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Wednesday, 27 June 2012

BBC News

• Network Rail tree felling opposed The government is being urged to stop Network Rail cutting down trees along its tracks.
• Ed Balls: 'Wrong signal' on fuel duty [Audio clip]Transport Secretary Justine Greening has said she will not lobby the Treasury to postpone the rise in petrol due in August, but said we should challenge the petrol retailers to cut the price, as the global oil price has come down considerably.
• Perth firm Stagecoach reports dip in profits Transport group Stagecoach has posted a small drop in underlying profits after seeing revenue growth at its rail division slip behind schedule.
• Isles of Scilly-Cornwall ferry subsidy row The government has been urged to help subsidise a ferry route to the Isles of Scilly.
• Cambrian Lines film shows teens how to behave on trains A train company has made a film which aims to improve the way schoolchildren behave, such as using bad language and putting their feet on seats.
• Railway hole caused by 'water build-up' A hole which appeared by a Herefordshire railway line, causing services to be cancelled, was caused by a build-up of water, Network Rail said.
• Digging up the deadWill 50,000 bodies have to be dug up for railway?
• £3bn upgrade of A9 to start earlyThe Scottish government says it will start work on making the A9 dual carriageway all the way from Inverness to Perth earlier than expected.
• Two transport strikes called offStrikes by London Underground drivers and Heathrow Airport cargo staff are called off after agreements are reached.
• VIDEO: Fuel tax freeze: 'It all helps'Motorists have welcomed the government's announcement that it will delay a 3p-a-litre rise in fuel duty until January.
• Planned 3p fuel duty rise delayedThe government will delay a 3p-a-litre rise in fuel duty from August until next January, it announces.

Financial Times

• London needs to rise above toxic Heathrow brandSir, Your correspondent, Andrew Parker, tells us in his report on the ongoing aviation strategy debate that the case for a third Heathrow runway was “bolstered by Gatwick Airport, owned by Global Infrastructure Partners” (“Greening hints at need for four-runway hub airport”, June 26).
• Stagecoach chief urges bus dispute dealSir Brian calls for œcommon sense� in Olympic payouts dispute “ adding that he objects to the bonuses in principle but understands workers™ grievance
• United backs US airline consolidationLargest US airline by revenue supports more consolidation of the domestic market and would not object to a merger between US Airways and American Airlines

The Guardian

• HS2 is a northern railway too The government is right to press ahead, argues Nick Kingsley of Railway Gazette International, responding to Ed Jacobs' questions in the Guardian Northerner last week

The Herald

• Osborne fuel duty U-turnGeorge Osborne has scrapped the 3p-a-litre fuel duty rise set for August 1, in what Labour last night branded
• Rail route ideas soughtPASSENGERS are being asked what they want to see on a major London to Scotland rail route when it is returned to the private sector next year.
• Survey reveals morale slump at Transport ScotlandNEARLY one-quarter of civil servants working for the Scottish Government's £1.8 billion transport agency want to leave their jobs within a year amid growing dissatisfaction over pay and organisational reforms.

The Independent

• Another Budget U-turn as George Osborne announces 3p fuel duty rise is to be axedFuel duty is to be frozen for the rest of this year George Osborne announced this afternoon “ in yet another budget U-turn.Related StoriesTom Winsor promises 'fearless independence' as he aims to shine a light into 'darkest corners' of policingLabour will support Bill to reform Lords, says MilibandGraduate sues Government over 'slave labour' schemesLeveson Inquiry: News Corp 'made threat to Lib Dems over BSkyB'Call for Jersey's independence

The Telegraph

• Stagecoach expects to benefit from cash-strapped commuters Bus and rail operator Stagecoach expects to benefit from cash-strapped commuters and business travellers turning to public transport, it said when reporting a 1.5pc fall in full-year profits.
• Osborne accused of panic as fuel duty rise is scrappedAugust's fuel duty rise scrapped by Osborne in crowd-pleasing U-turn that leads to claims of panic in Treasury.

Press Association

• Airport expansion 'the last resort' The Government's first priority in formulating aviation policy should be to make better use of existing capacity, and thoughts on expansion should take a "very clear second place", a Conservative MP has said.

Daily Express

• Stagecoach gains as drivers turn to busesCHEAP fares and high fuel prices are driving cash-strapped motorists on to buses, one of Britain's biggest transport companies said yesterday.

Mail Online

• Reverse gear on petrol tax: As fuel duty is scrapped it's great news for motorists... but another embarrassing U-turn for the ChancellorGeorge Osborne said the move, which has been greeted with delight by campaigners and motoring groups, reflected the 'very difficult economic times'.
• Bus lane camera hidden behind a tree catches 1,500 drivers in a single week, netting council around £90,000The fines were given to drivers on Stoney Road, near Coventry railway station, where cars are banned. Residents say the camera is a 'cash cow' for Coventry City Council.

Network Rail

• RAILWAY FACTORY MEANS NEW JOBS AND INVESTMENT FOR DONCASTER
• LEOMINSTER GETS A LIFT “ OR TWOEasy access for Leominster passengersLifts installedNew waiting area

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham Airport takes expansion campaign to ParliamentA CAMPAIGN to bring millions of new passengers to Birmingham Airport took its message to the heart of government yesterday, as airport Chief Executive Paul Kehoe spoke at a Commons reception.

Birmingham Post

• Calls for 3p rise in fuel duty to be scrappedLabour is to try to pressure Chancellor George Osborne into scrapping a 3p rise in fuel duty due to take effect in August.
• Former Jaguar shop steward elected chairman of CentroA former Jaguar shop steward has been elected as chairman of the West Midlands integrated transport authority.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Metro rail plan not ˜ambitious enough™ A rail link to Leeds-Bradford Airport, electrification of the Caldervale Line and development of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, are among a list of œaspirations� a senior council figure wants taken forward up to 2026.
• New plan to entice passengers back onto buses Bus operators across West Yorkshire could soon be subject to new regulation and public control under plans proposed by the transport authority Metro to turn the tide of falling passenger numbers.

Edinburgh Evening News

• MP™s blast as chaos causes hundreds to miss their flightsFOR more than half a century the Royal Highland Show has been a good neighbour to Edinburgh Airport.

London Evening Standard

• The third runway debate is back, and it’s all about greed It won’t lie down. Like some ancient vampire, the “third runway at Heathrow” is the living dead. Born of greed and sucking lobbying cash into its veins, its coffin is hammered shut time and again. Yet come the fall of dusk over west London, with much creaking and howling, it slinks back on stage.
• Two transport strikes called off in ONE dayThere was good news today for air and Tube passengers when strikes which threatened major disruption were called off.
• Third Heathrow airport runway is a vital stopgap, say firmsBusiness leaders today admitted a third runway at Heathrow is a œstopgap� that will fail to meet London™s long-term demand for air travel.
• Osborne cancels 3p fuel duty riseA planned 3p rise in fuel duty has been put off until January in a £550 million change of heart by George Osborne that delighted motorists and MPs.

Manchester Evening News

• Tram delays on Bury and Oldham Metrolink lines after points failure outside Victoria StationTrams on the Bury and Oldham lines were suspended today after a points failure. The problem was reported in the Irk Valley area of the line just outside Manchester Victoria station.

Metro

• Chancellor George Osborne scraps planned 3p rise in fuel dutyGeorge Osborne has scrapped the government's planned 3p per litre rise in fuel duty due to come into effect in August and frozen the tax for the remainder of the year. The Treasury said the fuel duty move had been planned for some time (Picture: PA) The chancellor told MPs the move, which will save motorists £500million, would be paid for from departmental savings across Whitehall.'We are on the side of working families and businesses and this will fuel our recovery at this very difficult economic time for the world,' Mr Osborne said in the Commons to cheers from the Conservative MPs.'The one-...
• Girl given 14 train tickets for Leicester to Leeds round tripRachel Woodward needed 14 tickets to get to Leicester from Leeds and back again by train. Rachel Woodward was given 14 tickets for the 200-mile round trip (Picture: PA) A ticket machine at Leeds printed out 14 passes “ and a receipt “ for Ms Woodward, who had booked the 320km (200-mile) round trip on the web. They were made up of two tickets for her and four for her bicycle, plus four seat reservations and four for the bike. ˜When I was at the machine the tickets would just not stop coming out,™ said Ms Woodward, 28. ˜At first, I thought there was something wrong because there were 15 bits ...

Northern Echo

• Crackdown on railway metal thieves sees 69 per cent drop in crime A BLITZ on metal theft, which has been plaguing the region’s railways, is already paying dividends with a 69 per cent drop in such crimes, police have revealed.

The York Press

• New trains for East Coast line as franchise consultation launched THE Government today promised a brand new fleet of trains on the railway from York to London as it launched a consultation for the East Coast Main Line franchise.

Wales Online

• Dramatic rise in cycling casualties on Welsh roadsThere has been a dramatic rise in the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured on Welsh roads, with new figures showing a 74% increase in 2011 compared to 2010.

Yorkshire Post

• Tracsis’ ‘flight recorders’ see profits upgrade TRACSIS, the Leeds University spin-out whose software can prevent train derailments and delays, announced its third profit upgrade this year, sending its shares up 14 per cent.

Other Regional Press

• Thames Estuary Airport NOT the right moveA new report by businesses in the South East supports developing existing airports like Manston instead.
• Thomson and First Choice take flight at Leeds Bradford AirportHOLIDAY firms Thomson and First Choice are set to double capacity at Leeds Bradford Airport next summer – with the introduction of new routes to Menorca, Ibiza, Rhodes, Tenerife and the addition of another weekly flight for existing Mallorca and Turkey routes.
• MP backs scrapped rise in fuel dutyAn MP has welcomed news that a rise in fuel duty planned for August has been scrapped until the end of the year.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Affordable fares key to a happy commute26 June 2012: Depending on where you live, commuting can be perceived as a Darwinian race between the strongest pushers to get into an overcrowded and expensive train or a more pleasant experience. read more

Global Rail News

• Bombardier confirms $266 million orderBombardier Transportation has announced that the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) has confirmed an order for 150 additional rail cars valued at around $266 million. The order represents the exercise of an option under a contract signed on June 14, 2012. With this option, Bombardier now has firm orders for 410 cars [...]
• ˜Feel-good art™ goes on display at Ashford InternationalArtwork sponsored by High Speed 1 has gone on display at Ashford International Station. Several large-scale pieces by artist John Lester have gone on display in the station concourse and lounges. The installation includes a billboard poster depicting a high speed journey from London to Paris and four five-metre high banners portraying travel, sport and [...]
• Three days at InfrarailThe rail industry was out in force at the ninth Infrarail Exhibition, held at the NEC near Birmingham. Over 5,500 people came to see more than 200 exhibitors. The team from RailStaff was there too along with writers from the rail engineer “ which hosted a series of well attend seminars. RailStaff™s new format attracted [...]
• Manufacturing moves overseas as Downer sign five-year deal with EMDDowner EDI Limited has signed a new five-year agreement with Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) which will see locomotive manufacturing move away from Australian soil. Under the new agreement, EMD will manufacture all locomotives for the Australian market at a new low-cost facility overseas. Downer will continue to sell EMD locomotives and after-market products, including spare parts, [...]
• MP opens new £13.5 million freight linkThames Gateway Minister, Bob Neill, has officially opened a new £13.5 million freight link from the North Kent Line to the former Lafarge Cement Works at Northfleet. To mark the official opening the Minister, along with invited guests, travelled in a special passenger train from London Victoria into Lafarge’s Northfleet site via the reinstated rail [...]
• Furze-Waddock joins National ExpressNational Express Group has today announced that Paul Furze-Waddock will be joining the company as its commercial development director from October. The commercial development director role will focus on the company™s future strategic commercial opportunities in the  UK and abroad. Mr Furze-Waddock will also support the company’s UK rail bid teams in future franchise rounds. [...]
• Bungalow railway carriage wins restoration awardA 19th century railway carriage, which spent years of its life as part of a bungalow, has won its class in a competition for restored heritage vehicles. Earlier this year, the Eastbourne Historic Vehicle Club invited Kent & East Sussex Railways (K&ESR) to put forward an entry into its annual competition for restored heritage items. [...]
• Safety by designNetwork Rail believes that all accidents and incidents are avoidable – as all its risks are known about somewhere in its business, either consciously or subconsciously. For this reason, it™s Safety Leadership and Culture Change (SL&CC) programme is promoting risk awareness, proactive involvement and open communications as part of a cultural change programme. This programme [...]

Aviation Industry

• Two American Airlines unions ready to restart contract talksA couple of American Airlines' unions say they are ready to restart contract talks with the Fort Worth-based airline as the deadline looms for a ruling that could throw out its labor contracts.
• Taxpayers Alliance backs anti-APD campaign Lobby group calls for aviation tax to be cut and urges more people to write to their MPs
• 'Mixed mode' flying will not solve Heathrow™s problems “ WalshUsing both runways for landing and take-offs will not fix capacity crunch in the south-east

Other News Sources

• Commons to debate Network Rail's wildlife destruction ONE of Britain’s biggest charities has accused Network Rail of hiding behind a shield of Health and Safety excuses after destroying birds’ nests on railway land in Islington.
• MP™s Flying visit to see Stansted™s Olympic preparations Stansted™s Olympics preparations came under the spotlight on Friday when Eleanor Laing MP paid a visit to see how the airport intends to play its part during this year™s Games.
• New coalition U-turn as Osborne freezes fuel duty Fuel duty will be frozen until the end of the year, George Osborne announced today in another significant Budget U-turn.
• Cyclists get own £1million mile A NEW one mile long cycle path costing £1million has been opened “ although bosses admit they are unsure how many will use it.
• Regus to open business centres at service stationsCentres planned for three motorway services in the UK from the autumn