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

Tuesday, 08 October 2013

BBC News

• Mayor questions railway delayThe Mayor of Derry is to meet the transport minister a delay on the upgrade to the city's railway line.
• Manchester tram route's green lightPlans for a second tram crossing through Manchester are approved by Government.
• VIDEO: 'A very, very big deal for Airbus'Aerospace industry analyst Howard Wheeldon says Airbus's first deal with Japan Airlines is
• VIDEO: 'We need to expand runway capacity'The south-east of England will need more runway capacity in the years to come, the head of the Airports Commission has said.
• VIDEO: Mega ship ruling the trading wavesAs the world's largest cargo ship arrives in the UK, BBC Newsnight reports on how ultra-large container vessels have changed the face of international trade.
• VIDEO: Airbus takes on Boeing in JapanAirbus knocks down Boeing's decades-long dominance in Japan as it announces a landmark deal with Japan Airlines.
• Airbus in $9.5bn Japan Airlines dealAircraft manufacturing giant Airbus announces a $9.5bn (£5.9bn) deal with Japan Airlines, its first with the carrier, to sell 31 of its A350 planes.
• Extra runway capacity 'needed'The south-east of England will need more runway capacity in the years to come, the head of the Airports Commission says.
• MPs question economic case for HS2A committee of MPs concludes there are serious doubts about whether a new high speed rail link will offer value for money.

Financial Times

• Maersk sees Arctic shipping 20 years awayNortheast and northwest passages can cut journey times between Atlantic and Pacific ports but both routes still have problems with ice and insurance
• Airports body warns new runways neededSir Howard Davies, chairman of the Airports Commission, rejects arguments put forward by those opposed to new runways in the southeast
• Airbus seals landmark deal with JALJapanese carrier announces $9.5bn to deal to buy 31 Airbus A350 XWBs, dealing a further blow to US rival Boeing’s ambitions in Asia

The Herald

• 200 trucks stand by for winter conditionsAlmost 200 vehicles are ready to start spreading salt and ploughing trunk roads to keep traffic moving in Scotland this winter.
• Train drivers in strike vote over 6.4% pay riseA WAR of words has broken out between ScotRail and the train drivers' union as a pay dispute threatens to cause severe disruption to rail users across a large area of Scotland.
• New crackdown on motorists in city bus lanesSCOTLAND'S largest local authority is preparing to roll out a batch of high-tech supercameras capable of catching 50 times as many motorists driving illegally as standard road traffic cameras.

The Independent

• We need additional capacity': Airports chief Sir Howard Davies clears the fog (a little) over airport expansion for South East England He confirmed to The Independent that it was possible he could propose both a second runway at Gatwick and a third runway at Heathrow

The Telegraph

• MP calls for councils to cut yellow linesNorman Baker has urged local authorities to reduce the 'eyesore' of yellow lines in UK towns.    
• Homeowners should be compensated for airports 'blight'A compensation scheme for homeowners who face two years of

Daily Record

• Six cars used to transport Scottish Government ministers around the country have been caught speeding in the last three years THE speeding incidents have taken place on the notorious A9, the A82 and A90. A Scottish Government spokesman says they are isolated incidents and drivers receive advanced training.

Mail Online

• Heathrow runway hint as airport tsar backs expansion: New runways WILL have to be built in the South East of England warns Britain's airports chairSir Howard Davies’ findings boost the chances of controversial expansion at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, and keep afloat the idea of a Boris island in the Thames Estuary.

Network Rail

• Network Rail Consulting wins contract on North West Rail Link in Sydney, AustraliaNetwork Rail Consulting has been appointed by Transport for New South Wales as independent safety assessor for the design and delivery of the NSW Government’s high priority rail project, the North West Rail Link in Sydney (NWRL).
• ‘Lifetime railwayman’ Chris Gibb to join Network Rail as non-executive directorNetwork Rail has today announced the appointment of one of Britain’s most experienced rail industry figures, Chris Gibb, as a non-executive director.

Birmingham Post

• Birmingham business conference to help firms land HS2 contracts ICC event designed to inform companies on how to compete for and win work on the major infrastructure programme in the UK.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Roads closed and rail services halted in North Wales because of unsafe electricity pylon100m exclusion zone is put up around the tower after it is decided the structure poses a risk to the public

Derby Telegraph

• RJohnson_dt published Rolls-Royce welcomes Japan Airlines orderDERBY aero engine-maker Rolls-Royce has welcomed an aircraft order placed by Japan Airlines which will result in the firm supplying the engines. The airline has ordered 31 Airbus A350 aircraft, for which Rolls-Royce is the sole engine supplier. It also has an option on a further 25 aircraft. The cost of the engine deal has not yet been disclosed but it is likely that it could be worth hundreds of millions of pounds. Japan Airlines has ordered two variants of the A350 - the A350-900 and the...

London Evening Standard

• HS2 project 'should be put on hold'The HS2 rail link between London and the North should be put on hold, a powerful Commons committee has recommended as it warned of "serious shortcomings" in the project's research.

Northern Echo

• Day of Westminster intrigue sees three main parties shuffle their packs Scarborough and Whitby MP Robert Goodwill was promoted to junior transport minister, although it was unclear whether he would be responsible for high-speed rail.
• Durham Tees Valley Airport master plan ready for take off A BLUEPRINT to ensure the survival of scheduled passenger flights from Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTVA) will be published within weeks – amid fears that holiday charter flights could be sacrificed.
• History of Durham Tees Valley Airport's grand plans AS fresh plans to develop Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTVA) are due to be published, Joe Willis looks back at previous schemes which failed to take off.

Yorkshire Post

• MPs call for brakes to be put on HS2 rail linkThe multi-billion pound HS2 rail link between London and the North should be put on hold owing to “serious shortcomings” with the project, a powerful committee of MPs warns today.

Doncaster Free Press

• Doncaster residents to be quizzed on cycling strategyDoncaster Council is asking residents for their views on a new proposed cycle strategy for the borough.     

North Wales Live

• Airbus hails £6bn order as largest ever Deal expected to give jobs boost to wing factory in Broughton, near Chester

Other Regional Press

• Wakefield MP Mary Creagh becomes shadow transport secretaryWakefield MP Mary Creagh has been appointed as shadow transport minister in a reshuffle of the Labour party’s shadow cabinet.
• Help appeal at railway stationCome to help at Penistone Railway Station

Railnews

• National Express shortlisted for third German franchise NATIONAL EXPRESS has been shortlisted as a potential operator for the Berlin Ringbahn, which is part of the German capital's suburban network and a broad equivalent of London Overground. It is currently operated by Deutsche Bahn. The Group has just signed two other German franchises.
• All change at Virgin as top managers move on Virgin Trains chief executive Tony Collins and chief operating officer Chris Gibb are leaving the company within a month or so. Chris Gibb will then become a non-executive director of Network Rail. Tony Collins said it was the 'right time' to hand over to a new management team, with the decision over the next longer-term West Coast Main Line franchise scheduled for 2017. He will remain as a consultant to Virgin Rail Group.

road.cc

• Minister for cycling Norman Baker leaves DfT in reshuffle, Maria Eagle loses Labour shadow transport role Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Kramer and Tory MP Robert Goodwill join DfT team

Aviation Industry

• South-east needs more runways – Airports CommissionChairman Davies reveals the commission’s “provisional conclusion”

Other News Sources

• Norman Baker departs DfT after three and a half years as Baroness Kramer arrives Lib Dem peer, infrastructure finance advisor and former London Mayoral candidate Baroness Kramer has been appointed as minister for transport.
• Labour reshuffle: changes in housing and transport Shadow housing minister Jack Dromey has been replaced by former the former shadow Europe minister in Labour’s frontbench reshuffle.
• Easyjet and Sabre unveil enhanced booking platformAllocated seating and baggage can now be booked through GDS