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

Tuesday, 12 November 2013

BBC News

• Coventry to join Metro tram network in upgrade plansA Metro tram service between Coventry and Birmingham will "happen ahead of HS2's arrival", transport firm Centro have confirmed.
• Threatened bus routes win reprieveClosure-threatened bus routes linking Aberystwyth with Carmarthen and Synod Inn are to be saved by government funding.
• Canals repair programme under wayA £45m programme to repair and maintain 2,000 miles (3,220km) of canals and rivers in England and Wales begins in north London.
• Airports' night flights to continueThe government plans to continue controversial night flights at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Airports for at least another four years.
• Heseltine: HS2 is 'an act of faith'Former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine is due to come out strongly in favour of the HS2 north-south rail project.
• Boris Island airport design unveiledDesigns and details of how an airport in the Thames estuary would work are unveiled in London.

The Guardian

• HS2 cost could be cut by one-third under private sector concession planTransport secretary to study proposal to raise up to £10bn by selling 30-year lease over rights to new high-speed track. The cost to taxpayers of Britain's first high speed rail line north of London could be cut by up to £10bn around a third of the budget under proposals that are to be examined by ministers.In a move that would smooth the way for Labour to offer wholehearted support for HS2, the transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin is to study plans to raise extra private sector funds by selling a 30-year concession on the high speed tracks.

The Herald

• Still soaring: Scotland's airports boast new passenger recordScotland's major airports recorded more passengers last month.
• Heseltine supports HS2 but says private sector should contributeTory grandee Lord Heseltine has come out firmly in favour of the £50 billion HS2 high-speed rail project.
• Landmark for the world's shortest flight as it gets first female pilotIT is famous for being the world's shortest scheduled flight, lasting just two minutes from runway to runway.

The Telegraph

• Commuters on overcrowded Northern Line trains told they should walk or cycleCommuters on a London Underground Line are being urged to walk or cycle because of overcrowded trains    
• Meet the women who run St Pancras, the world's most wonderful railway stationOnce earmarked for demolition, over 45 million people a year now travel through the grand St Pancras International. The best thing about it? It's run by three women, discover Louisa Peacock and Myles Burke    

Daily Express

• Snowfall will cause havoc for major airports this winterPASSENGERS will face cancellations and delays at Britain's busiest airport if snow strikes this winter, MPs were told yesterday.

The Mirror

• Boris Island: Stunning designs for space-age airport in Thames Estuary revealed for first time The pictures show the high-tech facility stretching out over the water with runways and terminal buildings constructed on reclaimed land

Network Rail

• Media invitation: Could IT be you? - Network Rail to pay first year's university fee in new competition to encourage more West Midlands women into ITWho: Ruth Stevens, a Network Rail IT Manager from the West Midlands will be holding a workshop with pupils at Bournville College to encourage them to consider a career in IT.Where: Bournville College, 1 Longbridge Ln, Birmingham, West Midlands B31 2AJ When: 9.30am, Tuesday 12 NovemberIf media want to attend, please contact Ben Herbert at the contact details below.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Rail services disrupted as car hit by train A train collided with a car on railway lines in Bingley tonight.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Cambrian Coast railway line from Harlech to Pwllheli to remain closed for at least another ten days The bridge was deemed unsafe after closing it to both trains and cars with alternative services and routes set up

London Evening Standard

• Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin set for grilling over HS2 costsTransport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin faces a grilling from MPs over a contested report predicting the HS2 rail project could benefit the UK by £15 billlion a year.
• Busy on the platform? Walk instead: Northern Line commuters react in fury at TfL advicePassengers reacted with fury today after Tube bosses told rush-hour commuters to walk instead of using the Underground.
• Airport locals win three-year extension to night flight ban into Heathrow, Gatwick and StanstedRestrictions on night flights into Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted were today extended until October 2017.
• 'Move Heathrow flights to Gatwick if weather gets bad this winter'Passengers must expect flight cancellations at Britain's busiest airport if there is bad weather this winter, MPs have been told.

The York Press

• York stars for TV train documentary RAILWAY workers from York are the of a new television stars in a new documentary series set to air tomorrow.
• Transport campaign report backs bridge trial, city leaders claim CITY leaders claim a new report by transport campaigners has supported their decision to introduce a controversial traffic trial on a York bridge.

This Is Local London Network

• First Capital Connect names train after a Potters Bar school First Capital Connect has named a train after a school in Potters Bar to commemorate its 400th anniversary.

Wales Online

• Price of rail season tickets in Wales to be held below inflationTransport minister Edwina Hart announces measures to make rail fares more affordable

East Anglian Daily Times

• Update: Rail delays still taking their toll on travellers after difficult dayGreater Anglia customers are having to put up with continued delays to services after various incidents earlier today.
• East Anglia: Tourism firms highlight need for road improvements and faster broadbandDespite having enjoyed a successful season as this year’s summer sunshine delivered a boost to visitor numbers, East Anglia’s £4.2billion tourism industry cannot rely on the weather alone if it is to continue to grow, a new survey has signalled.

Other Regional Press

• Transport minister gets insight into dualling of Inverness - Aberdeen roadSCOTLAND’S transport minister Keith Brown has been given an insight into ambitious plans to dual the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen.
• Tram-trains could improve transport choicesTram-trains capable of travelling on both tram lines and train tracks could be introduced in Greater Manchester, enabling better use of existing transport infrastructure.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Plans for 6-runway Thames Estuary airport to be disclosedPlans for a potential, new six-runway airport at the Thames Estuary will be unveiled in the House of Lords today (November 11th).

Global Rail News

• Manchester to explore future tram-train networkCouncillors in Manchester have backed a new study to look into the feasability of introducing tram-trains across the north west’s light and heavy rail network. Manchester follows Sheffield where the[...]
• SBB announces Liestal station redevelopment plansInitial studies are to be carried out into plans to redevelop Liestal station to accomodate additional Regio S-Bahn commuter services. An urban planning study is to be carried out by[...]
• Goodnight to Japan’s sleeper trainsJapan’s high-speed rail network is forcing the withdrawal of most of the country’s sleeper train services as rail passengers switch to Shinkansen routes. From next March the Blue Train which[...]
• Consortium to be recommended for Denver North Metro Rail LineDenver’s Regional Transport District (RTD) has recommended its board accept a proposal from the GBBH consortium to design and build the city’s North Metro Rail Line. Although the Graham, Balfour[...]

Railnews

• It's no longer quicker by Tube Commuters on an overcrowded section of London Underground are being urged to walk instead from today. Transport for London has issued the appeal to morning peak users of some of the stations on the Morden branch of the Northern Line, following a similar campaign to divert commuters away from heavily used sections of the Underground during the Olympics last year.
• HS2 costs to come under spotlight again The controversial project to build HS2 is being put under the spotlight again after a report from KPMG reassessed the benefits. Now the House of Commons Transport Committee will be questioning the transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin as well as KPMG later this month.
• It's no longer quicker by Tube Commuters on an overcrowded section of London Underground are being urged to walk instead from today. Transport for London has issued the appeal to morning peak users of some of the stations on the Morden branch of the Northern Line, following a similar campaign to divert commuters away from heavily used sections of the Underground during the Olympics last year.

Aviation Industry

• Flybe to cut another 500 jobsRegional airline makes further redundancies despite returning to profitability
• Delta and Virgin to co-locate at HeathrowUS carrier will move key business flights to airport’s Terminal 3

Green Miscellany

• Front-wheel bicycle bootDesign students have devised a bicycle with a storage compartment incorporated into its front wheel. There is no requirement for a car to have headlamps to pass an MOT, or be driven legally during daylight hours, but that doesn’t stop manufacturers including them on every model they sell. They simply assume most motorists want to drive at night. So why…