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

Sunday, 26 August 2012

BBC News

• Safety fears for Padstow railway station A north Cornwall town may lose its Victorian railway station building because of safety concerns, the local council has warned.
• Swindon and Cricklade Railway opens new track extension The Swindon and Cricklade Railway in Wiltshire has opened a newly-built section of track after several months of construction.
• Arrests in raids at London bridges and rail stations Twenty-one people have been arrested during an operation focused on transport routes in London.
• Thames Estuary 'three times more foggy' than Heathrow A new hub airport in the Thames Estuary would be three times more likely to be affected by fog than Heathrow Airport, according to the Met Office.

The Independent

• Justine Greening 'in the way' of U-turn on Heathrow Transport Secretary's opposition to runway makes her position in Cabinet 'untenable'
• London's Greenwich foot tunnel closed after reports of 'unusual smell' A tunnel under the River Thames had to be shut after seven pedestrians were taken ill following reports of an “unusual smell”. Emergency services closed off the Greenwich foot tunnel after several pedestrians reported breathing difficulties.
• Darling defies Miliband over third Heathrow runwayAlistair Darling, the former chancellor, has defied the Labour leader Ed Miliband and called for a third runway at Heathrow to beapproved. Britain's ability to attract foreign investment is being undermined by a lack of capacity at its biggest airport, Mr Darling warned.

The Scotsman

• ’Hoy cycle network’ for Edinburgh agreed councillors agreed in principle that a city-wide “Sir Chris Hoy cycle network” would be a lasting legacy for the Capital from the Olympic triumph.
• Tram project making tracks as key city route re-opens A KEY city route which has been closed for almost a year because of tram works has now been re-opened to traffic.

The Telegraph

• Hertz set for $2.5bn bid for Dollar Thrifty Hertz is preparing a $2.5bn takeover offer for Dollar Thrifty that will realise its long-held aim of buying its rival hire car company.
• Without a third runway at Heathrow, we’ll be grounded Our European competitors are sprinting ahead of us. We need more airport capacity as soon as possible
• Sir Richard Branson: an extraordinary week Reaction to the West Coast franchise decision has shown the strong British instinct for fairness, common sense and democracy, argues the Virgin entrepreneur.
• Let us run West Coast for free, says Branson Entrepreneur makes temporary offer to run the West Coast line for free to buy time for MPs’ inquiry into controversial decision to hand the franchise to FirstGroup.
• Train journeys slower now than a century ago With above inflation fare rises, chronic overcrowding and seemingly perpetual delays, you would be forgiven for thinking there has never been a worse time to travel by train.
• Another Tory minister demands u-turn on Heathrow A Conservative Cabinet minister has pleaded for the Government to fast-track a third runway at Heathrow Airport or risk choking off the economic recovery. Owen Paterson, the Northern Ireland Secretary, made the call at a Cabinet meeting shortly before the summer recess. He fears that economic growth in Northern Ireland will be hit if Heathrow does not expand quickly
• Paralympics 2012: concern over transport arrangements for Paralympic opening ceremony ParalympicsGB athletes are waiting for organisers to finalise transport plans before committing to being part of next Wednesday night's opening ceremony spectacular.

Daily Express

• DOES THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT LIE IN... PLANES, TRAINS OR AUTOMOBILES? SIR Richard Branson’s next departure from London to Manchester will be a plane, not a train. A week after the Virgin tycoon railed against losing the franchise on the West Coast mainline to FirstGroup, his long-haul airline Virgin Atlantic has launched a new venture into short-haul flying.

Mail Online

• Minister risks coalition rift by backing third runway at Heathrow Airport A Tory minister risks stoking Coalition tensions after signalling support for a third runway at Heathrow. Grant Shapps, a housing and planning minister, said Britain must consider building the runway if it is to remain a ’great trading nation’

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Work on £40m Midland Metro tram fleet to start in weeks A multi-million pound project to replace the outdated Midland Metro trams is to begin within weeks – with the new fleet set to be delivered to the region next autumn.
• 100,000 call for Virgin to keep West Coast Main Line deal More than 100,000 people have signed a petition demanding a rethink over plans to strip Virgin Trains of its franchise to run the West Coast Main Line.

Plymouth Herald

• How can city compete with transport big boys?CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Plymouth City Airport have handed over a 37,860-signature petition, urging planners to save the airport site from developers.

Other Regional Press

• Denham Against HS2 oppose potential M40 plan AN ACTION group set up to oppose HS2 says that it remains strongly opposed to the project despite a new proposal to run the planned rail link alongside the M40.
• Still time for Nottinghamshire residents to have their say on transport for the future RESIDENTS in Nottinghamshire are being urged to have their say on how passenger transport services across the county operate in the future.
• 100,000 call for a U-turn on West Coat Main Line rail deal More than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling for a Government U-turn on the decision to award the West Coast Main Line rail contract to FirstGroup.
• Man fined after swearing at staff at Huddersfield railway stationA MAN has been fined after swearing at station staff when they refused to let him use an invalid ticket.
• Huddersfield rail passengers urged to support fight against rail fare rises.RAIL commuters in Huddersfield face big fare hikes from January.