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

Thursday, 08 December 2011

BBC News

• VIDEO: Welsh government's transport planGetting more train services and encouraging people on to their bikes are just some of the headlines from the Welsh government's new four-year transport plan.
• New bus station plans submittedA new bus station for Cardiff is to become the heart of a business district for the city, Cardiff council says.
• UK border staff in Eurostar rowBritish border staff have faced threats of arrest by Belgian police for trying to tackle the
• Improve Tunnel services say peersA committee of peers is calling for Channel Tunnel rail travel to be made easier, cheaper, and more comfortable.
• Parking to cost West End '£800m'Plans to introduce night-time parking charges in Westminster could cost businesses up to £800m a year, a report says.
• Buyers spooked by electric car firesBuyers spooked by electric car fires
• Flying through ash cloudsHow airlines are coping with volcanoes
• Train arm hits Stagecoach profitsStagecoach sees its half-year profits fall 18% due to a loss at its East Midlands Trains franchise, but revenues were up 14%.

The Herald

• Speed not the goal, says VirginSIR Richard Branson's Virgin Rail has reacted coolly to Scottish Government plans for a high-speed cross-Border rail route, arguing that speed itself should not be the goal.

The Independent

• Branson criticises rail franchising systemSir Richard Branson has hit out at the rail franchising system, criticising the government's focus on cost - but promising to pay

The Telegraph

• Let all towns and cities borrow to pay for new trams and shopping centres, Nick Clegg saysCouncils will be able to go into debt to fund new tram lines and shopping centres by being allowed to borrow against future tax revenues, Nick Clegg will announce today.

Daily Express

• Stagecoach is stung by £6.9m trains lossSTAGECOACH suffered the first loss in its train division for 10 years yesterday but said booming demand for WiFi and beds on its bus services would drive future growth in the downturn.

The Mirror

• Channel Tunnel 'must be cheaper'Access charges to the Channel Tunnel should be reduced to give passengers a better deal, a House of Lords report has said.
• Rail loophole allows entry to UKThe Government alone is powerless to close a loophole which enables people to enter the UK illegally, the Immigration Minister has admitted.

ATOC

• 'Rail industry is committed to making sure as many trains run on time as possible' - ATOCResponding to the ORR’s findings in its latest Network Rail monitor report, Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies,...

Network Rail

• PASSENGER UPDATE: RAIL NETWORK PREPARES FOR SEVERE WINDS

Derby Telegraph

• Have ministers finally learned their lessons over Thameslink fiasco?It has always been an embarrassing mystery for Whitehall officials: how have their French and German counterparts got away with handing almost all big rail contracts to their home-based firms without breaking EU rules?

London Evening Standard

• Ken challenges Boris to TV debate on Tube faresKen Livingstone has challenged Boris Johnson to a televised debate on his initiative to cut Tube fares
• Channel Tunnel 'must be cheaper'Access charges to the Channel Tunnel should be reduced to give passengers a better deal, a House of Lords report has said.
• Rail loophole allows entry to UKThe Government alone is powerless to close a loophole which enables people to enter the UK illegally, the Immigration Minister has admitted.

Metro

• Alec Baldwin kicked off flight to New York over Words With FriendsHollywood actor found himself at the centre of a bizarre bust-up with the crew of an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to New York after he was told to leave the plane for playing web-based wordplay game Words With Friends.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Politicians cross claymores over A82 road upgrade A war of words has erupted between Skye and Lochaber™s MP and MSP over the Scottish Government™s plans to upgrade the A82 trunk road, from Glasgow to the Highlands.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• West Yorkshire: Train and bus services grind to festive haltPublic transport across West Yorkshire will grind to a virtual halt over Christmas, it has been confirmed.

Yorkshire Post

• Push to relax the grip of Whitehall on regionYORKSHIRE’s two biggest cities could be given control over rail and bus routes, job centres and apprenticeships under a “bold and ambitious” power shift unveiled by the Government today.

Reading Evening Post

• Cow Lane set for six-week closure Rail users and motorists will be affected by the next major phase of the £850 million railway works around Reading this Christmas.

Other Regional Press

• It's all change on the busesBUS giant First has axed three Glasgow services because of plunging passenger numbers.
• AMs will back Valleys light rail bid IMPROVEMENTS to the Valleys rail network will be subject to a debate tomorrow in the National Assembly for Wales.
• Villages get trial bus services FIVE villages in South Oxfordshire have linked up to fund a month-long trial of weekend buses, after a similar service was axed earlier this year.
• Cyclists in row over new Bedworth Tesco storeCYCLISTS are ploughing ahead with their campaign for the introduction of cycle routes around the new Tesco in Bedworth.
• £270m rail link 'vital' for the areaCentral Bedfordshire Council has welcomed the Government's support for plans to restore the rail link from Oxford to Bletchley and Bedford, with a spur to Milton Keynes. The Autumn Statement by

Campaign for Better Transport

• Lady Godiva rides while Lancashire County Council tramples7 December: Lady Godiva rode through Halton to protest at Lancashire County Council™s £123.3 million Heysham to M6 Link Road. read more

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Government commits extra funds to winter train servicesIn a bid to ensure that disruptions are kept to a minimum on the UK's railways this winter, the government has committed funding to third rail heating.The £16 million investment in such systems was announced by transport secretary Justine Greening as part of a £38 million package of initiatives to ensure the network is prepared for severe weather conditions this year.Lessons learned over the past three extreme winters have been employed and an extensive rolling programme of installing third rail heating started by Network Rail, making tracks more resilient to heavy ...

Railnews

• International train travel too bureaucratic, say Lords A House of Lords Committee has reported that not enough use is being made of the Channel Tunnel, and is critical of the booking procedures for international rail journeys as unnecessarily complex. It also wants access charges to come down, and says there is no need for the Tunnel to have its own safety case.

Green Miscellany

• Pedal-powered iPad for winter cyclists To mark a ˜cycling season™ this year over a month longer than usual due to mild weather, the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) is giving away an iPad adapted to be powered by cyclists on the move. read more

Other News Sources

• Minister announces prioritised National Transport PlanTransport Minister Carl Sargeant has announced that making the Welsh transport system work better is the focus of the prioritised National Transport Plan (NTP).
• At a glance: the schools and road closures in your areaFind all the information you need about travel disruption and school closures in your area with these links to local council and transport websites.
• Forth Road Bridge expected to completely close during high windsA red warning has been issued for Thursday as winds of up to 90mph are expected to hit Scotland.
• Icy conditions cause havoc for motoristsFreezing temperatures continue to cause problems on the roads across the region.
• Highways Agency goes out to tender for barrier-less toll gates on Dartford CrossingThe Highways Agency has gone out to tender for a firm to help it develop and install a barrier-less payment method for users of the M25 Dartford Crossing.
• Strong Winds | North of England Road users in the North of England are being advised to check the weather forecast and road conditions before they travel today (Thursday 8th December), as strong winds are forecast for this region. As a result of these strong winds, the Highways Agency has issued an Amber Alert for high-sided vehicles, caravans and motorbikes.  Motorists are advised to take extra care if travelling in this region due to the increased risk of vehicles being blown over.  The Highways Agency, which is responsible for motorways and other major roads in England, is working closely with the Me...
• New M5 concrete barriersWorks to install a new concrete barrier between junctions 24 and 25 of the M5 will begin on 12 December. The works around the Bridgwater area will take place in two phases. Phase one will begin on 12 December and will involve drainage and barrier works to the verges. Work will also be undertaken to prepare the hard shoulder to receive running traffic for the phase two works. Work will be carried out during off peak day time hours and overnight. Various off peak lane closures will be in place on both the north and southbound carriageways, as and when necessary. This phase of work is expected to...
• Should London™s transport services be sponsored? 7 December, 2011 How is Transport for London (TfL) setting up and managing sponsorship agreements with the private sector and what lessons can be learned for future deals?  Tomorrow, the London Assembly Budget and Performance Committee will question representatives from TfL about its sponsorship deals “ like the multi-million pound deals with Barclays and Emirates[1] “ which are increasingly being used to fund the capital™s transport services.  360-house-thumb.jpg ...
• Tristar buys 50 off-road vehicles in time for winterThe ground transport company aims to keep travellers on the road this winter if the big freeze strikes again