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

Tuesday, 27 September 2011

BBC News

• Norfolk bus pass funds see '£4.5m shortfall', says county council Bus passes for the elderly and disabled could be cut unless the government pays for a £4.5m shortfall in funds, Norfolk County Council has said.
• Wylfa B transport plan suggests third Menai bridge A third bridge across the Menai Strait could be needed if a new nuclear plant is built on Anglesey, a transport plan suggests.
• Brian Souter says enterprise should begin at school One of Scotland's richest men and leading entrepreneur, Sir Brian Souter, has said school should do more to encourage enterprise.
• Northern Hub rail plans put to government Plans to transform the rail network in the north of England will be put to government this week. The £560m Northern Hub scheme would mean four fast trains every hour between Liverpool and Manchester and six between Manchester and Leeds.
• How big can UK cycling get?Could cycling become the UK's second-favourite sport?
• Translink 'must target motorists'The Consumer Council calls on Translink to do more to entice motorists away from their cars and on to public transport.
• Livingstone pledges 5% fares cutLabour's London mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone says he will cut transport fares by 5% if elected.
• Revamp for Queen Street stationNetwork Rail selects the Buchanan Partnership as its partner for a multi-million pound redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street station.
• Stelios set to launch new airlineEasyjet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou is setting up a new airline called Fastjet.
• Boeing delivers first DreamlinerUS planemaker Boeing delivers its first 787 Dreamliner to Japan's All Nippon Airways, after three years of delays.

Financial Times

• Network Rail plans system overhaul Plans to double capacity across large parts of the rail network in northern England and an overhaul of the country’s ageing signalling system form part of a multibillion pound investment proposal that the rail industry will present to the government this week.
• Sir Stelios plans rival airline, says EasyJetLow-cost carrier's founder is planning to set up Fastjet, in a move seen as a negotiating tactic

The Guardian

• Hopes rise for refinancing of the Humber Bridge - and lower tolls Two bidders are ready to pay £100 million, plus major debts write-off. But meanwhile cars will cost 30p more than the current £2.70 from the end of this week
• Will "ordinary Londoners" trust Ken Livingstone to deliver lower fares? Ken Livingstone's stern, pugnacious speech to the Labour conference yesterday and his publishing today of a cheaper alternative to Boris Johnson's latest inflation-plus public transport fares package have not demonstrated any dazzling vision for the capital's future. But they have illustrated, with bruising clarity, that the Labour candidate to be the capital's next mayor knows what he must do to if he's to dump the Tory in the Thames at the election next May.
• 'I was just lucky with easyJet,' says founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou tributes his airline's success to family fortunes and being in the right place – Luton – at the right time
• Rail companies face tough negotiations on five-year spending plan Network Rail and train operators likely to present cost-saving options in spending plan for 2014-2019
• Stelios to launch rival airline as relations with easyJet nosediveThe low-cost airline's founder accuses his old company of smear tactics against him and violating agreements

The Herald

• Tarbert to be given Sunday ferry serviceCALEDONIAN MacBrayne (CalMac) has confirmed it is introducing a Sunday service to and from Tarbert on Harris, the last ferry port in the network without a seven-day operation.
• Green light for Queen Street station faceliftA MAJOR redevelopment of Glasgow™s Queen Street railway station which will link it to a newly expanded Buchanan Galleries shopping centre has been given the green light by its owner, Network Rail.

The Independent

• Bombardier contract snub criticised The Government was "betraying" British industry by awarding a major train-building contract to a German firm, the Labour Party conference was told.

The Telegraph

• EasyJet's Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has confounded the market before The man who made it look easy to start businesses is now regarded as difficult.
• No one wants to drive on roads full of angry men Fewer young people can drive nowadays and road rage is to blame.
• Boeing 787 Dreamliner handed over to first customer after years of delays Boeing officially handed over the first 787 Dreamliner to Japan's All Nippon Airways this afternoon, drawing a line under three years of delays for its new fuel-efficient, lightweight jet.
• EasyJet founder Sir Stelios launches rival airline Fastjet Easyjet founder Sir Stelios Haji–Ioannou has escalated his row with the airline by telling the company he intends to launch a new carrier called Fastjet.

Mail Online

• Stelios Haji-Ioannou plans to launch rival budget airline Fastjet to rival EasyJetStelios Haji-Ioannou, the man who founded easyJet is setting up a rival airline, even though he still has a large stake in the budget carrier.

Belfast Telegraph

• Norfolk bus pass funds see '£4.5m shortfall', says county council Bus passes for the elderly and disabled could be cut unless the government pays for a £4.5m shortfall in funds, Norfolk County Council has said.

Birmingham Post

• HS2: Labour Party backs plans for high speed rail link The Labour Party has confirmed it is backing the controversial high speed rail line between London and Birmingham.

Journal Live

• Newcastle International Airport expands in £3.2m investment TRANSPORT chiefs have unveiled a £3.2m investment to extend Newcastle International Airport for the first time since 2004.

Liverpool Post

• Labour conference in Liverpool - Eagle announces major transport policy shift RKEY road and rail decisions will be made by local transport authorities not government ministers, Labour will announce today in a major policy shift.

London Evening Standard

• Ken Livingstone: I will slash your fares by five per cent Ken Livingstone today promised to save Londoners "hundreds of pounds a year" by cutting Tube, bus and overground rail fares by five per cent.

Northern Echo

• Labour make pledge on devolution of transport KEY road and rail decisions will be made by local transport authorities – not government ministers – Labour will announce today, in a major policy shift.

The York Press

• £25m road repairs decision due soon TRANSPORT chiefs in North Yorkshire are set to decide who has won the race for a £25 million-a-year contract to maintain the region™s roads.

Yorkshire Post

• Backing for high-speed rail projectLABOUR transport spokeswoman Maria Eagle has finally confirmed she is backing high-speed rail.

Aviation Industry

• BA buys Heathrow slots from bmiAirline could buy more from loss making carrier

Other News Sources

• Shipping industry confidence at an all-time lowOvercapacity and global economic worries dominate major players
• HRS launches new booking tools for mobilesInnovations aimed are corproate travellers