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

Thursday, 25 November 2010

BBC News

• Electrification of London to Swansea line put on hold The UK government has been accused of "leaving Wales behind" after stalling plans to electrify the rail line between London and Swansea.
• Railways to get £8bn investment The government has announced plans for £8bn of investment in the railways. It is buying about 2,000 new carriages to tackle overcrowding, electrifying some lines and pressing ahead with the Thameslink programme.
• SPT expenses abuse 'unacceptable'A report into expenses at Scotland's largest public transport authority, SPT, finds a

Financial Times

• Upgrade of key rail line set to be approvedThe transport secretary will give the go-ahead for work to boost the capacity on one of the UK's most overcrowded commuter routes but its completion will come years late

The Guardian

• Rail network to get 2,100 new carriages by 2019 Transport secretary announces £6bn for Thameslink railway but delays decision on replacing inter-city trains

The Herald

• Drivers hit as cost of motoring rises £350Drivers are paying £1 more every day to own and operate their cars following a record rise in fuel costs last year, a new report has found.

The Independent

• Coalition puts off decision on intercity trains The Government today deferred a decision on replacing intercity express trains on the rail network.
• New union leader attacks 'culture of fear' at BA The new leader of Britain's biggest trade union attacked the
• Union offers to suspend Tube strikes Union leaders today offered to suspend further strikes on London Underground if a safety evaluation takes place into planned job cuts.

The Telegraph

• Rail investment will add 2,000 carriages, Government announces More than 2,000 new carriages are to be provided to ease overcrowding, Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary announced today.
• David Cameron: high speed rail link will go ahead David Cameron has insisted that the Government’s proposed high speed rail link between London and the North will go ahead despite the opposition of some Conservative ministers.
• Air passengers facing unnecessary security checks Speaking to the Transport Select Committee at Westminster, Mr Hammond rekindled the debate over the delays caused by the screening of everyone travelling by air.

Press Association

• Replacement train decision deferred The Government has deferred a decision on replacing intercity express trains on the rail network. Transport Secretary Philip Hammond also announced that news about the extent of electrification on the Great Western route would not be released until the new year.
• Hammond in aviation costs clash Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has clashed with a Commons committee chairman over spending on aviation security.

Birmingham Post

• Birmingham rail commuters face six per cent price hike Birmingham rail commuters will face price hikes of about six per cent when they return to work after Christmas.

Bristol Live

• Bristol rail electrification plans on hold A DECISION on electrifying the railway line between London and Bristol has been placed on hold. Transport Secretary Philip Hammond announced today that a decision on electrifying the Great Western route between Paddington and Swansea at a cost of £1 billion would not be made until the New Year.

Derby Telegraph

• Passengers to pay just 66p more per journey with regional rail firm BUSINESS experts in Derby have given their support to local rail operators after it was announced a national rise in rail prices would affect the city less than other parts of the UK.

Journal Live

• Plans for new trains delayed Oh dear, this is going to go down like a lead balloon in the North East. Already Darlington MP Jenny Chapman has hit twitter after the Government announced a delay to plans for a new fleet of intercity trains.

Liverpool Post

• Transport secretary vows to electrify Liverpool to Manchester rail line by 2015 THE Liverpool to Manchester rail line will be electrified by 2015, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond vowed – but refused to reveal further details, ahead of an announcement today.
• Ryanair reclaims top carrier slot at Liverpool John Lennon airport RYANAIR has reclaimed its position as the biggest operator at Liverpool John Lennon airport, by passenger numbers, from Easyjet.
• Merseyrail scraps cut price ticket deal for Christmas shoppers MERSEYRAIL’S traditional Christmas promotion, which allowed shoppers to travel on the network for a £1 return fare at certain times, is being scrapped because of fears it would lead to overcrowded trains and stations.

London Evening Standard

• ’Gatwick hell’ eases as airport queues speed up Gatwick has turned around its reputation as one of Britain's worst run airports a year after it was sold by BAA.
• Commuters told to avoid Tube during Olympics Commuters will be advised to avoid using the Underground during the Olympics as the network struggles to cope with millions more visitors.
• Minister faces grilling after rail ticket price bombshell Transport Secretary Philip Hammond is facing questions from MPs a day after train companies announced soaring rail fares. The Commons transport committee will ask Mr Hammond about his plans to improve rail services, as well as the proposed multi-billion-pound high-speed rail project.

Northern Echo

• Hitachi decision is deferred until new year THE Government has deferred a decision on replacing intercity express trains on the rail network. The Intercity Express Programme (IEP) - to replace Intercity 125 high-speed trains - was halted by the Labour government earlier this year and an independent review was set up which reported to the new Government in June.
• Campaigners anxiously await Hitachi decision CAMPAIGNERS are tonight anxiously awaiting the Government's decision on the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) which is expected tomorrow morning.
• Hitachi jobs bid goes to the wire HITACHI’S £7.5bn dream of bringing train building back to the region was on a knifeedge last night, with ministers still undecided over rival bids.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Campaigners for A90 flyover hail decision by MSPs to quiz ministerTransport Minister Stewart Stevenson is to be œdragged back before a Holyrood committee because MSPs are not convinced by the arguments against building a flyover at a notorious north-east junction.

Blackpool Gazette

• Blackpool to London for £40RAIL prices to London look set to be slashed when a new train link to the capital is opened in 2012.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Rail freight upgrade approvedA £59million rail project that will see freight lines through Peterborough upgraded has been given the green light.

Other Regional Press

• Have your say on bus plansTake part in the informal consultation on Metro's Quality Contract Scheme proposals at Wakefield Market today.
• Safer bus tipsWIGAN’S biggest bus service provider has launched a month-long passenger safety campaign.
• Eurotunnel told to improve safetyA report into a Eurotunnel fire two years ago has found almost a third of the drivers did not speak English or French.
• HS2 route will only benefit Birmingham, says Coventry business boss INDUSTRY in Coventry and Warwickshire will be hit hard by the planned HS2 high speed rail line, according to the region’s Chamber of Commerce president Doug Squires.

Railnews

• GW electrification and Thameslink fleet approved THE government has announced that 2,100 new vehicles are to be ordered for the National Rail network, including 1,200 for Thameslink, as part of an £8 billion investment.
• BREAKING NEWS: £8bn rail investment goes ahead THE government has confirmed this morning that it's going ahead with new rolling stock orders and electrification worth £8 billion.
• News: Transport secretary rules out national road charging The transport secretary Philip Hammond has been giving evidence on transport strategy and spending to the House of Commons Transport Committee ahead of his expected announcement about rail investment tomorrow.

Aviation Industry

• Terminal 5 is travel agents choiceHeathrow's newest terminal scooped a Travel Agents Choice Award for best airport...
• Glasgow Airport receives Champion Award from SECCGlasgow's famous music and conference venue has recognised the part the city's airport has played in its success.

Other News Sources

• DfT green lights £3bn Thameslink upgrade The Department for Transport has given the go-ahead to build the second phase of the giant Thameslink programme with a two year delay.
• London's cycle hire scheme to open to casual users London's cycle hire scheme is set to open to casual users, allowing anyone to rent one of the bikes without having to be a member.
• £50 million price tag likely to rule out rail link BORDON NEWS: THE POSSIBILITY of a new railway line between Bentley and Bordon, to link into the main rail network, as part of eco-town plans, may be about to come off the rails. A report from East Hampshire District Council’s Policy Advisory Group (PAG) concerning the latest Masterplan for the town has stated officially that: “A rail link might not be an option, as the relatively short link to Bentley station (from Bordon) would cost around £50m.”
• MPs debate High Speed 2 rail programme Steve Baker, Conservative MP for Wycombe, moved a debate in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 23 November on the subject of the High Speed 2 rail programme. High Speed 2 (HS2) is a proposed high-speed railway providing new services between London and Scotland. The project is being developed by High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd, a company established by the Government in January 2009.
• Rail fares to rocket by as much as 13%Rail passengers face 'astronomical' fare rises of up to 13% in January - with worse to come
• UK trade anger over air fare rowThe GTMC and the ITM criticise American Airlines and Travelport for failing to reach an agreement about fare distribution
• Comment: Are we heading back to the 1970s?CWT's Andrew Winterton on the threat to the air fare distribution model
• DWP saves £20 million with revised travel policyThe Department of Work and Pensions has successfully implemented changes to its travel policy. It shares its latest figures exclusively with ABTN...