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

Friday, 06 December 2013

BBC News

• Date set for bus smartcards launch in BristolSmartcards for bus passengers on some services in Bristol will be introduced in February.
• Autumn Statement: At-a-glance summary of key pointsPetrol taxes stay frozen - a planned rise of 2p per litre for next year is to be scrapped. Regulated train fares will rise in line with inflation, not at 1% above RPI as planned. The tax disc to show motorists have paid vehicle excise duty is to be replaced with an electronic system.
• 'Wales not included in a transport corridor' - videoPlaid Cymru AM for Ynys Môn, Rhun ap Iorwerth, has raised concerns as to why Wales is not included in a plan to improve transport links across Europe.
• English rail fare rises curbedCommuters across England will now pay 3.1% more on average for regulated train tickets from next month, instead of a rise of 4.1%.
• Qantas credit rating cut to junkAustralian airline Qantas sees its credit rating downgraded to below-investment level, or junk, by the ratings agency Standard & Poor's.
• Aberdeen International Airport £13m terminal redevelopment unveiledPlans for a major £13m redevelopment of the Aberdeen International Airport terminal building have been unveiled.

Financial Times

• EasyJet chief to take home £6.4m for 2013Carolyn McCall is set to take home a pay packet of £6.4m, up 74 per cent on last year, after the low-cost airline made record profits

The Guardian

• Fuel duty freeze in 2014 will save motorists 20p a litre – George OsborneChancellor highlights cancellation of a 2p rise on fuel duty as motorists welcome move, but train fares will rise with inflation

The Herald

• Boost for traders as new car sales set to exceed 200,000HIGH fuel costs are forcing motorists in some rural areas to trade in their larger cars for smaller, more economical models.
• Higher speed limit for HGVs using A9 welcomedHAULIERS and politicians have welcomed news that heavy lorries will be allowed to go faster on the A9 in a three-year trial.
• Car tax discs scrapped for electronic registerCAR tax discs are to be scrapped after more than 90 years and replaced with an electronic register for vehicle excise duty.
• Rail fares cap will cut trip to London by £1RAIL fare increases in England will rise in line with inflation, meaning people in Scotland using cross-border services will see prices go up 3.1% next month instead of the planned 4.1%.
• £13m airport terminal to create 1100 jobsABERDEEN Airport is embarking on a £13 million redevelopment of its terminal building as part of efforts to increase passenger capacity.

The Telegraph

• Aviva chairman John McFarlane 'to join FirstGroup'First Capital Connect operator FirstGroup ends six-month search to replace founder Martin Gilbert
• Autumn Statement 2013 scraps fuel duty riseGeorge Osborne announces that a scheduled 2p per litre increase in fuel duty will be scrapped in his 2013 Autumn Statement    
• Autumn Statement 2013: Above-inflation rail fare rise scrappedChancellor George Osborne announces in his 2013 Autumn Statement that rail fare rises on regulated routes, including season tickets, will be kept level with inflation.    

Daily Express

• Storm scare for jet passengers as landings aborted at Glasgow and EdinburghA FLIGHT to Glasgow was forced to abort two landing attempts before being diverted to Manchester as it struggled through gale-force winds yesterday.

Daily Record

• Residents move bus campaign up a gearScores of villagers recently attended a public meeting to press Renfrewshire Council and bus operator McGill’s to sort the problem caused by drivers parking up to swap shifts.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Bus drivers to train blindfoldedHundreds of bus drivers across the Lothians will be given training while wearing a blindfold under a Scottish-first scheme designed to help out blind passengers.

London Evening Standard

• VIDEO: Cyclists and lorry drivers swap roles in Met's road safety filmLorry drivers and cyclists have swapped places for a new film encouraging them to share London's roads safely.
• London airports in need of 'urgent' £200m investmentBusiness chiefs demanded action today after an “urgent” warning from the Airports Commission  that the crisis in Londons aviation capacity is getting worse.
• Vision of a new London borough on site of abandoned Heathrow is revealedRadical plans for a new London borough on the site of Heathrow airport were unveiled today.
• Boost for road and rail travellersRoad and rail travellers have received some pre-Christmas cheer in the Chancellor's Autumn Statement.

Manchester Evening News

• Free wi-fi fitted in 25 Manchester black cabsThe service has been rolled out across 25 black hackney cabs as part of a permanent ad campaign run by Microsoft. The chosen cars have Free wi-fi signs on the side

Sheffield Telegraph

• Cheap £1 bus fares in Sheffield on offer over ChristmasSpecial bus services will run in Sheffield on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day – for a festive fare of just £1 per journey.

Wales Online

• Edwina Hart calls for 'inspirational' mindset to deliver £2bn metro transport planEconomy and Transport Minister said changes to network needed to echo changes made to found railway network

Carlisle News & Star

• New scheme to provide missing link and extend Carlisle cycleway A cycling link between the Caldew riverside cycleway in Carlisle and the city centre will be improved after the green light was given to traffic changes on part of the route.

East Anglian Daily Times

• 6am update: A12 still closed at Blythburgh after flooding, but some routes reopen; some train services disruptedThere remain a number of problems on Suffolk’s roads this morning due to last night’s flooding - however, some have now reopened.

London24

• Hundreds of London trains delayed because of “slippery tracks”Hundreds of London trains operated by Southeastern and Southern are affected by long delays tonight because of “slippery tracks”

Peterborough Telegraph

• Warning after spate of bike thefts in PeterboroughThursday 10am: Officers are urging members of the public to take extra precautions around storing bicycles following a series of thefts and burglaries in Peterborough.

Other Regional Press

• £1bn boost for Cambridge transport and housing could pave way for underground network as George Osborne lets city keep more tax A boost of more than £1 billion for Cambridge’s infrastructure – which could pave the way for an underground transport network – has been approved by the Government.
• Watch: Terror of passengers as plane misses runway trying to land in high winds at Birmingham AirportPanic gripped Emirates flight as it misses approach and diverted to Gatwick

Global Rail News

• Trafford Centre tram extension could open in 2019Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) are to debate the pros and cons of extending the city’s tram network to the Trafford Centre. Officials will meet on Friday (December 5) to[...]
• Northern line extension receives funding guaranteeThe government has announced that terms have been agreed on a £1 billion guarantee for the London Underground’s Northern line extension to Battersea. This follows last month’s public inquiry into[...]
• Stadler Rail buys Voith Dutch maitenance businessStadler Rail has acquired a Voith maintenance services subsidiary in the Netherlands. Following the takeover, Stadler will assume maintenance contracts held by Voith Rail Services with Arriva, Veolia, Connexxion and[...]

Other News Sources

• Government unveils £375 billion infrastructure planThe UK government has unveiled a National Infrastructure Plan worth £375 billion over the next two decades. The plan includes projects covering roads, rail, energy, flood defences and the rollout of superfast broadband.
• Autumn Statement 2013: Car tax disc to be abolishedCar tax disc to be axed after 93 years in favour of a modern digital system, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced today in the Autumn Statement.
• TRANSPORT: Limited train service resumed between Norwich and Colchester; local trains cancelled; buses cancelled in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft; roads hit by fallen trees and cablesHowever, National Rail advised passengers not to travel unless their journey is essential. In a statement on its website, Greater Anglia said: “Due to the storm warnings in place along coastal routes the following services will be suspended from 19:30 tonight: Ipswich-Felixstowe, Beccles-Lowestoft, Norwich to Greater Yarmouth and Norwich to Lowestoft.
• Winchester Station Approach report set to spark interest from developers A REPORT on revamping the Station Approach area in Winchester is set to spark strong interest from developers, the council leader said.