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

Friday, 14 March 2014

BBC News

• Missing airliner: How do transponders and radar work? [video]The search for a Malaysian airliner that disappeared on its way to Beijing on Friday is moving to the Indian Ocean.
• Passengers on board for tram testsHundreds of volunteer passengers have been getting on board Edinburgh's trams to help check how the new system works.
• Council backs passenger increaseBelfast councillors back plan by the city's George Best Airport to grow passenger numbers, believing it will boost the local economy.
• Eurotunnel profits triple to recordEurotunnel profits triple to 100m euros as cross-Channel passenger numbers reach a record 10 million a year.

Financial Times

• Lufthansa payout returns after cost cutsGerman airlines group benefits from cost-savings programme and from accountancy alteration on how depreciation on aircraft is calculated

The Herald

• Taxi firm in legal fight over ranks row at city airportA TAXI firm is taking a council to court after a dispute over ranks at Scotland's busiest airport.
• Christmas bus lane fine rescindedCOUNCIL officials have backed down over plans to fine a man for driving in a bus lane as he rushed to his dying mother-in-law's bedside on Christmas Day.
• Testing time for city's new tram systemTHE Scottish capital's tram system has been put through its crowd control paces with its first passengers.

The Scotsman

• The Scotsman cartoon: Trams and business to goALEX Salmond hails the success of trams on the same day some big business bosses threaten to derail the Yes campaign

The Telegraph

• Trains cancelled after conductors banned from walking to stationHealth and safety regulations saw two rush hour trains cancelled after ticket collectors were banned from making the ten minute walk to Birmingham New Street station    

Mail Online

• Rush hour trains cancelled because conductors were banned from walkingLondon Midland bosses scrapped the busy commuter trains from Birmingham to Herefordshire on Tuesday after two conductors failed to make it to the station on time.
• Electric car version of 'Boris Bikes' launched in London by French firmMotorists will be able to hire the new electric cars from £2.50 for fifteen minutes, £5 for 30 minutes or £10 per hour under a new car-sharing scheme in the capital.
• Officials 'convinced' two communications systems on missing jet were deliberately shut off 14-minutes apart as it emerges aircraft DID keep 'pinging' for hours after vanishing at 35,000 ftUS officials believe that two communications systems aboard Malaysian Airlines flight 370 were shut down separately, 14 minutes apart - meaning that the plane did not come down because of a catastrophic failure.
• Philadelphia International Airport horror as US Airways plane crashes after aborted takeoffHigh winds may have led to a Fort Lauderdale-bound US Airways plane being evacuated Thursday after an aborted takeoff at Philadelphia International Airport. Two of the 149 passengers aboard the flight suffered minor injuries.

Network Rail

• Rail investment will deliver long-term benefits - but means short-term disruption to passengersThe railway between Rose Grove and Colne is to be upgraded to provide a more reliable service for passengers.

London Evening Standard

• Taxpayers WILL foot bill for collapsed £350m signal contract, Tube boss admitsTransport chiefs have admitted for the first time that the collapse of a Tube £350m signalling contract will hit taxpayers in the pocket.

The York Press

• HS2 rail college campaign backed YORK’S bid to host the HS2 rail college is being backed by hundreds of local youngsters keen to become rail engineers.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• 9,000 chasing 600 Jaguar Land Rover jobsMore than 9,000 people have applied for just 600 manufacturing jobs at Jaguar Land Rover's new engine factory on the border of South Staffordshire and Wolverhampton, it has been revealed.

Yorkshire Post

• MPs demand changes to transport funding to end historic London biasMinisters must radically change the way they decide which transport projects are funded to end the historic London bias which sees the North of England frequently miss out, MPs have said.

Bucks Free Press

• HS2 viability to be outlined in May report A REPORT outlining the viability of HS2 is due to be released in May - but a review will not be made fully public despite fresh calls for its disclosure by a Bucks MP.

North Wales Live

• Liverpool bus lane suspensions “rushed”, claims transport institute Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport described trial as an “ill considered experiment”

The Shields Gazette

• New crossing could link South Shields and North ShieldsFLOATING footbridges and cable car crossings across the Tyne are among the visionary ideas suggested by architects to strengthen links between South and North Shields.

Western Daily Press

• More bus cuts could prove 'devastating' for rural lifeFurther cuts to bus services would threaten to have a devastating impact on rural communities, a leading campaign group has warned.

Other Regional Press

• New Gloucester bus station plans move one step closer Plans for a new Gloucester bus station have moved one step closer after a rival Cheltenham bid for government money fell through
• 'Futuristic' transport link or tram among plans for Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes A ’FUTURISTIC’ transport link or tram could be built in Milton Keynes as part of the renovation of Midsummer Boulevard. The link would run the full length of the Boulevard from Central Milton Keynes train station to Campbell Park after a consensus was agreed by 80 stakeholders who attended a fiery three-day workshop last month.
• High winds blamed for causing repeated railway barrier problems in HartlepoolRAIL engineers say frequent problems with a barrier at a level crossing in the town is due to the high winds. Police officers have been called to marshal the crossing in Church Street, in the town, on at least four occasions in the last month after a fault triggered the sirens and lights to go off despite no oncoming trains.

Global Rail News

• Singapore reveals fleet expansion plansSingapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has unveiled plans to introduce more than 80 new trains onto its rail network over the next few years. From 2014, 41 new trains will[...]
• FTPE Class 170s to move over to Chiltern in 2015First TransPennine Express’ (FTPE) fleet of nine Class 170 Turbostar trains are to be cascaded to another operator at the end of the current franchise. Leasing company Porterbrook has offered[...]
• Daylight testing timeDaylight testing of trams through Edinburgh has begun as city leaders stepped up efforts to win back shoppers to the city centre. The new tram system should be open for business in May. Meanwhile a £1m campaign has been launched to win back local people. According to a recent survey of 2,000 residents 92% said […]
• Rotterdam Centraal officially openedHis Majesty King Willem-Alexander has attended the official opening of the new Rotterdam Centraal station. Rotterdam is the first stop for many international high-speed services arriving in the Netherlands and[...]

Railnews

• No end in sight for Hastings line landslip disruption Engineers rebuilding the damaged railway embankment at Whatlington in East Sussex, between Battle and Robertsbridge, have been hampered by further ground movement at the site. Network Rail had hoped that services could be restored along the full length of the Hastings line last week, but additional strengthening work is now needed. The route's managing director has spoken of her 'disappointment' that the closure must continue.
• First Great Western may get second direct award The Department for Transport may give FirstGroup a second direct award for the Great Western franchise, it has emerged. It is thought that the second award could run until 2020, when it would be succeeded by a conventional, competitively-tendered franchise.
• Report suggests HS2 station in central Sheffield The argument over whether the HS2 station serving Sheffield should be at Meadowhall – as currently proposed – or close to the city centre on the site of the former Victoria station has been given new impetus by a report from the Volterra consultancy, which says an HS2 station at Sheffield Victoria could provide the Sheffield City Region with a significantly bigger economic boost than the interchange currently proposed at Meadowhall.

Other News Sources

• Campaign calls for railway to reopenCampaigners calling for the former Matlock to Buxton railway line to be reopened have set up an online petition. The Facebook group, entitled ’Re–open the railway line between, Matlock, Bakewell and Buxton’, is now lobbying Derbyshire County Council to commission a feasibility study into reopening the track, which was closed decades ago.
• Noise pollution fears over plans to extend Southampton Airport UP to a thousand new jobs could be created amid major plans to lengthen Southampton Airport’s runway by 450ft.
• Winchester train parking overspill causing problems at Micheldever BUILDING work at a Winchester Station car park is causing friction further up the line because commuters are travelling from Micheldever instead.
• Brighton and Hove Council urged to study evidence of 20mph roll out as phase three goes to consultation Brighton and Hove City Council has been urged to study 20mph roll out as phase 3 consultation moves closer
• Big Lemon Bus Company to face public inquiry over safety An eco friendly bus company is facing a public inquiry over the safety and alleged illegal use of its fleet