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

Monday, 13 December 2010

BBC News

• How healthy is commuting in London? [video]Is commuting in London bad for your health?
• El Undergound: Tube upgrades, estilo españolThis week is commuter week on BBC London. As part of that I've been looking at Tube upgrades and how they're going to change in the future. I visited the Northern Line control room where Richard Parry from London Underground told me they're considering copying other cities in Europe like Madrid and introduce more block closures on the Tube where lines are shut for weeks at a time.
• New minister after snow chaos rowScotland's skills minister Keith Brown is named as the new transport minister following the resignation of Stewart Stevenson.
• Salmond 'very sad' over resignationScotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said he was 'very sad' at the resignation of Scottish Transport Minster Stewart Stevenson.
• Airdrie-Bathgate rail link opensA £300m rail link opens, re-establishing services between Airdrie and Bathgate for the first time in more than 50 years.

Financial Times

• BA in talks to cut pension shortfallThe UK flag-carrier is discussing changes to its scheme that will enable it to slash £1.9bn almost in half following the release of new rules for the private sector

The Independent

• Transport minister resigns over snow chaos Scotland's transport minister resigned yesterday following criticism of his handling of travel problems caused by the poor weather.

The Scotsman

• Keith Brown parachutes in to get grip on crisis FORMER Royal Marine Keith Brown has been drafted in as Scottish transport minister after Stewart Stevenson resigned in the wake of last week's winter weather crisis.
• Letter: Change of gear needed over transport While the transport minister must accept some responsibility for the shambles of the last two weeks, the real culprits are Transport Scotland and BEAR Scotland, the organisations established and contracted, respectively, to keep our roads in good condition and open for public use.

The Telegraph

• Philip Hammond: high-speed rail will be a 'pleasant surprise' for many [Saturday 11-10-10]Meetings were scrapped and a carefully planned diary ripped up as the country slithered to a halt. Welcome to the job of Transport Secretary.
• High speed rail not affordable, says Labour The proposed high speed rail link between London and Birmingham is no longer affordable, a senior Labour MP has said. Maria Eagle, the shadow transport secretary, called the controversial £33 billion project into doubt and said it would be included in a policy review by the Labour leader, Ed Miliband.

London Evening Standard

• It’s a good Friday for Tube as journeys set to hit record high More than 4.2 million journeys are expected to be made on the Tube today (Friday) — a record.
• First zero-emission bus just the ticket to help air qualityA bus that emits water instead of ex- haust fumes was today unveiled as part of London's first non-polluting fleet.

Other Regional Press

• Improved trains ’good’ for town NEW improved rail services into London, which start this Sunday, have been welcomed by local commuters and Diss Business Forum.
• First Capital Connect promises better service for the future The district council’s overview and scrutiny committee was given a presentation from FCC managing director Neal Lawson and integration and partnership manager Larry Heyman, as well as Network Rail’s route enhancement manager Spencer Gibbens.
• 'A RAY OF HOPE' FOR COMMUTERS A VITAL train service scrapped last year could be reinstated, bringing joy to Borough Green and West Malling commuters.
• Brown named new transport minister A new Scottish transport minister has been announced one day after Stewart Stevenson bowed to pressure and resigned.
• New rail link between cities opened train service has begun operating on a new line between Scotland's two biggest cities. Passengers can now travel between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Airdrie and Bathgate on the £300 million link.
• New Rail Link Between Cities Opened A train service has begun operating on a new line between Scotland's two biggest cities.

Rail-News.com

• First passenger train arrives at Birmingham Moor Street [Saturday]Today saw the first passenger train use Birmingham Moor Street’s new platforms since 1987. A press special, formed of Chiltern’s 168113, took invited guests, including the Rail Media Group’s Jonathan Webb, on a trip to Leamington Spa and return. When the £250m upgrade of the Birmingham to London route is finished, passengers will be able to travel between the two cities in just 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• ASLEF team checks out German RailwaysBritish train drivers have been on a fact finding mission to Germany visiting colleagues on Deutsche Bahn.

Other News Sources

• McNulty Review On 7 December 2010 the Secretary of State (SoS) published the Rail Value for Money Study Interim Report. The Study has produced some initial thoughts on solutions and will submit its final report to DfT in April 2011, with the SoS announcing his reform plans for the industry in November 2011.
• Coventry station revised redevelopment plans 'likely to cause less traffic' REVISED plans for a £1.5 billion redevelopment of the area around Coventry Railway Station have been submitted to the council.
• Busy December for Sustrans with two new projects in Cheshire and portait benches in North East Christmas may be on the horizon, but December is proving to be a busy month for sustainable transport charity Sustrans, with the opening of two projects in Cheshire – a new bridge in Nantwich and the first part of a greenway linking Crewe and Nantwich – plus the release of a shortlist of nominees to be immortalised in new portrait benches at two locations in the North East.
• Cycling City money helps fund new facilities at York Railway Station £550,000 is to be spent in York next year on two cycle paths that will provide better access to the city’s railway station for bike riders. Part of the money will come from Cycling City York, suggesting that despite the abolition of Cycling England, projects under the Cycling Cities, Cycling Towns initiative will continue at local level – at least until the money runs out.
• Minister 'Wrong To Quit' Over Scottish Snow Scotland's transport minister should not have resigned over a cold snap that left drivers stranded in their cars, First Minister Alex Salmond has told Sky News.