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

Saturday, 06 July 2013

BBC News

• Motorway closed by flock of sheepThe M4 was closed in both directions for a time near Bridgend after three or four sheep got onto the carriageway, say police.
• Britons injured in Cuba coach crashTwo British women are in hospital after a coach swerved off a road and overturned near the city of Cienfuegos in Cuba.
• Siemens pulls out of Crossrail bidSiemens withdraws its bid to build carriages for the multi-billion pound Crossrail project.

Financial Times

• Siemens pulls out of Crossrail battleGerman group says it no longer has capacity to deliver such a large contract, supplying 600 carriages for the new line to connect east and west London
• Amber lights slow down HS2 projectOnly a few weeks ago, supporters of the ambitious plan seemed confident. But rising costs and political doubts have led to greater scrutiny
• Railways of the past needed MPs on boardBig Victorian property owners, rather than the general public, protested vigorously against new lines bisecting their land or spoiling their views

The Herald

• Ferry firm criticises feasibility reportA PRIVATE ferry company has condemned a Scottish Government study for ignoring vital commercial information before concluding it would be feasible for a rival service to be established.
• Scottish new car sales leap 14%NEW car sales in Scotland are returning to pre-credit crunch levels, according to figures for June, which reveal a 14% increase year-on-year in registrations.

The Telegraph

• Boris buses 'hotter than magma' in summer weatherNew Routemaster-style buses introduced to London by Boris Johnson have been criticised as

Reuters News

• British Land buys London site in bet on new rail lineLONDON (Reuters) - Property developer British Land bought the majority of a west London office complex for 470 million pounds ($708 million) in a bet the capital's Crossrail east-west train line, due to open in 2018, will boost real estate prices.

Daily Record

• Edinburgh tram drivers must pass bizarre personality test to make sure they don't scare off passengersLOTHIAN BUSES, who will operate the trams, are looking to recruit ambiverts - people who, they say, are just right for the role.

This is Money

• Secret of seat 25d: Get first class BA superjumbo legroom at economy pricesIf you fly on BA’s brand new double-decker Airbus A380, be ready to fight like fury for the best value seat by far. Our man Ray Massey reveals the ultimate long haul tip.

Bolton News

• New fleet of 'green' buses - with free WiFi BUS passengers will soon be travelling in style when a new fleet of vehicles hits the roads in Bolton.

Derby Telegraph

• Rival pulls out of £1bn Crossrail bidA major rival of Derby train-maker Bombardier has pulled out of the bidding for a £1 billion contract.German firm Siemens confirmed yesterday it was no longer looking to build the trains for the mammoth Crossrail railway project which will traverse the capital.The company said its current workload was the reason why it would not proceed with the bidding process.It had formerly been seen as one of the front runners for Crossrail.The announcement leaves Bombardier, based in Litchurch Lane,...
• R-R's pride as Airbus jets into Heathrow for BABRITISH Airways has taken delivery of a Rolls-Royce-powered aircraft designed to transform its fleet.The A380 that had been on display at the Paris Air Show arrived at Heathrow from the Airbus delivery centre in Toulouse.It features four Trent 900 engines designed and built in Derby.The aircraft was taken to the British Airways engineering centre to be united with the airline's brace of Boeing 787 Dreamliners that were delivered last week.The Dreamliners are fitted with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000...

Edinburgh Evening News

• Edinburgh trams: Staff keep public off test tramsIT IS the conundrum which tram chiefs never anticipated - how to stop passengers getting on services.

London Evening Standard

• Meltdown on the Boris bus: air-con cock-up leaves passengers sweltering in 30CPassengers on the new Routemaster-style “Boris buses” are enduring sweltering conditions caused by technical problems with the multi-million pound vehicles, an Evening Standard investigation has found.
• Road test: Peugeot 208GTi moves up marketWhen Peugeot introduced its legendary 205GTi in 1984, it was such a hit that it saved the company from financial collapse. Try as Peugeot might, the 206 and 207GTis never filled the void left by the all-conquering 205. But the new 208GTi might just do it.
• Road test: BMW's easy riderFew bikers want just the one machine because, at heart, most are enthusiasts, not just users. So they want a tourer, a commuter, an off-roader and maybe a stylish, fun cruiser for weekends. But one or two bikes are such good all-rounders, that they fulfil any number of dreams in one go, and BMW’s tidy F 800 GT is such a bike. True, you wouldn’t ever take it off road, but will do most other things in style, as I’ve found over several hundred, enjoyable miles.
• More 'surprises' possible - HemberyPirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery has not ruled out the prospect of the Italian manufacturer encountering similar woes next year as it has this season.

Sheffield Star

• Festivalgoers’ Tramlines tram ticket discount offer revealedStagecoach Supertram has announced discounted tickets for passengers attending the Tramlines music festival.

The York Press

• Have your say on York bus services MORE meetings are being held over the next ten days to give York residents the chance to shape the future of bus services.
• Anger over ring road roadworks schedule A YORK businessman has criticised the decision to carry out roadworks on the city ring road during some of the busiest times of day.

Other Regional Press

• Cyclists wanted for epic mountain ride RIDERS are still wanted to tackle the Iron Mountain Sportif in Abergavenny’s Festival of Cycling.
• Drivers face gridlock misery as busy road to close for workDRIVERS face weeks of misery as part of a busy road is set to close for construction work.

Global Rail News

• Siemens withdraws from Crossrail rolling stock contestSiemens has said it ’will not be proceeding further’ in the competition to build new trains for Crossrail. In a statement, the German train manufacturer said that the decision to[...]
• HS2 should make Birmingham a gateway to Europe, CentroBirmingham’s high-speed rail station must connect to Europe if the West Midlands is going to make the most of HS2, says transport authority Centro. Centro members continued to call for[...]

Rail Technology Magazine

• Televic Rail's iCoM On Board Siemens Thameslink Trains Televic Rail has been selected by Siemens AG to supply Passenger Information Systems for Thameslink commuter trains that will operate in the UK.

Aviation Industry

• Toulouse: Brand New British Airways: Flying the A380 Home to HeathrowImagine being one of only 50 people onboard an airplane built to fly 500. This was our experience yesterday, July 4, as British Airways took delivery of its very first Airbus A380 from Airbus' HQ in Toulouse, France.

Other News Sources

• Rolls-Royce to fight claims it ’cut corners’Rolls-Royce will fight claims made by former staff in a US lawsuit that it "cut corners" on quality standards and "lied to" customers.