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

Monday, 13 June 2011

BBC News

• HS2 railway link 'not necessary'The proposed new HS2 link between London and Birmingham is not necessary, more opponents say.
• Water bus launches on Loch LomondA water bus service which will allow passengers access to all sides of Loch Lomond is being officially launched.
• Australia flights grounded by ashVolcanic ash from Chile continues to disrupt air travel in Australia and New Zealand as more flights are grounded.

Financial Times

• Transport investment linked to stabilityEmerging markets will struggle to attract badly needed transport infrastructure investment until they give investors greater reassurance, a study comparing different transport systems’ attractiveness to investors has said

The Guardian

• London week ahead: the state of the Underground and other matters of depthCity Hall hosts two public meetings of great interest this week. The first, on Tuesday morning, will see the London Assembly's transport committee continue its investigation into the state of the Tube by putting questions to guests including London Underground managing director Mike Brown and the Mayor's newly-appointed deputy for transport Isabel Dedring, who has been moved into the hot seat from the environment role in Boris's team.

The Telegraph

• High Speed 2 rail link: secret northern routes revealed The first detailed map of the planned route of the northern sections of the controversial £34 billion High Speed 2 rail link can be revealed.
• Disabled passengers face 'rising level of abuse on public transport' A poll found that nearly half of people with disabilities suffer discrimination on buses and trains by passengers who object to giving up seats or being inconvenienced.
• The end of the speed hump? In a move which will be welcomed by motorists, the Department for Transport is going to make it easier for councils to slow cars down without wrecking their suspension.

Journal Live

• Darlington firm Henry Williams announces rail contracts ENGINEERING firm Henry Williams has announced three contracts in the rail sector, and says the railway market in general has improved since last year. The Darlington-based company has secured three wins worth nearly £1m in total, largely by developing relationships with existing clients. Henry Williams will manufacture and supply 43 functional supply points for First Capital Connect’s £6bn Thameslink improvement programme, design and manufacture two signalling panels for a £67m Network Rail double-tracking project on the Cotswold Line, and will pre-fabricate and fit out a Signaling Relocatable Equipment Building for the Chiltern Railways Evergreen 3 project.

Manchester Evening News

• Should Manchester's cenotaph make tracks for Metrolink trams? The people of Manchester are being invited to have their say on plans to move the cenotaph and create a new Metrolink line through the city. The M.E.N. revealed how the monument to the city™s war dead would be dug up from its home in St Peter™s Square to make way for the tram route.

Metro

• Rail worker seriously injured after being hit by Gatwick Express trainA railway worker was fighting for his life with multiple injuries on Sunday night after he was struck by a high-speed train.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Bus renaissance [Letters]CUTS to rural and off-peak bus services are a major concern and we may not have seen the worst yet. Bus Users UK will be campaigning to retain as many services as possible.

Blackpool Gazette

• First look inside £20m tram depotTHE best in Europe – that’s Blackpool’s £20m new tram depot.

Bucks Free Press

• 'Sack me over HS2' MP Cheryl Gillan dares David Cameron MP CHERYL Gillan has indicated she is prepared to be sacked as a Government Minister by David Cameron over High Speed 2.

Other Regional Press

• Crime on the railway falls for seventh year running CRIME on the railways has dropped for the seventh consecutive year, according to British Transport Police figures.
• ’Faeces’ dumped on rail track in HertfordWHAT appeared to be human excrement was dumped onto the track at Hertford East railway station last week.

Other News Sources

• HS2 to be debated at Bletchley Park All sides of the high-speed rail debate will be meeting at a conference in July at Bletchley Park. Professor Andrew McNaughton, chief engineer of HS2 Ltd, and Lizzy Williams, leading campaigner against HS2 and founder of STOPHS2 are amongst the guest speakers at 'High Speed Rail - How the vision can best be achieved', organised by the pressure group Railfuture.
• HS2 suffers setback as authority objects High speed rail would bring “significant and unacceptable environmental damage and disruption” to Staffordshire, a formal document on the scheme claims today.
• More public transport - not less WEST Sussex County Council should rethink its proposals on cuts to bus services. While the car will be the mode of travel for most for many years to come we have to move towards greater not less use of public transport.