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

Thursday, 25 July 2013

BBC News

• Road collapse leaves large holeA large hole appears in a Birmingham road leading to it being closed in both directions.
• Tunnel drivers have 'heeded warning'Motorists have heeded warnings to stay away from Birmingham while repairs on two city centre tunnels take place, a business leader says.
• £36m Wrexham rail plans 'in limbo'A Wrexham councillor says a proposed £36m investment in the railway line between the town and Chester has been left
• Police number plate checks broke lawHertfordshire Constabulary's use of number plate recognition cameras on roads leading into Royston was
• Line's Victorian opening celebratedRailway enthusiasts are to mark the 150th anniversary of the opening of a line from Perth to Inverness.
• Watford Tube extension approvedAn extension to the London Underground's Metropolitan line, serving the centre of Watford, is given the final go-ahead.
• 100,000 London rail commuters standMore than 100,000 rail commuters into London have to stand in the busiest times of the morning rush hour on a typical day, figures show.
• Passenger numbers rose in JuneSome of Scotland's smallest airports have helped to push up passenger numbers for Highlands and Islands Airports Limited.
• HS2 rail challenge rejected by courtA challenge to the government's HS2 high-speed rail project is rejected by the Court of Appeal.
• Ford profits boosted by US and ChinaCarmaker Ford reports healthy profits thanks to strong demand in its home US market and in China, which offset more losses in Europe.
• Boeing profits rise despite 787 woesUS plane-maker Boeing reports better-than-expected results for the second quarter, despite recent problems with its 787 Dreamliner model.
• Network Rail boss may quit next yearA source tells the BBC that the boss of Network Rail, Sir David Higgins, could leave the company at some point next year

Financial Times

• EasyJet shares lifted by profits outlookBookings during the cold spring and increased capacity on some routes boost the low-cost airline as it wins shareholder approval for fleet expansion
• Heathrow warns over £3bn investment plansAirport says it will scale down scheme to expand Terminal 2 if regulator does not soften moves to reduce operator’s return on capital
• The irrational case for HS2The government could be more audacious in promoting the cause of a fast rail link, but lacks clarity of purpose and honesty with the public
• Higgins to leave Network Rail next yearEven amid controversy on executive pay, the Australian civil engineer regarded highly as he has reduced costs and improved safety on the network
• At least 60 killed in Spanish train crashTrain was travelling at normal speed when the accident occurred but one witness said the crash propelled one of the carriages more than six metres into the air

The Guardian

• Heathrow condemns 'extreme' CAA plan to limit landing charges Airport boss Colin Matthews calls demand 'over the top' as he reports £185m first-half pre-tax profits
• Network Rail chief Sir David Higgins to depart next year Potential successors include Robin Gisby, chief of network operations and Simon Kirby, director of infrastructure projects
• Transport department say 20% of rail commuters forced to stand in rush hour Passengers on some peak services travelling on trains carrying 60% more people than they were designed to hold
• HS2 high-speed rail challenge rejected by court of appeal Ministers to press ahead with high-speed rail project as opponents promise to take battle to supreme court

The Herald

• Grant boost to repair island's runwayA weather-beaten island runway that has partly fallen into the sea will be repaired with money from the Scottish Government, the First Minister has said.

The Telegraph

• Heathrow passengers 'would pay' for airport improvements Passengers are willing to bear the cost of significantly increased airport charges to ensure improvements are made to Heathrow airport, a survey has shown.
• Judges reject attempt to block HS2Campaigners vow to carry on fight to block plans for £42.6 bn HS2 high speed rail project after being rebuffed by Court of Appeal.    
• More than a fifth of London-bound commuters forced to stand on 'overcrowded' trainsMore than a fifth of commuters travelling to and from London have to stand during the rush hour, according to latest Government figures.    

Mail Online

• 'Fat cat' Network Rail boss at centre of rows over punctuality and bonuses quits his job (and will walk off with £1m in pay and perks)Network Rail chief executive Sir David Higgins (pictured) intends to leave next year, and is likely to walk away with a severance pay and bonus pot worth up to £1million.
• Standing room only: One in four passengers forced to stand on Britain's busiest trains with some carriages 65% over-capacityRail Minister Norman Baker said naming and shaming the worst train companies is designed to spur their bosses into improving conditions for passengers.
• At least 77 people dead after train derails in Spain, leaving dozens of passengers crushed under smashed carriagesOther passengers were still trapped in the wreckage and there were fears that the death toll could rise as rescue teams continued their grim task of trying to free survivors hours after the accident.

The Mirror

• HS2 high-speed rail on track after campaign to derail the bid grinds to a halt Judges in the Court of Appeal dismissed all seven grounds of the challenge to the scheme, which is likely to cost around £50billion
• Spain train crash: 56 dead and 70 injured in one of country's worst ever rail disastersWARNING GRAPHIC PICTURES

Network Rail

• Journey starts on Birmingham’s Grand new retail destinationThe major transformation of The Pallasades shopping centre fully kicks off this month, as work to completely revamp it into Grand Central Birmingham gets underway.
• Network Rail announces major refurbishment of Victoria Place shopping centreNetwork Rail today announced a £15m refurbishment and expansion of the 83,000 sq ft Victoria Place shopping centre at Victoria station.
• Major investment for Southport-Wigan routePassengers travelling between Southport and Wigan will soon benefit from more reliable journeys after Network Rail confirmed details of a £13m investment to improve the track along the route.
• A final message from Trent Power Signal Box - 1969-2013Trent Power Signal Box bowed out after 44 years of service on Friday, as the Nottingham resignalling project got underway.
• Amateur boxing to help spread railway safety message in LondonNetwork Rail is teaming up with the London Amateur Boxing Association to educate youngsters across the capital about railway safety.

Belfast Telegraph

• Durkan launches ’booze bus’ consultation Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has today launched a public consultation seeking views on how bus operators should be penalised for allowing alcohol consumption on buses.
• Durkan launches ’booze bus’ consultation Environment Minister Mark H Durkan has today launched a public consultation seeking views on how bus operators should be penalised for allowing alcohol consumption on buses.
• Bombardier's delayed CSeries still not clear for take-offMore time is needed before the new Bombardier CSeries jet – the wings of which were invented, designed and are being built at the company's facility in Belfast – can take to the air, the firm has said.Related StoriesPub chain toasts 3.5% sales riseProject aims to create jobs and give economy £20m injectionB&Q owner reports boost in sales after hot weatherEE mobile firm set to gain one million 4G customersBelfast Harbour wind terminal brings huge rewards    
• EasyJet's shares flying high Profits rise by more than £150m despite heatwave fearsSHARES in easyJet soared to a record high as the budget airline said profits will smash City forecasts with a surge of up to 50%.Related StoriesPub chain toasts 3.5% sales riseProject aims to create jobs and give economy £20m injectionB&Q owner reports boost in sales after hot weatherEE mobile firm set to gain one million 4G customersBelfast Harbour wind terminal brings huge rewards    

Bristol Live

• The Bristol Post published MetroBus likely to be single-decker hybridTHE long-awaited MetroBus, which aims to ease traffic congestion in the Bristol area, is likely to be a single-decker.It will also be a hybrid – powered by electricity and diesel – and have two sets of doors to reduce the amount of time buses spend at stops.Transport experts have looked at different types of vehicles to run on the MetroBus network. And a single-decker has emerged as the best bet for providing the quickest and best-quality service for passengers.But it will be up to...

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Fears for future of £36m North East Wales rail improvement scheme Line was to be redoubled but now other 'cost effective' options are being considered

London Evening Standard

• Taking off - Heathrow soars back into profit Selling Stansted airport and hitting airlines with higher take-off and landing charges helped Heathrow Airport swing into profit in the first half of the year.
• Campaigners defiant amid HS2 ruling Objectors remained defiant after the Court of Appeal rejected their latest challenges to Government plans to go ahead with the HS2 national high-speed rail project.
• Network Rail boss 'to step down'Network Rail (NR) chief executive Sir David Higgins is set to step down, according to rail industry sources.
• Dozens die in Spain train disasterAt least 77 people have been killed and more than 100 injured as a passenger train derailed in north-western Spain, according to reports.

Manchester Evening News

• Easyjet flying high as shares soar Shares in easyJet soared to a record high today as the budget airline said annual profits will smash City forecasts with a surge of up to 50%.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post published Court battle victory for high-speed railArticle

Sheffield Star

• Award-winning stations praisedThree South Yorkshire rail stations have won national awards for work to make them safe environments for passengers and staff.

The York Press

• HS2 objectors defiant despite court defeat OBJECTORS to the HS2 national high-speed rail scheme - which would run close to a North Yorkshire village - say their fight is not over after their latest challenge to the plans was rejected by the Court of Appeal today.
• Council asks for views on social care and bus cuts RESIDENTS across North Yorkshire are to be asked for their views on plans for cuts to social care and bus services in the region as council bosses say they have been left needing to save an extra £66 million.

Wales Online

• Multi-billion pound proposal suggests expanding Cardiff Airport and high speed rail link with Heathrow A multi-billion pound plan to expand Cardiff Airport and link it with Heathrow via a high speed rail link has been submitted to the Howard Davies Commission investigating the future of UK airport hub capacity

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• HS2 legal challenge comes off the tracks Campaigners against HS2 have lost their latest challenge to the controversial high-speed rail scheme – but this afternoon have vowed to continue their fight.

Yorkshire Post

• Yorkshire rail users suffer train squeezeLEEDS and Sheffield are among the worst cities in the country for overcrowded trains, new transport figures show.
• HS2 plans on track as objectors fail in legal bid to derail projectPLANS for a high-speed rail link that will slash journey times between Yorkshire and London have overcome their latest hurdle after the Court of Appeal rejected a legal challenge by objectors to the scheme.

Bucks Free Press

• HS2 judge says environmental review failure is 'egregious' A TOP judge slammed the government's failure to carry out a review of the environmental impact caused by HS2 as egregious.

Other Regional Press

• Richmond Council continues Heathrow fight The leader of Richmond Council has criticised Heathrow’s proposals for a third runway, which it submitted to the Airports Commission last week.
• Councillor calls for action to fix Middlesbrough Bus Station doorsFed-up commuters have been reassured that work is ongoing to fix problems with the automatic doors at Middlesbrough Bus Station
• HS2 challenge is rejected by the Court of AppealJudges dismissed all grounds of challenge to the high-speed rail project but did give the go-ahead for objectors to take a final appeal to the Supreme Court
• Major railway improvementNetwork rail has confirmed the details of a £13m investment to improve the track between Southport and Wigan.
• Weymouth's former tall ship runs aground off Irish coastline THIRTY people have been rescued from Weymouth's former tall ship which ran aground off the coast of Ireland this morning.

Railnews

• Appeal court rejects all HS2 protests Appeal court judges have rejected claims that HS2 is being illegally promoted by the Government, and the Department for Transport said work on the new High Speed line from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds will continue. Permission to refer the case to the European Court was refused, but an appeal to the Supreme Court was allowed. Of the seven broad areas of challenge to the decisions on the principle of HS2 and route for Phase One from London to Birmingham made by three sets of claimants, the Court of Appeal ruled in the government’s favour in each case.

Aviation Industry

• Bombardier delays CSeries first flight again Bombardier has delayed CSeries first flight again, acknowledging it won’t occur by the end of July as stated last month. read more
• Boeing instructs 787 operators on inspecting, removing ELTsBoeing remains “highly confident” in the 787 in the aftermath of the July 12 Ethiopian Airlines Dreamliner fire at London Heathrow Airport, according to the company’s CEO. read more
• Delta to launch Heathrow to Seattle flightsUS carrier will compete with British Airways on the route
• Easyjet profits from rise in business travellersStrategy to target the corporate travel market starting to pay off
• British Airways picks Johannesburg as third A380 routeSouth African gateway city will be served by superjumbo from early 2014
• Heathrow owner returns to profitMore passengers and Stansted sale puts company back into the black

Other News Sources

• MP backs 'brilliant' idea to reopen Lower Darwen station A COMMUNITY has expressed its hopes that a once popular railway station could be put back on the rail map should a massive regeneration bid be successful.
• Gatwick Airport second runway would have 'enormous effect'Members of the Gatwick Airport Consultative Committee have debated the proposal for another runway on the Surrey-Sussex border
• Sir David Higgins to stand down as Network Rail chief in 2014Ex-Olympics chief to make way for new rail boss to see through five-year funding period from next year.
• Heathrow Airport: Results for the six months ended 30 June 2013 Record passenger satisfaction and solid delivery of service standards Strong traffic performance, up 2.4% to 34.4 million passengers, revenue up 9.2% Adjusted EBITDA up 18.0% supporting...
• Ryanair Welcomes Irish Government Plan To Amend Insolvency Laws Ryanair, Europersquo;s only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC), today (July 24) welcomed the Irish Governmentrsquo;s plans to amend existing insolvency legislation to enable Ireland to fully comply ...
• easyJet cabin crew fly high in style after designer's uniform revampPassengers of easyJet, the UKrsquo;s largest airline will be greeted onboard by cabin crew in stylish new attire designed by designer Jeff Banks and his team of corporate wear specialists. A...
• Challenges to HS2 dismissed by Court of AppealGovernment vows to press ahead with controversial rail project