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

Thursday, 03 May 2012

BBC News

• Midland Metro extension: Building work to begin in 2013 Work will begin on extending the Midland Metro through Birmingham city centre in 2013.
• Bus contracts in Bristol face change under council plan Bus contracts in Bristol could undergo changes, under city council plans. The Liberal Democrat run-authority wants to set up "quality contracts" so it can better control timetables, routes and ticket prices.
• Signs on A9 for Aviemore homes site 'distracting' A major house builder has lost its appeal against an order to remove large signs from the A9 in the Highlands.
• Top Malaysian airlines end tie upAirAsia and Malaysian Airline System have scrapped their proposed share swap deal amid pressure from the workers' union at the national carrier.

Financial Times

• Luton™s image deters fliers, says easyJetLow-cost carrier argues that airport™s reputation is holding it back as it weighs into debate over how quickly UK™s sixth biggest airport can grow

The Herald

• Councils aim to save bus routesLOTHIAN Buses is to replace a "substantial "proportion of the routes connecting Edinburgh to Midlothian being axed by rival firm First East.
• Airline's pick-up service extendedAIR passengers on Scotland's first first-class service will be able to travel by limousine from any city in the country after Emirates announced it was extending its pick-up service to 150 miles from Glasgow Airport next month.

The Independent

• More chaos set to arrive at Heathrow as immigration staff announce strikeThere was more bad news for passengers facing long queues at Heathrow last night as it emerged that immigration staff at the airport “ and across the country and abroad “ are to stage a one-day strike in a dispute over public sector pensions. Related StoriesHeathrow given 80 staff “ but 900 were cut across UK

The Scotsman

• Bill Jamieson: Customer care is in terminal decline SIMPLE courtesy could have alleviated the chaos that faced me upon my arrival at Heathrow, writes Bill Jamieson

The Telegraph

• Gatwick Airport aims to rival Heathrow after signing Air China deal Gatwick Airport has laid bare its ambition to rival Heathrow after announcing it had struck a deal with Air China over direct flights to Beijing.
• Jaguar Land Rover to invest £200m in F-Type factory at Castle Bromwich Up to 1,000 jobs are set to be created in the Midlands by a drive to revitalise one of Britain's most historic brands, Jaguar.

Network Rail

• ACTION FOR CHILDREN TO BENEFIT FROM TWO YEAR CHARITY PARTNERSHIP
• BLACKBURN RAIL VIADUCT GETS 20-YEAR FACELIFT

Daily Post (North Wales)

• North Wales fuel price campaigner to take protest to George Osborne’s doorFUEL protesters are planning to take their campaign to the door of George Osborne.
• Fresh safety review after A483 crashesAN accident blackspot on a dual carriageway will be reviewed by Welsh Government transport chiefs following a series of crashes.

Derby Telegraph

• VIDEO: Miliband back in Derby for election pushAs voters prepare to go to the polls in the local elections tomorrow, Mr Miliband and Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls spent an hour meeting workers at train-maker Bombardier with Derby MPs Chris Williamson and Margaret Beckett.
• Derby Telegraph commented 'Why didn't PM promote Bombardier abroad too?' [letter]SO the Prime Minister was putting a word in abroad to sell Rolls-Royce engines. I thought they were so good they sold themselves. It's a pity he didn't do the same for Bombardier.

Journal Live

• Newcastle Airport legal battle is heard in High CourtA LEGAL battle between Newcastle International Airport and its lawyers over multi-million pound bonuses paid to former directors is continuing in the High Court.

London Evening Standard

• Safety work begins at Tower Bridge cycle death junction The family of a cyclist killed by a lorry near Tower Bridge today welcomed the start of safety work at the junction.
• Heathrow airport: New queues blow as border staff plan strike Passengers suffering from long queues at Heathrow received a new blow today as immigration staff announced plans to strike.
• DLR part suspended after radio system fails The Docklands Light Railway failed to open for the morning peak today causing major disruption for Square Mile and Canary Wharf commuters.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post commented Crash expert backs calls for 20mph speed limitA CRASH expert from the University of Nottingham, who was left for dead after being hit by a car, is calling for speed limits to...

This Is Local London Network

• Only Boris Johnson 'bothered' to call Transport Secretary over commuter trains takeover DESPITE most London mayoral candidates promising to lobby for control of the capital’s suburban railways if elected, only Boris Johnson has “bothered” to contact the Transport Secretary, according to her department.

Wales Online

• Strategic investment in transport infrastructure needed for Cardiff Airport ONE of the challenges resulting from 40 years research in the transport field is weeding out unwanted research material.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• £30m Midland Metro extension plan revivedA £30 million proposal to extend the Midland Metro tram line in Wolverhampton has been revived, transport bosses revealed today.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Rail station revamp is on trackRAIL bosses have announced an ongoing £3 million revamp of Peterborough station is on target to be completed by mid-June.

Other Regional Press

• Road improvements vital for cyclists safety says charityA HUDDERSFIELD-based road safety charity has launched a campaign for improvements to roads for cyclists.
• Kirklees spending more on road safety a other councils cut backLOCAL authorities in England have slashed road safety spending.
• Bus report teenagers are paisedTEENAGERS have been praised for their efforts in highlighting the negative effects the loss of evening bus services has had on youngsters.

Global Rail News

• GB Railfreight tests Northfleet freight linkGB Railfreight has operated the first test locomotive on a new freight line to be used by Crossrail to transfer millions of tonnes of excavated material from London to Northfleet, Kent. Lafarge have reinstated a disused rail freight link from the North Kent Main Line into their Northfleet site. The length of the new freight [...]
• Heathrow Express welcomes new rail graduatesHeathrow Express has welcomed two graduates as part of a new, cross-rail industry paid work placement scheme launched in April 2012, called Track and Train. The scheme, set up by Network Rail, will provide all-round industry experience for 18 months to over 80 recent graduates. Track and Train is specifically designed to help graduates who [...]
• MPs back free rail travel for job seekersA scheme offering free rail travel worth up to £600 to job interviews and for new job starters by National Express rail company c2c has been backed by three local MPs in Essex. c2c staff were joined by local MPs John Baron, James Duddridge and Jackie Doyle-Price at Basildon, Southend Central and Grays stations respectively [...]
• Rail delays as DLR suspendedThe whole of the Docklands Light Railway system in London was suspended this morning because of a ‘communications failure’. Trains on the DLR were unable to operate on safety grounds from the start of service due to a failure of the radio system. Although services started again around 8am, delays were seen throughout the morning [...]
• Historic Cartouches restoredTwo giant iron plates bearing the insignia of the London, Dover and Chatham Railway are being re-assembled at Blackfriars station in London. The rebuilt station will span the River Thames accommodating longer trains and more of them on the Bedford “ Brighton cross-London Thameslink route. The plates, called cartouches, were removed last year to allow [...]
• Alloa declarationNew stations in Scotland could be opened and many more upgraded under a new £30 million scheme announced by the Scottish Government. The cash will go towards improving facilities at existing stations and will also fund the creation of new stations around the country. Scottish ministers, local councils and regional transport bodies are contributing to [...]
• Crossrail heads for HeathrowWork has begun on the Stockley Interchange in west London which will allow Crossrail services to operate to and from Heathrow. Network Rail, on behalf of Crossrail, will build a new single track viaduct for all trains from Heathrow towards London. Work is due to complete in 2017. Existing train services to Heathrow will continue [...]
• Day one at Infrarail¦Infrarail got off to a fantastic start yesterday as it opened its doors to hundreds of exhibitors and visitors alike from the rail industry. Infrarail, the definitive exhibition of products and services for the rail infrastructure market in the UK, is taking place at Hall 3 (just minutes walk from Birmingham International station) of the [...]

Railnews

• Infrarail update: Waterman attacks training policies Pete Waterman has launched a swingeing attack on the Government's approach to training and the effect of its policies on youth unemployment. He told the audience at a Railnews-sponsored presentation at Infrarail that Britain has fallen badly hehind foreign competitors because youth unemployment is rising here through official timidity.

Other News Sources

• IET: The future is low carbon: high performance electric car in townA super high-performance electric car will be in Newcastle today (Tuesday 2 May) to kick off an event exploring the future of transport in the UK.
• Heathrow Express launches smartphone bookingTrain operator enhances app to allow business travellers to book through their phones