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

Tuesday, 11 December 2012

BBC News

• VIDEO: No takers for Prestwick airportThe future of Prestwick airport is in doubt as its New Zealand owners try to find a buyer.
• Branson offers BA £1m Virgin betVirgin boss Sir Richard Branson offers to bet British Airways £1m that the Virgin Atlantic brand will still be around in five years.
• Plans target bogus whiplash casesMinisters unveil plans to reduce the number of whiplash claims following traffic accidents, blamed for greatly increasing car insurance premiums.

The Guardian

• Government plans to cut whiplash injury claims Justice secretary Chris Grayling set to launch consultation on creating independent medical panels to improve diagnosis
• Rail fares have risen three times faster than wages, study shows Campaigners prepare to lobby commuters at 50 train stations amid growing fears over 'transport poverty'

The Herald

• Electric trains now on trackTHE first electric trains between Glasgow and Paisley Canal have entered service after five miles of the route was electrified for less than half the original budget.

The Independent

• Ryanair plane almost 'crashed in Germany after pilots tried a new manoeuvre to make up lost time' A flight from Manchester Airport almost crashed near its destination in Germany after pilots tried a new manoeuvre to make up lost time, it was claimed today.Related StoriesSimon Read: What to do if you're hit by a surprise energy bill demanding thousands of poundsHospital where nurse was found dead denies Australian radio station's claims as presenters express sorrowTrain fares soar against lower increase in pay'Disillusioned' coastguards leaving serviceDon™t give the homeless money, call this hotline, says minister at charity launch

The Telegraph

• New curb on whiplash claims Anyone making a claim for whiplash injuries after a car crash will be assessed by an independent medical panel under proposals unveiled by the Government.
• Train operators told to come clean on punctuality Commuters will be able to see how their daily train service is performing under proposals being drawn up by ministers.

Daily Express

• BA scorns Virgin's Scotland take-offBRITISH AIRWAYS has stepped up its bitter feud with Virgin Atlantic by dismissing prospects for its arch rival's new short-haul venture between London and Scotland.

Mail Online

• Average train fare has gone up 26% since start of recession: Unions and passenger groups prepare to protest against high prices Average train fares have increased almost three times faster than wages, new research revealed today, with prices now 26% higher than they were before the recession.
• French First Lady Valerie Trierweiler sparks row by meeting opponents of new airport backed by prime ministerMs Trierweiler is accused of trying to undermine PM Jean-Marc Ayrault's authority by consorting with the protestors in Angers, western France, this weekend.
• Ryanair plane carrying 141 passengers from Manchester 'nearly crashed over Germany after pilots altered landing approach to make up lost time'Investigators claimed the pilots of the 737 (like one pictured) chose to approach the runway from a different direction to allow them to get to the gate quicker, it was claimed in an official report.
• Now you can get all the way round London on the overground...As long as you don't mind catching three trainsThe completion of the London Overground line between Surrey Quays and Clapham Junction means people can make short journeys around the capital avoiding busy stations.
• Train companies 'totally dishonest' with passengers on punctuality says minister planning to redefine 'on-time' as within one minute - not within ten minutes lateTransport Minister Norman Baker has said passengers have a right to consider trains to be late if they fail to meet a much stricter 60 second deadline.

The Mirror

• Recession rail rip-off: Train fares are rising three times faster than wagesNationwide protests by rail unions and passenger groups were due to go ahead today at 50 train stations

Network Rail

• New hourly service on East Suffolk lineAbellio train operator Greater Anglia today (Monday December 10) introduced a new hourly service between Ipswich and Lowestoft after work to install a passing loop was completed at Beccles.
• Historic viaduct to be waterproofed at ChristmasMilverton Viaduct, which carries the railway line from Coventry through Leamington Spa town centre, is to be refurbished during the Christmas holidays.
• New all-electric Paisley Canal line arrives on time for passengers

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• New London air link takes off from Leeds Bradford Olympic boxer Luke Campbell lent some heavyweight “ or bantamweight “ support to the launch of British Airways™ flights from Leeds Bradford to Heathrow.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Tram chiefs agree £1.2m deal for ticket machinesTRAM chiefs are to sign a deal this week which will see new ticket machines fitted across the route at a cost of nearly £1.2 million.

London Evening Standard

• ˜M25 on rails™ boosts Mayor bid to run commuter linesLondon's first orbital overground train link ” dubbed the œM25 on rails ” opened to rush-hour passengers today, as the Mayor stepped up his campaign to take control of more commuter lines.

Northern Echo

• Day of action against rail fare increases TRAIN fares have risen nearly three times faster than wages since the recession began, according to the TUC which is mounting a protest against the hikes.

Sheffield Star

• Heads in Sheffield unite to attack plans to axe bus passesPLANS to abolish free bus travel for Sheffield’s Catholic pupils are being opposed by every secondary headteacher in the city.

The York Press

• Dancers show a clean pair of platform heels at NRM Dancing stars wowed diners at the National Railway Museum in York.

Wales Online

• Rail fare price hike protests to hit Cardiff and Swansea train stationsAverage train fares have increased by more than 26% since the start of the recession, almost three times faster than wages, new research has revealed.

Yorkshire Post

• Coastguard hit by staff shortage and low morale Britain’s coastguard service has been “damaged” by a Government modernisation programme which has seen vacancy rates double over the past two years and caused severe staff shortages, MPs have warned.

Blackpool Gazette

• Bus station is back openA REVAMPED bus station has reopened for business after rectifying its “confusing” layout.

East Anglian Daily Times

• East Anglia: Free bus travel for job seekersUNEMPLOYED job-seekers will be offered free bus travel from January as part of a bid to get more people into work.

Other Regional Press

• Link would endanger historic railway THE REINTRODUCTION of a “missing link” of rail network would cause the collapse of one of the region’s most popular tourist attractions, Whitby Town Council has been told.
• Transport Select Committee on its report on UK coastguard situation – and National Coastguard SOS Campaign response In issuing its report today [11th December] on the Department for Transport’s plans to modernise the coastguard service, the House of Commons Transport Select Committee, in its press release, headlines what it has to say as: ’Implementation of the Government’s modernisation programme risks damaging the coastguard.’
• youngcornwall commented Bus subsidy deal...Free bus rides not so free so it seems...Discussion
• Airport cash ˜just buying favour™People living near Luton Airport are set to benefit from a community funding programme, but the news got a lukewarm reaction from some.
• Airport revamp plan unveiledA major plan to revamp Rochester Airport and attract hi-tech firms to the site could create up to 1,000 jobs, it's been revealed.
• Virgin Atlantic reveals extra flights from Aberdeen AN AIRLINE today revealed details of extra flights from Aberdeen which are set to take off next spring.

Global Rail News

• London Rail chief operating officer on new orbital networkChief operating officer of TfL London Rail, Howard Smith, discusses the city’s newly-completed orbital network.
• Victoria Line renaissanceWhen London Underground™s Victoria Line opened in 1968, it measured 21km long and was the first metro in the world to have Automatic Train Operation (ATO). This was a revolutionary step and the system was designed under the guidance of the legendary London Underground signal engineer, Robert Dell. Using different frequency track circuits for the [...]
• ScotRail franchise extended following West Coast inquiryThe Scottish Government has extended the ScotRail franchise to allow time to analyse the findings of two inquiries into the cancelled West Coast Main Line competition. Transport Minister Keith Brown said the franchise would now run for an additional four months to March 31, 2015, to “allow time to process” Westminster™s Brown Review and the [...]
• Indian Prime Minister reviews railway projectsIndian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has set strict deadlines for a number of rail projects in the country in a bid to fast track India’s infrastructure investment plans. In a review meeting, Dr Singh discussed the Mumbai elevated rail corridor projects with the Ministry of Railways and directed the ministry to sign the state [...]
• Canadian Pacific to cut 4,500 jobs by 2016North American rail operator Canadian Pacific (CP) has announced plans to cut 4,500 jobs by 2016. CP Rail has outlined a number of cost-cutting measures as part of its new efficiency programme. The company has already closed hump-switching yards in Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary and Chicago, and intermodal terminals in Milwaukee, Toronto and Chicago. Changes to [...]
• MTA releases 7 Subway extension updateNew York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has released a video update of its $2.4 billion extension of the IRT Flushing Line. The 1.5 mile extension will connect Times Square with 34th Street and 11th Avenue once it enters revenue service in 2014.

Middle East North Africa (MENA) Rail News

• 4th International Rail Freight ConferenceInformation to appear here soon…The post 4th International Rail Freight Conference appeared first on MENA Rail News.

Other News Sources

• Christmas card protest against rail fares Trade unions are protesting at train stations across the country today against increases in rail fares and planned cuts.
• HS2 chief defends project from cost and carbon criticismHS2 chief executive Alison Munroe has defended the project following criticism over its cost and carbon impact, but admitted more needs to be done to promote its benefits in the face of UK opposition.