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

Thursday, 21 November 2013

BBC News

• London Underground ticket offices to close and 750 jobs to goEvery ticket office on the Tube is to shut by 2015 under plans that will see 750 jobs cut. Transport for London (TfL) said staff will be moved from behind ticket office windows to be in the station itself to help passengers.
• 8 radical solutions to protect cyclistsThere's been intense debate after a spate of cyclist deaths in the UK in the past two weeks. Here are eight of the most radical solutions suggested to improve safety.
• Driver data to be open to motor insurersA new system that will allow insurers to access DVLA data on drivers' convictions and penalty points will be tested from February.
• Plans approved for Grantham relief roadPlans have been approved for a new relief road designed to ease traffic congestion in Grantham.
• Gloucestershire council votes over A417 'road to hell'A council has voted overwhelmingly in favour of itself taking the lead in lobbying for urgent action on a "road to hell" in Gloucestershire.
• Rail route works 'damaging houses'Resident in Galashiels claim their properties are being damaged by construction work on the Borders to Edinburgh railway.
• Edinburgh Airport to get Doha linkA new non-stop flight between Edinburgh and Doha in Qatar is to be launched next year.
• Ferry firm rescues obese FrenchmanA ferry company steps in to help a 36-stone (230kg) Frenchman who was left stranded in London after Eurostar refused him passage for safety reasons.
• Four commuters used Thames cable carFour regular commuters are using the cable car across the River Thames, figures released under the Freedom of Information Act suggest.
• HS2 plans 'threaten market jobs'A business group warns that an area in north London could face up to 9,000 job losses if plans for the HS2 rail link are not changed.
• Strike threat over 'Tube job cuts'Union members threaten to go on strike over what they claim will be
• London cycling 'safer' than beforeBoris Johnson says he will not be deflected from encouraging more people to cycle, as riding a bike in London is
• Toyota eyes fuel cell car by 2015Japanese carmaker Toyota says it is looking to start commercial sales of fuel cell powered cars by 2015.
• Ramp access to Backwell and Nailsea station delayedMembers of a disability group in North Somerset say they have been left frustrated by delays in building ramps to allow them to use a railway station.

Financial Times

• Camden Town fears trouble down the trackTraders at a popular London market say disruption set to be caused by a high-speed rail link threatens one of the capital’s most vibrant creative hubs

The Guardian

• How safe are the world's cities for cyclists?The deaths of six cyclists in the past two weeks has highlighted the dangers of taking to London's busy streets. But what is it like to cycle in other major cities around the world? From Amsterdam to Delhi, our writers report from the bike lanesMalmöWhen I arrived in Malmö two years ago, it was the free bicycle pumps, installed in convenient places on cycle paths, which showed me that, when it comes to cycling in Sweden, Malmö leads the way. Sweden's third-largest city is laced with 500km (310 miles) of cycle lanes, more even than in Copenhagen, a short hop across the Öresund...

The Herald

• Direct flights to Doha announcedA new direct flight between Edinburgh and Qatar will begin next spring, connecting the capital with the Middle East for the first time.
• New drink-drive limit delayed by nearly a yearTHE new lower drink-drive limit for Scotland will not be rolled out until at least October next year, it has been confirmed.

The Independent

• Video: Boris Johnson on cycling safety The London Mayor Boris Johnson was grilled today by members of the London Assembly over cycling safety. Mayor Johnson told the London Assembly that cycling in the capital is
• After cyclists' deaths, TfL moves headphones ban a step closer Banning cyclists from wearing headphones moved a step closer on Wednesday with news Transport for London has approached a London-based institution to carry out research on the impact on cyclists' safety of wearing headphones.    

The Scotsman

• Drivers face £100 fines for invading cyclist spaceDRIVERS who block advanced stop zones for cyclists at traffic lights face a £100 fine and three penalty points under a police crackdown in Edinburgh.
• ’Scenic trains’ planned for new ScotRail franchise“SCENIC trains” with panoramic windows and quality catering are planned for the next ScotRail franchise to provide a world-famous tourist experience on Scotland’s most dramatic lines.

The Telegraph

• Boris Johnson: cycling in London 'getting safer'Mayor Boris Johnson insists that cycling in London is

Times Online

• More late trains but Network Rail profits soar - [Subscription]Network Rail’s net debt has risen to more than £30.6 billion with the infrastructure company admitting it is failing to meet punctuality targets.

Daily Express

• Cassie's Law mum Jackie McCord: I'm making roads safer in memory of my girlJACKIE McCORD fought successfully for a change in the law after her teenage daughter Cassie was killed by a driver with poor eyesight

Network Rail

• Record investment in Britain's railways as Network Rail publishes its half-year resultsNew platforms, new lifts, new information systems, new concourses, new footbridges, new track; all have featured as record investment has been ploughed into Britain's railways over the past six months.
• West of England benefits from record rail investment as Network Rail publishes its half-year resultsNearly £2m a day have been invested in improving the railway between on the Western route over the last six months, new figures from Network Rail show. This brings a total of £342m worth of investment to the ailways across the south west of England and the Thames Valley, benefitting key towns and cities including Swindon, Chippenham, Bath, Bristol, Kemble, Taunton and Gloucester.
• Wales benefits from record rail investment as Network Rail publishes its half-year resultsNew platforms, new lifts, new information systems, new signalling, new footbridges, new track; all have featured as record investment has been ploughed into Wales’ railways over the past six months.
• Proposal announced to close Folkestone Harbour branch lineNetwork Rail has notified the Department for Transport that it proposes to close the Folkestone Harbour branch line and Folkestone Harbour station.

Birmingham Mail

• Passenger left with back injuries after train crashes into buffers at Chester stationThe Virgin Trains’ London to Chester service ran into the buffers, sending debris across the platform

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Cambrian Coast railway line from Harlech to Pwllheli to remain closed until Monday The route had to be closed after Pont Briwet was deemed unsafe

Liverpool Echo

• Arriva hit back at Mayor Joe Anderson in bus lanes rowThe war of words between Mayor Joe Anderson and Arriva over the future of Liverpool ’s bus lanes has intensified. The city’s biggest bus operator has now started an online petition to try to secure the future of bus lanes in Liverpool.

London Evening Standard

• Boris Johnson defends record of cycle safety after fortnight of carnage on London roads Boris Johnson today defended his record of improving safety for cyclists as critics rounded on him after a spate of deaths on London's roads.
• Obese Frenchman arrives in FranceA morbidly obese Frenchman left stranded in Britain after being stopped from boarding a Eurostar train for safety reasons has arrived in France.

Manchester Evening News

• HS2 tickets could cost as little as FIVE pounds Paul Chapman wants to see a system of last-minute fares sold a few minutes before departure.
• Your tweets put to Metrolink boss – with answersAfter problems this week on the Metrolink lines leaving thousands of commuters stranded at stations and on trams, we put your tweets to the Metrolink boss
• Train services to and from Manchester Victoria station cancelled for NINE DAYS over ChristmasNorthern Rail will halt all services to and from Manchester Victoria from Christmas Eve to allow the latest stage of electrification work on the railways
• Tweets on the line: Metrolink launches Twitter account to keep Manchester tram commuters up to date on delaysA new Twitter feed will give commuters up-to-the-minute service updates after passengers complained of a lack of information during periods of disruption.
• Logistics giant DHL is first in at Airport CityThe £800m Airport City scheme was today delivered a major boost as logistics firm DHL was unveiled as the first firm to be based there.

Sheffield Star

• Delight as bus partnership scoops pair of top honoursBus operators in Sheffield are celebrating winning two top awards.

The York Press

• Highly-respected and long-standing police chief retires A LONG-STANDING member of the police force and British Transport Police in North Yorkshire has announced his retirement.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Axe threat to free West Midlands travel for elderly in Centro cutsFree train and tram travel for pensioners is facing the axe while children’s bus fares could soar, under transport spending cut proposals unveiled today.

Yorkshire Post

• Treasury pledges to build HS2 as quickly as possibleThe Treasury’s infrastructure chief has pledged to ensure the North enjoys the benefits of high-speed rail as soon as possible as pressure grows on the Government to speed up the construction of HS2.

Burnley Express

• Burnley taxi base gets nod to stay put A TAXI firm has been allowed to continue operating near the entrance to Burnley bus station – despite protests from rivals.

Crewe Chronicle

• Passenger left with back injuries after train crashes into buffers at Chester stationThe Virgin Trains’ London to Chester service ran into the buffers, sending debris across the platform

Other Regional Press

• 'Horrendous' bus service from Haverhill to Cambridge leaves people out in the cold Passengers travelling from Haverhill to Cambridge by bus have branded their route “a complete waste of time”.
• Cyclist threatened bus driver after being knocked off his bike A CYCLIST told a judge he committed a public order offence because he was angry at being knocked off his bike by a bus.
• Driver was “petrified” when he accidentally drove on buswayNumerous motorists have found themselves driving on the Luton and Dunstable Guided Busway despite the council claiming it is “impossible” to do so accidentally.
• Southeastern trains delayed for Kent commuters after leaves and ice cause 'poor' rail conditionsSoutheastern commuters in Kent have been suffering short-notice delays today - because of leaves and ice on the tracks.
• Dorset bus passengers have chance to grill First Dorset bosses online BUS passengers in Dorset with computer access are being reminded they have the chance to put the bosses on the spot.
• Weymouth bus driver Gus praised at industry awards WEYMOUTH bus driver Augusto Iandi was praised at an industry ‘Oscars’ ceremony.
• First two hours’ free parking to start this weekendA ground-breaking deal to attract shoppers and visitors and provide a welcome boost for businesses starts this weekend in Bedford town centre.

Global Rail News

• Ministers tour Crossrail’s first completed tunnelA political delegation including Danny Alexander and Lord Deighton has toured Crossrail’s first completed rail tunnel between Royal Oak and Farringdon. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander, Infrastructure Minister[...]
• CTA reveals $240m Red Line station designsDesigns have been unveiled for a planned redevelopment of 95th Street station on Chicago’s upgraded Red Line. Images of a re-imagined 95th Street station have gone on show – a[...]
• Bombardier consortium preferred for Queensland train contractThe Queensland Government has named a consortium which includes Bombardier and John Laing as the preferred bidder for the ’Next Generation Rolling Stock’ programme. Negotiations are now underway with the[...]
• Operators invited to bid for ScotRail franchiseSmart ticketing and improved Wi-Fi access are two of the commitments set out by the Scottish government to bidders looking to take over operation of ScotRail services from 2015. Publishing[...]
• Virgin train crashes after overrunning platformA Virgin Trains Super Voyager has crashed at Chester Station after overrunning the platform. The 10.10 service from London Euston collided with the buffers, smashing a glass wall, shortly after[...]
• T7 tram line inauguratedRATP has inaugurated Ile-de-France’s T7 tram line. On November 16, Jean-Paul Huchon, president of STIF, Pierre Mongin, president of the RATP and Jérôme Wallut, managing director of Alstom Transport France[...]

Aviation Industry

• Virgin’s Little Red to reduce Manchester flightsCarrier will cut services on Heathrow route to three per day
• Qatar Airways to fly to EdinburghScottish capital boosted by another new long-haul route

Other News Sources

• Just the ticket: Edinburgh bus driver named as best in the UKAn Edinburgh bus driver has been named the best in the UK. Raul Campos Folgado won the accolade at the UK Bus Awards in London on Tuesday.
• Industry stars shine at 18th UK Bus AwardsThe UK Bus Industry marked another year of success and innovation today, as over 650 industry movers and shakers gathered at London's prestigious Hilton Hotel on Park Lane to acclaim the winners of the UK Bus Awards 2013.