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

Saturday, 05 December 2015

BBC News

• Contingency plans after bridge closureBusinesses and organisations are making contingency plans after it was announced the Forth Road Bridge will be closed until the new year.
• Airport breaks passenger numbers recordDublin Airport has broken its previous record for passenger numbers.
• Amazon could 'create 1,500 jobs'The online retailer Amazon could create about 1,500 jobs if they get permission to build a warehouse near Manchester Airport.
• Rail fares rise 'lowest in six years'Rail fares in England, Scotland and Wales will rise by an average of 1.1% from 2 January, 2016, the lowest rise for six years.
• Volkswagen sales fall 20% in the UKVolkswagen sales fell 20% in the UK last month following the diesel emissions scandal.
• Porsche to build electric sportscarPorsche gives the green light to build an all-electric car aimed at challenging Tesla's dominance of the battery-powered sportscar market.
• EU to share airline passenger namesThe European Union reaches an agreement on a deal to share airline passenger details.

Financial Times

• Opec meeting ends in acrimonyCartel members all but abandon official production target

The Guardian

• Scotland scrambles for extra trains after Forth Road Bridge closureThe bridge, one of Scotland’s most important road routes, has been closed until early January after cracks were discovered in its steelworksScotland’s rail and transport authorities have been scrambling to find extra trains and buses after engineers completely closed the Forth Road Bridge for a month after discovering cracks in the steelwork.The bridge, one of Scotland’s most important road routes, was closed until early January after a 20mm wide crack was detected on a steel truss close to its north pier during a routine inspection. Up to eight other trusses could have similar defects. Contin...

The Scotsman

• Forth Road Bridge closure: Alternative routesWith the Forth road bridge being shut until at least New Year, many commuters lives have been thrown into chaos. Here are some alternative routes you can take.

The Telegraph

• Forth Road Bridge 'will stay closed until the new year'Closure caused by a structural fault has led to traffic chaos in central Scotland with huge tailbacks reported on alternative routes
• Forth Bridge Closure: They may take our bridge, but they'll never take our memes!Scots go social media crazy as the Forth Road Bridge closure creates havoc and causes chaos in central Scotland

Daily Express

• Traffic chaos looms as Forth Road Bridge is closedSCOTLAND faces weeks of transport chaos after the Forth Road Bridge was closed indefinitely.

The Mirror

• Forth Road Bridge closure in Scotland leads to 11-MILE tailbacks after crack found under carriagewayEngineers found a crack almost an inch long in a truss under the southbound carriageway and the bridge will be closed until the New Year

Birmingham Mail

• Better late than never... Metro trams finally on Birmingham streetsCity transport expert welcomes the trams as a major step forward – but admits they should have been here for years

Liverpool Echo

• Check out these spectacular views from Liverpool John Lennon Airport control tower From Anfield stadium to the Welsh hills, some of the region's most notable landmarks are visible from the 55m viewpoint

London Evening Standard

• EasyJet rides out cancellations with 10% rise in passengersEasyJet boss Carolyn McCall landed nearly half a million more passengers last month — flying in the face of cancellations after the downing of a Russian passenger jet in Egypt.

Manchester Evening News

• Rail fares to go up by 1.1 per cent in the smallest annual increase since 2010 Passenger groups warn more work is needed to achieve a ‘truly affordable railway’

Sheffield Star

• New wheelchair bike will give better access to Peak District parkA new powered wheelchair bike will allow more disabled riders to explore the terrain of the Peak District National Park’s trails.

Wales Online

• Cardiff Bus apologises after passenger suffer hour long delays The disruption was blamed on the Coca-Cola truck visit and accidents in the city

Daventry Express

• Coach company near Brackley goes into liquidationThe coach company Jeffs Travel Limited, which serves schools across Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire, is set to go into liquidation.

Other Regional Press

• Very Lucky 13 as bus book earns reprint A BOOK of short stories inspired by the No. 13 bus and its passengers has sold so well it had to be reprinted – three weeks after its release.
• Just six cars use �3.5m Bicester park-and-ride THE scene at the newly opened 580-space Bicester park-and-ride was less than congested as only a handful of cars turned up to ride to Oxford.
• Respite for rail commuters as small price rise is announced COMMUTERS in Oxfordshire will see train fares rise by an average of 1.1 per cent next year – the smallest annual increase for six years.
• Arriva bus drivers in Medway strike today over changes to 'unachievable and unsafe' timetables in the TownsArriva drivers have gone on strike, with all their buses in Medway cancelled after talks failed to reach a compromise.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Transport Secretary pledges to build a new transport legacy for WalesPatrick McLoughlin sees how UK government investment is improving transport in Wales ahead of a keynote speech to the CBI. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin was given a tour of Cardiff Central Station today, Thursday 3 December 2015, to see major improvements being carried out by Network Rail to deliver better journeys for passengers. The Transport Secretary also visited a number of other major transport and infrastructure sites in Wales, including the Severn Crossing, ahead of his keynote speech to the CBI annual Wales dinner. Patrick McLoughlin said: The UK government is determined t...
• Prime Air drones unveiled by AmazonAmazon is planning on enhancing its Prime service for paid subscribers with a new delivery system that will deliver small parcels to customers in 30 minutes or less.� To this end, the web retail giant has unveiled its Prime Air drones, the small remote-controlled aircraft that it intends to use to fulfil these orders.� In a statement published on its website, Amazon said:
• DHL's new RFID tags offer international trackingA new parcel tracking service has been launched by DHL that uses RFID tags on items, which will enable both the sender and recipient of a package to view the shipping status of an item through the firm's track and trace portal.� The move is intended to make the cross-border tracking and tracing of merchandise items even more transparent, as international e-commerce is booming all over the world.� Designed to cater to the needs of business customers and small-scale senders alike, the service brings the kind of shipping security offered on larger deliveries and higher-value goods to small packet...

Rail Magazine

• Contract awarded for East West Rail Phase 2Plans incorporate one new station, two new platforms, 18 new overbridges and 22 new footbridges/subways
• Cancelled services on Workington-Carlisle lineReplacement bus services running due to flooding and trackside landslips

Aviation Industry

• Raymond James Reaffirms "Strong-Buy" Rating for Delta Air Lines, Inc.'s stock had its
• Why We Think Alaska Air Is Worth Much MoreAlaska Air is focusing on enhancing its operational performance and leveraging its efficient cost structure to maintain industry leading margins and outperform its peers. We have a price estimate of $84 per share for Alaska Air, which is 3% ahead of its current market price.
• Cost of UK business trips drop 8.5%CWT study reveals average price of a trip in UK & Ireland is �424.60

Other News Sources

• Scottish Government asks FTA for feedback on bridge closureFollowing announcement that the Forth Road Bridge will be closed until the New Year, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) is asking its ...