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

Wednesday, 20 March 2013

BBC News

• Jersey bus company scraps through route from airport A route linking Jersey's airport in the west to Le Marais estate in the east is being scrapped by bus company CT Plus.
• VIDEO: The electric car with an extra kickTheo Leggett looks at an electric car that disproves the view that battery power is boring.
• 'Pointless' announcements to end?Rail firm announces a cull of tannoy messages
• Ryanair in new expansion driveRyanair is planning to increase its aircraft fleet by a third to 400 planes after ordering 175 planes from Boeing.
• Bentley mulls Slovakia car assemblyBentley may assemble its next new model in Bratislava, Slovakia, rather than the UK for the first time, the company says.

Financial Times

• Ryanair orders 175 Boeing jetsAirline plans new phase of growth with $16bn deal and Michael O™Leary is considering buying a further 125 aircraft as he targets shrinking flag carriers
• Ryanair: high pressure warningLow-cost carrier puts competitors on notice with move to increase fleet size, as it aims to push its EU market share from 15 to 20 per cent

The Guardian

• Cyclist-friendly lorry design aims to cut number of fatal accidents London Cycling Campaign proposes plans to cut height of lorries and to extend side windows of the cabs
• Wanted: a government minister responsible for infrastructure After some neglect, the UK is ramping up investment in local infrastructure. We need a new department to lead the charge

The Herald

• More green buses due on the roads after £2m investmentFLEETS of new low-carbon buses will take to Scotland's roads following the latest round of investment from the Scottish Government's Green Bus Fund.

The Telegraph

• New tough MoT rules could see thousands of failuresDefective warning lights and faulty car seats could see thousands of motorists failing their MoT test or facing high bills when strict new EU rules come into force tomorrow.
• Millions of drivers swerving to avoid potholesMillions of drivers are having to take evasive action of make emergency stops to avoid Britain's potholes, a survey has found.

Mail Online

• Drivers face MoT failure and rising repair bills as European rules impose 20 additional safety checks on brakes, steering, and lightingThe European rule changes reflect the massive growth in in-car electronics and from Wednesday will include more than 20 additional checks on areas such as brakes, steering, suspension and lighting.
• What would the Queen say? Bentley set to move manufacture of new luxury off-roader to Bratislava in huge blow to 4,000 strong workforceThe firm's German chiefs have announced they are considering manufacturing its new SUV in the Slovakian capital rather than the at the Bentley plant in Crewe (pictured).

ATOC

• ATOC responds to changes in rail regulationResponding to an ORR and DfT announcement on changes in rail regulation, Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC),...

Network Rail

• Emergency vehicle provides faster response to railway incidentsA dedicated police response vehicle is being used across south and west London to help reduce disruption to passengers caused by emergency incidents on the railway.
• New King™s Cross station celebrates happy first birthday as satisfaction rocketsKing™s Cross station has seen a record-breaking jump in customer satisfaction in the year since the award-winning western concourse opened to the public, new research shows.
• All change in Reading this EasterPassengers in Reading are being asked to prepare themselves for 10 days of changes to train services as their new station arrives this Easter.

Belfast Telegraph

• KLM puts paid to Belfast rumoursKLM has denied reports that is starting scheduled flights from George Best Belfast City Airport to Amsterdam. An online travel news forum reported that the flag carrier will begin flights operated by KLM's regional subsidiary Cityhopper this year. But a spokesman said:
• Ryanair's £10bn deal for planesLow-fare carrier Ryanair has announced a £10bn deal for scores of new planes in an agreement which will create 3,000 jobs across Europe.Related StoriesAirport figures taking off thanks to upsurge in business travellersFresh euro crisis as Cyprus votes no to accounts bailoutCo-op announces pensions sell-offSainsbury's enjoys sales boost after horse meat scandalBT Sport creates over 400 posts
• Airport figures taking off thanks to upsurge in business travellersTHE annual growth in passenger numbers at Belfast International Airport was the second highest of all UK regions, according to new statistics released by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).Related StoriesUTV sees its profits decrease by 10%Fresh euro crisis as Cyprus votes no to accounts bailoutCo-op announces pensions sell-offSainsbury's enjoys sales boost after horse meat scandalBT Sport creates over 400 posts

Bristol Live

• The Bristol Post published Celebration of local rail successesI READ Gerry Brooke's piece in Bristol Times (March 12) with great interest.
• The Bristol Post published Bike repairers back on track after arsonsA NOT-for-profit business that repairs bikes has bounced back after being attacked by arsonists twice in a fortnight.
• The Bristol Post published Mayor and bus operators to meet up to discuss high fares across...Article

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph commented Dream of £100m tram network may be derailedPLANS by an electronics engineer to bring trams back to Derby have been written off as "unaffordable" and lacking in...

Edinburgh Evening News

• Edinburgh rail passengers up 17 per centRAIL travel in the Capital is booming despite the recession, new figures reveal.

Liverpool Echo

• Ryanair in $15.6bn aircraft deal with BoeingIrish carrier Ryanair today announced a deal with US plane maker Boeing for 175 737-800s worth $15.6bn.
• Concerns historic Stephenson bridge at Rainhill may be damaged by Network Rail workHERITAGE groups raised the alarm over work being carried by Network Rail on an historic bridge designed by railway pioneer George Stephenson.

London Evening Standard

• Shops go down the Tube in major revamp of stationsTube bosses are to embark on a major revamp of stations to emulate the commercial success of shopping at railways and airports.

Wales Online

• Cardiff news: Historic Cardiff tram depot is put up for saleIt once bustled with trams in Cardiff’s yesteryear. But a listed former transport depot close to the city centre has now been put up for sale.

Yorkshire Post

• Yorkshire road among UK™s slowestSome drivers crawl at less than one tenth of a mile an hour in the morning rush-hour, according to a survey.

Bucks Free Press

• Gerrards Cross Traffic Changes Criticised PLANS for road changes in Gerrards Cross have come under fire from the Parish Council after a presentation on the options by Bucks County Council.

Peterborough Telegraph

• New anti-slip manhole covers for PeterboroughA dozen anti-slip, non-metal manhole covers are to be installed in Peterborough to help improve road safety and cut metal theft.

Other Regional Press

• Hounslow council seek public views on Heathrow expansion HOUNSLOW is joining Hillingdon and Richmond to seek the public's views on the future of Heathrow. The council will send a questionnaire to more than 100,000 households asking if they back expansion at the airport.
• Transport minister offers Shropshire hope for new direct London rail link Shropshire has received a tantalising glimpse of a direct rail link to London after business bosses met the transport minister, Patrick McLoughlin MP.
• Grimsby Telegraph commented Extra replacement buses to run between Cleethorpes and Doncaster...FROM today extra replacement buses will be running between Cleethorpes and Doncaster railway stations to help reduce travel...
• Bus fares to go up by 3% in HuddersfieldBUS fares are going up in Huddersfield.
• First Aberdeen reveals bus fare changesA BUS company has revealed its first fares changes for more than a year.

C.N.N.

• Bombardier unveil new plane to challenge Boeing and Airbus

Global Rail News

• Work underway on new Pont Briwet bridgeEngineers are to due to start work on a replacement Pont Briwet bridge over the Afon Dwyryd river. The £20 million project will see the 150-year-old wooden viaduct replaced by contractors HOCHTIEF. The new crossing is funded with over £9 million from the European Regional Development Fund, administered by the Welsh Government, as well as [...]
• Alstom and Adif to develop third rail signalling technologyAlstom has signed an agreement with Spanish infrastructure manager Adif to develop a new third rail signalling system to aid the expansion of trans-European rail services. The project is part of a framework agreement signed on November 2012 to carry out R&D projects at Adif’s Railway Technology Center in Málaga. The five-year agreement also covers [...]
• Siemens handed Crossrail communications systems contractSiemens has been awarded a £43 million Crossrail contract for the central section communications and control systems. The scope of works includes the design, testing, installation and commissioning of key communications and control systems within Crossrail™s central section including CCTV and public address systems at stations, customer information displays, staff and emergency services radio systems [...]
• Reading station a year earlyOver recent years, there have been a number of articles written about the progress of the £895m Reading station project. It is not the intention of this article to reproduce the significant engineering challenges that this project has so far presented to the engineer, since this information is available in various back issues of The [...]
• Assembly calls on Chancellor to support electrification planThe London Assembly has written to George Osbourne ahead of tomorrow’s budget announcement, urging the Chancellor to fund the proposed electrification of the Gospel Oak to Barking railway line. Electrification of the line would need to be completed before 2018 to allow Crossrail rolling stock to continue on the Gospel Oak to Barking line, but [...]
• Gallery: Vienna Central Station constructionAustrian rail operators ÖBB is looking forward to 2015 and the completion of Vienna Central Station, 100 days after opening up partially to passengers. A number of lines came into operation in December 2012, along with one-sixth of the station’s new concourse. Forty-thousand passengers currently make there way through the station every day as work [...]

Railnews

• Open access operator proposes electrification Open access operator First Hull Trains is in talks with private sector investors and Network Rail over plans to electrify the route from Selby to Hull. Negotiations have also started with a potential but so far unnamed contractor, who would carry out the work.

Aviation Industry

• Trustee objects to pay plans in American Airlines-US Airways mergerA trustee for the Justice Department involved in the bankruptcy of AMR Corp. , the parent of American Airlines , has filed an objection to the $20 million severance package proposed for CEO Tom Horton and wage increases for other employees as part of the airline's merger with US Airways Group Inc.
• Ryanair's Boeing Order 'To Create 3,000 Jobs'The Dublin-based airline said its purchase of the 737-800 planes would create more than 3,000 new jobs across Europe.
• Airline CEOs defend merger before Senate panelThe CEOs of American Airlines and US Airways reassured a Senate panel Tuesday that their merger would not lead to fewer flights or lost jobs in the lawmakers' states.
• Ad of the Day: Southwest AirlinesTBWAChiatDay's first brand image ad for Southwest Airlines since winning the assignment way back in July 2012 feels big, yet also down to earth.

Other News Sources

• Woking canopy cobbles 'not fit to be a highway' THE cobbled paving outside Woking railway station that was installed as part of the canopy project is still not up to standard, according to Surrey County Council.
• Offices impact on Guildford railway station plans PLANS for five-storey offices in Guildford could conflict with proposals for a railway station revamp.

Other Subscription Services

• Pont Briwet viaduct replacement ready to start Main construction works to replace the wooden Pont Briwet viaduct near Porthmadog in north Wales is set to begin in May.The current 22 span structure carries the single track Cambrian coast railway...
• Derby A6 bridge replacement to begin in May Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin has given the green light to the £7m project to replace the A6 London Road bridge over the Derby to Birmingham railway.Final Approval has been granted for the...
• Heysham-M6 link consent gives Costain green light Construction of the £123m Heysham to M6 link road has been cleared to proceed with transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin granting planning consent for the project this morning (19 March).The road...