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

Monday, 18 May 2015

BBC News

• George Best Belfast City Airport: Inquiry to examine route changes attemptA public inquiry will examine an attempt by George Best Belfast City Airport to change part of its planning agreement to pursue more direct European routes.
• Who, What, Why: Why are US train drivers called engineers?The driver of the Amtrak train that crashed in Philadelphia is referred to as an engineer in the US, not a driver. Why?
• Hornby revives Thomas the Tank EngineHornby will relaunch its range of Thomas the Tank Engine model railway sets to mark the character's 70th anniversary.
• Campaigners gear up for runway fightThe Campaign to Protect Rural England is ready for a legal battle over any new runways at Heathrow or Gatwick airports.

ITV News

• Better rail services promised for some East Midlands Trains passengersImproved rail services between Nottingham, Newark Castle and Lincoln will start from today.
• New train services to begin across Mid WalesA number of new train services will begin in Mid Wales today in reaction to demand from passengers.

Financial Times

• Train operators track European contractsMore EU countries follow UK and Sweden’s lead in holding competitive tenders for rail franchises
• Amtrak adds speed controls at crash siteDetails emerge on why better safety system was not in place

The Herald

• Geologists on Skye seeking evidence of oil off the West CoastENVIRONMENTAL campaigners have hit out after it emerged that a team of petroleum geologists are on Skye exploring the potential for oil production along the west coast of Scotland.
• Wrong kind of weather" to blame for rise in ferry disruption, says CalMacIT may sound like a seafarer's version of the "wrong kind of leaves on the line", but Scotland's largest ferry operator has said extreme sea swells is hampering its ability to deliver reliable services to island communities.
• Community rallies against 'relief road' plan A COMMUNITY has launched a campaign against a new road being built over a popular recreation ground.

Mail Online

• Top investigator reveals Amtrak engineer DIDN'T report object had struck his train before it crashed - as FBI steps in to examine mark on vehicle's windshield he engineer in control of the Amtrak train that derailed near Philadelphia last week did not report that an object had hit the vehicle in the moments before the deadly crash, a top investigator says.

This is Money

• Government must make a decision on new airport runways to maintain economic recovery, warns JCB digger boss The boss of digger giant JCB has warned that Britain needs to end a logjam over building new airport runways to kick-start the country’s fragile economic recovery.
• 'Cabinet appointments boost Gatwick's expansion chances', says airport's bossGatwick boss Stewart Wingate has claimed the new Tory Cabinet has strengthened the chances of his airport being selected over Heathrow as the site for major expansion.
• Luton is bigger than Heathrow and Gatwick when it comes to private business flights International tycoons are fuelling a huge boom in Britain’s private jet traffic – with two of the top ten European airports for private jets being in London.

Transport Briefing

• Summer rail changes for Northern, EMT and ScotRail [Subscription]The introduction of additional electric trains in the north of England is among the changes in the summer national rail timetable...

Belfast Telegraph

• Inquiry to rule on airport numbersAirport chiefs in Belfast say they hope plans to grow passenger numbers will finally get the go-ahead following a public inquiry. Residents living near the flight path oppose any changes to the current planning agreement, fearing "intolerable" noise levels from an increased number of flights. But airport bosses insist lifting the limit would boost the economy, create jobs and attract new airlines.
• Inquiry to rule on airport numbersAirport chiefs in Belfast say they hope plans to grow passenger numbers will finally get the go-ahead following a public inquiry. Residents living near the flight path oppose any changes to the current planning agreement, fearing "intolerable" noise levels from an increased number of flights. But airport bosses insist lifting the limit would boost the economy, create jobs and attract new airlines.
• Inquiry to rule on airport numbersAirport chiefs in Belfast say they hope plans to grow passenger numbers will finally get the go-ahead following a public inquiry. Residents living near the flight path oppose any changes to the current planning agreement, fearing "intolerable" noise levels from an increased number of flights. But airport bosses insist lifting the limit would boost the economy, create jobs and attract new airlines.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Anglesey receives £2m boost for island's road networkWelsh Government funding will kick start £11m link road plans

London Evening Standard

• Unfortunate rail passenger tweets distress after getting stuck in Southeastern train toilet An unfortunate rail passenger took to Twitter to voice his distress after he got stuck in a train toilet.
• Watch terrifying moment bus passengers ran for safety as freight train ploughed into bus at US railway crossing This was the terrifying moment people were forced to escape from a bus as a freight train ploughed into it at a US railway crossing.

Manchester Evening News

• Todmorden Curve opens: Watch historic first train journey to Manchester from Burnley in more than 40 yearsThis exclusive video shows the maiden voyage of the train along the new Todmorden Curve

The York Press

• York sightseeing bus goes green A NEWLY converted electric bus is on duty in York, in a world-first project to help cut air pollution in the city.
• 600 bikes going from York to Ghana OLD bikes restored by volunteers in York are being shipped out to Africa to raise funds for orphans.

This Is Local London Network

• Pollution problems re-opens Airports Commission Heathrow expansionThe Airports Commission has re-opened its consultation process to consider the affects of air pollution if Heathrow or Gatwick were given the green light for expansion.

Wales Online

• Decide on new Heathrow or Gatwick runway soon, 100 business leaders urge GovernmentOne hundred top executives have called on the Government to act quickly on the recommendations of the Airports Commission

North Wales Live

• Liverpool John Lennon Airport goes to the top of the league for punctualityFigures published by JLA on its own website show that 90% of arrivals and departures at the airport were either early or up to 15 minutes late

Peterborough Telegraph

• Dramatic video as man escapes oncoming train released to promote rail safety messageDramatic CCTV footage has been released of a man who had a lucky escape after running across​ ​railway tracks.

Railnews

• Peace talks restart in Network Rail dispute The RMT is holding fresh talks with Network Rail today, in bid to come to terms over pay before a strike begins next Monday. Network Rail has defended the proposed increases as 'fair', but the union's general secretary Mick Cash has threatened a 'rolling programme' of industrial action after he secured a vote in favour of action from his members.

Other News Sources

• George Best Belfast City Airport aiming to get the green light to grow passenger numbersFour-day public inquiry set to look into proposals to scrap "seats for sale" restriction
• From electric cars to HS3 and Heathrow, the new government's green transport challengeThe incoming administration faces a range of decisions on low carbon vehicles, airport expansion and rail networks, all while meeting carbon budgets
• 6 graphs that show the astonishing rise in Tube fares since 2000From noisy tourists to people not standing on the right side of the escalator, Londoners get livid about a lot of things.
• Are sofas dumped at railway station putting people off visiting town? CONCERNS have been raised that an ongoing problem with fly-tipping around a railway station may be putting people off visiting the area.