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

Saturday, 21 December 2013

BBC News

• Wind and rain add to road disruptionStrong winds and heavy rain are adding to disruption for drivers around Wales caused by earlier icy conditions.
• 'Dip' in regional airport passengersScottish regional airports operator Hial reports a fall in numbers of passengers using its sites in November.
• Boris 'scaremongering' over HeathrowHeathrow Airport accuses Boris Johnson of scaremongering for suggesting the M25 might have to be shut if a new runway is built.
• Dozens hurt in London bus crashMore than 30 people are injured - six of them seriously - when a bus crashes into a tree in south London.

Financial Times

• Heathrow hub plan drawn on back of napkin‘Jock’ Lowe proposal to extend Heathrow’s northern runway becomes surprise inclusion in shortlist of proposals for expansion of airport capacity
• Carnival cruises to recoveryCustomers start returning to the cruise ship operator’s flagship brand, with bookings on the rise after heavy marketing and discounts

The Guardian

• DfT and Hitachis defend InterCity express programmeThe government's Intercity express programme is a multi-billion pound project that must be delivered if we are serious about rolling out a rail network fit for the 21st century. When complete by 2020, the programme will have transformed rail travel on the East Coast and Great Western mainlines, providing significant benefits to passengers, communities and local businesses.

The Herald

• Lawyers in call for helicopter black boxesLAWYERS representing a family bereaved in the Clutha helicopter crash have called for all passenger-carrying helicopters to be fitted with black box recording devices.
• Festive getaway sees thousands on the moveTHOUSANDS of Scots are on the move as the Christmas getaway gets into full swing, with festive travellers crowding on to trains, boats and planes.
• Officials reject tram plans for DundeeOFFICIALS have rejected proposals for Dundee to become the second Scottish city to invest in a new tram network.

The Telegraph

• Time to spread our wings beyond the South EastHeathrow and Gatwick might be full, but our 28 provincial airports are under-used, says Geoffrey Lean    

Mail Online

• Two passengers pinned to their seats for TWO HOURS after bus crashed into a tree in LondonEmergency services freed the pair - who both suffered 'serious leg injuries' - just after 1pm today after the vehicle smashed into the tree in Kennington, South London, just before 11am.

Bristol Live

• The Bristol Post commented MetroBus revealed: How Bristol's new transport system is likely...THIS is the first glimpse of how Bristol's multi-million-pound MetroBus transport system is expected to look. Plans for the contentious bus route have been resubmitted to the city council following the intervention of Bristol mayor George Ferguson. Mr Ferguson insisted that the guided bus, which was originally known as the Bristol Rapid Transit system, should not be built on the Harbourside and run in front of the M shed. As a result, the transport link between Ashton Gate and Temple Meads...
• The Bristol Post commented Bristol Rovers stadium could be key to extending rail lineTRANSPORT Ministers are likely to look more favourably on proposals to reopen the Henbury Loop line if Bristol Rovers' new stadium is built.The admission was made by Transport Minister Stephen Hammond in response to a Parliamentary question by Bristol North West MP Charlotte Leslie.Speaking during transport question on the floor of the House of Commons, Tory MP Ms Leslie asked the Minister whether "such large infrastructure projects could have a massively positive impact on the business...
• The Bristol Post commented Reader's letter: Bristol speed cameras turn-on is "just to...SO Mayor Ferguson has announced that speed cameras are to be switched on again across the city.He claims that there are still too many incidents involving pedestrians and cyclists and refers to them as vulnerable road users.I seriously question his reasons and deductions concerning his latest policy.Most motorists would regard themselves as the vulnerable road users, having to cope with pedestrians walking out in front of them and cyclists breaking just about every Highway Code rule there is to...

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph published Bygones: Dad was long gone when I followed in his wheel tracks...As the Trent Barton bus company celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, John Fooks, of Spondon, has penned the story of his father, Jack, who worked for Trent Motor Traction for almost 40 years.IN 1928, my dad, Jack Fooks, came to Derby to work as a driver for Trent Motor Traction.He was born in Dorset but his first bus-driving experience came when he "had a go" at driving a charabanc, courtesy of one of his friends in Bristol.This must have been in the early 1920s as you only had...

London Evening Standard

• 67% of trains ran on timeSome rail passengers have had to contend with more than half their trains running late in the last year.
• Millions begin Christmas getawayThe great Christmas getaway will start in earnest today as millions of people hit the roads and crowd onto trains, planes and boats.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post published Boxing Day buses for the first timeArticle

Wales Online

• Cardiff Airport secures new airline to operate routes to Paris and Glasgow The publicly-owned airport has signed a deal with CityJet, following the announcement Flybe that it will be withdrawing these routes from January
• Plaid Cymru claims rural Wales has been hit by a 'connectivity crisis' as transport and energy costs climbWales Office states it is pushing for Welsh communities to be included in fuel rebate scheme

Yorkshire Post

• New £8m rail station set to openThe new £8.1m Wakefield Westgate rail station will start operating this morning.

Blackpool Gazette

• Doubts over new tram linkHopes of extending Blackpool’s tramway to the resort’s main railway station could be dashed – because council bosses may not be able to find almost £2m they must put towards the £18.2m total cost.
• Student’s rail journey woeA rail company told a disabled student she should have made special arrangements for her train journey after she was left stranded on a platform.

Bucks Free Press

• Scrutiny committee urges council chief to reconsider bus link decision A SCRUTINY committee has urged a council chief to reconsider her decision to select a residential road as the preferred route for a bus link.

Carlisle News & Star

• Cumbrian haulage boss and drivers faked tachograph records A director and four county-based drivers with a north Cumbrian haulage firm have been sentenced for a tachograph scam.

Other Regional Press

• Canadian shipbuilder steps in to recruit Portsmouth BAE workersCANADIAN shipbuilders have set their sights on skilled workers in Portsmouth to help them build 17 ships for that country’s navy.
• Parking wardens will still carry out actionCOUNCIL bosses have failed to stop parking wardens taking industrial action on Monday.
• Navy ship is to play part in removing weaponsBritain is to send a Royal Navy ship to Syria to safeguard vessels removing the country’s chemical stockpile.

Railnews

• Britain has 'best major rail network' in Europe A survey of railway passengers in the European Union has concluded that more passengers in the United Kingdom are satisfied with their rail journeys than in any other country, with the exception of the small system serving Finland. However, Finnish trains only carry some 67 million people annually, which the Rail Delivery Group pointed out is 6 million fewer than the passenger total each year at London Victoria alone.

Railway Gazette

• Aesthetically pleasing electrifcation competitionUK: 'New, aesthetically pleasing designs' for overhead electrification masts are being sought in an international competition managed by the Royal Institute of British Architects. The rail industry...

Aviation Industry

• How well did the Airports Commission’s interim report do on our three environmental and social tests?Before publishing the interim report, Sir Howard Davies and the Airports Commission he chairs emphasised the importance of not simply providing the capacity that industry demands in deciding the need for additional runway capacity. Instead, Sir Howard argued that the Commission engaged with wider social and environmental issues, that the Commission was “alive to the […]
• Cash injection for Alitalia finalized Alitalia confirmed Friday it has raised a €300 million ($410 million) cash infusion to safeguard its immediate future. read more
• Emirates eyes upgraded A380 interiors; still mulling 11-abreast seating Emirates is planning to refine and upgrade its Airbus A380 interiors and is still considering a move to an 11-abreast layout in economy class. read more

Green Miscellany

• New bus has cinema screen bodyworkBuses are a major part of every modern city’s iconography, but rarely are they considered visually appealing. Tad Orlowski has designed a concept bus that uses technology to transform the appearance of city landscapes for the better. Both sides of the Willie bus are made of transparent LCD screens. The most likely application for the giant screens would of course…

Other News Sources

• UN RoRo takes over Trieste terminalTurkish ro-ro operator UN Ro Ro has taken a 60% majority stake in Samer group subsidiary Samer Seaports & Terminals in the Italian port of Trieste.
• Navigator newbuild plan targets ethane tradeNavigator Holdings has exercised an option and begun a new, larger series of LPG newbuilds to serve US ethane exports.