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

Wednesday, 03 July 2013

BBC News

• Norwich Park and Ride: cyclist discount may be scrapped A discount scheme for cyclists using park and ride buses could be scrapped because motorists are abusing it.
• The Transport for London empire grows More details are emerging of how and when Transport for London (TfL) is going to take over some of Greater Anglia services.
• A14 toll road would 'uniquely affect' Suffolk A toll proposed for the A14 would "uniquely affect" businesses and tourism in Suffolk, a council has claimed.
• TfL to run mainline rail servicesTransport for London is to take over the running of some mainline rail services and stations.
• Strong US car sales drive recoveryUS car manufacturers report their strongest monthly sales growth in June since the recession.

Financial Times

• National Express set to hit cash goalRevenue rose 7% in constant currency in the six months to June 30, helped by improving performances at its UK, US and Spanish businesses
• HS2’s rising costs are familiar problemEarlier infrastructure projects such as Eurotunnel and HS1 provide plenty of evidence of how easily budgets can soar and business plans slip
• ‘Expensive mistake’ fears hit HS2 hopesLord Mandelson has delivered a broadside against High Speed 2, urging Westminster to reconsider the new £50bn railway line
• HS2 route opponents galvanisedOpponents of HS2 have been galvanised by a 25% increase in its cost and a decision to revise the cost-benefit analysis used to justifies the project

The Guardian

• Lord Mandelson warns HS2 will be an 'expensive mistake'Former business secretary said all the parties should think about the rail project again as its estimated cost rises to £42.6bnLord Mandelson, the former business secretary, has warned that the High Speed 2 rail line could be an

The Herald

• Committee of MPs told of Crossrail 'blacklist'THE blacklisting of workers on Europe's largest construction project is

The Telegraph

• The cost of HS2 just ballooned, thanks to the bungling Transport DepartmentCivil servants relied on a 10-year-old survey and concluded that we don't work on trains, writes Cheryl Gillan MP.    
• Nigel Farage: I won't buy an Oyster card, I don't want them spying on meNigel Farage has disclosed he refuses to buy an Oyster card, fearing it could be used to spy on him.    

Network Rail

• Makeover for historic Hellifield stationPassengers using the 133 year-old Hellifield station in the Yorkshire Dales will soon be able to appreciate it in all its original glory as Network Rail prepares to give the station a makeover.

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph commented Rail station numbers fall far short of expectationsA MULTI-MILLION-POUND railway station between Derby and Nottingham is failing to meet its projections for passenger numbers.Figures produced by the Office for Rail Regulation show that 261,880 passengers used East Midlands Parkway station last year – 19% more than in 2011.But the number is still well below a projection of 743,000 passengers – a figure outlined in the original planning application in 2000.East Midlands Parkway, next to Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, just across...

Journal Live

• Transport Minister takes up Arriva North East bus service issuesTRANSPORT ministers are to meet bosses of bus company Arriva to discuss complaints about a key service linking Newcastle with Northumberland and the North West.

London Evening Standard

• Ukip leader Nigel Farage: I won't buy an Oyster card... it means 'they' can spy on meNigel Farage has revealed that he refuses to buy an Oyster card in case it is used to spy on him.

Manchester Evening News

• Manchester's Victorian canals rejuvenated after being adopted by those living along their banksVolunteers living alongside the Ashton and Rochdale canals in Manchester are running monthly clean-up days to keep them looking their best.

The York Press

• UPDATED: NRM safe after huge campaign THE future of the National Railway Museum has been secured, city leaders have said today.

Global Rail News

• £60m Pendolino overhaul completeA major £60 million overhaul of Virgin Pendolino bogies and wheelsets has been completed at Alstom’s Longsight depot. Virgin’s entire fleet of 53 9-car trains have now undergone their third[...]
• Direct rail service launched between Portugal and SpainTrain operators in Spain and Portugal have launched a new direct rail service between Vigo and Porto. Officials from both countries announced a partnership in May to improve passenger and[...]
• Arriva to operate additional train services in PolandArriva has been awarded a contract to operate trains in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship in northern Poland. The public transport provider will run services on four electrified lines connecting ToruÅ„ Główny[...]
• Funding approved for Auckland’s City Rail LinkMinisters in New Zealand have confirmed that the government will fund Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) project. The $2.86 billion line will connect Auckland’s Britomart station to Eden Terrace, reducing[...]
• The name’s Bond… StreetThe £14.8 billion Crossrail project involves a phenomenal amount of tunnelling work, as might be expected of a new rail link crossing a major metropolis like London. The statistics are worth revisiting. The project includes 21 km of twin 6.2 metre internal diameter tunnels and 37 stations, of which eight will be below ground. In [...]

Aviation Industry

• Opponents go to federal court to stop merger of American Airlines, US AirwaysOpponents of the proposed merger of American Airlines and US Airways filed a lawsuit Tuesday to block the deal, claiming it would hurt consumers by driving up airfares.
• Ryanair deputy CEO to step down in March 2014Ryanair deputy CEO and COO Michael Cawley has announced plans to step down from his full-time executive role with the Irish budget carrier at the end of March 2014 to pursue other interests. read more
• Lufthansa relaunches Germanwings as budget brandAirline group will offer three classes of fare for passengers