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

Thursday, 29 May 2014

BBC News

• Tollbar Island: Road works put 'jobs at stake' says MPDelays caused by road works are putting jobs at stake and hampering investment in Coventry, a city MP has claimed.
• London congestion charge rises to £11.50 a dayMotorists will have to pay £11.50 a day to drive into central London from next month as Transport for London (TfL) raises the congestion charge.
• Kirkstall Forge and Apperley Bridge rail stations get go-aheadTwo railway stations are to be built between Leeds and Bradford at a cost of about £16m after plans were given final government go-ahead.
• Record number of Tube passengersTube passenger numbers reach a record high with a travel watchdog claiming more needs to be done to reduce overcrowding.

Financial Times

• Serco wins Caledonian Sleeper franchiseServices provider wins 15-year deal to run trains from London to Fort William and Inverness, which is estimated to reap £800m over its lifetime

The Herald

• Anger as Serco is awarded London sleeper contractRAIL unions have expressed anger after the 15-year contract to operate the ­Caledonian Sleeper service between Scotland and London Euston was handed to a company it says has a
• Top 10: German cars lead table of driver satisfactionCars made by German-owned manufacturers are the most satisfying, according to a survey of more than 15,000 motorists.
• Network Rail faces legal move on accessEDINBURGH City Council is considering legal action against Network Rail over safety concerns at Waverley Station.

The Independent

• Serco awarded contract to run the famous Caledonian Sleeper railway line One of the world’s great railway journeys, the overnight Caledonian Sleeper between London Euston and the Scottish Highlands is to be operated by controversial outsourcing giant Serco.

The Telegraph

• Congestion charge to rise by £1.50Congestion charge in London to increase by £1.50 in June in attempt to keep traffic levels down
• Three in four drivers 'would fail test'Three quarters of drivers would fail their test if forced to re-take it with no training, study finds

Daily Express

• Luxury upgrade planned for Caledonian Sleeper THE golden age of rail, when carriages were more like hotel suites, is to return on the Caledonian Sleeper linking Scotland with London.

Birmingham Mail

• Aston Martin to create 250 new jobs in the Midlands Luxury car firm to expand Gaydon base after securing £100m of investment

Birmingham Post

• Airport donates £5,000 to Birmingham Big Art Project search for £2 million public artworkA steering group has been tasked with raising funds and finding a shortlist of artists and running the competition to select the winning entry

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• New Apperley Bridge railway station will bring boost to city A new rail station for Bradford commuters will open next summer, potentially bringing economic growth and jobs to the city.

Derby Telegraph

• 175 years of Derby's railways: Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin gives his views Patrick McLoughlin, the Government's Secretary of State for Transport and the member of Parliament for Derbyshire Dales.

London Evening Standard

• Congestion charge set to rise by 15% next month The congestion charge in London is set to rise by 15 per cent from £10 a day to £11.50.
• Serco wins deal for Caledonian Sleeper revamp Troubled outsourcer Serco today promised travellers to Scotland a better night’s sleep with flatbeds, en-suite berths and a new and improved Club Car.
• Dial-a-ride transport staff for elderly and disabled call off strike A planned strike by dial-a-ride workers who provide free transport for elderly and disabled people in London has been cancelled.

Wales Online

• Welsh Government pushed to make a definite commitment to rail electrification beyond Cardiff to SwanseaConsultation document states it is "anticipated" Great Western franchise will stretch to Swansea.

Yorkshire Post

• Kirkstall Forge site greenlit as government agrees to fund two new rail stationsTWO new train stations are expected to boost passenger numbers and stimulate growth when they open on the Bradford to Leeds line.

Other Regional Press

• Mayor of London figures refute Heathrow claims on aircraft noiseFigures published by the London Mayor “blow out of the water” Heathrow’s claim that overall noise levels would fall if a third runway was built, campaigners said.
• East West Rail route could play role as Heathrow airport link NETWORK Rail is investigating plans for trains to run directly from Oxfordshire to Heathrow Airport as it prepares a business case for an enhanced East West Rail link.
• Rail commuters meet with Shadow MinisterThe Shadow Minister for Transport paid a visit to Bedford to meet rail commuters.

C.N.N.

• Search area for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 'can now be discounted'

Aviation Industry

• New London Heathrow T2 opening set for June 4London Heathrow’s new Terminal 2 will officially open June 4, following a £2.5 billion ($3.8 billion) upgrade, Star Alliance has confirmed. read more
• London mayor urges Airports Commission to focus on long-term UK needsLondon mayor Boris Johnson has warned the Airports Commission it “would be letting the country down” if it continued to focus on what was needed in the short term and “failed to look to the longer term.” read more
• FAA grants ETOPS approval for Boeing 787 FAA has approved additional extended operations (ETOPS) for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. read more

Other News Sources

• Cloud technology to ‘transform’ airport experienceAmadeus report identifies the case for cloud technology to improve airport efficiency