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

Friday, 21 February 2014

BBC News

• Queensbury Tunnel could be Europe's longest underground cyclewayEurope's longest underground cycleway could be built in West Yorkshire if campaigners succeed in their aim to get an abandoned rail tunnel converted into a cycle path.
• Beattock station campaign gathers steamA campaign to reopen Beattock railway station is being backed by local Labour politicians.
• Somerset speed cameras back on after cash rowSix fixed speed cameras will be turned on again in Somerset following a row over who should pay for them.
• Row over cycle hire sponsor's '£10m free advertising' claimTransport bosses have not received any funding for the expansion of the cycle hire scheme to south-west London from its sponsors Barclays.
• Cardiff metro: Rhondda Cynon Taf transport corridor planPlans for a metro-style train system in Cardiff could see a transport corridor developed into Rhondda Cynon Taf.
• £1.4m roads repair bill after stormsIt will cost almost £1.4m to repair roads damaged in the recent storms in Northern Ireland, the Department for Regional Development says.
• Air France-KLM back to profitsFranco-Dutch airline group Air France-KLM reports a return to operating profit in 2013, after cutting costs and jobs.
• Final DC-10 flight heads for UKAviation enthusiasts hail the
• Most train users 'unaware' of rightsMost train passengers are unaware of their rights to compensation after cancellations or delays, the rail regulator says.

Financial Times

• EU relaxes airport sweeteners crackdownRevised state-aid rules will end more than two dozen investigations and phase out public subsidies while giving loss-making sites a decade to adjust
• Air France-KLM to invest in Brazil’s GolThe Franco-Dutch airline swung back into profit for 2013 as its painful cost-cutting plan paid off, marking a recovery from 2011 when it lost €809m
• Bus investment pays off for Go-AheadUK transport group is on course to reach its profit target ahead of schedule as £37m investment into its bus network helps bring in more passengers
• Flybe raises £150m from equity issueMost of the extra cash will be put towards expanding the business, with £82m going into increasing the size of its network
• Partners Group bids for Glasgow airportConsortium led by Swiss-based Partners Group joins Ferrovial in the race for the Scottish hub, valued at £480m

The Herald

• Air wars: Glasgow set to back new bid for city airportGlasgow is set to launch an audacious bid to buy the city's airport.
• Poll shows most rail users do not know their rightsMORE than three-quarters of train passengers are unaware of their compensation and refund rights when services are delayed or cancelled, according to a report by rail regulators.

The Independent

• Mark Leftly: Public transport should be an asset, not a penalty, for developersWestminster Outlook In 1897, a golden key was used to unlock the northern gates for the opening of what, at 6,200 feet, was then the world's longest underwater tunnel.

The Scotsman

• When to claim for a late train? Most have no ideaRAIL passengers must be given more information about claiming for disruption after more than three in four were found to be unaware of their rights, rail regulators says today.

The Telegraph

• Steam trains: Transports of delight from a lost age of travelThe steam engines Mallard and Concorde were both beautiful and efficient. We won't see their like again, says Stephen Bayley    

Daily Post (North Wales)

• North Wales road blackspots: A55 at Llanfairfechan is most dangerousLatest figures show the areas of roads that have the most likelihood of an accident

London Evening Standard

• Virgin Media brings key road to a standstill Virgin Media was today branded a “disgrace” by London transport chiefs for bringing rush-hour traffic to a halt because of unauthorised roadworks.
• 'Prolific' thief jailed for stealing luggage worth £11,500 in two days at London rail stationsA thief who stole £11,500 worth of luggage in two days from train passengers has been jailed.
• Rail passengers unaware of payoutsMore than three-quarters of train passengers are unaware of their compensation and refund rights when trains are delayed or cancelled, according to a report by rail regulators.

Nottingham Evening Post

• MP clashes with council on homesBROXTOWE MP Anna Soubry has accused a borough council of potentially "jeopardising the future of HS2".

Sheffield Star

• Capital success for rail equipment firmRailway depot maintenance equipment specialist Mechan has won a contract worth more than £1 million for the prestigious Thameslink project.

Doncaster Free Press

• VIDEO: New routes from Robin Hood Airport DoncasterTravellers can now fly to two new destinations from South Yorkshire thanks to a link-up with a UK regional airline.    

Other Regional Press

• EXCLUSIVE: HS2 bosses set to abandon Camden Town 'link' stage of high speed rail projectA MAJOR railway development threatening to devastate Camden Town for more than a decade and to drive traders out of its world-famous markets is set to be dropped, the New Journal understands.
• Public transport challenge for Sherwood MP Mark SpencerLast Friday, Sherwood MP Mark Spencer travelled around his entire Sherwood constituency using only public transport to assess for himself just how efficient the transport is in certain areas. The findings will be passed onto Dods (which publishes Parliamentary Information and Communications), who invited MPs to do a Transport Challenge.
• Grimsby Telegraph commented Calls for M11 motorway to be extended through LincolnshireCould the M11 motorway be extended through Lincolnshire? Aside from the M180 and M181 in North Lincolnshire, the county as a whole has no motorways. However, suggestions have been made that extending the M11, which currently runs between north east London and Cambridge, would prove beneficial to the Lincolnshire economy. If the idea was approved, the motorway could run up as far as the Humber Bridge. Any work would not begin until at least 2020. Though the extension would likely be greeted...
• Grimsby Telegraph commented Can you think of a name for new bus hub in Grimsby town centre?CAN you give this focal point of Grimsby town centre's £6 million regeneration a fitting name?Through the Grimsby Telegraph, North East Lincolnshire Council is inviting the borough's residents to get involved in naming the town's new super-stop.As reported, the new facility, which is being built inside a vacant unit on the Riverhead, will provide an indoor waiting area, cafe, toilets and real-time travel information, for passengers catching buses from the town centre.It is being created...
• Your questions answered about the new North Gate bus stationThe new bus station in Northampton will open on March 1 and the rights and wrongs, theories and conspiracies have been whirring round the town ever since the plan was first announced.
• Community cycling group praised by Prime Minister for getting Kirklees residents cycle crazy David Cameron wrote to Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney to pass on his thanks for the work of Streetbikes founder Gill Greaves
• Residents petitioning for 30mph limit on 'dangerous' stretch of A352 ACTION is ‘urgently needed’ before someone is killed speeding along a ‘dangerous’ stretch of road, residents are warning.

Global Rail News

• SBB to introduce new safety measures in Simplon TunnelSBB has awarded Rhomberg Rail Group subsidiary Sersa to install safety lighting inside the Simplon Tunnel between Switzerland and Italy. The CHF 7 million contract will see illuminated handrails and[...]
• Indra awarded South American ticketing contractsIndra has won two ticketing contracts in South America worth over €5 million. The projects cover the installation of barriers and ticket validation systems at 11 new stations on São[...]
• Siemens to deliver free ICE 3 train in goodwill gestureSiemens has said it will be supplying one free new ICE 3 high-speed train to German operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) to make up for a lengthy delay in the order.[...]
• Dawlish to reopen in AprilA severely-damaged section of railway at Dawlish will remain closed until mid-April after being battered by storms, Network Rail has confirmed. Following more storm damage last weekend, Network Rail has[...]
• Derbyshire rail tunnel named world’s oldestThe Guinness World Book of Records has awarded a rail tunnel unearthed by archaeologists in Derbyshire the title of world’s oldest. Located in Fritchley near Crich, the tunnel is thought[...]

Middle East North Africa (MENA) Rail News

• Oman Announces Timetable for Rail Network Design and Build TendersThe Oman government has announced a timetable for design and build tenders in the coming months. The Sultanate is building a 2000 km rail network which will link the Yemen border with the UAE, and the Gulf inland to the Indian Ocean when complete by 2018. It is hoped that this railway construction project will […]The post Oman Announces Timetable for Rail Network Design and Build Tenders appeared first on MENA Rail News.

The Business Desk

• HS2 building should begin in Leeds, say council bossesCITY leaders have met with HS2 chiefs to lobby for the construction of the new high-speed rail link to begin in Leeds.

Aviation Industry

• Air France-KLM signs pact with GOLAir France-KLM will take a $100 million stake in Brazilian low-cost carrier (LCC) GOL as the Franco-Dutch group seeks to increase its interests in South America. read more
• Kuwait Airways signs deal for 25 Airbus aircraftAirline to purchase 15 A320neo and 10 A350-900 planes

Green Miscellany

• Nokian: Winter car tyres with retractable studsFor winters that are extremely cold, rather than simply exceptionally wet, tyre company Nokian is developing retractable tyre studs. Breakdown Recovery from less than £30 Get your quote Your car’s in safe hands: 5,000+ qualified mechanics nationwide on call 24/7, 365 days a year In icy conditions, the driver pushes a button on the dashboard that causes studs to rise up from…

Other News Sources

• The Guide to Sustainable Transport 2014t is time to update our transport system to one that is fit for the 21st century. Please welcome, The Guide to Sustainable Transport 2014. The pace at which transport has evolved since the invention of the wheel is remarkable.
• 99% INTEND TO CHANGE THEIR CYCLING HABITS AFTER GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL OF AN HGV, NEW FIGURES SHOWAlmost everyone who got behind the wheel of a heavy goods vehicle at the London Bike Show said that they intend to change the way they cycle, due to the experience.
• Plans in for new railway sectionNetwork Rail has lodged plans for a new section of railway near Huyton to increase capacity between Manchester and Liverpool as part of the £600m Northern Hub scheme.
• Trams take to Edinburgh's streets for first time during daylightThe first daytime test along the whole route took place on Thursday afternoon.
• Piano at Brighton station could be key to raising commuter spirits Commuters could get some musical entertainment while they wait for trains if a piano gets the go-ahead for Brighton station.
• WIZZ AIR INCREASES NUMBER OF RESERVED SEATS ON ALL AIRCRAFT WIZZ AIR RESPONDS TO INCREASED DEMAND FROM PASSENGERS FOR RESERVED SEATING ALLOWING QUICKER BOARDING AND DISEMBARKING Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, today ...

News from Europe

• Commission clarifies state aid guidelines for airportsOnly Europe's smallest regional airports will be able to continue receiving state subsidies under guidelines published by the European Commission today (20 February).