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

Thursday, 02 April 2015

BBC News

• Why transport matters in this electionTransport dominates our lives. It's the second biggest household expense for most of us. Whoever forms the new government will have to deal with the two most expensive and controversial transport decisions to be made by politicians - HS2 and a new runway.
• 'More needed' on bus death roadThe controversial layout of a road in Swansea city centre, where a second person has died, needs to be changed, businesses say.
• VIDEO: New £5.5m motorway bridge opensA £5.5m replacement bridge over the M56 linking Davenport Green to Manchester Airport has opened.
• Wizz Air to start new Budapest routeBudget airline Wizz Air is set to introduce direct flights between Glasgow and the Hungarian capital of Budapest for the first time.

Financial Times

• Low fuel price weighs on FirstGroupPassenger numbers down on Greyhound coaches as more people drive themselves
• Lufthansa struggles in crash aftermathResponse to tragedy wins praise but accident compounds challenge of competition and falling revenues

The Guardian

• More than 2,000 forced to flee after major central London blazeTen fire engines bring electrical fire under control after being called to blaze on Kingsway, with Holborn tube station closed and nearby buildings evacuatedMore than 2,000 people were evacuated from buildings along a main road in central London after an electrical fire sent thick black smoke billowing into the air. Ten fire engines and 70 firefighters were called to the scene in Kingsway, a busy north-south route through central London.London fire brigade said it was called at around 12.40pm to a blaze in Holborn thought to have been caused by a faulty electrical junction box. It was brought ...

The Herald

• New ScotRail franchise pledges to help country's long term developmentThe new bosses of the ScotRail franchise have pledged play a strategic role in contributing to the country's long-term success and

The Scotsman

• Strong growth at rail arm helps FirstGroupTransport operator FirstGroup is on track to deliver a surge in profits after hailing strong growth at its rail division, which yesterday handed over the ScotRail franchise to Dutch rival Abellio.
• Lufthansa stonewalls on co-pilot’s healthLUFTHANSA’S chief executive said yesterday it will take “a long, long time” to understand what led to a deadly crash in the Alps last week – but refused to say what the airline knew about the mental health of the co-pilot suspected of deliberately destroying the plane.

Birmingham Mail

• Watch Birmingham Airport pilots battle high winds in series of shaky landings Procession of wobbly landings captured on film by Birmingham photographer as pilots battle gales
• High speed rail at heart of election battle as Tories challenge Labour to back HS2Chancellor George Osborne makes high speed rail line HS2 an election issue as he condemns Labour for questioning whether northern section is needed

Bolton News

• Smartphone taxi firm Uber is coming to Bolton CONTROVERSIAL smartphone taxi company Uber — which allows people to book a minicab using an app on their mobile phone — is coming to Bolton.

Liverpool Echo

• It’s all change for our bus stop baysIt’s all change for our bus stop bays

Liverpool Post

• Yes to new bridgesImproved Birkenhead bridges will ease traffic congestion and reduce maintenance

London Evening Standard

• Euston station delays: passengers describe chaotic scenes after all trains cancelled Delayed passengers described chaotic scenes at Euston station after all trains were cancelled this afternoon because of a fatality on the line.
• Heathrow and Gatwick Bank Holiday travel: Record numbers expected for Easter holiday Heathrow Airport today announced it will carry a record 800,000 travellers over the Easter holiday.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Tories slam Labour over threat to axe HS2 high speed rail lineChancellor George Osborne is accusing Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls for putting plans for a

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Osborne to challenge Balls over HS2George Osborne is to accuse Ed Balls of putting economic growth in the North at risk by “tearing up” plans for HS2.

Yorkshire Post

• Duck trouble settled in bid to honour rail legendUSUALLY WHEN a bird causes a commotion in a train station it is because commuters are dodging a low-flying intruder, but a bird saga like no other had threatened to derail a special monument to a railway great.
• New study examines role of public transport in combatting lonelinessCUTS TO bus services and the negative social effects that the lack of public transport has on loneliness among older people is being examined a major survey.

Doncaster Free Press

• Ready for take off at Doncaster airport’s enterprise zoneEngineering and aerospace companies are top of the list for relocation to Doncaster’s designated Enterprise Zone.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Rail users call for 24-hour trains from London to Ipswich and ColchesterA rail users group has called for an hourly service around the clock on the main line from London to Ipswich as part of the franchise to be awarded for East Anglia’s rail services next year.

Other Regional Press

• Changing signs of the times as Abellio takes over ScotRail franchiseIT was the day ScotRail went Dutch - and one tweet, posted at lunchtime, got to the point.
• ScotRail staff get uniforms for the autumnThey were told recently by Abellio to snip off their old logos from their existing uniforms.
• Buy your way into Airlander history in crowdfunding schemeIf you were a betting man, or woman, you’d say the futuristic airship being built in Cardington is going to be big.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Motorcycles to be included in green transport initiativesThe government has announced that motorcycles and scooters will be part of ecological vehicle projects in the future, following consultation with industry giants including Suzuki, Harley Davidson, BMW, Volt, and Mahindra.
• Highways England launches today and sets out £11bn roads planHighways England has published its five-year plan detailing £11bn of investment. The company has officially replaced the Highways Agency today (1st April 2015).
• Laura Nelson appointed Managing Director of RTITBLaura Nelson has been appointed Managing Director of the UK and Ireland’s transport training accrediting body and Driver CPC Consortium, RTITB, following more than nine years of service.
• North London bus route extendedTransport for London (TfL) has announced that the 382 bus route between Southgate and Mill Hill East via Arnos Grove and Finchley Central will be extended to Millbrook Park from April 4th. The decision was taken in light of a public consultation about the need for extra transport links to the new 2,147-home development on the site of Inglis Barracks in Millbrook Park. Once the changes come into effect, services will run once every 15 minutes during the week, and every 30 minutes on Sundays and evenings. This will provide access to key hubs on the TfL network for local residents, including Finc...

Rail Magazine

• Mail Rail captures its industrial roots in 3DA 3D scanning project has allowed the British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA) to capture the detail of Mail Rail in its present form.
• Passenger Focus now Transport FocusOrganisation broadens remit to represent motorway users
• ScotRail EMU Financing Confirmed Leasing and Finances Confirmed for New EMUs
• Inaugural Caledonian Sleeper leaves Fort WilliamFirst Sleeper under new franchise takes first journey to London

Railnews

• First Serco sleepers run overnight The first Caledonian Sleeper services to be separated from the main ScotRail franchise have run on the routes between Scotland and London. The new Serco contract began in time for the departure of the first Tuesday night service, the portion from Fort William. Managing director Peter Strachan said:

Aviation Industry

• Lufthansa sets aside $300m Germanwings compensationCarrier says money would cover all costs in connection with the crash
• Air Passenger Duty reformed for cheaper long-haul flightsChanges to levy comes into force today
• PM pledges support for northern airports if Scotland abolishes APDDavid Cameron says there will be ‘unfair tax competition’ for regional airports

Other News Sources

• Enterprise acquires City Car ClubAgreement covers all assets including 800+ vehicles and 30,000 members