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

Thursday, 16 January 2014

BBC News

• Minister defends plan to reduce life raft requirementsThe government has insisted its plans to allow pleasure boats to carry fewer life rafts will not compromise safety.
• M4 relief road 'broadly supported' by Newport councilProposals for a three-lane M4 relief road are favoured by Newport council but there is concern about its environmental impact.
• VIDEO: Driverless cars; still a distant dream?BMW has shown off self-driving cars that can
• Fallon to be Minister for PortsmouthThe government is to appoint a Minister for Portsmouth, with former Conservative Party deputy chairman Michael Fallon in line for the job, the BBC learns.
• HS2 bill debate set to be delayedMPs are unlikely to hold their first debate on legislation authorising the HS2 rail link for another two months because of problems with the consultation process.
• Shrewsbury-London rail plan axedVirgin trains scraps plans for a direct rail service between Shrewsbury and London, four months before it was supposed to begin.

Financial Times

• Call grows louder for FirstGroup break-upThe US hedge fund calling for a break-up of FirstGroup has sent a second letter to the UK company’s board urging them to sell off their US operations
• Japan Airlines to replace 787 batteryJapan Airlines, Boeing and Japanese and US regulators are involved in investigation into the Dreamliner battery, which showed signs of overheating

The Telegraph

• Police given new powers to use Patrick McLoughlin is giving selected police forces cannabis testing kits ahead of the introduction of a new drug driving law    

Bolton News

• Crowded trains: 'We are doing all we can', say rail bosses TRANSPORT bosses have insisted they are doing all they can to help Bolton commuters during the rush hour crush.
• Plans for Bolton-wide rail group rejected at heated meeting PLANS for a new railway users group have gone down in flames - but a Friends of Bolton Station group could rise from the ashes.
• Disabled student is left stranded by Bolton's 'cattle truck' trains STUDENT and wheelchair user Christina Rhoney has added her voice to calls for rail bosses to introduce more carriages to end Bolton’s “cattle truck” services.

Liverpool Echo

• New look for Merseyrail fleet set to be unveiled£8.5m refurbishment will see both the inside and outside of the trains undergoing a facelift

London Evening Standard

• The one we love best: Londoners' all-time favourite Tube poster from the London Transport MuseumThis scene of style and sophistication has been chosen by Londoners as their favourite poster for the Underground.
• Schoolchildren 'fuel surge in bad behaviour on London's buses and Tube'Schoolchildren are responsible for a rise in anti-social behaviour on buses and trains, a study by London’s public transport watchdog reveals today.
• HS2 consultation period extendedThe consultation period for the environmental statement of the HS2 high-speed rail project has been extended by an extra 17 days following a ruling by a Commons committee.
• Airports chief to reveal next steps The next steps in the work to decide on future UK runway capacity are being outlined today by the head of the Whitehall-appointed Airports Commission.

Northern Echo

• Repairs to A67 Carlbury landslip could take ten months REPAIRS to a major commuter route badly damaged by a landslip will take almost a year, with diversions in place throughout the project.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post published Work on new tram ticket machines starts in NottinghamArticle

The York Press

• Parents’ anger at school bus cuts MORE than 120 pupils face losing their free bus to school and enduring long diversions on public transport, under council plans to save £100,000 a year.

This Is Local London Network

• TfL to increase frequency of bus route 183 Bus route 183 will run more frequently between Golders Green and Pinner to manage growing demand for the popular service.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Work to start on Leeds’ new high speed rail station to start by 2020Construction work should begin on Leeds’ new high-speed rail station within the next six years, the new head of HS2 has said.

Bucks Free Press

• HS2 consultation period extended THE consultation period on the HS2 Environmental Statement is to be extended by a further three weeks, a group of MPs ruled today.

Crewe Chronicle

• HS2 scheme could drive trams link across CreweCheshire East says Crewe's traffic problems could be transformed by a mini-tram network if the town gets a new hub station

Northants Evening Telegraph

• Railway station plan given the go-aheadPLANNING permission has been granted for the new Ilkeston train station.

Other Regional Press

• North Yorkshire will discuss bus subsidy cuts next weekA decision on controversial plans to cut bus service subsidies in Craven and across North Yorkshire will be made next week.
• Letter to DfT: Improving Lincoln’s rail servicesLucy Rigby has written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin MP, regarding the potential for Lincoln to be a specifed location for the purposes of the East Coast Main Line franchise – the invitation to tender for which should be out imminently. Here is the open letter which she sent to Rt Hon McLoughlin MP

Global Rail News

• Russian Railways to cut research funding in 2014Russian Railways (RZD) has said it will be “forced to reduce significantly” its research and development (R&D) investment in 2014. The announcement was made in a press release outlining the[...]
• Trial runs begin on Delhi Metro Phase IIITrial runs are underway on the first section of Phase III of the Delhi Metro. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) began testing between Central Secretariat and Mandi House on[...]
• £25m plans for new Peckham Rye station district to be revealedDesigns to revitalise the area around the Grade 2 listed Peckham Rye railway station will move a step closer to reality this weekend as the next phase of public consultation[...]
• Saft completes battery order for Beijing MetroFrench company Saft has supplied the batteries that will provide backup power to trains on Beijing Metro’s new Line 6. The onboard battery systems have been installed on trains built[...]
• Railway staff beat storms in festive upgradeDespite the additional work of clearing up after yet another winter flood-and-storm scenario, railway staff delivered an ambitious and record-breaking programme of upgrades across the network over the Christmas and New Year holidays. Engineers laid new track and ballast, platforms, lifts and footbridges as well as upgrading signalling and electrification equipment. At more than £100m, [...]
• Hitachi ETCS equipment certified for use with IEPNew trains delivered as part of the £5.8 billion Intercity Express Programme (IEP) will be fitted with Hitachi’s own ETCS signalling system, the company has announced. Hitachi confirmed today (January[...]
• Coradia Lint DMUs enter service on Cologne Diesel NetworkThe first new Alstom Coradia Lint train has entered service in the Cologne and Eifel region, also known as the Cologne Diesel Network. DB Regio has ordered 56 new trains,[...]

Aviation Industry

• American cutting flights from NY, DC after mergerAmerican Airlines and US Airways will drop year-round, daily nonstop flights from Washington's Reagan National Airport to Detroit, San Diego and 15 other cities because of the deal they made to win government approval of their merger.
• Leeds Bradford Airport introduces seven routes for 2014Jet2, Eastern Airways and Scandinavian Airlines to open new routes this year
• Ryanair opens four Manchester routesLow cost airline to operate new routes from March 2014

Other News Sources

• Could highway trains be the future of mass public transport? The transport industry faces a number of key challenges, notably congestion, safety and effects on climate. Increasing the use of public transport and reducing the use of cars is generally considered to be of overall benefit to the community, but this is often to the detriment to the individual in terms of convenience and direct cost.
• Vogue Gyratory's cycle-friendly four-month revamp to start in spring A controversial junction is to be revamped with the addition of a new cycle lane as the final piece in £6.4 million improvements to get people out of their cars.
• A27 Brighton bypass is 'security risk' says MP after latest Southwick Tunnel crash An MP dubbed the A27 Brighton bypass ‘a safety risk’ last night after another crash caused three miles of tailbacks during rush-hour.