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

Monday, 21 March 2016

BBC News

• Severn Tunnel to close for six weeksThe Severn Tunnel is due to close for nearly six weeks from September, causing disruption for rail users as part of a £2.8bn electrification project.
• Boris refloats island airport planBoris Johnson refloats the idea of an island airport as an alternative to a third runway at Heathrow.

Department for Transport

• HS2 Ltd broad options report on northern England and ScotlandHS2 report 'Broad options for upgraded and high speed railways to the north of England and Scotland' released.
• Three-hour Scotland to London rail journeys on trackGovernments agree joint aim on train times.

Financial Times

• Craig Kreeger, Virgin Atlantic CEOThe airline industry veteran now battling to maintain Virgin’s transatlantic ‘cool’
• Motorists support UK road chargingTransport survey finds backing for peak-time tolls on congested motorways

The Herald

• Longer train journey times revealed, due to works taking place at Glasgow's Queen Street stationRail commuters are advised to plan their trips and expect longer journey times as a major rail tunnel renovation got under way at Glasgow's Queen Street Station.
• Rail passengers test out contingency plans for Queen Street closureRAIL commuters will test contingency plans for the closure of Glasgow's Queen Street tunnel this morning in the first rush hour period following the start of a major renovation.

The Telegraph

• British Airways and easyJet passengers hit by delays thanks to French air traffic control strikePassengers travelling from Gatwick, Heathrow and Luton Airport to French airports are likely to experience lengthy delays or cancellations
• Families warned to expect travel chaos over the Easter weekend as 16 million drivers hit the roadsGood Friday is expected to be the busiest travel day as those seeking to get away for Easter are forced to travel by car amid widespread rail disruption

Times Online

• Scotland to London by train ‘will take 3 hours’ [Subscription]Rail journey times between Scotland and London are to be cut to three hours, ministers will announce today.
• Heathrow runway report ‘fiddles passenger figures’ [Subscription]A government-backed inquiry that supported the building of a third runway at Heathrow was based on flawed evidence, bosses at Gatwick have claimed.

Mail Online

• EasyJet and BA passengers face cancellations as French traffic control workers strike� Hundreds of passengers flying with easyJet and British Airways will face flight cancellations over the next three days due to industrial action being carried out by French traffic control employees.

The Mirror

• Brits set to endure Easter travel misery – and even the weather will be miserable Engineering work on the railways and French airport strikes will combine to mean heavy delays this Easter weekend

Birmingham Mail

• 'Surfers' clinging on to speeding trains across Birmingham told to stop risking their lives Majority of Midlands train surfing reported on London Midland-operated Cross City line

London Evening Standard

• Boris Johnson refloats idea of Thames Estuary airport 18 months after it was rejected by Airports CommissionBoris Johnson has attempted to resurrect the possibility of a new airport in the Thames Estuary 18 months after the idea was officially rejected by the Airports Commission.

Wales Online

• Wales' train surfing hotspots revealed as country sees 79 cases reported in last six years'These are serious offences and it is important to remember the railway is not a playground'

Blackpool Gazette

• Parts of M6 hard shoulder converted into traffic lanes: safety fearsHundreds of miles of hard shoulder on Britain’s motorways will be converted into lanes for traffic to use despite safety concerns.

North Wales Live

• Lime Street station faces nine day closure during revamp in 2017 Remodelling scheme is part of £340m programme of rail improvements
• Wirral rail passengers face six months of disruption next yearMerseyrail line under the Mersey to be replaced
• Merseyside train passengers will take the strain during £340m railway improvement work Network Rail announce two year project but admit there will be widespread disruption to services

Peterborough Telegraph

• MP for Peterborough Stewart Jackson leads calls for quieter A47Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson has renewed calls for a quieter road surface on one of the city’s busiest roads.

Other Regional Press

• Innovative Barking rail freight hub set for concrete futureAn innovative freight rail hub set to handle 150,000 cars a year could also start producing thousands of tons of concrete.
• Severn Tunnel to close for six weeks for rail electrificationTHE Severn Tunnel will close for six weeks as part of Network Rail’s £40 billion Railway Upgrade Plan.
• New era for transport initiativeResidents across the county are set to benefit from a new and improved community transport scheme.
• Transport schemes on way to Carmarthenshire after £1.2m funding boost Edwina Hart announced work on six Welsh transport schemes, worth £1.7 million, so they can deliver on their benefits earlier than expected.

Other News Sources

• Cross Border Partnership Set up for Improved Rail Services in North Wales and the MerseyA new cross border partnership has been set up to make the case for improved rail services in North Wales and the Mersey – Dee Economic Zone at the invitation of the United Kingdom and Welsh Governments.