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

Saturday, 05 October 2013

BBC News

• A14 and Midland Mainline upgrades threaten transport chaos A haulier has spoken of fears that two road and rail improvement projects in Northamptonshire will hit his business.
• Rail minister Burns stands downTransport Minister Simon Burns resigns from the government to run for the position of deputy Commons Speaker.
• Rail company issues etiquette guideA rail firm has issued a cartoon guide to "train etiquette", asking passengers not to assume fellow travellers share their food and music tastes. First Capital Connect (FCC) said its campaign encourages people to be more careful on the railway and more considerate of one other.
• Woman injured in 'Routemaster' fallA woman is seriously injured in a fall from the back of a new Routemaster-style bus in Kentish Town.
• New UK car sales best in five yearsNew car sales hit the highest level in more than five years in September helped by the latest registration plate, according to the Society of Manufacturers and Traders.

Financial Times

• Record credit levels drive UK car boomAt least three of every four new cars bought in the UK are funded by credit, as finance providers encouraged by carmakers increase lending to maintain the boom
• UN body strikes deal on airline emissionsThe International Civil Aviation Organisation supported the need for a global mechanism that could cut airlines’ carbon emissions from 2020

The Independent

• Blessed are the car makers: But what’s driving the British motoring miracle? Maureen Clayton is no wannabe Jeremy Clarkson. “It is a long time since I had a new car. I have been running round in an old banger but I took on a new role and I couldn’t have a car letting me down. I surprised myself when I came I came away with a new one,” she admitted.    

The Telegraph

• Woman critical after falling head-first from Routemaster 'Boris' busA woman is in a critical condition after suffering life-threatening injuries falling head-first from open rear platform of new Routemaster 'Boris' bus.    

Reuters News

• British car sales surge back up to pre-recession levelsLONDON (Reuters) - New car sales in Britain soared to their highest level in more than five years last month, lifted by a brighter outlook for the economy, attractive financing deals and demand for new fuel-efficient models.

Mail Online

• The Tube of the future? 21st century vision of London train goes on show - offering 30% more space and air conditioningThe Inspiro concept train is 30 per cent more energy efficient and 20 per cent lighter than similar modern metro trains.
• The Tube of the future? 21st century vision of London train goes on show - offering 30% more space and air conditioningThe Inspiro concept train is 30 per cent more energy efficient and 20 per cent lighter than similar modern metro trains.
• Woman fighting for life after falling head-first from the back of a new 'Boris bus' in rush hourThe passenger, aged in her thirties, fell head first from the platform of the double decker in Kentish Town at 7.20am.
• Driving tests in foreign languages to be banned to stop learners cheatingTransport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin will ban interpreters in both theory and practical tests from early next year after a series of frauds.
• Yet another setback for HS2 as rail minister resigns to run for post of deputy speakerRail Minister Simon Burns, pictured, quit ahead of David Cameron’s ministerial reshuffle next week in order to fight for the post vacated by Tory MP Nigel Evans – who was in court yesterday to answer rape charges.

Network Rail

• Improvement work at Metheringham level crossingImprovement work will be taking place at Blankney level crossing on the B1189 (Station Rd/ Moor Ln) in Metheringham starting this weekend, in preparation for a full upgrade later in the year
• Rail improvement works – Selby swing bridge and surrounding areaSome of the rail improvement works which were deferred because of the Hatfield Colliery landslide will be carried out at Selby swing bridge and in the surrounding area over the next three weekends.

Birmingham Mail

• Comic John Bishop: HS2 just isn't funny.... Popular comedian calls for high speed rail line to be axed - even though he would benefit from shorter journey times

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph published Rallying call urges county firms to get on board CrossrailArticle

London Evening Standard

• Four-runway Stansted is a flight of fancy, says Essex council leaderBoris Johnson’s dream of building a mega-airport at Stansted has suffered a setback after Essex county council opposed the plan.
• 'Fiasco' as HS2 wrongly warns residents they will lose homesHS2 bosses have been left embarrassed after they told 130 residents they could have to move out — only to withdraw the warning a week later.
• Make all cyclists pass a test, says sister of woman crushed by tipper truckThe sister of a woman crushed by a tipper truck as she rode to work  said today that cyclists should have mandatory tests to prepare them for London’s roads.
• Bad motoring habits we should drive outWhat motorists get up to behind the wheel when they think no one’s looking is plain scary; how often do you see drivers with a mug of tea, lipstick, magazine — or of course mobile phone — in hand when they should be concentrating on the road?
• MPs line up for Deputy Speaker post Simon Burns has resigned as Transport Minister to run for the vacant Deputy Speaker position, where his competition will include one-time reality TV contestant Nadine Dorries.

Blackpool Gazette

• New bus link for festive shoppersA new bus service is being launched today to link Blackpool with Manchester and the Trafford Centre.

Doncaster Free Press

• Isle cyclists urged to keep bikes securePolice are urging Isle cyclists to keep their bikes out of the hands of thieves by making sure they are locked away securely.    

Other Regional Press

• Closed rail line to cause disruptionLancashire commuters face serious disruptions following rail chiefs’ plans to close part of a major North West line.
• Link Road work could start soonWork on the Heysham M6 Link Road could begin as soon as next month following a court ruling.
• Ho ho no! Work to make you pay and display in Calderdale's formerly free car parks will be sorted in time for Christmas shopping Calderdale Council’s Cabinet  approved the introduction of pay and display charges at several of the free car parks across the borough
• Rail timetable changes are hard to be-leaf! Autumn leaves mean new timesFrom Monday trains running on the Penistone Line between Huddersfield and Sheffield will be running to a leaf-fall timetable
• Online petition fights plans for bus service cuts A PETITION has been launched online to fight planned bus service cuts in Cornwall.
• Did you see man get off train with girl’s foldable bike at Arlesey station?British Transport Police (BTP) officers are appealing for information after a bike was stolen from a train between Biggleswade and Arlesey.

The Economist

• London Overground: In the loopWHEN Transport for London (TfL), the authority behind the city’s roads and Tube network, took over what is now known as the London Overground in 2007 it was in a sorry state. The route, which incorporated several rail lines, was overcrowded, with neglected stations and rickety trains. How the line was transformed illustrates some of the ways that infrastructure projects can alter a city.Since it opened in 2010—with extensions in 2011 and 2012—the London Overground changed two things. First, the way that commuters get around the capital has shifted. In 2008, 33m passengers zipped up and down th...

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• GOVT TO FUND 55 GREEN BUSES Transport minister Norman Baker has announced the government will provide funding for 55 low-carbon buses.
• CHINA TO INVEST £650M IN MANCHESTER AIRPORT The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) is investing £650 million in Manchester Airport.

Global Rail News

• Could this be the Tube train of the future?Siemens is showing of the futuristic concept Tube train that it hopes could eventually be serving passengers on the Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines at a new exhibition showcasing the future
• Pendolino celebrates 25th birthdayAlstom has marked the 25th anniversary of the Pendolino by bringing together two classic trains for a ceremony at Milan’s Central station. The ETR 401 prototype from 1974 and ETR[...]
• HS2 fights backThe reason for building HS2 can sometimes be obscured in the fog of argument about whether people work on trains, benefit-cost ratios (BCR) and the like. Writes Tim Smart, Head of Engineering and Operations, HS2 Ltd There have been a number of negative comments in the media during the latter part of the summer concerning [...]

Railnews

• First air-conditioned tube train goes on display What could be the first air-conditioned tube train has been unveiled by Siemens, and a full-scale mock up is to go on public display in London's Docklands. Air conditioning in the London tubes has been a challenge for many years, because the main running tunnels are only about 3.7m in diameter. This constricted space means that it is very difficult to dissipate heat. However, Siemens said its trains would be 30 per cent more energy efficient and 20 per cent lighter than previous builds.
• Rail minister resigns in bid to become deputy Speaker Rail minister Simon Burns has resigned from the Government to compete for the vacant position of Deputy Speaker in the House of Commons. One of the three deputy posts is available following the resignation of Nigel Evans.

Aviation Industry

• Lasers replace humans with glow sticks at LAXa s new Tom Bradley International TerminalSAFEGATE, automated computer and laser-guided system, directs planes to the gates at the new Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX.
• Bombardier needs a jet order from AMR: analystsBombardier Inc.'s bet on winning a plane order from American Airlines, a deal stalled by antitrust opposition to a merger with US Airways Group Inc., is becoming increasingly crucial for the regional-jet pioneer.
• ICAO Assembly reaches aviation emissions accordThe ICAO United Nations Aviation Assembly has reached an agreement to develop a global market-based measures (MBM) scheme for aviation emissions by 2016 that will be implemented in 2020. read more
• Air traffic control union calls off European strikeEuropean Commission agrees for talks on the future of airspace management

Other News Sources

• Huddersfield team to keep Tram-Train vehicles on trackEngineers are working on a project to overcome track-related difficulties encountered when operating Tram-Train vehicles on urban tram lines and local rail networks.
• Rail minister resigns to stand for deputy speaker roleMinister of state for transport Simon Burns has resigned from government to run for the position of deputy speaker of the House of Commons.