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

Tuesday, 30 November 2010

BBC News

• Business leaders at HS2 meetingTransport Secretary Philip Hammond is attending a business meeting about the proposed HS2 rail link.
• Northumberland: 'The worst I've ever seen it'Drivers in Scotland have faced long delays and road closures as snow continues to fall across the country.
• Car or computer?How greater connectivity has the potential to transform personal transport
• Motorists stuck on snow-covered A9Hundreds of motorists were trapped in their cars and lorries on the A9 in Scotland in the early hours. The BBC's James Cook spoke to the stranded motorists.
• Rest centre for stranded driversMore than 600 people were offered emergency accommodation at a sports hall in Perth after becoming stranded in the snow on Sunday night.
• £10m runway extension takes offWork on a £10m extension of Aberdeen Airport's main runway is to begin in March, it is announced by BAA.
• NI airline passengers to pay moreTravellers flying to or from Northern Ireland via Heathrow may be set to pay over 66% more in aiport charges.
• Tube row 'could escalate' in 2011As the fourth Tube strike over ticket office job cuts ends, unions warn their action may escalate next year.
• Hundreds of schools remain closedSevere winter weather is set to cause further disruption across the country with schools closed and problems on the roads.

Financial Times

• Tube strike disrupts London commutersThe London Underground management has criticised the RMT unions as the latest of a series of one-day strikes severely disrupts large parts of the capital's most important public transport system
• BA union plans fresh strike ballotThe union representing 11,000 British Airways cabin crew has announced plans for a much-delayed ballot on fresh strikes early in the new year
• Strike threat shadow over BA-Iberia mergerPassengers face fresh disruption early next year after cabin crew leaders announced plans for a new strike ballot

The Herald

• Scotland™s a whiteout ... and it could cost millionsTravel
• No respite as wintry conditions again bring country to standstillScotland will see out November today with further freezing temperatures, hazardous driving conditions and hundreds of school closures.
• Government did know about night train plan, says rail firmGovernment officials knew that a recently reopened railway was likely to carry overnight freight trains despite publicly denying responsibility, the company operating them has claimed.

The Independent

• Big freeze continues to cause travel misery The early winter freeze-up caused travel chaos today with air and rail passengers as well as road users all struggling to complete their journeys.

Birmingham Post

• Christmas train delays for Birmingham passengers Birmingham train passengers will face disruption on some major routes due to engineering work over the Christmas and New Year period.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Cabbies call for Bradford bus lane equality Private hire drivers are urging the Council to treat them and hackney carriage drivers equally in a row over bus lane cameras in Bradford city centre.

London Evening Standard

• BA man denies terrorism chargesA British Airways computer expert alleged to have offered himself as a suicide bomber has appeared in court to deny terrorism charges.
• BA cabin crew to vote over strikeThousands of British Airways cabin crew are to be balloted for fresh strikes in their bitter dispute with the airline, threatening disruption to flights in the new year.
• Engineering work will hit airport rail routes over Christmas holidaysLondon rail passengers face major disruption over Christmas and the New Year with large sections of the network shut for engineering work
• Snow hits London as big freeze closes schools and airportsBig freeze is expected to engulf the whole of Britain with forecasters predicting snowfall and subzero temperatures in almost every corner of the country
• Big freeze brings chaos to travellersEarly winter freeze makes things tough for travellers with air and rail passengers as well as drivers all struggling to complete their journeys

Metro

• Boris bikes 'fail' leaves Tube strike commuters strandedCommuters contending with a crippling Tube strike today faced extra misery when a fault hit the much-heralded 'Boris bikes', leaving some workers stranded.
• Christmas travellers told to expect rail engineering work delaysMore than half of all rail operators will be hit by engineering work over the festive period, it was revealed on Monday.
• 3-day Tube strikes could come early next year, warn unionsTube passengers could face further misery in the new year with union leaders saying they would consider two or even three-day strikes.

Northern Echo

• MP calling for action on signs AN MP says she will take the Government to task over an influx of road signs in her constituency.

Sheffield Star

• Bus shelter attacks are slashed by 21 per centTRANSPORT chiefs have revealed a dramatic reduction in damage to bus shelters around South Yorkshire after a campaign.

Sheffield Telegraph

• Icy snap brings danger to the roadsPublic transport is getting back to normal but several schools are closed today as South Yorkshire braces itself for more snow.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Salt delivery prepares Scotland for winterTHE Scottish Government is ready for the cold weather ahead, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said yesterday.
• Airport bosses give go-ahead for £10million extension to runway Funding for a £10million extension to the runway at Aberdeen Airport has been approved “ paving the way for flights from the north-east to destinations throughout the world.

The York Press

• York in gridlock as snow keeps fallingUpdated: TEMPERATURES plummeted to minus 13.9C in North Yorkshire this weekend, as the continuing snowfall caused chaos on the roads.

Wales Online

• Big freeze to continue all week with snow today FORECASTERS have warned of more heavy snowfall for rural Wales after sub-zero temperatures yesterday closed dozens of schools, burst pipes and left side roads and pavements treacherous.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Drivers 'ignoring speed limits in the snow'Some drivers were today accused by a senior traffic officer of failing to take account of the treacherous road conditions.

Bucks Free Press

• 'Show festive goodwill by sharing your car'DRIVERS should avoid being scrooges and show some goodwill to their fellow motorists this season “ by joining a car sharing scheme.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Suffolk: Bus routes face the axeCONCERNS have been raised that dozens of bus routes serving communities across Suffolk could be cut next year.
• TRAVEL UPDATE: No delays despite bad weatherMotorists and rail passengers are experiencing a trouble-free start to the evening despite the freezing conditions.

Reading Evening Post

• ’Train depot will ruin quiet road’ Residents in Cardiff Road fear a plan to put a late-night train cleaning depot yards from their homes is the signal for all-night noise.

Other Regional Press

• Mounting fury over rail link sparks donor rowCONSERVATIVE Party donors from Northamptonshire are reported to be withdrawing their financial support following anger over David Cameron’s plans to press ahead with a high-speed rail link route regardless of a consultation.
• 80 crashes as snow hits regionDRIVERS faced a nightmare on roads in Aberdeen and across the region as drifting snow and thick ice took hold.
• Aberdeen Airport™s runway extension gets the go-aheadA RUNWAY extension for Aberdeen Airport was today given the go-ahead “ clearing the way for flights to the world™s top destinations.
• Demand for new cycle lane A CYCLE path is needed to link Marchwood and Totton, Hampshire County Council was told.
• Roads affected by snow and ice THE police have reported the following issues affecting roads this morning:
• High cost of air travelAIR passenger duty is costing the borough business, claims a Wigan MEP.
• New action group formed to fight HS2 plan A NEW action group has formed in north Warwickshire to fight the planned high speed rail line set to slice through the county.
• Cars stolen as owners defrost windscreensBedfordshire Police are reminding motorists not to leave cars unattended while windscreens defrost. Some drivers switch their engines and heaters on and then return to their homes to avoid the cold
• New bus route starts SundayBUS chiefs will launch their revised bus services in Kempston this weekend.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Cost of air travel 'is more security checks'Travellers will be forced to submit to more airport security checks as threats from terrorists continue to evolve, one expert has warned.Chairman of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) Derek Moore explained passengers should be aware that this is the price of air travel, advising those who are sceptical about such measures to "stand back and take the wider view".His remarks come after a study by the Ponemon Institute found 33 per cent of travellers believe new screening processes are necessary for flight safety, while the remainder do not feel they are or are...

Railnews

• News: Wintry weather tightens its grip, as trains slow down Train services in Scotland and England are becoming increasingly disrupted, as the early wintry weather tightens its grip. There is a general warning of possible delays and cancellations on all ScotRail routes. Services in England are being affected by the weather too. East Coast has reduced its London to Leeds service, and many other East Coast trains are being delayed.
• News: Transport secretary unveils HS2 compensation plan Property owners affected by High Speed 2 are set to get enhanced compensation, and a tunnel between Old Oak Common and HS1 at St Pancras has been included in the plans for Britain's first domestic High Speed line. These were among the key points revealed by the transport secretary when he addressed a meeting of business leaders in the West Midlands.
• News: Travel problems spread as snow moves south Rail services in the southern half of England are now being disrupted by the worsening wintry weather, as problems continue in Scotland and the north east. Passengers were reported to have been stranded for about two hours on a stalled Southeastern train in Kent last night.
• News: Next West Coast franchise to be cut short by HS2 The next Intercity West Coast passenger franchise, due to start in April 2012, will only last for about 13 years until the new north-south high speed line begins operation, the transport secretary has revealed.

Transport for London

• Tube carries half usual number of passengers despite strike - 17:30 updateTrains running on all but the Circle line. More than three quarters of stations are open, and up to 40 per cent of trains are running during evening peak

Other News Sources

• Snow and ice spread across UK The big freeze gripping the country will get worse this week with snow spreading inland.Related StoriesFreezing weather 'will stay for weeks'Plane crashes in Pakistan, killing crewKalou to the rescue as Chelsea earn pointNo tube strikes over ChristmasEconomic outlook 'uncertain'
• No tube strikes over Christmas Union bosses have said there will be no walkouts by tube workers over the Christmas period but warned of an 'escalation' in the New Year.Related StoriesPub killer sentenced to three life termsNadal edges Murray in semi-final thrillerPlane crashes in Pakistan, killing crewSnow and ice spread across UKBA cabin crew to vote on further strikes
• Heathrow's army of snow ploughs stretch their wings as snow bitesThe cold snap may have only just bitten but Heathrow's snow team has been working for months to ensure the UK's hub airport will once again be prepared for the onset of winter...
• Grand idea wins rail competitionA TEENAGER enjoyed a weekend in London after coming up with his own grand idea.
• Cycle hire and highways: Assembly first term report 30 November 2010 A new report[1] from the London Assembly today sets out key areas for improving the Mayor™s cycle hire and superhighway schemes if they are to maximise their objectives and prove value for money.  The report by the Assembly™s Transport Committee enthusiastically supports the cycle hire scheme but is less clear that the cycle superhighways are so far achieving their goals. It also identifies a number of questions about the quality of the operation of the schemes and their funding arrangements.  ...
• Manchester Airport delays as snow falls in UKMany people have woken up to a blanket of snow this morning, which could convince those who are flying abroad to book into a hotel to avoid travel disruption.Snow and ice across the north of Europe has led to Manchester Airport suffering a number of delays, while flights to Aberdeen and Copenhagen have been cancelled.Newcastle Airport was forced to close temporarily, and flights leaving the hub were delayed.However, planes are now arriving and departing, although the wintry conditions mean that some disruption has been caused.Leeds Bradford Airport is now fully functional despite the snow, whi...
• Aberdeen Airport runway extension to start next yearWork on a £10 million runway extension at Aberdeen Airport will start next year, it has been revealed.Aberdeen City Council had already given the go-ahead to plans, with operator BAA stating that renovations will begin in March, with a finish date of summer 2012 pencilled in."It is impossible to understate the impact that this could have on the whole of the north-east. It opens up new destinations at the same time as allowing our existing carriers to work more efficiently," managing director of the airport Derek Provan told BBC News.Bob Collier, chief executive of Aberdeen and ...
• Fragmenting rail infrastructure 'a recipe for disaster', says RMTSPLITTING UP Britain's rail infrastructure among private rail operators would be an expensive recipe for disaster, Britain's biggest rail union warned today.
• Winter weather causes airport chaosDundee airport is closed and flights are delayed across the country by snowbound runways.
• Gatwick Airport issues weather warning to passengers Gatwick Airport said passengers should contact their airline before travelling after forecasters predicted snowfall in Sussex.
• £4.4million awarded for new low carbon buses Fifty new low carbon vehicles will soon join the Scottish Bus Fleet thanks to £4.4 million grant funding awarded this week to six bus operators across Scotland. Stagecoach Scotland West and East, Lothian Buses Ltd, MacEwens Coach Services, First Glasgow and COLCHRI Ltd will all benefit from the Scottish Green Bus Fund which provides help with the up front costs of buying new low carbon vehicles. read more
• Road, rail and air travel hit by a blanket of snowSCOTLAND struggled to keep moving under a deepening blanket of snow as road, rail and air travellers were all hit by the severe winter weather that has swept across the country.
• Wales short-changed over roads and railDeveloper Nigel Roberts agreed but also called on the Welsh Assembly Government to play its role in shaping the future of the region. “Unfortunately, WAG still doesn’t view Cardiff in the ...

Other Subscription Services

• Channel Tunnel sprinkler system tests get underwayEurotunnel will begin testing of a new fire suppression system fitted inside the Channel Tunnel within the next few weeks.The tunnel operator has installed the first of four sprinkler panels, known...