ahead weighs Singapore bus market forayLondon’s biggest operator in early talks to run 380 vehicles from 2016
• Rail boss says worst ever gridlock loomsHigh quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/62d19aa2-593b-11e4-a33c-00144feab7de.html#ixzz3Gqtsb4sD North America’s rail industry cannot continue on its current path and avoid unprecedented gridlock, Hunter Harrison, Canadian Pacific chief executive, warned on Tuesday, after abandoning talks over a potential merger with CSX.
• Councils take over Tyne & Wear busesLocal authority leaders agree on rules that may hit Stagecoach, Go-Ahead and Arriva

The Guardian

• RAC calls for higher investment in road maintenanceRAC Foundation reports spending on road maintenance has dropped to £7.5bn in 2012 from £9.7bn in 2009
• Tyne and Wear deregulation U-turn angers bus firmsAfter long consultation, regional authority to counter reforms brought in by Thatcher government
• Rochdale taxi firm admits providing white drivers on requestCar 2000 minicab company, which serves area where Asian grooming gangs have operated, says it is catering to demandCustomers ordering minicabs in the town at the centre of Britains biggest grooming scandal are being offered white drivers on request.Residents in Heywood in the Greater Manchester borough of Rochdale have been offered the service after two local drivers of Pakistani origin were jailed for their part in the rape and trafficking of young white girls. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Drivers paying £42bn a year to TreasuryMotorists are being
• HGV speed limit pilot to begin on A9LEGISLATION to increase the speed limit for lorries to 50mph on the A9 has been signed off a week before it comes into force.

The Telegraph

• Cyclist kicks fellow rider to ground into path of coachWatch: Cyclist releases footage of moment he was pushed into path of coach by irate BMX rider

Network Rail

• Railway investment means temporary closure of bridge in SalfordA railway bridge in Salford is to be rebuilt as part of Network Rail’s £1bn+ investment to improve the railway in the north west of England.
• Birmingham New Street station helps heat up the city centreA ground-breaking green initiative to reduce Birmingham New Street’s carbon footprint is underway.

London Evening Standard

• City threatens to block £50 million cycle superhighway The Square Mile has warned the Mayor that it could block plans for the £50 million cycle superhighway unless he makes key changes.
• Hundreds of commuters face 'nightmare' of overcrowding at Oxford Circus Hundreds of commuters complained of overcrowding at Oxford Circus when shops in the high street closed for the evening.
• Evening Standard comment: London needs these cycle superhighways The latest row over the Mayor’s new cycle lanes comes the day after the 10th death of a London cyclist this year.
• Cyclist hit by truck at notorious junction was German student on three month volunteering placement A cyclist who died yesterday after colliding with a lorry in the City was a 26-year-old student on a volunteering placement.

Newcastle Journal

• North East Councils to take control of bus services in huge transport shake-upMembers of the NE Combined Authority voted unanimously for a Quality Contract Scheme for Tyne and Wear, heralding new era of bus services

Northern Echo

• Bus operator's revenue boostA TRAVEL operator running buses across the North-East says its regional services have boosted revenues. Go-Ahead, which has a regional fleet of about 675 buses, said the overall division has seen five per cent revenue growth.

Wales Online

• Cardiff Airport drop in passenger numbers prompts Tories' private ownership callWelsh Government says figures were 'expected'. The Welsh Conservatives have called for Cardiff Airport to be returned to private ownership after September saw a year-on-year drop in passenger numbers of 7%.

Yorkshire Post

• Protesting pensioners vow to continue fight for free train travelTHE ROW over a decision to scrap a concessionary public transport scheme for the elderly looks set to rage on as both sides refused to back down.

Carlisle News & Star

• Schools minister hears Cumbria rural bus case Minister of State for Schools David Laws discussed the issue of rural bus subsidies for Cumbrian students today.

Doncaster Free Press

• New training academy to be built at Humberside AirportA new £5m BAE Systems National training academy is to be built at Humberside Airport. It will provide up to 60 apprentice opportunities every year resulting in over 150 new jobs over three years.

Other Regional Press

• Last stand to save historic Signal Box with original village name - St James DeepingThe signal box at Deeping St James will be taken down overnight tomorrow (Wednesday, 22), after the last train passes through. Campaigners, who fought to retain the historic signal box, will gather at the site at 9.10pm to witness the last passing train before the 150 year old structure is decommissioned.

Aviation Industry

• Final airlines to move into Heathrow’s T2Four Star Alliance carriers set to complete transfer to new terminal
• Storm forces flight cancellations from HeathrowAirport reduces services by 10 per cent due to high winds
• Demand for premium air cabins picks upIncrease in premium traffic outpaces sales of economy seats
• Regus opens new Gatwick business loungeFacility in South Terminal includes 10 meeting rooms

Other News Sources

• Eurostar enjoys business travel boostRail operator takes advantage of “growing economic confidenceâ€� in the UK