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

Tuesday, 20 August 2013

BBC News

• New £1.2m bus service announced for Oxfordshire A new £1.2m bus service linking hospitals and colleges in Oxfordshire has been announced.
• Norwich northern bypass deemed 'nationally significant' by government Norwich's northern bypass could open in less than three years' time after being placed on the government's list of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP), it has been confirmed.
• Nottingham vandalism reduced by 'Trojan bus' A "Trojan bus" is being credited with a sustained fall in transport vandalism in Nottingham.
• Hadrian's Wall gets electric car charging points Charging points for electric cars have been installed along the 84-mile route of Hadrian's Wall.
• Plans to makes buses cash-free Transport for London is considering plans to stop bus passengers paying for their journeys with cash.
• Rail line extension contingency callRail campaigners urge the Scottish government to start planning an 18-mile extension of the Borders to Edinburgh railway due to reopen in 2015.
• Belfast International 'fourth worst'Belfast International Airport is the fourth worst large airport in the UK, a new customer survey suggests.

Financial Times

• Superfast broadband to be available on aircraft‘Earth stations’ on aircraft will communicate with satellites on high-level frequencies to allow internet on moving vehicles within British airspace

The Telegraph

• Walk-on train fares could be slashedPassengers could be able to buy cut-price rail tickets as little as 10 minutes before boarding the train, under proposals being considered by ministers.    
• Cash to disappear from London's busesCash is set to disappear from London's buses after 184 years under moves to cut delays and speed up the service.    
• Prepare to add HS2 and Universal Credit to our depressing list of fiascosFrom the poll tax to HS2, ministers seem incapable of calling a halt to a failing policy, says Philip Johnston    

Bolton News

• Bolton gets £2 million bus fleet A NEW £2 million fleet of eco-friendly buses has hit the streets of Bolton.

London Evening Standard

• Oyster card 'credit' plan as cash fares face axeCash payments for fares on London buses could be scrapped entirely with all passengers forced to use Oyster or bank cards.

Manchester Evening News

• The end of the road for Greater Manchester's careless driversAziz Marf, 36, was stopped for careless driving in Bolton on the day the measures came in to effect and could now face a £100 fine or go to motoring school.

The York Press

• Bridge closure order to 2015 TRANSPORT chiefs have drawn up rules allowing a city-centre bridge in York to be shut for 18 months - but say the outcome of a controversial six-month trial closure is not a done deal.

East Anglian Daily Times

• East Anglia: Business calls for rail boost from government as transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin heads eastRail improvements to transform the economy of East Anglia would cost little more than 1% of the estimated cost of the controversial HS2 route.

Other Regional Press

• 'I got so fed up with filthy bus stop I cleaned it myself' A PENSIONER armed herself with a mop and bucket and gave a "filthy" Mumbles bus stop a good old scrub.
• Road deaths and injuries in Northamptonshire at ‘lowest level ever’The number of people killed or seriously injured on Northamptonshire’s roads in the first four months of this year has fallen to the lowest level ever.
• Work begins on Northampton’s new £20m railway stationWork has officially started on Northampton’s new £20m railway station.
• Celebrating cycleway’s first birthdayIt will come as no surprise to hear that Peter Ward first came up with the idea of a Preston cycleway while he was on his bike.
• Luton voted worst Airport in the UK by consumersLUTON Aiport has been ranked as the worst in the UK by passengers according to new research by Which?

Airportwatch

• DELIGHT AT BUS BATTLE VICTORYCOUNCIL transport officers have been praised for listening, after they set up a direct bus route to Morriston Hospital from Neath and Port Talbot.

Global Rail News

• Damning HS2 report dismissed as ‘flimsy and unsubstantiated’The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce has hit back at a report which claims that the government’s pursuit of HS2 is misguided and could cost the taxpayer almost double its £42.6[...]
• Caledonian Sleeper ‘should be as iconic as the Orient Express’Government agency Transport Scotland has thrown down the gauntlet to bidders for the Anglo-Scottish sleeper franchise, which commences in April 2015, by insisting that as soon as passengers board the[...]
• Central Avenue refurbishment completeNew York subway operator MTA has reopened Central Avenue station following an $11 million refurbishment. The station, which has been closed for the last five months, is one of five[...]
• Study to look at Oslo rail expansion optionsRail and road authorities in Norway are to look at how they can increase capacity on Oslo’s busy public transport network. Rail infrastructure manager Jernbaneverket and the Norwegian Public Roads[...]
• URS named lead designer for Bank station capacity upgrade projectDragados SA has appointed URS as lead design consultant for the £563m Bank station capacity upgrade project. URS’ contract for this major project officially started on 1 August 2013 and[...]
• Shenyang tramway opensThe first three lines of Shenyang’s new light rail system have opened ahead of China’s National Games at the end of the month. Once complete, the new tram network will[...]

Railnews

• Free market lobby group predicts '£80bn HS2' A think tank which promotes 'free market' principles has predicted that the cost of building HS2 could rise to £80 billion, and concludes that the project should be scrapped. The Institute for Economic Affairs is claiming that the costs of the High Speed line are set to almost double from the present official estimates, and that much of the support comes from engineering firms hoping to benefit. However, the IEA has been accused of presenting a partisan view, in line with its general opposition to major projects funded by public money.

Aviation Industry

• British Airways to increase Mexico City serviceCarrier will add extra flight on route for winter season
• Singapore hub aims to double capacityChangi announces major plans to expand airport

Other News Sources

• Boris Johnson's New London Bus Design ’Breached' EU Law, Legal Experts WarnBoris Johnson could have broken European law in awarding a £428,000 contract for designing the new London Routemaster bus without publicly advertising and allowing competing bids from other companies, legal experts have warned
• Bus firms row over un-fare play A row has broken out bettween rival bus companies in Heanor after one accused the other of using underhand tactics to claim customers.
• Plans are unveiled for coffee shop at railway station IT’S the icing on the cake of an incredible project to transform a railway station.