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

Tuesday, 02 April 2013

BBC News

• Airport suspect package 'harmless'A suspicious package in the cargo area at Glasgow Airport has been found to be harmless, the airport confirms.
• Chancellor 'to approve toll M4 plan'An M4 relief road around Newport could get the backing of the Treasury as a toll road, according to press reports.
• Campaigners seek fast rail linkA residents' association campaigns to restore a rail link axed in the 1960s to cut journey times into London.

Financial Times

• Norwegian airline counts on Asian touristsEurope’s third-biggest budget airline unconcerned about overcapacity as it triples its fleet of aircraft on strong growth in Asian leisure market
• Virginia governor mulls port privatisationThe Virginia privatisation process highlights the challenges of bringing private capital into US infrastructure, after the rejection of two bids
• Manufacturers urge more spending on roadsEEF manufacturers’ organisation says the poor state of UK’s congested road network will damage coalition hopes of doubling exports by 2020
• UK rail franchising overhaul underwhelmsInvestors remain far from convinced by the government’s strategy, highlighting just how badly the West Coast fiasco has damaged confidence

The Guardian

• Mike Brodie's freight train photographs: 'It's a romantic life, at least in the spring and summer' When Mike Brodie started riding the railroad illegally he took a camera along and captured a fascinating American teenage subculture. Now his images have been published to great acclaim – and he's become a car mechanic

The Independent

• The Week Ahead: Babcock takes on Heathrow baggage Did you take a trip over the Easter break? Next time you pass through Heathrow, Babcock International is going to be working very hard not to lose your luggage.
• Chancellor plans second toll motorway in major road spendBritain's second toll motorway is to be given the go-ahead by George Osborne later this year as part of a multi-billion pound road-building programme to stimulate the economy, The Independent has learnt.
• Phone payment system spells end of the line for train ticketsMillions of rail commuters will no longer need paper tickets to travel, under proposals being drawn up to use phones and credit cards to pay for and access every form of public transport.

The Scotsman

• Women in Saudi Arabia may ride bikesSAUDI Arabia’s religious police are to allow women to ride motorbikes and bicycles – but only in restricted, recreational areas.
• Suspicious package found at Glasgow AirportBomb disposal experts were called to Glasgow Airport after a suspect package was discovered.

The Telegraph

• UK needs more roads and runways not trains, say manufacturers Manufacturers want the Government to refocus infrastructure spending plans and give priority to road and airport expansion at the expense of rail as well as being more imaginative about financing schemes it is shown in a new survey.

Birmingham Post

• Princess Elizabeth steam train gets overhaul at Tyseley Locomotive Works It is a train which could be described as the Queen’s favourite – and it was named in her honour.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Work to repair potholes after freezing weather to cost North Wales millionsWORK to repair potholes on roads wrecked by the freezing weather will cost millions of pounds.

London Evening Standard

• Social network? We'd rather take the bus, say teens Forget Twitter and Facebook — the capital’s buses are the new social network for teenagers.

Sheffield Star

• Boost for crew of Doncaster-designed steam locoAN ICONIC Doncaster-designed steam engine will soon be accompanied by its own specialist support coach following an extensive overhaul and refit.

Wales Online

• New M4 relief road and tolls 'to get £830m go-ahead'The construction of a long-awaited M4 relief road along a stretch of motorway notorious for its bottlenecks is to get the go ahead, according to reports.

Yorkshire Post

• Quietly does it, rail manager’s talk at top forum Phil Verster, route managing director at Network Rail, is to address the fifth annual York Business Leaders’ Forum this month. His talk, entitled Network Rail – Quietly Getting On With It, will be given to 100 chairmen, managing directors and chief executives from York and North Yorkshire businesses at The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall on April 24.
• Doubt over value of regional airportsRobin Hood Airport faces an uphill battle to justify its existence, according to comments reportedly made by the chief executive of Birmingham’s international aviation hub.

Other Regional Press

• UKIP accused of 'misleading' public on high-speed rail line THE Transport Secretary has accused the UK Independence Party (UKIP) of ’misleading’ people over the controversial high-speed two (HS2) rail line.
• Rail plan could see more trains through Knutsford PLANS for a rail link that could see more trains passing through Knutsford were in the parliamentary spotlight after Fiona Bruce presented a petition in the House of Commons.
• Airport boss hits back over claims The boss at Norwich International airport has hit back at claims that Britain has too many airports and that some, including Norwich, faced an uphill battle to justify their existence.
• Norfolk’s A47 ’ideally placed’ for government cash, says transport minister A government minister has claimed Norfolk’s A47 is “ideally placed” to secure much-needed funding - despite sending a letter to a Norfolk MP which appeared to rule out a string of improvements on the road.
• M62 gantry digital signs switched onMOTORWAY digital signs have been switched on as part of a £150m scheme to tackle traffic congestion on the M62.

The Business Desk

• Bike maker Tandem looks to acquisitions for growthBIRMINGHAM-based bicycle manufacturer and leisure group Tandem is to continue on the acquisition trail after identifying a bolt-on as the only likely source of growth for the business.

Aviation Industry

• Air France-KLM extends bonds offering to €550 million Air France-KLM has hit the upper target of its convertible bonds private placement, putting it on track to raise €550 million ($714 million) for fleet and debt financing. read more
• Boeing conducts 787 test flight unrelated to battery issuesBoeing operated a 787 test flight Monday, though it was unrelated to the battery issue that has grounded the worldwide Dreamliner fleet. read more
• Supreme Court declines to hear airlines’ appeal of fare display rule The US Supreme Court denied a petition by low-cost carriers asking the court to reject a regulation requiring that taxes be displayed as part of the fare price in advertising. read more

Other News Sources

• Cheltenham needs a new railway station, resident says RAILWAY bosses should scrap plans to expand Cheltenham Spa station and build a new one in Tewkesbury Road.
• Rebuild plan for Sunningdale Railway Station A FACELIFT is in the offing for Sunningdale station if plans for the building to be demolished and rebuilt are approved.
• Sabre launches SNCF booking appAgents will be able to make reservations more easily through new tool