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

Monday, 08 June 2009

BBC News

• Talks aim to prevent Tube strikeLondon Underground and union leaders will hold talks later in an attempt to avert a 48-hour Tube strike which could leave millions of travellers stranded.
• Coast bus service hits road againA popular summer bus service used by walkers, surfers and other visitors to the Ceredigion coast is back on the road again this summer.
• Cycle superhighways 'a gimmick'Cyclists have dismissed Mayor of London Boris Johnson's announcement of two new cycle superhighways through the city as a "marketing gimmick".
• Airlines' losses to soar furtherThe International Air Transport Association says airlines may lose $9bn this year, almost double the estimate made three months ago.

Department for Transport

• London & Continental Railways restructured The latest stage in the reorganisation of the company that runs Eurostar services and St Pancras International Station has been completed, Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis announced today.

Financial Times

• Airline industry to lose $9bn this yearThe global airline industry is expected to suffer losses of $9bn this year as the economic slowdown cuts passenger and cargo traffic, according to the International Air Transport Association.
• Rail franchise award points way aheadFour bidders are on the shortlist for the first rail contract to be awarded since the recession began, which will be announced this week and will set the benchmark for future agreements

The Guardian

• Yosser Hughes actor Bernard Hill stars in Network Rail TV adCampaign thanks commuters for their patience during West Coast Main Line maintenance work
• Rail regulator warns train lengths may need to be cutThe government will have to consider running trains with fewer carriages if funding is squeezed by the recession, according to the industry regulator.
• Stagecoach challenges Go-Ahead for Brighton lineThe competition for one of Britain's busiest commuter rail franchises, Southern, is expected to end this week as favourite Go-Ahead Group vies with Stagecoach for the contract.
• Road safety, bus and cycle schemes under threat from transport budget cutsRoad safety, cycling and bus priority schemes across England are under threat amid fears that the government is preparing to cut its £2.1bn local transport budget.
• Flying levy to aid climate change fight¢ Idea put forward by 50 least developed countries¢ Move could be matched by shipping fuel surchargeBritain and other rich countries will be asked to accept a compulsory levy on international flight tickets and shipping fuel to raise billions of dollars to help the world's poorest countries adapt to combat climate change.The suggestions come at the start of the second week in the latest round of UN climate talks in Bonn, where 192 countries are starting to negotiate a global agreement to limit and then reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The issue of funding for adaptation is critical to success ...

The Herald

• Call to revive first plan for Forth bridgeOne of Scotland's leading business groups has called on the Scottish Government to tear up its £2bn Forth Bridge replacement plan and revive its original, more ambitious idea.

The Telegraph

• Bombardier to make coaches for metro rail [India]Vadodara: Bombardier Transportation plans to cater to the requirements of metro railways across Asia.
• Network Rail cuts down trees to prevent leaves on the lineTrain delays caused by leaves on the line have infuriated countless passengers but now Network Rail is receiving criticism for adopting the most basic of solutions to the problem - cutting down the trees.
• CAA attacks state plans for BAA regulationWhile welcoming some aspects of the proposals put forward by the Department for Transport, the industry regulator has sided with both BAA and its debt providers in opposing a "special administration regime" for the Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports owner.
• BA boss Willie Walsh says golden era of flying is overAirlines may never again see the golden era for business traffic enjoyed before the credit crisis, the chief executive of British Airways has cautioned.

Times Online

• Go-Ahead rail hopeONE of London’s largest commuter railways will get a new operator this week when the Department for Transport names the winner of a keenly contested battle between four big transport groups.
• Spain's Queen Sofia not amused by RyanairA low-cost airline that has won praise and provoked outrage in equal measure has incurred the wrath of the Spanish Royal Family for exploiting the image of Queen Sofia to sell cut-price flights.

Press Association

• Ad campaign to boost railway lineRail bosses warned by regulators about their unsatisfactory performance on the West Coast main line are to spend £2.4 million on a six-week advertising campaign "showcasing" the line.

Reuters News

• British Airways pilots may take pay cutLONDON (Reuters) - Pilots at British Airways could take an unprecedented voluntary pay cut following talks this week on a number of cost-saving measures, the Sunday Times reported, citing industry sources.

Transport Briefing

• Bath bus station opens as part of Southgate workA new bus station in Bath has opened as work nears completion on the city's £360m Southgate retail development.
• Sadiq Khan made transport minister in reshuffleSadiq Khan has been appointed Minister of State for Transport as part of the government reshuffle started by the Prime Minister on Friday (5 June). He takes up his new position on Monday.
• West Yorkshire bus routes cut as fares go upWest Yorkshire passenger transport executive Metro has warned that the number of fare-paying bus passengers in West Yorkshire could drop by as much as 10% on certain routes as a result of fare rises, reductions in frequency and large-scale service cuts.
• First Cycle Superhighway routes revealed by MayorMayor of London Boris Johnson has announced the routes for the first two of London's 12 planned Cycle Superhighways - the corridors for cyclists that are a key part of his policy to stimulate a cycling revolution in the capital.
• Metronet rail work may return to private sectorTransport for London could lose responsibility for delivering the former-Metronet contracted upgrades to the London Underground network, according to the National Audit Office.

Bolton News

• Row over £48,000 transport projectA POLITICAL row has broken out over funding plans for a new £48 million transport interchange for Bolton.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Scourge of violence at North Wales railway stationsPASSENGERS have called for more CCTV cameras on stations across North Wales to crack down on violence on our platforms.

Liverpool Post

• Mothballed Liverpool rail lines are being considered for re-use on transport chiefs’ plansTRANSPORT chiefs want to open up old train lines to boost Merseyside’s rail network. As part of the plans they are looking at three possible venues for a new Anfield station to service Liverpool FC’s new stadium.

London Evening Standard

• Bus driver's son clocks on as transport ministerHis father was a bus driver and his father-in-law a ticket collector. Sadiq Khan has done a bit better than either of them. He starts his new job today as transport minister.

Newcastle Journal

• Train can be worse for climate than planeComparing the

This Is Local London Network

• TRANSPORT: Talks 'break down' over rail upgradeTALKS over securing funds for much-needed improvements to a major rail line in Waltham Forest have broken down, it is claimed.

New Scientist

• Train can be worse for climate than planeA new study compares the "full life-cycle" emissions generated by 11 different modes of transportation in the US. Unlike previous studies on transport emissions, this one looks beyond what is emitted by different types of car, train, bus or plane while their engines are running and includes emissions from building and maintaining the vehicles and their infrastructure, as well as generating the fuel to run them.

Wall Street Journal

• EU Clears French Rail Co SNCF, Bollore Internet JVThe European Commission Monday cleared French state-controlled rail company Voyage France Europe Partenaires, or VFE-P, and French holding firm Bollore SA (BOL.FR) to create a joint venture providing Internet services on board high-speed trains in France and abroad.

Aviation Industry

• Still value for £1?"If it doesn't stop, it'll keep up with the Megabus times" is a wonderful response by a Stagecoach employee in answer to a query about the top speed of an Enviro400-bodied Scania 'decker that's been deployed very regularly on Megabus services.
• No Joke: Ryanair Really Wants to Charge for ToiletsConsidering we've been down this road before , and taking into account Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary's reputation as the walking embodiment of

Other News Sources

• Anger as high-speed fares are third more expensivePremium prices on the new high-speed trains could create a two-tiered rail service in Kent, a passenger watchdog has warned.
• Greens call on KCC to drive green transport schemeThe Green Party has called on Kent County Council chiefs to show their environment-friendly credentials this month.
• Raise your voice on transport problemsThe Transport Commission, which is taking evidence on how to tackle road congestion, has revealed it is planning two special hearings where people can come along, pick up the microphone, and have their say on plans to improve public transport, the road network, walking and cycling facilities.
• Transport and Middle East wins drive Hyder profit up 8%Consulting firm reports 37% increase in overall turnover and order book up 22% on last year Hyder Consulting said its full-year results were ahead of market expectations as it reported an 8% profit rise, on the back of growth in transport work and the Middle East.
• Mayor's Cycle Superhighways are 'glorified' cycle lanesThe first of two of 12 of London's so-called “Cycle Superhighways” were announced this morning by Mayor Boris Johnson and were greeted with scepticism by the CTC, the national cyclists organisation.
• Bus plans to go on showPassengers are being invited to view plans for improved bus services at an exhibition.
• Blackburn residents' anger over bus laneRESIDENTS have thre-atened to take their fight against a controversial new bus lane to a national watchdog.
• Minster Parkway train station en route?PROPOSALS to turn Minster railway station into a commuter hub offering big parking capacity and links to Manston are in plans about to be put before county- council leaders.
• Norfolk rail station named one of bestA Norfolk railway station café has been named as one of the best in the country, according to a national newspaper.
• Plans for new rail station near Northampton 'not dead'Plans for a new railway station south of Northampton are suffering from the downturn in the housing market and are "resting, not dead", says Network Rail. A park-and-ride station close to Milton Malsor and adjacent to junction 15 of the M1 was proposed about two years ago.
• All change as bus station opensOne of Bath's most controversial buildings in recent years opened for business yesterday.
• Transport scheme ’vital’ for growthA £370m blueprint for the future of transport in Swindon is crucial in coping with the rapid expansion of the town.
• Virtual strip searches on US airports may be shelved soonWashington, June 7 : The US Transportation Security Agency's plans to use "virtual strip searches" at airport checkpoints may be discontinued soon.

News from Europe

• Call for European ministers to accelerate rail liberalisation Major global and European customers, shippers, forwarders, independent train operators and other representative interest groups are calling on European Transport Ministers meeting at the Transport Council on 11-12 June 2009 to accelerate liberalisation of the rail freight sector.