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

Friday, 29 March 2013

BBC News

• Aviation writer Jim Ferguson diesThe Aberdeen-based aviation writer Jim Ferguson dies aged 74 after suffering a stroke.
• London Midland franchise extendedRail company London Midland has had its franchise extended by the government to June 2017, despite recently recording delays.
• Tube strike called off after talksFurther talks are due to take place in a bid to avert two 24 hour strikes by London Underground drivers on the Jubilee Line.
• VIDEO: PM welcomes launch of electric carPrime Minister David Cameron has attended the production launch of Nissan's new electric car at its plant in Sunderland.

The Guardian

• Beeching created the modern railway [Letters]Andrew Martin's piece marking the 50th anniversary of the Beeching report (Comment, 27 March) is emotive but not very good history. I was there, as a railwayman at the start of my career, and I know how necessary the surgery was – not just of branch lines, but of scarcely used coaches, decrepit sidings and ancient wagons (I accept mistakes were made)
• Beeching created the modern railway [Letters]Andrew Martin's piece marking the 50th anniversary of the Beeching report (Comment, 27 March) is emotive but not very good history. I was there, as a railwayman at the start of my career, and I know how necessary the surgery was – not just of branch lines, but of scarcely used coaches, decrepit sidings and ancient wagons (I accept mistakes were made)
• Solar-powered plane to make coast-to-coast US tour in scientific first Solar Impulse, which has a top speed of 50mph, will showcase technology that allows it to fly night and day without jet fuel
• UK's CO2 emissions up 4.5% in 2012• Huge jump in coal use in power stations prompts rise• Scotland renewables production hits record levelsThe UK's emissions of climate-warming gases surged in 2012 as cheap coal replaced gas in power stations, official data revealed on Thursday.However, 2012 was a record year for renewable energy in Scotland, which produced enough electricity to power all of its homes. Fergus Ewing, the Scottish energy minister, said his government was now on track to meet its target of generating the equivalent of 50% of Scotland's own electricity needs by 2015 and 100% by 2020.The UK's carbon dioxide emissio...

Network Rail

• Leicester railway signalling upgrade completedRail passengers in Leicester are travelling on a more efficient and reliable railway after Network Rail completed the second phase of work to replace systems used to control trains on the route.

Birmingham Post

• Birmingham Chamber happy to see Virgin retain West Coast Main Line contractBusiness leaders have welcomed the decision to award the West Coast Main Line contract to Virgin until 2017 – a full five years after Sir Richard Branson was set to lose it.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• MP Greg Mullholland calls for regeneration of rail lines on 50th anniversary of Beeching Communities will be regenerated by a new era of rail, according to the MP for Leeds North West.

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph published Residents urged to know their legal rights over HS2Article

Liverpool Echo

• New boss of Liverpool John Lennon airport wants to shake off budget airline reputationTHE new boss of Liverpool’s John Lennon airport wants to shake off its reputation as a base for budget airlines.

London Evening Standard

• Heathrow noise 'hinders pupils reading progress'Children living under the Heathrow flight path are suffering two-month lags in their reading development as a result of aircraft noise.

Sheffield Star

• Traffic lights landmark in Doncaster road widening schemeHIGHWAYS bosses are set to flick the switch on a milestone on one of Doncaster’s most high profile road schemes.

Sheffield Telegraph

• More than one in ten crashes involves buses in SheffieldBUS crashes made up 12 per cent of all road collisions in Sheffield over a 10-year period, new figures reveal.

Wales Online

• Cardiff Airport's former boss Jon Horne could return as chief executiveFormer managing director of Cardiff Airport, Jon Horne, is being linked to a possible return as its interim chief executive.

Blackpool Gazette

• Cheap fares scheme goes onJOB seekers have been given the green light to continue using buses and trams in Blackpool for half price.
• Rail line danger pair’s guilty pleaTWO men who caused “significant disruption” to the rail system by putting concrete drain covers on the line have both been detained by a court.

Peterborough Telegraph

• National honour for train operatorTrain operator East Coast has been named as a top employer for a second year following an assessment of its HR practices and employee offerings.

Other Regional Press

• Grimsby Telegraph published Museum on lookout for rail artefactsArticle
• Warning as villagers vote no to rail car park on Rogiet fields ROGIET residents were warned their decision to oppose a scheme at their nearest railway station could delay improvements there by up to four years.
• 25-year campaign for safe road crossing achieves success A COMMUNITY celebrated the opening of a new zebra crossing near Wallingford.
• Motor plant's ton-up procession of cars THE past, present and future of Oxford’s largest employer is being celebrated as the Cowley car factory turns 100.
• Luton’s inner ring road plans approvedImprovements to Luton town centre road networks will start this year, as final approval for the plans was given today (March 28).
• Slaithwaite Station bounced back after Beeching axeTODAY marks exactly 50 years since the controversial Beeching Report recommended closing 2,000 railway stations nationwide.
• 'I survived coast road horror crash' A PORTLAND woman who had a miracle escape has backed the coast road safety campaign.
• Still grit despite shock snowThere is still plenty of grit to treat Bedford Borough roads despite this week’s surprise icy spell.

Bus and Coach.com

• Allison strengthens Torotrak linkAllison Transmission is paying £6million to Torotrak for continued exclusivity to manufacture and sell Torotrak transmissions in the commercial vehicle market.
• Bus pass fraud on the riseThe National Fraud Initiative says that in 2010-11 its work led to 51,500 concessionary passes being cancelled in England, up from 21,500 in 2008-09.
• First gas bus goes on trial in WalesNewport Transport this week began an eight-week trial of a CNG-powered MAN.
• Further Leeds trolleybus consultationMetro, the West Yorkshire PTE, is holding a second round of consultation over the next six weeks on its Leeds trolleybus proposals, promoted as New Generation Transport.
• Industry gets behind the UK Coach RallyThe organisers of next month’s UK Coach Rally and Awards say that sponsorship contributions in cash and in kind have been received from 27 organisations from around the country and across the coaching and coach tourism industry.
• Nottingham orders Alexander ScaniasNottingham City Transport has placed a repeat order with Scania for 40 double-deck chassis, but has for the first time ordered Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodywork.
• Fares cuts and investment for ManchesterFirst Manchester is cutting some fares and investing £10million in fleet improvements.

Global Rail News

• Forest Trans-PennineUnderscoring the rail industry’s commitment to a green and clean future, First TransPennine Express has teamed up with the Forestry Commission to donate tens of thousands of pounds to woodland and conservation projects in northern England and Scotland. Donating a total sum of £23,000, the money goes to community groups, charities, schools and individuals who [...]
• Conductor praisedA conductor on Northern Ireland Railways has been praised for her prompt action after the train she was in charge of hit a car on the track. Stacey Loughlin dealt with the situation with professionalism and courage. Says John Fowle, a passenger on the train, ‘When the Belfast/Londonderry train was hit by a car, Stacey [...]

Aviation Industry

• Judge approves American-US Airways mergerDeal to create world’s biggest airline clears important hurdle

Other News Sources

• Free Wi-Fi from 1st April - that’s no April Fool As part of the drive to transform the passenger experience at Stansted Airport new owners, Manchester Airports Group (M.A.G) will introduce a new free Wi-Fi service for passengers throughout the terminal from 1 April - free for 60 minutes - and that’s no April Fool!
• County council must 'lobby hard' over Crossrail 2 SURREY County Council needs to push for more involvement in Crossrail 2 to make sure passengers reap the benefits of the scheme.
• Global States, Aviation Groups Recommend Increased Liberalization and Cooperation at Landmark Air Transport Event World States and aviation industry groups wound up high-level talks at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) last week, agreeing to key economic regulatory objectives that will...

Other Subscription Services

• Green light for York, Luton and Beverley projects Final Approval for funding totalling more than £45m has been announced by the government for three transport projects.A £21.6m package of improvements for Beverley town centre will go ahead with...