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

Thursday, 13 February 2014

BBC News

• Rail improvement report submittedA group set up to consider proposals to improve the Cambrian main and coastal lines in mid Wales submits its report to the transport minister.
• Travel misery continues after stormsTens of thousands of homes in England and Wales remain without power and there is widespread disruption across the transport networks following Wednesday's hurricane-force winds.
• VIDEO: The app which helps drivers fix carsHow augmented reality is aiding car design and helping drivers fix problems without a manual.
• Airbus A380 in one-off Glasgow visitThe world's largest passenger plane is to make a one-off flight from Glasgow as Emirates airlines marks 10 years of operations from the city.
• Toyota to recall 1.9m Prius hybridsToyota is recalling 1.9 million of its top-selling Prius hybrid cars because of a software fault that may cause the vehicle to slow down suddenly.

Financial Times

• Emissions rules force M3 drivers to slowThe maximum speed is set to be reduced on a second motorway under a government plan to introduce a 60mph limit on a stretch in Surrey

The Herald

• Burnham hints at voting against HS2Questions over Labour's commitment to the HS2 rail project have resurfaced, after a senior shadow cabinet member indicated he could vote against the scheme.
• Burnham hints at voting against HS2Questions over Labour's commitment to the HS2 rail project have resurfaced, after a senior shadow cabinet member indicated he could vote against the scheme.

The Independent

• The road to happiness? Don't catch the bus to work It was Margaret Thatcher who is credited with irrevocably damaging the image of bus travel when she reputedly branded anyone over the age of 26 still using one as a failure.   
• Commuters 'depressed' 'anxious' and have 'lower life satisfaction' People who commute are unhappier and suffer higher levels of anxiety than the rest of the workforce, but the problems “disappear” when commuting time reaches over three hours, a new report shows.    
• 'An insult to the nation': Fury after Argentina tells British ships you’re not allowed to fly your flag The Foreign Office has accused Argentina of “unacceptable harassment and intimidation” after official in Buenos Aires allegedly ordered a cruise ship to remove the British red ensign or face a fine and some unspecified “trouble”.    

The Telegraph

• Andy Burnham: I will give 'no guarantees' on HS2The Shadow Health Secretary's comments come as a growing split over the high speed railway emerges at the top of the Labour party    

Mail Online

• EasyJet fined £42,000 for ordering a disabled woman off of a plane because she was 'a security risk'Wheelchair-bound Marie-Patricia Hoarau, 41, said the British airline made her feel like a 'social outcast' when forcing her off the plane for flying alone.
• Transport Secretary casts doubt on David Cameron's pledge that 'money is no object' for floodsCouncils warned the government that money needed to reach them 'as quickly as possible', as MPs called for VAT to be cut on repairs to flooded homes and cash for major new road and rail projects.
• Pilot battles to land plane at Manchester Airport in 45mph crosswindThis photograph shows the terrifying moment a captain battled to land a Flybe passenger plane, understood to have come from Waterford in Ireland, at Manchester Airport in strong winds.
• It's official: Commuting to work makes you miserable (and spending more than half an hour on a bus is the worst way to travel)The longer people take getting to the office, the less happy they are and the less they think their lives are worthwhile.
• Havoc! As floods hit new areas, 108mph winds cause power cuts, shut motorways and force passengers off trains. Now prepare for a month's rain in two daysMotorways were flooded, major road bridges closed and rail lines offered limited - if any - services, stranding travellers and bringing the country to a standstill.

Network Rail

• Severe disruption on the West Coast MainlineDue to the extreme weather conditions there is severe disruption on the West Coast Main Line.

Birmingham Post

• Birmingham Airport reveals largest passenger rise since 2005 The airport recorded a 10.6 per cent passenger increase in January compared to the same month last year – the first time it has experienced double digit growth since December 2005

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Police use undercover lorry to catch careless drivers Drivers distracted by passengers, mobile phones or eating food among those fined in sting

London Evening Standard

• Tube boss Mike Brown: Union talks after strike is called off won’t stop closure of ticket officesTube boss Mike Brown today insisted he was determined to go ahead with the closure of ticket offices after unions called off their strike.
• Rail passengers stranded by storms Thousands of rail passengers were stuck on trains tonight after wind and rain wrecked services.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post published Our nightmare as rail repairs work drags onREGARDING your story about the crossing works at Stoke Lane, in Gedling (Post, February 10), we as residents of Emerys Road are fed up to the back teeth of all of it.From the time of the derailment we have had disruption to our lives.We have had work going on through the night at times, and the risk of flooding from a cracked sewer pipe.We have a limited bus service in the area, and the route suggested by way of a diversion for those on foot is not safe as it is a public footpath leading to...

The York Press

• Controversial parking charges approved in town A CONTROVERSIAL scheme to attract more shoppers to a North Yorkshire market town by introducing high street car parking charges has been approved.
• Cable work blamed for cycle path flood CYCLISTS and pedestrians are finding their way along a York cycle path repeatedly blocked by flooding, following work to bury power cables underground.

Yorkshire Post

• United commitment urged to deliver improvements to A64A MAJOR commitment to delivering long-awaited improvements to the A64 between York and Scarborough is expected to be given by councillors in Ryedale tonight.

Blackpool Gazette

• Faith school bus cost hike angerA headteacher has slammed a county council decision to slash a school bus fares subsidy for children travelling to faith schools.

Bucks Free Press

• Council sets aside £350,000 for Parliamentary HS2 fight COUNCIL bosses are to spend up to £350,000 petitioning the government not to go ahead with HS2.

Doncaster Free Press

• Town centre street sealed off and rail passengers stranded as gales batter Doncaster.A street in Doncaster town centre has been sealed off by police tonight after gale force winds put through the windows of a shop.    

Other Regional Press

• Heathrow bid to end Cranford Agreement is rejectedCouncillors unanimously refuse planning permission for work needed to enable regular departures over Cranford
• Aiport expansion: St Albans joins the queue calling for government to interveneSt Albans City and District Council has made a request to government to ’call in’ the controversial decision to expand London Luton Airport.
• Makeover plans for Hipperholme rail bridge Complaints were made about Hipperholme Railway Bridge, which is rusting. Its paint work is peeling off, leaving an unsightly appearance to people using Station Road.

Global Rail News

• Private sector investment does exist for Crossrail 2Enough private investment could be found to meet government targets for the construction of the £12 billion Crossrail 2 project, a new report has stated. The report, which was conducted[...]
• RZD to sell off half of Aeroexpress stakeRussian Railways (RZD) has decided to reduce its stake in airport rail link operator Aeroexpress from 50 to 25 per cent. RZD said it is interested in developing Aeroexpress but[...]
• Semmering Base tunnel facing delayThe construction of Austria’s Semmering Base tunnel could be delayed after the country’s Superior Administrative Court suspended work on the 3.1 billion project. Although work will continue on flood protection[...]