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

Monday, 28 October 2013

BBC News

• The wild abandoned railway in the centre of Paris Long before the Metro, the steam trains of Petite Ceinture ("Little Belt" in English) connected Paris's main railway stations carrying people around the city along the path of its ancient walls. The circular line went into gradual decline from the 1930s, when competition arrived in the form of the more modern underground Metro system.
• Henley-in-Arden £2m railway station revamp delayed by weather Work to replace an old footbridge and install a new lift at a railway station has been delayed due to the weather forecast.
• VIDEO: 'We will stick to HS2 budget'The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, has defended the HS2 project, telling Andrew Marr that the government will stick to the set budget for the development.
• Storm to hit rush hour commutersRail services across much of southern Britain are cancelled for the morning rush hour as a storm continues to batter parts of England and Wales.
• Coalition 'confident' over HS2 costsTreasury minister Danny Alexander has said he is "very confident" the HS2 high-speed rail project will be delivered within its £42.6bn budget.

Financial Times

• ‘Years of delays’ if HS2 does not go aheadTransport department will claim that adding capacity without building HS2 would mean thousands of closures to main lines over the next few years

The Guardian

• Britain's railways have become mere outposts of other nations' empires Travel chaos is the least of our problems. An industry that once embodied national pride has been sold for other states to benefit
• Weekend rail closures for up to 14 years if HS2 is scrappedBackbench MPs angry over news upgrade work could double journey times if high speed plan is shelvedAlternatives to building Britain's second high-speed rail link which would instead upgrade existing lines could need 14 years of weekend closures to complete, according to government-sponsored studies releasedon Monday.The claims were published as ministers battle to maintain cross-party support for the controversial HS2 project connecting London to the north and before a crucial week for the scheme in parliament.The government has faced a backlash from backbenchers against the project, which is ...

The Herald

• New daily air service to NorwayA NEW direct daily ­scheduled air service between Aberdeen and Norway is taking off to cope with demand from the oil industry.
• Alexander very confident rail project will be under budgetCHIEF Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has said that he is
• MSPs to debate road liability law proposalPOLITICIANS will debate whether to introduce a

The Independent

• Build HS2 or Britain will suffer 14 years of rail misery, says Coalition Scrapping the proposed High Speed 2 rail line and building a cheaper alternative would condemn passengers to 14 years of “hellish delays”, the Government will argue this week as it launches a fresh attempt to make the case for the troubled scheme.    

The Telegraph

• Heathrow spreading 'scare stories' over investors, claims Walsh Willie Walsh, the boss of British Airways' parent company, rebukes Heathrow over investment claims after a major pension fund buys a near 9pc stake in the airport
• Eurostar ad calls on French tax exiles to move to BritainMajority French-owned rail operator risks French government anger over ad promising to roll out red carpet to tax exiles considering move to UK    
• UK faces 14 years of weekend closures if Labour fails to back HS2, report suggestsBritain could face 14 years of weekend closures on the country's three main rail routes if Labour withdraws support for the HS2 rail scheme, a report will warn this week.    

The Mirror

• Battery-powered driverless cars will run on the pavements of Britain within TWO YEARS GPS technology will enable the battery-driven two-person “pods” to steer round objects, people and each other as part of a "science fiction future"

Birmingham Post

• Tribute to Renee Spector, the woman who helped change face of BirminghamMrs Spector was awarded the MBE for services to disabled transport in recognition of her key role in setting up the ring and ride service which continues today

Bristol Live

• If more trains called, more people would use them IT appears there is little scope for enhancements to rail services, capacity, rolling stock and passenger facilities during the two-year extension granted to the First Great Western franchise.

Liverpool Echo

• Mayor insists rail plan is vital to future growthMerseyside leaders back HS2 rail project despite mixed messages over fortunes for city

London Evening Standard

• Alexander: HS2 will stick to budgetChief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has said he is "very confident" that the HS2 high-speed rail project will be delivered under budget.
• St Jude hits: travel chaos for millions with trains halted, flights cancelled and roads shut Commuters were facing rush-hour chaos this morning as they woke up to the impact of the worst storm the UK has seen in years.

Wales Online

• 'Running trams on the Valley Lines would be a better use of public money than electrification'Veteran rail manager argues tram-trains would also be quicker and more user-friendly than electric trains

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Bus stops to move for £5m makeover of Wolverhampton city centre Bus stops will be moved for a month as part of a £5 million revamp of a city centre, regeneration bosses announced today, as it emerged work would get under way next week.

Yorkshire Post

• Heseltine blasts focus on speed
in selling rail plan to the publicA KEY economic adviser to the coalition and former deputy prime minister has delivered a withering assessment of the way high speed rail to Yorkshire has been sold to the public.

Bucks Free Press

• Tree falls on train line as storm advice issued A FALLEN tree has affected rail services into Bucks from London this evening, with storms predicted to head towards the county overnight.

Burnley Express

• MP up to old tricks over bus station signs [letter]I certainly feel extremely strongly that the article in last Tuesday’s Express re: the bus timetable signs should be exposed for the sham it really is.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Big Storm: Rail services suspended on Monday morningRail services on Greater Anglia’s network are likely to be suspended until 9am, the company announced today.

London24

• London’s transport to be covered in poppies in support of Poppy Appeal Tube trains and London buses will be covered in poppies to support the national Poppy Appeal in aid of the Armed Forces.

Other Regional Press

• Axed bus route users speak out RESIDENTS of Blunsdon unhappy at the slashing of a regular bus service to the Orbital Centre will have an opportunity to put alternative suggestions to the bus company.
• Head appointed for new Heathrow Aviation College A PRINCIPAL has been appointed for the planned new Heathrow Aviation Engineering University Technical College in Northwood.
• Transport for London driver says new 209 bus stop in Mortlake is dangerous for passengers Bus users and drivers are in the midst of an ongoing battle with Transport for London (TfL) as they fear a change to bus stops will lead to accidents.