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

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

BBC News

• Free wi-fi for 25 Scottish railway stations Free wi-fi access is to be introduced at 25 of Scotland's busiest railway stations before the end of the year.
• Rolls-Royce to back supercar projectAero-engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce is to sponsor the British Bloodhound project to drive a car beyond 1,000mph.
• New green bus fleet arrives in cityA fleet of "cleaner, greener" buses are being introduced in Dundee as part of efforts to cut fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
• Show visitors urged to use busVisitors to this year's Balmoral Show which is being held for the first time at its new home in the Maze, outside Lisburn, are urged to use a free shuttle bus.
• Main airports see passenger riseScotland's three main airports saw more passengers last month than at the same time a year ago, new figures show.
• Airline in Gatwick slots sale talksAirline Flybe is in talks about selling its landing and takeoff slots slots at London's Gatwick Airport.
• Pilotless flight success over UKA BAE Systems aircraft flies without a pilot in UK airspace shared with passenger flights for the first time.

Financial Times

• A better plan for London's airportsWhen Lord Winster opened Heathrow airport to non-military traffic in 1946, the then minister of civil aviation praised it for hosting the “finest runway in the world”.
• Downing St plans M-way fuel price signsAim is to help drivers avoid high costs as Conservatives compete with Labour, which has sought to highlight the pressure on Britain’s squeezed middle

The Independent

• Motorway service stations to be shamed into cutting fuel prices Motorway service stations could soon be shamed into lowering their petrol prices after criticism that they are fleecing drivers by charging 10p a litre more than other garages.

The Telegraph

• Death makes getting HS2 compensation easierDeath is the easiest way for owners of properties blighted by the Government's high speed rail network to get compensation.    

The Mirror

• Prince Harry and David Cameron to travel on London bus through New York to promote UKThe Prince and the PM will travel on a London double decker red bus through the streets of the city to promote the Britain is Great campaign
• Petrol prices: Motorway service stations to be forced into displaying prices on the roadsideMinisters said a similar system in France led to costs falling as drivers boycotted petrol stations charging too much

Network Rail

• Have your say on proposed new footbridge in WarehamResidents are being invited to discuss proposals for a new footbridge which will replace a level crossing in Wareham.
• Photography exhibitions to turn stations into art galleriesFive of the country’s biggest and busiest railway stations will become art galleries this summer, hosting a special exhibition showcasing stunning images from the Take-a-view Landscape Photographer of the Year competition. Visitors will also have the opportunity to get expert advice from celebrated landscape photographer and founder of the competition, Charlie Waite. Manchester Piccadilly will launch the tour on Saturday 8 June.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• M62 hard shoulder traffic test The Highways Agency is continuing to test the new managed motorway system on the M62 in West Yorkshire.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Cyclists hail traffic-free route to MidlothianCYCLISTS will be able to ride under the busy Edinburgh Bypass from next year on a new £500,000 route linking Edinburgh to Midlothian as part of ambitious plans to make the city bike-friendly.

London Evening Standard

• News in brief: Bigger jets give Heathrow a lift,Heathrow’s passenger numbers dipped 0.7% to 5.8 million in April, but the airport blamed the decline on the earlier timing of Easter this year.

Manchester Evening News

• Metrolink passengers told they can get the tram to East Didsbury – three months ahead of schedule Services will start next Thursday (May 23) after tests on the line proved successful.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post commented Bus firm's £3k ensures football club charity bike ride's...A BUS company has donated more than £3,000 to a football club to help its 50th anniversary celebrations.Nottingham City Transport gave the money to Clifton All Whites to cover the costs of a charity cycle ride from Paris to Nottingham to boost the club's floodlight appeal.The All Whites have historically been one of the most successful clubs in the country, nurturing stars such as Andy Cole, Darren Huckerby, Jermaine Jenas and Viv Anderson.The £3,375 donated by NCT covered the...

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Residents offered £6m to buy petrol stationsHIGHLAND communities struggling with the soaring price of fuel are being offered a slice of £6million funding to take over their local petrol stations.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Fewer trams will stop at main Wolverhampton station in plan Fewer trams will visit Wolverhampton’s main station and instead be sent to two new stops as part of a £15 million extension of the metro network, it has emerged.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Weird and wonderful bikes to visit LeedsWith Yorkshire braced to saddle up for next year’s Tour de France Grand Départ, the region’s artists are already in the frame for the celebrations.

Yorkshire Post

• Welcome for regional airport ‘tax holiday’ schemeAIRPORT bosses in Yorkshire yesterday said they were pleased MPs had recognised the need to reduce or remove passenger taxes on services operated from regional aviation hubs.

Bucks Free Press

• Consultation begins over school transport provision PARENTS and carers are being offered a chance to have their say on school transport provision in a consultation set up by Bucks County Council.

Burnley Express

• Leeds and Liverpool Canal gets £2m. arts fundingBurnley’s stretch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal is set to be the centrepiece of a creative corridor for the arts.

Other Regional Press

• Rochester Airport’s vision for future unveiled in two-day public exhibitionNeighbours and businesses are urged to have their say on the development of Rochester airport... as a major exhibition opens its doors.
• Ticket barriers go in at Huddersfield railway stationTICKET barriers are expected to be brought into use at Huddersfield railway station within weeks.
• £5 million road to end traffic chaos at Aberdeen airportA CONGESTION-BUSTING route around Aberdeen International Airport will be open within two years.
• Plan to replace rail crossing Residents are being invited to discuss proposals for a new footbridge which will replace a level crossing in Wareham.

Bus and Coach.com

• ALBUM brings together independentsThis week’s ALBUM conference promises to be the biggest one to date with 250 delegates from across the independent bus sector.
• Bus Eireann strike under wayMost regular services operated by Bus Eireann have been halted by a strike by members of the National Bus and Rail Union.
• Fire hits Western GreyhoundA major fire at the Summercourt depot of Western Greyhound has destroyed or severely damaged 37 buses – around one-third of the fleet.
• Buzzlines loses VOSA costs appealA decision by Margate magistrates to award VOSA a substantial contribution towards its £59,500 investigation and prosecution costs in a case involving Buzzlines Travel of Hythe and director Nigel Busbridge has been upheld by the Administrative Court in a Judicial Review.

Global Rail News

• Ministers rethink HS2 tunnel in the East MidlandsThe UK government has reviewed the proposed route of its HS2 high-speed rail network to allow a development, which is estimated to create 7,000 jobs in the East Midlands, to[...]
• Minneapolis light rail line given green lightLight rail has been confirmed as the preferred option for Minneapolis’ Bottineau Transitway. Estimated at $1 billion, the 13-mile line will provide an important link between Minneapolis and the city[...]
• New York subway extension project recognisedMTA’s $2.1 billion 7 Line Extension Project has been named as the 2013 winner of the prestigious Construction Project of the Year award. The New York State Society of Professional[...]
• European loan supports train building in BelarusRolling stock manufacturing in Belarus has been given a 14.5 million euro boost after the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) agreed a loan to support the production of[...]
• First Amtrak Cities Sprinters unveiledThe first Amtrak Cities Sprinter locomotives have left Siemens’ Sacramento site ahead of its welcome to the network later this year. Following a period of testing over the summer, the[...]
• Looking backwards and forwards: One hundred years of the IRSEThe Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE) celebrated its centenary in 2012. Although a body to represent this specialist branch of rail engineering had been in existence since 1891, formal recognition only arrived with the formation of the IRSE and its first meeting on 25 February 1913 at the Grand Hotel in Birmingham. By that [...]

Aviation Industry

• Flybe admits talks over Gatwick slotsRegional carrier in discussions with “a number of parties” about selling slots
• British Airways to pursue more codeshare deals to AustraliaBA wants to take advantage of the end of its joint business with Qantas

Other News Sources

• Free wifi service to arrive in 25 train stations over coming year Transport Scotland and ScotRail will unveil new plans for free wifi on trains across much more of Scotland's rail network on Tuesday.