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

Tuesday, 21 January 2014

BBC News

• Transport Committee [video of proceedings]The Transport Select Committee took evidence on the future of the UK's aviation strategy from the Chair of the Airports Commission Sir Howard Davies on 20 January 2014.
• Electric bikes scheme included in 600-bed halls of residence planAn electric bike scheme will be included in the development of a new 600-bed hall of residence at the University of Bangor.
• Family to continue calls for compulsory cycle helmet lawThe family of a teenager who suffered brain damage in a bicycle accident say they plan to carry on pushing for a law making it compulsory to wear helmets.
• McGill's Buses eyes Malta transport tenderMcGill's Buses is poised to make a bid to run Malta's public transport service in a move that would double the size of the west of Scotland bus operator.
• A5 consultant advice to be reviewedRegional Development Minister Danny Kennedy orders an independent review of the advice his department received from a consultant on the A5 road project.
• 10% of rail level crossings closedNetwork Rail says 10% of Britain's level crossings have been closed since 2010 as part of a programme to improve rail safety.
• Last city tram used as summer houseWhat is thought to be one of Scotland's oldest surviving trams is set for restoration after being discovered in a garden in Perth.
• Crossrail passenger estimate revisedAn additional 65 million passengers may use three Crossrail stations in central London by 2026, according to revised figures.
• TfL criticises Heathrow proposalsTransport for London criticises the Airport Commission's call for a new runway at Heathrow or Gatwick as a way of meeting demand for more airport capacity.
• Boeing confirms $4bn order from GEGeneral Electric's aircraft leasing and financing arm confirms it has placed an order for 40 Boeing planes worth $4bn (£2.3bn) at list prices.

Financial Times

• Blight fears over HS2 purchase powersBill paving the way for first phase of high speed route allows ministers to force sale of land becoming economically viable as result of project
• Panama Canal work slows to a crawlThe consortium behind the project had threatened to walk from the job from Monday but held off on this threat amid European Union mediation
• Crossrail to put pressure on West EndBond Street and Tottenham Court Road, at the heart of the capital’s shopping district, will see a rise of 200% in passenger numbers compared with 2013

The Guardian

• Japanese airline changes TV ad over 'racist' wig and false noseAd to promote overseas flights showed man in false nose and blonde wig to look western

The Telegraph

• Government told Airports Commission not to report until after General ElectionThe Airports Commission could have recommended where to build Britain’s next runway before the 2015 General Election but was told to delay its findings by the Coalition, MPs have been told.
• Dangerous drivers flout level crossing rulesCCTV released by Network Rail captures motorists and pedestrians putting their lives as risk dashing through level crossing while the red lights are flashing and the level crossing barriers lowering    
• Crossrail's giant tunnelling machine breaks through to WhitechapelCrossrail's 500ft long, 1,000 tonne tunnel boring machine, nicknamed
• Crossrail report says London's pavements may have to be widened to cope with commuter numbersLondon will need to summon

The Mirror

• Boris Johnson told to cut out the 'vulgar abuse' as Heathrow extension row turns nastyLondon Mayor accused Airport Commission chief Sir Howard Davies' report of being
• Road safety groups slam UK's first MOTORWAY pubThe Hope and Champion opens today at Beaconsfield services on the M40 in Buckinghamshire

Network Rail

• Massive operation of £10m to re-open the Cambrian Coast railway is underwayRailway engineers are working hard to re-open the Cambrian Coast line following recent storm damage.
• Second phase of railway upgrade between Stafford and Crewe gets underwayWork has started on the latest phase of a £250m improvement project which will deliver greater capacity and improved reliability on one of the busiest railway lines in Europe.
• Bridge rebuild is the next step towards delivering the Chase Line’s electric futureElectric train services on the Chase Line moved a step closer today as Network Rail, a local MP, London Midland and councillors marked the next phase of work in Hednesford.

Birmingham Post

• Jaguar agrees Team Sky sponsorship deal The Jaguar brand logo will feature on Team Sky racing kit for the first time during the next two seasons
• Birmingham Airport windfall digs council out of £5m hole Funds derived from Birmingham City Council's shareholding in Birmingham Airport have come to the rescue of its ailing leisure offer

London Evening Standard

• Annual travelcard 'has risen £509 under Boris Johnson'The annual cost of a travelcard has risen by £509 under Boris Johnson, it was revealed today as new fares came into effect for millions of commuters.
• '250 million passengers per year on Crossrail is 65m more than expected'London will need to summon the spirit of the Olympic Games to cope with an unprecedented surge in daily commuters when Crossrail opens, research warns today.
• Tube chief calls on union to cancel strike action ballotThe managing director of London Underground today urged a trade union to call off a strike ballot over ticket offices closures after guaranteeing that he could meet their demands.
• Boris Johnson accused by airport commission chair of doling out 'vulgar abuse' in third runway rowSir Howard Davies, head of the government appointed Airports Commission, has criticised London Mayor Boris Johnson's unhelpful and colourful language in the airport expansion debate.
• M40 pub 'at odds' with public viewsA new pub being opened at a motorway service station today was "at odds" with public opinion which was firmly against the move, according to road safety campaigners.

Blackpool Gazette

• Plans to reopen square to buses and taxisBuses and taxis could once again be allowed to travel through Blackpool’s town centre 24 hours a day.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Bid for 20mph pilot scheme in villagesMonday 10pm: Plans for a pilot scheme of 20mph speed limits in villages around Peterborough are to be considered by council chiefs.

Other Regional Press

• Welsh SMEs offered rail supply opportunities at eventA rail industry supply chain event at Cardiff City Stadium today will highlight the opportunities for Welsh SMEs to become involved in railway projects.
• Peak time speed limits to be brought in on motorwaysSTRETCHES of the motorway network around Wigan borough may have their upper speed limits cut at peak times under a government scheme.
• Decision day for bus and on-street parking is delayedMORE than 150 people packed out a village’s community room to vent their frustrations over proposed changes to on-street car parking and bus routes.
• Shipbuilding group praises prime minister’s shipyard interventionA group of businesses behind the plan to create the Portsmouth Shipbuilding Company say David Cameron’s commitment to the shipyard is ’fantastic’.
• Health event at bus stationA free event to promote health and wellbeing will be held on Tuesday next week.
• Bus strike action set to continue as pay offer is refused BUS drivers have vowed to continue industrial action after a day of strikes in Weymouth and Bridport.

Global Rail News

• Upgraded Class 365 deliveredBombardier has handed back the first of 40 Great Northern Class 365s undergoing a major overhaul. The unit, which carries passengers between London Kings Cross, Peterborough, Cambridge and King’s Lynn, has[...]
• £250m WCML rail project gets underwayA project to deliver £250 million worth of upgrades on the West Coast main line has begun. The Stafford Area Improvement Programme (SAIP) will involve the installation of new signalling[...]
• PKP Intercity’s financial outlook ‘positive’Credit rating agency Fitch Ratings has upgraded the long-term financial outlook of Poland state-owned rail operator PKP Intercity (IC) from ’Stable’ to ’Positive’. Fitch said that PKP could have its[...]
• Europe begins testing 1.5km trainsProject ’Marathon’ got fully underway at the weekend as it completed the first test run of a 1.5-kilometre freight train on Europe’s rail network. Powered by two locomotives, a 4,000-tonne[...]
• Scotland’s new railwayAmongst many other improvements, the next ScotRail franchise is to have faster more comfortable trains connecting its seven cities with scenic trains on tourist routes. This much has been widely reported but perhaps the big story is why the Scottish Government wants to pay more for rail quality improvements. With the current ScotRail franchise worth […]

Railnews

• Critics gather as London fares go up Transport for London fares have risen by an average of 2.7 per cent, some two weeks later than first planned, but the Mayor of London Boris Johnson has been criticised for authorising the increases. The delay in the rises was caused by the Government's late change of heart about regulated National Rail fares for this year. TfL said they were necessary to allow investment in the Underground and other networks to continue.
• Repairing Welsh coastal storm damage will cost £10m Network Rail has revealed that part of the Cambrian Coast line will remain closed until May, after winter storms caused serious damage at places along the route including Tywyn, Barmouth and Criccieth. The cost of the repairs has been put at £10 million. The railway is presently closed between Dovey Junction and Pwllheli and trains should reach Barmouth again next month, but repairing the rest of the route will take longer.

Transport Focus

• Rail passenger satisfaction still too varied - autumn 2013 NRPS resultsPassenger satisfaction with rail services still varies too widely across Great Britain, said the watchdog today.

Aviation Industry

• 3 Extravagant Flights You'll Never Be Able to AffordTo reward their best customers, United and American offer special lounges, turn-down service, and semi-private
• Earnings Preview: 4 Airlines Fly Not-So-Crowded SkiesPlanes are getting more and more crowded, but the skies themselves are not. And that's good news for carriers such as , which all report earnings this week.
• GTMC questions Ryanair’s move to target business travelCEO claims the airline must add more business destinations to be a success in the corporate travel market

Other News Sources

• Results of the 2013 questionnaire on the development of women employment in the railway sector in EuropeThe outcome of the first annual review of the development of women employment in European railway companies shows that the average share of women working in the rail sector remains constant at around 20%. Overall, women are still underrepresented in technical professions. Equality measures focus on the improvement of the work-life balance.
• Special report: The case for Gatwick's second runway With the final recommendations on airport expansion due next year, Gatwick and Heathrow have intensified lobbying for new runways.
• Shortlist of bidders for East Coast Mainline revealedEurostar, FirstGroup and Virgin among the companies named on the shortlist
• Trainline strikes partnership with Deutsche BahnNew agreement boosts site’s European rail offering