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

Friday, 11 October 2013

BBC News

• Transport ministers to debate airline compensation Transport ministers in Brussels are beginning talks aimed at reforming airline compensation.
• Aberdeen yard targeted in 30 tonne rail theft About 30 tonnes of rail has been stolen from a railway yard in Aberdeen. British Transport Police said it was likely a lorry was used to remove the rail, which is worth several thousands pounds, from Kittybrewster Retail Park between 04:00 and 05:00.
• First trial whisky train sets off from Speyside A trial has begun to transport whisky from Speyside to central Scotland by rail.
• Thailand: Buying high-speed rail with rice Thailand is to hand over rice and rubber in part-payment for its new high-speed rail system, it's reported.
• Cycle Alert sensors aim to cut crashes in York Buses in York are to be fitted with a device that lets bus drivers know if cyclists are close to their vehicles.
• Leeds to York rail electrification bid launched in Harrogate A bid to improve train services on the Leeds to York line by electrification before the end of the decade, is to be launched in North Yorkshire.
• Driving test age rise considered for teenagers Teenagers could have to wait a year longer than currently before they are allowed to take their driving test.
• Canal project wins £160,000 grantA project to help restore a 200-year-old canal which crosses the Wales-England border receives £160,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
• Ski routes return to Cardiff AirportSkiing destinations are returning to Cardiff Airport following a three-year absence after airline Flybe announces four new winter routes to France and Switzerland.
• Flights resume after runway incidentFlights in and out of Aberdeen International Airport resume after an air ambulance left the runway while taxiing.
• Key rail tunnel to close for revampA section of the main rail line between Edinburgh and Glasgow will close for more than a month for upgrade work to a tunnel, it is confirmed.
• Fresh glitches hit Boeing DreamlinerJapan Airlines says it has turned around two of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft during flights due to technical problems.
• Alitalia to get aid from post officeThe debt-ridden Italian airline Alitalia is to receive a capital injection from Italy's state-owned post office, as it tries to avoid bankruptcy.

Financial Times

• Italy taps post office to rescue AlitaliaReports Poste Italiane might take €75m stake while government would offer €75m credit guarantees and a further shareholder capital increase

The Herald

• City on-street parking costs drivers £8.7mMOTORISTS in Scotland's biggest city paid out £8.7 million in on-street parking charges during the past financial year.
• £18.5m to be spent on A9 upgradeDRIVERS on Scotland's notorious A9 road are expected to benefit from £18.5 million of spending on safety works and maintenance over the next two years.
• Tunnel upgrade will close line for 44 daysA SECTION of the main rail line between Edinburgh and Glasgow will close for more than a month while a tunnel is upgraded.

The Telegraph

• Driving age could rise to 18 under new proposalsReport sets out options which could see new restrictions for newly qualified drivers including ban on night driving    
• Borders checks could create new airport queuesAirline passengers could face lengthy queues at the departure gates when a raft of new border checks are introduced in 18 months, it has emerged.    

Mail Online

• World's top 10 best-designed airports revealed including a giant 'flying saucer terminal'Offering a gateway to far-flung destinations 10 airports around the world, from Madrid to Osaka, Uruguay to Marrakesh, have been singled out by experts as the best-designed on the globe.

Network Rail

• Improving overhead line reliability on the West Coast Main LineNetwork Rail is delivering a major investment programme to reduce delays caused by overhead line failures on the busiest section of the West Coast Main Line.

London Evening Standard

• Driving test age rise consideredTeenagers face having to wait an extra year before being allowed to take a driving test under proposals being looked at by the Government.
• Power outage hits Stansted flightsFlights at Stansted airport were disrupted today by a power outage. 
• David Cameron's rail fares pledge may cost passengers moreDavid Cameron’s pledge to cap next year’s biggest rail fare increases came under fire today when it emerged that some passengers may end up paying more as a result.
• Letters: Train fares don’t have to riseTHE annual furore over rail fare rises is more piquant this year after the revelation that the government-owned Directly Operated Railways (DOR), which runs East Coast Main Line services, has made £200 million for taxpayers.

Sheffield Telegraph

• City rail link bid could hit buffersSheffield’s ambitions for a high speed train station in the city centre could be derailed by neighbouring authorities.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• ‘A9 cameras could save 2 lives a year’TWO lives could be saved each year by installing average-speed cameras on the notorious A9 Inverness-Perth road, Transport Minister Keith Brown said yesterday.

The York Press

• Mallard returns to National Railway Museum to prepare for starring role THE world’s fastest steam engine is back home after a tour of the East Coast main line to mark the 75th anniversary of her record-breaking run.

Wales Online

• New train line to boost transport connections through Rhymney Valley A multi-million pound rail network in South Wales will see improvements to journey times and train frequency in the Rhymney Valley.
• Union to ballot its First Great Western train staff on action Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union at First Great Western, which runs services between London and South Wales, will vote.
• Four new air routes announced from Cardiff Airport to Alps ski destinationsFlybe to fly from Cardiff to Geneva, Chambery, Grenoble and Lyon from December to April

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Axe threat for Leeds market town’s airport busA bus link that runs from the airport to a Leeds market town could be axed.
• Video: Prime Minister tours YEP offices during Leeds visitPrime Minister David Cameron hailed better transport links as the way to fuel the economy of Leeds during a visit to the city

Blackpool Gazette

• MP on track for new roleBlackpool South MP Gordon Marsden today pledged to continue the fight for better transport links for the resort after being given a key new role on Labour’s front bench.

Bucks Free Press

• HS2 consultation events to take place next week A CONSULTATION of Chilterns residents over the botched HS2 compensation package will take place in Great Missenden next week.

Doncaster Free Press

• Bus repainted in orginal Doncaster Corporation liveryAn eyecatching bus will be launched onto the streets of Doncaster tomorrow to celebrate more than 90 years of motorbuses in Doncaster.     

East Anglian Daily Times

• East Anglia: Flexible season tickets for part-time commuters could be available within two yearsThe region’s part-time commuters could benefit from a new flexible rail season ticket within the next few years.
• Suffolk: Hold-ups in Norfolk slow down evening trainsPoor rail conditions are causing minor delays to trains this evening.
• Brandon: Level crossing failure closes major roadThe A1065 in Brandon has been closed in both directions following the failure of railway crossing.

Other Regional Press

• Aircraft overshot runway at Aberdeen International AirportAN AIRCRAFT overshot the runway at Aberdeen International Airport today.

Global Rail News

• Agreement reached on EU rail safety certification proposalThe European Commission’s Transport Council has reached a ’general approach agreement’ on plans to simplify the safety approval process across the continent. MEPs are discussing plans to create a Single[...]
• Westermo puts sustainability on the agenda in upcoming eventThree key principles of any successful modern railway – safety, sustainability and security – form the basis of a Westermo-sponsored industry seminar to be held at the end of this[...]
• Trenitalia opens Verona maintenance depotTrenitalia has opened a new maintenance depot in Verona that will oversee work on Italy’s regional train fleet. The €5 million site features two electrified 365-metre tracks and will, according[...]
• Ottawa already planning light rail extensionOttawa has launched its ’Stage 2′ rail development plan which sets out proposals to extend the $2.1 billion Confederation Line further east and west. Although preliminary tunnelling works have only[...]
• Siemens to supply 74 Inspiro metros to RiyadhSiemens is to build 74 Inspiro trains for Riyadh’s new metro system – the biggest project of its kind in the world. As well as supplying rolling stock, Siemens will[...]
• Japan to support Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail studyIndia and Japan have agreed to carry out a joint feasibility study into building a new high-speed railway between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Katsuo Matsumoto, Director South Asia Division Japan International[...]

Railnews

• South Wales Metro included in major spending plan The Welsh Government has unveiled plans to invest £62 million in rail and other public transport routes in the Valleys area of South Wales, and work could begin this year. Routes likely to be opened or restored include a light rail system in Cardiff and the rebuilding of some former railway lines.

Green Miscellany

• Chameleon cars: Paint that changes colour in the rainNext time you are sitting in a queue of traffic on a rainy day, do not be surprised if the car in front changes colour. Much to the frustration of authorities, but the glee of custom car fans, a Yorkshire-based company, Auto Kandy, has unveiled a new type of heat-sensitive paint that can be applied to any vehicle with dramatic…

Other News Sources

• Work begins on second platform at Cheltenham Racecourse train station WORK has began on a historic railway platform in Cheltenham, where trains used to transport race horses.
• Improving the North East's transport links will boost economyDirect airport links from the North East of England to North American markets will significantly boost economic growth, a think tank suggests.
• Red Road roundabout scheme 'still in its infancy'Safety measures for dangerous road between Camberley and West End are
• New postcodes in Ireland will help ‘deliver’ better servicesFreight Transport Association Ireland (FTAI) has greeted the announcement that a new national postcode will be implemented in the State by 2015. ...