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

Tuesday, 07 February 2012

BBC News

• Mayor should control rail servicesBoris Johnson has called for the government to hand over the London Rail network so he could Improve the "totally inefficient" service
• 'Expect Olympic transport delays'The head of Network Rail, Sir David Higgins, warns people to expect travel disruption during the London Olympics - but not to panic about it.
• TfL seeks 300 Tube station staffLondon Underground is recruiting 300 Tube station staff but the RMT accuses it of plugging gaps after a 2010 cost-cutting measure.
• Boris brands trains 'inefficient'Boris Johnson calls for the government to hand over London's rail network, branding the service
• Network Rail boss forgoes bonusNetwork Rail bosses, including chief executive Sir David Higgins, say they will not accept bonuses this year amid growing political pressure.

The Guardian

• Network Rail bosses waive bonusChief executive Sir David Higgins says six senior managers will forgo payouts this year and money will be used to improve safetyThe head of Network Rail has become the latest taxpayer-funded executive to be forced to waive a bonus after his company announced that he and five fellow senior managers would not be seeking a payout this year.Sir David Higgins, the chief executive of the state-backed company, was one of six Network Rail bosses who were due to discuss a possible

The Herald

• We need the mindset that says public transport is a service, not a businessTHE two consultations on the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) and the ScotRail 2014 re-franchising both expose a major flaw in current transport policy.

The Telegraph

• British railways need 30 years of investment to match Europe, admits head of Network RailBritish railways need 30 years of continuous investment to match those of Europe, the head of Network Rail, Sir David Higgins has admitted.
• Transport Secretary welcomes Network Rail bonus step downJustine Greening says Network Rail's CEO Sir David Higgins has done the right thing by waiving his bonus for a planned six-figure award.

Mail Online

• Network Rail bosses reject bonuses, money will be spent on safety measures insteadThe executives were facing growing pressure to turn down the payouts in the wake of the row over bonuses for banking staff.

London Evening Standard

• Rail chief: Expect bad things during GamesThe head of Britain's railways - himself a former Olympics chief - has issued a blunt warning about severe travel disruption during the Games
• Rail chiefs give their bonuses to new safety improvementsNetwork Rail bosses bowed to pressure and agreed to give up bumper bonuses which were exposed by the Evening Standard
• Network Rail bosses waive bonusesThe chief executive and other directors of Network Rail became the latest top bosses to waive lucrative bonuses when they decided to give the money to safety improvements instead.

Metro

• Police launch investigation into latest 'racist rant' on public transport videoPolice are investigating a video that apparently shows a passenger racially abusing other travellers on a Central Line Tube train between St Paul™s and Mile End stations.
• Network Rail bosses waive bonuses after shake-up warningNetwork rail bosses have abandoned plans to accept bonuses this year after intense pressure from rail passenger groups, unions, Transport Secretary Justine Greening and the media.
• Up to 300 tube jobs announced year after 800 staff cut in 'massive blunder'London Underground has ˜made a massive blunder™ by trying to recruit 300 new staff less than a year after shedding hundreds of similar jobs, says a prominent union boss.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post commented Will tram bring a joined-up transport system to town?WITH an estimated five million people set to pass through it every year, there is an urgent need for a new Beeston bus and tram...

Other Regional Press

• UK & World News: Network Rail bosses waive bonusesThe chief executive and other directors of Network Rail became the latest top bosses to waive lucrative bonuses when they decided to give the money to safety improvements instead.

Global Rail News

• Public to have say on rail policing in South WalesRail passengers in South East Wales have the chance to ‘have their say’ on how the rail network is policed in their area. British Transport Police are holding drop-in surgeries this week to find out what issues are affecting train passengers in the region. Inspector Gary Ash, who is in charge of BTP™s Welsh Neighbourhood [...]
• Strengthening masonry archesFor nearly fifteen years, the arch strengthening design and build service known as Archtec has been successfully used by many bridge owners to help manage their bridge stock. Now, this technology is being used for railway bridges and is set to introduce similar benefits to those that have been well recognised by highway authorities. Originally [...]
• Network Rail bosses waive bonusesNetwork Rail’s Chief Executive has said he won’t be receiving a bonus this year. Sir David Higgins said: “I and my directors decided last week that we would forego any entitlement and instead allocate the money to the safety improvement fund for level crossings. I can confirm that remains our intention.” A general meeting was [...]

London TravelWatch

• London TravelWatch welcomes publication of the Mayor of London™s ˜Rail Vision™ documentLondon TravelWatch has welcomed the publication of the Mayor of London™s ˜Rail Vision™ document, which today asks the Government for the power to integrate suburban London railways into the Transport for London (TfL) network

Other News Sources

• New research shows that privatisation has dumped UK railways at the bottom of the league with worse to come under McNulty rail reviewA NEW REPORT commissioned by rail union RMT from the think tank Just Economics reveals that two decades of private profiteering, alongside years of underinvestment in infra-structure while fares have gone through the roof, has dumped the UK's railways at the bottom of the league compared to other parts of Europe.
• Network Rail chiefs abandon bonusesNetwork Rail's bosses have decided to waive their bonuses this year, ahead of what would have been a damaging board meeting on Friday.
• Mayor sets out plan to improve capital's railwaysThe Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, will ask the Government to hand over to him the power to franchise the suburban London railways so that he can greatly improve the services they offer.