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

Saturday, 23 June 2012

BBC News

• ScotRail outlines train drink ban Alcohol is being banned from Scottish trains in the evenings and mornings, following concerns about drink-fuelled anti-social behaviour.
• Anger and daftness amid bus strikeThe BBC finds anger, resignation and downright silliness on the streets as the bus strike bites
• Bus strike over Olympic pay endsA 24-hour strike by thousands of bus workers in London in a dispute over bonus pay for working during the Olympics ends.

Financial Times

• Brazil and Chile airlines finally land mergerTam and Lan have completed their long-awaited tie-up, creating the world™s second-largest carrier by market value in a deal that is set to spark further consolidation
• Olympic transport bonanza at stakeWorkers could reap £35m in bonuses if bus drivers succeed in securing the disputed deal that led to a 24-hour strike
• Air France takes axe to jobsFrench airline plans to cut more than 5,000 jobs “ 10% of its workforce “ in a move than may be a taste of things to come in France

The Herald

• Rail fare discount pledgeRAIL passengers have been promised fare discounts to help fill empty seats, a roll-out of wi-fi across the ScotRail network within seven years and stricter regulations on train punctuality.
• Four bids for road worksFOUR
• Rail bosses ban drinking alcohol on night trainsA BAN on drinking alcohol on late-night trains across Scotland will be introduced next month in an effort to stop anti-social behaviour.

The Independent

• John Stewart: There is a better solution for both BAA and residents The next nine months could become a "trial by noise" for residents under the Heathrow flightpaths. Normally they get half a day's break from the noise as aircraft switch runways at 3pm.
• Bus strike had 'solid support'London bus workers went ahead with a strike yesterday in a dispute over a bonus payment for the Olympics, causing travel disruption across the capital.Related StoriesDalai Lama takes Salmond's 'snub' in his stride during visit to ScotlandDouglas, we have a problemMarket hunt for £63.8m winnerHeathrow set for big increase in capacityMissing Glastonbury? Isle of Wight festival keeps the spirit alive
• Heathrow set for big increase in capacityHeathrow's capacity problems could be solved without the need for a new runway, as strict rules on take-offs and landings are eased from next month.

The Scotsman

• BAA welcomes loonie bonds Airports operator BAA has raised C$400 million (£250m) through its first issue of bonds denominated in Canadian dollars.
• ˜Excessive™ bonuses at Lothian Buses to be scrutinised by councilCOUNCIL leaders have promised to exert more control over the running of Edinburgh’s main bus companies after it emerged senior executives had landed bumper bonuses.

Mail Online

• 'Silver bullet' solution could ease Heathrow's capacity problems with no need for an extra runwayThe 'silver bullet' solution to the airport's congestion crisis could unlock up to 25 per cent more slots with no extra building.

Network Rail

• NEW TRAIN CREW CENTRE LIGHTS UP NEW STREET
• NETWORK RAIL PUBLISHES ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2011/12

Belfast Telegraph

• Belfast City Airport 'will shed jobs if seat cap is not lifted' The future of one of Northern Ireland's airports could be in jeopardy if a cap on passenger numbers is not lifted, a director has warned. Related StoriesGold not shining for pawnbrokerEuro crisis sees banks ratings fallWind energy firm in turbine delivery dealBelfast City Airport warns that jobs will be axed if seat cap is enforcedBelfast Telegraph named Regional News Site of the Year at Online Media Awards

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham rail ticket office closures "will mean passengers pay more"RAIL passengers will end up paying higher fares if planned ticket office closures are allowed to go ahead across Birmingham and the West Midlands, Labour have claimed.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Lothian Buses bosses under fire over salaries higher than PM and judgesDIRECTORS at Lothian Buses have been paid £175,000 in performance-related bonuses, pushing their incomes far above that of the Prime Minister and High Court judges.
• Evening News launches battle to stop car park charges planned for beauty spotsTHERE was a growing outcry today over plans to introduce parking charges at a string of popular Lothian beaches amid fears that visitors will be driven away from the beauty spots.

London Evening Standard

• Union brands High Court bus strike decision 'affront to democracy'Unite branded the High Court decision an "affront to democracy."
• How did you get to work? Londoners at their desks by bike, train, foot and carLondoners told today how they fought their way to work by bike, train, foot or car.

Metro

• Air France set to cut 5,000 job in bid to halt £297m profit nosediveAir France will cut more than 5,000 jobs by the end of next year to slash costs and return to growth. Cabin pressure: Air France CEO Alexandre de Juniac questions from journalists (Picture: AFP/Getty) The proposed cuts are part of a restructuring plan at Air France-KLM, its joint venture, which has been hit by high debts, fuel costs and sliding cargo revenue because of a global economic slowdown.Air France-KLM posted a net loss of £297million in the first quarter of the year and the job cuts will decimate the work force of 53,000.The airline says it is hoping to avoid compulsory redundancies a...
• London bus strike goes ahead over Olympic bonusThousands of workers at London bus companies are staging a 24-hour strike in a row over a £500 bonus for working during the Olympics in the first capital-wide strike in 30 years.Bus workers at 17 bus companies are taking part in the walkout, the Unite union said, although Arriva, Metroline and London General were granted a High court injunction preventing employees there from striking. Up to 85 per cent of the capital's bus workers are on strike (Picture: PA) The union's regional secretary Peter Kavanagh said the injunction was an 'affront to democracy'.'We are fast becoming a country where ju...

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Airline blunder means security checks missed at Newcastle AirportDOZENS of people were allowed into the North East without proper security or passport checks following an airline blunder, it has emerged.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Shopping list for change will take in road and rail to raising the rooftopsThe new administration claimed yesterday that its five-year plan showed it is an œinnovative� and œambitious� council.

Wales Online

• Cardiff Bus Station plot gets Olympic makeoverA large section of disused land at the front of Cardiff Bus Station where the old Terminus House building once stood is to be redeveloped in time for the Olympics.

Yorkshire Post

• ˜Quality contracts™ backed to put failing bus services rightTHE CURRENT deregulated system of bus services in West Yorkshire has led to dwindling passenger numbers, fragmented services and is “failing everyone” according to a transport chief who wants introduce a new contract scheme to improve standards and introduce integrated ticketing.
• Jet2 passengers skipped checks in immigrationForeign nationals were allowed through an airport without passing though immigration control because of a budget airline blunder, it has emerged.

Burnley Express

• Todmorden Curve link on track for start in 2014TRAIN bosses can see daylight now on the £6.8million project to restore a vital rail link to Manchester from Burnley.

Carlisle News & Star

• Whitehaven's eyesore former bus depot to be knocked down The dilapidated former bus depot in Whitehaven town centre will be demolished within six months™ time because it is a danger to the public.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Business leaders welcome rise in rail user numbersBusiness leaders in Peterborough have welcomed a rise in the number of people using the city’s railway station each year.

Plymouth Herald

• Station revamp will not change effect of neglectTHE £1.5million facelift of Plymouth railway station, although welcome, will not fundamentally change the effects of years of neglect and its inadequate rail link to Exeter and beyond.

Other Regional Press

• Calls to improve 'unwelcoming' train station A PIGEON infestation that has blighted Aldershot railway station for several years needs to be put under control before the safety of passengers is compromised, a railway lobbying group has warned.
• Mini was designed 'in a Rolf Harris manner' One of the design team who worked on the original Mini has revealed how the revolutionary small car came about.
• Battle of the cycle lanesShould cycle lanes be on pavements or roads?
• New campaign launched to get railway station for Golcar and MilnsbridgeCAMPAIGNERS will be lobbying for a new railway station in Huddersfield.
• Annual meeting of Cubbington Action Group against HS2 Cubbington Action Group against HS2 is holding its annual meeting on Tuesday June 26.
• HS2 community forums along planned route through WarwickshireA SECOND round of HS2 community forums are being held along its planned route through Warwickshire.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• New freight link to revive NorthfleetThe Northfleet freight railway launched yesterday (June 21st) is to create jobs and help give the impression that the region is open for business, according to local MP Bob Neill.Opening the rail line, he described it as a "win-win" situation for the area, with commercial advantages underlined by the benefits it will deliver to the environment.He added that the project would help enhance the area's infrastructure and attract more jobs and business to the site by linking it to the Thames Gateway.The freight railway is expected to increase efficiency and take around 50,...

Global Rail News

• Olympic payments ˜money for nothing on a grand scale™, says First Great WesternFirst Great Western has slammed RMT’s demands for Olympics payments as “money for nothing on a grand scale” following the union’s decision to ballot its members for strike action. Yesterday, RMT announced it would be balloting First Great Western (FGW) members for both strike action and action short of a strike after rejecting proposals tabled [...]
• Rail preservation society to run special 50th anniversary serviceVolunteers at Haworth™s Keighley & Worth Valley Steam Railway (KWVR) are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their society™s first ever train with a special recreation of the service. The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society was formed in early 1962 to save the Worth Valley Branch following closure by British Railways (BR). On June [...]
• Pushing the BoundariesAlways expect the unexpected. It is good advice for any railway project, particularly one being undertaking at short notice, as Stobart Rail recently discovered on a project for Manchester Metrolink. Fortunately, the experienced management team was up to the task. In February, Stobart Rail was asked to tender for a package of work between Bury [...]
• TBF backs Station Staff of the YearThe Transport Benevolent Fund (TBF) is backing the Station Staff of the Year Award at this year™s RailStaff Awards. Tom O™Connor, managing director of the Rail Media Group, which is organising the RailStaff Awards, said: “For most passengers their first point of contact with the railway is through rail staff at stations. Often overlooked at [...]
• East Midlands Trains strike cancelledDrivers at East Midlands Trains have called off strike action following “constructive” talks over pensions. ASLEF representatives accepted proposals outlined yesterday and suspended strike action planned for June 23 and 25. David Horne, managing director for East Midlands Trains, said: œThis is a positive and welcome step by ASLEF and means we can run our [...]
• Tottenham Court Road station contract handed to Laing O™RourkeCrossrail has awarded the main construction contract for the Western Ticket Hall at Tottenham Court Road to Laing O’Rourke Construction Ltd. Andy Mitchell, Crossrail programme director, said: œCrossrail™s station at Tottenham Court Road will transform access to the West End while also acting as a catalyst for the major development and regeneration of the local [...]
• Network Connection for SwanageThanks to funding by Dorset County Council, trains will eventually be able to run off the main line at Wareham and down to Swanage on the preserved Isle of Purbeck line. Network Rail plans to install signalling costing £2.7m over the next two years. The Swanage Railway has been running steam and diesel trains between [...]
• Glasgow Subway to receive £2.5 million faceliftGlasgow Subway’s underground tunnels are to receive a £2.5 million facelift as Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) announces the latest projects to modernise the network. The partnership has confirmed that contracts worth £1.3 million and £1.2 million have been awarded to contractors to refurbish a section of the tunnel and Patrick station respectively. On Friday, [...]

Railnews

• Future of Scottish rail services set out The Scottish Government has revealed its plans for the next ScotRail franchise, which are being described as a '£5 billion overhaul'. After a lengthy public consultation, the government has decided to offer a ten year franchise starting in 2014, which will have a five-year break point. Sleeper services will be let separately under a contract lasting for up to 15 years. The RMT has remained critical, describing the plans as 'a mess'.

The Business Desk

• Centro weighing up whether to bid for control of rail services TRANSPORT authority Centro will decide next week whether to formally tell the Government it is keen to take over responsibility for local rail services on behalf of authorities across the wider West Midlands area.

Green Miscellany

• Pop-up zebra crossing springs up during Green Transport Week 2012 For the thousands of children who struggle each day to cross busy streets outside their schools, help is at hand in the shape of a pop-up zebra crossing that can be installed on any road in less than a minute.read more
• Latest Toyota city car is child's play Do you remember the days when tinkering with a car was a simple affair? When replacing a car wing meant simply bolting a replacement part in place? When getting a new ignition key involved having one cut rather than programmed? read more
• Renault electric car completes a long-distance Le Mans Audi may have won the famous endurance race Le Mans last weekend with a hybrid, but to rather less fanfare a small city has just broken the record for the furthest distance travelled by an electric car in 24 hours.read more
• Flying bicycle is end of the road for cycle lanes A cycle lane that is never blocked by parked cars may be no more than a dream for many British cyclists, but such infrastructure may be rendered obsolete if a radical new design for a flying bicycle ever gets off the ground.read more

Other News Sources

• Freight railway to deliver jobs and homes to Northfleet...and a nature reserve to Essex SIX hundred houses, 1,600 jobs, 50,000 lorries journeys spared and a nature reserve in Essex – they will be the results of a £13.5million freight railway which opened in Northfleet on Thursday (June 21).
• ScotRail to ban drinking and carrying alcohol on late-night trainsThe rail operator will ban alcohol after 9pm from July 20 and turn away drunken passengers.
• Priti Patel MP visits Stansted Priti Patel MP has visited Stansted Airport to see how the East of England™s biggest single employment site continues to create new jobs and training opportunities despite the current difficult economic conditions.
• East Lancashire MPs back action on rail hub planEAST Lancashire MPs Jack Straw and Andrew Stephenson have joined forces across party lines at Westminster to back a call for the Government to step up action on the £530 million Northern Rail Hub plan.
• Hoyer nominates Krutzfeld as head of SCS divisionHamburg-headquartered Hoyer, which specialises in providing logistics services for the global chemical industries, has appointed Tom Krutzfeldt (34) as operations ...
• Transport Secretary opens Bristol Airport developmentThe first phase of development plans which will ultimately enable Bristol Airport to handle 10 million passengers a year was officially opened by the Secretary of State for Transport today (Frida...