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Tuesday, 19 August 2014

BBC News

• Lincoln bypass plans face renewed criticismA revised plan for Lincoln's Eastern Bypass has already been criticised for a lack of transparency.
• Lib Dems 'would scrap Severn tolls,' if returned to powerTolls on the Severn Bridges would be scrapped if the Liberal Democrats are in government after next year's general election, the party said.
• Cambridge-Oxford rail link report promises 600,000 jobsRevival of an east-west rail link in England may create up to 600,000 jobs and cut London line congestion, a report has said. The East West Rail Consortium (EWRC) also predicted population growth between Oxford and Cambridge of 1.1m.
• Driving theory test cost cut by £5The cost of car and motorcycle theory tests are to fall in October by £5 to £25, the Northern Ireland environment minister has announced.
• Monarch airlines may cut 1,000 jobsMonarch Airlines may cut as many as 1,000 jobs as part of a major strategic review that aims to cuts costs and may lead to the end of long haul flights.
• Rail fare rise for 2015 to be setRail passengers will learn on Tuesday how much their fares will go up by in January next year, amid protests about the high cost of tickets.
• Monarch airlines may cut 1,000 jobsMonarch Airlines may cut as many as 1,000 jobs as part of a major strategic review that aims to cuts costs and may lead to the end of long haul flights.
• Drivers urged to use public transport ahead of Nato summitPeople are being urged to use public transport to get into Cardiff city centre after complaints security ahead of the Nato summit is causing "absolute chaos".

Financial Times

• AirAsia has ‘no interest’ in SkymarkTony Fernandes calls Japanese media report that Malaysia-based budget airline may bid for struggling Japanese carrier ’rubbish’

The Guardian

• Labour and transport campaigners step up rail fares fight as prices rise againLabour and transport campaigners will step up their challenge to the railway system as the full extent of planned fare rises for 2015 is revealed on Tuesday, with some fares expected to rise by as much as 6%.

The Herald

• Fund to boost ferry access for disabledFUNDING of £500,000 is being offered to improve disabled access on the ferry network.

The Independent

• Misery for commuters as rail fares will rise by 5% Rail fares in Britain will rise by as much as five per cent next year – or even higher on some routes, the Government will formally announce today.

The Telegraph

• Petrol prices cut ahead of Bank Holiday getawaySupermarkets Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco all cut petrol prices by up to 2p a litre ahead of Bank Holiday
• 'Q Trains' carrying police to be deployed to tackle rail vandalsPolice are launching a crackdown on trespassers, thieves and vandals on Britain's rail network by bringing Q Trains used during the 1980s out of retirement
• How to beat the train fare risesVIDEO: Kate Palmer reports from London's Victoria Station to explain how rail passengers can act now to avoid the 2015 ticket price rises

Daily Express

• Bus tycoons plan to save Ferguson shipyard from closureTHE last remaining shipyard on the lower Clyde could win a reprieve from closure after transport tycoons Sandy and James Easdale expressed an interest in saving it.

Mail Online

• Is this Britain's deadliest bike lane? Path takes cyclists down 'suicide alley' Transport chiefs in Reading, Berkshire, say the layout of the newly-painted cycle lane 'meets design guidance and is aimed at accommodating all road users'.
• Train fares will 'increase 25% in next four years' unless funding rules are torn up Figures released today are expected to show that rail fares will rise by up to 5.6 per cent next year, prompting Labour to campaign against the prices which are 'among the highest in Europe'.

The Mirror

• Flights threat as airlines warned over risk of volcanic eruption in Iceland When Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano exploded in 2010 the resulting ash cloud shut down much of Europe's airspace for six days

This is Money

• Train fares will 'increase 25% in next four years' unless funding rules are torn up Figures released today are expected to show that rail fares will rise by up to 5.6 per cent next year, prompting Labour to campaign against the prices which are 'among the highest in Europe'.

Network Rail

• Motorists reminded of Rochdale Road closure as railway bridge is rebuiltWork to rebuild the bridge over the railway on Rochdale Road in Manchester will increase this week as part of Network Rail’s £1bn+ investment in the north west.
• West Coast main line reopens ahead of final August closure this bank holiday weekendThe West Coast main line reopened on time today (18 August) after Network Rail successfully completed the second successive weekend of upgrade work at Watford.

Birmingham Mail

• All aboard for brand new Buses Festival launched at Warwickshire museum Heritage Motor Centre launches show featuring up to 100 restored buses and coaches as 'great day out for all the family'

Birmingham Post

• Record July at Birmingham AirportPassenger numbers surpass the one-million mark for first time since August 2013

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• UPDATED: Train and station evacuated after fire in passenger carriage OVERHEAD wire problems and a broken down train are causing major disruptions for rail passengers in the district this afternoon.
• UPDATED: Train and station evacuated after fire in passenger carriage OVERHEAD wire problems and a broken down train are causing major disruptions for rail passengers in the district this afternoon.

London Evening Standard

• Commuters will save hundreds when we end fares ‘flex’, claim Labour Labour today said its proposed reforms of rail fares could save commuters hundreds of pounds.

Sheffield Star

• Cheaper travel in SheffieldMore than 500 people have taken up a Stagecoach buses travel offer that allows two adults and up to three children to travel by bus and tram to popular attractions for just £8.50. Destinations in Sheffield include Valley Centertainment and Meadowhall.
• South Yorkshire rail cuts protesters to meet SYPTE and Northern RailProtesters campaigning against the removal of free train travel for the elderly in South Yorkshire could be set for a three-way meeting with the rail and travel bodies at the heart of the dispute.

Yorkshire Post

• Yorkshire commuters braced for rail fare hikesGEORGE Osborne will come under pressure to cap rail fare increases today as figures show ticket prices are rising almost four times faster than wages.

Daventry Express

• MP hails petrol price fallDaventry’s MP Chris Heaton-Harris has hailed a drop in petrol prices in the town, following a meeting with Shell executives.

North Wales Live

• Union voices fears over rail far rises on Merseyside routes TUC says rail passengers are already paying enough for their journeys, and will be hard pressed to afford extra cost

Peterborough Telegraph

• Petition to save Deeping St James signal boxVillagers have launched a campaign to save a railway signal box that faces demolition as a level crossing is upgraded.

Other Regional Press

• Gatwick campaigners look beyond consultation to halt controversial flight path over west Kent THE GATWICK Airport Ltd consultation which proposed a change in flight paths, potentially bringing more planes over tranquil areas of west Kent closed on Saturday but campaigners say the battle to overturn the document is far from over.
• Rail users in Huddersfield face steeper travel costs from next month as Northern Rail announce it is axing some off-peak fares Some off-peak fares set to be axed in West Yorkshire

Railnews

• Private sector operators challenge nationalisation A senior industry figure has spoken out against Labour's recently-agreed proposals to allow the government to compete for future franchises. The Department for Transport currently runs intercity services on the East Coast Main Line via its subsidiary Directly Operated Railways, but this operation is set to return to the private sector in March next year. Unions and transport campaigners have been pointing to the level of premiums paid by East Coast since National Express surrendered the contract in 2009 and arguing that the taxpayer has been gaining from nationalisation, but the government ha...
• RPI announcement may indicate fare rises The announcement today of the Retail Price Index for July will be seen as a key indicator of how much rail fares are likely to rise in January. Demonstrations against the expected increase are taking place outside more than 40 major stations this morning. The RPI for July is traditionally used as the benchmark, but it is not yet known what the exact formula will be for 2015. June's RPI was 2.6 per cent.

The Business Desk

• Shortlist for Northern and TransPennine Express rail operators revealedTHE shortlist of train companies in the running to transform rail services across the north have been announced by the government.

Aviation Industry

• Lack of hub airport investment eroding economic health - HeathrowBritain losing out to rivals in Europe and Dubai

Other News Sources

• Arriva - Northern rail franchiseArriva has today (19 August) welcomed the Department for Transport’s announcement that the European transport group has been shortlisted to bid for the Northern concession.