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

Friday, 21 June 2013

BBC News

• Emergency landing at Glasgow AirportAn Icelandair plane makes an emergency landing at Glasgow Airport after a passenger suffers a suspected heart attack during the flight.
• Aircraft displays benefits without leaving airfieldPowering taxiing planes with electricity to save fuel
• Transport projects will cost £7.5bnScotland's five largest transport projects will cost the taxpayer £7.5bn over the next three decades, the public spending watchdog reveals.
• Railway staff launch 24-hour strikeNorthern Ireland railway staff launch 24-hour strike on Monday
• Tube strike fear over ticket officeA transport union says it will take any action necessary - including strike action - to prevent the closure of a Tube ticket office.
• Saab-owner wants GM back in courtThe owner of Saab, Dutch firm Spyker, plans new court action against General Motors, which it claims lost it $3bn by forcing the Swedish carmaker into bankruptcy.

Financial Times

• Airbus wins dogfight for aircraft ordersEuropean group edges ahead of US rival at Paris air show, with deals valued at $68.7bn to sell 466 passenger jets to airlines and leasing companies
• Go-Ahead eyes growth from busesUK bus and rail operator expects proportion of rail profits to fall from a third to a fifth by end of next year, despite rising numbers of passengers

The Scotsman

• Public in dark over cost of big transport projects THE Scottish Government has kept the public in the dark about the multi-billion pound costs of the country’s biggest transport projects in the coming decades, a public spending watchdog has found.
• ‘Borders rail link must be given clear timetable’THE long-awaited Borders Rail link must get a “clear delivery timetable” after today’s Audit Scotland report called for the Scottish Government’s plans to be tightened up.
• Glasgow Subway to launch ’Bramble’ smartcards SMARTCARDS similar to the Oyster system used on London’s public transport are to be introduced to the Glasgow Subway.

The Telegraph

• Smart brake lights being tested to prevent crashesA hi-tech brake light which can be seen around corners is being tested by Ford.    
• Speeders face postcode lotteryMotorists prosecuted for speeding in some parts of the country are more than three times as likely to be taken to court and hit with steeper fines and penalties for speeding it has emerged.    

Daily Record

• Passenger ship that sunk in Loch Lomond was in 'poor condition' after series of failures, report reveals A REPORT carried out by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (Maib) found a series of failings in the condition of the boat and its operation.

Bristol Live

• The Bristol Post published Name change for Bristol Metro rail planArticle

Derby Telegraph

• Rail deal delays 'have cost £8 million'A DERBY MP claims delays to the Thameslink rail project have cost the UK taxpayer more than £8 million.

Journal Live

• Newcastle Airport bonus deal 'unfair' hears Court of Appeal judgeCONTRACTS which handed airport bosses a controversial multi-million pound pay package were “dramatically inconsistent with the principle of fair and responsible remuneration”, a judge has heard.

Liverpool Post

• Liverpool Cruise Terminal set for record numbers of ships in 2014A NEW six-star cruise ship, 70,000 tourists and a set of bookings already numbering more than 50 ship visits are the early highlights of Liverpool’s next cruise season.

London Evening Standard

• Eurotunnel passengers ripped off by 'excessive' £32 supplementPassengers travelling through the Channel Tunnel are being ripped off, the European Commission (EC) said today.
• Baggage handler mislays scanner and causes up to £1m damage to a jetA baggage handler at Heathrow caused up to £1m worth of damage to a British Airways aircraft after a luggage scanner was sucked inside the plane.

The York Press

• Save the NRM petition reaches 11,000 signatures THE Press petition to save the National Railway Museum has now gathered almost 11,000 signatures, with thousands more signing up every day.

Blackpool Gazette

• Prom lights switch off for traffic testTraffic lights at two key junctions are to be temporarily switched off in order to monitor potential measures to improve traffic flow on Blackpool Promenade.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Have your say on Whittlesey station revampResidents in Whittlesey have the chance to air their views on plans to revamp the town’s railway station.

The Shields Gazette

• Airport launches bid to claw back cashNEWCASTLE International Airport has launched a last-ditch bid to win back money lost when its former bosses walked away with multi-million pound bonuses.

Other Regional Press

• Aberdeen shortlisted for 11 Scottish transport awards Aberdeen City Council has been shortlisted for 11 Scottish Transport Awards, including the Scottish Transport Local Authority of the Year.
• Welcome for £90 million Gwent transport plans PRIORITY bus routes could help to slash Gwent commuter journeys under multi-million pound plans to join up transport links in south east Wales.
• "This train is now approaching...dissatisfaction" Huddersfield rail passengers more unhappy with train travel over last yearPASSENGERS are less happy with train travel, a major survey has revealed.
• Kirklees Council leader admits roads may have to be closed if potholes can't be filledCOUNCILS could be forced to shut roads – if they cannot keep up with pothole repairs.
• Rail firm First TransPennine Express pledges action on cramped carriagesRAIL operator First TransPennine Express (FTPE) said it was pleased to be rated “positively” in the Passenger Focus survey.
• ‘Taxi drivers bound by law to carry guide dogs’ABERDEEN council officials have been told taxi drivers are legally bound to take guide dogs in their cars.

The Economist

• Coming round the bend How Britain developed a truly competitive rail freight market. ONLY esoteric trainspotters pay much attention to freight locomotives. By comparison with passenger trains, they generate few furious letters to local newspapers. Freight is rarely cited in rows over the effects of rail privatisation in the 1990s. Yet rail freight is growing (see chart) and is an excellent argument for railway reform.

Bus and Coach.com

• Volvo sales teamVolvo has appointed two regional sales managers to its coach sales team.
• London stars in BBC seriesA six-part series on the work of Transport for London started on BBC2 this week.
• Arriva Southern Counties wi-fi successArriva Southern Counties has extended its provision of on-board wi-fi to include another route, the 12-minute frequency service 281 in Tunbridge Wells.
• Cambridge expands real-time informationMore real-time information displays will be provided by Cambridgeshire county council this year, with 71 additional on-street displays and 11 new screens in Cambridge bus station.
• Borismaster switchover at MetrolineThe conversion of the first London bus service to be operated entirely by Borismasters takes place on Saturday.
• Plaxton’s Panther Cub on the prowlPlaxton’s 10,8m Panther Cub, launched at this year’s British Coach Rally, is now available for viewing by operators as Plaxton announces the first order for the Volvo B9R-based coach, from Matthews Coaches of Inniskeen in Ireland.
• Environmental award for First YorkFirst York has been identified as the UK’s most environmentally-friendly bus operation under the ECO Stars Fleet Recognition scheme.
• Arriva revenue on the upRevenue and earnings were both up at Arriva in 2012.
• Leeds trolleybus plans moving forwardA Transport and Works Act Order submission for the £250million Leeds trolleybus service is expected to be lodged in September by Metro, the West Yorkshire PTE, and Leeds city council following a meeting next week of the council’s plans panel.
• Manchester smart ticketingGreater Manchester’s smart ticketing scheme, to be introduced on trams in 2014 and buses in 2015, will be called Get Me There.

Railnews

• Chunnel track access charges are 'stifling growth' Channel Tunnel charges are too high and are discouraging the growth of traffic, according to the European Commission, which says 43 per cent of capacity is unused. Eurotunnel maintains its charges are 'transparent and not excessive', but the British and French governments have been given two months to take action or else a court could make a ruling, with the possibility of daily fines. The new moves to enforce the rules covering Tunnel access and costs have been welcomed by the Rail Freight Group.

Aviation Industry

• Study finds air pollution and noise both increase risk of heart problemsA new study has shown that both air pollution and night noise can independently cause large increases in ‘subclinical atherosclerosis’. This is a condition that typically precedes heart problems. Subclinical atherosclerosis can be detected by tests, but would not be picked up in the normal course of events because it precedes clinical symptoms. Dr. Philip [...]
• Ryanair plans to grow even fasterNo-frills giant wants to reach 110 million passengers per year
• Odyssey Airlines orders aircraft for London City flightsNew York set to be one of the new destinations for start-up carrier
• Green light for Delta-Virgin Atlantic dealEuropean and US regulators approve Delta’s purchase of 49 per cent stake in UK airline
• Businesses urged to join air tax fightTravel industry wants business owners to pressure government over APD rates

Other News Sources

• CFM logs $15 billion in new orders at Paris Air ShowThe momentum for CFM Internationalsrsquo; advanced LEAP engine family continue s to build as the company logged orders and commitments at the 2013 Paris Air Show.nbsp; During the four trade...
• Stansted Airport: Transport Secretary launches £80 million terminal redevelopment The Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin today joined M.A.G chairman, Mike Davies OBE and Stansted Airport MD, Andrew Harrison to launch the start of an pound;80 million project to transform...
• Channel Tunnel accused over high access chargesEuropean Commission says passengers are paying "over the odds" for tickets