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

Wednesday, 22 May 2013

BBC News

• Is Crossrail 2 a bridge too far for regions? The chancellor George Osborne has said he is not yet prepared to support a second Crossrail for London, apparently dashing Boris Johnson's hopes of getting the project off the ground during his mayoralty.
• Residents against Heathrow expansionResidents in three London boroughs overwhelmingly say they are against Heathrow Airport expanding, according to council surveys.

ITV News

• Hounslow residents say no to Heathrow expansion 3 in 4 residents of Hounslow are against the expansion of Heathrow according to a new consultation.

Financial Times

• FirstGroup chairman knew time was overHe clearly wanted to stay at the company and had resisted pressure to go on previous occasions, but in the end he admitted it was time to go
• Embraer in $8bn SkyWest aircraft supply dealDeal provides a timely boost to Embraer’s commercial aircraft unit, which has struggled amid weak global demand and accounts for only half of the Brazilian group’s revenue
• FirstGroup downgrade threat to rail biddingRail operator faces possible exclusion from future bids should it lose its investment grade credit rating, under changes to franchising rules being considered

The Herald

• Drivers support minimum lessons for learners Most motorists think learners should have at least 35 hours of supervision before taking their driving test, according to a survey.
• Virgin Atlantic puts 14,000 extra seats on Florida routeVIRGIN Atlantic is adding more than 14,000 seats to its summer flights from Glasgow to Florida to meet demand from Scottish holidaymakers.
• New Calmac ferry route launchesThe first sailing of the new CalMac service is scheduled to depart from Ardrossan at 6.40pm tomorrow and arrive in Campbeltown at 9.20pm.

The Scotsman

• John Swinney will love Edinburgh trams - father THE father of finance secretary John Swinney has predicted his tram-sceptic son will be won over once the Edinburgh line opens next year.

The Telegraph

• HS2: high speed rail could lead to train cuts elsewhere, ministers warnedTowns and cities could lose half their train services to London unless Government overhauls high speed rail plans, ministers have been warned.    

Daily Record

• Divers prepare to inspect cruise ship that ran aground in Oban harbourCoastguard say nobody injured in incident as vessel is refloated and taken safely into port.

Mail Online

• Air travel 'poses no risk to pregnant women and unborn babies' as long as they fly before the 37th weekThe most serious risk for women at 35,000ft is premature labour, say experts from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Journal Live

• Northern Rail ticket inspectors row sees staff vote for a strikeCOMMUTERS are set to face disruption after rail staff voted for strike action in a dispute over ticket inspectors.

London Evening Standard

• EXCLUSIVE: 100,000 Heathrow neighbours say 'no' to third runway or increase in flights Londoners living closest to Heathrow have voted overwhelmingly against expansion of the airport in the largest poll of its kind.
• Londoners have longest commuting times in UK Londoners endure the longest commuting times of anywhere in the UK and also spend more time working while travelling, according to research published today.

Manchester Evening News

• Blues fans offered special ‘season ticket’ by tram bosses – and Mancini's not speaking any more Metrolink is introducing the match day deal for all Blues season ticket holders travelling to the ground – and they're taking the voice of Mancini off the announcements

The York Press

• Campaigners accuse council of sounding "death knell" for rail route CAMPAIGNERS who want to reopen a rail line between York and Beverley have criticised council bosses for dealing a “devastating” blow to their hopes.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Row over access to new Leeds railway station entranceCampaigners claim a new £15m south entrance to Leeds Railway Station could be discriminatory to people with disabilities.
• Wakefield Council look at high-speed rail plans impactSenior councillors in Wakefield will today examine the potential impact of the controversial HS2 rail link on the district.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Essex: Call to scrap tolls at Dartford Crossing to reduce congestionEssex’s highways boss has called on the Department of Transport to stop charging drivers to use existing Dartford crossings if it is serious about cutting traffic congestion in the area.
• Suffolk/Essex: Proposal for third Thames crossing welcomed to ease pressure on DartfordA Suffolk MP has welcomed news that the Government has opened consultation on a proposed third road crossing on the Lower Thames.

Other Regional Press

• Perth railway station to have wi-fi by end of year The announcement that Perth railway station will be one of the first to benefit from free wi-fi was welcomed by John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North.
• Westcountry makes 'strong case' for transport cash, says minister Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin says the region is right to demand improvements – but progress is being made.
• Richmond says no to Heathrow airport expansion in council referendum Almost 60,000 people voted in Richmond Council’s Heathrow referendum and the majority were opposed to expansion, it was announced today.
• Hounslow residents ’want better, not bigger Heathrow’ Almost three quarters of residents in Hounslow are against expanding Heathrow Airport.
• Four-runway Heathrow to the west 'most viable' option, says deputy council leader A LARGER Heathrow with four runways further to the west is the 'most viable' option on the table for airport expansion, Hounslow's deputy council leader said today.
• Three quarters oppose third runway at HeathrowNEARLY three quarters of people in Hounslow are opposed to a third runway at Heathrow, new figures suggest.
• M62 hard shoulder running starts today ... as new study says more congestion and gridlock on the way for West Yorkshire driversTHE first stretch of the managed motorway project on the M62 has opened, with drivers able to use the hard shoulder.
• Train strike plansTRAIN passengers are facing disruption over the Bank Holiday after rail staff have voted for strike action.
• Power cut causes travel chaos at Aberdeen International AirportA POWER cut sparked chaos for commuters at Aberdeen International Airport.
• £1.1 million resurfacing work to start on A90 Aberdeen to Dundee roadA NEW £1.1 million investment by Transport Scotland will see a major stretch of the A90 Aberdeen to Dundee road resurfaced.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• FORTH PORTS INVESTS £20M IN NEW STRADDLE CARRIERS Forth Ports has invested £20 million into 14 brand new straddle carriers, which will be used at its Port of Tilbury site.
• GREEK-REGISTERED AIR CARGO FIRM SET TO LAUNCH A new Greek-registered air cargo company is set to be launched in Europe.
• MAG: AIRPORTS MUST MAKE THE BEST OF WHAT THEY HAVE GOT Senior figures at the Manchester Airports Group (MAG) believe that with new runway capacity unlikely to be created in the UK within the next ten to 15 years, airports must make the most of what they have got.

Global Rail News

• Evolution of signalling controlNetwork Rail is currently developing the fourteen Rail Operating Centres (ROCs) which will eventually control the entire national network. Meanwhile, the Hertford National Integration Facility (HNIF) project is under way to further develop the European Train Control System (ETCS) already piloted on the Cambrian lines at Machynlleth. Writes David Bickell This article is a look [...]
• Sydney counts down to last monorail runIn just over a month’s time, Sydney’s monorail will make its final run, giving a handful of passengers one last loop around Australia’s largest city from its elevated line. Once[...]
• Europe should adopt German model Deutsche BahnGermany’s rail industry model “should be an example” to other countries in the EU looking to boost competition, DB chief executive Rüdiger Grube has said.
• Sochi rail link powers upThe first of two traction substations that will power Olympic train services in Sochi next year has gone live. Russian Railways has described the milestone as “one of the most[...]

The Business Desk

• Birmingham Airport named best for air-rail connectivity BIRMINGHAM Airport has been named ’Airport of the Year’ at the Global AirRail Awards 2013. The award was picked up at a ceremony in Frankfurt as Birmingham fought off competition from the host city.

Aviation Industry

• Responding to the Airports Commission on connectivity and to the Government on night noiseDiscussions on a possible global measure to tackle aviation emissions continue and Tim has spent most of Aprilparticipating in a series of international teleconferences. Our UK work, meanwhile, has focussed on engagement with the Airports Commission as well as finalising our response to the Government’s consultation on night flights. The Airports Commission has published another [...]
• Latest Airports Commission paper questions hub modelThe latest ‘issues’ paper from the Airports Commission considers ‘airport operating models’ and whether the UK would in future be best served by a single large airport acting as the focal point for all long-haul connectivity and domestic links to regional airports; by a dispersed system of airports competing with each other on long-haul connectivity [...]
• Gatwick Express ‘veers towards Third World conditions’New airport chairman says train service must be improved
• Swiss airline to open base at CambridgeDarwin Airline will offer four European routes from September

Other News Sources

• Referendum results: overwhelming opposition to Heathrow expansion in West LondonOver 70% of people in Richmond, Hillingdon and Hounslow have voted against expansion at Heathrow in polls conducted by the three London boroughs.