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

Monday, 04 November 2013

BBC News

• Used car buyers 'being ripped off'Thousands of Scots a year are being sold faulty used cars by
• HS2 boss 'must cut costs' - CameronThe new boss of the HS2 rail link has been tasked with finding ways to cut the estimated £50bn cost of the scheme, David Cameron is to announce.

Financial Times

• Aircraft carriers’ cost to rise to £6.2bnPhilip Hammond, defence secretary, is expected to say fresh demands – including the need for a new aircraft landing system – have added to the cost
• First new port for decades opens on ThamesFollowing a £1.5bn investment by DP World, the rest of the industry will be watching closely how London Gateway copes in its early days

The Guardian

• Alligator found under airport escalatorFoot-long reptile discovered by maintenance worker in Terminal 3 of O'Hare international airport in ChicagoA small alligator found under an escalator at Chicago's O'Hare international airport has left authorities puzzled.A maintenance worker discovered the alligator, which is about a foot (30cm) long, on Friday in Terminal 3, said the Chicago police spokesman Jose Estrada. An officer captured the reptile by putting a rubbish bin over it. No one was injured.
• HS2: David Cameron orders project chief to cut costs after Labour pressurePrime minister to ask Sir David Higgins to bring north-south train line in under budget after opposition raised concernsDavid Cameron is to order the new head of the HS2 high-speed train line to cut the cost of the £42bn project, just weeks after Labour said it would not give the project a

The Herald

• Female drivers (of planes): men don't trust them...but women passengers are even more waryMale prejudice against women drivers appears to extend into plane cockpits as well, according to a survey.
• Find ways to cut HS2 costs, boss toldDAVID Cameron is to announce today that the new boss of the planned HS2 rail link between London and the north of England will be asked to find ways to cut the estimated £50billion costs.
• Rail privatisation attacked on anniversaryRail privatisation has been

The Independent

• Cameron appeals for ‘national unity’ on HS2 David Cameron will wade into the controversy over the planned High Speed 2 (HS2) rail link today by accusing opponents of a lack of vision and playing politics with the country’s prosperity.    

The Telegraph

• Virgin introduces talking train lavatoriesVirgin Trains has turned to humour to tackle the vexed problem of blocked lavatories    
• China built its HS2 in two years. Don't let Labour derail oursBalls and Co thought it was a great idea. Until they spotted a chance to woo the sceptic vote, says Boris Johnson    
• Upgrading existing rail network would be better value than HS2, government analysis findsEconomic benefits of HS2 will be lower than rival schemes to upgrade lines between London and north, says government analysis    

Mail Online

• Air travellers 'don't trust female pilots': Survey finds most would prefer a man to be at the controlsA survey of both male and female airline passengers has found that most people would prefer a man to fly their plane, with 32 per cent thinking they were more skilled.
• Fail, pass... distinction? Minister calls for L-test shake-up to improve road safetySkills minister Matthew Hancock, who is Conservative MP for West Suffolk, said it is wrong that would-be drivers can only pass or fail.
• David Cameron pledges to slash cost of HS2David Cameron will today pledge a new drive to bring down the spiralling costs of the controversial High Speed 2 rail line from London to Birmingham.

Bristol Live

• Follow Liverpool and suspend our bus lanesPEOPLE in Liverpool are so lucky to have a mayor who has clearly stated that "bus lanes cause congestion in cities" and he has decided that commonsense must take over and he has eliminated bus lanes in his city for a trial period of nine months.

London Evening Standard

• HS2 boss told to cut costsThe new boss of the planned high speed rail link between London and the north has been tasked with finding ways to cut the estimated £50 billion cost of the scheme, David Cameron will announce today.

Sheffield Star

• Doncaster motorway sections closed at night this weekNew roadworks are set to affect motorists using Doncaster’s motorway network this week.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• RMT slams privatisation 'rip-off'Rail privatisation has been "a rip-off" which has left passengers paying the highest fares in Europe, according to a transport union.

Yorkshire Post

• Union slams rail privatisation as massive ’rip-off’ for passengersRAIL privatisation has been “a rip-off” which has left passengers paying the highest fares in Europe, union chiefs claim today.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Work on new railway bridge startsWork has started on a replacement railway bridge between Pekirk and Deeping Gate.

Other Regional Press

• Could council chief put a new cycle lane on London Road in Bath? Council chiefs are now considering putting in a new cycle lane on London Road amid concern over a £1 million transport shake-up.
• Nearly 100 sign up to new charity-run bus route on CanveyDOZENS of people have signed up to use a new charity-run bus on Canvey.
• LETTER: Airport expansion concerns airedMPs and councillors should be congratulated for attending the GACC (Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign) seminar last Friday.
• Transport bills threat for Lancashire parentsParents could soon be landed with extra bills to send their children to school.
• Preston bus station campaigners celebrate victoryScores of people turned out in Preston to celebrate the end of a successful campaign to save the city’s bus station.
• Mid Yorkshire Chamber unveils alternative to HS2A radical alternative to the controversial HS2 high-speed rail project is being backed by business leaders in Huddersfield

Global Rail News

• ScotRail franchise shortlist revealedThe identities of five companies invited to bid for the ScotRail franchise have been revealed by Transport Minister  Keith Brown. Arriva, Abellio, MTR, National Express and current holders FirstGroup are[...]
• Construction milestone reached on Hong Kong metro extensionMTR has celebrated a major milestone in the construction of Hong Kong’s West Island Line (WIL). Major structural works have been completed on three of the line’s new stations; Sai[...]

Aviation Industry

• Ryanair looks to soften image in tougher...Exchanges with customers on Twitter and plans for a simplified website -- Irish no-frills airline Ryanair is seeking to improve its public image as it flies into tougher market competition.
• 'Kill APD to breathe life into airports'The head of Scotland's busiest airport has stepped up his attack on the UK's air passenger duty regime, claiming that the benefits to the Republic of Ireland of scrapping the tax highlighted the
• American Airlines, US Airways hope for defections as trial approachesPam Bondi is attorney general of Florida, one of the states that joined the Justice Department's antitrust suit that seeks to block the merger of American Airlines and US Airways.
• Bmi Regional to cut five routesAirline to close crew bases at Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester

Other News Sources

• Lamont puts the wheels in motion for cycle paths on the old railwayHAWICK MSP John Lamont has called for investment to provide special cycle routes in and around the town.
• Bus firm to take on routes axed by rivalMOREBUS has announced that it is to take on routes axed by rival Yellow Buses.