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

Thursday, 09 September 2010

BBC News

• High-speed route in Warwickshire 'revised', says MP Part of the route of the proposed high-speed rail line (HS2) in Warwickshire has been revised, an MP says.
• Tube services resume in London after 24-hour strike Normal service has resumed on London's Tube network following a 24-hour strike that caused severe disruption.
• Thames Gateway 'key to economic recovery', says report Councils and business leaders have urged the government not to cut funding from major transport infrastructure projects in the Thames Gateway.
• Javelin trains from Kent to London 'being modified' The high-speed Javelin trains operating between Kent and London are having to be modified, it has emerged. The Southeastern train company said the Japanese-built trains had experienced "a slight sideways movement" and correction work was being done.
• Planes in 'near-miss' over LondonA business jet and a passenger plane carrying 232 people came close to a mid-air collision over London in July, a report reveals.

Financial Times

• Network Rail told to mind efficiency gap The owner of Britain’s rail infrastructure is up to 40 per cent less efficient than its European counterparts, according to the regulator, almost a decade after the industry’s costs started to spiral out of control.

The Guardian

• Britain's railways named as Europe's most expensive Network Rail up to 40% less efficient in maintaining railway tracks and stations than European rivals, says regulator

The Herald

• Driving routes shake-up to make tests ˜real™Driving test routes will no longer be published online as part of an overhaul designed to make them more representative of real motoring, it was announced yesterday.

The Scotsman

• Network Rail is 40% less efficient than foreign firms THE UK's rail infrastructure body Network Rail is trailing far behind comparable European companies when it comes to efficiency, UK rail regulators said yesterday.

The Telegraph

• Sun follows leaves on the line as cause of rail delays Rail passengers have been hit by delays caused by the wrong type of snow and within weeks leaves on the line will be back. Now it appears there is a new threat to the smooth running of trains across the country – the sun.

Reuters News

• UK high-speed rail bids due by Oct 29 - sources idders for Britain's only high-speed railway linking London to the Channel Tunnel have been asked to submit binding offers by Oct. 29, several people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

Mail Online

• Fleet of super-fast trains withdrawn from service after suffering 'alarming' wobbles at 140mphRail operator Southeastern admitted the 'Javelin' trains, which cost a total of £258 million, were suffering 'sideways movement'.
• Budget airline's bag blunder hits passengers with £60 levyCustomers of bmibaby were routinely asked at departure gates to put their hand luggage in a metal cage to ensure it met size restrictions but the dimensions were too small.

Birmingham Mail

• Park and ride to stay free, Centro pledges FREE rail parking is set to survive cost cutting after transport chiefs ruled out charging rail passengers to use park and ride facilities across Birmingham.
• Stark warning for Centro National Express chief executive Dean Finch made the stark warning to regional transport body Centro.

Birmingham Post

• Warwickshire villagers delighted as high speed rail route is altered Campaigners are celebrating after ministers agreed to move the proposed line of the high speed rail route from London to Birmingham away from picturesque Warwickshire villages.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Future is bright for dimmer lights Bradford Council is rolling out dimming devices on all new street lighting in the district to cut energy costs and slash its carbon dioxide emissions.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Plans lodged for £100m rail, bus and tram interchange at HaymarketRAIL bosses have unveiled plans for a multi-million-pound redevelopment of Haymarket station to create a transport hub for the Capital's train and tram network.

London Evening Standard

• Olympic bullet train passengers terrified by 140mph ’wobble’London's Olympic bullet trains have been modified after commuters raised concerns over “frightening and alarming” wobbles at 140mph.
• Virgin Atlantic solves pilots row to avoid strikeThe long-running pilot’s dispute which threatened strike chaos at Virgin Atlantic is over
• David Miliband: We need third runway at HeathrowLabour leadership frontrunner David Miliband resurrects the idea of a third runway at Heathrow
• Safety call after mid-air plungeAir investigators have called for a tightening of procedures after an easyJet Boeing 737 plunged 9,000ft on a post-maintenance check flight.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Bus operators told to ˜get real™ over £5 day-ticket plan Bus companies have been told to œget real and go back to the drawing board over plans to bring in a £5 day ticket for access to all services in Aberdeen.

The York Press

• Passengers to get say on York bus services RESIDENTS in York are to be quizzed about their views on local bus services, including what they think about fares and the reliability of the network.

Wales Online

• Iconic Greyhound bus sets up Welsh service THEY are an iconic symbol of the American open road immortalised in countless Hollywood blockbusters.

Other Regional Press

• Weymouth seafront parking spaces set to go in revamp CAR parking spaces on Weymouth Esplanade are set to go as part of a seafront regeneration package.
• Plans for Weymouth parking fee increase are shelved UNPOPULAR plans to raise charges at Weymouth™s out-of-town car parks have been shelved amid fears that they would drive visitors away from the town.

Aviation Industry

• Air France KLM traffic dropsSister airlines Air France and KLM reported a drop in traffic of 1.2% in August, compared to August 2009.read more

Green Miscellany

• The shopping trolley you can ride as a bicycle A pedal-powered cargo trike that can transform itself into a shopping trolley could be a healthy and cheap alternative to electric mobility scooters.read more

Other News Sources

• CRAYFORD: Southeastern told to think again on step-free station access TRANSPORT minister Norman Baker has stepped into the debate over easy access to Crayford railway station.
• Five share £20m of work on Tyne and Wear Metro upgradeFive firms will share the first packages of work to be awarded on the £100 million Tyne and Wear Metro upgrade.
• Air traffic rebounds in core European airspaceAn average air traffic growth of 4% in the airspace controlled by the Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC) in the last four months clearly shows that the aviation industry is starting...
• SMALL BUSINESSES FLY FREE ON BRITISH AIRWAYSBritish Airways today relaunches its Face-to-Face Program and offers U.S. entrepreneurs and small business owners the critical tools for building business relationships abroad and stimulating...
• DOT Proposes to Deny Antitrust Immunity for Delta/Virgin Blue AllianceThe U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today proposed to deny an application for antitrust immunity made by Delta Air Lines and affiliates of the Virgin Blue Group with respect to joint...