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

Saturday, 17 January 2015

BBC News

• Toy trains from the past 200 yearsWhat is it about toy trains that has continued to entertain children, admittedly mostly boys, for nearly two centuries? A major new exhibition is about to find out.
• Rail link reopening plans outlinedOver 100 people attend a meeting amid hopes a rail link between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen can be reopened.
• 3,500 fines for Cardiff bus lane useCardiff council issues more than 3,500 penalty charge notices in a single month for drivers using city bus lanes.
• 'Berlin Wall across Suffolk' fearsPlans to close railway level crossings could result in a "Berlin Wall through the middle of Suffolk", campaigners have warned. Hundreds of people concerned at the possible closure of level crossings over safety fears met Network Rail in Stowmarket.
• HS2 compensation package increasedHomeowners living near the proposed HS2 rail line between London and Birmingham are to get extra assistance but campaigners dismiss the offer.
• Rail workers 'nearly hit by train'An investigation begins after two rail workers are nearly struck by a train in west London.
• Heavy snowfall causes transport woesHeavy snowfall across southern and central Scotland on Friday evening leads to long delays on major transport networks.
• European car sales return to growthCar sales in the European Union rose in 2014 after six years of falls, the ACEA industry trade group says.

Financial Times

• Hyundai wins reprieve with wages rulingSeoul court rules against employees claiming to be due extra pay
• HS2 resident compensation scheme expandedEnhanced offer on the table for homeowners living near planned high speed rail scheme

The Guardian

• Elon Musk commits to building a Hyperloop transport system test trackSpaceX, Teslsa and PayPal founder pledges to revolutionise public transport with a high-speed tube train that would travel close to the speed of sound

The Herald

• Spaceflight could be as normal as air travel within 100 years, says top aviation bossTHE Scottish aviation executive who oversaw the development of Airbus' celebrated A380 superjumbo has said space transport could eventually become as normal as air travel.
• Glasgow drivers face 24/7 ban from all bus lanes Motorists in Glasgow face being barred from using bus lanes at all times of the day and night under plans being considered by the council.

The Independent

• 'Batteries included': East Anglia leading a railway revolution with self-charging train The future of branch-line Britain could rest on what happens in the next few weeks on a 10-mile stretch of track in north-east Essex – because the electric train now standing at Platform 1 is designed to run on batteries as well as mains. The once-an-hour shuttle along the “Mayflower Lineâ€� from Manningtree to Harwich has gone all AC/DC.

Daily Record

• Heavy snow brings chaos to Scotland's transport system with roads at standstill and delays at Glasgow AirportA HEAVY fall of snow at rush hour led to chaos on the roads with treacherous conditions leading to jams and a number of minor accidents.

Mail Online

• Ryanair trolled on Twitter after advert featuring AER LINGUS plane The old rivals erupted into a hilarious argument when Aer Lingus tweeted photos and claimed one of its planes was featured in the background of an online advert for Ryanair’s ‘business plus’ service.
• Don't fill up on the M42 - it'll cost you! Most expensive petrol prices on Britain's road revealed Service stations on the roads around Birmingham charge the highest petrol prices in the country and for the drivers of diesel cars, the most expensive fuel was found on the M61 in North-West England.

Network Rail

• Stunning time-lapse film shows the removal of the mail conveyor at Temple Meads stationIn December last year, engineers from Network Rail’s ‘orange army’ began the process of removing the old Royal Mail mail conveyor from Bristol Temple Meads station, culminating in the structure being lifted out on Christmas Day. This time-lapse photography shows the scale of the project and level of work involved.

Belfast Telegraph

• Etihad flying high as shares double in Aer LingusGulf airline Etihad has more than doubled the value of its 4.9% stake in Aer Lingus, with the holding now worth €66.4m (£50.8m) compared to the €32.5m (£24.9m) it paid for it between 2012 and 2014.
• Why Heathrow expansion is good business for Northern IrelandAn expanded Heathrow Airport will deliver job-creation, export opportunities, and business and tourism development for Northern Ireland, company bosses have been told.
• Bombardier assures Belfast workers as Learjet production haltedBombardier has said that a "pause" in the Learjet 85 business jet programme will have no impact on Belfast workers.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Plans prompt a new bypass call PLANS TO build 62 houses on the edge of Silsden have prompted renewed calls for a bypass and replacement school.

London Evening Standard

• 'Manhole collapse' causes three hour delays on North Circular Motorists today faced three hour delays after a manhole 'collapsed' on one of London's busiest roads.
• HS2 property blight payouts are 'unfair to capital’ Ministers were accused today of  “discriminatingâ€� against Londoners by denying them new compensation being offered to rural homeowners living near the HS2 rail link.
• Probe launched after London train 'almost hit two railway workers' An investigation has launched after a passenger train almost hit two track workers in west London.
• Passenger who headbutted flight attendant in drunken rage on Boris Johnson's flight is jailed A man who ignored Boris Johnson’s pleas to calm down before head-butting a flight attendant on a flight from the Far East has been jailed.

Manchester Evening News

• Bus bosses: Why we can't cut fares even though the cost of fuel has plummeted over the last few weeksMP accuses firms of 'exploiting' passengers but firms say they have to buy petrol and diesel in advance at higher prices

Northern Echo

• Fresh calls for A1 action after floods force road closure HAULIERS have called for immediate action after a section of the A1 flooded again, leaving thousands of motorists facing lengthy delays.

The York Press

• School bus crashes with pupils on board A SCHOOL bus with three pupils onboard crashed into a hedge during rush hour.

Wales Online

• Six Nations: Thousands of extra train seats put on for Wales' opening game in Cardiff – but how many will opt for a £900 trip on the Orient Express?Travel companies have commandeered the luxurious Belmond British Pullman run train to offer eye watering hospitality packages at a premium cost

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Thieves use hi-tech methods in 'keyless' car theftsThousands of motorists across the region have been left counting the cost as hi-tech thieves use ever more sophisticated methods to steal vehicles and valuables.

Bucks Free Press

• Homeowners affected by HS2 route to receive extra compensation Those living between 60 and 120 metres from the line in rural areas could receive a full, un-blighted value for their property under the voluntary purchase scheme.

The Shields Gazette

• Bus firm defends decision to change South Shields to Sunderland serviceA BUS company has defended a decision to change a service which provides South Tyneside commuters with a direct route to visit friends and loved ones at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Other Regional Press

• Oxfordshire bus and rail links key to unlocking £4m for rural transportA £4M CASH pot set aside for transport in rural areas could help fund bus hubs and local rail networks.

Bus and Coach.com

• DfT announces Total Transport pilots
• Lamonte is new chair of pteg
• McGills wins new contracts for former Henderson work
• Chris Wise moves to Wright Customcare
• TfL welcomes ECJ ruling on bus lane policy
• Geo-fenced hybrids for Bristol trial
• Live Edition 16 Jan 2015
• CBT highlights cuts to supported services
• Political uncertainty could hit vehicle investment

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Campaign warns of bus crisisThe Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) has raised concerns about bus infrastructure in England and Wales, particularly in rural areas. The group attributes growing problems to extensive cuts to funding for bus transport. Its Buses in Crisis report, which is based on Freedom of Information requests, has revealed that a further £9 million has been cut from subsidised routes for the 2014/15 financial year. It also said that rural areas were the worst affected, with an average cut in funding of 19 per cent. Overall, bus funding has been cut by £44 million (15 per cent) since 2...

Rail Magazine

• Support for proposals to extend Overground services to Barking RiversideOf the 90% of respondents to a public consultation into the proposed London Overground extension were in favour.
• Crossrail submits plans for improvements to Goodmayes stationProposed improvements to be delivered by Network Rail include three new lifts and platform extensions to accommodate Crossrail trains.
• c2c named most punctual train operatorNetwork Rail's latest performance results puts National Express operator c2c on top for punctuality.
• GB Railfreight Class 59 ready soonRepatriated Class 59 expected to be ready within weeks.
• Phil Whittingham appointed Virgin Trains managing directorLead Executive at Virgin Trains is appointed MD, recognising his contribution to the operator.
• New compensation announced for property owners along HS2 routeA revised compensation scheme has been announced for homeowners and businesses along the London-Birmingham route of HS2.

Railnews

• Report critical of Government's rail plans A new report by MPs which follows an inquiry into the Government's plans for rail has concluded that there is no clear strategic plan, that projects such as Thameslink are tending to run behind time and over budget, and that the Department for Transport has not convinced its critics that it can deliver value for money. However, high speed rail lobby group Greengauge21 has claimed that the Committee is 'only telling part of the story'.

Aviation Industry

• Icelandair to relocate to Heathrow T2Carrier to move in March
• United Airlines plans US-Cuba flightsA relaxation of travel restrictions come into force today

Other News Sources

• Calls for extended gritting action after Blackburn school bus crashes into wall CALLS have been made for Blackburn with Darwen Council to extend gritting after a school bus carrying children crashed into a wall.
• Gatwick Airport complimentary pushchair service - 200 buggies 'pinched' in past yearThe Mothercare Nanu Strollers bought by the airport are worth around £50 each
• Boris Johnson air rage flight man jailed for six monthsDavid Morris, from Ash Vale, was sentenced to six months in prison after pleading guilty to assault by beating and being drunk on the flight
• HS2: MPs question value for money of rail projectRail line linking London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds could cost £50 billion