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

Thursday, 28 February 2013

BBC News

• Tech firm wins Norway airports dealGlasgow-based business technology solutions firm Amor Group secures another major airport contract.
• South East airports 'losing out'The boss of Schiphol Airport says people are using his airport over those in the South East because it has greater capacity.
• Can motorway services boost economy?Can motorway service stations boost the economy?
• New block on Ryanair Aer Lingus bidThe European Commission blocks a third attempt by Ryanair to take over rival Irish airline Aer Lingus, in which it already owns a 30% stake.

The Herald

• £181m bill for free bus travel schemeALMOST one in four Scots now hold a concessionary bus pass entitling them to free travel, with the scheme costing the Scottish Government £181 million in the past financial year.

The Telegraph

• All airport secret bag checks 'need to be recorded'Air passengers are having their luggage secretly searched and the checks are not all being recorded, says the Independent Chief Inspector for Borders and Immigration.

Mail Online

• Car crash? Blame it on road signs: Third of drivers have had an accident or near miss because of baffling signsNew research out yesterday revealed that a majority of British motorists do not understand the road signs they come across on a daily basis.
• Smoking ban in public places to be extended to cars to protect children in plan being considered by David CameronHealth groups have called for a cigarette ban in cars for years as the confined space means the toxic fumes other passengers breathe in are up to 11 times more concentrated (posed by models).
• How snooping customs staff secretly search your luggage: Covert checks to look for excess alcohol and tobaccoThe practice was uncovered in an inspection of Birmingham Airport, where more than 1,000 successful searches were carried out last year.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Tramworks misery as Lothian Buses warns on twitterPassengers have been warned to expect more delays in the West End, as Lothian Buses took to social media sites to advise customers about the continued disruption being caused by new tramworks.

Journal Live

• Richard Branson: I'd get East Coast trains on track - GALLERYSIR Richard Branson today sets out his hopes of running East Coast trains.

Liverpool Post

• New chief executive appointed at transport authority Merseytravel TRANSPORT authority Merseytravel has appointed a new chief executive. David Brown, who currently heads South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, will shortly be taking the helm. Merseytravel has been without a permanent chief executive since the departure of Neil Scales a year ago.

Sheffield Telegraph

• Sheffield bus service boost after £18m grantSheffield is to pilot the first ’Better Bus Area’ scheme in the country after receiving £18.3 million of funding from the Government.

Yorkshire Post

• Airport rapped over ˜illegal™ luggage searchBorder officials at one of Britain’s busiest airports could have conducted illegal searches of luggage without passengers’ knowledge, inspectors have warned.

Bucks Free Press

• London Road to shut for repairs THE London Road is set to shut for road works next week.

East Anglian Daily Times

• East Anglia: Rail operator begins deep-clean of all passenger trainsTHE region’s trains are undergoing a major spring clean.

Other Regional Press

• Visit of transport secretary raises fresh hopes for dualling of the A1 POLITICIANS have welcomed the Secretary of State for Transport to Northumberland to see the state of the A1 for himself.
• Bid for cash help to build £11million Kenilworth rail stationA BID has been submitted for government funds to build a long-awaited £11million rail station at Kenilworth.
• Row over Labour plans to shunt HS2 depot into WarwickshireA MAJOR row has broken out after Labour announced it would block plans to build a high speed rail maintenance depot in Birmingham - and could build it in Warwickshire instead.
• MP hits out at rail company after commuters ˜reap no benefit™ in improved servicesMP Alistair Burt has said he’s disappointed with the service being provided to Bedford commuters.

Global Rail News

• New plans for Kenilworth railway stationWarwickshire County Council has submitted a new bid to build a railway station in Kenilworth. The authority is looking to the government’s New Stations Fund to support the £11.3 million project, which would allow a new service to connect the town with Leamington Spa and Coventry. The new plans have been developed by the county [...]
• India announces 2013/14 railway budgetIndian Railways’ Minister Pawan Bansal has set his sights on improving safety and ticketing technology despite a smaller increase in spending across the network. Presenting the 2013-14 rail budget, Bansal said $12.6 billion will be invested in India’s railway in the next financial year. The minister said that $5 billion will be financed through gross [...]
• Video: Man vs. SubwayA French filmmaker has captured himself fulfilling a childhood ambition by pitting himself against the Paris Metro in a race between stations.
• London shares Games transport tips with RioLondon has offered its advice to the 2016 Olympics host Rio de Janeiro on how to run a successful public transport system during the world’s largest sporting spectacle. The London Assembly has written a letter to the Brazilian Ambassador giving its views on what helped London’s trains and buses run smoothly during the event. Sixty [...]
• London CallingBombardier workers in Derby look set to receive a late Christmas present if the order for additional class 378 vehicles goes ahead. Transport for London has been in discussions with the train builder regarding adding an extra vehicle to all of its 57 sets of class 378s and the possibility of ordering another five complete [...]
• Mind the Doors “ Quick!Passengers on the Victoria line are now benefitting from the most intensive service ever run on the line. In the peak – morning and evening – 33 trains are running per hour with less than two minutes between trains. The move follows London Underground’s modernisation of the line and the introduction of new signalling and [...]

Railnews

• Signaller praised by Crown Court judge A vigilant Network Rail signaller who spotted that a van had become trapped on a level crossing and lifted the barrier just in time to avoid a crash has been given an award by a High Sheriff and praised by a judge.

Other News Sources

• Transport for disabled has 'long way to go' says CockroftSix months on from the Paralympics, double gold medallist Hannah Cockroft tells Channel 4 News that public transport for disabled people still has a "long, long way to go".
• RMT response to Public Accts Cttee on WCML fiascoRMT General Secretary Bob crow said
• Letter to Rio: London 2012 lessons for transport gold 27 February 2013 The London Assembly has sent a letter to the hosts of the next Olympic and Paralympic Games highlighting advice from London 2012 that could help ensure transport runs smoothly during Rio 2016.Lessons from the London Olympics could help Rio œcope with the pressure of additional visitors, deliver athletes to events swiftly and allow residents to get to work stated the legacy letter sent to the Brazilian Ambassador [1]. No ...
• Businesses offered free advice on converting to cost-cutting electric fleets The Energy Saving Trust (EST) is to offer 100 businesses in England free analysis of their fleets to establish how electrical vehicles could reduce costs.
• Amadeus increases sales and profitsTechnology firm is 'cautiously optimistic' for 2013 after seeing growth last year

Other Subscription Services

• Kenilworth bid seeks New Stations Fund grant Warwickshire County Council has dusted off plans to build a new station at Kenilworth with the submission of a bid to the government's recently launched New Stations Fund 9046.After...
• Project 110 achievement marked by special train Train operator London Midland has held an event to mark progress on Project 110, which has seen the top speed of its off peak services accelerated from 100 to 110mph.The first 110mph services using...
• Metrolink expansion halfway with Rochdale opening Expansion of the Manchester Metrolink tram network through the 'Big Bang' set of projects has now reached the half way mark.From Thursday (28 February), tram services will be extended to Rochdale...
• Reading subway opens as link span bridge shuts Reading station's link span footbridge closes on Friday (1 March) ahead of the opening of the new transfer deck at Easter.The link span bridge currently allows passengers to move between platforms...
• Sliding doors competition open for tenders Crossrail has begun procurement for the new platform edge doors which will be fitted at stations along the central section of the new east-west railway.Expressions of interest have been invited for...