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

Friday, 08 November 2013

Government

• ’Norwich in Ninety’ rail taskforce announced by ChancellorChancellor George Osborne has announced a new taskforce to look at speeding up journey times to East Anglia to drive growth in the region.

BBC News

• HS2 work should not just go to multi-nationals say local firmsConstruction firms in the West Midlands have said it is vital they get their share of work on the HS2 rail project.
• HS2 contracts for local firms callConstruction firms in the West Midlands say they should get a share of the work building the HS2 rail project rather than big multi-nationals.
• Birmingham tunnels' future assessedThe future of the A38 tunnels in Birmingham is examined as part of a 20-year action plan for the city's transport network.
• UK town to get driverless carsDriverless cars will be tested for the first time in a UK town after £1.5m is made available from the government.
• Bus drivers get cycle risk trainingTranslink bus drivers in Northern Ireland are to be given special training to help reduce the risks to cyclists who use bus lanes.
• AUDIO: London 'needed' a bigger portThe BBC's business correspondent Justin Rowlatt reports on a new port in London.
• Norwich rail links 'need improving'A new taskforce is being set up to find ways to speed up rail services to the East of England by as much as 25%.
• Ministers to meet BAE directorsScotland's deputy first minister and finance secretary are to meet BAE directors and union officials at the Scotstoun shipyard on the Clyde.

Financial Times

• IAG streamlines BA and Iberia managementRoles of chairman and chief executive at the two airlines will be combined and the size of the IAG board will be shrunk as part of a revamp

The Guardian

• Nissan might leave if UK quits EUCarlos Ghosn, head of carmaker, suggests 6,500 jobs would be threatened by a yes vote in referendum promised by PMThe head of Nissan has warned the car maker would reconsider its future in the UK if a push to leave the European Union succeeds.Carlos Ghosn, chief executive of the Japanese motoring company, told the BBC his company would re-evaluate its position if the UK were to leave the EU.Speaking at the launch of Nissan's new Qashqai model, he said:

The Herald

• Reprieve for ban threat bus firmA 20-YEAR-OLD bus firm which was due to be banned from operating today has been given an 11th hour reprieve after lodging an appeal against losing its licence.

The Telegraph

• Train delay to beat all othersTrain leaving St Pancras has laid a claim to break the record for the longest ever delay    
• HS2 engineering costs overshoot budgetThe controversy over HS2 is rekindled as figures show engineering firms are already spending more than the estimated cost of work    

Birmingham Post

• Tunnels in the spotlight in Birmingham transport shake up Queensway and St Chad's tunnels unlikely to be closed - but could be joined together.

Bolton News

• Two years' misery for commuters as Preston to Machester rail line is electrified COMMUTERS can expect two years of rail misery while the Preston to Manchester line - which runs through Bolton - is electrified.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• 'Gold-plated' M4 plan sucks cash out of North Wales, Assembly inquiry hears A £1bn relief road for Newport in South Wales could prevent vital funds reaching North Wales for transport projects

London Evening Standard

• 120 London buses to run on chip fatBoris Johnson today announced plans to run London’s buses on biofuel from food waste — including chip fat and a suet-like substance.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• New Metro gates could be turned on as early as next weekFrom the start of Metro services on Monday all passengers holding a valid Pop card or smart Gold Card will be asked to touch in and touch out each time they enter or exit the Metro system

Nottingham Evening Post

• HS2 details to be revealed in displayPLANS will be unveiled next week for the route of the new high-speed rail line to the north of England.

Sheffield Star

• £500,000 car park is launched at rail stationRailway passengers can leave their cars at a new £500,000 car park which has been created at a South Yorkshire station.

Yorkshire Post

• Minister gives hope over rail electrificationThe Transport Secretary has given hope to campaigners for better rail services in Yorkshire by backing the “promising” case for a £100m line upgrade to allow faster and more frequent services.

Bucks Free Press

• Country being 'put at risk' by HS2 opponents PRIME Minister David Cameron said this week opponents of HS2 are putting the country at risk - but a south Bucks MP denied campaigners lack vision.

East Anglian Daily Times

• East Anglia: Chancellor George Osborne announces £550m rail boost for the region - and promises 60-minute journeys from Ipswich to London on most servicesChancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne today unveiled a £550million package to transform the region’s main rail link to London within the next decade.
• East Anglia: Widespread welcome for rail boostThere was a general welcome for proposals to speed up rail services from political and business leaders – although there is some concern in Essex that there could be a reduction in services to that county.
• Rail transformation on the wayA £550 million transformation of East Anglia’s main rail line to London – cutting up to 25% off journey times – has received top-level backing from Chancellor George Osborne.

Other Regional Press

• Bus cuts 'leave West Cornwall's elderly isolated'NEW reduced bus services started to operate in West Cornwall on Sunday – but a group of vulnerable people could become increasingly isolated.
• M4 relief road "could take three years of argument" IT is unlikely that you will see the M4 Relief Road built by 2020 according to a transport expert, amid great environmental opposition to the project and rising costs.
• Buses collide at Newport bus station TWO buses collided at Newport Bus station today.
• Work on Bedford Train Station car park may cause disruption to commuters as 110 spaces will be temporarily lostCOMMUTERS will temporarily lose 110 spaces at Bedford Train Station while the car park is resurfaced.
• Plan to revelop bus station moves closer with selection of contractorThe major redevelopment of the bus station has taken another step forward with the selection of the preferred contractor to demolish and replace the Bedford station building.

Bus and Coach.com

• Undercover police in W Mids campaignPeople who misbehave on public transport in the West Midlands run the risk of being apprehended by undercover police officers.
• US megabus boosts Stagecoach revenueLike for like revenue at the regional operations of Stagecoach UK Bus is up 5.
• Leeds expected to approve P&R Leeds city council is this week expected to approve the city’s first major bus-based park and ride service.
• Go North East unlocks faster Key Go North East is now offering next-day availability for tickets bought before 9pm by users of its Key smartcard.
• Whiplash case dismissedA woman who exaggerated a claim for whiplash injury sustained while travelling on a Go North East bus has had her case dismissed by Durham County Court, and has been ordered to pay costs of £8,250.
• Merseypride faces inquiryNorth west traffic commissioner Beverley Bell is to hold a public inquiry into Merseypride Travel and the repute and professional competence of Tracey Hannell, a partner in the company.
• Profits up at FirstUnderlying operating profit at FirstGroup for the six months to 30 September was up by 10,1 per cent over the same period last year at £109,9million (2012: £99.
• New fleet for Witch WayTransdev has replaced its Witch Way fleet, which runs the X43 service between Manchester and Nelson.

Global Rail News

• UK establishes rail supplier forumThe UK government has set up a ’Rail Industry Supply Chain Forum’ tasked with drawing up a strategy to strengthen the global competitiveness of Britain’s rail sector. Led by Alstom’s[...]
• Ontario to embrace green bonds to fund future transport projectsGreen bonds could soon be used to fund major transport infrastructure projects in the Canadian province of Ontario under plans outlined by Premier Kathleen Wynne. The tax-free bonds are designed[...]
• Paris Metro train inauguration heldParis Metro Line 9 has welcomed the first new metro of a tranche of 66 new trains being delivered to the French capital. Representatives from transport authority STIF and RATP[...]
• Marubeni and Toshiba awarded Purple Line electrical systems contractA Japanese joint venture of the Marubeni and Toshiba corporations has signed a contract with the operator of Bangkok’s urban railway to supply electrical systems and operation maintenance services for[...]
• Elizabeth completes Stepney Green breakthroughCrossrail’s tunnel boring machine (TBM) Elizabeth has become the latest to mark a significant breakthrough in the construction of London’s new £14.8 billion railway. The 1,000-tonne TBM has broken through[...]

Aviation Industry

• Responding to Sir Howard Davies’ speech, the Greener by Design conference, airport consultative committees and percentage of business passengersTim with other speakers at the GACC seminar. Image credit: GACC The ICAO Assembly concluded at the beginning of October. Following this, the AEF’s Director, Tim Johnson’s international policy work turned to preparation for the CAEP (Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection) steering group meeting at the start of November in Dubai. The airport expansion date […]
• Heathrow expansion remains preferred optionTravel industry executives believe a third runway would solve capacity crunch
• Vueling to open new base at BrusselsIAG’s Spanish subsidiary to add seven routes from Belgium capital

Other News Sources

• Have you heard about the flatpack Crossrail Stations?We’ve heard of flatpack furniture, flatpack houses, and even flatpack trucks. But a flatpack train station? That’s exactly what’s being created in Steetley, a factory near Sheffield, where a £35 million Crossrail station for Custom House is being constructed before being transported to its London site to be assembled in 2015.