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

Tuesday, 25 March 2014

BBC News

• Rail station proposal consultationResidents of a mid Wales village have voted on proposals to install a new train station in the area
• Tube driver in breath test arrestA Tube driver is arrested after failing to supply a breath sample when concerns were raised that he might have been under the influence of alcohol while in charge of a train.
• Passenger numbers rise at airportsPassenger numbers rose by 5% to 92,607 at Scotland's regional airports last month compared to February 2013.
• Concern over Games transport planA body that represents businesses and delivery firms raises concerns about transport planning for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
• HS2 'will not link to Eurostar'The HS2 rail route will not be linked to the Eurostar train line, confirms Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin.
• £310m invested in UK wind turbinesManufacturing giant Siemens and the UK's Associated British Ports are to invest a total of £310m in UK wind turbine factories, creating 1,000 jobs.

Financial Times

• Lufthansa chief warns of Gulf threatChristoph Franz, leaving halfway through a restructuring plan, says German group is in a ‘far better position’ to meet challenge of Gulf airlines

The Guardian

• Missing flight MH370 lost in southern Indian Ocean, says Malaysian PMNajib Razak says analysis of satellite data shows that last position of missing plane was far from any possible landing sitesSearch for wreckage of MH370 resumes – live updatesThe last desperate hopes of finding survivors in the hunt for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane ended on Monday with the announcement that flight MH370 had almost certainly crashed into the southern Indian Ocean with all lives lost.A statement by the Malaysian prime minister, Najib Razak, concluded an anguished 16-day wait for families of the passengers and crew but brought them no closer to understanding why MH370 had...

The Herald

• Campaign launched against ferry fare hikesRemote communities reliant on a council-run ferry are launching a
• Millions of deaths due to air pollutionMore must be done to cut air pollution, leading health officials warned after a new report suggested pollution claimed the lives of millions of people every year.

The Telegraph

• Heathrow sees one emergency landing a weekFuel shortages and technical problems have forced hundreds of aircraft to make emergency landings at Heathrow Airport in recent years, with an average on more than one incident per week.
• Dozens injured after Commuter train derails at Chicago airportAn eight-car commuter train derails at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, injuring 32 people on board    
• Thousands line streets for RMT leader Bob Crow's funeral cortegeCrowds pay their respect as Bob Crow's coffin is carried in a horse-drawn carriage, in traditional East End style, from his house in Woodford to the City of London Cemetery    

Mail Online

• Trams halted... there's frost on the lines! Commuters in Nottingham forced to catch replacement buses after cold temperatures meant ice built up on overhead wiresCommuters in Nottingham were forced to cram onto buses after coldest night of the year shut tram services due to frost on the rails

The Mirror

• Live: Missing Malaysia Airlines plane 'was deliberately flown at 5,000ft to avoid radars'If the plane had flown at such a low altitude it would not have been picked up by most radars, but it would also have used up its fuel much more quickly

Network Rail

• Signal box moves home as part of £21m investment in Arun Valley lineA Victorian signal box took to the skies under a crane in the early hours of Sunday morning, marking the culmination of a £21m investment in the railway through the Arun Valley.
• Vital rail tunnel reopens after feat of engineering delivers improvementsRepairs which saw more than 3,000 tonnes of concrete used to strengthen a vital rail tunnel in the north west of England have been completed.
• Safety event targets misused level crossing at RossingtonLevel crossing users in Rossington are being reminded of the importance of rail safety at an awareness event on Thursday 27 March
• Rail minister visits new £59m Ipswich rail linkTransport minister Stephen Hammond was in Ipswich on Friday 21 March to see the newly completed 1.2km stretch of railway built by Network Rail to increase capacity for freight trains and ease a major bottleneck affecting passenger services on the Great Eastern Main Line.

Birmingham Post

• National Express exec to replace Christine Braddock at Birmingham Metropolitan CollegeAndrew Cleaves to replace Dame Christine Braddock who has been principal for 17 years

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Porthmadog Harbour station: Trains return after £1.3m makeover A new platform has been created, a new signalling system installed and the station has been refurbished

London Evening Standard

• MP Zac Goldsmith launches movie contest over Heathrow expansionTory MP and environmental campaigner Zac Goldsmith today launched a film competition to highlight opposition to a third runway at Heathrow with £10,000 as the first prize.
• Train derails in Chicago after 'missing stop'This was the shocking scene after a train missed its stop and crashed into an escalator at an underground station in Chicago.
• Tube driver arrested for 'being drunk in control of train on the Jubilee Line'A Tube driver has been arrested after allegedly being drunk in charge of a train.

Manchester Evening News

• Ancoats residents win battle with transport bosses over tram stop fencePeople power wins the day as transport bosses give in

Wales Online

• Violent crime increasing at Cardiff's rail stations, new figures suggestViolent ncidents across Cardiff’s rail network are on the increase, according to new figures. British Transport Police recorded a 44% surge in arrests for violent offences against people at the city’s railway stations between 2011/12 and this year.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Cycling to work is hoped to get a boost from TourCycling to work is one healthy step towards sustainability.

Yorkshire Post

• Anger at Pennines split over HS2MPs have expressed concern that the North West is to receive the benefits of high-speed rail several years before Yorkshire under revised plans for HS2.

Bucks Free Press

• Gillan: Lack of decency over HS2 compensation announcement TRANSPORT Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said today the compensation package for residents affected by HS2 would be announced 'very soon' - but a south Bucks MP said both sides of the Commons had 'lacked decency' by not revealing it sooner.

Burnley Express

• Pot hole damage claims rise by 273%VEHICLE damage claims against Lancashire County Council rocketed by 273 per cent in a year, according to new figures.

Carlisle News & Star

• Farmer who's grounded Carlisle Airport plans says he's fighting for equality A farmer whose legal challenge saw plans to revamp Carlisle Airport quashed says his battle has been one to ensure equality.

Other Regional Press

• Improvements to train station to be discussedCOMPLAINTS about Burton Railway Station will see councillors discuss the improvements that need to be made with officials from East Midlands Trains.
• Live: Missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 - families told 'beyond doubt jet was lost and no one on board survived'Crews on the plane spotted the object in the southern Indian Ocean and ships headed to the location to see if they could find any debris
• Bus users ‘cut off’ by re-route plansResidents have blasted plans to re-route a ’lifeline’ bus route.
• Buyer in contact with Sir Roger Gale MP as Manston airport in consultation over closure Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale is in touch with a potential buyer for Manston after airport bosses announced its 'closure'.

Campaign for Better Transport

• European Union puts brakes on mega trucks24 March 2014: Last week, MEPs in the EU Transport Committee voted to reject further cross-border use of so-called 'mega trucks' read more

Global Rail News

• Swiss court upholds decision to annul Ceneri Base Tunnel contractsA Swiss court has responded to concerns over the awarding of two contracts in the construction of a new rail line through the Alps between Switzerland and Italy. In August[...]
• Thales to install CCTV system on Paris tramsThales has signed a new contract with RATP to install its CCTV solution on 1,000 additional buses and trams throughout Paris. This latest contract, which has been co-financed by the[...]
• London Underground announces closure for Uxbridge branch track renewalSections of the Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines on the Uxbridge branch are to be closed for 23 days for a major track renewal programme. London Underground (LU) is to replace[...]
• Willesden Junction depot remodelling beginsWork is underway to modify a depot at Willesden Junction to accomodate London Overground’s new five-car trains. As well as the depot remodelling, additional sidings are being created at Wembley[...]
• Régiolis cleared by French safety authorityThe Public Establishment of Railway Safety (EPSF) has approved the Alstom Régiolis to begin commercial operation in the French regions. Close to 200 Régiolis trains have been ordered by 12 regions[...]
• Victoria purchases additional VLocity trainVictoria’s Coalition Government has ordered an extra VLocity train from Bombardier on top of an existing order with the rolling stock manufacturer. An extra $17 million three-car train will built[...]

Aviation Industry

• Malaysian Airlines flight diverted due to electrical faultFlight forced to make unscheduled landing in Hong Kong
• Airbaltic and Etihad expand codeshareDeal will see the two airlines offer 37 connecting flights a week
• Lufthansa pilots vote for strike actionNo plans to strike over Easter holidays

Other News Sources

• Passenger and cargo services at Stansted Airport to be free from economic regulationPress release regarding CAA's final decision for economic regulation at Stansted
• Gatwick plane-spotters: We are not terrorists Plane-spotters have taken to social media to tell Sussex Police: “We are not terrorists”.
• Rail firms must focus on ‘evolving’ needs of Gen-YGTMC study calls on industry to recognise generational differences of travellers