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

Wednesday, 17 July 2013

BBC News

• Airport expansion: Which options will be cleared for take-off? In September 2012, the government launched a review of how the UK might expand its airport capacity in the South East.
• Nottingham Station: 'Five weeks of pain' and how it affects you It has been called a modern transport hub for the East Midlands.
• UK to road test driverless carsThe government says ground-breaking trials of semi-autonomous cars are to take place on UK roads later this year.
• Borders railway police team launchedTransport Minister Keith Brown is to officially launch a dedicated British Transport Police team to patrol the Borders to Edinburgh railway project.
• Road changes 'to save £600m a year'The government says it can save taxpayers £600m a year by modernising the way contracts for the building of major roads are handled.
• Heathrow Airport will reveal details of its plan for a third runway later. Heathrow Airport will reveal details of its plan for a third runway later, in the face of opposition from environmentalists and London's mayor.
• Cyclist deaths prompt protestBike campaigners stage a protest after three cyclists are killed on London roads in three weeks.
• RAC urges driving licence changesLearner drivers in the UK should face a graduated system of licences to help reduce road deaths, says a report by the RAC Foundation.

Financial Times

• Dreamliner fire probe views Honeywell partEmergency locator transmitter is one of several components under scrutiny, but investigators say the cause of incident has not yet been identified

The Herald

• Potholes 'cost courier firm £15,000 a year'A COURIER firm has criticised a council for carrying out

The Independent

• Clause in Emirates Air Line contract prevents Boris Johnson and TfL from doing deals with Israel or criticising UAE The contract setting out the terms of sponsorship for the Emirates Air Line, a cable car over the River Thames, effectively bars Boris Johnson and Transport for London (TfL) from criticising the Emirati government or Royal Family, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.Related StoriesPlain cigarette packaging: Tobacco industry claim adopted by ministersBlood money: UK’s £12.3bn arms trade with repressive statesSerious Fraud Office chief who worked at home spent £100,000 on travel costsWater companies told to stop siphoning off cash to foreign ownersHigher standards for primary schools ...

The Observer

• Young drivers should learn for a year before taking test, thinktank urgesRAC Foundation calls for one-year learning period as a way of cutting high death rates among young driversA leading motoring thinktank has called for young drivers to have at least one year's experience on the road before taking their driving test as a way to cut death rates.The RAC Foundation is calling for a one-year minimum learning period – during which candidates would have to gain experience of driving in darkness and in different conditions.The plan would also bring in restrictions on carrying passengers for a year after the test and a probationary licence for the first two years.Simila...

The Telegraph

• Skylon space plane 'will transform high-speed aviation' Alan Bond, chief engineer at Reaction Engines, says the ability of the Skylon plane to transform into a rocket will open up space travel for the human race.
• Road delays set to double by 2040Delays on Britain's major roads are likely to more than double over the next 30 years according to the latest Government predictions.    

Mail Online

• Driverless 'robotcars' allowed on public roads for first time (and the technology could be installed in your car for just £60)Scientists at Oxford University are working with Nissan to create 'robotcars' that drive themselves independently using details of the road they are driving on stored in on-board software.

The Mirror

• Lynton Crosby row widens over David Cameron aide's links to HeathrowGreen campaigners voiced concerns after the Australian lobbyist was linked to the aviation industry

Network Rail

• Easier access for passengers at Horton-in-RibblesdalePassengers using Horton-in-Ribblesdale station on the Settle and Carlisle line can now enjoy better access between the platform and the train following the completion of a project to install an easier access area on the southbound platform.
• Improvements to provide additional capacity and longer platforms at Falmer stationNetwork Rail is to invest more than £2m to provide additional capacity on the line between Brighton and Lewes and lengthen platforms at Falmer station.
• Investment to provide passengers with better station access in south east London and KentEight stations in south east London and Kent are to benefit from an £18.5m investment which will improve passengers’ access to trains and platforms.
• Central station photo exhibition puts Scotland in the shop windowPassengers at Glasgow Central are getting a chance to see Scotland’s stunning scenery without even leaving the concourse thanks to a unique new photography exhibition.

Liverpool Post

• Government calls on North West city leaders to grab HS2 opportunities TRANSPORT Secretary Patrick McLoughlin is today calling on city leaders from the biggest “economic powerhouses” outside of London to ensure maximum economic benefits come from the proposed new high speed rail network (HS2).

London Evening Standard

• Waterloo delays: Thousands stranded in rush hour chaos when train track buckles in the heatThousands of commuters were left stranded after soaring temperatures caused some of the train track at London Waterloo station to buckle at the height of rush hour.
• Heathrow chiefs present runway caseThe case for expansion at Heathrow is to be presented by bosses of the west London airport.

Sheffield Star

• Sheffield city centre high-speed rail station ‘worth cost’Sheffield city leaders have urged the Government to rethink plans for the location of the city’s planned high-speed rail station.

The York Press

• More rural bus routes for York College students NEW bus routes are being laid on to help get students from rural North Yorkshire and the coast get to York.

Wales Online

• Train with up to 200 passengers collides with tractor near WelshpoolSeveral Mid Wales Fire and Rescue units are at the scene along with British Transport Police and Welsh Ambulance Service

Burnley Express

• Concerns over Burnley's new station as architects go bust ARCHITECTS behind Burnley’s iconic new railway station have gone bust.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Stansted: Opponents pour scorn on Boris Johnson’s plans for a huge four-runway airport in EssexPoliticians and campaigners have poured scorn on Boris Johnson’s proposal that a huge new four-runway airport should be built at Stansted.

Other Regional Press

• Borough bus snub angerA WIGAN campaigner is claiming Transport for Greater Manchester snubbed the borough in a consultation exercise over new bus priority routes.
• School transport shake-up: 'With twins it would mean double the cost for us' For many Kennington residents, the impact of the policy would be huge, especially for those who want to send their children to Matthew Arnold School in Botley.

Global Rail News

• Thameslink consortium confirms management teamCross London Trains the company established to finance and purchase Desiro City  trains from Siemens plc and to lease them to the Operator of the Thameslink rail franchise has[...]
• King’s Cross could be model for Penn Station redevelopmentAn organisation campaigning for a complete overhaul of New York’s Penn Station have highlighted the development created by work at King’s Cross station in London as the type of project[...]
• DB Schenker announces new UK bossFreight operator DB Schenker Rail (UK) has announced the appointment of its new chief executive, Geoff Spencer. Mr Spencer, who has spent the last three years as Head of European[...]

Aviation Industry

• United fails in attempt to raise faresUnited Airlines has attempted to increase fares for the eighth time this year. So far, airlines have only been able to successfully raise fares twice.
• Greece strike set to affect flightsFour-hour stoppage planned by Greek air traffic controllers
• Air Berlin signs deal with Virgin AustraliaCarriers will begin codesharing on flights from August
• British Airways adds more London City flightsAirline will introduce extra daily service to both Madrid and Stockholm

Other News Sources

• School bus fares rocket as Blackburn with Darwen Council cuts travel subsidy SCHOOL bus passes for children who receive their education three miles from home or more have shot up by 30 per cent.