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

Friday, 20 September 2013

BBC News

• Network Rail boss says HS2 'essential' Network Rail's chief executive David Higgins has told a conference looking at the HS2 rail link that the West Midlands "cannot do without" the controversial £42bn rail project.
• Train passenger watchdog welcomes ticket initiatives A train passenger watchdog has welcomed new government initiatives to improve ticketing and the way passengers with the wrong ticket are treated.
• Liverpool City Council considers scrapping bus lanes Bus lanes in Liverpool could be temporarily scrapped in the hope of reducing congestion in the city.
• Leeds trolleybus plans considered by government Plans to build a £250m trolleybus system in Leeds, the first of its kind in the UK, have been submitted to the government for scrutiny.
• Grimsby bus station transformation revealed Plans have been submitted for the redevelopment of Grimsby's bus station, as part of a £6m transformation of the town's transport system.
• £18.2m scheme to extend Blackpool tramway Blackpool's tram system is to be extended in an £18.2m scheme and work could begin in 2015.
• Southend station wheelchair fall not seen as crime No legal action is to be taken over an incident in which a woman in a wheelchair fell on to the track and fractured her hip at a railway station.
• VIDEO: Rail boss says HS2 'essential'Network Rail's chief executive David Higgins has told a conference looking at the HS2 rail link that the West Midlands
• Businesses rate roads 'very poor'Businesspeople believe the A9 and A96 are unsafe and that journeys on them take too long, according to new research.
• Clipper journey called off againAttempts to transfer the world's oldest surviving clipper ship from Scotland to Australia are delayed for a second day by adverse weather.
• Singapore Air, Tata plan new ventureIndian conglomerate Tata Group and Singapore Airlines plan to set up a new full-service airline in India, nearly 15 years after their last attempt failed.

Financial Times

• Lufthansa makes record German investmentAirline seeks to cut fuel costs with order for 59 jets, with a list price of €14bn, for long-haul routes as it responds to stiff competition
• Terminating HS2 before Euston consideredAs opposition to HS2 grows, Lord Deighton, infrastructure minister, the expensive tunnel into Euston could be cut by terminating the line in west London

The Herald

• Most Edinburgh trams tickets will cost same as bus faresTickets for Edinburgh trams will match bus fares within the city, it has been announced.

The Telegraph

• Stagecoach bus company apologises after pregnant woman carrying tins of paint ordered off busA bus company has apologised after a heavily pregnant woman was ordered off a bus in the pouring rain because she was carrying two tins of paint.    
• Motorists paying more than £30 million a month in parking finesMotorists are paying out over £30 million a month in parking fees after a dramatic increase in the number of tickets handed out by traffic wardens on a Sunday.    
• Dearest rail fares to be capped but will still cost more than a US flightTrain operators have agreed to cap the country's most expensive standard class ail tickets, but it will still cost more than the cheapest transatlantic flight.    

Network Rail

• £3.4 million upgrade of Fenchurch Street station beginsNational Express train operator c2c and Network Rail have begun a £3.4m joint project to create a new passenger exit at the flagship Fenchurch Street station.

Birmingham Mail

• Digbeth bosses fear HS2 'barrier' to city centre Business leaders say new station could isolate area and hit further expansion in Eastside

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Trains halted after reports of woman on tracks at Bradford Interchange Trains have been stopped temporarily at Bradford Interchange after a woman stepped off a platform onto the track.
• Airline pilot arrested at Leeds Bradford Airport is charged with being impaired by drink An airline pilot has been charged by police after he was arrested on suspicion of being drunk while in charge of a plane at Leeds Bradford Airport.

Liverpool Echo

• Liverpool train chaos as signal problems cause delays and cancellationsServices affected in and out of station as Northern Rail say replacement bus services in place
• Mayor Joe Anderson in city bus lane rowBus and taxi firms say a decision to suspend them temporarily will make congestion worse
• More cruise liners could be be based in Liverpool as city wows shipping chiefs Liverpool has had a successful revival as a passenger liner port over last six years

London Evening Standard

• City Airport in £200m plan to double passenger numbers by 2023London City Airport today unveiled plans for a £200 million expansion which would let it double its number of passengers over the next decade.

The York Press

• ‘Deathtrap’ fears over new contra-flow cycle lane A BUSINESSMAN has spoken out against a new road layout which he claims could be a “deathtrap” for cyclists.

This Is Local London Network

• Sutton MP peddles the virtues of cycling by joining St Philomena's bike group One of the borough's MPs saddled up to join young riders on a bike ride to promote the virtues of cycling.

Yorkshire Post

• Pilot ‘drunk at controls of dry aircraft’AN airline pilot is due to appear in court today charged with being drunk while at the controls of an aircraft at Leeds Bradford Airport.

Blackpool Gazette

• £16m tram jackpotA £16.4m windfall to extend Blackpool’s tramway from the Promenade to the resort’s main railway station was today welcomed by community leaders and transport campaigners.

Bucks Free Press

• HS2 tunnel spoil to be dumped in Chilterns AONB UP to 800,000 cubic metres of earth is set to be dumped in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as a result of building work on HS2, it emerged this week.

Doncaster Free Press

• Dearne cyclists urged to make bikes securePolice are urging residents in Mexborough, Conisbrough and Denaby to secure their bicycles when left outside their homes.    

East Anglian Daily Times

• Essex: Free transport to grammar schools could be axedFamilies on low incomes whose children go to grammar school could have their free school transport withdrawn under new proposals.
• Felixstowe: Railway station superstore gets the go-ahead – Tesco and Asda left disappointedTesco suffered a double blow yesterday as the supermarket giant saw a second superstore project rejected in just two days.

North Wales Live

• HS2 directors meet with Mayor to discuss high-speed rail's impact on Liverpool High-speed rail chief executive says scheme will bring
• Liverpool John Lennon Airport flights among most punctualAircraft turnaround performance by airport one of the best

Peterborough Telegraph

• Minister takes look at safety record of A47Concerns over the safety record of a major road in the Peterborough area are being heard in the corridors of power.

Other Regional Press

• Rail freight dream for GoodringtonA PROPOSAL to create a road-rail freight link at top tourist location Goodrington has been met with shock and surprise from community leaders.
• Rail company reveals bus plan during line project RAIL commuters between Oxford and Bicester will face more than a year of taking buses while the train line is revamped.
• Mayor Boris Johnson spends £1.4m on promoting ‘flight of fancy’ of Thames Estuary airportLondon Mayor Boris Johnson has poured £1.4m into his fight to get a huge airport built in the Thames Estuary.

Bus and Coach.com

• Edinburgh tram date announcedEdinburgh's tram service will start next May.
• More work needed on disabled accessThe government must work harder to improve accessibility for disabled people across the nation’s transport networks.
• First cuts back in PlymouthFirst is cutting back in Plymouth, reducing its fleet by 12 per cent from 110 to 97 buses.
• Clegg calls for youth concessionDeputy prime minister Nick Clegg has called for free bus travel for teenagers.
• NFC from Stagecoach in CambridgeStagecoach passengers in Cambridge can now get timetable information on their smartphones using near field communications (NFC).
• Irish bus market competition comingIn the first move towards opening up Ireland's bus market, the National Transport Authority plans to introduce competitive tendering for some routes which are operated by state-owned companies Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann from 2016.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• NEW HS2 CHAIRMAN DEFENDS PROJECT The new chairman of the HS2 Growth Taskforce Lord Deighton has discussed the benefits of the development today (September 19th).
• ICAO ASSEMBLY TO DISCUSS CLIMATE CHANGE Climate change will be the main topic of conversation at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) assembly.
• CONTAINER NUMBERS UP AT CHINA'S BEST PORTS The Journal of Commerce (JOC) has announced that China's top ten ports of 2012 all reported year-on-year growth in container volumes for July.
• MARINE FIRE EQUIPMENT 'DECADES OUT OF DATE' The German Insurance Association (GIA) believes many container vessels have outdated fire systems, according to Seatrade Global.

Global Rail News

• HS2 hits back at high-speed doubtersHS2′s head of engineering and operations said the project is not an “open cheque book” in response to a barrage of negative press coverage about the cost of the planned[...]
• Six killed in Ottawa level crossing collisionSix people have been killed after a VIA Rail train collided with a bus at a level crossing in Ottawa, Canada. The driver of the bus along with five other[...]
• France announces €15bn railway investment planFrench infrastructure manager RFF has announced a 15 billion euro plan to upgrade infrastructure, increase capacity and modernise technology on the country’s rail network. Projects include deploying GSMR and ERTMS[...]
• Works begins on new Fenchurch Street entranceConstruction work has started on a new £3.4 million entrance at Fenchurch Street station. The works, which are expected to take around six months, will see a new entrance and[...]

London TravelWatch

• Transport Select Committee report on access to transport for disabled people draws on London TravelWatch submissionThe House of Commons Transport Select Committee report on access to transport for disabled people draws on London TravelWatch submission to their inquiry.

Transport Focus

• Ticketing measures announcementThe passenger watchdog has welcomed today’s announcement by transport minister Norman Baker, of a pilot scheme where long-distance rail tickets will sold as singles to allow greater flexibility.

Aviation Industry

• Carpatair to start Luton flightsCarrier will fly to Moldova from December

Other News Sources

• British rail capacity like 'trying to run a motorway up a high street' The capacity challenge on Britain's rail network was today described as
• 'Drunk' pilot charged after Leeds Bradford airport arrestA Pakistan International Airlines pilot is charged with being drunk in charge of a plane, leaving 177 passengers stranded at Leeds Bradford airport.
• Travellers feel ‘out of pocket’ after business tripsReport highlights the stresses of corporate travel on employees

Other Subscription Services

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• Crossrail landmark as first tunnel completed Crossrail's first tunnel has been dug and a key project milestone reached with the arrival of tunnel boring machine Phyllis at Farringdon station.According to London's transport commissioner Peter...