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

Saturday, 27 October 2012

BBC News

• Rail firm cancels more servicesLondon Midland, which has cancelled hundreds of trains because of a driver shortage, expects to cancel 58 more on Saturday.
• MP given eight-week driving banAn MP who drove with no insurance and an expired MoT certificate is banned from the roads for eight weeks.
• 'Elizabeth' begins Crossrail digA giant tunnelling machine called Elizabeth is lowered 40m (131ft) underground in east London to begin the eastern section of the Crossrail project.
• Cities awarded transport fundingTwo Scottish cities are to receive grants from the European Union to invest in local transport in an effort to spur regeneration.

The Guardian

• Branson 'close to deal' on airline alliance as Virgin pushes into IndiaVirgin Atlantic is considering a break with its go-it-alone history by joining an airline alliance, Sir Richard Branson said as he launched Virgin's new route to Mumbai with a pledge to expand to three more Indian destinations if he can win slots at Heathrow.
• Cyclists' weapons of choice: loud honks and cursesI've just tried a Hornit, the loudest bicycle horn on the market, at 140 decibels. A louder one – the Hornster, 178 decibels – does exist, but is too cumbersome for mass production, comprising three giant horns and a scuba diving air cylinder. Mine is the size of a front light, and makes the noise of a rape alarm, or 10 tumble dryers all finishing at once.

The Herald

• Speed limits on Scottish roads to be reviewedSPEED limits on Scottish roads are to be reviewed.
• Holyrood urged to reduce rail subsidiesSUBSIDIES for rail passengers in Scotland have grown faster than south of the Border over last three years, prompting calls for the Scottish Government to cut the cost of the rail network.

The Scotsman

• Plans unveiled to celebrate 50th anniversary of Forth Road BridgeFORTH Road Bridge officials have unveiled plans to celebrate the crossing’s 50th birthday in 2014 as they vowed to avoid a repeat of its disastrous 25th anniversary event.

Bristol Live

• The Bristol Post published Whitehall residents: 'Road plan will make our lives a nightmare'A GROUP of residents are furious about plans by the city council to close two roads to through traffic in Whitehall.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Misery for drivers as roads ripped upMOTORISTS and bus passengers have been warned to expect delays in the city centre as work begins to repair 
damaged streets torn up by tram diversions.

London Evening Standard

• Tube rage: Man beaten for walking on wrong side of stairsPolice are hunting a man who punched a commuter repeatedly in the face for walking up the wrong side of the stairs at a Tube station in central London.

Manchester Evening News

• Rail services set for disruption as Stalybridge station closes for eight daysThousands of train journeys will face disruption over the next week as Stalybridge station is closed for refurbishment. Services run by First and Transpennine Express will bear the brunt of disruption with services between Manchester and Leeds facing the most disruption.

Northern Echo

• New partner announced for Newcastle International Airport LOCAL authorities have tonight (Friday, October 26) announced a refinancing package that will see £68m of taxpayers money pumped into the region™s biggest airport.

Sheffield Star

• Model railway exhibitionTHE ANNUAL Barnsley model railway exhibition is moving to a new venue this year - Horizon Community College on Dodworth Road, Barnsley.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Blizzards bring misery on roads as winter hits BLIZZARDS across the north-east led to treacherous conditions last night as the region was hit with a severe wintry blast.
• Mainland drivers in line for cheaper fuel THE UK Government is lining up a boost for hard-pressed motorists in mainland areas of the Highlands.

The York Press

• York station keeps its secure status YORK railway station has been reaccredited as a secure station under a scheme run by the Department for Transport and the British Transport Police.

Western Daily Press

• Call for views on 20mph speed limit cuts for Midsomer Norton...People are being asked to give their views on plans to introduce a 20mph speed limit on some roads in Midsomer Norton.
• M5 travel delays expected in North Somerset due to resurfacing...Lane closures will be in place in both directions on the M5 motorway in North Somerset when resurfacing work begins next Monday.

Other Regional Press

• Authority approves Quality Contract progressNew work to assess impact of improved partnership offer from operators and threat of loss of Better Bus Area funds.
• Bus driver battles to save passengerA driver desperately tried to save the life of a pensioner who collapsed and died on his bus in Medway.
• Teen's horrific injuries in bike crashA young driver has been locked up after crashing into a 16-year-old biker - leaving him with one leg 2in shorter than the other.
• Leeds trolleybus plans head for cash potholeA LONG-AWAITED £250m trolleybus system in Leeds which was given the go-ahead only three months ago is facing a £20m funding gap, it has been revealed.
• Police stop 400 HGVs in road safety searchesPolice detected 1,200 driving offences and issued fines totalling £25,000 after stopping more than 400 trucks in a...
• Region needs new roads 'to catch up with the rest of UK'Campaigners for improved road links in the Westcountry have dismissed warnings that a major rethink is required on a raft of road...
• Spate of crashes as snow hits North-eastDRIVERS were urged to take care as snowy conditions saw a spate of crashes across the region.

Global Rail News

• Milestone reached on Lougher Viaduct projectThe first section of bridge deck has been laid this week as part of a £48 million project to replace the Lougher Viaduct between Swansea and Gowerton. Work to replace the Loughor Viaduct, which began in June last year, includes the Gowerton Redoubling scheme, which involves laying a second track across the viaduct. The project [...]
• ˜Balloon™ trams return to Blackpool™s overcrowded systemThe new Bombardier-built Flexity trams in Blackpool are proving such a success with passengers that heritage ‘balloon’ trams are having to be pressed into service to help ease overcrowding on the network as locals flock to use the recently modernised tramway. A number of modified ‘balloon’ trams were retained for such an eventuality and, during [...]

Railway Gazette

• Universities to study cutting train life cycle costs UK: Three projects to investigate ways of reducing whole-life rolling stock costs have been approved by the Rail Research UK Association, and £100 000 of funding has been awarded by safety and standards body RSSB. Funding has also been awarded for a studentship co-funded by government research agency EPSRC and RSSB. The projects will study: Economic Incentives for Innovation, a comparative study of the rail and aviation industries: University of Leeds, Loughborough University and Imperial College London; Design for Control of Railway Vehicles: University of Salford and Loughborough University...

Aviation Industry

• AEF submits evidence to parliamentary committeeAEF has submitted evidence to the House of Commons Transport Committee, which is carrying out an inquiry into aviation. The committee has asked the following questions. For AEF’s response, link here. 1. What should be the objectives of Government policy on aviation? a) How important is international aviation connectivity to the UK aviation industry? b) What are [...]
• Stansted trials security body scanner London™s Stansted Airport (STN) has begun a three-month trial of a new walk-through security arch type body scanner that œinstantly detects any potential threats and prohibited items, the airport said, and uses a generic mannequin-type computer image to highlight for security officers the specific area to search.
• Delta Reports $1 Billion 3rd-Quarter ProfitWith its quarterly income nearly doubling from the same time period a year ago, Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is clearly showing that it knows how to make money.

Other News Sources

• ICE wants Davies Commission to look beyond third runway at HeathrowAn alternative hub airport in the south east must be developed quickly if it is decided that Heathrow Airport cannot realistically be expanded beyond three runways, the ICE and the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation have said.
• General Motors draws up zero waste blueprint for car industry General Motors has outlined a business case for zero waste in the form of a blueprint that details how the automotive sector can work towards landfill-free production practices.
• ˜Anti-speed™ Sussex MP tells of shame at totting ban Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames, who campaigns against speeding has been banned from the roads after being repeatedly caught driving too fast.
• Passengers pay £5,000 for last bus to Worthing Two passengers ended up paying £5,000 after going on a bus trip between Worthing and Chichester
• Multi-storey Hove car park free plea Campaigners have collected more than 400 signatures calling for free parking in a multi-storey car park in Norton Road, Hove

Other Subscription Services

• Maritime skills matterA range of maritime apprenticeships are in place in the UK that can match the capability of all who wish to work at sea