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

Sunday, 27 May 2012

BBC News

• Charity ride in memory of bikerThe friends of a mountain biker who was last seen alive practising for a competition are planning a charity bike ride from Manchester to Bristol.
• Cyclist critical after trail fallA 31-year-old man suffers serious head, neck and back injuries when he falls off his mountain bike in Cumbria's Grizedale Forest.
• Row over north-south train changeOpponents criticise the Welsh government for reducing the number of daily express trains between Holyhead and Cardiff.
• Train and horse rides for flameThe Olympic flame will travel by train and on horseback on a busy ninth day of the torch relay as it travels from Swansea to Aberystwyth on Sunday.

The Observer

• London Gateway: a port takes shape in an economic stormSprawled across a 1,000-acre swath of reclaimed riverbed and post-industrial ruin on the Essex coast, the London Gateway project is a half-formed response to Britain's economic malaise. But a year from now this giant sandpit will be a world-class piece of infrastructure handling the world's largest cargo ships – and the government is desperate for similar projects to transform the UK's economic landscape.

The Telegraph

• Britain makes way for new £1.5bn superportWelcome to London Gateway, the £1.5bn super port springing out of the sand on the Thames Estuary. It's just the sort of thing George Osborne envisages when he talks about the £200bn of infrastructure investment poised to deliver growth to the UK economy. Only, unlike much of what's on the Chancellor's wish list, here is a project that's actually being built – despite the variety of obstacles.

Daily Express

• Embattled Bankia to sell its BA stakeBELEAGUERED Spanish lender Bankia is to sell its 24.2 per cent stake in British Airways owner International Airlines Group and a £876 million chunk of power group Iberdrola as part of a fire sale to raise much-needed capital.

Mail Online

• Olympics under threat from anarchists who shot Italian nuclear chief and sabotage cables on UK railwayThe Informal Anarchist Federation, which claims to be behind Tuesday's train disruption in Bristol, is threatening to wage a 'low-intensity' war against the London Games

The Mirror

• Toyota's Corolla named as Britain's most reliable family carRenault™s Espace and the Mercedes R-Class were named most likely to leave you stranded, with an average 74 per cent breaking down each year

Birmingham Mail

• 'In flight' entertainment at Bullring to celebrate new service from Birmingham Airport to BerlinShoppers are being invited to experience 'in flight entertainment' at the Bullring to celebrate the launch of a new daily service from Birmingham to Berlin.
• Mother of Birmingham schoolgirl knocked down by lorry launches road safety campaignTHE mother of a Birmingham schoolgirl who was knocked down by a lorry has launched a summer campaign to improve safety at the scene of the tragedy.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Council to refund thousands of bus lane chargesTRANSPORT chiefs are to waive every fine handed out to motorists caught in bus lanes on one of the city’s main roads.
• Massive cylinders for new Forth crossing to be lowered into place next weekWORK is expected to start next week on installing the first foundations of the new Forth road bridge.

Liverpool Post

• Cammell Laird aircraft carrier gets shipshapeTHE first massive flight deck sections for the Royal Navy’s new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier were rolled out of Cammell Laird’s Construction Hall to be loaded onto barges for Scotland.

Metro

• Strong winds lift parked jumbo jet off the groundVisitors to a California airport were given the shock of their lives this week when a jumbo jet began to leave the tarmac - despite having no captain, passengers or even fuel on board.Footage has been posted on YouTube that shows a 747 rising several metres into the air as a result of strong winds sweeping through the airport in Mojave. The plane appeared to take off as strong winds blasted across its wings (YouTube) The Daily Mail has suggested the winds topped 70 mph, which was enough to lift the plane despite it being parked in a stationary position.Its wings were given enough lift by the f...

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Police community support officer knocked off bikeA POLICE community support hospitakl us today in hospital with head injuries after being knocked off his bike.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Full steam ahead for plans to extend steam railway Work to extend a historic steam railway in the Highlands is progressing well, organisers said yesterday.

Wales Online

• More being spent on a London tube station than rail electrification to WalesTHE UK Government has been accused of discriminating against Wales after it emerged it was spending more on a new London railway station than it is prepared to spend on electrifying the main London to South Wales rail line.

Carlisle News & Star

• Demand for action over Cumbria ˜danger™ roads Villagers hope to gain an MP™s backing and improve the condition of œdangerous� roads.
• M6 closed in Cumbria after vehicle overturns An overturned vehicle caused traffic delays on the M6 motorway both northbound and southbound.

Sunderland Echo

• Sunderland councillor hits out at traffic decisionsNEW ‘go slower’ signs on one of Wearside’s busiest roads have left a councillor “puzzled”.

Other Regional Press

• Newport's medieval ship set to mark decade of discovery A DECADE of the Newport Medieval Ship will be celebrated next month at the site of the original discovery.
• Historians claim new bus station at Fishmarket will harm NorthamptonENGLISH Heritage has warned the development of Northampton’s controversial new bus station would “significantly harm” the town.
• Vandals attack Aberdeen buses with passengers on boardVANDALS attacked two Aberdeen buses with passengers on board.
• Two early morning crashes on Huddersfield ringroadA DRIVER fled the scene after his vehicle hit a bollard then ploughed into pedestrian barriers on the ringroad this morning.

Railway Gazette

• 'Solid commercial performance' at Alstom ALSTOM: Presenting the company's results for 2011-12 on May 4, Chairman & CEO Patrick Kron announced a 'solid commercial performance' for the last financial year, with sales gradually recovering. In the year to March 31 2012 Alstom booked €21·7bn of orders, up 14% on the previous year. Emerging countries accounted for around 60% of sales, although the Transport business was 'active' in Europe. Total sales at €19·9bn were down 5%, with Thermal Power down 10% and Transport by 8%, reflecting a drop in orders in 2009. However, there was a 'marked improvement' in the last quarter of 2011-12...

Aviation Industry

• Turbulence ahead for airlines despite oil price dropAirlines are still in for financial turbulence despite a recent fall in oil prices, with many at risk of posting major losses as the cost of their top input remains historically high.

Other News Sources

• UK dock contract dispute sparks international reactionA contract dispute in the UK port of Tilbury could escalate to an international level, after the repeated refusal of management to engage in genuine dialogue with the union.
• Injured cyclist airlifted to hospital after accident on country roadPolice are seeking witnesses after a cyclist was involved in a traffic accident.
• News from Roger Evans: Roger Evans™ wins Boris™s agreement to look at Romford Crossrail plans 24 May, 2012  Havering™s GLA member, Roger Evans, today won the Mayor of London™s agreement to meet with the borough™s civic leaders about the reduced scope of the scheme to redevelop Romford railway station under plans for Crossrail. Speaking at Mayor™s Question Time on Wednesday at City Hall, Boris said that he is willing to meet with Havering borough leaders to discuss the changes and see what could be done to improve them. Commenting afterwards Mr Evans said: 360-house-thumb.jpg ...
• Network Rail ordered to pay out for death and injury of maintenance workersThe Office of Rail Regulation has fined Network Rail £150,000 after breaches of health and safety laws led to the death of one maintenance worker and the injury of another in 2007 and 2008.

Other Subscription Services

• Skills shortage inhibits British marine sector, says business ministerMark Prisk promises partnership approach
• Skanska beats three to win Bermondsey dive-under Network Rail has awarded Skanska the contract to construct the Bermondsey dive-under, a major grade separated junction which is required to deliver Key Output 2 of the Thameslink Programme.Skanska...