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

Thursday, 23 April 2009

BBC News

• Bus users 'need one-hour tickets'Campaigners are calling for one-hour tickets to be introduced on London's buses to make journeys easier. A petition has been started by the Liberal Democrats at City Hall who say London's mayor should give people travelling by bus "a fair deal".
• Union slams rail fares increaseRail passengers in the East Midlands are facing another increase in train fares next month - less than four months after the last rise.
• Car scrapping scheme announcedMotorists buying new cars will get a £2,000 discount if they trade in cars that are more than 10 years old, the chancellor announces.
• Banks 'in bid for Chrysler stake'Lenders owed billions of dollars by carmaker Chrysler are prepared to swap this debt for a stake in the firm, reports say.
• Peugeot Citroen sales drop by 25%Peugeot Citroen, France's biggest carmaker, reports a fall in sales of a quarter in the first three months of the year.
• Boeing sees profits fall by 50%Aircraft maker Boeing is hit as passengers carriers and cargo operators are affected by the global economic downturn.

Financial Times

• Arriva route struggles to maintain profitabilityPassenger revenue growth on one of Arriva’s key routes has dipped sharply over the past three months, heightening fears of a sharp slowdown in rail travel in the wake of the recession.
• Volkswagen eyes move on Porsche Volkswagen considers audacious bid for Porsche's carmaking business in a move that would bring relief to indebted holding company
• Hitachi pulls out of train biddingThe Department for Transport's train procurement programme suffered a new blow yesterday when Japan's Hitachi pulled out of bidding for one of the UK's biggest ever...
• Relief at lower losses at Delta and UnitedDelta Air Lines and United Airlines reported smaller-than-expected quarterly losses as cuts to flight schedules and lower jet fuel prices helped both US carriers endure a steep drop in demand for air travel
• Low-cost airlinesDoes Southwest Airlines' first quarterly loss in 18 years and its halting of decades of relentless expansion offer lessons for more youthful carriers?

The Guardian

• On your trike!They're touted as an eco-friendly alternative to the family car. But how practical is the new breed of three-wheeler?

The Herald

• MSPs must fight for high-speed networkSNP MSP Rob Gibson highlighted The Herald's campaign to improve rail services, contrasting failings highlighted in reports with the "step-change" travellers experienced when using Eurostar.
• Train firms are accused of ’rank profiteering’ over rail fare risesTrain companies were accused of “rank profiteering” and “daylight robbery” yesterday for raising rail fares when the economy is suffering from deflation.

The Independent

• Scrappage & petrol: Petrol price hikes will put cash in No 11's tankThe Chancellor provoked outrage from drivers yesterday with the return of the fuel price

The Scotsman

• Motor ahead to pedestrianise our city centreFOR too long the planning priorities for Princes Street and George Street have emphasised motorised transport over walking, cycling and plain enjoyment. Now is the time to change those priorities and put people first. The result would be a stunning central area delivering real economic and environmental benefits.

The Telegraph

• Train companies condemned as passengers face 'scandalous' price risesThe biggest rises are being drawn up by National Express East Coast, which is ready to push up the cost of some tickets by 11 per cent next month – although as a concession, anyone booking these fares via the internet will get a 10 per cent discount.
• Fuel price 'bombshell' as Budget 2009 offers motorists 'generous' scrappage scheme Motorists will face further rises in petrol prices after the Budget despite recent increases in the cost of fuel but a
• Budget 2009: Alistair Darling unveils car scrappage scheme Consumers are to be offered £2000 to scrap their 10yearold vehicle for a new car or van under proposals unveiled by the Chancellor.

Times Online

• Budget go-ahead for £2,000 scrappage incentiveDrivers with cars at least 10 years old will qualify for a £1000 Government grant towards a new one under a scrappage scheme designed to prop up the ailing motor retailing industry.
• Rail companies accused of rip-off over fares hike Rail fares are to rise by up to 11 per cent next month, with passengers who book in advance paying the highest increases.
• CrossCountry rail franchise runs into trouble Shares of transport operators slammed into reverse on Wednesday after Arriva, the bus and train operator, said it was possible that its CrossCountry rail franchise would need support from the Government.
• Boeing and Airbus lose orders as airlines cut back Boeing lost more aircraft orders than it gained during the first three months of this year as struggling airlines cut spending.

Press Association

• Scotland `must fight` for rail linkGreen MSP Patrick Harvie, convener of the committee, told Parliament that the UK had been left behind by other European countries which invested heavily during the 1980s and 90s.

Reuters News

• Go-Ahead Q3 trading meets hopes, demand growsBritain's Go-Ahead Group (GOG.L) said on Thursday that increased demand for its trains and buses helped it to achieve third quarter trading in line with its expectations.

Mail Online

• French transport chiefs outlaw cigarette-puffing Audrey Tautou in Coco Chanel film poster French transport chiefs outlaw cigarette-puffing Audrey Tautou in Coco Chanel film poster
• Children to be tracked by satnav bus passes Children to be tracked by satnav bus passes
• Passenger fury as rail firms raise prices by 11%... as the economy suffers deflationTrain companies were yesterday accused of 'daylight robbery' for raising off-peak rail fares by up to 11 per cent at a time of deflation and recession. Among the operators putting up some fares next month are National Express East Coast, First Great Western, East Midlands Trains, First Capital Connect and CrossCountry.

The Sun

• Grand theft autoDARLING'S 2p hike in fuel tax to pay for Gov scrap plan is branded 'highway robbery'

Network Rail

• NETWORK RAIL APPOINTS AWARD WINNING ARCHITECTS IN MULTI-MILLION NEW BUILD

Transport Briefing

• Transport Scotland releases cash for train depotUp to 40 new jobs are to be created under plans to expand the Shields Road train depot in Glasgow, transport minister Stewart Stevenson announced this week.
• Tottenham Court Road station shortlist revealedFive bidders have been shortlisted by Transport for London for the contract to rebuild Tottenham Court Road Underground station - one of the largest station redevelopment jobs in the capital.
• Architect chosen for Network Rail Milton Keynes baseNetwork Rail has selected architecture practice GMW to design its new 400,000 sq ft national centre in Milton Keynes.
• Oyster charge to be introduced for season ticketsSeason ticket users buying a ticket on an Oyster card for the first time will have to pay a £3 deposit from next month.
• East London Line phase two funding deal revealedA promise not to run East London Line trains into Victoria for a decade was included in the conditions of the Department for Transport's financial support for phase two of the East London Line extension project.
• Victoria rail link traded for East London Line cashFunding for phase two of the East London Line extension was agreed under a secret deal in which Transport for London specified a reduction in National Rail train services, newly published letters from TfL and the Department for Transport reveal.

Belfast Telegraph

• Budget: More petrol rises for motorists Hard-pressed motorists, who have seen petrol pump prices slide back up toward the £1 a litre mark of late, will face further fuel hikes in future months after today's Budget.

Journal Live

• Go-Ahead confident as passenger numbers risePUBLIC transport giant Go-Ahead is riding out the recession as increasing numbers of people use its buses and trains.

Metro

• Fares up by 11% in train ’robbery’Rail companies were accused of 'daylight robbery' today after it emerged that passengers will face fare rises by up to 11 per cent next month.

Sheffield Telegraph

• Rail tunnel route 'unlikely' to openA RAIL expert has claimed it is "extremely unlikely" the rail route through the Woodhead Tunnels between Sheffield and Manchester will ever be reopened.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Station campaign takes step forwardHE campaign for a new railway station in the north-east took an important step forward yesterday when supporters met Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson.
• Violence on north-east buses on riseThere was a œdisgraceful increase in the number of crimes involving violence on buses in the north-east last year, the Press and Journal can reveal.

The York Press

• £500k Clifton Green bike lane bill spelled out COUNCIL chiefs have spelled out why the bill for building a new cycle route in York soared by almost 70 per cent to more than half a million pounds.

Wales Online

• The Budget: 'Cash for bangers' scheme launchedThe Chancellor attempted to kickstart the ailing motor industry today by introducing a “cash for bangers” car-scrappage scheme.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• 'It's rail fares robbery'RAIL users in Yorkshire were today told to brace themselves for a second round of fare rises in the space of less than six months. National Express East Coast, which runs services on the Leeds-London line, is among several UK operators putting up prices in mid-May.
• Bus driver makes mother, 17 pay fare for babyA spokesman for the bus operator confirmed the driver had acted correctly according to company policy, saying the 16-18 Student Travel Card issued by South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive required an accompanying child under five to have a child ticket.

Carlisle News & Star

• More bank holiday delays on trains in CumbriaRail passengers travelling through Cumbria can expect more delays with buses replacing trains during the May Day holiday.

Washington Post

• Transportation chief rejects secrecy on bird data WASHINGTON -- Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is scrapping a proposal by the Federal Aviation Administration that would make secret its data on when and where birds and airplanes collide.

Transport for London

• Changes to Oyster card deposit from 17 May£3 refundable deposit for all new Oyster cards in drive to reduce the million cards discarded and misplaced each year.

Aviation Industry

• Airline considers imposing 'fat tax'BUDGET airline Ryanair is considering how to impose a

Other News Sources

• FirstGroup plc - SWOT AnalysisFirstGroup plc - SWOT Analysis company profile is the essential source for top-level company data and information. The report examines the company's key business structure and operations, history and products, and provides summary analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy.
• Midland rail crusade 'too expensive' for familiesA TWENTY-year transport vision that aims to get one million drivers abandoning their cars and using the train has been slammed for failing to address how train travel can be more affordable. Wolverhampton councillor Judith Rowley (Lab, Blakenhall) said the West Midlands Region Rail Development Plan does not look at how much it will cost families to opt for train travel rather than using their cars.
• Coach service links Basildon to StanstedBus operating company, First, has announced plans to launch a new express coach service taking passengers from Basildon to Stansted, via Wickford and Chelmsford, from May 3.
• Bus and rail fares to riseBus and rail fares are to go up again – on top of increases at the petrol pumps.
• Double decking transit [San Luis Obispo, California]The SLO City Council on April 21 approved using a combination of state bond funds and federal grants to purchase the double-decker, a type of bus perhaps better known for novelty tours that is increasingly being deployed in public transit systems.
• Student bus charges set to riseSTUDENTS will have to pay more for their transport to college after charges were increased by North Lincolnshire Council.
• Arriva says trading remains challengingrriva said trading conditions remain challenging but with control of costs and cash flow, the business overall remains broadly in line with management expectations.
• BUS PASSENGER WATCHDOG 'CANNOT STAND UP FOR PASSENGERAs a new watchdog for bus passengers starts today, a national charity is warning that bus users will still be treated as second class compared to other passengers.
• Commuter Gets First Hand Experience On Guided BusThis summer, the Cambridgeshire guided bus will open for business, ferrying people between St Ives and Cambridge. But would you forsake your car commute for the new bus? Last week we put A14 commuter SIMON RUTT on a finished section of the guideway to see if he could be persuaded from his motor.
• Plans for Huddersfield town centre hit by recessionCouncillors heard yesterday (Tuesday) how ambitious plans for Queensgate and Manchester Road have been delayed by the economic downturn, but there was better news about Huddersfield Railway Station, which is in line for a major upgrade.
• MP’s pressure pledgeDundee West MP Jim McGovern has told the Tele he is to meet the head of ScotRail next month to press home the urgent need for improvements at the city’s train station.
• Cost of northeast rail line could hit $1.12 billionMetropolitan Transit Commission at a Wednesday meeting, pushing a planned commuter rail line and a light-rail extension farther down the track. Even so, questions remain about when either of the line...
• Auckland rail network getting $90m upgradeThe money will go towards new signaling and train control systems. KiwiRail says the upgrade is required to support the proposed electrification project and an increase in the number of commuter serv...
• Extra screening not justified - airportsThe review follows the attempted hijacking of an Air New Zealand plane which was being flown into Christchurch last February. The report suggests screening procedures are extended into 14 regional air...
• A mixed Budget for road haulageChancellor Alistair Darling has offered the road haulage industry a mixed Budget, with increased fuel duty, a bit of help for business, and some prospects of growth.
• Deloitte praises Budget scrappage schemeAdministrator Deloitte hopes the government's introduction of a £2,000 scrappage incentive for new cars and vans could drive UK automotive sales forward.
• TfL design boss leaves amid roster shake-upTransport for London's group design manager Innes Ferguson is leaving TfL next month, in the middle of a design roster shake-up.
• Fuel duty hikes enrage motorists Motorists face further fuel price hikes after Alistair Darling announced a rise in duty in his Budget.

Other Subscription Services

• Scrapping of boxships gathers paceDEMOLITION rising sharply as owners take whatever action they can to eliminate unwanted tonnage.
• MP warns over Dover privatisationLOCAL Member of Parliament Gwyn Prosser has attacked Dover Harbour Board plans to review its funding options, which do not rule out privatisation.