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

Sunday, 16 February 2014

BBC News

• London Southend Airport opens new £10m extensionA £10m extension to London Southend Airport in Essex is due to open to passengers.
• Natural Retreats UK named as preferred bidder for CairnGorm Mountain resortA business that runs trips from Land's End to John O'Groats could take over Scotland's only funicular railway and the UK's highest restaurant.
• New bridge to connect Aviemore and Grantown on SpeyPlans to extend a steam railway from Aviemore to Grantown on Spey have taken a significant step forward.
• Indonesian airports reopen after Java volcano eruptionSeveral airports have reopened on the Indonesian island of Java after being forced to close following the eruption of a volcano.

The Guardian

• HS2 billions should be diverted to rebuild south-west railways, say MPsCall to invest in transport infrastructure after sea wall collapse undermines Dawlish railway track
• Crossrail brings in top architect behind King's Cross revampHiro Aso recruited as concerns grow that design of stations outside central London will suffer as bill for the project hits £15bnThe architect behind the acclaimed transformation of King's Cross station in north London has been parachuted in to work on Crossrail stations as a row over design quality on the £15bn project continues.In December, the Observer reported a warning from Richard Rogers, the architect behind Heathrow Terminal 5, that the Crossrail link was set to produce poorly designed stations that would fail to live up to Britain's

Mail Online

• Grouned: More than 200,000 people evacuated and five airports closed as volcano erupts on Indonesian islandIndonesia's national disaster agency ordered the evacuation of all families living within a six-mile radius of Mount Kelud on the island of Java.
• Near miss! A motorised paraglider misses an EasyJet passenger plane by only 150ftAn airliner that was coming in to land had a near miss in mid-air with a motorised parachutist at 2,000ft about the ground.

The Mirror

• EasyJet airliner in near-miss with paraglider on flight from Newquay The 240mph Airbus A319 was coming in to land when the shocked pilot saw the machine’s red canopy flash by his cockpit window at 2,000ft

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post commented 'Station for HS2 could be created away from Toton'A FUTURE high-speed rail station planned for Toton could be built elsewhere if a better location is put forward, it is claimed.Project boss Richard Brown told a debate on the scheme that the station could end up elsewhere if someone could provide a business case for it.The new £50 billion HS2 line from London to Birmingham and Leeds is due to open by 2032. Trains on the track would run at up to 250mph.The scheme has proved controversial, with some saying it will bring an economic boost...

Wales Online

• Will Wales' Heathrow link be run by the world's most expensive rail operator?Concerns raised by a Welsh MP over Heathrow Express' bid to run trains on the planned link to the airport from the West

Other Regional Press

• No cash for train station accessThere are no plans to improve access to Mirfield train station, Northern Rail has said. The station operator said it did not have the cash to make it easier for disabled people to access the eastbound platform. The busy route to Leeds is only accessible up a steep stairway from Station Road.
• TransWilts rail service on track to exceed target Projections from Wiltshire Council that the new TransWilts service will be used by 45,000 users in its first year are expected to be smashed, with passenger numbers suggesting the figure will be upwards of 60,000.
• Bus driver injured as he fights off knifepoint robber A bus driver was hurt as he fought off an armed masked raider who tried to rob him.
• John Travolta: ‘I like flying into Luton Airport’FAMOUS Hollywood actor John Travolta has spoken of his fondness for Luton Airport during a radio interview.

Other News Sources

• Service gets a bigger busTHE hopper bus scheme in Ponteland is helping even more residents following its initial success. A dial-a-ride service that picks up people from and returns them to their door was established in late 2012. The route is flexible and covers places such as GP surgeries, shopping areas and the library.
• David Moore: Are these new railway stations a reality or fantasy?I was interested to read an advertisement the other day, promoting the sale of new homes at Kilnwood Vale. There were a number of positive sales benefits on offer, such as a mixed used development conveniently situated between Horsham and Crawley plus a proposed new railway station.
• Time based separation at Heathrow an air traffic world firstA new system to separate arriving aircraft at Heathrow by time instead of distance will radically cut delays and reduce cancellations due to high headwinds, said air traffic control firm NATS.
• Freight Movement opts for RenaultNewport-based transport and logistics company, Freight Movement Ltd, has placed the first Welsh order for Renault Trucks’ new Range T. Supplied through Renault Trucks Cardiff, the four Range T 460 Euro 6 6×2 tractor units with sleeper cab have been acquired on a four year contract hire deal with BRS Ltd. The high-spec Range Ts, which went on the road in January 2014 together with brand new trailers, are additions to Freight Movement’s 35-strong fleet and play a key role in the company’s expansion plans to meet growing demand. The new trucks, each fitted with fridge, Bluetooth and LED runn...