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

Wednesday, 18 June 2014

BBC News

• Surrey and Sussex MPs oppose Gatwick runway 'disaster'Five MPs have begun a campaign against the building of a second runway at Gatwick Airport.
• Funicular to be closed temporarilyScotland's only funicular railway is to be closed next week for maintenance work, says its new operator.
• Turned off cameras 'slowing drivers'Average speed cameras on the A9 have already affected driver behaviour even though they are not yet switched on, says Transport Scotland.
• VIDEO: China invests in British projectsThe Chinese government says it wants to invest in a number of Britain's major infrastructure projects, including high speed rail and nuclear power.
• VIDEO: Runway could 'drown out' schoolMembers of the Airports Commission have visited one of the areas that could be affected if Heathrow gets a third runway.
• Protests over rail franchise awardRail campaigners hold protests across London and the South East after the Thameslink rail franchise is awarded to Govia.
• Prestwick airport vision outlinedDeputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is due to brief MSPs later on plans for the future of the publicly-owned Prestwick Airport.

Financial Times

• Siemens says its Alstom bid trumps GE’sSiemens and Mitsubishi mount charm offensive to convince the French government and Alstom board that their bid is superior to GE’s
• China blocks three-way shipping allianceAP Møller-Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company and CMA CGM had hoped to form the so-called P3 Network to cut costs and boost the number of sailings
• FirstGroup chief’s pay almost doublesTim O’Toole is to receive a £1.9m package, almost double that of last year, despite FirstGroup rowing back on promise to return cash to investors

The Guardian

• China wins stake in British nuclear power and high-speed railHinkley Point C investment among £14bn worth of trade deals with Beijing, announced during Li Keqiang visit to UKChina has been given the chance to take a decisive stake in the next stage of Britain's energy and transport infrastructure as Chinese companies won the right to own and operate a nuclear power station and to help build high-speed rail lines.

The Herald

• Speed cameras slow A9 driversThe installation of average speed cameras on the A9 is already making drivers slow down before they have even started to work, says Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown.

Parliament

• Government refused to raise ambition of HS2's environmental protectionsThe Government’s response to an Environmental Audit Committee report on HS2 and the environment, rejects the Committee’s call for a more ambitious objective than ’no net biodiversity loss’.

Mail Online

• Ryanair announces 50% discounts for passengers flying with children Low cost airline Ryanair have announced its new family product, Ryanair Family Extra, offering families a range of discounts on travel and an improved service on all flights.

Birmingham Post

• HS2 depot could cost Birmingham 7,000 jobs, claims MPHodge Hill MP Liam Byrne won a debate in Parliament as part of his opposition to the planned HS2 marshalling yard on an ex-factory site in Washwood Heath

London Evening Standard

• Pressure on over commuter compensation for London Bridge rebuilding Ministers today came under pressure to explain how they will compensate commuters affected by years of disruption as London Bridge is rebuilt.
• Woman wins £325,000 battle after branch from her tree damages train A keen gardener has won a battle over a £325,000 repair bill after a train hit a tree branch that fell onto the track from her garden.
• Trade deal could see China invest in HS2 project The £50 billion HS2 high-speed rail project could potentially involve Chinese investment under agreements signed during Premier Li Keqiang's visit to the UK.
• Government refuses to comment on Heathrow runway debate The Government has again refused to be drawn on the prospects of a third runway for Heathrow airport.

Northern Echo

• Wheels in motion for new loco project A MULTI-MILLION pound project to build a new locomotive using an iconic design is steaming ahead.

Sheffield Star

• Lollipop ladies - or permit cutsSchool crossing patrols would be under threat if Sheffield Council lowered parking permit prices, according to a report.

Bucks Free Press

• Disrupted train passengers can claim compensation following cable fire TRAIN users who were affected by the closure of Marylebone Station over the past few days can claim compensation, Chiltern Railways has announced.

Crewe Chronicle

• Cheshire East's HS2 college bid is shortlisted Cllr Michael Jones:

Doncaster Free Press

• Don Valley MP Caroline Flint receives road safety honourCaroline Flint, MP for Don Valley and Labour’s shadow energy and climate change spokesperson, has been given a national road safety award by the charity Brake and Direct Line Group for her commitment to increasing 20mph limits in her constituency.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Poll: New £2million cycle bridge over the A14 in Bury St Edmunds opens next weekA controversial £2million cycle bridge over the A14 in Bury St Edmunds is to officially open next week.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Options for closing Tallington crossing revealedNetwork Rail has revealed two options for closing Tallington level crossing, both of which would send road traffic through the village.

Sunderland Echo

• Cycle hub given go-aheadA CYCLE hub at the National Glass Centre featuring bike storage and a picnic area has been given planning approval.

Other Regional Press

• MPs team up to blast expansion at GatwickA second runway at Gatwick ’would be a disaster’ for the surrounding area according to a group of Conservative MPs from Sussex, Surrey and Kent.
• Bus passengers invited to have a say on Lancashire servicesThe travelling public is being encouraged to have a say on county council run bus services.

Global Rail News

• TfL announces power upgrade frameworksTransport for London (TfL) has published a list of 17 contractors that will complete a £250 million upgrade of electrical systems on the London Underground network. The two eight-year power[...]
• Siemens and Alstom to discuss rail partnershipSiemens has said it is open to becoming a ’long-term anchor shareholder’ in a combined train building business with Alstom. The German engineering giant made the statement in an announcement[...]
• Spain ushers in privatisation of long-distance rail servicesThe Spanish government has given private companies the opportunity to compete with state-owned rail operator Renfe for passengers on long-distance rail services between some of the country’s major cities. Minister for[...]
• Shortlist revealed for HS2 college locationBirmingham, Derby, Doncaster and Manchester have been shortlisted as possible locations for a new high-speed rail engineering college in the UK. Cities and towns around the country had bid to[...]
• Iarnród Éireann – A crisis to be overcomeWith the Minister of Transport talking hard ball about the cost of running Iarnród Éireann, Tim Casterton asked David Franks, the company’s CEO, how he would seek to manage the situation and what positive steps could be taken to bring Ireland’s rail network through the current financial crisis. In May Ireland’s Transport Minister, Leo Varadkar, […]

Aviation Industry

• Iberia, Interjet sign codeshare agreementIberia and Interjet have signed a codeshare agreement linking 80 Iberia European cities with 24 Mexican cities on Interjet map. read more
• Flybe plans new codeshares after network revampUK regional carrier Flybe has hinted it is on the brink of announcing new codeshare deals and further network expansion after overhauling its network planning process. read more

Other News Sources

• Network Rail sells access rights on West Coast Main LineGNWR to operate services from Blackpool and Huddersfield to London