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

Thursday, 15 August 2013

BBC News

• Volunteers cannot rival Shropshire Link, transport boss says Volunteers will not be able to put on a rural bus service to rival one which is being terminated in a few weeks' time, a transport boss has warned.
• Senior politicians row over A9 average speed cameras plan Two senior politicians have become embroiled in a row over plans to install average speed cameras on the notorious A9.
• Liverpool John Lennon Airport staff 'miss explosives' in tests Liverpool John Lennon Airport has admitted staff failed to spot explosives and knives planted during a security test last week.
• CityJet to axe Edinburgh routeCityJet announces it is to axe its Edinburgh to London City Airport route, having operated the service since 2007.
• Video highlights thieves on railwayPickpockets, thieves and so-called gadget grabbers feature in videos issued by transport police as part of a campaign to highlight theft on the rail network.

Financial Times

• US airline trade body attacks DoJ’s stanceAirlines for America said the DoJ’s complaint is ’highly speculative’ about airline’s pricing policies, which it claims shows evidence of a lack of desire to compete
• IAG orders £5.4bn Airbuses for VuelingLow-cost carriers have expanded their short-haul operations at the expense of European flag carriers including BA, Air France-KLM and Lufthansa
• Airlines merger set for bitter battleThe tough response from attorneys on both sides suggest the case could be a prolonged and bitter battle.

The Guardian

• Thai villagers make citizens' arrest of Google Street View driverMan made to swear on statue of the Buddha that he was not taking spy photos for a bitterly opposed dam projectGoogle's Street View project to map the world by taking pictures from passing cars has ignited a minor uproar in northern Thailand where villagers detained a driver and made him swear on a Buddha statue that he was not surveying the area for an unwanted dam project.The internet company has confirmed the incident in Sa-eab village in Phrae province, in which about 20 residents blocked a Google camera-equipped car. Google's project takes photos to accompany its Google Earth map program.T...

The Herald

• Alexander criticises A9 speed camerasTRANSPORT minister Keith Brown has come under attack for the decision to install average speed cameras on Scotland's most dangerous road.

The Telegraph

• Flagship workplace parking levy 'creating chaos'The country's first workplace parking levy aimed at easing congestion has created chaos on the streets, critics have claimed.    
• Danny Alexander attacks average speed camera plan for danger roadDanny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has delivered a withering attack on the SNP's decision to install average speed cameras on Scotland's most dangerous road.    
• High Speed Rail 2 could remain on critical list for some time, says David PitchfordThe high speed rail link between London and the north of England is likely to remain on the critical list for some time, according to Whitehall's top troubleshooter.    

Network Rail

• Capacity improvement plans revealed by the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance and Department for Transport· Proposals targeting 15% capacity increase by 2019 · Work starts to procure more than 135 extra carriages for suburban routes · Infrastructure investment to help drive reliability improvements

Bristol Live

• The Bristol Post published Are electric cars really that green?BUYING an electric car may seem to be the green option when the energy label states zero CO2 emissions. But that is not the whole story when you factor in the electricity required to charge the batteries, and associated CO2 emissions created in electricity generation.According to Vehicle Certification Agency, the latest Renault Clio 4, dCi 90 ECO, emits 83 grams of CO2 per kilometre travelled.In comparison, the electric Nissan Leaf requires 173 watts of electricity to travel the same distance. ...

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph commented VIDEO: 25-year labour of love nears end for rail projectTHERE is light at the end of the tunnel for volunteers who have spent more than 25 years working to restore a Derbyshire railway line.The Steeple Grange Light Railway line, from Steeple Grange to Middleton-by-Wirksworth, was abandoned in 1967.But railway enthusiasts have worked hard to rebuild the line and now they only have about 200 yards of the track left to complete.Martin Smith, chairman of the Steeple Grange Light Railway group, said: "I'm delighted with it. It has been an enjoyable...

London Evening Standard

• 'Work smarter,' Tube bosses tell staff - after plans to close every ticket office are revealedTube bosses have told thousands of staff that change is on the way and money must be saved "through smarter ways of working."

Nottingham Evening Post

• Pathway to making little extra cashTHE streets of Nottingham may not be paved with gold – but your driveway could lead you to an extra income.

The York Press

• Union protests at huge rail fare rises RAIL passengers in York will have to wait to discover whether their fares will increase as many commuters face an above-inflation rise.
• Roadworks bringing York to a ‘standstill’ Poor planning blamed but council claims some disruption is ‘inevitable’,

Wales Online

• Motorists paying as much as 138p per litre for petrol at Welsh pumps in 'Jekyll and Hyde' pricing policyThe cost of filling a car is more expensive here than in England, according to figures released by the AA which show a 2% rise this month compared to last

Yorkshire Evening Post

• One Elf of a journey: Story trains ready to rollYorkshire families won’t have to travel to Middle Earth to meet a hobbit this summer, as Bilbo Baggins is to travel the region’s rail tracks on August 23.

Yorkshire Post

• Horror story for drivers as ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ pricing hits the fuel pumpsDrivers are having to put up with a “Jekyll and Hyde” attitude to petrol pricing, according to the AA.

Blackpool Gazette

• ‘Enough is enough’ call after more fare hikesCommuters across the Fylde coast today told the Government “enough is enough” after another round of inflation-busting rail fare increases were announced.

Reading Evening Post

• Oak trees felled to improve road safetyTwo trees were taken down at the junction of Easthampstead Road and Old Wokingham Road on Monday

Other Regional Press

• Roads could get 20mph speed limitTHE speed limit in two Portsmouth roads could be reduced.
• MP Binley criticises Government over rail fare risesNorthampton South MP Brian Binley has attacked the Government over the announcement that rail fares will be steeply increasing in the new year.
• ‘Village should be on rail link’A proposed new rail link that would run from Bedford to Oxford and Reading has been supported by Central Beds Council with the recommendation it should stop at Ridgmont.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Private Eye's 'Road Rage' column on traffic and forecasts14 August 2013: Reprinted with permission, Private Eye's Hedgehog column recently summarised how unfeasibly high Government traffic forecasts are being used to justify road-building. read more

Global Rail News

• Alliance looks to reopen all Waterloo International platformsAn alliance set up to boost capacity on London’s commuter railway has set out proposals to reopen the four remaining empty platforms at Waterloo International, having already committed to returning[...]
• Grand Central outlines plans for uniform fleet of trains and investment in stationsOpen access train operator Grand Central has unveiled plans for an all class 180 Adelante fleet if it receives approval to operate services beyond 2016. The new trains would replace[...]
• Work to start on next stage of Nottingham tram extensionNew tram tracks are to be installed on Nottingham’s Wilford Lane, completing a key component of the network’s southern extension. The road will be closed for the duration of the[...]
• Parsons-led consortium handed Riyadh Metro project management roleA Parsons, Egis and Systra joint venture has won a 425 million euro contract to ’supervise’ construction of three new metro lines being built in the Saudi Arabian capital of[...]
• Strukton wins Södra stambanan maintenance contractSweden’s rail infrastructure manager, Trafikverket, has handed Strukton Rail an 80 million euro maintenance contract for the northern section of Södra stambanan (Southern Main Line). Strukton Rail will take responsibility[...]

Aviation Industry

• US Airways, American Airlines vow to fight U.S. government over mergerStocks fell on Wednesday, with the Dow industrials posting the worst day since late June, as investors speculated when the Federal Reserve might begin to reduce its ultra-loose monetary policy, which has helped propel stocks to record highs.
• American hits back at merger lawsuitAirline claims deal will promote competition
• Restructuring boosts FinnairCarrier squeezes back into profit.

Other News Sources

• Don't sit back and let HS2 happen CHESHIRE East Council leader Michael Jones has for some time been adamant that he will do everything he can to “mitigate” the effects of HS2 on Cheshire.
• 100,000 get noise respite from night flights An independent report has concluded that night flight trials carried out earlier this year brought noise respite to approximately 100,000 people living under the Heathrow flight paths. The...
• Government of Canada invests in safety at Lethbridge AirportJimnbsp;Hillyer, Member of Parliament for Lethbridge, on behalf of the Honourablenbsp;Lisanbsp;Raitt, Ministernbsp;ofnbsp;Transport, today announced funding for an important safety...