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

Tuesday, 02 September 2008

BBC News

• Engineers to fix 'shrinking' roadA Scarborough road that slips and slides during wet conditions will be improved as part of the town's new £30m park and ride scheme.
• Road upgrade group meet ministerCampaigners for an upgrade of the A82 road have asked the Scottish Government for a clear programme of improvements in a "reasonable timescale".
• Tolls, traffic jams and tagsMotorists using the Westlink on the M50 near Dublin know all about traffic jams and delays.
• Bridge reopens ahead of scheduleA bridge on the outskirts of north Belfast is to reopen on Wednesday four months ahead of schedule, it has been announced.
• London debates western C-chargePublic consultation on the future of the western extension of the congestion charge will begin later.
• Apology over schools' bus routesA council has apologised after families failed to get information about school bus timetables before the new term.

Financial Times

• Asia moves up on the inside trackA key finding of the worldwide rail market study to be published in September is that in the high-speed and many other segments of the rail industry, Asia is catching up fast on Europe
• Barrage threat to Bristol dock planMoves to transform the docks into the centre of a vast logistics hub serving the Midlands and south-west are threatened by a
• Consortium in €400m move for Alitalia assetsA consortium of Italian investors submits a conditional offer of close to €400m for some of the assets of Alitalia, the loss-making flag carrier that has been placed in receivership

The Guardian

• UPDATE 1-Eurostar sees double-digit growth in 2008* Sees double-digit growth despite downturn * August passenger numbers up nearly 20 percent * Airline woes, St Pancras move both boost business
• On the wrong trackOur railways may be revitalised, but their stations risk becoming glorified shopping malls
• Return of the seven-day railwayTrying to travel by rail on bank holidays has become a lottery because of engineering closures and, at last, the rail regulator is finally losing patience with Network Rail over the issue.

The Telegraph

• Heathrow's new terminal will not be ready for 2012 OlympicsHeathrow's flagship new terminal hailed as the gateway to the 2012 London Olympics will not be ready for the event.

Times Online

• Four great USA rail journeys Americans are falling out of love with domestic flying, and who can blame them? With both fares and delays increasing, fees for checked-in luggage becoming the norm, JetBlue charging for pillows and blankets, and US Airways removing its in-flight entertainment systems to save weight, it’s a grimmer experience than ever. At least, this was the point of view expressed by Charles, the man sitting opposite me on the high-speed Acela train from New York to Washington.
• Factory riots put Tata's Nano in jeopardy The future of the Nano - the world's cheapest car - remains in doubt as protestors besiege the partly built factory where production of Tata's £1,250 vehicle is supposed to begin within a month.
• Ryanair ready to renew Aer Lingus fight Ryanair, Europe's largest airline, plans to revive a €1 billion (£800 million) bid for Aer Lingus as part of a wave of consolidation in European aviation.
• Aston Martin plans to revive the legendary Lagonda to pull away from sports cars Aston Martin will revive its famous Lagonda brand in an attempt to broaden its range and move beyond producing sports cars only.

Reuters News

• Branson eyes London Gatwick airportLONDON (Reuters) - Richard Branson, the billionaire owner of airline Virgin Atlantic, would be interested in bidding for Gatwick airport if it were put up for sale, but only if other partners could be brought in.

The Sun

• Read you thisDRIVERS in Norfolk are urged to cut their speed — by roadsigns written in local dialect

Network Rail

• £11m INVESTMENT IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE RAIL TUNNEL
• LINCOLN BACK ON THE RAILS

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Arriva ’abandons’ 100 passengersOVER 100 North Wales-bound rail passengers were “abandoned” by Arriva Trains at Crewe, a former Assembly minister claimed.
• Token effort is railway safety boostA FIVE-YEAR quest across the globe ends today when vital equipment is handed over to railway chiefs.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Mother's outrage at infant bus fare policyA MOTHER of triplets has accused Lothian Buses of discriminating against her by only allowing two of her babies to travel for free.
• Long road ahead for efforts to boost public transport useIF you are reading this on a crowded bus or train then you will need no reminding that public transport is in the midst of a renaissance right now.

Liverpool Post

• Marine park plan for Liverpool waterfrontA NEW maritime park will help fuel the revival of Liverpool’s waterfront thanks to almost £2m of new funding.

Manchester Evening News

• Driven round the bend!MOTORISTS are being driven to distraction by a pair of roundabouts built side-by-side.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• New technology could see buses avoiding traffic jamsBuses could soon be the only way to avoid being caught in traffic at canal bridges, if an ambitious plan is given the go-ahead.
• Budget airline Zoom folded with debts of up to £25mBosses at a collapsed transatlantic budget airline said its debts are likely to total between £20million and £25million.
• Car concerns as fares rise for second time in six monthsBus fares in Aberdeen will rise for the second time in six months on September 7, prompting fears that congestion in the city could also rise as passengers revert to taking the car.

The York Press

• Talks to start on commuter halts A LONG-AWAITED new rail service linking villages to the north of York and the centre of the city could be about to move a step closer.
• Tourist coaches could be allowed to use priority lanes BUS passengers in York could be set for delays, under plans to let tourist coaches share their priority lanes.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Dales railway takes trip back in time to wartime BritainMILITARY trains still occasionally run on the Wensleydale Railway – delivering armoured vehicles to a railhead for onward transport to Catterick Garrison – but the clock was turned back to the Second World War at the weekend.
• More guided buses for Leeds in £3m investmentTransport chiefs took a ride on a successful guided bus route to mark a new £3m investment.

Bucks Free Press

• Youngsters' train-ing over rail dangersYOUNGSTERS will learn about the dangers of trespassing on railway lines this week at a rail crime awareness day.

Peterborough Telegraph

• TRANSPORT: Bid to run buses to leisure spotsA DRIVE has been launched for a new bus service to run to Peterborough's Showcase Cinemas and other leisure facilities.

Western Daily Press

• New Taunton road will destroy our havenResidents in a suburban haven in Taunton have launched a campaign to prevent their quality of life from being destroyed by a congestion-busting stretch of road.
• Tidal wave of attacks on West transport workersUrgent action is needed to tackle a

International Herald Tribune

• Next-generation London taxis offend traditionalistsNew van-based Daimler vehicles are making inroads on the traditional black cab.
• For U.S. airlines, no end in sight to fuel cost strugglesU.S. airlines had hoped for a fresh start in September, with streamlined schedules and smaller fleets that were meant to help them cope better with the high cost of jet fuel.

Railnews

• Opinion: Local level policing is key to the future Four events occurred in August that highlight a significant problem facing the rail industry at the moment.
• Opinion: Seeking to improve on success Balancing the requirements of Britain's first high-speed line and a traditional long-distance route does not daunt Dyan Crowther after a 22-year railway career spent juggling demands. Network Rail's route director, Midland and Continental, talks to Paul Whiting about the complexities of her new role.
• Opinion: Nexus deal will put metro management to the test IN last month’s column I referred to the withholding of an announcement about £300 million investment in the Tyne & Wear Metro system, which proudly proclaims to be “the best performing rail operator in the UK last year”.
• News: Container traffic could double by year 2015 A NEW study by the Freight Transport Association and the Rail Freight Group predicts demand for rail freight will double by 2030.
• News: Donated nameplates help keep speed legend alive VIRGIN Trains has donated a pair of cast metal ’Donald Campbell’ nameplates, named after the famous record breaker, to help keep the Bluebird K7 hydroplane restoration project on track.
• News: Engineer’s auto-coupler refurb is ’outstanding success’ TYNE and Wear Metro operator Nexus is saving £20,000 a year by refurbishing and manufacturing auto-coupler components from its metro cars, rather than having to purchase completely new units.
• News: ’Dragons Den’ contest ideas could save £millions TUBE Lines is running its own ’Dragons Den’ style challenge cup competition to encourage and reward employees who come up with business improvement ideas.
• News: The ’bad news’ report that helped build today’s railway When the Serpell report was published 25 years ago it sent shockwaves throughout the railway industry.
• News: New for old as £billion-plus upgrades start to take shape From the Central Belt of Scotland to rural Lincolnshire and south London, engineers working for Network Rail and Transport for London are carrying out some of the biggest rail enhancement projects on the national network.
• News: Stay sober or face ban, fans are warned BT Police has called on football fans using trains and stations to act responsibly during the coming season after a 10 per cent increase in football related incidents last season across England, Wales and Scotland.
• News: Calls for route extension as passenger numbers double CALLS for more double track, new services and extra stations have been made after the new Ebbw Vale rail service in South Wales raced past its three-year passenger predictions in just six months.

Transport for London

• Only three weeks left to design a new bus for LondonBudding bus designers have just three weeks left to submit designs for a new bus for London.
• Back to school - but will you be getting free travel?Families in London are being reminded to take advantage of free bus and tram travel for their children with the new school year about to begin.

Aviation Industry

• Urban transport options need to be updatedUrban transport options need to steer away from a ’one size fits all approach’ in order to better serve our ageing population, according to research by Newcastle University.
• UK workers could save 55 hours a year with basic remote workingPeople who commute by train to the UK’s largest cities outside London could save 55 hours a year – more than two whole days – if they were equipped to work from home just one day a week, according to research.
• Train Safety: Season Of Mists And Leaves On The LineScienceDaily (Sep. 2, 2008) — The season of mists, mellow fruitfulness, and leaves on the line is almost upon us. But, scientists have discovered that rather than blaming the train companies passengers suffering annual delays should look to the weather forecast.
• Southwest Airlines to cut 200 flightsSouthwest Airlines Co., which had resisted the kinds of capacity cuts being made by other carriers, will eliminate nearly 200 flights early next year as it struggles with high fuel costs and a weakening ...
• No autopilot for Delta CEO on merger, fuel costsOne year into Richard Anderson's tenure at the helm of Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, the company is on the brink of becoming the world's largest carrier through its purchase of Northwest Airlines.
• Easyjet lowers fees on GDS bookingsAirline continues crackdown on screen scraping.

Green Miscellany

• National Express rewards green choicesTrain operator National Express East Coast is launching its first ever rewards scheme in a bid to encourage travellers to make greener travel choices.
• Green travel encouragement from building societyA building society is offering its employees a chance to adopt more green forms of transport, it has been reported.

Other News Sources

• Station short-cut could be blockedSHEFFIELD Council leader Paul Scriven wants residents to have their say over controversial plans by rail bosses to fence off the rail station footbridge.
• Time running out to sign rail track petitionCOUNTY residents have just three more days to sign a petition calling for an extra track on the railway between Kemble and Swindon.
• Ryanair asks Microsoft to help block screen scrapersRyanair has enlisted the help of software giant Microsoft to ramp up its attempts to block third parties from screen scraping fares from its website.
• SAFED Aggregates scheme gets cash injectionThe Department for Transport and Defra have announced financial support of up to £850,000 from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund to support greener, safer driving techniques for 2,100 truck drivers in the aggregates sector.
• UntitledIn a move possibly more to irritate than be taken seriously, it is reported that BA has
• Norbert Dentressangle 'doubles in size'Norbert Dentressangle (ND) claims to have effectively doubled in size as a result of its acquisition of Christian Salvesen.
• Maersk reports profit despite tough marketMaersk's container shipping operation has returned to profit in the first six months of the year.
• Heathrow will be able to handle more A380s following wake separation reductionLondon Heathrow airport will be able to handle more Airbus A380s as a result of the...
• Spanair: No justification for changing jet before fatal crashSpanish operator Spanair insists it did not plan to switch the Boeing MD-82 lost at Madrid for another aircraft following the crew's initial decision to...
• Biofuel sustainability deal in sightThe French EU Presidency will this week attempt to clinch a deal on sustainability criteria for biofuels in order to ensure that the Union's goal of increasing their share to 10% of transport fuels by 2020 does not provoke major negative environmental side-effects.
• New Metrolink line to get car parksTransport bosses have announced plans to create two large park and ride sites on the new Metrolink line to Oldham and Rochdale.