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

Saturday, 19 October 2013

BBC News

• £107m link road to M4 is openedA £107m project linking Port Talbot and the docks to the M4 is opened by First Minister Carwyn Jones.
• Rural fuel cut bid leaves out WalesAn application for a 5p per litre cut in fuel duty in rural areas will not include anywhere in Wales.
• Ship trackers 'vulnerable to hacks'A system used globally to track marine activity is highly vulnerable to hacks and exploitation, security experts warn.
• Tram works in city centre come to endDisruption caused by 18 months of tram works in the west end of Edinburgh is to end on Saturday when affected streets are reopened to traffic.
• New Crossrail station gets approvalA new two-level Crossrail station is approved for Abbey Wood in south London.
• Tube affected by Embankment upgradeTube passengers are set to have their journeys heavily disrupted for almost a year due to two main lines not stopping at a busy interchange station.
• High-speed rail 'losers' revealedThe local economies that stand to lose from the new north-to-south high speed rail link are revealed for the first time.
• East Coast rail 'sales pitch leaked'The RMT says it has obtained leaked documents that show the government is playing down the success of a publicly-owned rail line in its pitch to would-be investors.

The Guardian

• HS2: cities that may lose hundreds of millions revealedAberdeen, Bristol and Cambridge among those that may lose as much as £220m in economic output thanks to high-speed rail route

The Herald

• 92% of trains run on timeEarly-autumn train punctuality has kept pace with performance this time last year.
• Minister positive on high-speed railHIGH Speed 2 will be delivered on budget, the former 2012 Olympic chief turned UK Government Infrastructure Minister has insisted.
• City traffic returns following tram workTRAFFIC will return to the West End of the Scottish capital today after six years of tram works.
• Third class in line for return to rail networkTHIRD-class travel may return to the East Coast rail line between Scotland and London if leaked plans get the go ahead.
• The unseen cost of HS2: Aberdeen's lost £220m is worst in UKCities across the UK could lose up to £220 million each as a result of HS2, according to previously unseen research.

The Independent

• Third-class trains? Union leaders accuse Government over leaked document on East Coast main line Rail union leaders and the Labour Party have responded furiously to a leaked document on the future of the East Coast main line - accusing the Government of planning to bring back Third Class.    

The Scotsman

• Care home staff ‘should be ashamed’ after 5 deathsA CORONER has ruled that ­neglect contributed to the deaths of five elderly people who died after staying at a care home which has come under fierce criticism.

The Telegraph

• Britain is a proud trading nation. That's all over if we don't build more runwaysIf airport capacity in the South East isn't increased urgently, this country will never again fulfill its economic potential, writes Graham Brady.    
• Towns and cities could lose millions under HS2Towns and cities across the country could lose hundreds of millions of pounds under the high speed rail line project    

Mail Online

• Regions hit for millions by hidden cost of HS2 with Aberdeen and Norfolk East the worst hitThe proposals for the East Coast service would mean turning the clocks back to a three-tier system last seen on the railways more than half a century ago.

Network Rail

• Mark Spencer MP opens new footbridge at BestwoodMark Spencer MP today joined Network Rail to mark the opening of a new accessible bridge which replaces Bayles & Wylies level crossing in Bestwood, Nottingham.
• National train performance for period 7 is 92.1%Punctuality on the railways reached 92.1% during Period 7, according to monthly performance data released today by Network Rail.
• Planning application submitted to redevelop landmark office building at Birmingham’s New Street stationNetwork Rail and Birmingham City Council announced today that Cannock Developments has been selected to develop the 1960s office block situated above Birmingham New Street station into superb, Grade A office accommodation, to be named One Grand Central.

Northern Echo

• £560m funding gap threatens Northern Hub rail project A HUGE funding “gap” threatens a £560m project to deliver faster trains across the North, rail chiefs have revealed.

The York Press

• Campaigners want East Coast rail line to remain publicly-owned Campaigners are set to hand over a petition in London to keep the East Coast rail line, which runs through York, in public ownership.

Yorkshire Post

• Bang the drum for high-speed rail link to North says HS2 bossHS2 chief executive Alison Munro has urged northern supporters to bang the drum for high speed rail if they want to ensure the new line comes to Yorkshire.

Bucks Free Press

• Electric car charging posts announced ELECTRIC car drivers in south Bucks will not have to risk running out of juice from next year after a series of rapid charging points were announced.

Doncaster Free Press

• £56m link road business eventA £56 million road scheme could put Doncaster firms on the fast track to growth at a ‘meet-the-buyer’ event.    

Other Regional Press

• Helicopter boss urges restraint as crash investigators release findingsA HELICOPTER boss urged people not to jump to conclusions about pilots involved in a fatal crash after investigators revealed they found no technical fault with the aircraft.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Legal warning over pollution impact of roads18 October 2013: Air pollution is becoming a major issue for campaigners, with new roads across the country threatening to make even more people breathe air that's over legal limits. read more

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• CAA CONSIDERING DEREGULATING STANSTED The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is starting a consultation into the potential of deregulating Stansted.
• CAMPAIGNERS WANT TO KEEP EAST COAST MAIN LINE PUBLIC The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has announced campaigners convened in London today (October 18th) to deliver a petition against privatising the East Coast Main Line.
• RAIL PUNCTUALITY REACHES 92.1% Train punctuality reached 92.1 per cent during period seven (September 15th to October 12th) this year.

Global Rail News

• Smart tram safety system unveiledBombardier has unveiled a new tram safety system that utilizes 3D sensors to warn drivers about potential hazards. From the end of 2014, Bombardier’s entire portfolio of light rail vehicles[...]
• New EU strategy triples transport infrastructure budget to €26bnThe European Commission has published a map detailing the nine key transport corridors that it believes will radically improve the current “patchwork” of road and rail links. Announcing the latest[...]
• First of new Marseille ‘yacht’ trams handed overThe first of six new maritime-inspired trams has been handed over to public transport operators in Marseille. Bombardier is building six new low-floor Flexity Outlook trams for the city off[...]
• Crossrail given planning approval for Abbey Wood stationA new Crossrail station at Abbey Wood has been given the green light from local planning authorities. The London Borough of Bexley and the Royal Borough of Greenwich approved plans[...]
• New partnership to draw up future vision for Bristol Temple MeadsNetwork Rail has signed an agreement with a number of organisations to develop a masterplan for the redevelopment of Bristol Temple Meads station. A 25-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has[...]
• Reshuffle at Virgin TrainsVirgin Rail Group was keen to stress continuity at the top as Phil Whittingham, Director Finance, stepped up to become the Lead executive and Phil Bearpark, Production Director took over as Director operations and Customer Service. The moves follow Chief Executive Tony Collins’ decision to quit and Chris Gibb’s move to Network Rail as a [...]

Railnews

• Union's East Coast claims are 'scaremongering' The RMT union is claiming to have seen a copy of the forthcoming offer document for reprivatising the East Coast franchise, which it says reveals 'a systematic and politically motivated devaluation of the performance and achievements of ECML in the public sector in order to justify a third gamble on the private option'. The Department for Transport has responded by dubbing the RMT's claims as 'scaremongering'.

Aviation Industry

• BA begins trial of personalized digital bag tagBritish Airways has begun a month-long trial of personalized digital bag tags being developed by the airline. read more
• Boeing slows 747-8 production rateBoeing said Friday it is reducing its 747-8 production rate from 1.75 aircraft to 1.5 per month through 2015, citing lower market demand for large passenger and freighter aircraft. read more
• Airlines cancel flights ahead of Italian strikeAir traffic controllers in Italy set to walk out for four hours