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

Thursday, 15 November 2012

BBC News

• Bristol Temple Meads station to get £100m investment Some £100m has been earmarked by Network Rail to pay for the development of Bristol Temple Meads train station.
• European strikes hit UK travel services Dozens of flights to and from the UK are suffering delays and cancellations owing to a day of anti-austerity strikes and protests across Europe.
• Don crossing meeting call is madeSNP councillors in Aberdeen call for a special meeting to discuss the future of plans for a new road bridge over the River Don.
• Airport capacity 'costs UK £14bn'A lack of capacity at Heathrow is costing the UK economy £14bn a year in lost trade, according to a report published by the airport.

Department for Transport

• CAA board members reappointedDavid Gray and Michael Medlicott have been reappointed to the Civil Aviation Authority board.
• Boxing day boost for bargain-hungry passengersBargain hunters will find it easier to get to the sales this year under plans to boost Boxing day rail services.

Financial Times

• OSG falls victim to shipping slowdownThe oil tanker group files for Chapter 11 and is estimated to be the largest corporate failure in the industry in more than two decades
• Heathrow steps up demand for new runwaysReport from Frontier Economics said the £14bn of potentially foregone trade meant the UK could miss a £4bn boost to gross domestic product
• Qantas unveils A$100m share buybackSettlement with Boeing over late Dreamliners to help Australian carrier fund unexpected move to buy back shares and repay A$650m in debt

The Herald

• M90 bus lane to go liveSCOTLAND'S first motorway bus lane will go live next month in a bid to ease congestion on the M90 approach to the Forth Road Bridge in Fife.

The Independent

• Third-class trains: how bad could they be? It harks back to an age of steam, open carriages and bottom-punishing bench seating, so it's no surprise that the latest rail proposal from the Government allowing for the introduction of a

The Telegraph

• Lack of capacity at Heathrow 'costing the UK £14bn a year in lost trade' The UK is missing out on £14bn a year in trade due to capacity constraints at Heathrow, a sum that could rise to £26bn by 2030 if the Government blocks further runways at the airport, its owners have claimed.
• National Trust chairman calls for removal of traffic lightsNearly all traffic lights should be removed from Britain's roads because they cause more accidents, the chairman of the National Trust has said.

Reuters News

• Air capacity crunch costs UK $22 billion a year - studyLONDON (Reuters) - A lack of spare runway capacity at Heathrow costs Britain $22 billion (14 billion pounds) a year in lost trade and means the country is losing out to European rivals in the race for lucrative emerging markets routes, a study found.

ATOC

• Train compaies respond to union claim over return to third class railResponding to a union claim about a return to "third class rail",...

Network Rail

• Bingham level crossing “ have your sayFollowing feedback, Network Rail is holding another public event to discuss options to close the level crossing at Moor Lane in Bingham. The work is to reduce the risk of misuse and create a safer crossing over the railway.
• Work begins on Sleaford rail lineThe Sleaford avoiding rail line is being renewed by Network Rail to help meet increasing demand for rail travel and freight capacity.

Bristol Live

• Council opposes independent transport authorityA LEADING North Somerset councillor has made it clear the council opposes the idea of setting up an independent transport authority to sort out traffic congestion in the Bristol area.

Liverpool Echo

• Work underway on £10m Halebank “road to nowhere”WORK on a controversial “road to nowhere” is under way in Halebank.

Liverpool Post

• Labour councillor Joe Hanson demoted after investigation into emailsTHE man who instigated the clear-up of transport authority Merseytravel has been removed from his job by the Labour party.

London Evening Standard

• Britain 'being left behind as Heathrow is missing out on China boom' Britain is being left behind in a “gold rush” to China because of poor air links, Heathrow’s chief executive warned today.
• Third of UK road accidents occurs in London and south eastA third of all British road accidents within the past 10 years have happened in London and the south east, new figures reveal.
• Tube bosses™ offer to avert London Underground strikeTube bosses are to make personal appeals to train drivers to work Boxing Day and defeat a threatened 24-hour strike.
• Survey reveals what London drivers hate above all else...Motorists moan more about other drivers than so-called pet hates such as White Van Man or cyclists, according to a poll.
• Heathrow and Gatwick Europe flights hit by strikes todayTravellers flying into and out of the UK were facing disruption today as workers across Europe prepared to stage a series of strikes against rising unemployment and austerity measures.
• Airport capacity need 'costing UK'Lack of capacity at Heathrow is already costing the UK up to £14 billion a year in lost trade, according to a report.

Manchester Evening News

• Manchester Airport unveils plans to win back millions of passengers from London with new routesBosses say they want to introduce direct services to major cities like Bangkok, Los Angeles and Beijing.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Bus drivers' jobs to be created in cityUP to six new bus driver jobs are being created by the city's biggest public transport firm.

Sheffield Star

• New car helps Sheffield club go greenMEMBERS of a Sheffield car club can now think green by using a new hybrid vehicle.

The York Press

• Charity encourages young women to cycle PUPILS at Joseph Rowntree School in York are learning how to put their best face forward while getting out and about on their bikes.
• School buses to get seatbelts ALL school buses used by City of York Council could be fitted with seatbelts from next year.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Councils uniting on transport proposalsMajor schemes such as the Midland Metro extension and a link between the M54 and M6 Toll will be fast-tracked by council leaders under plans for 50 authorities in the West Midlands to work together on transport projects.

Yorkshire Post

• Heathrow row ˜costs UK £14bn a year™Lack of capacity at Heathrow is already costing the UK up to £14bn a year in lost trade, a report claims.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Official opening for revamped Peterborough railway station4pm: A multi-million pound revamp of Peterborough railway station was officially opened today (Wednesday) by Simon Burns MP, the transport minister.

Other Regional Press

• £2.5 millon investment to revamp Rhyl train station RHYL train station will get a £2.5 million investment to improve disabled access and build new toilets.
• Amsterdam flights will 'link Kent with rest of world'MPs have heralded the news KLM will start flights from Manston to one of Europe's busiest airport as a crucial boost for Kent.
• Woodhead Road has another speed camera mounted on it but it’s not switched on yet...ONE of Huddersfield’s best-known roads has had yet another speed camera mounted on it – at a bend dubbed ’Hellfire Corner’.

Global Rail News

• Agreement signed for Turkey™s Seagull transport hubDutch engineering consultants Royal HaskoningDHV and Hakan Kiran Architecture have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the design of the new Kabatas Seagull Transportation Hub in Istanbul. The new hub, which is designed to look like a seagull in flight, will be located on the western shore of the Bosporus in Istanbul. Dutch Prime [...]
• Eurostar disrupted by anti-austerity protestsAnti-austerity protests across Europe have caused disruption to Eurostar services. The 10.57 to Brussels has been cancelled and customers are being advised not to travel due to possible disruption throughout the day. Strikes are being held across the continent as part of the European Day of Action, which is being led by the European Trade [...]
• Eurostar marks 18 years of cross-channel railEurostar has today celebrated 18 years of cross-channel rail with with a special ceremony at St Pancras International. The Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, joined Eurostar chief executive Nicolas Petrovic to mark Eurostar’s birthday. In 1994, the high-speed passenger railway revolutionised travel between London and mainland Europe. As well as being Eurostar™s 18th [...]
• FirstGroup rail infrastructure director joins the ORRFirstGroup’s rail infrastructure director has been appointed as the Office of Rail Regulation’s (ORR) new director of railway performance. Commenting on his appointment, Alan Price, who has previously held roles with London Underground, Metronet and Bechtel, said: “It is a great time to be joining ORR. I look forward to working with Richard Price and [...]
• Scotland™s Transport Minister ˜heartened™ at tram project™s progressScotland’s Transport Minister, Keith Brown, has visited Edinburgh International Airport to see the progress of the city’s delayed tram programme. Mr Brown joined Edinburgh™s Transport Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, and Edinburgh International Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar today (November) for a tour of the airport tram stop site. Once complete, the £776 million light rail network [...]

Aviation Industry

• Finnair unveils new fares structure Finnair has revamped its fare structure, introducing five new ticket types across its economy and business class products. The carrier said that the aim of the restructuring was to œimprove clarity in ticket pricing and offer fares to all segments of customers. The new fares will be available from November 28, and are split as follows: Basic: this is the best available economy fare (non-changeable and non-refundable), including a meal and drink, one piece of checked luggage, one piece of carry-on luggage, and 50 per cent Finnair Plus points. Value: an economy fare with the added benefits of ...

Other News Sources

• GOVERNMENT REFUSE TO RULE OUT RETURN TO THIRD CLASS RAILRAIL UNION RMT warned today that as fare's continue to ratchet up above inflation, and hundreds of millions of pounds are bled out of the system in private profits, the Government have refused to rule out a return to third class travel.
• Hankook unveils new winter truck tyreHankook has unveiled a new winter truck tryre, the DW06, a traction specialist for truck drive axles which is recognised for its balanced overall performance, particularly in wintry conditions. The DW06 provides optimal traction and superior braking thanks to Hankook™s patented 3D technology. The DW06 is available in sizes 315/70R22.5 as well as 315/80R22.5 and 295/80R22.5. The DW06²s tread blocks and kerfs are engineered with state-of-the-art Hankook 3D technology. The zigzag kerfs reaching down to the profile base provide consistently high traction performance throughout the tyre life cycle ...