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

Tuesday, 29 November 2011

BBC News

• Tram works add to journey timesCommuters are being advised to add 10 minutes to their journeys through Edinburgh when work on the tram project enters a new phase in January.
• 'Hidden cost' to city's new roadA BBC Scotland investigation has uncovered a potential hidden cost to a planned new bypass for Inverness.
• Heavy rain causes floods on roadsHeavy rain and strong winds have caused flooding problems on many roads in central and west Scotland.
• Electric car showroom is approvedA showroom selling electric cars is to open in Greater Manchester.
• Bus firm asks to cut back routesFirstGroup asks for permission to cut back on bus routes linking Glasgow city centre with destinations to its east.
• VIDEO: New cash to boost London transportThe government has announced plans to invest in some of London's key transport projects, including the extension of the Northern line.
• VIDEO: 2012 transport fares to be cappedNext year's fare rises for commuters in London will be capped on average at 6%, the Mayor and the Chancellor have announced.
• Tube plan awaits investment newsA planned extension of the Northern Line to Battersea is expected to be given financial backing in the government's autumn statement.
• Borders 'not relaxed' for strikeMarines are on standby to work at Heathrow Airport during Wednesday's strike by immigration officers, the BBC learns.
• London travel fares to rise by 6%London's mayor confirms that fares across the capital's transport network will rise by an average of 6% in the new year, less than previously thought.
• Japanese carmakers eye energy efficient futureJapanese carmakers are looking to an energy efficient future
• VIDEO: Roads and rail 'to get £30bn'Chancellor George Osborne has announced plans for a big investment in Britain's infrastructure to give a boost to the country's sluggish economic growth.
• Qantas profit to be hit by strikeQantas says the industrial dispute and rising fuel costs will dent its earnings for first half of the current financial year.
• Daimler to axe luxury cars marqueGerman industrial group Daimler is reportedly preparing to disband its ultra-luxurious Maybach car marque.

The Herald

• Successful cycle hire scheme to expandSCOTLAND™S first self-service cycle hire scheme is to expand after an œencouraging response from the public over the summer.
• Motorists to face new trams curbsMOTORISTS have been given notice of the latest disruption that will visit Scotland™s capital when the controversial trams project enters a critical phase in January.

The Independent

• Search and rescue flights to get civilian pilots The Sea King helicopters flown by Prince William are to be scrapped and their RAF pilots replaced with civilian contractors “ despite the heir to the throne's personal lobbying of the Prime Minister “ as part of the privatisation of Britain's search and rescue service.

Mail Online

• George Osborne warns Britain faces 6 more years of misery but will cap new year rail fare risesThe Chancellor is expected to announce in his Autumn Statement on Tuesday that fares will be capped at one per cent above inflation next year.
• Public sector pensions strikes: 2/3 of schools to shut, airport chaos, Army on standbyIn an outspoken intervention in the bitter dispute, Mr Gove said it was 'unfair and unrealistic' to expect taxpayers to foot the increasing bill for pensions.

The Mirror

• Marmite spill closes busy section of M1 motorwayRush hour commuters faced delays today after a motorway section was closed by MARMITE.

ATOC

• Government's expected change in fares policy a positive move for passengers - ATOCResponding to the Chancellor's expected announcement of a change to regulated fare rises in January 2012,...

Network Rail

• FUNDING APPROVED FOR TRANSFORMATION OF NEWCASTLE CENTRAL STATION

Birmingham Mail

• Multi-million dollar aircraft deal secures new planes for BirminghamFLYBE, the biggest airline operating from Birmingham has secured a massive $500 million loan to replace a quarter of its existing fleet.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Drivers to train in cycle safety Bus drivers in Bradford are receiving special training on driving near cyclists as part of a major safety campaign.

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph commented Bombardier praises staff after winning accoladeArticle

London Evening Standard

• Rail commuters face huge season ticket fare hikesLondon rail commuters still face huge fare hikes in January - adding hundreds of pounds to annual season tickets - despite government last minute moves to cap peak time fare rises

Manchester Evening News

• Mass walk-out: How public sector strikes will affect schools, NHS, transport and services in Greater ManchesterAs a bitter war of words rages between the government and unions ahead of the biggest day of strike action for more than 30 years, we look at how Wednesday™s walkout will affect services.
• Video: David Cameron visits Manchester Evening News while in region to announce transport projectsPrime Minister David Cameron visited the M.E.N during a trip to Greater Manchester in which he gave the green light for two of the region's major transport projects. Mr Cameron today confirmed government funding for a dual carriageway to Manchester Airport and electrification of the Transpennine Express railway line as part of a £30bn infrastructure investment programme due to be announced in Chancellor George Osborne's Autumn Statement tomorrow.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post published Electric line new rail boss's priorityArticle

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Traffic study confirms layout causes problems at ˜dangerous™ A9 junction A survey of a junction on the A9 branded dangerous by councillors has confirmed the road layout does cause problems.

Yorkshire Post

• Rail route upgrade ˜shot in arm™ for YorkshireBUSINESS leaders claim fast-tracking the electrification of a trans-Pennine rail route will be a “shot in the arm” for the region as George Osborne bids to build his way out of the economic crisis.

Other Regional Press

• Plans revealed for Northampton™s new bus stationTAXPAYERS will not foot the bill for running costs of Northampton’s new bus station, if draft plans for the project are backed by the public.
• Strike to cause delays at Aberdeen AirportPASSENGERS at Aberdeen Airport face delays due to strike action this week.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Government 'should make new motorways toll roads'All new motorways in the UK should be made toll roads to reduce delays and benefit drivers, a new report has suggested.A paper written by Alan Cook, non-executive chairman of the Highways Agency stated that the government has often put its own short-term interests ahead of the long-term needs of road users and this should stop.The Whitehall-commissioned report recommended a long-term strategy for the UK's trunk roads be put in place within six months, with a re-evaluation of safety, performance, capacity and environmental goals needed as well.According to Mr Cook: "The Departm...

Global Rail News

• More rail passengers set to benefit from £100m station improvement fundPassengers are set to benefit from £46m of improvements to stations across England after the latest round of successful bids for rail industry funding was announced ...

Railnews

• Rail in line for a share of autumn spending bonanza More electrification and a London Underground extension are reported to be among the capital projects which the Chancellor is set to confirm in tomorrow's autumn spending statement.

Aviation Industry

• Willie Walsh attacks David Cameron for having no aviation policy for BritainThe airline boss says British airports are being overtaken by the rest of the world because taxes are twice the level of inflation Willie Walsh has accused David Cameron of having no aviation policy: airport taxes are pricing Britain out of the market, he says.
• UK public sector strike to hit airports, airlinesSignificant delays are feared Wednesday at UK airports, particularly London Heathrow (LHR), with UK Border Agency immigration officers expected to join a massive, one-day public sector strike protesting austerity measures.
• Airlines cancel flights ahead of Wednesday strikesEtihad and Emirates will not be operating a number of flights into Heathrow
• European business travel fuels global growth in air passengersStrength in North European exports is thought to have fanned an increase in passenger traffic globally

Other News Sources

• Government's green light for A6 link to Manchester Airport and electrification of train line to LeedsThe airport link will connect the M56 to the A6, south of Stockport, improving access to the Airport and the new Enterprise Zone being built there. And the north Transpennine railway route between Manchester and Leeds will be electrified, cutting journey times to make it easier for commuters to travel around the region.
• Maritime union RMT says investigation into Swanland sinking in Irish Sea must answer serious questionsMARITIME UNION RMT said today that the investigation into the tragic sinking of the Swanland in the Irish Sea yesterday must answer some serious questions in an effort to establish all of the facts and to allow lessons to be learned for the future.
• Severn Bridges tolls set to riseMotorists using either of the Severn Bridge road crossings will have to pay more to do so from next year, it has been revealed. Updated on 28/11/2011 12:28:08. © RAC breakdown cover and car insurance.
• Osborne's infrastructure boost 'won't be felt for years'The government has been warned that its proposals to increase spending on infrastructure will not boost economic growth for years.
• Better Management Of Our Roads Network Could Save The Public Purse £200 Million A Year - New ReportAn independent review has called on the government to transform the way it manages the strategic roads network in the UK which could potentially save £200 Million a year after 5 years and also unlock significant growth potential for the UK economy.
• Osborne finds £5bn for instant infrastructure investmentThe Chancellor George Osborne is due to announce an additional £5 billion of spending on infrastructure, funded by cuts to current spending.
• Newcastle station set for transformation under £25m Network Rail fundingNetwork Rail has announced Newcastle station will receive a multi-million transformation after being named as one of eight projects to share almost £25m in funding.
• Northern Line extension set for Autumn Statement backingThe Chancellor is set to back the Northern Line extension to Battersea in tomorrow™s Autumn Statement after he visited Nine Elms where he lent his support to the scheme.
• Single European Sky - European Commission and Member States Need to Accelerate their DecisionsCANSO, the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation, has called on European Member States to provide political leadership and address the key issues delaying progress towards achieving a...