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

Thursday, 24 December 2015

Cogitamus

• 🎄 Merry Christmas to all our readers from the Transportinfo team at Cogitamus 🎄🎄🎄 We will be taking a little break over the holidays. TransportInfo will not be updated on 25, 26, 27 and 28 December 2015 and also on 1, 2, 3 January 2016. Well, that's unless something extraordinary happens and we can't stop ourselves! 🎄🎄

BBC News

• Traffic returns to Forth Road BridgeTraffic returns to the Forth Road Bridge after the completion of temporary repairs to the structure but HGVs are still banned.
• Work to hit London airport rail routesPassengers going by train to the UK's two biggest airports will face long delays over the festive period as engineering work begins.

Financial Times

• VW schedules pit stop for 11m carsPlan to start fixing emissions-cheating cars in January
• 254m Paddington tower plans attackedResidents and campaigners say 72-storey block is high price to pay for transport improvements
• Shipping doldrums offer opportunitiesPrivate equity and distressed debt groups are rushing into the sector
• Irish aviation: in the bloodIreland is at the centre of the global aircraft leasing industry
• Aircraft makers: let the good times rollIndustry order books are fat while fuel costs are low and advanced economies recover

The Guardian

• The Big Issue: If Heathrow were a factory it would have closed years agoBy all the usual environmental measures, the airport is a dangerous menace to those who live around it

The Independent

• Christmas travel: More public transport options than ever for last-minute journeysInter-city travel has previously proved difficult - but this year Christmas Day will see record number of long-distance buses

The Telegraph

• This festive Tube map will make you wish the Underground was open on Christmas DayIf you look closely at this beautiful map, you will see that a few festive changes have been made

Daily Express

• CHRISTMAS CHAOS: Millions face travel misery TODAY for the great festive getawayMILLIONS face Christmas chaos today on the roads, railways and at airports for the great holiday getaway.

Daily Record

• May the Forth be with you: Splint lets crossing open to all traffic except HGVs as our bridge gets back into business ORIGINAL plans for the bridge to re-open in the New Year have been scrapped after uproar from commuters and businesses over transport links for the 70,000 daily road users.

Mail Online

• Qantas video reveals what it's like to land a Boeing 747 Offering a perspective most passengers will never see, this video shows the incredible views that Qantas pilots enjoyed when they flew a Boeing 747 from Sydney to San Francisco.
• London's roads are empty as millions of Britons leave for Christmas An AA poll of more than 29,000 motorists found 40 per cent would drive at least 20 miles today, with 36 per cent covering that distance on Thursday.

Conservative Party

• Peter Thompson: Heathrow expansion would be bad for HounslowThe Government announced a “six-month delay” in the decision surrounding Airport expansion. Hounslow Conservatives welcomed this decision because we have always believed expanding Heathrow to be the wrong answer.

Birmingham Post

• The ten best petrol cars for 2016 if you want to save fuel If diesel leaves you cold, this group will warm the cockles of your heart

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• New rail franchise deal covering Bradford leaves lingering "concerns" among passengersNEW franchises for rail services covering Bradford have been formally signed between operators and the Government, a move welcomed by local rail groups.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Holyhead to London train passengers' Christmas misery in crowded carriagesWoe on penultimate day of travel as train from Holyhead to London has only five carriages on it

Manchester Evening News

• Arriva and First sign £1.2bn rail deal which heralds 500 new carriages and 125mph trainsThe franchise deal has been described as ‘an unprecedented package of improvements, bringing about the biggest transformation to rail journeys in decades’

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• New Northern rail franchises officially signed promising train improvementsContracts have now been finalised with Arriva Rail North and First Trans Pennine Express, paving the way for new services, more room and free Wi-Fi

Northern Echo

• Future looks bright for region's rail users as £1.2 billion improvements deal is signedA DEAL that will provide an unprecedented package of improvements and the biggest transformation to rail journeys in the north of England and Scotland in decades has been signed.

Sheffield Star

• Santa rides on buses to give passengers chance to win travel passes in SheffieldSanta Claus is taking a break from his toy workshop to make special appearances on Stagecoach buses in Sheffield in the run up to Christmas.

Wales Online

• How your train journey between South Wales and London will be affected this Christmas In December and the beginning of January there will be disruption to some train services between South Wales and London because of rail upgrade works. Here's what you need to know

Carlisle News & Star

• Stobart Group could sell stake in air division - report Stobart Group could be about to sell its stake in Stobart Air, the airline lined up to start scheduled flights from Carlisle Airport.
• New deal to transform Cumbrian rail services A deal which promises to lead to the 'biggest transformation to rail journeys' for decades in Cumbria and across the north of England has been signed.

Plymouth Herald

• Work for a better rail link between Plymouth and London is on schedule, says Network Rail Work to improve the rail link between London and Plymouth is on schedule, according to Network Rail, despite claims that the project is facing delays.

Western Daily Press

• Rail travellers suffer 'pre-Christmas fortnight from hell'Rail travellers have suffered a "pre-Christmas fortnight from hell" because of signal failures, staff shortages, overcrowding, congestion and other incidents, it has been claimed.

Other Regional Press

• Warning on Shropshire and Mid Wales train services over main line closureTrains running through Shropshire are set to be busy after Christmas when a main line closes for improvement work.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Forth Road Bridge reopens to passenger trafficPassenger traffic has returned to the Forth Road Bridge in Scotland after engineers completed repair work on the structure. However, heavy goods vehicles will be unable to use the crossing until February 2016, when further work is set to be completed. Cracks were discovered by engineers in early December and the bridge was closed to all traffic, causing significant disruption for drivers. The Forth Road Bridge typically handles 70,000 vehicles every day and is a major artery of the Scottish road network. Officials originally had estimated the bridge would remain closed until after the festive ...

Aviation Industry

• Vueling increases interline arrangements Spain-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Vueling is to launch three new interline agreements with long-haul carriers Cathay Pacific, Hainan Airlines and Royal Jordanian. read more
• New sharia airline launches in MalaysiaRayani Airlines has launched Malaysia’s first sharia-compliant airline using a Boeing 737-400 aircraft. read more