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

Thursday, 28 March 2013

BBC News

• Battle to reopen snow-hit railwayWorkers are battling to reopen Snowdon Mountain Railway after it was hit by 30 ft (9.1m) snow drifts.
• VIDEO: Network Rail worker held for cable theftPolice have arrested 15 people, including a Network Rail employee, who they suspect were responsible for £2 million worth of damage and cable theft from railway lines up and down the UK.
• VIDEO: Inside the King's Cross signal boxRichard Westcott is given a tour of the signal box at King's Cross, one of the busiest railway stations in Britain.
• Government buys airport for £52mTroubled Cardiff Airport is bought by the Welsh government for £52m, with the first minister saying he expects to see a return on the investment.
• Pothole fixers suspended over safetyThree Cork council workers are suspended from their jobs after fixing a pothole that they happened upon on the road.
• Tube drivers vote to go on strikeTube drivers on the Jubilee Line are planning two 24-hour strikes in a row over working conditions and claims of bullying.
• Rail drill from site above tunnelSections of a construction drill which broke through a rail tunnel came from a site metres above the ground, accident investigators say.

Financial Times

• Iberia chief executive resigns amid unrestChief executive of Spain’s flag carrier departs following months of strike action as the airline’s parent company strives to restructure
• Nigeria hopes for railways’ resurrectionResumption of service on Lagos-Kano line is first achievement of a multibillion dollar effort to revive railways in Africa’s second-biggest economy

The Herald

• Cyclists call for 20mph zonesCAMPAIGNERS are calling on councils and governments to expand 20mph zones to make roads safer for cyclists.

The Scotsman

• Vince Cable in Aberdeen to unveil UK oil strategyBUSINESS Secretary Vince Cable is to announce an oil and gas strategy for the UK in Aberdeen later today.

The Telegraph

• French port strike threatens Easter getawayThe Easter getaway of more than 50,000 holidaymakers is under threat because of a strike by French port control officers.

Mail Online

• Cross-Channel ferry passengers face Easter travel chaos as French port control officers plan 24-hour strike over payThe action, starting at 7am UK time tomorrow is likely to lead to long delays to sailings to most French ports tomorrow and on Good Friday, P&O Ferries warned.
• Axeman? No, Dr Beeching saved our railways: He is synonymous with cutbacks but it is time to salute a visionary who defied the unions to drag the UK out of the steam ageKeith McDowall, the Mail's former Industrial Editor, who knew Richard Beeching well, writes that the rail boss' 'courageous' cost-cutting was a success in the long-term.

Network Rail

• New approach to rail planning seeks to boost economic growthThe first step towards a new map for the future of Britain's railway has been taken today with the launch of the Long Distance Market Study.
• Footbridge to transform pedestrian flows in Lincoln approvedPedestrians on Brayford Wharf East in Lincoln will no longer be disrupted by train services after city planners approved designs for a new footbridge. Network Rail is installing the bridge to reduce the risk of misuse at the level crossing.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Hopes for quiter flights from Leeds Bradford to Pakistan are delayed again The introduction of quieter planes at Leeds Bradford Airport by Pakistan International Airlines has been postponed.

Bristol Live

• The Bristol Post published Marking scheme to tackle bike theftArticle

Journal Live

• East Coast Main Line rail franchise privatisation plans announcedMINISTERS have ignored warnings and announced plans to privatise the East Coast Main Line within two years.

London Evening Standard

• Easter break travellers face no Jubilee line on their return due to planned strikesHundreds of thousands of Tube commuters face not having a Jubilee line service when they return from the Easter holiday.

Manchester Evening News

• EasyJet launches Manchester to Moscow flights Budget carrier easyJet today launched flights from Manchester and Moscow.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Minister in refusal to give guarantee on railway routeThe UK Government is under pressure to give “cast-iron” guarantees that vital rail services between Aberdeen and Edinburgh will be retained in the next East Coast mainline franchise.
• Airport base for rescue serviceInverness Airport is to become the new base for life-saving search-and-rescue helicopters, it was revealed yesterday.

The York Press

• MP hits out after East Coast rail-bidding competition starts YORK Central MP Hugh Bayley has hit out after the Government announced the start of a bidding competition for the East Coast mainline franchise.

Wales Online

• Transport group investigates new Cardiff to Penarth bus route across barrage Forget being stuck in traffic snarl-ups during rush hour – a proposed new bus route could offer some of the most spectacular views in South Wales.
• Cardiff news: Wales Coast Path features 'magic roundabout'Take a leisurely stroll along the South Wales coast and you’ll be treated to the beauty of the Severn Estuary, the spectacular Glamorgan Heritage Coast – and Splott’s “magic roundabout”.
• Welsh Government confirms purchase of Cardiff Airport for £52mThe Welsh Government has confirmed it has acquired Cardiff Airport for £52m.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Bid for £4m to ease Smethwick bottlenecksTransport schemes worth almost £4 million, which will see new traffic lights installed at congestion blackspots and improvements to bridges in Smethwick, are being drawn up by Sandwell Council.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• East Leeds: No relief over new £100m road that could take 24 years to buildIt will take developers 24 years to start on the East Leeds Orbital Road, a senior councillor has warned.

Bucks Free Press

• HS2 group looks for £100k to fund Judicial Review appeal CAMPAIGNERS against the HS2 project are looking to raise £100,000 to launch a legal appeal against the result of a Judicial Review into the scheme.

Crewe Chronicle

• UK & World News: Nissan to produce 100% electric carCar manufacturer Nissan is officially launching production of its 100% electric LEAF car.

Other Regional Press

• UK & World News: Rail campaigners mark Beeching Report's 50th anniversary (GALLERY and VIDEO)RAIL campaigners will mark the 50th anniversary of the Beeching Report today by holding protests at stations against current cost-cutting.
• Review ‘will not delay link road’A judicial review could be called over a decision to grant plans for a link road between Heysham and the M6.
• French industrial action to cause Easter ferry delaysHolidaymakers heading for the continent this Easter faces delays and queues as French port officers go out on strike.
• Bus company to operate special timetable over Easter period A BUS company will be operating a special timetable in Dorset over Easter. First buses will run to a Sunday timetable on both Good Friday and Easter Monday, April 1.

Campaign for Better Transport

• From Beeching to Boris – who are the heroes and villains of Britain’s railways?27 March 2012: Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Beeching report, which led to axing of much of the railway network. We've published our top three heroes and villains. Who are yours? read more

Global Rail News

• What to see at RailTex 2013In the run up to Railtex, Rail.co and the rail engineer will be looking at the must-see innovations on display at this year’s event Abloy UK Stand B51 Abloy UK, the security expert, is showcasing its Cliq Remote electro mechanical security platform and Protec2 locking solution, offering rail professionals greater key management and security, including [...]
• Ellie Simmonds in train naming honourSoutheastern has named one of its Javelin trains after four-time Paralympic gold medallist Ellie Simmonds. The Javelins – the UK’s first and only domestic high speed service – shuttled over 2.4 million spectators to and from the Olympic Park over the Games period. Ellie visited St Pancras International yesterday (March 26) to meet Southeastern managing [...]
• Frecciarossa begins dynamic testingThe first high-speed Frecciarossa 1000 train has left AnsaldoBreda’s Pistoia factory to begin testing. A launch ceremony has held at the rolling stock manufacturer’s site in Italy’s Tuscany region on March 26. Chief executive of AnsaldoBreda Maurizio Manfellotto said the unveiling of Italy’s newest high-speed train was “a source of pride for the company and [...]
• Paris Métro inaugurates suburban stationParis Métro’s Mairie de Montrouge station has been opened up to passengers along the French capital’s busy Line 4. Operator RATP expects 37,900 people to use the new station each day. Mairie de Montrouge was unveiled on March 23 and marks the next phase of the Line 4 extension programme which will see the route increased [...]
• Voith to develop trams for ChinaVoith has secured a 7 million euro contract to develop low-floor tram technology for China. The German firm will work alongside Xiangtan Electric Manufacturing Group to design China’s future light rail vehicles and oversee the project’s manufacturing planning. Chairman of Voith Engineering Services in Chemnitz, Dr Vilmar Vogel, said: “We are very happy about this [...]
• Long-distance rail study launchedNetwork Rail has begun a consultation into the future of long-distance rail services in the UK. The Long Distance Market Study will inform the development of long-distance rail travel over the next 10 to 30 years. Richard Eccles, Network Rail’s head of strategic planning, said: “The goals of our study are to identify where rail [...]

Railnews

• Protests mark Beeching anniversary Protests have been taking place around the country to mark the 50th anniversary of the Beeching 'reshaping' report, which was followed by widespread closures of lines and stations in a bid to bring railway finances under control.

Aviation Industry

• Qantas-Emirates deal gets green lightAustralian competition regulator clears new global partnership
• Iberia chief executive leaves airlineSanchez-Lozano departs Spanish carrier and will be replaced by Iberia Express boss
• IAG increases its offer for VuelingBA parent firm raises its price to acquire Spanish airline
• Welsh government buys Cardiff airport for £52 million Airport will be run at “arm’s length” from government and on a “commercial basis”

Other News Sources

• HRG wins Canadian government travel contractBusiness travel giant secures ‘prestigious’ seven-year deal
• Winning new clients boosts Airplus’ UK businessThe UK is one of the corporate card company’s fastest-growing markets