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

Sunday, 20 November 2011

BBC News

• The price of £250m Crossrail dealThe City of London Corporation gave funding for Crossrail in return for money, the BBC learns
• Heathrow recruits 2012 volunteersUp to 800 people sign up to become volunteers to welcome London Olympics athletes at Heathrow Airport.

The Herald

• Rail rage: is our train system going off the rails?WHEN it comes to the demands of railway passengers, the wish list seems simple enough: reliable, punctual and frequent trains offering good value for money “ and the ability to secure a seat.

The Scotsman

• Double-whammy warning over plans for road bridge THE Forth Road Bridge faces a potential “double whammy” from budget cuts and privatisation plans, it was claimed today.
• Dawe welcomes report backing high-speed rail A WESTMINSTER report on high-speed rail has been judged as “very helpful” by city leader Jenny Dawe.

Press Association

• Government contracts reform pledged Ministers have pledged to end the "public sector timidity" that is preventing British firms from winning lucrative government contracts. Francis Maude is unveiling a package of "radical reforms" to stimulate growth by ending Whitehall's often "short-sighted and risk averse approach" to awarding major deals for state goods and services.
• Government contracts reform pledged Ministers have pledged to end the "public sector timidity" that is preventing British firms from winning lucrative government contracts. Francis Maude is unveiling a package of "radical reforms" to stimulate growth by ending Whitehall's often "short-sighted and risk averse approach" to awarding major deals for state goods and services.

Mail Online

• Amazon Kindle 'scrambled' by airport X-ray machines, say travellersBaffled users in the UK and U.S. have taken to internet forums to recount horror stories of their electronic readers being ruined by radiation from baggage checks.
• Wrong type of soil: Latest barmy excuse for delayed trainsNetwork rail has cancelled First Capital Connect services between Ely, Cambridge, Downham Market and Norfolk because dry soil has caused the rails to shift.
• Bats stop high-speed train in its tracks: Work stopped after rare colony is foundProposals for the development, which will go through Bicester, were put forward by Chiltern Railways and the project is expected to cost £130 million.
• George Osborne backs 'Boris Island' airportSteve Hilton, the Prime Minister’s strategy chief, and Chancellor George Osborne are said to have swung behind the scheme as the best way of tackling a crisis in airport capacity.

The Mirror

• Don't be a fuel fool, George OsborneWhen that red light starts flashing on my dashboard, my heart sinks because that’s another seventy quid blown filling up the family car.

Belfast Telegraph

• Stena lines up top award Ferry company Stena Line has clinched the title of Best Ferry Operator at the prestigious Scottish Passenger Agents' Association (SPAA) Awards 2011. Related StoriesBank starts challenge over Quinn bankruptcyImmersion suits you, sirs!New fears as Spain edges to crisis rateBusinesses welcome Stormont blueprint for governmentPlanning appeal for biggest Tesco in Ireland fails

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Rail service gets extra seats to tackle rush-hour overcrowdingWEEKLY rail passenger capacity on the Aberdeen-Inverness line is being boosted by an extra 124 seats next month.
• Stagecoach founder has knight to remember SIR Brian Souter™s journey from bus conductor in Perth to founder of the Stagecoach Group took him to Buckingham Palace yesterday to be knighted by the Prince of Wales.

Yorkshire Post

• Exclusive: Hopes of extra high speed rail station for regionYORKSHIRE could get a third high-speed rail stop – while a debate rages over the location of one of the stops the region has already been promised, the Yorkshire Post can reveal.

Blackpool Gazette

• Blackpool heritage trams callCALLS have been made for Blackpool Council to step in and save under-threat heritage trams.

Bucks Free Press

• HS2 'poor value for money' say UK business leadersNEARLY four in ten business leaders think High Speed 2 will be poor value for money, a new survey reveals.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Drivers flout buses only rule on roadDRIVERS flouting a road sign were stung in a police operation yesterday.

Other Regional Press

• Minister Theresa Villiers: “No plans” for new Kent airport Minister for Aviation Theresa Villiers has confirmed the Government has “no plans” for a new airport off the Kent coast.
• Self-help kit to aid transport solutionsHAMPSHIRE County Council has developed a transport self-help kit to help local communities take a more active role in organising community transport to meet the needs of their residents.
• Plymouth airport campaigners ask for reprieve Plymouth City Council has been asked by campaigners for a 28-day public consultation period on the closure of the city's airport.
• Transport Minister Justine Greening ready to close Huddersfield streets around Tesco’s Southgate plan siteAN ORDER from the top of Government is being prepared to close the streets around a site earmarked for development by Tesco.

Campaign for Better Transport

• œWe are cut off. We are on an island 18 November: A bus user left stranded by cuts speaks out in the BBC East Midland documentary broadcast earlier this week. read more

Other News Sources

• Thieves make off with two trains in Switzerland Two trains, including one weighing almost a tonne, have been stolen from a miniature train park in western Switzerland, the park said Saturday.
• Trial for wireless charging of electric cars set for LondonThe UK™s first electric vehicle wireless charging trial is to start in London next year.
• Solar-powered car heads to Australia for global raceA team from Durham University are preparing their vehicle for the World Solar Challenge this October.