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

Wednesday, 25 September 2013

BBC News

• Labour conference: Eagle on rail ticket fare changes [video]Fares are too confusing and there should be a cap on rises with a "new deal for passengers", the shadow transport secretary told the Labour conference.
• Labour 'supports' high-speed lineLabour's spokeswoman reiterates support for the proposed HS2 rail link, after shadow cabinet members raised doubts about the project.
• HS2: 12 arguments for and againstHow would a high-speed rail link affect cities?
• Victoria Line Tube strike suspendedA strike by London Underground train drivers on the Victoria Line is suspended.
• Bus journeys in England fall 1.4%There were 70 million fewer journeys on England's buses last year, a fall of 1.4%, according to new government figures.

Financial Times

• Carnival chairman looks back on disasterA fire perhaps, or a disaster resulting from bad weather, but a Carnival ship running aground was not among events that chairman feared
• High-speed project faces Labour scrutinyAn incoming Labour government would immediately put the contentious High Speed 2 rail scheme under review, senior party figures have confirmed
• Safety review opens on North Sea helicoptersRegulators have launched a wide-ranging safety review of helicopter operations in the North Sea after five offshore accidents since 2009

The Herald

• Drivers in West of Scotland rack up most pointsMOTORISTS in the west of Scotland are among the most likely in the UK to have penalty points on their licence, according to a survey.
• Review of North Sea helicopter safety launched after fatal crashA REVIEW of offshore helicopter operations in the North Sea is being launched in the wake of the latest fatal crash, with experts set to compare the UK's safety record against Norway.
• Peer urges Labour to stick with HS2Former transport secretary Lord Adonis warned Labour not to ditch its principles for short-term political gain, amid speculation it will drop its support for HS2.
• Pledge to put rail travellers before profitRail passengers will be put before profit under a Labour government to

Reuters News

• Jaguar Land Rover to open new £100 million R&D centre in UK in 2016LONDON (Reuters) - British carmaker Jaguar Land Rover on Tuesday said it plans to open a 100 million pounds ($160 million) research and development centre in the UK in 2016 to create the next generation of vehicle technologies.

Daily Express

• It’s war at the pumps as Asda slashes petrol prices to 131.7pA FUEL pump war broke out yesterday as Asda slashed forecourt prices to the cheapest in Britain.

Network Rail

• Network Rail retail sales continue to outperform the marketNetwork Rail today released station retail sales results showing a 6.4% growth in like-for-like sales from April to June 2013. In the same period high street sales, reported by the British Retail Consortium, increased by 0.4%, meaning retail sales in stations continue to outperform the high street.
• Network Rail reveals investment plan to improve performance on East Coast main lineNetwork Rail today revealed details of an investment plan of £15m, aimed at improving the reliability of the infrastructure and punctuality of train services on the East Coast main line.
• Network Rail retail sales continue to outperform the marketNetwork Rail today released station retail sales results showing a 6.4% growth in like-for-like sales from April to June 2013. In the same period high street sales, reported by the British Retail Consortium, increased by 0.4%, meaning retail sales in stations continue to outperform the high street.

Belfast Telegraph

• BA slams 'greedy' HeathrowAirport aims to increase levy by extra £4 per passengerHEATHROW Airport's biggest customer has levelled damning criticism of management at the London hub which it accuses of needlessly ramping up the cost of flights through the airport.    

London Evening Standard

• London architect may be forced to move out if HS2 goes aheadAn architect has been told he may have to move out of the multi-million-pound home he designed for himself, to make way for the construction of tunnels for the proposed high-speed rail link.
• Labour asks rail firms to strike ‘new deal’ and cap fare risesRailchiefs were today urged to “voluntarily” ditch huge fare hikes next year and stop “clobbering” commuters with high parking charges at stations.
• British Airways chief Willie Walsh: Sack Heathrow boss over rip-off chargesBritish Airways chief Willie Walsh today called on the boss of “inefficient” Heathrow to be sacked in an extraordinary clash over landing charges.
• HS2 'will not need blank cheque'Promoters of the £50 billion HS2 high-speed rail scheme have never asked for a blank cheque and will not need one, the head of the project will say.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds and Yorkshire: Green light for savings at pump as duo cut pricesMotorists in Yorkshire are being given an autumn boost after two UK supermarkets agreed to drop fuel prices from today.

Bucks Free Press

• Balls vows 'no blank cheque' for HS2 SHADOW Chancellor Ed Balls said the controversial High Speed 2 rail project will not be given 'a blank cheque' if Labour wins the next General Election.

Plymouth Herald

• Always a good night's sleep on trainI WOULD like to add to Baroness Fookes' accolade to First Great Western's services which I use increasingly since becoming an OAP! As a previous sleeper customer I have experienced both sharing and individual berths on the Plymouth to Paddington and vice-versa trips and never failed to have a decent sleep!
• Rail wifi is up to operators, says ministerTHE Government is encouraging the installation of wifi on trains – but can't guarantee it.

Other Regional Press

• PICTURE GALLERY: Transport Minister Norman Baker officially opens the Luton Dunstable BuswayAFTER 20 years of planning, the controversial £91 million Luton Dunstable Busway has been officially opened by Transport Minister Norman Baker.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Big ships don't always result in faster handlingDrewry has suggested larger ships do not strictly result in faster loading times.From its own research, it states the current trend towards larger vessels does not automatically offer similar improvements in handling times at ports.According to the consultants: "For shipping lines, what matters is turnaround time from vessel arrival to vessel departure - and essentially this means berth moves per hour across the ship."It further argues that cranes are also important, as the number of gantry cranes available across the ship will help with loading and unloading. As a result, lo...

Global Rail News

• Network Rail begins second phase of ERTMS testingNetwork Rail has entered the next phase of its ERTMS trials. Britain’s infrastructure manager has begun testing Infrasig’s trackside equipment, having completed initial trials with SSL technology. Network Rail is[...]
• Railway reopens between Russia and North KoreaA railway line linking Hasan, Russia, with Rajin, North Korea, has reopened following a 9 billion rouble reconstruction. President of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin and North Korean Railways Minister Chung[...]
• Quebec government confirms Blue line extensionThe Government of Quebec has announced plans to start preliminary work on an extension of Montreal Metro’s Blue line. AMT has been awarded a contract worth $38.8 million to carry[...]

Aviation Industry

• Airlines: Who Did DOJ Interview On Merger?Fort Worth-based American Airlines and US Airways want to know whom the government interviewed before it sued to block the airlines' merger, and what those people said.
• Virgin and Delta given clearance for transatlantic ventureAirlines will “harmonise” schedules on Heathrow to New York route

Other News Sources

• Chance to have your say on proposals to change bus services A group which fights for better public transport is holding a meeting in light of proposals to change bus services in the Harborough district.
• Toyota Prius Plug-in makes Southern Rail link-up Public transport is still one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly ways to travel: but its problem is that it can only rarely take you to the doorstep of where you want to go. So imagine then if public transport linked up with a low emissions car club to offer the best of both worlds.
• No Go Britain: wheelchair user wins landmark victoryA disabled man wins a discrimination case against a transport company which refused to let him board a bus because a parent with a buggy was occupying the wheelchair space, writes Kate Ansell.