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

Tuesday, 24 September 2013

BBC News

• HS2: 12 arguments for and against Labour has cast doubt on the future of HS2 but just what are the arguments for and against a new high-speed rail link between London and the north of England?
• Wonderground underground - MacDonald Gill's maps A century ago, travellers in the Tube tunnels deep below London's streets bore witness to a colourful creation on the platform walls - MacDonald Gill's Wonderground map. It was big, bold and bright - and full of visual humour.
• Extensive 20mph zones consideredThe public are asked to back plans to introduce 20mph speed limits on 90% of the roads in Birmingham.
• Tube station visiting record brokenTwo men break the world record by eight minutes for visiting all 270 stations on the London Underground network.
• Labour questions future of HS2Labour is questioning whether the HS2 rail project is "the best way to spend £50bn for the future of our country". Shadow chancellor Ed Balls told the party conference they still backed the idea of a new north-south rail link, but there could be no blank cheque.
• Cyclist dies after truck collisionA cyclist dies in hospital a week after she was involved in a collision with tipper truck in the City of London.
• Chrysler files papers for share saleUS carmaker Chrysler files papers for an initial public offering as its two biggest stakeholders continue to disagree on the terms of a merger.
• Heathrow Airport recreates departure day for a young man with autism The 21-year-old has severe autism and obsessive compulsive disorder, but has to negotiate the hectic bustle of Heathrow airport to attend Boston Higashi High School. To cater for him, staff have attempted to recreate the same conditions every time he flies.
• Norway uses waste as eco-friendly fuel Forget coal, oil, shale gas, even nuclear. The bin bag - full of your household waste - is becoming one of Norway's fuels of choice.

Financial Times

• Heathrow key to economy, says studyOne in 20 jobs in surrounding area are directly attributable to economic activity generated by west London airport, according to consultancy
• Yvette Cooper feels pressure over HS2Altofts opposition shows how grassroots opposition to HS2 is spreading and why Labour is apparently having rethink over rail link
• Air France-KLM: plight of the carriersInvestors in the French-Dutch carrier may feel the last thing executives need is distraction. Alitalia looks like an cadenza too far
• EU airline policy clash threatens global pactBrussels pushes to have emissions scheme endorsed by UN agency, in a move over which Brazil and US are highly critical
• Iata cuts airlines’ net profit outlookSlowing growth in emerging markets cited as reducing demand, but forecast for 2014 is more upbeat because of rising business and consumer confidence
• Delta and Virgin tie-up approvedThe two airlines expect to start co-ordinating their transatlantic schedules from next March, enabling them to offer more flights to customers

The Herald

• Campaign bid to help disabled train travellersDISABLED people in Scotland are missing out on a social life because of huge barriers to rail travel, says a new campaign group.

The Independent

• Labour Party conference: Ed Balls says party would review future of HS2 Ed Balls threw the future of the high-speed rail line into doubt on Monday night – and risked a clash with Ed Miliband – as he warned he was ready to veto the controversial £50bn scheme if Labour wins the next general election.    
• Fare business? Trying out Hailo, the mobile taxi app that’s taking over London Hailing a black cab in London used to be simple: you stood on the soggy pavement, stuck out a forlorn hand, and waited. Now, smartphone apps which use GPS to find your nearest taxi have changed all this. Hailo, the largest of these companies in London, announced today there have now been three million journeys made through the capital using its service.    
• Preston bus station gets listed status Preston’s under-threat brutalist bus station has been given Grade II-listed status by the Government.    

The Telegraph

• European Rail Traffic Management System explainedThe European Rail Traffic Management System will replace traditional railway signals with a computer display inside every train cab.    
• HS2 could be scrapped by a Labour governmentA high speed rail line between London and the North could be scrapped by a Labour government because costs have
• Ed Balls: no blank cheque for HS2 projectShadow chancellor Ed Balls says the High Speed 2 rail project has been

City AM

• Labour prepared to drop support for High Speed 2LABOUR yesterday hinted that it is willing to drop support for the High Speed 2 (HS2) railway between London and the north due to rising costs, throwing the future of the project into doubt. Ed Balls told a fringe event at the Labour...

Mail Online

• Labour could derail HS2: £50bn rail link will be axed if costs spiral our of control, vows BallsThe shadow chancellor appeared to withdraw Labour’s full-throated support for the project which it backed at the 2010 election.
• No economic vision! British Airways chief Willie Walsh blasts Cameron and OsborneThe chief executive of International Airline Group, owner of both British Airways and Spain’s Iberia, has previously sparred with the Government over its aviation policy but went a step further yesterday.
• What really drives us mad... late-breakers and bird poop! Poll finds our top 50 motoring bugbearsAs well as late-brakers, the top ten also includes high parking charges, being tailgated, potholes, drivers using mobiles, being cut up, high fuel costs, jams, motorcyclists weaving through traffic, and getting lost.

The Mirror

• Chancellor George Osborne and David Cameron told to 'cork it' on economy claimsBoss of British Airways Willie Walsh dismissed Osborne’s claims of economic recovery and said Prime Minister David Cameron lacked “vision”

Network Rail

• Expansion of university work placement scheme to build graduate pipeline for the futureNetwork Rail has today launched the search for around 100 graduates to join its 2014 graduate scheme and become future leaders of Britain’s rail industry. The company has also has expanded its one-year work placement programme for undergraduates to find and secure the best and brightest before they leave university.

Belfast Telegraph

• Labour 'may be losing nerve on HS2'Labour leaders could be
• HS2 must be value for money - BallsEd Balls has suggested the £50 billion earmarked for HS2 could be spent on housing and other transport projects, fuelling speculation that Labour is poised to pull backing for the scheme.    
• We'll maintain Belfast to London route, says British Airways chiefINTERNATIONAL Airlines Group chief executive Willie Walsh has reiterated the company's commitment to the Belfast City Airport to London Heathrow route.    

Birmingham Post

• Midland luxury car manufacturer Aston Martin comes second in Britain's coolest brand list Luxury manufacturer beaten by tech giant Apple according to annual survey
• Labour could be 'losing their nerve' over controversial HS2 project, says business leaderComment, from British Chambers of Commerce director general John Longworth, comes after speech by shadow chancellor Ed Balls at the Labour Party conference

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Parking fines for cycle lanes are proposed Inconsiderate drivers who park in cycle lanes could face fines under new plans being considered by councillors.

London Evening Standard

• Labour leader Ed Miliband warns airports chief over extra Heathrow runways Ed Miliband has warned the Government-appointed airports chief of Labour’s deep concerns over plans for a third runway at Heathrow, The Standard reveals today.
• Simon says: Spoilt for choice on long-haul flightsI am comparing prices on British Airways and Virgin Atlantic for summer 2014 flights from Heathrow to San Francisco, returning from Los Angeles to Heathrow. BA costs 10 per cent more but the web seems full of negative feedback from Virgin travellers. Who would you book with, Simon? — Steve Friend

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds trolleybus campaigners in rush hour placard protestCampaigners against the proposed Leeds NGT Trolleybus scheme say dozens of mature trees would be destroyed and precious green space lost, to make way for a 14.8 km electrified bus route.

Yorkshire Post

• Transport expert’s doubts on viability of HS2 ONE of the most senior members of the British transport industry has raised doubts over HS2 and claims that if the Government spent “a little less money, more quickly” on the existing railway infrastructure it would secure a better return.
• Labour threatens to shunt HS2 into sidingsED Balls has paved the way for a shock Labour U-turn over HS2 as the party switches its focus to winning support in the South.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Ipswich: Bus Wars II – The First empire strikes back!Just when you thought it was safe to get back on the bus, Ipswich is facing another battle between the area’s two largest transport companies.

West Sussex Gazette

• VIDEO: Work starts on Littlehaven Railway Station upgradesWork started on a £4.5m upgrade to Littlehaven Railway Station at the weekend.

Other Regional Press

• Preston Bus Station wins listed statusPreston’s iconic bus station has won listed status.
• Thames Estuary airport decision delay is 'hurting economic recovery', say Lord Digby Jones and Lord Mervyn DaviesTwo former trade ministers have warned a delay in deciding if a Thames Estuary hub airport should be build is damaging Britain's economic recovery.

Global Rail News

• Germany’s largest locomotive depot opens in NurembergDB Schenker Rail has officially opened its new locomotive depot in the south west of Nuremberg – touting it as the biggest freight loco workshop in the country. The depot,[...]
• EIB loan to support Warsaw-Radom line upgradeThe European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a €235 million loan to upgrade a section of track between Warsaw and Radom. The investment will see a second electrified line installed[...]
• Regiolis makes Lorraine debutLorraine has received its first Regiolis trainset, marking another milestone in the roll out of France’s next generation of regional trains. Lorraine, which has ordered 10 new trains, follows the[...]
• DB awarded consultancy role on Mecca-Medina high speed rail projectDB International has been appointed by the Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) to “review” the design and construction of the country’s first high-speed railway. The 450-kilometre double-track line, which will create[...]

Middle East North Africa (MENA) Rail News

• Rail Development in the Middle EastIntroduction The Middle East rail industry is growing rapidly, as the region focuses on building its rail infrastructure from the ground up. With almost $200billion being invested on new rail projects in the Middle East, there are a number of benefits to look forward to from this new rail boom. The engineering skills shortage continues […]The post Rail Development in the Middle East appeared first on MENA Rail News.

Aviation Industry

• Delta, Virgin Atlantic gain final regulatory approval for transatlantic JVDelta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Airways plan to operate a “harmonized schedule between New York JFK and London Heathrow” starting March 30, 2014, after receiving final antitrust clearance from the US government to launch a transatlantic joint venture (JV). read more
• Norwegian Air Shuttle summons Boeing to answer 787 reliability issues Scandinavian low-cost carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle has confirmed reports it has summoned Boeing management representatives to Oslo later this week to address reliability issues that have dogged the carrier’s two new Boeing 787 Dreamliners. read more
• Walsh defends BA-Iberia mergerIAG boss hits out at Spanish government over Iberia restructuring
• Deal over emissions trading faces crucial testMeeting of UN body set to determine plan for global airline emissions

Other News Sources

• Preston bus station: a brutalist masterpiece?On 15 December 2012 we published this gallery of images of Preston bus station, then under threat of demolition by the city council. Nine months later, on 23 September 2013, the building was saved when it was given grade II listed status.