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

Friday, 05 June 2015

BBC News

• Record number of London cyclistsMore people are cycling in London than ever before, new figures from Transport for London show.
• Virgin Galactic pilot recalls crashFor the first time, a Virgin Galactic pilot speaks to the media about the day one of its ships crashed last October.

The Guardian

• Crossrail tunnel digging finished after three years of non-stop workCompleting 26 miles of tunnels under London marks milestone in £14.8bn east-west rail project due to open to commuters in 2018After three years of non-stop digging by eight giant machines, the final inches of Crossrail’s 26 miles of train tunnels were cut out of the London clay on Thursday morning.Commuters must wait a further three years until trains run through the latest tracks in London’s subterranean warren. But Thursday’s breakthrough, which saw a 100 metre-long German-built machine named Victoria smash its way into Farringdon, marks a significant milestone in the £14.8bn proje...

The Scotsman

• Heathrow bosses confident of SNP runway backingheathrow Airport is confident of winning potentially-crucial SNP backing for a third runway if it is recommended in the forthcoming report by a UK government commission.

The Telegraph

• Dodging tube fare can result in criminal recordCaroline Lavender recalls the emotional fallout from a fare-dodging blitz that led to her son being threatened with a criminal record

Mail Online

• Ryanair booking error? It's cheaper to buy a new name: Student changed his by deed poll and bought new passport for less than £220 fee airline wanted Adam Armstrong, 19, will fly to Ibiza as planned next week after changing his name by deed poll and ordering a new passport - all instead of paying a £220 Ryanair fee.

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham rush hour traffic test finds it's quicker to bike it Top Gear style rush hour challenge finds its two-and-half-mile commute 21 minutes faster by bike than car

Bolton News

• Large 'caddow' quilt artwork will go on display at new Bolton transport interchange A NEW display will take bus passengers in Bolton back in time and provide an insight into the town’s rich industrial heritage.

Liverpool Echo

• Port of Liverpool bosses urge lorry drivers to collect their new ID cards Port owner Peel is just two weeks away from starting its 10-lane AutoGate system

London Evening Standard

• More cyclists on London's roads than ever before, figures show More people are riding bikes in London than at any point since records began, according to the latest safety statistics released today.

The York Press

• New transport boss calls for decision on Coppergate saga YORK'S new transport boss says a decision on whether to refund thousands of motorists fined for using Coppergate is one of his top priorities.

Yorkshire Post

• Cameron hails ‘triumph’ of Crossrail projectDavid Cameron marked the completion of tunnelling for Crossrail by hailing the £14.8 billion cross-London project as “an engineering triumph”.

Other Regional Press

• First bus pulls "disturbing" film advert from Glasgow busesBUS companies have bowed to pressure after complaints a film advert was upsetting young children.
• First pledges £6 million spend on new buses for FalkirkA £6 million spend on a fleet of new state-of-the-art buses will put Falkirk passengers first – at last!
• Glasgow bus boss wins top awardTHE driving force behind Scotland's largest bus operator has scooped the top prize at a prestigious award ceremony.
• Anger as ferry puts up prices by another 20pTHE latest hike in ticket prices for the Gosport Ferry has been met with anger.
• Busway closes after collisionThe Luton-Dunstable Busway was closed this afternoon after a collision between a bus and a pedestrian.
• Get on your bike for Ribble Valley Cycling FestivalCycling enthusiasts are invited to get on their bikes for the first Ribble Valley Cycling Festival.

Rail Magazine

• Study seeks better rail connectivity for East LancsElectrification of the ‘Copy Pit’ routes is supported in the East Lancashire Rail Connectivity Study Conditional Output Statement
• Victoria breakthrough completes Crossrail tunnelling Crossrail confirms that final tunnel was completed on May 26, ahead of fitting out.
• Skelmersdale link moves towards GRIP3A more detailed evaluation of how a rail link to Skelmersdale could be constructed to be developed by Lancashire County Council, Network Rail and Merseytravel

Aviation Industry

• Qantas Dreamliner purchase puts exit from 'junk' at risk, says NABQantas Airways is on the verge of winning back the investment-grade credit status it lost in 2013. Getting there may require putting off plans to buy Dreamliner aircraft.
• EasyJet trialing drone for aircraft inspectionsUK-based low-cost carrier (LCC) easyJet hopes to have a hovering drone in service “in 12-18 months” to conduct aircraft inspections, easyJet revealed at its Innovation Day meeting at Milan-Malpensa Airport. read more
• New runway at Heathrow would attract easyJet UK-based low-cost carrier easyJet would be interested in operating from London Heathrow Airport if the UK government decides Heathrow should be the site of a long-awaited new runway for southeast England. read more
• Norwegian posts ‘solid’ traffic figuresPassenger numbers rise agianst 'weak' month last year

Other News Sources

• It's a train! It's a bus! It's the Cambridge guided busway! (video)The longest guided busway in the world Friend of the site Clarence has the perfect introduction for this very interesting idea: "Sometimes just when you really think you have seen or heard of just about everything in the transportation world you come upon something that went under your radar.
• UK airport expansion: 'Value-for-money' Heathrow strikes back against Gatwick over new runwayHeathrow Airport has hit back in its fight with Gatwick Airport over which should get a new runway after claiming it would be the best value-for-money option.
• Cosworth and Gordon Murray support the resurrection of TVRTVR is to return to the market with an all-new British designed and built sports car.
• Kent County Council and Highways England partner to improve county roads The UK's Kent County Council has signed an agreement with Highways England to enhance the county's roads and benefit drivers.
• TERMINATED: Main contractors on Blackburn’s much-delayed £4.7m bus station dramatically sacked THE main contractors on Blackburn’s much-delayed new £4.7 million bus station were dramatically sacked by the council yesterday.
• Airlines for America launches first television commercial as part of the We Connect the World campaignAirlines for America (A4A), the industry trade association for the leading U.S. airlines, today began airing its first TV commercial as part of the We Connect the World campaign. Mirroring...