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

Monday, 10 September 2012

BBC News

• Bluebell Railway to complete extension by March An extension to a stretch of track on a steam railway in Sussex is expected to be completed by March.
• VIDEO: Cable:'Third Heathrow runway will not happen'Business secretary Vince Cable re-states the Coalition's pledge not to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport
• Sacked Gillan attacks rail schemeOusted Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan says the London to Birmingham high speed rail project is a terrible idea, and David Cameron made clear he wanted a Welsh MP in her role.
• Heathrow expansion 'won't happen'Business Secretary Vince Cable says an expansion of Heathrow Airport is

Financial Times

• Virgin Atlantic chief to quitSteve Ridgway will leave lossmaking airline early next year after 10 years at helm but group declines to comment on candidates for position

The Guardian

• David Cameron's reshuffle push for growth sets him against Tory voters in the shires High speed rail line linking south with north and revived plans for a third runway at Heathrow are alienating Tory voters

The Herald

• Steep fall in passengers using downgraded Kilcreggan ferryPASSENGER numbers have plummeted on a publicly funded ferry service after it was downgraded earlier this year to save money.
• Renationalisation on the cards for West Coast lineTRAIN services between Glasgow and London could be temporarily re-nationalised following a legal challenge to the Government's £10 billion franchise deal on the route.

The Scotsman

• West Coast line to be nationalised if franchise bid row cannot be settled THE UK government is preparing to nationalise the West Coast rail line if Virgin’s legal challenge to losing the franchise means an operator has not been appointed by the handover date.

The Telegraph

• Steve Ridgway in surprise departure from Virgin Atlantic Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway is due to quit the airline next year, ending a 23-year association with Sir Richard Branson’s company.
• Rail bid rule change 'proves West Coast process was flawed'The Government has made a crucial change to the rules for the next big rail franchise auction in what the industry believes is an admission that the terms of the West Coast bid were flawed.
• Boris Johnson defies David Cameron to hold rival inquiry on airport capacity Boris Johnson will defy David Cameron by holding a rival inquiry into the future of aviation capacity which will specifically exclude a third runway at Heathrow.
• Why I’m backing Boris Island, by Windsor MP Adam Afriyie Windsor MP Adam Afriyie explains why a coastal airport is the only option for the future of aviation in the south-east.
• Heathrow expansion 'not going to happen' Business secretary Vince Cable has said that an expansion of Heathrow airport is "not going to happen" because of the breadth of political opposition to it.
• Cheryl Gillan: HS2 flies in the face of Conservative valuesEven the best jobs have downsides. I was privileged to serve as secretary of state for Wales until last week's Cabinet reshuffle.

Press Association

• Workers want 'Branson-style' bosses Employees want "cool, calm and collected" managers in the Sir Richard Branson mould rather than domineering Gordon Ramsay-style bosses, a new study has found.

Reuters News

• West Coast rail franchise to be nationalised - paper The British government is preparing to nationalise Virgin Trains' West Coast railway train operating franchise following its attempts to delay the handover of the network to rival operator First Group which won the franchise renewal bid, the Sunday Times newspaper said.

Daily Express

• VIRGIN ATLANTIC CHIEF QUITS VIRGIN Atlantic boss Steve Ridgway is quitting the cockpit of Sir Richard Branson’s airline after 23 years.

Mail Online

• Passengers face long queues at Heathrow Airport after the Games as passport control hit by staffing crisis again Airline passengers are facing huge delays in the coming weeks as managers at Heathrow warn of immigration staff shortages.

ATOC

• National Rail supports Britain’s gold rush: Sunday 9 SeptemberOn the final day of the Paralympics and the second day of the Mayor’s Thames Festival, the railway is running 762,...

Manchester Evening News

• 20m more train journeys per year made in Manchester than a decade agoThe number of journeys made by train passengers using stations in Manchester city centre has increased by 20 million in less than a decade. More than 38 million people passed through the city™s five stations in 2010/11 compared with 18 million in 2002/3, according to figures by the Office of Rail Regulation.

Wales Online

• Former Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan hits out at HS2 rail planThe high speed rail project from London to Birmingham is a terrible idea, former Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said as she launched a broadside against the Government.

Bucks Free Press

• Sacked Minister: High Speed 2 against Conservative principles DAYS after being sacked as a Government Minister MP Cheryl Gillan has unleashed a broadside against High Speed 2.

Sunderland Echo

• Sunderland bus drivers in line for national awardWEARSIDE bus drivers could be en route to national recognition after triumphing over 1,600 other workers to scoop awards.

Other Regional Press

• Drop-in day to help keep track of Crossrail project CROSSRAIL project officers will host a drop-in day to keep residents informed of construction work due to start during the Christmas period.

Bus and Coach.com

• Reshuffle brings transport changesAnother transport secretary bites the dust.
• Bus pass rail ticket trialBus pass holders on two rail routes in England are to be offered discounted rail travel in a 12-month experiment announced by transport minister Norman Baker.

London TravelWatch

• London TravelWatch wants to hear all your Olympic and Paralympic travel tales “ good and bad!During the Olympic and Paralympic Games we™ve heard some amazing stories of the great experiences visitors have had in getting to and from the Games “ and we want to hear more of them!

Railnews

• Branson to step up attack on DfT today The Commons Transport Committee is to take the first evidence about the disputed award of the West Coast franchise today. Richard Branson is expected to tell the MPs on the committee that the DfT's franchising process is flawed, ahead of a preliminary hearing of his grievances by the High Court.

Other News Sources

• Richard Branson attends hearing over West Coast Mainline Contract Sir Richard Branson is to attend a Transport Committee hearing over the decision to award the West Coast Mainline rail franchise to First Group.