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

Sunday, 05 December 2010

BBC News

• More severe weather for ScotlandSevere weather warnings are issued for northern Scotland, with drivers warned about widespread ice on untreated roads.
• Warning of Spanish flight backlogThousands of Britons due back from Spain are being warned to expect some delays as airlines resume flights after wildcat strike action.
• Scots set for more severe weatherSevere weather warnings are issued for northern Scotland, with drivers warned about widespread ice on untreated roads.

The Herald

• Edinburgh™s trams body in ˜meltdown™ as more staff quitThree more senior staff have quit Edinburgh™s beleaguered trams body amid allegations that the organisation is in œmeltdown.
• Surging Stagecoach prepares to swoop on smaller operatorsBrian Souter is set to further tighten his grip on the UK™s bus market on the back of buoyant trading for Stagecoach, the transport giant he founded 30 years ago with his sister, Ann Gloag.

The Scotsman

• Stranded Britons hope to get homeThousands of holidaymakers stranded abroad following wildcat strikes by air traffic controllers in Spain are starting to arrive home in the UK.

Daily Express

• East Coast rail mastermind looks to the WestTHE man who pulled off a rail revolution on the East Coast mainline believes he can add five million extra seats to the key West Coast line.

Birmingham Post

• Post Comment: Making the case for high speed rail Although the Government remains fully committed to pressing ahead with its £34 billion HS2 high speed rail project, it would be unsurprising if there was not just a flicker of apprehension in the mind of Transport Secretary Philip Hammond.

Derby Telegraph

• Drivers record temperatures of -15C and freeze is set to deepenFORECASTERS have warned it will get even colder in Derbyshire this weekend, with temperatures as low as -15C already recorded. Weather experts claimed the lowest temperature recorded in the county was -10.4C on Thursday night-Friday morning, but many drivers clocked temperatures even lower. Matlock resident Tony Gibbert, 44, was driving through Crich at 10pm and spotted a -15C reading. He said:
• Delays at East Midlands AirportPASSENGERS travelling to Spain from East Midlands Airport are facing long delays due to a walk-out by traffic controllers. Thousands of British holidaymakers are also stranded in Spain today because of the action. The nation's airspace has been taken over by Spain's military, with the government shutting down Madrid's large hub and seven other airports. Two flights to Spain due to leave the Castle Donington airport have been cancelled. Three others are meant to leave this afternoon but a spokeswoman said they would be delayed. She said the action was due to end at 6pm today. She said fligh...
• Bombardier boss joins economic organisationTHE boss of Derby train-maker Bombardier is to represent the interests of city firms on the shadow board of an organisation which aims to boost the region's economy. Colin Walton, UK chairman of the Litchurch Lane firm, will join political, business and education leaders from Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire on the recently approved Local Enterprise Partnership. Mr Walton, who is also chairman of Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum, has been chosen by Derby City Council to represent the private sector. He is one of four business leaders chosen by Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire county councils and De...

Edinburgh Evening News

• Mediation bid at tram meetingCOUNCIL bosses have met with the German contractor at the centre of the city's tram dispute in a bid to begin mediation.

Liverpool Post

• Liverpool’s new canal link scoops 13th award LIVERPOOL’S new canal link scooped another national award – from the Natural Stone Federation.

London Evening Standard

• Spanish airspace open after strikeSpain has placed striking air traffic controllers under military authority and threatened them with jail terms in an unprecedented emergency order to get planes back in the skies and clear chaotic airports clogged with irate travellers.
• Hint that liquids ban will be easedTransport Secretary Philip Hammond has hinted that the ban on carrying liquids in hand luggage is to be eased, it has been reported.

Sheffield Star

• Sunday: BRRRrrr... it's hardly bikini weather - plus transport latestFREEZING temperatures will return to much of the UK today following a temporary reprieve from the big chill.
• Extra grit all used up - as transport gets back to normalALL the extra grit brought in to cope with winter conditions in Sheffield has been used up dealing with the severe snow and ice this week, it was revealed today.

Wales Online

• Drink-drive campaign dropped from TV ROAD safety campaigners have raised concerns after it was announced that this year’s Christmas anti-drink-driving campaign will not be shown on television because of budget cuts.

Bucks Free Press

• Met Office warns of widespread icy roads THE Met Office is warning drivers of widespread icy roads across Buckinghamshire today and tomorrow.

Other Regional Press

• Swindon-Kemble redoubling could still happen before 2015, say Gloucestershire MPsThat is the opinion of the county's MPs after they held a summit meeting with railways minister Theresa Villiers to discuss the future of the Swindon-Kemble redoubling project.
• Stables fears impact of high speed trains A RIDING stables owner claims noise from a new Rail link connecting Oxford to London could spook horses and cause fatal accidents.
• Witney link road 'key to cutting pollution' SUPPORTERS of plans to build a controversial relief road have welcomed the publication of a report which recommends building the road to tackle pollution.
• Aberdeen businessman drove at 95mph AN ABERDEEN property boss has been stripped of his licence after being caught driving dangerously.
• Dorset snow update: Gritters in action DORSET County Council™s gritting teams took to the roads again yesterday to combat the icy, dangerous conditions for motorists.
• Widespread icy conditionsIce and lying snow are causing diversions and delays in some areas. Train services running altered and reduced services on some routes.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Autumn weather 'affects UK train performance' Performance across the UK's rail network dipped during October this year, as autumn weather conditions set in.This is according to the latest figures from Network Rail, which show punctuality dropped from 90.3 per cent of trains arriving on time during the same month of 2009 to 86.3 per cent this year.Meanwhile, the same period during the past ten years has seen punctuality stand at an average of 77.6 per cent, as it marks the first full month of the autumn period, which tends to herald a drop in performance.Network Rail director of operations and customer services Robin Gisby explaine...

Railway Gazette

• News in BriefAlstom Transport and Transmash Holding have launched a project to develop a new-generation 160 km/h EMU for use in Russia. The modular ED10 family will be available with up to 12 cars in high and low floor variants. A prototype is due to begin test running in 2012. The Thai parliament has voted to support a draft framework for negotiations with China over the development of a high speed network in Thailand (RG 11.10 p48). Plans for an extension of SRT™s metre-gauge line from Nong Khai to Vientiane have been dropped by the government of Laos following the start of work on a 530 km standard-g...

Other News Sources

• Travel Safety Recommendations Left to LanguishAn investigation has found that one of every six safety recommendations proposed by the National Transportation Safety Board has gone unfulfilled. Several factors contribute to this problem.
• Spain air chaos not over despite workers return Spanish air traffic controllers are beginning to return to work following a wildcat strike, an airports authority spokesman has said.Related StoriesJustin Bieber launches headphones!International planes rush to rescue IsraelDramatic metro station rescue caught on cameraSpain's planes take offStranded Britons due home
• Summary of Highways Agency current road closures The A66 is closed in both directions (eastbound and westbound) between the A67 (Bowes) and the A685 (Brough), due to snow.The A47  is closed in both directions between the junctions with the A1101 and the A17, due to an incident. Road expected to re-open from12:00 hrs. A local diversion is in place.The M54 westbound is closed between junctions J2 and J3, due to a serious incident. Road expected to re-open from 13:30hrs. A local diversion is in place. The M25 anti-clockwise Junction J13 on slip and exit slip are closed due to a police incident. Road expected to re-open fro...
• Investigators analyse data recorders from crashed Tu-154Investigators have retrieved two of the three flight recorders from the Dagestan Airlines Tupolev Tu-154M which crashed at Moscow Domodedovo yesterday.The...
• Spain air traffic control strikes: thousands strandedWildcat strikes by Spanish air traffic controllers have disrupted the travel plans of 250,000 people across Europe. A UK businessman stranded in Menorca tells Channel 4 News he feels
• Improvements to north east transport networks as frozen weather continues After some of the most severe weather to hit the north east at this time of year, transport links are slowly returning to normal Transport Scotland confirmed today. The national transport agency stated that a limited number of rail services and replacement buses were in operation today while key road links remained open most of the day, news that will be welcomed by communities in the north east.  Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said: read more
• Small airports may get added security next yearImagine this for your next flight: checking in without having a stranger rummage through your luggage, walking onto the tarmac without a body search, and not worrying that you somehow ended up on a no...
• UK airports to ditch liquids banBRITISH airports are to scrap the ban on liquids in hand luggage from April and implement a series of security reforms after protests from passengers and airline operators over excessive checks.
• Spanish air traffic stand-off comes to a closeMost of Spain's air traffic controllers have returned to work and airspace has reopened, after a walkout grounded flights and stranded thousands. The government had imposed emergency measures not see...
• Spanish air traffic returning to normalSpain's airspace was reopened Saturday after a wildcat protest by air traffic controllers paralysed airports, the infrastructure ministry announced.