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

Thursday, 05 February 2015

BBC News

• Dawlish rail closure 'cost £1.2bn'The destruction of the railway line in Dawlish one year ago could have cost the UK economy up to £1.2bn, a report claims.
• Railway line closed due to alertPart of the Belfast to Dublin railway line has been closed due to a security alert in Lurgan, County Armagh.
• Superhighway scheme given go aheadPlans to build two new cycleways across London are given the go ahead.
• London buses hit by 24-hour strikeMore than six million Londoners are likely to be affected by a 24-hour bus strike which began at midnight.

Department for Transport

• Speech Beautiful roads - A new aesthetic vision for the road network.Just before Christmas the government announced the biggest upgrade to roads in a generation a £15 billion programme to triple investment by the end of the decade.
• Transport Secretary celebrates improvements to Eaglescliffe StationPatrick McLoughlin visited the Tees Valley to witness how a local railway station is benefiting from £1.2 million of investment.

Financial Times

• Mixed messages for Airbus A380Aviation group chiefs need to find clarity on business case for controversial aircraft
• Wizz Air aims to raise €150m in IPOBudapest-based airline looks to lower its borrowing costs through stock market listing
• BA backlash misses point of air milesCalm down, they are not there to reward loyalty, no matter what the marketing may say
• London City Airport wins planning battleAirport aims to handle up to 6m passengers a year and promises 1,500 new jobs
• Officials probe how rail pierced trainSix people and driver of a car died in New York crash

The Herald

• Three Lothian Buses directors banned from men-only golf society dinnerTHREE directors at a publicly-owned bus firm have been banned from attending a controversial men-only transport industry society.

The Independent

• London bus strike: Which routes will be affected and for how long? London bus staff will stage one of three 24-hour strikes as part of an ongoing pay dispute on 5 February.

The Scotsman

• Final track section of Borders Railway completeA HISTORIC milestone for the 30-mile Borders Railway is expected to be reached on Friday when track-laying reaches the end of the line at Tweedbank, Network Rail revealed today.

The Telegraph

• London bus workers set to strike in pay rowMembers of Unite union to walk out on February 5 as part of long-running campaign for single agreement covering pay, terms and conditions
• Britain's drivers think CCTV and speed cameras help with road safety, poll revealsYouGov survey conducted for ITV documentary on Britain's car crashes shows the nation favours having CCTV and speed cameras regarding road safety
• Falling petrol prices: Try this petrol calculatorWork out running costs based on their model and mileage on a weekly, monthly or annual basis

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham traffic delays: Bus lanes will not be opened to ease congestionCity transport chief says frustration over choked car lanes during roadworks will encourage commuters to switch to public transport

Birmingham Post

• Birmingham Airport blow as Flybe axes five destinations Airline sheds European routes but promises move will not result in job losses as it introduces new destinations as part of changes

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Businesses back high-speed rail scheme THE HS2 high speed rail scheme has won backing from nearly a third of the region’s small and medium businesses (SMEs), which believe it will benefit them.

London Evening Standard

• City Airport £200m expansion gets go-ahead but campaigners say it will create 'ghettos and misery' A £200million expansion of London City airport was today hailed as a “vital boost to London's aviation capacity as it was given planning approval.
• Ride-to-work homes along London's new cycle superhighways Homes with secure cycle parking, "bike clinics" and weekend cycling clubs for London's soaring number of bike commuters are springing up along the two new major cycling routes given the go ahead this week.
• Homeless Veterans: The hidden homeless who live at Heathrow Airport The hidden homeless crisis at Heathrow is revealed today by official figures showing that more than 100 rough  sleepers “live” at the airport during the winter.
• TfL green lights 'Crossrail for bikes' superhighway through central London Transport bosses have rubber-stamped Boris Johnson's ambitious plans to build Europe's longest segregated urban cycle lane through the heart of London.
• Pre-election flotation flurry begins with Wizz Air, but HSS' market debut is 'damp squib' Flotation fever has gripped the City once again as budget airline Wizz Air revived its float plans to lead a list of companies looking to join the London Stock Exchange.
• London bus strike: '6.5m will be hit by walkout' More than six million Londoners are set to face another day of travel misery as union bosses are urged to call off tomorrow's bus strike.
• Biggest danger to London's cyclists is themselves, says TfL board member as 'Crossrail for bikes' scheme is approved A Transport for London board member today claimed that the biggest danger to the capital's cyclists is themselves.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Northumberland family of Eilidh Cairns' vows to fight for improved cyclist safetyFamily of Northumberland woman killed in road crash say they will continue to campaign for other cyclists

Wales Online

• Conservatives demand more routes for Cardiff Airport after £3.5m government loanTory party members have called for the value of Cardiff Airport to be made public - two years after it was sold to the Welsh Government for £52m

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Metro delays? Walking's better for you say public transport bossesMidland Metro users facing delays due to long running engineering work are being handed leaflets about the benefits of walking to the station.

Burnley Express

• Padiham Greenway extension will stay on iceAmbitious plans to extend the Padiham Greenway may have to stay on the drawing board.

Other Regional Press

• A planning application has been submitted to transform Morpeth Railway Station.As previously reported in the Herald, the Greater Morpeth Development Trust (GMDT) is planning a £1million revamp of the Grade II listed premises to restore derelict buildings and create small business units.
• Bus operator welcomes five new buses to Dorset A BUS operator has welcomed five new buses to Dorset in a move to improve services for passengers.

Aviation Industry

• Budget carrier Wizz Air revives London IPO plansEuropean budget carrier Wizz Air Holdings PLC on Wednesday revived plans to float stock in London after falling oil prices boosted the fortunes of most airlines.
• Ryanair plans increasing focus on primary airportsIrish low-cost carrier (LCC) Ryanair expects its expansion over the next few years to come equally from major and secondary airports. read more
• Tim Clark defends Open Skies, says Emirates is not subsidized Emirates Airline president Tim Clark has given a strong endorsement for continuing US Open Skies policy and said his airline has never received financial subsidies or bailouts. read more
• Etihad acquires 75% stake of Alitalia’s loyalty programmeItalian airline to retain 25%
• Ryanair passenger numbers jump 30%Ryanair’s January traffic jumped 30 per cent last month compared to the same period in 2014
• London City gets capacity boost as £200m investment plan approvedAirport to operate 111,000 flights a year, up from 70,000

Other News Sources

• Free Blackburn with Darwen travelcard scheme could be extended A PILOT scheme to allow Blackburn with Darwen’s disabled and elderly residents to use the NOW free travel card for community transport could be extended.
• Airports Commission consultation ends into Heathrow and Gatwick runway proposalsThere are three options on the table for a new airport runway in the south east, two at Heathrow and one from Gatwick
• Stansted unveils next phase of airport transformation London Stansted has announced the next phase of its airport transformation - an £8million upgrade of its Satellite One departure gate area.
• No plans to introduce 20mph speed cameras - which would fine drivers £60 - on the roads of Sussex NEW speed cameras which work in 20mph zones are not being introduced in Sussex.