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

Thursday, 19 June 2014

BBC News

• Virgin wins West Coast Rail BidVirgin will continue to operate West Coast Main Line train services to Glasgow with a pledge to raise capacity, the government has said.
• Leicester bus users criticise 'too high' timetablesTimetables placed as much as 10ft (3.1m) off the ground have been criticised by bus users in Leicester.
• VIDEO: Airport expansion plan bidders meetThe mayor of London and the head of the government's aviation commission have met all those behind the short-listed airport expansion plans.
• VIDEO: Paxman bows out with Boris bike rideAhead of his last appearance as presenter of BBC Newsnight, Jeremy Paxman asked long-time sparring partner Boris Johnson about London and cycling safety. While sharing a tandem.
• Rail firm apologises for disruptionA rail operator apologises to customers after a broken-down train causes severe disruption to passengers travelling from London to Norwich.
• Late passenger hits airport alarmAn airport was evacuated after a passenger who was running late for his flight deliberately set off a fire alarm in an attempt to delay his plane, it has emerged.
• Trains staff agree Games paymentsTrain staff agreed bonus and overtime payments with ScotRail for working during the Commonwealth Games.
• Prestwick Airport to get £10m fundsPrestwick Airport is to receive nearly £10m of investment from the Scottish government, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces.
• GM 'ignored early warnings' on carsUS lawmakers allege GM ignored early employee warnings about a problem with faulty ignition switches in 2006 during a Congressional hearing with chief executive Mary Barra.

Financial Times

• Maersk: all at seaChinese government’s decision to scuttle a proposed global shipping alliance will keep the industry that much more irrational, for that much longer
• Maersk runs into Beijing on shipping dealBeijing’s first rejection of a deal not involving a Chinese company sends powerful message on its intention to protect interests at home
• Soames tightens grip on SercoChief executive’s strategic review includes rethink on rail Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises and closure of Hong Kong Office

The Herald

• Sturgeon unveils £10m revamp of troubled airportCALLS to rename Glasgow Prestwick Airport after Robert Burns have been ruled out amid fears it would
• Site lands BA maintenance jobBRITISH Airways is bringing two of its most exclusive aircraft to Prestwick as part of a new servicing contract.
• Sturgeon unveils £10m revamp of troubled airportCALLS to rename Glasgow Prestwick Airport after Robert Burns have been ruled out amid fears it would

The Telegraph

• Slowing HS2 trains 'could increase CO2 emissions'Proposed speed restriction aimed at lowering carbon emissions could have the opposite effect

Mail Online

• Buy a dress online... and try it on at the station: Hundreds of click and collect stores to open at railway stops so shoppers can pick up items on the go The first of the click and collect stores, called Doddle, pictured, has opened in Milton Keynes - with others to follow at numerous locations including London Waterloo before the end of August.

Network Rail

• Track renewals team complete record one kilometre in one night for Network Rail / South West Trains AllianceA team renewing the railway in Hampshire broke records when they improved more than a kilometre of ballast – the stone chippings the track sits on – in one night.
• £24m Doddle joint venture rolls out across UKDoddle, the UK’s first fully dedicated, staffed, online shopping collection and returns service located in railway stations and major hubs has announced it will open in 300 new locations in the next three years, creating 3,000 jobs. The unique £24 million company is partnering with some of the nation’s biggest retailers including ASOS and New Look, with many more to follow.

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham Airport set to welcome 200 millionth passenger as it celebrates 75th anniversaryFormer Elmdon airfield - officially opened in 1939 - to mark special milestone

London Evening Standard

• 'Mollycoddling Boris bus conductors should stop lecturing on safety,' minister says A Home Office minister has called on Boris Johnson to tell “mollycoddling” conductors to “back off” and stop  lecturing passengers about safety on London’s new Routemaster buses.

Bucks Free Press

• HS2 secures backing from China PRIME Minister David Cameron has signed a deal with China to provide backing to major British infrastructure projects - which includes HS2.

Carlisle News & Star

• Stobart's £250,000 boost for Carlisle Airport Transport giant Stobart has ploughed an extra £250,000 a year into its plans to redevelop Carlisle airport.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Haverhill/Colchester: Campaign to reopen railway line between Colchester and Cambridge, via Haverhill, gathers steamThe campaign to reinstate a railway line continues to gather pace with claims the authorities are “very much in favour” of part of the project - despite questions over funding.
• East Anglia: Rail bosses launch inquest after night of misery on lineBosses from both Abellio Greater Anglia and Network Rail are trying to learn lessons after a night of misery for passengers heading back to the region from London.
• Rail: Delays for rail commuters as work takes place to fix points failure at stationRail commuters are facing delays this evening because of a points failure at Witham.

North Wales Live

• New Land Rover Discovery Sport to be built in Liverpool creating 250 jobs at Halewood factoryCEO confirmed the news during an International Festival for Business dinner
• Peel Ports' £300m Liverpool2 back on scheduleIFB debate hears of access concerns for enlarged Seaforth container terminal

Other Regional Press

• Schoolchildren sleeping in sheds and garages are worst affected by aircraft noise, Airports Commission hearsHounslow headteacher says the noise of night flights is affecting reading skills of pupils, especially those living in illegal outbuildings
• Manston airport: TG Aviation in High Court to seek an injunction against the closure of the Thanet siteA flight training company based at recently-shut Manston airport has been to the High Court today to seek an injunction allowing it to use the runway.

Railnews

• Key rail agreement signed by UK and China The Prime Minister has unveiled a bilateral agreement with China which will allow the rail industries of the two countries to work together with the intention of boosting economic growth, jobs and skills. There had been speculation that such an agreement could include specific investment in HS2, but so far this has not been confirmed. The DfT said the signing, by transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin and the Chinese chairman of the national development and reform committee, Xu Shaoshi, at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, is intended to pave the way 'for closer co-operation on areas such as...

Aviation Industry

• Spain approves partial privatization of Aena AirportsSpain’s Council of Ministers has given the go-ahead for a partial privatization of the country’s airports. read more
• Air Canada operates first flight to Heathrow T2Air Canada and United Airlines the only two carriers at new terminal
• The interview: Carolyn McCall, CEO, EasyjetCEO talks to BBT about the low-cost model, Heathrow move and squeezed margins
• British Airways and Vueling in codeshare dealBA to add its flight code on more than 170 Vueling routes

Other News Sources

• Shocking footage of three men jumping onto railway line just minutes before a train Three men put their lives on the line when they walked on railway tracks just moments before a train arrived.