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

Sunday, 20 March 2016

The Independent

• Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell plan to whip Labour into backing HS2Move comes despite previous opposition to the £55bn railway

The Scotsman

• HS2 deal will slash Scotland-London train times to three hours A high-speed rail deal has been struck to cut Scotland to London journey times below three hours, ministers will announce tomorrow.
• Keith Brown: HS2 agreement ends long and tortuous processTomorrow I will be joined by the UK government’s Minister for High Speed Rail Robert Goodwill to mark a major milestone in the campaign to get Scotland-London train journeys down to three hours. It’s been a long time in the making.

The Telegraph

• Second report warns HS2 route raises risk of train derailmentsScientists identify sections of the HS2 line where unstable soil could cause derailment

Times Online

• Pay offer could be turned down by 250 Luas drivers [subscription]MORE than 250 Luas drivers could reject an offer of a pay rise of up to 6.7% a year this week, because it does not include the pension-contribution boost, higher annual bonus or staff medical insurance scheme they had originally demanded.
• Boris warns of £25bn health threat from bigger Heathrow [Subscription]The independent Airports’ Commission last year concluded that a third runway at Heathrow was the best option for airport expansion, but the government has delayed its decision until the summer.

Daily Express

• Biggest cities in UK are backing HS2HS2 WILL help unlock growth in the largest cities outside London, according to civic leaders who are demanding the Government press ahead with the flagship scheme.

Mail Online

• Boris Johnson refloats idea of Thames Estuary airport Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-3500864/Boris-Johnson-refloats-idea-Thames-Estuary-airport.html#ixzz43QmRd54q Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on FacebookBoris Johnson has attempted to resurrect the possibility of a new airport in the Thames Estuary.
• Sir Richard Branson blasts indecision over third runway at Heathrow Sir Richard Branson has attacked short-sighted politicians for delaying the decision to build a third runway at Heathrow.
• Profits rocket at award-winning motorway services operator Westmorland after year of expansion The family-owned business – which includes the much-praised Tebay services on the M6 in the Lake District – saw its new M5 southbound services in Gloucester opened by Prince Charles last year and it also acquired Cairn Lodge services on the M74 in Scotland.
• Profits more than double at Porterbrook, the leasing company that supplies rolling stock to train operators Profits have more than doubled at Porterbrook, the leasing company that supplies rolling stock to train operators including Great Western, Southern Rail and South West Trains.

The Mirror

• The train league of shame as Britain's least reliable rail services are revealedCommuters are the worst affected as the majority of the least punctual rail services were at peak times, research has revealed
• Rail passengers could be charged more after train group closes ticket offices Govia Thameslink are closing 84 offices, even though office staff offer cheaper rates than machines

London Evening Standard

• Proposed cycle bridge 'would be used daily by enough people to fill 15 Tube trains'A proposed new cycle bridge across the River Thames would be used by enough people to fill 15 Tube trains each day.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Branson urges Heathrow expansion, says Britain is 'being held back massively' Sir Richard Branson has accused politicians of refusing to back expansion at Heathrow because they are more concerned about their own careers rather than doing "what is right for the country".
• M6 hard shoulder to become fourth lane in StaffordshireA permanent fourth lane on the M6 will be created by replacing the hard shoulder, it has been revealed.
• Transport bosses: Brexit a threat to Dudley �28m rail systemPlans for a �28 million light rail system to take train passengers into Dudley for the first time in 50 years could be thrown into doubt if Britain comes out of the EU, transport bosses have said.

Doncaster Free Press

• First buses to introduce fare changes for its South Yorkshire routes next weekFirst South Yorkshire is set to introduce a series of changes to its fares for routes across the region from next weekend.

Northamptonshire Telegraph

• Safety fears as hundreds of miles of hard shoulder converted into traffic lanesHundreds of miles of hard shoulder on Britain’s motorways will be converted into lanes for traffic to use despite safety concerns.

Other Regional Press

• NIDR LATEST: Date set for Taunton's Station Road to close when old bridge comes down A MAJOR road into Taunton will be closed for at least a week when a 200-year-old railway bridge is removed.
• Hampshire's transport chief quits role over devolution negotiations HAMPSHIRE'S transport chief has quit his role due to negotiations on devolution.
• Train highlights special non-emergency text number to rail users in NorthamptonshireA text number that allows rail users to report non-emergency incidents to the police has received more than 32,000 messages from passengers
• Safety fears as hundreds of miles of hard shoulder converted into traffic lanesHundreds of miles of hard shoulder on Britain’s motorways will be converted into lanes for traffic to use despite safety concerns.

Green Miscellany

• Fifty places to bike before you dieBy this time next week, spring will have sprung, so what better time to plan the fifty places to bike before you die? The post Fifty places to bike before you die appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Luton Airport noise to be scrutinised at St Albans meetingWhile Luton Airport boasts of record growth in passenger numbers and expansion of its routes, noise pollution for those on the ground is a mounting concern.
• Jobs to be created at new Millerhill rail depot Scotland’s new fleet of Japanese super-trains is set to create around 50 jobs at a new stabling and cleaning depot at Millerhill.
• Network Rail launches digital railway projectBritain’s infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) has issued a tender worth between £35 million and £55 million for the design, supply, delivery, commissioning, support and maintenance of an integrated ETCS (European Train Control System) Level 2 and TMS (Traffic Management System).
• Future of night bus turns into political row A heated town forum meeting discussed Winchester Night bus that links the city centre with parts of Winchester.