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

Monday, 06 January 2014

BBC News

• Train fares 'eat into savings' from moving from LondonSome commuters who move to cheaper accommodation outside London may not be saving as much as they think.
• VIDEO: Tyre pressure 'read as you drive'The road sensor that checks your vehicle's tyres

The Guardian

• Sir Derek Hornby obituaryFormer chairman of LCR, the winner of the contract to run the Eurostar rail service, and father of the novelists Nick and Gillian

The Independent

• 'We need HS2': Aslef boss Mick Whelan defies Labour by backing high-speed rail link Ed Miliband and Ed Balls have been challenged by one of Labour’s most loyal union leaders to stop treating the proposed HS2 rail scheme as a “political football” and to give Labour’s unambiguous backing to the £42bn project.    

The Telegraph

• Union leader urges Labour to back HS2One of Labour's most loyal union leaders has urged the party to back the high speed rail link    

Mail Online

• Heathrow jet pilot saw 'UFO' that 'passed within feet of his plane'The captain of the A320, flying just to the west of the airport, was looking out the a cockpit window and saw a cigar-shaped metallic object flying at a similar altitude.
• Turmoil over OAP benefits: PM defies Cabinet to back fuel allowance and bus passes for middle class - hours after hinting he'd have to axe themYesterday Mr Cameron refused three times to say whether he would retain pensioner benefits for the wealthy – a key issue at the last election.
• Nice weather... for swans: Streets are turned to lakes and commuters face miserable return to work after the Christmas holidays as the stormy weather wreaks havoc on road and railMillions of workers and schoolchildren were expected back at their desks after an extended Christmas break tomorrow.

Birmingham Mail

• Special Report: Bob Haywood on Midland public transport cuts Bus, rail and tram passengers in the West Midlands are being consulted about cuts in services which will start to be implemented as early as April

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Skipton meeting on re-opening of rail line The Skipton East Lancashire Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP) will hold an open meeting for members at Herriots Hotel, Skipton, on Monday, January 13.

Northern Echo

• Decision on cutting bus subsidies in North Yorkshire delayedA CONTROVERSIAL decision to cut funding for bus services in North Yorkshire has been postponed. The county council is reducing its bus subsidy by 25 per cent, equivalent to £1.1m a year, following Government cuts and is increasing its charges for post-16 home to school and college transport.

This Is Local London Network

• Picking Heathrow plan "like choosing between Ripper and Strangler", campaigners say Heathrow’s plan to consult residents on which option they prefer for a third runway had been criticised by a campaign group.

Wales Online

• Key decisions looming on future of transport in WalesStuart Cole: Explores key issues around new rail franchises and transport infrastructure investment in Wales
• Westminster denies it is planning to leave North Wales out of rail electrification schemeDepartment for Transport rejects speculation it is considering stopping the electrification scheme at Chester

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Vision of Midlands' HS2 stations is brought into focusStriking images show what the Midlands' two new impressive high speed railway stations will look like if the controversial £50 billion project gets the green light.

Other Regional Press

• TfL set to take over Liverpool Street’s Enfield and Chingford rail servicesPart of the Liverpool Street suburban rail network in east London is being incorporated into the London Overground.
• Market Rasen Rail User Group’s (MR RUG) campaign to get better train services was given a boost when the town’s MP Sir Edward Leigh wrote to the government’s transport minister.Sir Edward highlighted the lack of trains serving the town and frequent overcrowding. MR RUG said it was delighted to have the MP’s support.
• Commuters face 36p single train fare hikeCommuters from Spalding are paying an average 36p more for a single journey following new year fare increases.
• Labour campaigners petition in stations around Kent against rail fare rises on Southeastern trainsCampaigners were due to call for commuters to sign a petition today after rail fares went up by nearly 3%.
• More speed cameras to appear in Bedford Borough as almost 7,000 caught in just 4 monthsMOTORISTS have been snapped by a new portable speed camera almost 7,000 times in the last four months.

Airportwatch

• Brighton railway station improvement work startsA major scheme to improve the area around Brighton railway station is due to begin on Monday.

Other News Sources

• Three shortlisted for Bakerloo line linkLondon Underground (LU) has shortlisted three contractors to bid for the contract to design and build the tunnel link between Crossrail platforms and Bakerloo line platforms at Paddington Station.
• Christmas wishes granted thanks to bus companyTwo lucky bus passengers had their Christmas wishes granted in a competition by Arriva buses.

Other Subscription Services

• 100m Christmas rail upgrade programme completed Enhancements to the railway network costing more than 100m have been successfully delivered over the Christmas and New Year period.In what it describes as the biggest ever festive investment...