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

Thursday, 24 October 2013

BBC News

• MP suggests improvements to Southeastern's service Discounts for off-peak commuters and more carriages to ease congestion should be part of Southeastern's new franchise, according to a Kent MP.
• Free evening Christmas parking in Edinburgh Late-night shoppers will be able to park their cars for free in Edinburgh city centre in the run up to Christmas.
• Confusion over HS2 cash for WalesThere is confusion about whether Wales has received extra funding as a result of the High Speed 2 rail project.
• VIDEO: Mayor faces questions over cyclingBoris Johnson faces questions during Mayor's Question Time. about how safe London's cycling superhighways are.
• Tube doors opened between stationsA union has called for an investigation after the doors of a tube train opened between stations.
• Theft probe Heathrow staff bailedNine members of staff at Heathrow Airport who were arrested on suspicion of theft are released on bail.

The Guardian

• Whiplash fraud crackdown extended in campaign to cut cost of driving Government plans new panels to assess claimants, and will freeze MOT charges and trial petrol price signs on motorways
• Boris Johnson and TfL must commit to greater transparency Transport committee chair: Londoners have the right to see how decisions are reached
• BA boss accuses minister of trying to take credit for new superjumbo service Willie Walsh speaks out after it was claimed that Patrick McLoughlin was launching BA's A380 service from Hong Kong

The Herald

• Council sends out £1m bus lane finesMOTORING campaigners have criticised a council for sending out fines totalling more than £1 million in just six months to drivers straying into bus lanes.
• Roads casualties at record low but more cyclists injuredROAD casualties in Scotland have fallen to their lowest level since records began, according to the latest figures that show 35 people a day were killed or injured on the country's roads last year.
• Agency told to improve ferry routeTRANSPORT Scotland has been ordered to review measures to increase the reliability of a key west-coast ferry service

The Telegraph

• Single carriageway roads seven times more dangerous than motorwaysResearch by the Road Safety Foundation has found that motorists face bigger risks on A-roads than motorways, with the greatest danger in the east midlands    
• Dearest cars cost 37 times more to repair than cheapestThe latest survey by Which? shows that owners of prestige cars like the Land Rover Discovery 3's are facing annual repair bills which dwarf those of cheaper models like the Kia Picanto    

Mail Online

• Ryanair hostesses strip off for charity calendar in PR stunt from Michael O'LearyA line of half-dressed air hostesses gave commuters a glimpse of what the airline's 2014 charity calendar has in store at the launch at London's Victoria Station.
• Britain's killer highways revealed in chilling new accident road mapThe map, compiled by the Road Safety Foundation, highlights how risky it is to drive on a road with a colour system - with the deadliest roads marked black.

Network Rail

• GRAND CENTRAL AT 80% AS THE WHITE COMPANY LEADS THE WAYAs the shape of Grand Central starts to make its mark on the Birmingham city skyline, the leasing is also gaining momentum, with The White Company, L’Occitane, Kiehls and a wide range of restaurants now exchanged.

Belfast Telegraph

• £3bn Bombardier jets contract a big deal for Belfast Thirty orders for an iconic new jet from Bombardier have been firmed up by a US company, bringing good news for the Canadian company's east Belfast workers.
• They want us to go green... so why is there only one cyclist at Stormont? They want us to go green and commute to work by bike – yet hardly anyone working at Parliament Buildings is doing so.

Birmingham Mail

• Who’s laughing now? Wise-cracking bus driver raises £1,000National Express West Midlands worker clams up to raise funds for Birmingham Dogs Home

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Leeds-Bradford Airport laser pen attacks fall The number of laser pen attacks on planes flying to and from Leeds-Bradford Airport has fallen this year, new figures show.

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph commented Normanton's one-way system will be extendedA PARKING scheme in Normanton which turned three streets one-way is to be extended.The system was put in place on Crewe Street, Violet Street and St Giles Road in Normanton following complaints from residents.The streets, packed with terraced housing and on-street parking, had been plagued with problems due to the high number of vehicles parking on the streets.Last February, Derby City Council took the decision to tackle the problem by turning the three streets one-way.The scheme was such a hit...
• Olympic honours for Derby-built train carriages DERBY train-maker Bombardier has won national recognition for its role in helping to improve rail services in London, particularly during the Olympics.

London Evening Standard

• Commuters threaten to unseat MPs over inflation-busting rail fares Rail fare campaigners are targeting 50 parliamentary seats where commuters could swing results in the next general election. Critics of inflation-busting fare rises have identified 20 Tory MPs defending majorities that are smaller than the local population of season ticket holders.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Could this train take to Inverness streets? A CITY-CENTRE electric train or a trolleybus were among the ideas suggested yesterday as a new transport strategy was set out for Inverness.

Wales Online

• Rising costs of fuel and insurance price Welsh drivers out of owning a car, new figures suggestFigures released by the Welsh government show that nearly a quarter of households in Wales do not own a car and that the number of driving tests taken in Wales has fallen to its lowest level since 2001

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Hundreds of firms in bid for HS2 deals Five hundred businesses have snapped up places at a conference for firms looking to cash in on the government’s controversial HS2 scheme in just a fortnight, it emerged today.

Other Regional Press

• Northampton MP demands more cash from the Government to fix county’s potholesNorthampton MP Michael Ellis has written to the transport minister to ask for more money to be given to Northamptonshire County Council to help solve the “acute problem” of potholes across the county.
• MP Mike Penning expresses 'increased concerns' to secretary of state Eric Pickles over Radlett rail freight Mike Penning MP has written to secretary of state Eric Pickles outlining his opposition to the proposed railfreight terminal on Radlett Airfield.
• New Lib Dem transport minister deals blow to Camden members with energetic backing for HS2 rail link NEW Liberal Democrat transport minister Baroness Susan Kramer has underlined her party's support for the HS2 rail link.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• THE NORTH NEEDS A BETTER, PUBLICLY-OWNED AND ACCOUNTABLE, RAILWAY The Hannah Mitchell Foundation – the North’s campaign for regional devolution – has called for a major enhancement of the North’s rail network with rail services managed by a directly-elected Northern Assembly and run on a not-for-dividend basis.
• READING BUSES IS ’BUS OPERATOR OF THE YEAR’ The local bus operator won ’Bus Operator of the Year’ at the 2013 National Transport Awards at the Westminster Park Plaza in London.
• FIRST SCOTLAND EAST CUSTOMERS TO GAIN A DAY’S FREE TRAVEL WHEN CLOCKS GO BACK When the clocks go back on 27 October, First Scotland East customers will not only have an extra hour in bed, they could also enjoy an extra day’s travel, free.
• SYPTE WINS NATIONAL TRANSPORT AWARD South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) has won a prestigious National Transport Award, celebrating innovation and excellence across the public transport sector.
• RURAL AREAS NEED TRANSPORT OPTIONS NOT FUEL DUTY CUTS Responding to news that the government has applied to the European Commission for a 5p/litre cut to fuel duty for motorists living in remote parts of the UK, Sustrans’ Policy Director, Jason Torrance, said:
• OPTARE VERSA ELECTRIC BUS IS WINNER AT NATIONAL TRANSPORT AWARDS 2013 Optare has won the ’Excellence in Technology’ category at this year’s National Transport Awards with its Versa EV electric bus incorporating fast charging technology.
• Transport Minister Launches UK's First Electric Vehicle Car ClubThe UK’s low-carbon transport ambitions have moved up a gear today with the launch of the first entirely electric pay-per-use car club. E-Car Club, which launches in East London before nationwide roll out, will allow businesses to reduce the cost and footprint of their fleets; make electric vehicles available to local communities; and tackle the growing problem of urban air pollution.
• MIDDLE CLASSES 'KEY TO AIR CARGO FUTURE SUCCESS' Emerging economies such as China hold the key to the future growth of air cargo.
• FIRST STAGE OF WORK ON PARK AND RIDE EXPANSION BEGINS Preliminary work to expand park and ride facilities at Whitefield Metrolink stop will start next month.
• 13 STATIONS TO BE UPGRADED UNDER NETWORK RAIL DEAL Network Rail has awarded a contract to Vinci Construction for the design and upgrade of 13 train stations in west London and Berkshire.

Railway Gazette

• South West Trains prepares to introduce longer trains UK: South West Trains has taken delivery of the first two five-car Class 458/5 electric multiple-units rebuilt from former Gatwick Express Class 460 vehicles. The first 10-car formation is expected...
• Tyne & Wear Metro launches door safety campaign UK: A campaign to encourage passengers not to obstruct train doors has been launched on the Tyne & Wear Metro. This includes a specially-commissioned animation 'Use your brain near a train' which...

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow submits another delay-busting planAirport wants 'Operational Freedoms' during times of disruption
• Aegean finally seals Olympic Air purchaseTwo Greek airlines complete deal after EU gives clearance

Other News Sources

• Hertfordshire County Council in the driving seat at National Transport Awards HERTFORDSHIRE County Council has been named Transport County of the Year at the prestigious National Transport Awards 2013.
• London campaigners to rally against Boris Johnson’s tube cutsThe TUC’s Action for Rail campaign will today join forces with a range of disabled and older people’s groups to protest against proposed transport cuts.
• Councils exploit parking fines to raise revenue illegally, warn MPsLocal councils are exploiting parking enforcement rules by using parking fines to illegally raise internal revenue, a committee has revealed.
• Government pledges to crackdown on whiplash fraud and MOT pricesA crackdown on whiplash fraud and the freezing of MOT test prices are among measures unveiled by the government to help motorists cut the cost of running a car.
• Towns must embrace high speed rail opportunities, says HS2 taskforceWith estimates that the developments in high speed rail infrastructure will create 22,000 jobs by 2020, the HS2 Growth Taskforce has called upon towns and cities to be prepared.
• Hertfordshire County Council requests Radlett rail freight decision extension Hertfordshire County Council has called on the Government to further delay a decision on proposals to build a rail freight depot near Radlett.
• Siemens funds rolling stock academy UK: Siemens is to provide 50% of the cost of a training academy specialising in traction and rolling stock skills, to be built at its King's Heath depot in Northampton which maintains electric multiple-units for London Midland and is the headquarters for Siemens' UK service operation.