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

Thursday, 06 March 2014

BBC News

• PMQs: Straw heckled over Chiltern and TPE train questionJack Straw was heckled by MPs when he asked the prime minister about one-in-eight TransPennine Express (TPE) trains being transferred "for the greater comfort and convenience" of commuters in southern England.
• Sewage dumped on tracks by trains is a 'health risk'Train companies have been accused of putting passengers' health at risk by dumping toilet waste on the tracks at some of London's mainline stations.
• 'No Vat' on tolls, minister saysNo VAT on Severn crossing tolls when they return to public ownership - but no promise the crossing price will fall.
• MP in court over airport incidentThe Falkirk MP Eric Joyce appears in court on allegations of threatening and abusive behaviour at Edinburgh Airport last year.
• Wrightbus secures new bus orderWrightbus, the County Antrim bus building company, secures an order for 50 buses from Hong Kong firms.
• Union meet on Irish airport strikeOfficials from Irish trade union, Siptu, are to meet later to discuss a planned St Patrick's weekend strike at Aer Lingus and the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).
• Rail firm criticised over line delayA rail firm that runs trains on the line linking East Sussex, Kent and London is criticised for its customer care when the track failed to reopen.
• Judge to probe Mayor's bus ad banA judge orders that emails related to the banning of a London bus advert suggesting people could
• Prestwick reveals loss before salePrestwick Airport had a pre-tax loss of £9.77m in the final full year of its ownership by New Zealand company Infratil.

Financial Times

• BBA Aviation returns $125m to shareholdersReturn of cash by aircraft services group follows its sale of APPH, a designer and maker of aircraft undercarriage systems, for $128m
• New trains to boost Eurostar capacityCross-Channel operator set to lift its capacity by a fifth next year when it takes delivery of new 900-seater trains built by Siemens
• HS2 set to miss legislation deadlinePatrick McLoughlin said there had been significant hold-ups because of MPs speaking out against the high-speed rail line from London to Manchester and Leeds

The Herald

• Outrage over festive lane fines when no buses were runningMOTORISTS fined for driving in bus lanes in Glasgow on Christmas Day and New Year's Day have criticised the city council as it emerged that both Edinburgh and Aberdeen switched off their cameras on those days.
• Prestwick Airport reveals spiralling lossesTHE full scale of Prestwick Airport's financial woes have been laid bare as the latest accounts reveal a pre-tax loss of almost £10 million in its final full year of private ownership.
• The final farewell for last giant of Govan's shipyardTHE cranes of the Clyde's legendary Govan yard will never build ships again, not real ones anyway.

The Telegraph

• Second cyclist stopped by police on M3 motorway after following sat navPolice say they are also looking for a third cyclist who has been spotted taking a dangerous route on the motorway    

Mail Online

• Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin admits HS2 scheme delayThe first phase of the high speed line from London to Birmingham is due for completion in 2026, with a second phase due to be finished in 2032/33.

Network Rail

• Taking it to the kids at Leeds Railway Station32 Leeds based primary school kids to ‘Tackle Track Safety’ with Network Rail as part of Leeds United Foundation programme
• 100th apprentice appointed as part of Birmingham New Street redevelopmentThe team redeveloping Birmingham New Street station is celebrating the appointment of the 100th apprentice to the project.
• Engineers ready to start £20m investment in Southampton's railwayPassengers travelling to and through Southampton are reminded to check before they travel at weekends between now and May as Network Rail will be carrying out extensive planned improvement work to increase the reliability of the railway in the Southampton area.
• Rail plans mobilised to restore services through BridgwaterNetwork Rail is mobilising its engineers to assess damage to the railway, whilst exploring a temporary solution to enable some services to run, as flood water starts to recede at Bridgwater.

Birmingham Mail

• Drivers caught by bus lane cameras 'to be offered council deal' Transport chiefs believed to be about to make concessions in row over 'misleading' signs

Bolton News

• Our petition to improve Bolton's overcrowded trains goes to Downing Street Our politics reporter Elaine O'Flynn is travelling to London today to hand in our petition demanding action over Bolton's overcrowded train services.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Commons jeering over locomotives relocation plan from north to southConservative ministers laughed and jeered when a protest was made over trains being swiped from the North to serve Oxfordshire. Prime Minister’s Questions was interrupted in the Commons when Labour veteran Jack Straw was unable to complete his question, because of the racket.

Liverpool Echo

• Merseytravel's much delayed Walrus 'smartcard' to be rolled out later this yearNew, electronic version of the Saveaway ticket to be initially available in Wirral from the autumn

London Evening Standard

• Eurostar hits 10m passengers in one year for the first timeChannel Tunnel high-speed train company Eurostar reached the 10-million mark for annual passengers for the first time last year.
• Cyclist followed iPhone app onto the M3A cyclist who followed an iPhone app onto the M3 Motorway has been fined, police said.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Tyne & Wear bus times to be sent to mobile phones More than 108,000 families are to get travel advice sent to their homes, with smart phone technology being used to let them see next bus times without leaving the sofa

Wales Online

• Transport minister signals no proposals for Severn Crossing until 2015 electionForest of Dean MP urges UK Government not give up control of bridges that are

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• HS2 route should be altered, says groupThe route of HS2 should be changed and go through Cannock and Walsall, according to proposals revealed by campaigners in rural Staffordshire.

Bucks Free Press

• Lidington adds support to HS2 tunnel extension call MP DAVID Lidington has added his voice to calls to lengthen the tunnel set to carry HS2 through the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Carlisle News & Star

• New shelters will make life more comfortable for bus passengers Hundreds of bus passengers will be able to keep dry when two shelters are put up on a busy high street in June.
• Carlisle pupils join campaign to get more children to cycle to school THESE children have a simple message to everyone – get on your bike.

Crewe Chronicle

• Transport Minister weighs up Crewe superhub bid Minister Baroness  Kramer paid a visit to Crewe Railway Station and the proposed site for the HS2 superhub at Crewe.

Doncaster Free Press

• Doncaster’s biggest bus firm plans fares riseA price hike on bus tickets is set to hit the pockets of thousands of passengers in Doncaster.    

Campaign for Better Transport

• Thank you! Roads policy statement is most controversial ever5 March 2014: There was a record-breaking negative response to the Government's draft planning policy for main roads. Thanks to all our supporters for sharing the need to take action! read more
• You wait for a new railcard for 30 years and Two Together turns up5 March 2014: This week the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) launched the first new railcard for 30 years. read more

Railnews

• Dawlish restoration now set for early April Network Rail has brought forward the date of reopening the severed main line at Dawlish by almost two weeks, to 4 April. But one of the company's route managing directors has warned that there is still 'a great deal of work' to be done elsewhere.

Other News Sources

• HS2 runs out of time: Minister admits legislation won't pass before election Legislation for the controversial High Speed Rail 2 (HS2) project will not make it through the Commons before the 2015 general election, transport secretary admits
• Brits sought for Euro ’Talent in Mobility’ prizesOrganisers of the Talent in Mobility Awards are now seeking entries from across Europe Nominations have opened for this year’s ‘Talent in Mobility Awards’, a pan-European competition that aims to find the continent’s best and brightest transport professionals. The award winners will be revealed at the biannual Transports Publics show which will be held in Paris in June. Nominations are being sought for individuals from across the continent who have distinguished themselves in their organisation. Judges say that they are keen to seek out candidates at all stages of their career path. British ma...
• Managing Director, West Yorkshire – FirstGroupManaging Director, West Yorkshire At FirstGroup, we’re creating the team that’s bringing our vision to life with the support of a global transport operator. The team that’s driving change, transformation and passenger growth in an exciting and fast moving sector. And the team that’s making sure children get to school, people get to work, and whole communities run smoother than ever. And you could lead us on that journey. As Managing Director of our West Yorkshire Region, you’ll motivate and inspire a 2,200 strong team to deliver industry-leading standards in customer service, employee engageme...
• First concedes defeat at Stagecoach incursion    First Scotland East has announced that it is to scrap services between Queensferry and Edinburgh after Stagecoach launches competing route First Scotland East has surrendered a key West Lothian bus route just days before Stagecoach East Scotland launched its own competing services on the Queensferry to Edinburgh city centre corridor. The Stagecoach subsidiary revealed plans to launch new route 40/40A, its first standalone route on the south side of the Firth of Forth, last month and in direct competition with the First’s own Route 43 and limited stop peak-hour X4/X43 services (PT...
• DfT lined up to lose rail franchising and projectsIn-depth review of Department for Transport’s Rail Group finds severe weaknesses and supports creation of arms-length Rail Delivery Authority Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin has announced a restructuring of the Department for Transport’s Rail Group designed to pave the way for the creation of a new arms-length Rail Delivery Authority (RDA) staffed by rail professionals rather than civil servants. The decision follows a review of the DfT instigated by the Brown Report which called for a study into whether the DfT should retain responsibility for franchising following the collapse of the ...
• Second cyclist fined £50 after phone app sent him onto M3Police said he
• Boeing and Hainan Airlines Expand Pilot Training AgreementBoeing [NYSE: BA] and Hainan Airlines announced a five-year pilot training agreement today to support Hainan's recent introduction of the 787 Dreamliner to its fleet.Under the agreement, Boeing...