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

Thursday, 03 July 2014

BBC News

• Toilets too small for 'portly' womenLarge or "portly" women might find it difficult to use toilet cubicles at Wales' busiest railway station because they are so small, an MP has claimed.
• Tighter security for flights to USSecurity is being tightened at airports with direct flights into the US - including some in the UK - in response to US warnings of a
• Translink reports a drop in profitsBus and rail operator Translink reports a drop in profits for its 2013/14 financial year.
• Ryanair move may threaten PrestwickFears are expressed for the future of Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire after Ryanair schedules announcement about its Scottish flights.

The Guardian

• Ten airport horror stories that will make you never want to fly againLost luggage isn't even the worst of it. Here are the best of your airport nightmares Continue reading...
• Airport security stepped up in Britain over al-Qaida bomb plot fearsAction follows US intelligence that al-Qaida operatives are planning to develop explosives that can avoid detectionSecurity at UK airports is to be tightened after US officials raised fears about terrorists in Syria and Yemen developing explosives that could be smuggled on to planes.The Department for Transport (DfT) said on Wednesday night that it would "step up some of our aviation security measures" following the warning from US security chiefs. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Prestwick fears raised as Ryanair to announce 'major' plansRyanair is poised to make a
• UK airport security stepped up after new US bomb terror threatAirport security is being increased at British airports after the United States called for heightened precautions amid reports two terror networks are working together on a bomb that could evade existing measures.
• Bus gate fines total £14,000 in just 12 hoursMOTORISTS have been fined more than £14,000 in just 12 hours after hundreds were caught driving through a controversial bus gate.

The Telegraph

• Open thread: Should we let young drivers have free rein of the road?Have your say: as two thirds of people support restrictions on recently passed drivers, should we put limits on young people on the road?
• Security to be stepped up at UK airports amid terror fearsChanges are announced after American security chief orders increased security at foreign airports from where aircraft fly directly to the US

City AM

• Trainline takes advice for saleTRAIN ticket booking website Thetrainline.com is working with investment bank Morgan Stanley to help guide it to a potential stock market debut. The firm’s private equity backers Exponent Private Equity has engaged the banking giant, according to Sky News, to sell its controlling stake to fund management firms or a trade buyer. Exponent tried to sell the ticketing website last July but failed to generate high enough bids for the group.

Mail Online

• UK airports put on alert over 'plot to bring down jet': Security level increase set to lead to longer queues as thousands of families prepare for their summer breaks The measures from the Department of Transport and Downing Street are believed to include more searches and closer scrutiny of personal electronics and footwear.

Network Rail

• First group of apprentices start work on Thameslink rail project in heart of LondonA team of young apprentices began work on the £6.5billion Thameslink project this week as part of the programme’s aim to develop the UK’s next generation of engineers.
• Passengers reminded of changes to train services as railway investment in the north west continuesPassengers are being reminded to plan their journeys if travelling in or out of Liverpool via St Helens Junction or St Helens Central this month as investment in the network may affect their travel.
• Drop-in session for residents and commuters on Foxhall Road bridge reconstructionMembers of the public are invited to attend an event to find out more about the construction work and road diversion required to rebuild the Foxhall Road (Basil Hill Road) bridge in Didcot.
• Life-saving partnership extendedSamaritans and Network Rail have announced plans for a new five year partnership to reduce suicides on the railways. Since the original partnership began in 2010, railway staff have approached and potentially saved the lives of more than 200 vulnerable people at railway locations. British Transport Police also report more than 700 approaches (1). Many of these are a result of attending Samaritans courses.

Birmingham Mail

• Watch: Virgin Train passengers' reaction after they are ambushed by an orchestra One by one, musicians stood up, joining in an impromptu version of Dexys Midnight Runners hit, Come On Eileen

London Evening Standard

• Luton airport given green light for £100m make over London Luton Airport has been given the green light for a £100m revamp that will increase its capacity to 18 million passengers a year.
• Tube strike: power workers extend walkout to two weeks Power workers on London Underground have extended their strike to two weeks.

Sheffield Star

• Talks over changes to Sheffield rail servicesMPs are to meet with rail union bosses over concerns about planned changes that will affect services in Sheffield and the rest of northern England.

Wales Online

• Welsh MPs vent frustration about cross-border rail services and push for a better deal for passengersJessica Morden describes overcrowding on the so-called 'sardine express' as North Wales MPs push for links to airports
• Frustration builds on the 'sardine express' rail commute across the borderFrustration builds on the 'sardine express' rail commute across the border

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Transport operators rally to keep county moving for Grand Depart weekendWith 3m people expected to descend on Yorkshire for the Tour de France Grand Depart this weekend, plans are in place to ensure the county keeps on moving in the face of widespread road closures.

North Wales Live

• George Osborne to unveil £40m cash injection for transport and science in Merseyside Chancellor will announce millions for University Enterprise Zone and an upgrade of the Halton Curve railway line

Other Regional Press

• Relocated 'super incinerator' in Heathrow expansion plansA relocated 'super incinerator' between Long Lane and Stanwell Farm, as part of the Heathrow Airport expansion plans, would be a "win-win" for residents, a councillor has claimed.
• Cyclists urge council to redraw ‘wasteful road design’ A PETITION asking for plans for The Plain roundabout to be redrawn has been delivered to Oxfordshire County Council.
• Busway soundproofing could set taxpayers back more than £15kExtra work to soundproof the £90m Luton and Dunstable Busway could set taxpayers back more than £15,000, it has been confirmed.
• Airport expansion takes flight as plans given final consentThe long-awaited expansion of Luton Airport will take flight after the council signed off final details on the plan.
• Manston airport: Dozens of items of equipment to be sold at online auction by owners Kent Facilities Limited owned by Ann Gloag on July 30 and 31The owners of the recently closed airport are putting dozens of specialist items up for auction later this month.
• Luton Airport given final planning consent for £100m developmentFINAL planning consent has been given for the £100m development of Luton Airport.

Global Rail News

• SBB orders new catenary maintenance trainsSwiss rail company SBB is to invest CHF 100 million on 59 new catenary maintenance vehicles. SBB has placed an order with Harsco for a fleet of new high-speed wiring[...]
• Hualien–Taitung Line electrification completedA project to electrify Taiwan’s Hualien–Taitung Line has been completed, reducing travel times between Taipei and Taitung to three-and-a-half hours. Work began to electrify the line in 2009. The project,[...]
• Basque operator Euskotren orders CAF trainsNarrow gauge operator Euskotren has awarded CAF a €150 million contract for 28 new trains. The order will be split into two parts, with 12 units to go to the[...]
• Keolis takes charge of Boston commuter rail networkKeolis has taken over operation of commuter rail services around Boston from Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail company. The French transport group began an eight-year contract to operate and maintain the Massachusetts Bay[...]
• Vectron locomotive approved by Germany and NorwayRail safety authorities in Germany and Norway have authorised Siemens’ Vectron locomotives to operate on their networks. The Norwegian Railway Authority (SJT) has approved the AC version of the Vectron[...]
• Cornwall to benefit from £146.6m rail investment packageThe UK government has announced that £146.6 million is to be  Cornwall’s rail network including a substantial upgrade to sleeper services. Tourism is at the ’core’ of the investment, the[...]
• Bombardier Transportation UK appoints new bossNoel Travers has been appointed as the new managing director and head of projects for Bombardier Transportation UK.

Railnews

• New bid to prevent railway suicides Network Rail and the charity Samaritans have announced plans for a new five year partnership to reduce suicides on the railways. Since the original partnership began in 2010, railway staff have approached and potentially saved the lives of more than 200 vulnerable people. British Transport Police also report more than 700 approaches, in which people at risk are offered help.

Aviation Industry

• Iberia introduces wifi on transatlantic flightsSpanish airline allowing passengers to use mobile and internet services
• British Airways to axe two London City routesServices to Aberdeen and Stockholm will be cancelled from late October
• Alitalia and Etihad secure Expo 2015 dealTwo airlines will be official partners for six-month event in Milan
• Ryanair unveils corporate fare benefitsNo-frills carrier set to launch business travel ticket later this summer
• Border Force workers set to strikeOne-day stoppage could cause delays through UK immigration
• Heathrow becomes latest GTMC memberAirport will be promoting expansion plans to business travel industry

Green Miscellany

• Coming soon: Cars that see around cornersDrivers in the near future will be able to see obstacles around blind corners. British engineers have developed a camera that scatters laser light 4,000 times a second and collects the tiny amount of reflected light to build an image of its subject. The camera can see around corners by bouncing its light off walls, the ground and other objects.…

Other News Sources

• Choked Welsh roads make getting to airports “impossible,” says MPThe airports that serve north Wales are Manchester and Liverpool, but it is virtually impossible to travel to either by public transport, said Wrexham MP Ian Lucas today.