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

Thursday, 26 September 2013

BBC News

• Committee proposes privatising part of NI public transport network A cross-party Stormont report yet to be made public will recommend privatising part of Northern Ireland's public transport network.
• King's Cross Square opens to the public The final stage of the £550m redevelopment of London's King's Cross station has been completed.
• AUDIO: Can cyclists and drivers co-exist?BBC Scotland's John Beattie meets a group of cyclists in Glasgow to hear their experiences of Scotland's roads.
• New chairman named for HS2 firmNetwork Rail chief executive Sir David Higgins is to take over next year as chairman of HS2 Ltd, the Department for Transport says.
• HS2 chairman seeks all-party backingThe newly appointed chairman of the HS2 rail link tells the BBC it is essential the £50bn scheme has cross-party support in Parliament.

Financial Times

• Alexander hints at delay to HS2 legislationTreasury chief secretary casts doubt on HS2 timetable by saying the government intends to get the funding bill ‘well on its way’ before the election
• Airbus to pitch lighter A330 for AsiaEuropean group hopes to extend life of best-selling wide-body passenger jet with a new version of the A330-300 aimed for domestic and regional routes
• Ryanair woos business travellersThe Irish airline takes the first of these steps by allowing business customers to purchase flights with an American Express card

The Guardian

• Labour conference votes to renationalise railways and Royal MailLeftwing policy unlikely to find its way onto 2015 manifesto as senior sources dismiss unanimous vote of members

The Herald

• Rail policy leads to clash at conferenceTHE Labour leadership clashed with the trade unions as conference unanimously voted in two separate union-backed motions to renationalise the railways and the Royal Mail.

The Independent

• 'Captain Invisible' replaced: Sir David Higgins named as new HS2 chiefThe Government’s determination to press ahead with its £42.7bn high-speed rail project was laid bare when the man dubbed “Captain Invisible” was dumped as chairman in favour of the knight who led the construction of the London 2012 Olympic Park.     

The Telegraph

• Fury as new HS2 boss to be paid nearly £600,000 a yearGrant Shapps has admitted that businesses have to come up with

Mail Online

• New boss hired to get High Speed Rail back on track as ministers admit laws might not be passed by 2015Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander today appeared to put the brakes on project when he suggested vital legislation might not be passed by 2015.
• Both pilots asleep in the cockpit of a packed plane (but don't worry, it was on autopilot)A packed passenger jet was left flying on autopilot when both pilots fell asleep at the controls last month on an Airbus 330.

Network Rail

• Brighton main line passengers advised of Christmas service changes as railway investment continuesPassengers who use the Brighton main line between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and the south coast are being advised of changes to train services over the Christmas and New Year period.
• Level crossing production helps raise safety awareness in PortsmouthA youth group will help to highlight the need to stay safe on level crossings when it performs in a Portsmouth school this week.
• Start of a new chapter for King’s Cross - London’s newest public space is declared openEMBARGOED UNTIL THURSDAY 26 SEPTEMBERKing’s Cross Square is officially opened by Secretary of State for Transport, Mayor of London and Network Rail chief executiveNew 75,000 sq ft King’s Cross Square is the final part of the £550m redevelopment of King’s Cross station Redevelopment has helped to attract £2.2bn of private investment into a previously largely derelict and disused 67 acre site, including 2,000 new homes

Airwise News

• Boris Johnson: cable car numbers crunchThe London mayor needs more passengers to use one of his signature transport projects if its cost is going to be justified
• Boris Johnson: cable car numbers crunchThe London mayor needs more passengers to use one of his signature transport projects if its cost is going to be justified

Belfast Telegraph

• Donnelly's top Italian job for UK Fiat salesIT'S a real 'Fiat Accompli' for a Northern Ireland car showroom which recorded the highest volume of sales for two brands of Italian motors across the whole of the UK last month.    

London Evening Standard

• Check-in luggage problems at T5British Airways passengers with check-in luggage were unable to fly from Heathrow's Terminal 5 (T5) due to a computer problem.
• New chief named for HS2 rail schemeThe under-fire £50 billion HS2 high-speed rail project is to get a new chairman in the new year - at an annual salary of £591,000.

Northern Echo

• Union clashes with the Government over potential foreign involvement in the East Coast Mainline A UNION has blamed “Tory dogma” for the decision to re-let the East Coast Mainline to a private operator - as speculation mounts that an international bidder may put itself in the frame to take over the reins.
• High-speed rail project will see parts of the North receive a worse rail service, report warns A CONTROVERSIAL high-speed rail project could see parts of the North receive a worse rail service, a report has warned.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post published Tram bridge to be moved into placeMEMBERS of the public are invited to watch a giant tram bridge being moved into place outside the QMC.The 62-metre 1,000 tonne steel arched bridge will take trams from the city over the ring road and towards the University of Nottingham.Using state-of-the-art transporters, the bridge will be jacked up six feet by the end of the week and moved into position on Saturday evening.A special viewing area will be made available in the hospital's staff car park off South Road, from 8pm.Councillor Jane...

Wales Online

• Cardiff Airport reveals operating loss of £1.7mLoss, which relates to period before airport bought by Welsh Government, blamed on 16% fall in passenger numbers after withdrawal of bmiBaby in 2011

Yorkshire Evening Post

• West Yorkshire: Transport plans set to be given green lightTHE green light is expected to be given today to a £145 million package of transport measures for West Yorkshire.

Yorkshire Post

• New HS2 chairman on track for pay packet of almost £600,000The under-fire £50bn HS2 high-speed rail project is to get a new chairman in the new year – at an annual salary of £591,000.

Blackpool Gazette

• Cyclists – friend or foe?A community stalwart says he fears a pedestrian could be seriously injured or even killed by cyclists riding on pavements.

Crewe Chronicle

• Manchester Airport boss wants better train link to Crewe Manchester Airport aviation chief lobbying for improved rail links to Crewe

North Wales Live

• Liverpool's Green group bid to keep bus lanes Opposition councillors in Liverpool plan to try to block controversial plans to scrap city bus lanes
• Video: HS2 - It's not just about the speed, says director Duncan Sutherland spoke about the benefits of the HS2 rail project

Northamptonshire Telegraph

• Train company to join in national coffee morningA train company has said it is joining in a charity coffee morning later this week.    

Reading Evening Post

• End of the road in sight for Reading's redundant street signsTransport officers have begun a survey of streets across Reading borough to identify pointless signs which should be ditched

Other Regional Press

• Cranfield University launches new bus to Bedford and Milton Keynes AND it has free wifiA NEW bus service connecting Bedford and Milton Keynes via Cranfield University has also opened its doors to the public.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Fewer buses - higher fares - Annual Bus Statistics25 September 2013: Yesterday the annual bus statistics for England 2012/13 were released by the Department for Transport. The DfT release these stats every year and they often provide stark reading about the state of the nation’s buses. read more

Railnews

• Higgins to take the reins at HS2 Network Rail's present chief executive is to take over as the chairman of HS2 in the New Year as the successor to Doug Oakervee, who is standing down. David Higgins will join HS2 Ltd on 1 January on a part time basis before taking up the post full time from March. Mr Oakervee is remaining at his desk for now to oversee the introduction of the Government™s Hybrid Bill before the end of this year.

Aviation Industry

• Ryanair targets business travellers with card dealNo frills airline says it will now accept American Express cards

Other News Sources

• Campaigners say 'diabolical' cycle links to Foxton railway station must be tackled first Cycling campaigners agreed a “diabolical” off road path stretching from Shepreth to Foxton should be transformed to kickstart improvements to Cambridge to Royston cycle links.
• Campaigners urge East Lancs council to follow London's '20mph' trend A VOTE by councillors in The City of London for a 20mph limit for all roads should prompt Blackburn with Darwen to take the same action, campaigning Liberal Democrat David Foster said last night.
• Cyclists offered free maintenance checks in Blackburn Town Hall CYCLISTS are invited to bring their bicycles to the CONNECT roadshow on Friday.