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

Saturday, 22 June 2013

BBC News

• Warning after sharp bus fare risesBus fares have risen in Wales more than other parts of the UK amid warnings it could lead to
• Trams 'will run at operating loss'Edinburgh's trams will run at an operating loss over the next 15 years, according to the first full financial projections.
• Reduced service plan for rail strikeTranslink is preparing to provide reduced train services in Northern Ireland on Monday during a planned strike by railway staff.
• Flybe reports deeper annual lossExeter-based carrier Flybe reports an annual loss of £40m after seeing passenger numbers fall and fuel costs rise.
• 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.
• New route for 'Boris bus'The first London bus route to use only the new County Antrim-built 'Boris buses' will be launched on Saturday.

Financial Times

• Flybe bullish despite surge in lossesSouthwest England-based carrier reports loss of almost £41m but chief says restructuring will deliver £40m in savings in the current financial year

The Scotsman

• Motorway jobs face axe as minister opens new offices THE firm which maintains some of Scotland’s busiest motorways will start redundancy interviews with staff as transport minister Keith Brown opens its new offices, The Scotsman has learned.
• The £7.5bn bill for transport hushed up by Holyrood A number of major transport projects vital to Edinburgh and the Lothians are among a raft of improvements that will cost taxpayers a total of £7.5 billion over the next three decades – yet the Scottish Government has not made the figure public.

The Telegraph

• Ministers abandon plans for 80mph motorway speed limitMinisters have abandoned plans to introduce a new 80mph speed limit on Britain's motorways amid fears the change would alienate women voters.    

The Mirror

• Thameslink deal: Mystery taxpayers' payment to US military firm at centre of Edward Snowden scandalIt is two years since German firm Siemens was named preferred bidder for the £1.6billion carriage-making contract
• Thameslink deal: Mystery taxpayers' payment to US military firm at centre of Edward Snowden scandalIt is two years since German firm Siemens was named preferred bidder for the £1.6billion carriage-making contract
• 80mph motorway speed limit pilot scheme 'not going to happen' Downing Street is understood to be wary of raising the speed limit for fear of alienating women voters

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Driver of M62 coach is praised for fire action A fire chief has praised a cool-headed coach driver who led 47 passengers to safety after his vehicle burst into flames on the M62.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Bus journeys fall as fares soar above inflation Decline will hit passengers in rural areas hardest

Edinburgh Evening News

• Lothian Buses fat cats hauled in by cityTHE huge salaries of Lothian Buses’ directors are set to be reined in as the city moves to tighten its grip on the council-owned firm.

London Evening Standard

• Labour begins campaign to keep rail line in public handsA national campaign to keep the East Coast Main Line in public hands was launched today.
• Red-letter day for the Boris bus as it masters a complete routeThe first route in London to operate entirely with the new Boris bus will begin tomorrow.
• National campaign to keep East Coast Main Line public gets underwayA national campaign to keep the East Coast Main Line in public hands was launched today despite one in 10 trains running late.

Manchester Evening News

• Bus chiefs left puzzled by missing passengers on park link service The Kingsway Link started in February offering early morning and late night journeys for shift workers at the business park, running from 5am to 11pm, seven days a week.

The York Press

• York MP in rail sell-off warning YORK MP Hugh Bayley has warned that a Government sell-off of the East Coast Main Line rail franchise would be a “disaster” for regional economies served by the route.
• Cyclists bare all for York's world naked bike ride Cyclists baring all took to the streets for the eighth York world naked bike ride.

Wales Online

• Bus travel in Wales at its lowest since launch of free passes for over-60s and the disabled A 6.9% fall in Welsh passenger journeys last year was more than twice the fall in either England or Scotland

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Speed blamed after plane careers off Birmingham Airport runwayA plane carrying 137 people careered off Birmingham Airport’s runway on to grass because it was travelling at twice the recommended speed, an investigation has revealed.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds parking charges ‘a mockery’ of taxpayera leading councillor has said pushing ahead with new car parking charges has “made a mockery” of consultation after a majority objected to the fees.

Yorkshire Post

• Yorkshire
gears up to build legacy 
for TourBORIS bikes, bike banks and major international cycling events are ideas set to feature in a 10-year plan for how Yorkshire will build on its hosting of the Tour de France next year.

Airportwatch

• Windsor Link Railway funding plans approved Plans to raise funds for a proposed private railway project in Windsor have been approved by Network Rail.

Global Rail News

• HS2 at the centre of West Midlands master planArup has put HS2 at the centre of a master plan designed to create a new economic hub in the West Midlands. UK Central (UKC) is a proposed major development[...]
• Italy and Switzerland sign agreement to improve rail linksTrain operators in Switzerland and Italy have signed an agreement designed to improve services between the two countries. SBB and Trenitalia inked a deal in Zurich last week which both[...]
• Second phase of Bergen tram network set to openPhase two of a light rail network in the Norwegian city of Bergen will open to passengers tomorrow. The second stage includes 3.6km of double track line and five new[...]
• CTA to carry out Blue Line upgrade feasability studyChicago’s public transport authority are to conduct a feasibility study into the modernisation of the city’s Blue Line. The study will focus on the line’s Forest Park Branch which celebrates[...]
• First UK tram-train service to open in 2016A contract to deliver tram-trains to South Yorkshire has been signed by Transport Minister Norman Baker. The new service, which is being run as part of a two-year trial of[...]

Railnews

• Thameslink rolling stock delay 'cost £8m' THE DELAY in completing the £1.6 billion Thameslink rolling stock contract with Siemens has cost taxpayers at least £8 million, according to a Parliamentary answer. This disclosed that one legal firm alone was paid more than £5 million. The RMT union said the costs were a 'national disgrace'.

Aviation Industry

• Airbus A350 flies over the Paris Air Show The Airbus A350 XWB first flight test aircraft, MSN1, took to the skies above the Paris Air Show Friday, exactly one week after the aircraft’s maiden flight. read more
• Iberia still in ‘critical’ situation – IAG bossSpanish airline needs to take further steps to ensure its survival
• Flybe losses rise by £34.5 millionStruggling UK division forces regional carrier deeper into the red
• UK and Malaysia agree ‘open skies’ dealRestrictions on flights between the two countries will be removed

Other News Sources

• Officials warn of delays to Thameslink upgrade Senior transport officials and rail executives last week warned MPs that the £5.5bn Thameslink upgrade may not be finished by its revised target of 2018.
• Call for return of Blackburn bus service COMMUNITIES are campaigning for bus services to be reintroduced amid fears older people and parents are being isolated.