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

Tuesday, 18 January 2011

BBC News

• A champion pear tree is identified on the HS2 route The largest wild pear tree in Britain has been identified on the proposed high speed rail link HS2 route in Warwickshire, tree experts have said.
• Elephant and Castle's 'intimidating' subways closed Work to remove a network of "intimidating" pedestrian subways in south London has begun.
• Fuel hikes could threaten Dial a Ride service Volunteer transport schemes such as Dial A Ride are under pressure as drivers are hit by rising fuel prices, a Leicestershire organiser said.
• Has scrapping the WEZ made any difference? [blog]It has been just under a month since motorists stopped paying to drive into the Western Extension of the Congestion Charging Zone (WEZ). It was abolished on January 4th.
• Railways told to improve services amid snow chaos The rail industry has been told to improve its performance during heavy snowfall.
• Llandudno train station plans unveiled Plans to revamp Llandudno railway station are being unveiled at a public exhibition in the Conwy seaside town.
• Plans to add Wrexham to rail linkThe Welsh Assembly Government says it is in talks to try and include Wrexham on an express rail link between north and south Wales.
• Mayor backs call for airport hubBoris Johnson backs a report calling for a new hub airport in the south east of England.
• Fire at bus depot costs £500,000A fire at a bus depot in East Renfrewshire causes about £500,000 in damage, police say.
• Airbus plane orders exceed BoeingA late rush of plane orders helped European aircraft-maker Airbus to record higher sales than US rival Boeing in 2010.

Financial Times

• Airbus edges ahead of Boeing in ordersEuropean aircraft maker claims victory over its US rival in the battle to supply passenger jets to airlines after sealing a $5bn order with Virgin America
• Network Rail faces fines for autumn problemsThe rail network owner could face fines for train punctuality during the autumn cold spell after being told that poor performance might have put it in breach of its licence

The Scotsman

• Boris backs calls for new airportLondon Mayor Boris Johnson has backed a report calling for a brand new south east England airport.

The Telegraph

• Boris Johnson calls for new London airport Passengers face the threat of a fresh wave of strikes in the New Year after leaders of the Unite union withdrew their backing for a peace deal.

Daily Express

• Airbus beats Boeing to £3.1bn Virgin dealAIRBUS soared past its arch-rival Boeing yesterday, reporting record annual deliveries and a £3.1billion deal with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin America.

Mail Online

• Petrol prices only fuel our angerHow unfortunate for the Tories that one of their wealthy donors rents out the most expensive petrol station in Britain, where standard unleaded fuel costs 1.59.9p a litre.

The Mirror

• Boris backs calls for new airport London Mayor Boris Johnson has backed a report calling for a brand new south east England airport.

ATOC

• Train companies respond to ORR letter on rail industry's response to bad weatherA spokesperson for the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) said:  ‘’Throughout the period of snow and ice in December, a high proportion of services continued to run and...

Network Rail

• LLANDUDNO STATION REVAMP PLAN UNVEILED

Birmingham Mail

• Investigation into near-miss at Birmingham Airport begins An investigation has begun into how a landing light aircraft passed close to a stationary passenger plane waiting to take off at Birmingham Airport.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Tram mediation talks 'will be concluded by mid-March'THERE are fresh hopes today of a deal to restart Edinburgh's embattled tram project by the spring after initial details of mediation talks were agreed.

Liverpool Post

• Warning as Liverpool John Lennon Airport seeks to cut costs LIVERPOOL John Lennon Airport has been warned to carefully consider how a cost-cutting programme and 33% hike in some charges will impact on passengers.

London Evening Standard

• Commuters hit again as station car park charges soar £100 a yearRail commuters already reeling from fare increases have been hit with an inflation-busting rise in station car parking charges of up to £100 a year
• David Cameron: I feel drivers' pain over paying £1.30 per litreDriver deserve help with soaring fuel prices, David Cameron insisted today as he asserted his authority in a Whitehall power struggle over the issue
• Boris backs calls for new airportLondon Mayor Boris Johnson has backed a report calling for a brand new south east England airport.

Metro

• Tap-and-go on the cards for the TubePlans for a contactless payment system on the London™s buses, trains and Tubes will be advertised on 6million Oyster card wallets, it was revealed on Monday.

Northern Echo

• High-level talks over trains bid THE Japanese government yesterday lobbied ministers to urge them not to reject Hitachi’s £7.5bn plans to bring train building back to the region.

Sheffield Star

• Faster bus times plan BOSSES at bus company First are hoping to improve their services' journey times and punctuality.
• Campaigners lose fight over cycle plan A CYCLE path along a former railway line through Balby is to be allowed to go ahead despite protests from furious residents along the route.

The York Press

• Firms line up for £250m road maintenance contract FIVE firms have been named on a shortlist for one of the biggest road maintenance contracts in North Yorkshire™s history.
• Some trains still dumping sewage on tracks THE European Commission is to investigate the way some trains operated by York rail companies still dump toilet waste on to the tracks.

Yorkshire Post

• Apprenticeships: Applicants for 200 jobs near 8,000 Almost 8,000 applicants are chasing 200 places on Network Rail's apprentice scheme, twice as many as last year, figures show.

Carlisle News & Star

• PLANS TO RE-OPEN KESWICK TO PENRITH RAIL LINE GATHERING STEAM When the last train travelled along the Keswick to Penrith railway line in 1972 few thought it would ever open again – but campaigners fighting for the project – which could cost between £40m and £100m – believe their case to reopen it now is stronger than ever.
• THREE BRIDGES REBUILT ON CARLISLE-SETTLE RAIL LINE Network Rail has given the Settle to Carlisle railway line a £1m present with the rebuilding of three vital bridges.

Other Regional Press

• Protest against railway line plan is on the cards RESIDENTS who claim their lives will be severely affected by the proposed high-speed railway line, HS2, were preparing to take their fight to Parliament today.
• Proposed move for rail station SEAMER railway station could be moved to improve transport links to Scarborough, according to a council report.
• Boris Island panel pushes airport planPurpose-built islands designed to break up potentially devastating tidal surges in the Thames estuary could double as airport runways, according to a report.
• MSP hits out over axed bus servicesCommuters faced major service cuts today following a decision by the First Group aimed at slashing costs.

Aviation Industry

• Designer art, Sommeliers: Airlines take luxury to a new altitudeA record 18 Airbus A380s were delivered in 2010, and 24 more of the world's largest passenger airliner a 525-seat double-decker dubbed the superjumbo are due this year.
• Bmi to reduce domestic servicesIn a bid to reduce losses, Bmi (British Midland International) is poised to make a significant reduction in capacity on the London Heathrow to Manchester route
• Skyteam app now accessible mid-flightPassengers flying with any of Skyteam™s 13 airlines can now receive travel updates without an internet connection thanks to the latest version of the alliance™s iPhone app

Other News Sources

• Shortlist for £250m Paddington Crossrail station announced Crossrail today released details of those firms to have been shortlisted for the £250m job.
• RMT suspends Arriva Trains Wales drivers strike action on 19th January to allow further discussions on improved offerRAIL UNION RMT said today that a second day of strike action by drivers on Arriva Trains Wales on Wednesday the 19th January 2011 has been suspended to allow for further discussions and consultation on an improved offer from the company.