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

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

BBC News

• Puffing Billy's 200th anniversary to be celebrated The 200th anniversary of a steam locomotive that became the "beating heart" of a Northumberland village is to be celebrated.
• London Mayor Boris Johnson appoints airport experts London's mayor has announced he has appointed "a mighty team of experts" to help develop his hub airport plans. Boris Johnson opposes a third runway at Heathrow and supports the idea of an airport in the Thames Estuary or the expansion at Stansted.
• 'More frequent' motorway servicesIt should be
• New tram service opens after delaysThe new Metrolink line between Manchester and Droylsden opens to passengers seven weeks behind schedule.
• Heathrow 'to raise ticket prices'Passengers using Heathrow face a rise in ticket prices under £3bn investment plans proposed by bosses of the west London airport.

Financial Times

• Doubts raised over hub airport subsidies Patrick McLoughlin, transport secretary, has raised doubts about the case for the taxpayer subsidising a new hub airport, appearing in front of the Commons transport select committee on Monday.
• Heathrow calls for rise in airline tariffsHeathrow airport Holdings is calling for aeronautical charges to rise annually by 5.9 per cent in real terms over the five years from 2014

The Herald

• Road repair bills soar 70% above original quotesTAXPAYERS have seen the cost of maintaining Scotland's motorways and trunk roads soar by 70% compared to the price quoted by contractors.

The Scotsman

• £2m refurb for Commonwealth Games train stationsRAILWAY stations that will form a gateway to the 2014 Commonwealth Games are to undergo a £2 million revamp.

Mail Online

• Cost of Heathrow flights to rise by £27 in five years thanks to investment surcharge plansThe charges, which need to be approved by the Civil Aviation Authority, will help pay for the £3billion of investment that Heathrow is planning.

Network Rail

• Network Rails chiefs to visit young apprentices at FfestiniogNetwork Rail chief executive David Higgins and Wales route managing director Mark Langman are to visit 16 apprentices gaining valuable work experience on the Welsh railways.

Belfast Telegraph

• £2 a day: the cost of running my Renault TwizySOLV Group installs technology that makes buildings more energy efficient, so I'm used to offsetting the cost of an asset against the long-term cost-savings it provides.Related StoriesYou can bank on our supportPlan for future of farming high on ambition but weak in detail'Zero road tax and a big cost saving on fuel'Food glorious food helps Avondale sustain success over past decade'Apprenticeships need to move with the times'

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Shipley MP Philip Davies in call to Roads Minister for bypass plan An MP is demanding showdown talks with a top level transport boss to discuss plans for a bypass in Shipley.

London Evening Standard

• Gatwick passenger numbers fall year-on-yearA dip in European traffic meant Gatwick Airport handled slightly fewer passengers last month than in January 2012, it was announced today.
• Another fine mess: motorists using suspended bays are ˜unfairly treated™Half of all London councils could be unlawfully fining motorists for parking in suspended bays because their signs are unauthorised.
• Rail passengers stranded as signalman gets stuck in toiletRail passengers may have to get used to a new excuse for delays after trains were held up when a signalman got stuck in the toilet.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Walkergate bus depot manager retires after 25 yearsA BUS depot manager who rose through the ranks is retiring after quarter of a century with the same firm.
• Delays on Metro after crack discovered in rail lineDELAYS are expected on the Metro service from Gateshead into Newcastle after a crack was discovered in the rail line this morning.

Northern Echo

• Railway investment puts Whitby on track MORE than £1.4m is being invested in expanding and developing train services for the one of the region's most popular tourist resorts.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post commented Work to move tram bridge over Nottingham train station to start...WORK to move a tram bridge over Nottingham Railway Station will start tonight.

Sheffield Star

• Sheffield community™s clean air campaignPARENTS and pupils in a Sheffield suburb are being urged to do their bit to help improve air quality – by cutting down on school-run car journeys.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Motorists warned: Get set for months of road chaosTHE NORTH is braced for traffic chaos today as a five-month partial closure of a main trunk road gets under way.

Other Regional Press

• Call for better disabled access at Gleneagles railway station ahead of Ryder Cup New lifts should be installed as part of a £3 million makeover at a Perthshire railway station which will be at the centre of the golf world next year.
• MPs to challenge Boris over airportLondon Mayor Boris Johnson will go head-to-head with MPs today over plans to build an airport off the Kent coast.
• Could you be the key to the lock keepers future success in Kirklees and Calderdale?VOLUNTEER lock keepers are being sought to help ensure the canal network in Kirklees and Calderdale runs smoothly.
• Swanage Railway volunteers delighted with £1.47m government grant VOLUNTEERS at Swanage Railway are delighted after scooping a £1.47m government grant to re-introduce a regular service in Purbeck.

Global Rail News

• Summit to discuss progress of high-speed rail in the USAU.S. government officials will meet with engineering experts this week to see if the country is on course to realise its vision for high-speed rail. The three-day High Speed Rail Summit, which will begin in Washington DC later today (February 11), will not only discuss the progress of high-speed rail projects in the U.S. but [...]
• Talgo high-speed trains move step closer to Russian certificationPatentes Talgo has signed a supplementary agreement with the All-Russian Railway Research (VNIIZhT) institute to bring Spanish high-speed trains to Russia. The contract comes off the back of a deal made in January 2012 to adapt Patentes Talgo SL trains for use on Russia’s 1520mm railways. The agreement, which was signed by Boris Lapidus, general [...]
• Rail engineers clear snow from America™s east coastJust months after one of the country’s worst public transport disasters, New York’s rail engineers have been back on track clearing snow and ice from the east coast’s rail network.
• Commonwealth station investment announcedThe Scottish government has pledged an extra £1 million to upgrade key railway stations ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Glasgow Queen Street low level, Charing Cross and High Street will all benefit from the investment, which will double the £1 million programme of improvements already planned for 20 stations across Strathclyde. Deputy First Minister [...]
• Video: Woolwich station box completedWork has been completed on the Woolwich station box four months ahead of schedule. The new station box, which is 256 metres long, 26 metres wide and 18 metres deep, will become an important staging post for two 1,000-tonne TBMs, Sophia and Mary, which are tunnelling between Plumstead, underneath the River Thames, to North Woolwich. [...]
• Two more years for LOROLLOROL has been awarded a two-year extension to its contract with Transport for London (TfL) to continue to operate the London Overground network. Under the contract, LOROL will retain responsibility for the operation of the London Overground train services, maintenance and operation of the stations which they manage and the maintenance of the 172 trains [...]
• High Speed interestHS2 is about to enter an interesting phase. “Interesting? It’s always in an interesting phase!” The surprised interjection was by Andrew Coombes, HS2 Ltd’s head of specification and assurance. It is a great way to start an interview and find that the latest part of this massive project is indeed just one small part of [...]
• Test trams take to Oldham line extensionDrivers have begun test runs along the newest section of Manchester Metrolink’s Oldham line extension. Trams will be travelling between Shaw and Crompton and Rochdale railway station as part of the network’s driver training programme. The trams will not be carrying passengers during this period. The Oldham line will soon be extended to Rochdale with [...]

Aviation Industry

• Finland considers Finnair ownership rule revampFinnair may get a boost to its partnership credentials if rules limiting the carrier to majority state-ownership are dropped.
• Al Baker takes seat on Heathrow™s boardQatar Airways™ boss has become a director of the airport™s holding company

Other News Sources

• Panel appointed to look at hub airport proposals The designer of the Aquatics Centre on the Olympic Park is among a team of experts appointed to develop plans for a new hub airport in the south east.
• £100m Woolwich Crossrail station may stand emptyExclusive: Just days after Crossrail celebrated the completion of the £100m Woolwich station box, the Department for Transport has said the station may stand unused if an agreement to fund the fit-out is not reached.