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

Wednesday, 31 July 2013

BBC News

• Greater Manchester town halls share in jumbo £48m bonanza from airport's bumper year The M.E.N. can reveal the dividend paid to the cash-strapped councils as a result of their stakes in the airport’s parent company has more than doubled.
• Swindon A419 solar panels to act as noise barriers A busy road in Wiltshire could be soundproofed using solar panels which double-up as noise barriers.
• Rail study aims to boost investmentThe case for upgrading the north Wales rail network to boost the economy will be pushed by a study launched by local councils and public bodies.
• Station safety campaign launchedRail bosses begin a safety campaign after 1,600 people were hurt at stations including Paddington and Liverpool Street.
• VIDEO: BMW launch first electric carThe BBC's Theo Leggett had a look around BMW's new electric vehicle which has been designed for easy access.
• VIDEO: Etihad closer to Jet Airways dealSameer Hashmi explains the significance of the Indian government's conditional approval for Etihad Airways to buy a quarter of Jet Airways.
• VIDEO: Etihad closer to Jet Airways dealSameer Hashmi explains the significance of the Indian government's conditional approval for Etihad Airways to buy a quarter of Jet Airways.
• Express bus service for Cardiff Airport launched A new express bus service has been launched to Cardiff Airport.

ITV News

• A new £180 million deal for Derby-based trainmaker Bombardier A new fleet of Southern Railways trains made by Derby-based trainmaker Bombardier have made their debut in London, in the presence of the Transport Secretary.

Financial Times

• Task force seeks to promote HS2 lineFormer Olympics chief Lord Deighton will convene group charged with ˜maxing out benefits" from Britain's biggest public project

The Guardian

• Night riders: aboard the Paddington-Penzance sleeper train Six nights a week the 'Night Riviera' shuttles workers and holidaymakers between London and Cornwall. Once aboard, people tend to fall in love with the sleeper train
• Britons are going out less, says survey Britons are venturing out less than they used to, new figures have revealed, as high fuel costs and surging insurance premiums keep drivers off the roads and lifestyle changes have curtailed that simplest of life's pleasures, a walk.
• Spanish train's black boxes reveal driver was on phone to rail firmCourt says Francisco Garzón was responding to call from Renfe controller when train derailed, raising questions about firm's role in disaster The driver of the high-speed train involved in last week's Spanish train disaster was responding to a phone call from the rail company when the crash took place, according to a preliminary investigation released on Tuesday. The driver, Francisco Garzón, has been provisionally charged with multiple counts of negligent homicide.The train, operated by Spain's national rail company, Renfe, left the track and slammed into a wall as it was approaching Santiago...

The Herald

• Spanish train driver 'on phone'THE driver of the Spanish train that derailed at 95 mph killing 79 people was on his phone at the time, investigators have said.

The Independent

• Britons are making fewer journeysBritons are venturing outside their homes less, government figures have revealed.Related StoriesFor sale: Spacious wartime bunker, good transport linksGovernment turns up the heat on cold callers as phone nuisances face crackdownFormer energy minister Lord Howell (George Osborne’s father-in-law) says it’s fine to frack in ‘empty, desolate’ North-eastLabour lead cut to just 3 points but voters are tiring of coalitionDeputy PM criticises 'Go home' vans    

The Scotsman

• Crack down on bogus whiplash claims, insurers told INSURERS must “get their house in order” and end practices which encourage fraud and exaggeration in vehicle whiplash injury claims, a report by MPs says today.
• Thieves raid Aberdeen-Inverness line a second time Metal thieves have struck on a train line between Aberdeen and Inverness for the second time in three days, causing more misery for commuters.
• Pigeon-kicking Scotland fan in rail safety video A KILTED Scotland football fan who fell onto railway tracks after trying to kick a pigeon at Waverley station in Edinburgh features in a new Network Rail safety video launched today.
• Edinburgh airport sees millionth passenger in month EDINBURGH airport has handled its millionth passenger in a month for the first time, cementing its return to growth after last year’s decline.

The Telegraph

• Anger as injured rail passengers offered £30 'goodwill' voucher after train crashPassengers who were injured after two trains crashed in Norfolk have spoken of their anger fury after being offered £30 vouchers - to get back on a train.    
• Whiplash claimants should provide proof on injuries, MPs sayAnyone seeking compensation for a whiplash injury should be forced to provide proof they sought medical help in the immediate aftermath of the accident, MPs have said.    

Mail Online

• Former Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell accused of 'cashing in' by accepting jobCritics say there is a conflict of interest in Former Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell's (pictured) new job as chairman of Frontier Economics, which has been working on Heathrow Airport's third runway bid.

The Mirror

• Spanish train crash: Driver 'talking on phone when he derailed on bend'A court said black box recordings showed he was speaking to a controller when he derailed on a bend while speeding
• Watch train passengers fall down escalator and on to railway tracks in alcohol safety campaign The CCTV footage shows people losing their balance in style - but fortunately suffering no more than bruised pride          

Belfast Telegraph

• First for Shannon as BA lands A380British Airways' first A380 flew into Shannon airport early yesterday in preparation for beginning long-haul flights this September. Shannon Airport staff and aircraft enthusiasts greeted the plane as it touched down at 10am. BA is the first airline to land an A380 – one of the world's most technically advanced planes – in Ireland.Related StoriesSantander feels squeeze on ratesTourists help turn the Grecian tideRocca's London asset sold for less than value of debtTwo hi-tech firms in training to take bite of Indian marketNew Finance Minister Simon Hamilton aims to boost economy by working with...

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Yellow lines parking plan gets mixed response from Bradford politicians Controversial proposals by ex-Bradford Council leader Eric Pickles to allow motorists to park on double yellow lines to boost trade have met with a mixed reaction from politicians in the city.

London Evening Standard

• HS2: Court of Appeal to rule on challenges to rail linkThe Court of Appeal is to rule today on challenges to Government plans to go ahead with the HS2 national high-speed rail project.
• Ex-Cabinet Secretary in Heathrow job rowTheformer Cabinet Secretary Gus O’Donnell has been appointed head of a consultancy firm that is advising Heathrow airport on its bid for a third runway.
• Ryanair pilots told: Go slow to save cashRyanair pilots have been told to ease off the throttle to cut the airline’s fuel bills.
• Spanish train crash: driver was on the phoneThe driver of the Spanish train that derailed at 95 mph killing 79 people was on his phone at the time, investigators have said.

Wales Online

• Calls for Wales to get publicly-owned rail service gather steamInquiry will examine the future of the Wales and the Borders rail franchise, currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales, to see whether it meets passenger needs

Burnley Express

• Improvement work at Burnley rail station to startWork to transform Manchester Road train station in Burnley is due to get under way this week.

Other Regional Press

• North-east rail line reopens after metal theftsA RAILWAY line has reopened today after half a mile of cable was stolen from a North-east track.
• Hypnosis helped me pass my driving test!Reporter Hayley O’Keeffe writes about how hypnosis saved her from a lifetime of catching the bus.

C.N.N.

• Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crash: Couple stole passengers' bags at SFO

Global Rail News

• Railway Children charity founder ‘honoured’ by train namingCharity founder David Maidment said it was “a great honour” to have a train name after him in recognition of his tireless efforts to protect street children around the world. Network Rail and Colas Rail unveiled the ’David Maidment OBE’ nameplate last week at the National Track Plant Exhibition at Long Marston. David established Railway [...]
• Contracts signed for Southern Electrostar orderThe Department for Transport (DfT) has finalised a deal with Bombardier for 116 Electrostar trains, securing an important order for the manufacturer’s site in Derby. Announcing the end of the[...]
• CAF half-year profit reaches €50mCAF has reported net profit of €50 million in the first half of 2013. The company is currently working through an order backlog of €4.93 billion, of which 85 per[...]

Aviation Industry

• Ryanair flies more slowly to save fuelNo-frills carrier reduces speed in attempt to save on costs

Other News Sources

• Experts appointed to HS2 taskforce Senior business and political figures have been appointed to the HS2 Growth Taskforce to maximise economic benefits created by HS2. Chaired by commercial secretary and former LOCOG boss Lord Deighton, the expert group was set up in June to advise on job creation and regional economic growth.
• Southern signs £180m train carriage deal Rail operator Southern has signed a £180m deal with Bombardier for 116 railway carriages. They will start running on some of London’s busiest commuter routes from 2015.