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

Monday, 08 February 2010

BBC News

• Gatwick's new owners rule out second runway Gatwick Airport's new owners say they have no plans to build a second runway at the West Sussex site.
• Plans for Swansea rail station revamp are unveiled Plans to upgrade Swansea railway station are going on show for the first time.
• Campaign launched against Kent rail freight depot A conservation charity has launched a campaign to fight a railway freight interchange in west Kent.
• Commuters 'happier' with rail service in East Midlands Managers at East Midlands Trains said a £75m investment in their services had paid off after a survey showed an increase in passenger satisfaction.
• Airport campaigners join forcesCampaigners against Manchester Airport expansion join forces with a village set for destruction if Heathrow gets a third runway.
• Heathrow expansion e-mails probedThe Department for Transport is being investigated over claims e-mails about Heathrow airport's expansion were deleted.
• Toyota 'planning recall of Prius'Toyota is to recalling the latest model of its flagship Prius cars because of braking problems, reports from Japan say.

Financial Times

• Joined-up thinking on transport demandedA disjointed approach to transport projects such as roads, ports and railways threatens to hold back economic recovery outside London and south-east England, a report has warned

The Guardian

• Take the next exit for the green motorway service station A new motorway service station being designed in the Cotswolds will lead the way environmentally
• 'End tax breaks for polluters'Green Alliance says £12bn could be saved by ending support for high-carbon industries such as aviation and building fewer roadsMinisters could save £12bn of public spending over four years by clamping down on tax breaks and support for polluting oil exploration, cement, aluminium and transport, according to a report from green campaigners this week.With all three major parties committed to cutting the projected £178bn budget deficit, and to a low-carbon economy, a report by the high-level Green Alliance thinktank argues that many spending cuts could achieve both ends. Perhaps the most controve...
• Toyota poised to recall Prius hybridExpected recall of flagship green vehicle risks inflicting further damage to reputation of the world's biggest carmaker Toyota is poised to recall hundreds of thousands of Prius hybrid cars to fix a potentially dangerous brake defect, reports in Japan said today.The expected recall of Toyota's flagship green vehicle risks inflicting further damage to the reputation of the world's biggest carmaker, which has already recalled more than 8m cars worldwide because of potential accelerator problems.British Prius owners are likely to have to wait for service. The firm is expected to initially recall ...
• Heathrow faces threat from rail routeSite near Birmingham International airport being considered as station on new route, according to rail sources A modestly sized airport off the M42 in Birmingham could become a serious competitor to Heathrow under government plans for a 200mph high-speed rail network.A site near Birmingham International airport is being considered as a station on a new route that will link Britain's largest cities by a 50-minute train ride, according to rail industry sources. If the government pushes ahead with the plan it would take no longer to reach Britain's sixth largest airport from London's Euston stati...

The Herald

• Calmac review advises break-upA landmark review of Scotland™s ferry services has been postponed until after the next Holyrood election amid a fresh row over whether to break up the publicly-subsidised Calmac network.

The Independent

• Investigation into 'lost' Heathrow emails The Department for Transport (DfT) is to be investigated by the Information Commissioner following allegations that it destroyed sensitive documents relating to the controversial expansion of Heathrow.

The Scotsman

• Bosses plan to draft in help if rail staff vote for strike SCOTTISH rail passengers face the threat of disruption from as early as next week after the results of a conductors' strike ballot are announced tomorrow.

The Telegraph

• DfT could face criminal investigation over Heathrow airport The Department for Transport could face a criminal investigation over allegations it deleted sensitive emails about the expansion of Heathrow airport.

Times Online

• Heathrow airport expansion cover-up THE Department for Transport (DfT) is facing a criminal investigation following a complaint that it deleted sensitive internal emails about the expansion of Heathrow airport.

Belfast Telegraph

• Dublin’s M50 upgrade nears an end Dublin's M50 commuters can at last heave a sigh of relief — the four-year €1bn upgrade of the M50 is almost complete.

Bristol Evening Post

• Bendy-buses, rapid transport, link road and smart cards . . . the future for Bristol travellers The £50 million south Bristol link road received the partnership's official backing, despite concerns from dozens of campaign groups.
• Block the way for pedestrians crossing the road and you will be fined, Bristol drivers warned Drivers in Bristol could soon face a parking ticket if they park across a dropped kerb and block the way for pedestrians crossing the road.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Yob fears over school bus proposal LANNED changes to school buses could see more pupils travelling in cars and increase antisocial behaviour on public transport, a report claims. Nottingham City Council is planning a major upheaval of its bus services to the city's faith and single-sex secondary schools.

Sheffield Star

• Buses must clean up or be banned BUS operators in Barnsley could be banned from using the town's interchange, new bus stops or improved routes if they fail to comply with tough new standards.

The York Press

• Calls made for York cycle route to be scrappedA proposed cycle path in Acomb, York, is dangerous and unnecessary, it has been claimed.

Other News Sources

• How Boris could treble River transport Policy Exchange have produced a report considering the feasibility of expanding transport on the River Thames. Boris Johnson was elected Mayor of London on the basis that he would boost river transport. Transport for London have resisted to some extent claiming the cost would be too high. But one of the report's authors Andrew Gilligan says £30 million of capital spending on more boats and longer piers would provide an extra 12 to 17 million passengers - a capital cost of £1.76 a passenger in the first year.
• Advisers lined up for SNCF dealFrench national rail operator SNCF is about to move closer to a merger with the UK’s Arriva transport group with the selection of advisers for the deal. Investment banks including Lazard, BNP Paribas and JP Morgan are expected to pitch for a role. Arriva, which last month said it was in merger talks with the transport arm of SNCF Keolis, is usually advised by NM Rothschild and Deutsche Bank.
• Smart card ticket on trial at Kidderminster station A TICKET system similar to London's Oyster Card is being trialled at Kidderminster train station.
• Network Rail: "St Albans will soon have 12-carriage trains" THE delay in the Thameslink rail improvement programme will affect the final phase only, and 12-carriage trains could be serving St Albans in less than two years, Network Rail is insisting.
• Tories Would Let Nat' Express Into Rail LONDON (Reuters) - National Express will be allowed to re-enter the rail franchise market in two years' time if the Conservative Party wins this year's election, according to the Observer.
• Rats cause train delays Train delays have been blamed on rats We've all heard the excuses about leaves, signal failures and lack of staff... Now hungry rats have been added to the list of reasons why rail services have been delayed or cancelled in Lancashire.
• Second stage of Pudsey Bus Station work beginsClosure from Sunday 14 February will mean temporary Market Place & Church Lane stands for all bus station services.
• Traffic forum aiming to try to solve local transport problemsBedford Borough Council has started work on creating a new Local Transport plan (LTP). Our reporter SIMON HUTCHINSON went along to see what solutions are in the pipeline for the future ...

News from Europe

• Rail expansion plan is pointless Paul Melia reports that a spokesman for Iarnrod Eireann said: "The expansion of Tara Street station is a crucial part of our development plans for the capacity of the rail network in the greater Dublin area" (Irish Independent, February 4).

Other Subscription Services

• Arriva UK Bus shapes up to get even better connected Arriva’s UK Bus division is putting its relationships with local authorities at the heart of a planned new-look local management structure.