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

Friday, 13 February 2009

BBC News

• Anger over new UK trains contractThere has been anger over the government's decision to award a £7.5bn contract to build a fleet of inter-city trains to Japanese firm Hitachi.
• Airbag jacket 'could save lives'Dozens of motorcyclists' lives could be saved every year if airbag jackets were made compulsory, accident and emergency doctors have said.
• Bridge commuters choose bus [video]High bridge tolls and parking charges have led to an increase in bus use over the Humber Bridge.
• London rail link gets green lightAn orbital rail network for London has come a step closer after a £75m rail project was given the green light by ministers.
• EU plans new charges for lorriesEuro MPs back a draft law that would bring in extra road charges to curb congestion and pollution from lorries.
• Renault sees 78% fall in profitFrench carmaker Renault reports a steep fall in profits and abandons its targets for 2009, blaming the economic crisis.
• Rolls-Royce bullish in recessionAircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce is confident of its long-term prospects, as it reports a 10% rise in annual profits.
• Ryanair cuts flights and 200 jobsAn aircraft maintenance firm says it plans to close its operation at Dublin Airport with the loss of up to 1,135 jobs.
• Virgin Atlantic eyes 600 job cutsVirgin Atlantic is consulting with staff over the possibility of making up to 600 redundancies across the business.

Financial Times

• Chrysler faced with equity carve-upChrysler's restructuring plan could see the combined equity of owners Cerberus and Daimler shrink to less than 10 per cent, with the rest of the company divided between the US government, the United Auto Workers' union, bank lenders and Italian carmaker Fiat, according to people close to the US carmaker
• Former pilot favourite to be chief aviation regulatorRandy Babbitt, a consultant and former airline pilot, has emerged as the leading candidate to become the next leading US civil-aviation regulator. US officials are...
• Hitachi-led group favourite for train contractA consortium headed by the Japanese manufacturer is the preferred bidder for a £7.5bn tender to build the next generation of long-distance express lines, one of the UK's biggest-ever orders
• Orbital line for London on trackMinisters and Transport for London have agreed funding for a new extension to the East London line, giving the city a full orbital overground rail service in time for the 2012 Olympics

The Guardian

• Restoring our railways [ by Theresa Villiers]While we welcome today's announcement on express trains, we also question why it has taken so long to get to this stage. The procurement process for this project has been painfully slow and very expensive, demonstrating that government micromanagement is pushing up costs and slowing up progress on improving our railways. And there is still no sign of the 1,300 extra carriages that the government has been promising for years.
• Spin claims over £7.5bn train contract given to JapanThe government was accused by trade union leaders yesterday of failing to safeguard UK jobs after awarding a £7.5bn trains contract to a Japanese-led consortium.
• Fast train to futilityWith the possible exception of Dr Dolittle's fabulous Pushmi-pullyu, Britain's new supertrain is the strangest contraption ever devised. A hybrid of reliable Japanese engineering and less trustworthy British investment banking, some are to be electric, some diesel and some will have an electric motor at one end and a diesel at the other.
• Union fury over Japanese train dealThe government sparked a trade union backlash today after awarding a £7.5bn train contract to a Japanese-led consortium and admitting that some of the 12,500 jobs created or safeguarded by the deal will be based outside Britain.The news came in the wake of a wave of wildcat strikes over the use of foreign labour at oil refineries and power plants. Britain's largest rail trade union, the RMT, added to those protests today after questioning the decision to award the trains contract to a consortium that will construct at least some parts of the first batch of 1,400 carriages in Japan rather than ...

The Herald

• Skills body and airport to axe 300 staffEmployment: Almost 300 more jobs are set to be axed after a Scottish Government quango set up to improve skills and training and one of the country’s largest airports announced that they had become the latest casualties of the economic downturn.
• New generation of trains will cut journey times and create 2500 jobsScottish rail passengers will benefit from a new fleet of

The Independent

• 'British jobs for British workers' pledge exposedMinisters admit a third of inter-city train contract's work will go overseas
• Trains jobs boost queried as Japan factory confirmed The Government faced growing controversy tonight after awarding a £7.5 billion contract to build new trains to a consortium including a Japanese company that will carry out some of the work in its own country.

The Scotsman

• Japan linked to £7.5bn trains dealThe Government is facing growing controversy after awarding a £7.5 billion contract to build new trains to a consortium including a Japanese company which will carry out some

The Telegraph

• Nine-year-old left behind because he was 5p light of new fare for school busEthan had waited in the biting cold for the 8.10am service with his usual £1.55 to cover the cost of the journey.
• National Express in focus as City's trainspotters watch recession steam aheadOk commuters. Who said this? "We have won with a bid which is ambitious, deliverable and structured to generate shareholder value." Funnily enough, that was not Sir Fred Goodwin, the ex-Royal Bank of Scotland boss, waxing lyrical over his ABN Amro deal. It was Richard Bowker, back in August 2007.
• Row as Japan-led consortium wins £7.5 billion train contractA decision to award a £7.5 billion train contract to a Japanese-led consortium has been roundly criticised by unions and MPs, who say it casts further doubt on Government claims about British jobs for British workers.

Times Online

• Payout victory for stranded air passengers Air passengers will be able to claim millions of pounds in compensation for cancelled flights after a secret deal between British Airways and a group of complainants, The Times has learnt.

Reuters News

• Rail firms next in line for government helpLONDON (Reuters) - Rail operators will become the latest industry to turn to the government for help if the economy and the number of commuters using their trains continue to shrink.
• Poll finds Heathrow most tedious international airportFlying into Heathrow or New York's JFK? Then steel yourself for the world's longest passport queues, the lengthiest wait for luggage and some of the rudest passport staff, a global survey shows.

Daily Record

• Exclusive: 120 jobs set to go at crisis-hit Prestwick AirportBOSSES at Prestwick airport are axing a quarter of their workforce.

Mail Online

• Victory for the airline passengers whose flights are cancelled Airline passengers are now far more likely to win compensation for cancelled flights, following a landmark legal ruling.

ATOC

• Rail industry needs to work together to deliever successful intercity express programme, says ATOCToday™s appointment by the Department for Transport of the preferred bidder to build the new trains for the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) is a significant step in delivering a modern main line train fit for use in the 21st Century. Michael Roberts, Chief Executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said: œThe new fleet brings the promise of attractive rail travel for passengers, as well as much-needed new capacity with a lower carbon footprint for long distance operators.

Transport Briefing

• East London Line phase two extension secures fundingPhase two of the East London Line extension will be constructed in time for the 2012 Olympic Games following a £75m funding deal between Transport for London and the government.
• BAA signs off Edinburgh Airport terminal extensionBAA has unveiled plans for a £40m upgrade of Edinburgh Airport.
• Lime Street station square deal goes to Balfour BeattyBalfour Beatty Regional Civil Engineering has been awarded the contract to create a new public square in front of Liverpool Lime Street station.
• Islington offers TfL £5m to lose Highbury gyratoryIslington Council in north London has offered Transport for London £5m to help pay for improvements to the area outside Highbury and Islington station.
• Hitachi shortlists three UK sites for European rail baseHitachi, the Japanese train manufacturer which will build Britain's new generation of inter-city trains, has drawn up a shortlist of three UK locations for its new train assembly facility.
• Bombardier salvages train order with Stansted ExpressTrain manufacturer Bombardier Transportation is poised to secure a deal to build 120 new train carriages for the Stansted Express service connecting London Liverpool Street station to Stansted Airport.

Airwise News

• Barnsley finds £1.4m to fund kids’ free bus travelBarnsley looks set to become the first place outside London to offer its young people free travel on buses in a scheme aimed at social and environmental objectives.

Derby Telegraph

• Firm hides disappointment while there are still opportunities on the horizonBOMBARDIER had been waiting at the platform a long time for the Government decision on the Intercity Express programme – but when it arrived, it was the wrong one.
• Why, during a recession, are you allowing trains to be built in Japan rather than in Derby?TRANSPORT Secretary Geoff Hoon was under growing pressure today to reconsider giving a £7.5bn rail contract to a Japanese firm. The Government snubbed Derby trainmaker Bombardier, claiming Hitachi, its preferred bidder for the next generation of Intercity trains, would create or safeguard 12,500 UK jobs.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Council faces legal claims after failing to grit dangerous roadsA SPATE of accidents were reported on Lothian roads after council workers "misinterpreted" icy weather forecasts and kept gritters locked up.

London Evening Standard

• T5 designs fly highTerminal 5 at Heathrow has featured twice on the shortlist for a leading design contest
• Airlines face glut of claims after European rulingAirlines are bracing themselves for meeting a large number of compensation claims from passengers who have suffered cancelled flights due to
• TfL chief: I only reacted to snow on the morning afterTransport bosses have admitted that blunder after blunder brought London to a halt in the snow - but blamed each other for the mistakes

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Demand over area™s exclusion from transport reviewTHE head of transport at Moray Council has written to the Scottish Government to ask why Moray was left out of a transport review.

Wales Online

• Journey to London in a 2040 train to take longer than in 1977TRAINS travelling between South Wales and London will be slower in 2040 than they were in 1977, it has emerged.
• Virgin Atlantic plans 600 jobs cutAs many as 600 jobs are at risk at Sir Richard Branson’s airline Virgin Atlantic, it was revealed today.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds depot plan for the super trainsLEEDS is to get a state-of-the-art train maintenance depot to help service a new fleet of eco-friendly super trains.
• Row over Japan link in £7.5bn trains contractThe Government's overhaul of its ageing high-speed train fleet will create new depots in Leeds and Doncaster, cut journey times to London and possibly provide a new factory in Sheffield.
• Council to look at Leeds road scheme againHIGHWAY chiefs are investigating possible alternatives to a proposed road and junction improvement scheme in Leeds halted in the face of public opposition.

Sunderland Echo

• Car industry in 'perfect storm'Car manufacturers like Nissan have been caught in a "perfect storm" of economic problems, says the man spearheading efforts to save the British auto industry.

International Herald Tribune

• At German ports, some see opportunity in economic stormLogistics operators in places like Hamburg and Bremerhaven are looking to invest now to be ready for the recovery.

The Economist

• The truck industry: A long haulTruckmakers are suffering, but their future is not entirely bleakIF THE car business is in meltdown, things are only marginally better for truck manufacturers. The results just posted by the two Swedish giants of the industry, Volvo and Scania, painted a picture of collapsing orders with little respite in sight. When Daimler, the world’s biggest truckmaker, and MAN, the fourth-largest, report next week, they are expected to confirm that the industry is facing one of the worst busts in its history.It was not supposed to be like this. Just 18 months ago the collective valuation of the worl...

Washington Post

• GM's Talks With Bondholders Go Down to the Wire With a deadline just days away, General Motors bondholders still have not signed off on concessions aimed at helping the struggling automaker win additional federal aid, said people familiar with the deliberations of a committee representing bondholders.
• Toyota cutting US execs' pay, offering buyouts NEW YORK -- Toyota Motor Corp. is reacting to the slump in U.S. auto sales by further cutting North American production, slashing executives' compensation up to 30 percent and offering buyouts to about 18,000 workers.

Railnews

• News: Hitachi to power new ’British’ intercity trains and Bombardier to build 120 coaches GOVERNMENT talk of early mainline electrification has been muddied by an announcement that a consortium—described as ’British led’ but based on Hitachi Japanese technology, including hybrid systems, —has been selected to build a fleet of so-called Super Express trains to replace the 20-30 year old InterCity 125 diesel-powered trains.

Aviation Industry

• Lowdown: Transport companiesCompanies involved in the bus and train sector are commonly seen as defensive shares to own during a recession with reasonable dividend yields and long-term fixed revenues, but investors should be aware of how the bureaucracy works in this highly regulated sector so as not to be caught out by hidden surprises.
• Air Berlin flies with electronic navigation charts from Lufthansa Systems (press release) German airline opts for further Lido products to optimize its flight operations read more
• Major airlines call for global CO2 deal Emissions should be in new global climate deal read more

Other News Sources

• MEPs divided over congestion charges for trucksDespite opposition from conservative MEP's, the European Parliament's transport committee yesterday (11 February) adopted a report backing national governments' right to charge heavy goods vehicles for the noise, pollution and congestion they cause.
• Brent draws up tender notice for borough-wide bicycle hire schemeThe London Borough of Brent is to invite tenders for a borough-wide cycle hire scheme that could be up and running this summer.
• MP TONY’S A66 DUAL ALTERNATIVESWORKINGTON MP Tony Cunningham has responded to comments from West Cumbrians about his suggestions for improving the A66.
• TV SHOW GOES ON THE ROAD WITH STOBARTA TV PROGRAMME will go behind the scenes of trucking giant Eddie Stobart when it is shown on national TV next week.
• MSP Urges Stobart To Rethink Depot ClosureWORKERS at Stobart Chilled in Larkhall who are faced with the prospect of redundancy met MSP Karen Gillon in a bid to soften the impending jobs blow.
• Bus chief pledges to cut journey timesNORTH managers of Stagecoach have pledged to cut journey times on its scheduled daily return service between Caithness and Inverness.
• Get real, BAA tells protestersA WAR of words has broken out between a campaign group against plans for expansion at Stansted Airport and the company which owns it. A spokesman for BAA told members of Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) to "get in the real world" after the lobby accused the company of "living in a Walter Mitty world of make believe"
• A14 MP attacks call to cut national roads cashPROPOSALS by Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg to slash the national road budget have been slammed by A14 campaigners in Cambridgeshire.
• MP calls to keep lay-bysPLANS to shut off two lay-bys on the A142 south of Ely have been criticised by MP Jim Paice.
• 'Super-express' train to slash journey timesPASSENGERS at Cambridge rail station will enjoy shorter journeys and fewer delays after the Government ordered a new fleet of "super- express" trains.
• Majority in favour of new rail stationMORE than 90 per cent of respondents to a News survey say they would welcome a new train station in Cambridge.
• Sunday bus services axedMyall's popular 104 bus service to Cambridge city centre will be stopped next month, ending a 20-year service for residents in Cottenham and Histon.
• Bus firm cuts pricesBUS journeys around Ipswich are to have their cost cut with a new £5 Day Rover ticket introduced by the town's bus company.
• Council deletes bus pass detailsDISABLED and elderly Penarthians who have yet to receive a new style smartcard bus pass may have to reapply – after details of existing holders were accidentally wiped from Vale of Glamorgan Council records.
• Train-building contract could create 500 jobsNEW trains which could be built in Sheffield creating 500 jobs would be launched onto the rail network between 2013 and 2018, transport secretary Geoff Hoon revealed.
• Susan Kramer to table Heathrow expansion billRichmond Park MP Susan Kramer will table a bill to stop airport expansion being covered by the new Planning Act.
• Heathrow Service 'Worst In World'British travellers vote Heathrow the worst international airport for queues and baggage problems, but the best in the world for security.
• Virgin Atlantic could cut 600 jobsVirgin Atlantic is considering cutting 600 jobs from the airline's 8,500-strong workforce.
• Payout victory for stranded air passengersA potentially groundbreaking ruling for air passengers who suffer delays and cancellations means that airlines cannot shirk compensation so easily
• Queues at Heathrow condemnedHeathrow is the worst major global airport for passport queues and baggage problems, a survey of travellers shows.
• Iveco fits HGVs with EEV as standardIveco has become the first manufacturer in the UK to include the Enhanced Environmentally friendly Vehicle (EEV) emission level as a standard feature on its HGV range...
• Unite to survey drivers on parking facilitiesUnite is surveying truck drivers to gauge their opinion of facilities out on the road. The union wants drivers to call its special hotline to highlight the problems they face in finding somewhere safe to park...
• East London Line extension to Clapham to be built by London 2012The Government today confirmed a £75M extension of the East London Line (ELL) to Clapham Junction, to be completed by the time the London 2012 Olympic Games start.
• Virgin Atlantic may axe 600 staff
• Hundreds of Virgin Atlantic jobs at risk Up to 600 jobs are at risk at Virgin Atlantic, the airline has revealed.
• Operator hits out at HSBC over loanA Derby operator has branded banks' promises to free up credit and help out firms following an unprecedented government cash injection
• Ports back US stimulus billUS PORT officials are urging congressmen to approve President Barack Obama™s stimulus package “ which is expected to come to final votes today in the House and Senate.
• Ryanair cutting flights between Manchester and DublinLow-cost airline Ryanair said it is cutting the number of flights between Manchester and its Dublin base because of dispute over tax and charges.