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

Sunday, 15 November 2015

BBC News

• Man charged after Gatwick alertA man is charged with possession of an air rifle and a knife following a security alert at Gatwick Airport.
• Eurostar reverses bike storage decisionEurostar has reversed its decision to make cyclists dismantle their bikes before using the cross-Channel service amid mounting criticism of the move.

Financial Times

• Travel groups keep services to Paris openAmerican Airlines suspends Paris flights while other operators vow to continue services

The Guardian

• Next: autonomous electric pods designed for public transportationAs part of our series on the future of transportation, we’re looking at vehicles that might change the way you travel. Industrial designer Tommaso Gecchelin has sketched out a modular concept he’s calling Next, which features electric pods that can connect and disconnect to other pods as needed, like some futuristic train that can start small and then expand, accordion-style. Gecchelin provided the Guardian with this product rendering.Check out the full story here Continue reading...
• How smart luggage could transform air travelUsing GPS tracking and messaging, your suitcases will soon be able to send you a text about where they areDo you get anxious waiting at the baggage carousel in the airport? I do. And the longer it takes for my luggage to appear, the edgier I get. It is= a fear of that moment when only a handful of battered suitcases are trundling around, none of which are yours. But imagine, as you rush to the inquiry desk to vent your spleen you get a text on your phone saying: “I’m on carousel 5, come and pick me up.”  Continue reading...
• Gatwick airport evacuation: man charged with possessing air rifle and knifeForty-one-year-old from Vendome, central France, charged after police evacuated north terminal and carried out controlled explosion on SaturdayA Frenchman has been charged with possession of an air rifle and a knife, following a major security alert at Gatwick airport on Saturday. Massive disruption was caused at the north terminal following the incident at 9.30am when Sussex police were alerted to “suspicious actions”. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Unspun: Tardy MSP has airline in his crosshairs THIS week’s education committee opened with a plug of sorts for Scotland’s national airline. Liam McArthur, the Liberal Democrat MSP for Orkney was nowhere to be seen as proceedings opened on Tuesday at 10am.

The Telegraph

• Gatwick boss Stewart Wingate steps up fight against HeathrowAs the Prime Minister ponders Sir Howard Davies’ backing for a bigger Heathrow, its rival’s boss is fighting on
• French man arrested and airport evacuated after Gatwick firearm scarePolice seized a suspected firearm and carried out a controlled explosion, but security sources said it was not being treated as a terrorism incident
• Build Heathrow third runway now, say 50 business chiefsIn a letter to The Telegraph, they call on the Prime Minister to show

Times Online

• Shhh . . . here comes the battery-powered train [subscription]A new generation of battery-powered trains could be introduced next year to reduce the number of noisy and polluting diesel engines.

Mail Online

• Gatwick airport records biggest rise in number of flight delays Some 247 million people passed through 24 of the UK's main airports in the 12 months to June, making it the busiest period since records began.
• Fury over thousands spent on HS2 'talking shops' for panel of design experts Thousands of taxpayers’ money is being spent on a new panel of design consultants to advise on the controversial HS2 rail project, which will run from London to Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester

Network Rail

• Community celebrates first step in South Wales Mainline electrification

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Consultation to begin on airport link road schemes MULTI-MILLION pound schemes to improve access to Leeds Bradford Airport are going out to consultation this month.

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph published Delays at East Midlands Airport creep upwardsPunctuality of flights at East Midlands Airport is down slightly, according to new figures. The Civil Aviation Authority's latest Aviation Trends report shows that, in the second quarter of this year, out of 8,600 flights, 81% were on time. But during the same period last year, the airport handled 9,100 flights, 82% of which were on time. The average delay at the Castle Donington airport was 11 minutes, the same figure as last year. On-time performance is defined as the proportion of flights...

London Evening Standard

• Longer delays at Gatwick Airport as UK airports see record passenger numbersUK airports are busier than ever before, leading to more delays for passengers,�latest figures show.
• Ten dead and a dozen seriously injured after high-speed train derails in FranceThe train was on a trial run of a new Paris to Strasbourg line when it plunged into a canal

Other Regional Press

• Late-night taxi scheme that has cut drink-fuelled violence in Hartlepool faces axeA late-night taxi scheme that officials say has helped to reduce drink-fuelled violence is facing the axe – to save £8,000 a year.
• Bus drivers claim stop bays in new-look Frideswide Square are too tight BUS stop bays in Frideswide Square have been made too short and narrow for the city’s buses to pull out safely, the Oxford Mail can reveal.
• WBCaroline published Speed watchers slowing down fast drivers on A39 between Truro and...RESIDENTS on a stretch of the busy A39 between Falmouth and Truro are being forced to contend with a speeding driver every 90 seconds.The number of drivers flouting the 30mph limit, which was brought in around the Carclew junction in August of last year, was revealed during a session by Perranwell Community Speedwatch last week. Some residents have argued the 30mph limit is not working.The eight volunteers, who held their inaugural session on June 5 last year, officially began their checks the...
• The Citizen published Severn Bridge tolls set to riseIf you're crossing the Severn Bridge then you are going to need even deeper pockets on next year.Toll prices will rise again in 2016, for all vehicles crossing the river from England into Wales.From January 1, the toll for cars and motor caravans will go up by 10p to £6.60 from £6.50; small goods vehicles and small buses will go up to £13.20 from £13.10; and heavy goods vehicles and buses will be increased by 20p to £19.80 from £19.60 .Might be cheaper to take...
• Bus company has licence revoked after crash A HAMPSHIRE bus company has lost its licence after two wheels fell off one of its vehicles on the M3 and caused a crash.
• Campaigners celebrate new �350,000 cycleway CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating the opening of a new cycleway built after a Hampshire community came together to help fund the �350,000 project.
• County Council urges MPs to back pavement parking bill DEVON County Council is urging the Transport Secretary and Devon MPs to back a bill to help end the blight of parking on pavements.
• LETTER: Business award an insult to residentsWe are simply horrified that you have awarded, in Sussex Women in Business, a member of the Gatwick team an award for ‘Contribution to the Community’.
• Bus campaigners take fight for improved service to county council with 1,000-signature petition TIME TO BE HEARD: Campaigners calling for the reinstatements of bus services between Dorchester and Axminster take their fight to County Hall (45963061) TIMECAMPAIGNERS fighting for improved bus services in west Dorset have finally had their case heard by county councillors. It has taken over a year for the Bus Action Group (West Dorset) to have its 1,000-signature petition presented before Dorset County Council after it was initially rejected on a technicality.

Other News Sources

• Gatwick Airport flight paths review brings 'great disappointment'Civil Aviation Authority has ordered changes to one of nine new flight paths around Gatwick
• Gatwick will keep on with second runway bid even when Authorities backs HeathrowGatwick will continue to push for a second runway even if Heathrow wins Government backing for its expansion plans next month, according to Stewart Wingate, the chief executive of Britain’s second-biggest airport.
• Gatwick Airport evacuation: Man charged with possessing air rifle and knife A Frenchman has been charged with possession of an air rifle and a knife, following a major security alert at Gatwick airport on Saturday.