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Thursday, 31 October 2013

BBC News

• Train punctuality: Tougher targets set by regulatorsNetwork Rail has been set tough new punctuality targets for the next five years by rail regulators.
• VIDEO: Labour 'too weak' on HS2 decisionDavid Cameron has mocked Labour's stance on the HS2 rail plan, describing Ed Miliband as
• Flyover reopens after storm closureA busy flyover in London that had been closed after problems found during inspections following Monday's storm reopens.
• Sponsors could 'improve Tube system'Sponsorship deals on the London Underground could help improve stations and freeze fares, Conservative politicians say.
• Subway smartcard registration opensPassengers on Glasgow's Subway are encouraged to register for a new smartcard after an upgrade of ticketing systems at all 15 stations.
• MPs to vote on HS2 preparation moneyMPs will vote later on whether to let the government start spending money on preparations for the HS2 high-speed rail project.

The Guardian

• Network Rail regulator demands focus on long-distance safety and reliabilityOffice of Rail Regulation to set Network Rail tougher targets for long-distance journeys as it cuts £1.7bn from spending plans
• John Denham warns against Labour division on HS2 rail lineIn an article for Progress magazine, former cabinet minister urges party to act in national interest and support the projectLabour tensions over the future of Britain's first high-speed rail line north of London will burst into the open on Thursday when an ally of Ed Miliband warns of

The Herald

• Motorists to benefit from fuel price cutsMOTORISTS have received some late autumn cheer in the form of supermarket cuts to the price of petrol.
• Glasgow's City Sprinter bus firm loses licenceA BUS firm which prided itself on offering some of the cheapest fares in Glasgow has had its operating licence revoked after failing to provide evidence of
• Rail regulator sets tough new punctuality targets for Scottish servicesNine out of 10 trains must run on time for all Scottish services for the five-year period starting in April 2014, while a target of 88% has been set for the two main Scotland to London routes - the East Coast and West Coast main lines.

The Scotsman

• ’More cash for Scottish cyclists, walkers’ callENVIRONMENTAL campaigners are set to call on the Scottish Government to double the funding for cycling and walking to £40 million in next year’s budget.
• Rail freight plans may hit the buffersCalls to raise HGV speed limits on the A9 could damage plans to boost train services,
• Collaboration is key to aviation industryAviation is still a new industry. If you subscribe to the belief that the Wright Brothers pioneered “heavier than air” flight on 17 December, 1903, then it was only 66 short years later that the first supersonic passenger aircraft took to the air. A chasm of technology separated the two events, but only a brief period in history.
• Tavish Scott: Roads must be part of strategyWe need to talk about road pricing, not taxing, as part of the strategy to tackle climate change, writes Tavish Scott
• Scottish independence: EU may force border termsSCOTLAND will be required to join a Europe-wide free travel zone as a condition of European Union membership, in a move which could force Ireland and England to do likewise, a new paper claims.

The Telegraph

• MIliband 'pathetic' for 'flip-flopping' over HS2, David Cameron saysEd Miliband has been accused of
• Dangerous level crossings to goAround 500 dangerous level crossings are to be shut down on the orders of the rail regulator.

Mail Online

• Transport Secretary claims HS2 plans face axe unless Labour backs themPatrick McLoughlin says vital economic growth in the North of England is being put on the line by Labour's refusal to give full backing to the HS2 rail project.

Network Rail

• Network Rail responds to ORR final determinationNetwork Rail today published its initial response to the Office of Rail Regulation’s (ORR) final determination for the period 2014 to 2019, CP5.

Sky News

• Network Rail Gets £100m For Rail SafetyMore than £100m will be spent improving safety at level crossings in an effort to cut the number of deaths.
• Labour Party Rocked By Internal HS2 Policy RowThe Labour leadership faces a backlash from dozens of its MPs over its lukewarm support for the HS2 rail link, Sky News learns.

Birmingham Post

• £1bn funding bid to create thousands of jobs from HS2Plans to make Greater Birmingham a centre of excellence for high-speed rail under threat from Labour 'flip-flopping'
• Sir Albert Bore HS2 concerns: His letter to Shadow Secretary of State for Transport in full'HS2 is the single most important infrastructure project currently planned in terms of bringing growth and jobs to all the city regions – their core cities as well as the surrounding towns and cities - and rebalancing our economy away from London and the South East' he writes

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Cab drivers in war of words over dwindling passenger numbers Taxi drivers in Bradford have demanded tougher action to protect their trade and passengers from rogue minicab firms who poach passengers with illegal pick-ups.
• New law ‘threat to Bradford transport update’ A senior Bradford councillor has spoken of her fears that a £1bn investment in West Yorkshire’s transport network could be derailed by new legislation.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• HS2: Plaid Cymru say there will be no benefit for North Wales Government says the project will create £2.30 for everyone £1 spent on the huge rail project

London Evening Standard

• Tough train punctuality targets set Rail regulators have set Network Rail (NR) tough new train punctuality targets for the next five years.
• Six injured in rush hour as number 15 bus 'slams' into bollards at Cannon StreetSix people were injured today after a double-decker bus crashed into bollards outside a busy London rail station at rush hour.
• Snake on an easyJet plane... in a takeaway boxA snake was found hidden on a plane in a takeaway box during a flight to Luton last night.
• Record numbers took to London's buses in storm instead of stricken TubeLondon's buses carried a record number of passengers on Monday as commuters switched from the stricken Tube network during the worst storm in recent years.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• David Cameron says Labour is guilty of playing petty politics with HS2 Prime Minister said the shadow chancellor should put the national interest first rather than questioning whether the £50bn scheme should go ahead

Northern Echo

• Detailed plans for changes to Darlington inner ring road revealed DETAILS of a multi-million pound scheme to replace a congested town centre roundabout with a traffic light junction have been unveiled.
• Villagers concerned about future of airport and job losses as Durham Tees Valley axes charter flights THERE was pessimism on the streets of Middleton-St-George today as villagers discussed the uncertain future of the airport next door.

The York Press

• Bike theft victims may be reunited with their cycles VICTIMS of cycle theft in Selby have been urged to contact the police after more than 70 bikes were recovered in the town.

Carlisle News & Star

• Transport police seek man in connection with theft at Carlisle station Transport police are asking the public to help them trace a man who stole a wallet at a train station.

East Anglian Daily Times

• East Anglia: MPs take plea for rail investment to ChancellorMPs seeking major new investment on the region’s main line took their bid for extra money to Chancellor George Osborne yesterday.

North Wales Live

• Merseyrail contactless card system will ease congestion The system will be unveiled next Monday

Other Regional Press

• James Wharton: Turning away holiday flights from Teesside is 'suicidal'Latest decision represents a 'significant and unwelcome shift' in the type of airport Durham Tees Valley will be, warns Stockton South MP
• Durham Tees Valley Airport: More than 72% of readers wanted more flight destinationsA Gazette survey 18 months ago found that readers backed the airport - but that they wanted more choice in destinations PLUS Your views
• Freight travel will replace holiday flights at Durham Tees Valley airportDURHAM Tees Valley Airport is scrapping holiday flights for freight travel as part of a massive review of its services.
• 'Shoppers should get 10 minutes of grace time when parking' plea SHOPPERS should have a few extra minutes to get back to their cars without fearing a fine, a Dorchester business figure has said. Although the council says it offers a ‘grace time’ of five minutes, Phil Gordon of the Dorchester BID thinks shoppers should get up to 10.
• David Cameron says Labour is guilty of playing petty politics with HS2 Prime Minister said the shadow chancellor should put the national interest first rather than questioning whether the £50bn scheme should go ahead
• 'Oyster card' for Coventry launched by local bus companiesNew electronic Coventry’n’Bus pass is the city’s first smartcard ticket costs £43.50 a month

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• PAC 'slams' Thameslink progressThe Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has spoken out against the long time taken to upgrade the Thameslink railway.

Global Rail News

• Konya tram to begin testingThe first of 60 new Å koda trams for the Turkish city of Konya has rolled off the assembly line. Konya’s new fleet of bi-directional trams are capable of carrying 364[...]
• Glasgow Subway looks to turn tunnel water into heat sourceGlasgow Subway is looking at how it can use the heat from unwanted water in its tunnels to warm stations and other buildings along the network. The subway’s operator Strathclyde[...]
• Tube sponsorship could pay for ‘huge benefits’ to underground networkThe GLA Conservatives has reaffirmed its support for Tube sponsorship, claiming that private companies could be used to fund major improvements to the network. A new report ’Sealing the Deal:[...]
• Stockholm light rail extension opensAn extension of Stockholm’s light rail network has opened between Alvik and Solna. The new 7-kilometre line, which includes seven new stops, opened to passengers on October 27. A section[...]
• Officials tour Brazil’s first monorailBrazil’s first monorail system, São Paulo’s Silver Line, has been publicly unveiled to city and state officials. The 27-kilometre automated line, which will be completed in several phases, will boast[...]

Railnews

• ORR reveals five-year budget for Network RailTHE Office of Rail Regulation has published its final determination of Network Rail's spending during the five years from April 2014.

Aviation Industry

• Qatar Airways formally joins OneworldAlliance expects further expansion with new members in 2014
• IAG boss dismisses threat of Norwegian's low-cost transatlantic flightsWalsh says carrier faces 'huge challenge' to make concept work

Other News Sources

• ORR sets Network Rail March 2015 deadline for £7bn enhancement worksThe Office of Rail Regulation has given Network Rail until March 2015 to develop plans for more than £7bn of enhancement works under its 2014 to 2019 funding settlement.
• EEA: All major car manufacturers hit 2012 CO2 target Every major car manufacturer has met their 2012 targets for vehicles' average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Other Subscription Services

• Balfour Beatty completes Reading viaduct prep Piling for a 40m grade separated junction at Reading is close to completion. The new elevated railway consists of a series of viaducts to carry inter-city trains over freight and relief lines....