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

Friday, 07 June 2013

BBC News

• Cameras cut injuries 'by a quarter'Speed cameras cut the number of serious injuries in road accidents in the areas where they are placed by an average of more than a quarter, a study suggests.
• East Coast privatisation 'baffling'Reprivatising the East Coast Main Line (ECML) has been called "absurd" and "baffling" by Middlesbrough's MP.

Financial Times

• Airbus has Boeing in sights with A350 jetAirbus chief executive Fabrice Brégier believes the A350 will help the company catch up with Boeing in the wide-body twin engine market
• Virgin sues Network Rail over punctualityOperator estimates up to £15m in revenue lost in April and May over delays while Network Rail faces record fines over performance

The Herald

• Subway due to be fixed by tomorrow Glasgow's troubled Subway network is expected to be fully operational by tomorrow.
• Privacy implications of Scotland's bus passes DR John Welford describes the similarities between concessionary bus passes and ID cards ("Open letter to readers: The Scottish identity card scandal, The Herald, June 6).
• Scots put brakes on downturn to become UK's top new car buyersSCOTS are defying the economic downturn and spending their money on new cars in greater numbers than elsewhere in the UK.

The Independent

• Plans for third Heathrow runway 'threaten existence of a Surrey village' Heathrow bosses are reportedly planning a new runway that threatens the existence of a Surrey village.    
• Heathrow heads south-west with new plan for third runway Heathrow is planning a new runway south-west of the airport, it can be disclosed.Related StoriesA Watford welcome for the Bilderberg group - the world’s most powerful clubPrince Philip admitted to hospitalPrince Philip admitted to hospital for 'exploratory operation'Vibrant slice of life or annual invasion? The Appleby horse fair rides againPrince Philip admitted to hospital for 'exploratory operation' on abdomen    

The Telegraph

• Heathrow looks to build third runway to south-west Heathrow Airport is said to be changing its plans for a third runway and considering building a new one to the south-west of its site, rather than to the north.
• Catching public transport does not give you fluPublic transport may not be the hotbed of infection it is feared to be.    
• Struggling plane floated to the ground using its own parachuteAs the engines begin to splutter a pilot's first thought is normally to eject from the doomed aircraft, but a 76-year-old flicked the switch to ensure that his whole plane floated safely to the ground.    

Reuters News

• Heathrow to submit new runway plan to airport commission - reportLONDON (Reuters) - London's Heathrow airport will submit proposals for a new runway south-west of the hub to a UK commission studying airport expansion, according to the Evening Standard newspaper.

Mail Online

• High fares, old trains, the big railway rip-off: Damning study says privatisation has 'failed to deliver' for passengersThey endure the highest fares in Europe while being squeezed into old and overcrowded carriages. Meanwhile train company profits soar thanks to huge taxpayer subsidies.
• Manchester Airport plans to charge FIFTY POUNDS just to help guide passengers to the right gateAirline passengers are being offered meet and greet ‘minders’ to fast-track them from the pavement of the Manchester Airport terminal building to the boarding gate of the plane.

ATOC

• Quicker and easier to find cheaper fares thanks to National Rail Enquiries People will now find it even easier and quicker to find the cheapest train fare for their journey, thanks to National Rail Enquiries (NRE). In response to customer feedback,...

Network Rail

• Rescuing trains gets easierAdaptions have been made to Network Rail’s fleet of Class 57s in the south to allow them to rescue failed electric multiple units.
• Chester station footbridge is re-opened after refurbishmentA refurbished historic footbridge at Chester railway station is to be officially re-opened by Network Rail on Thursday, 6 June 2013.

Journal Live

• North East MP urges ministers to scrap East Coast Main Line plansTHE East Coast Main Line should stay in public hands, ministers have been told.

London Evening Standard

• New Heathrow runway plan is revealed Heathrow is planning a new runway south-west of the airport, the Standard reveals today.

Sheffield Star

• VIDEO: Dreamliner draws the crowds in DoncasterAviation fans gathered to watch the arrival in Doncaster of the spectacular Dreamliner.

The York Press

• Campaign launched to save York's National Railway Museum from closure THE PRESS today launches a campaign to safeguard the future of one of York’s biggest and most-treasured attractions.

Wales Online

• Rail privatisation has 'failed to deliver' for UK train passengersNew report suggests range of train tickets are around twice the price of similar tickets in France, Germany, Italy and Spain

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Stourbridge Junction railway station will get extra parking bays An extra 175 parking spaces will be created at Stourbridge Junction railway station as part of a £1.3 million project to expand the park and ride service.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Gallery: Duke of York officially opens new rail terminal at Port of FelixstoweThe Duke of York has today given the royal seal of approval to the Port of Felixstowe’s new £40 million rail terminal.

Other Regional Press

• Councils join bus operators for public transport funds Body representing the four councils in the Greater Bristol region will be aiming to secure ’Better by Bus’ funds to develop eight routes in Bristol and Bath
• Shoppers angered at decision to cut bus service timesCUSTOMERS of a supermarket have expressed their anger at changes to the bus service which stops outside the store.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Why buses must be protected in June's Spending Round5 June 2013: Over the past few weeks we have been stepping up our work to save our buses from any further cuts in the spending review on 26 June. read more

Global Rail News

• DB apologises to victim’s families on anniversary of Eschede rail disasterDeutsche Bahn (DB) has said sorry to the families of the 101 passengers and seven employees who were killed in the Eschede rail disaster. On June 3, 1998, the a[...]
• Tram line works start in RotterdamWork constructing a new public transport hub on Rotterdam’s Marconiplein square has begun. As well as replacing tram lines around the square, Strukton Rail and Metro BV are delivering a[...]
• Rail schemes backed for £40m transport fundUpgrade projects for the West Anglia and Lea Valley lines are in for a share of a £40 million transport fund after receiving backing from the London Enterprise Panel (LEP).[...]

London TravelWatch

• Passenger watchdog urges Chancellor to ensure that sufficient funding is available for transport in LondonLondon TravelWatch has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osbourne to make the case for maintaining investment in London’s transport system ahead of the Government’s announcement on the 2015-16 spending round, pointing out that it is imperative that London’s transport infrastructure does not stand still and keeps pace with growing demand for public transport.

Railnews

• Network Rail may face tough stance over CP5 budget Network Rail has announced its full-year financial results, just a few days before the Office of Rail Regulation is due to publish its draft determination of Network Rail's budget for the next five years. There is speculation in the industry that the ORR will be taking a tough stance over Network Rail's proposal to spend £37.5 billion between 2014 and 2019. The company's borrowings also continued, and its net debt at the end of the year was £30.358 billion, compared with £27.282 billion in 2011-12.
• First franchise extension to cost DfT £15m a year It's been revealed that the first of the emergency franchise extensions to be confirmed after the collapse of the West Coast competition last year is set to cost taxpayers almost £15 million. National Express operator c2c had been paying premiums of more than £12 million a year, but now it will receive a subsidy instead. The RMT union has dubbed the agreement 'a scandal', but the DfT said a major rolling stock overhaul is the real cause.

Aviation Industry

• WestJet takes delivery of first Bombardier Q400 Canada’s WestJet has taken delivery of its first of 20 Bombardier Q400 NextGen turboprops, the two companies announced. read more
• Air New Zealand plans to up Virgin Australian stake Air New Zealand is further increasing its stake in Virgin Australia under an agreement to acquire a further 3% of the shares of the Australian carrier and take its interest to almost 23%. read more
• Airbus readies for A350 first flight, but coy on Paris flyby First flight of the Airbus A350 XWB is imminent, but company executives are playing down expectations that the aircraft will make a flyby during the Paris Air Show. read more
• British Airways suffers fall in premium salesAirline says changes in holiday dates led to drop in premium passenger traffic
• Airlines double ancillary revenue in three yearsLegacy carriers now cashing in on trend for unbundled services
• Easyjet reaches passenger milestoneAirline has carried more than 60 million people in a year for the first time
• Virgin Atlantic to end flights to AccraUK carrier blames high price of fuel for axing Ghana service

Other News Sources

• Winchester bus staff raise £1,000 through charity bike ride WINCHESTER bus staff have raised more than £1,000 for charity after a sponsored cycle last weekend.
• Network Rail makes record £5bn investment in 2012Network Rail saw record investment in 2012 after spending £5bn in renewing and expanding the UK’s railway system.
• Transport secretary: 'No blank cheque' for Crossrail 2Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin has insisted there will be “no blank cheque” for London transport infrastructure as mayor Boris Johnson faces a fight to secure backing for Crossrail 2.