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

Sunday, 15 July 2012

BBC News

• Rail upgrade 'terribly good news' [Today Programme Audio Clip]The government is set to spend billions of pounds upgrading railway lines, beginning with full electrification of the midland main line connecting London with the East Midlands and Sheffield.
• What are the uses for an old Boeing 747 aeroplane? Tom Wrigglesworth and Rob Bell visit the UK's largest plane salvage centre in the Cotswolds, to discover what happens to a Boeing 747 when it reaches the end of its working life.
• Plan for 40mph country road limitSpeed limits on many rural roads in England could be cut from 60mph to 40mph under government proposals.
• Rail cash boost 'to be announced'The government is expected to announce a plan of rail investment totalling billions of pounds on Monday.

The Guardian

• New security fears as Heathrow checks miss terror suspects • Inexperienced airport staff 'missed five alerts in one day' • Fears come after fiasco over G4S Olympic stewarding

The Independent

• Railways set for injection of cash to electrify lines and revitalise ports The government is set to announce a series of rail infrastructure investments this week, as it looks to reduce pressure on an overburdened network and stimulate the economy.

Mail Online

• Cut-price flights to America on the horizon as Government announces plans for carriers to fly from 'cheaper airports' Rivals to Heathrow - Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton may be able to cut landing fees to attract airlines
• How poster girl Justine Greening landed the Tories with a Jumbo headache We can't have as Secretary of State someone who doesn’t understand that the British national interest overrides her constituency interest,’ fumed one ally of David Cameron last week. The target of this outburst was Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary. This was quite a turnaround as Greening used to be the leadership’s poster girl.

Belfast Telegraph

• £9bn cash boost for rail network The Government is set to announce a £9 billion injection of cash into the rail network as ministers seek to breathe life into the flagging economy.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Driven round the bend: New Town braced for ˜horrendous™ disruption for next 16 monthsA THOUSAND extra cars an hour will be channelled through narrow New Town streets after a key city route was shut for tram works.

Liverpool Post

• 72 jobs under threat at Lime Street Station according to unionMORE than 70 jobs at Liverpool Lime Street Station are under threat, according to rail union RMT.

Manchester Evening News

• Town hall probe into claims taxi firms fleeced Stone Roses fans for ‘£10 a mile’Licensing officers are investigating claims that ˜rip-off™ taxi drivers charged Stone Roses fans up to £10 a mile after the Heaton Park shows. Fans have complained that they had to pay as much as £40 to travel the four miles back into the city. One unhappy passenger said they were quoted £80 for a journey to Stockport.

Metro

• Speed limits on rural roads to be cut from 60mph to 40mph, says DfTThe government has proposed to cut the speed limit on many of England's rural roads from 60mph to 40mph.According to a new document released by the Department for Transport (DfT), any highway featuring 'many bends or junctions' should have its limit reduced. The government wants to reduce the speed limit on single-lane rural roads (Google) It will urge councils across the country to give serious consideration to the plan and to potentially implement it as soon as possible.Road safety minister Mike Penning explained it is now 'vital that speed limits are suitable for local conditions'.As it sta...

Nottingham Evening Post

• Midland Mainline to be "electrified"PLANS to electrify the Midland Mainline are expected to be announced by the Government next week, according to reports.

Wales Online

• £500m Heathrow spur ‘one of most important events for Wales in 50 years' The announcement of a direct £500m rail link between Cardiff and Heathrow yesterday was welcomed as one of the most important events for the Welsh economy in half a century.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Free parking plan paves way for Leeds Bradford Airport expansionA free parking area is to be laid out at Leeds-Bradford Airport to help tackle the traffic congestion caused by motorists picking up and dropping off passengers.

Bucks Free Press

• MPs blast 'nonsense' assumptions on High Speed 2's benefits A SCATHING report has been produced by a committee of MPs into Government claims about the benefits of High Speed 2.

Other Regional Press

• 'Bidding war' controversy over transport contracts A NEW online bidding war to provide school transport to hundreds of children across East Staffordshire has been branded ‘unfair’.
• Grimsby Telegraph commented Michele is crucial link in London's transport planFrom designing and implementing the congestion charge to discussing the future of Battersea Power Station with Boris Johnson...
• UK & World News: £9bn cash boost for rail networkThe Government is set to announce a £9 billion injection of cash into the rail network as ministers seek to breathe life into the flagging economy.
• Revolt over 20mph plans for villageA row has erupted over plans to phase 20mph zones into a quiet village which residents say has barely had any road accidents.
• Big drop in number of teens aiming to hit the roadFewer youngsters aged between 17 and 22 are applying for provisional licenses and taking their driving test, according to new figures