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

Thursday, 20 October 2011

BBC News

• Tube train safety checks change sparks union row A row has broken out over planned changes to safety checks of "key fail-safe equipment" on the Tube network.
• Work to improve a new stretch of A9 at Moy begins Work to make improvements to an overtaking lane on the A9 which closed shortly after it was opened has started.
• Auditor says SPT has improved after expenses scandal Scotland's largest transport authority has made "significant progress" following a damaging expenses scandal, a watchdog has found.
• Jones wants coastguards rethinkFirst Minister Carwyn Jones wants a rethink on plans to downgrade Swansea coastguard station.
• New plans for harbour developmentFresh plan are drawn up for a 450-berth marina and major port extension in Fishguard.
• Mayor and TfL at odds over claimsLib Dems crank up the pressure on the mayor over cycling safety concerns at King's Cross
• Air vents opened to cool the TubeThirteen air vents are being brought back to life to try reduce the heat on the Tube
• Criticism over Tube safety checksA union criticises plans to change the frequency of checks on safety equipment on the London Underground network.
• West End Crossrail plans revealedFour blocks of shops, flats and offices could be built on the eastern end of Oxford Street in central London as part of the £16bn Crossrail development.
• BAA will sell Edinburgh AirportEdinburgh Airport is to be sold by BAA after it was told by competition regulators to let go of one of its Scottish hubs.

Financial Times

• American Airlines shares drop on deeper lossShares in American Airlines slumped after third-biggest US carrier by revenue reported a larger third-quarter loss than expected
• BAA decides to sell Edinburgh airportBritain's leading airports operator plans to keep other Scottish hub at Glasgow in a move forced on it by regulators

The Guardian

• The bizarre methodology of Philip Hammond's transport economicsThe conventional wisdom on Philip Hammond was the overused political cliche that he was a "safe pair of hands". The reality was rather different and the agenda he has left for his successor, Justine Greening, is fraught with difficulties.
• The bizarre methodology of Philip Hammond's transport economicsThe conventional wisdom on Philip Hammond was the overused political cliche that he was a "safe pair of hands". The reality was rather different and the agenda he has left for his successor, Justine Greening, is fraught with difficulties.

The Herald

• SPT praised for progress on expensesA PUBLIC body embroiled in an expenses scandal, which saw senior executives rack up bills worth more than £117,500 on trips and entertaining in three years, has made œsignificant progress in bringing its staff spending under control.
• BAA™s Edinburgh sell-off is ˜boost for air travellers™SCOTTISH travellers will enjoy flights to more destinations through increased competition between Scotland™s two busiest airports after the £1 billion sale of Edinburgh was announced, it was claimed last night.
• Edinburgh Airport to be soldEDINBURGH Airport is to be put up for sale by owner BAA after it was ordered to part with one of its Scottish assets by the Competition Commission.

Daily Express

• Rolls flies high on growth hopesROLLS-Royce shares hit a high yesterday on suggestions the aero-engine maker's sales growth will outpace rivals while boosting profit margins across its aviation and marine engineering businesses.
• Scottish airport saleBAA yesterday announced plans to sell Edinburgh airport as part of a disposal programme ordered by the competition watchdogs.

Daily Record

• Edinburgh Airport to be sold by BAA as part of competition inquiryAIRPORT operator BAA is to sell Edinburgh airport, the Spanish-owned company announced today.
• Council threatens to stop gritting roads over attacks on workers clearing snow last winterA COUNCIL has warned it could be forced stop gritting roads because of attacks on snow-clearing workers during previous winters.

Mail Online

• Transport's new 'Fast Lady' Justine Greening is super-quick to back 80mph speed limits on motorways New Transport Secretary Justine Greening has been super-quick to back higher 80mph speed limits on motorways – insisting it is right that people should get along them ’as fast as possible’.

Network Rail

• SEVENOAKS STATION UPGRADE PLANS REVEALED

Journal Live

• Ministers urged to cut air passenger duty for Newcastle AirportMINISTERS are being urged to match a cut on flight taxes from Northern Ireland airports with a similar reduction on services from the North East.

Liverpool Post

• Mouchel sells rail division to reduce debtSTRUGGLING professional services group Mouchel has raised £3.4m in cash from the sale of its rail division to Australian operation Sinclair Knight-Merz.

London Evening Standard

• On freewheeling off-duty days, Wills and Kate hire Boris bikesWhen the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are off duty and in town, it seems they like nothing better than cycling around central London on Boris bikes
• Pay to sleep in an airport? Now that's a departurePassengers at Heathrow can enjoy their hours in transit in comfort under a duvet and away from the crowds in new soundproof cabins

Other Regional Press

• New transport secretary speaks to Parliament about HS2 JUSTINE Greening has been speaking to MPS this afternoon after being named the new transport secretary on Friday.
• Office of Rail Regulation still to rule on Mirfield station planRAIL chiefs are still to rule on plans to add Mirfield station to a route providing trains from West Yorkshire to London.
• Fury as 387 Scots beat roads banCALLS have been made for tougher controls on offending drivers after it emerged 387 in Scotland have evaded a road ban despite having 12 penalty points or more on their licence.
• Glasgow Airport not for saleFOR sale signs have been taken down at Glasgow Airport after it was announced today that owner BAA is to invite bids for Edinburgh Airport.
• BAA pledges to support Aberdeen AirportAIRPORT operator BAA pledged to continue to invest in Aberdeen after confirming its plan to sell the company™s Edinburgh site.
• Council to discuss school bus and hydro-project oppositionA petition signed by almost 200 people is to be debated at a council on Wednesday night (October 19) over plans to axe part of a school bus service.

Global Rail News

• East Midlands Trains staff raise £500 for Railway ChildrenSheffield based East Midlands Trains staff Ian Morrish and Matt Dawson recently collected £500 for the Railway Children charity. The Train Managers sold badges created to commemorate ...
• Network Rail fined £20,000 for ˜dangerous level crossing™ in Eastergate, West SussexNetwork Rail has been fined £20,000, the maximum fine a magistrates™ court can impose, and ordered to pay costs of £4,750 at Worthing Magistrates™ Court after ...
• Merseytravel chief pushes case for high speed railMerseytravel transport chief, Councillor Mark Dowd, is to seek a meeting with the newly appointed transport minister Justine Greening MP. Councillor Dowd, who leads the Integrated ...
• Work gets underway on New Street™s new entranceNetwork Rail has started work to construct a brand new entrance to Birmingham New Street station which will provide better links between the city™s business district ...
• Victoria Tube station escalator work ˜completed three months early™Tube customers at Victoria station have full use of the busy interchange again after London Underground (LU) completed refurbishing the 42-year-old escalators in the main ticket ...
• Centro triumphs at transport OscarsA cartoon character created by transport authority Centro as part of a campaign to encourage children to travel in an environmentally friendly way has won a ...
• Pressure mounts on Scottish Government ˜to support rail freight™The Scottish Parliament has been ‘warned that Scottish Government climate change targets are threatened by Spending Review plans, which mean there is no obvious or adequately ...
• Parsons Brinckerhoff secures major UK rail engineering contractParsons Brinckerhoff, the global engineering consultancy, has secured the lead engineering services contract on a project that aims to transform rail travel in the north of ...

Aviation Industry

• BAA to sell Edinburgh AirportFollowing the Competition Commission™s decision requiring BAA to sell either Edinburgh or Glasgow airport, BAA is today announcing that it has decided to sell Edinburgh Airport...
• Edinburgh Airport up for saleBAA has announced it plans to sell one of its Scottish airports

Green Miscellany

• The folding bicycle designed for Routemaster buses A folding electric bicycle that was designed to work in tandem with a new generation of Routemaster bushttp://www.eta.co.uk/2008/12/19/new-routemaster-buses-revealed may yet give big brands like Dahon and Brompton a run for their money.read more

Other News Sources

• RMT demands action as latest LU cuts plans changes inspection frequency on key safety equipment from daily to every 60 daysTUBE UNION RMT today demanded the reversal of the latest cuts plans from London Underground which would change the inspection frequency on key fail-safe safety equipment from daily to every 60 days.
• Are plans to tackle Heathrow noise and air pollution enough? 19 October, 2011 What is being done to reduce aircraft noise and improve air quality around Heathrow airport? Building on its previous work[1], the London Assembly Environment Committee will tomorrow hold a meeting to discuss environmental issues at London Heathrow Airport, which handles around 66 million passengers and 449,000 flights each year.   360-house-thumb.jpg Yes read more