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

Tuesday, 17 September 2013

BBC News

• Sustrans Cymru: 'Spend less on roads, more on cycling' Money needs to be taken away from building roads and used to create safer bike routes if Wales is to boost cycling, a transport charity says.
• Norfolk MPs tell minister of need for A47 upgrade A call for improvements to the A47 has been put by Norfolk MPs to a transport minister Stephen Hammond during his visit to the county.
• Carers for disabled passengers should fly for free, MPs say Carers should not be charged to fly if airline rules mean disabled people have to be accompanied, MPs have said.
• Rail interchange preparations beginPreparations begin to clear the way for a purpose-built transport interchange in Galashiels associated with the Borders to Edinburgh railway.
• Tube cleaners oppose finger scansLondon Underground cleaners are planning industrial action in protest against a new fingerprint recognition clocking in system, the RMT union says
• CBI calls for infrastructure boostBusiness lobby group the CBI urges the government to push ahead with big building projects, saying they are essential for economic recovery.
• Lindsey Inger death: Moor Bridge rail and tram footbridge built A footbridge has been built over a rail and tram crossing where three people have been killed. Relatives and friends of 13-year-old Lindsey Inger, who was killed by a tram in November, have campaigned for it.

The Guardian

• Part-time season tickets for rail commuters to be trialledCheaper season tickets for travel three to four days a week revealed by transport minster Norman BakerPart-time rail commuters will be able to buy cheaper season tickets for travel three to four days a week in a trial scheme announced by the transport minister, Norman Baker.The scheme, allowing part-time workers to benefit from similar discounts on monthly and annual passes, would be trialled on a major London commuter line next year. New

The Independent

• Developers fight over Brompton Road Tube station where Adolf Hitler's Nazi deputy Rudolf Hess was held A disused London Underground station that housed the command bunker for London’s anti-aircraft defences during the Second World War is at the centre of a multimillion-pound bidding war between the Qatari royal family and a mysterious Ukrainian billionaire.    

The Telegraph

• For motorists the problem of parking just gets biggerDrivers who find parking seems to get harder may attribute it to increasing age - but problem most likely lies in their car being too big.    
• Ban cars from town centres to save our shops, says transport ministerCars should be banned from high streets to help shops and encourage more people to walk, cycle and use public transport, minister says.    

Daily Express

• Nick Clegg pleas for free bus trips for teens, not OAPsTHE Lib Dem leader faced anger last night after calling for free bus passes for teenagers while threatening to strip millions of pensioners of the benefit.

Mail Online

• Season tickets for part-time workers 'will give passengers a better deal on the railways'New 'flexible' smart cards, like the Oyster card, allowing rail season ticket holders to pay only for the journeys they make are to be trialled next year, which will benefit part time workers.
• Train firms accused of 'blatantly rigging' compensation system for delays by pocketing £110million - TEN TIMES more than passengersRail unions said the firms were given more than £100million in compensation by Network Rail for delays caused by unplanned or over-running engineering works.

Network Rail

• Bridge improvement works begin in DinsdaleWork to allowing larger freight containers from Teesport to be transported by rail rather than road is underway in Dinsdale.
• Safety improvements at South Milford stationWork to improve passenger safety at South Milford Station begins next week (23 September)

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Shipley councillor slams National Express over pick-up point changesThe National Express coach firm has stopped picking up passengers in Bingley and Shipley on routes to and from London to dodge delays at Saltaire roundabout, a councillor has revealed.

London Evening Standard

• Minister: Network Rail has taken its eye off the ball over maintenanceRail chiefs have “taken their eye off the ball” on day-to-day maintenance, leading to passengers suffering delays on the network, transport minister Norman Baker said today.
• HS2 opponents to form political party for next electionOpponents of the controversial proposed high-speed rail project say they might form a political party to fight in the next general election.
• Now millions of part-time commuters will get benefit of season ticketsMillions of commuters will be able to buy part-time season tickets in a major shake-up of the way rail travel is paid for.
• First Capital Connect fined £75,000 as 800 passengers are left strandedA commuter rail company has been fined £75,000 for a rescue “shambles” after 800 passengers were left stranded on a train in the stifling heat in “intolerable” conditions.
• Simon says: New BA fee aimed to minimize luggageI read a short article in the Standard headlined “BA brings in £10 luggage charge”. I am flying with BA from Heathrow to Barcelona in October. Will I have to pay more?  Name withheld, Harrow

Manchester Evening News

• M.A.G and Ryanair sign ten-year growth agreement at London StanstedM.A.G and Ryanair have signed a ten-year growth agreement at London Stansted.

Sheffield Star

• South Yorkshire speed camera locations revealedSouth Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership has announced details of speed camera locations in the county from next Monday as follows.

The York Press

• Cyclists treat York Minster piazza ‘like slalom course’ Heritage watchdog says council could order bikers to dismount if problems continue.

Wales Online

• First Minister Carwyn Jones wants to get more people in Wales on their bikesNew conference launched to explore how the Welsh Government is promoting cycling

Carlisle News & Star

• Investigation into nuclear train derailment in Cumbria Emergency services have declared the incident closed after a nuclear train derailed in Cumbria today.

Doncaster Free Press

• South Yorkshire speed camera locations revealedSouth Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership has announced details of speed camera locations in the county from next Monday as follows.    

East Anglian Daily Times

• Tendring: MP hails A120 safety measures as victory for local campaignersVictory has been declared after it was announced that safety measures along a notorious stretch of road are set to be installed.

North Wales Live

• Ryanair says Stansted deal “won’t affect” services at Liverpool John Lennon AirportIrish carrier plans to cut capacity at some airports to allow growth at Stansted

Other Regional Press

• Innovations and technology nullifies Heathrow need, says Richmond MP Zac Goldsmith A massive increase in smaller, more fuel efficient planes during the next decade blows apart Heathrow’s argument for the need for a single hub airport, Zac Goldsmith has said.
• Stockton MP in call for cash for problem Teesside link roadMP for Stockton South James Wharton asked Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin to work with him 'to find a solution to make life a bit better' for his constituents
• Bus station delay ‘may be positive’ says campaignerThe fate of Preston’s iconic bus station remains in the balance after a Government minister delayed a decision on making it a listed building.
• Support for return to traffic trial in Canterbury as consultation launchesAs a public consultation starts today, transport bosses say support is already emerging for a return to the controversial traffic trial in Canterbury.
• Four options for reopening train line from Bedford to Cambridge revealed by RailfutureFour options to reopen the railway line from Bedford to Cambridge have been published by campaigners, who would prefer a new route via Cambourne.

Global Rail News

• Farringdon western entrance development wins planning approvalCrossrail has been granted planning permission to proceed with a new office and commercial development above Farringdon station’s western entrance. The site, which will cover more than 200,000 sq ft[...]
• King’s Cross countdown into single figuresNetwork Rail has released fresh images from behind the hoardings at King’s Cross, as it prepares to reveal the revitalised station. September 15 signalled the start of a 10-day countdown[...]
• SBB given green light to operate through Alps tunnelSwiss Railways (SBB) has been given approval to operate trains through the Simplon Tunnel underneath the Alps to Italy until 2017. SBB is now licensed to run trains through the[...]
• West Island Line trackwork completeEngineers in Hong Kong have completed the trackwork for the 3-kilometre West Island Line. The line, which will connect Kennedy Town in the west with Sheung Wan station in the[...]
• TBMs for Australia’s ‘longest rail tunnels’ to arrive next yearWork has started on the four 900-tonne TBMs for Sydney’s $8.3 billion North West Rail Link. The TBMs will arrive in Australia next year where they will set about constructing[...]
• Serco to operate Dubai tram networkDubai’s transport authority has awarded Serco a five-year contract to operate the city’s inaugural tram network. The £18 million contract will also include a 15-month preparatory period to allow for[...]
• First Auckland EMU to enter service in April 2014The first of Auckland’s new electric train fleet is set to start service in April next year. During a ceremony to unveil the new train last week, EMU project director[...]

Middle East North Africa (MENA) Rail News

• Middle Eastern Rail Networks Set to Double in Size by 2022In preparation of the FIFA World Cup, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) rail projects will double the Middle Eastern rail network by 2022. Including Iran and North Africa, there are currently 33, 404 km of railways in the region but a rash of building projects in the GCC worth $200 bn will add a further 33, […]The post Middle Eastern Rail Networks Set to Double in Size by 2022 appeared first on MENA Rail News.

Railnews

• King's Cross project marked by giant hashtag A Twitter hashtag has been used to mark the final stages of redeveloping the front of King's Cross station in London. The square which will replace the old 1970s concourse will open to the public next week, completing the £400 million upgrade of the station.

road.cc

• Bikes faster than public transport for most London journeys under 8 miles Bikes faster than public transport for most London journeys under 8 miles

Aviation Industry

• Easyjet expects boost from Amadeus initiativeCarrier unveils new system to encourage more TMC bookings
• Ryanair agrees expansion plan at StanstedNo-frills airline signs deal to increase traffic by 50 per cent within 10 years

Other News Sources

• Brighton design graduate's laser cycle gadget could save lives A bicycle light hailed as a major breakthrough in tackling one of the biggest causes of cycling deaths is going on sale worldwide.