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

Thursday, 12 September 2013

BBC News

• Biofuels: Euro MPs vote to cap use for transport The European Parliament has backed proposals to limit the amount of food crops used to produce biofuel.
• Patrick McLoughlin: HS2 will provide vital capacity [video]Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has hit back at recent criticism of the HS2 rail project, as a report suggested it could boost the UK economy by £15bn a year.
• MPs divided over A14 upgrade to a compulsory toll road [Stephen Hammond MP - Video]The government has finally announced its plans to upgrade the A14 - and the future is going to be costly.
• Bristol Henbury Loop: 'Lack of political will' hampers project Campaigners hoping to reopen the Henbury Loop railway line in north Bristol say a "lack of political will" is hampering the project.
• First Bus smartcards in Bristol area 'to start in 2014' Smartcards for bus passengers in Bristol could be rolled out across the First Bus network by the start of next year, the city council said.
• Kent MP calls for Sheppey crossing safety review The government has been asked to undertake a review of safety measures on the Sheppey crossing in Kent.
• HS2 'could boost East Midlands business' by billions The HS2 rail project could give a £2.2bn annual boost to Derby and Nottingham's economies, according to a new report.
• Nottinghamshire street light switch-off reversed Council leaders are to reverse a decision by their predecessors to turn off many street lights during early mornings.
• Rail route 'future-proofing' pleaA campaign group has called for the Borders to Edinburgh railway to be "future-proofed" by allowing for cost-effective double-tracking in future.
• Mitsubishi hit by share sale reportShares of Mitsubishi Motors fall as much as 8% after a report claims that the firm is planning to offer new stock worth 200bn yen ($2bn; £1.3bn).

Financial Times

• HS2 fightback starts with £15bn growth pledgeKPMG analysis part of robust defence of £42.6bn scheme that transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin will mount in a speech to counter rising criticism
• Government adviser shoots down HS2 caseDan Graham, professor of statistical modelling at Imperial College, said the £15bn figure for benefits to economy ‘seems to be on the optimistic side’
• Labelling error found in Canada rail blastAny rule change could be highly significant for future movements of crude oil by rail, which have grown sharply in recent years

The Guardian

• Astronomer royal calls for 'plan B' to prevent runaway climate changeLord Rees appeals for research into geoengineering technologies in case efforts to curb carbon emissions failHacking the planet's climate by launching mirrors into space, triggering algal blooms in the oceans and seeding clouds are among experimental

The Herald

• Passenger numbers soar at Scotland's airportsPassenger numbers at Scotland's airports have continued to grow this summer.

The Telegraph

• Transport Secretary: 'HS2 will make Britain stronger'Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin defends the controversial HS2 high-speed rail project, saying

Network Rail

• Thameslink tunnels to transform the railway in London and the south eastThe first stage of work to connect two rail tunnels to the national network will take place this weekend in a development which will transform the shape of rail services in the south of England.

Birmingham Mail

• Government launches 'fightback' over proposed high-speed HS2 rail network schemeThe heavily criticised project could see changes made as Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin promises to

Birmingham Post

• HS2: West Midlands economy will receive £3.1bn boost, claims new studyTransport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin launches campaign to win support for the planned North-South line

London Evening Standard

• Government 'will improve' HS2 plansFurther changes could be made to the controversial plans for the high-speed HS2 rail network, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has indicated as the Government launched a "fightback" over the £42.6 billion scheme.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Government launches 'fightback' over proposed high-speed HS2 rail network schemeThe heavily criticised project could see changes made as Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin promises to

Yorkshire Post

• Everyone
a winner
with HS2
insists rail
MinisterTHE Transport Secretary has called on Britain to hold its nerve as he promised the biggest rail project in generations will bring sweeping benefits to every part of Yorkshire.

Bucks Free Press

• No extension to HS2 tunnel says council boss THE tunnel set to be built through the Chilterns as part of the HS2 project will not be extended, a council boss claimed yesterday.
• Report says HS2 will give economy £15bn boost A NEW report suggests HS2 will boost the British economy by £15billion per year - but critics say it is

North Wales Live

• Government launches 'fightback' over proposed high-speed HS2 rail network schemeThe heavily criticised project could see changes made as Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin promises to
• Port boss in high-speed rail capacity warning High-speed trains sharing existing track would be ‘disaster for freight’

Peterborough Telegraph

• Web chat Q&A: Peterborough Local Link bus serviceWeb chat with Peterborough City Council transport chiefs, 2-4pm this Friday: Controversial plans to scrap nine Local Link bus services and replace them with three new time tabled services have met with a mixed response from passengers.

Reading Evening Post

• Government launches 'fightback' over proposed high-speed HS2 rail network schemeThe heavily criticised project could see changes made as Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin promises to

Other Regional Press

• The next train arriving at platform six ... is the one run by Kirklees Council! Various councils, including, Kirklees and Calderdale, have an agreement in principle with the Government to look options to run train services - what do you think?
• School bus fares jolt Controversial charging for home-to-school buses has been singled out as a potential money-saving scheme as the county council works to save £60m.

Airportwatch

• North East to battle North West for rail cash The Government is to devolve control of local rail services to councils groups which would appoint and oversee train operators
• Route decision was 'disastrous'CAMPAIGNERS against the MetroBus route say it was "disastrous" for mayor George Ferguson to change it so it runs along Cumberland Road.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Thameslink to join local and regional servicesNetwork Rail has announced the first stage in a project to connect to rail tunnels with the national network.The scheme will connect canal tunnels in north London, which run between St Pancreas Station and the East Coast Main Line near King's Cross. Network Rail claims this will be the first time local and regional services in various areas have been linked.It states the connection of these routes will be an important stage in the development of the rail network, forming a crucial part of capacity improvements in London.Trains using the canal tunnels will be able to provide up to eight...

Global Rail News

• Regions to benefit most from HS2A new report has suggested that Britain’s regions would benefit most from HS2, quashing claims that the high-speed line would only bring greater prosperity the Southeast. KPMG believes the line[...]
• New Nottingham tram to be unveiledThe first of a new fleet of trams is to be unveiled this week in Nottingham’s Wilkinson Street Depot. Twenty-two new trams will eventually be delivered to the city by[...]
• Boston to vote on new rail map designBoston commuters are being given the chance to choose the future design of the city’s rail transit map. The competition, led by operator MBTA, has given would-be graphic designers the[...]
• Asia and Middle East to spend trillions of dollars on transport infrastructureThe Middle East and Asia are on course to spend trillions of dollars on new railways and roads in the next 10 years, according to new research. HSBC Global Research[...]
• São Paulo Orange Line tender to be re-issuedThe government in São Paulo is preparing to re-issue a tender for the construction and operation of the planned Orange Line. Details will be published on Friday, September 13, for[...]
• Expo 1520 opens in MoscowThe latest in Russian gauge rail technology went on show as Expo 1520 opened on September 11. More than 325 companies from 29 countries are taking part in this year’s[...]

Railnews

• Transport secretary targets 'misleading' HS2 critics Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin is hitting back at claims that HS2 will cost much more than the official figures suggest, and has accused some of the project's opponents of being 'deliberately misleading'. In a hard-hitting speech today, he has described HS2 as a 'heart bypass for the clogged arteries of our transport system that will lift the long-distance burden from our overcrowded main lines™. He is also publishing new research by KPMG which sets out how HS2 could boost the economy by up to £15 billion per year.

Transport Briefing (subscription)

• GB Railfreight awarded IEP testing contract Hitachi Rail Europe has signed a contract with GB Railfreight to provide train operations to facilitate the testing and...
• Thameslink-East Coast tunnel link work starts Network Rail has announced what it describes as the first stage of work to connect two new Thameslink rail tunnels to the national...

Aviation Industry

• Government guidance to the CAAAEF has responded to the government’s consultation ‘Department for Transport consultation on Guidance to the Civil Aviation Authority [CAA] on Environmental Objectives Relating to the Exercise of its Air Navigation Functions’. See government site for consultation document. Our response covers 4 different areas: * The guidance needs to address greenhouse gas emissions in line with the [...]
• United Pilot Seniority List Reflects Turmoil After US Airways Ruling
• Heathrow and Gatwick boosted by higher trafficAirports see strong passenger growth during August
• BA introduces hand baggage only fares at Heathrow and London CityAirline will offer lower fare on nine short-haul routes from Heathrow

Other News Sources

• Train company choo-chooses Bletchley man to be head of drivers Married Bletchley dad-of-two Terry Brissenden has taken on the new role of head of 600 drivers and managers at train company London Midland.
• Birmingham will be biggest economic winner of HS2 projectThe Birmingham Chamber of Commerce has reacted positively to recent research predicting that the West Midlands will be the greatest beneficiary of the High Speed 2 railway project.
• Out now: Issue 66 of Passenger TransportIssue 66 of Passenger Transport is published on September 13. Contents include:   LEAD STORY Bus regulation battles open up on three fronts Bus operators are now countering calls for buses to be regulated in England, Scotland and Wales, with the party conferences expected to fuel the debate   NEWS Scepticism over new Network Rail chief Decision to recruit former oil executive Mark Carne as new boss has led some to question whether there is enough railway experience at the top First’s dominance leads to calls for Swansea QC Concerns over First’s near-monopoly of local bus services has...
• ‘HS2 could deliver £15bn annual benefits’Research by KMPG provides evidence of economic payback The Department for Transport and HS2 Ltd have responded to growing criticism that the case for the planned high speed network is weak and unproven by publishing new research into its regional economic impacts. The research for HS2 Ltd by KPMG was cited in a speech by transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin as providing new evidence of the economic payback from the £50bn project. The study suggests that HS2 could benefit the economy by up to £15bn per year, and that the greatest impact would be on regional economies rather than London. It sh...
• Bus regulation battles open up on three frontsBus operators are now countering calls for buses to be regulated in England, Scotland and Wales, with the party conferences expected to fuel the debate The debate over the regulation of local bus services has reached its most intense level in years, with the industry now countering  calls for bus franchising in England, Scotland and Wales. Wales’ second city, Swansea, has become the latest authority to consider the use of Quality Contracts to seize back control of local bus services from local bus operators, following in the footsteps of West Yorkshire and Tyne & Wear in England. Meanwhile...
• Aircraft noise and Stanwell Moor demolition on Heathrow agendaHeathrow operators confirm demolition plans for Stanwell Moor as part of long-term expansion plans for third and fourth runway
• Overnight closures planned as part of scheme to improve M25M25 anti-clockwise carriageway to be closed for six nights between Sevenoaks and Godstone as £129m improvement project continues
• CAA confirms permanent 'listening out squawk' for FarnboroughA 'listening out squawk' covering Farnborough Airport is to be made permanent, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed today. The code was originally created as a short term measure to assist Farnborough LARS air traffic controllers during the London 2012 Olympics. It proved so successful, however, that it remained in place on a trial basis after the Games finished. The squawk will become permanent on 14 November 2013 and will become the tenth such code in operation in the UK.
• HS2 to boost UK economy by £15 billion per yearReport by KPMG lays out benefits of controversial rail project