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

Thursday, 25 June 2009

BBC News

• Tube drivers get philosophical [video]Transport for London has commissioned the artist Jeremy Deller to compile a list of quotations to sprinkle in to drivers' communications with passengers.
• Probe call over passenger figuresThe spending watchdog is considering whether to probe First ScotRail, after it overestimated passenger numbers. Concern was raised after a report by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, said 2008-09 passenger figures in the area were overestimated by 7.2 million.
• Experts warn over A road safetyMore than half of Britain's A roads have failed to be rated as safe in a study of 28,000 roads and motorways.
• Lorry drivers facing lay-by banLorry drivers are being banned from parking in lay-bys for more than two hours in parts of Cumbria because of the rubbish they leave behind.
• Bus profits boost for StagecoachTransport group Stagecoach reports growth in profits, helped by a strong performance from its bus division.
• Ford raises prices for third timeCarmaker Ford blames the weakness of sterling against the euro for its third price rise in the UK this year.

Financial Times

• Tanfield to move into passenger vehiclesTanfield, the electric vehicle maker, is moving into passenger vehicles and taking part in a UK government initiative to encourage public sector bodies to use electric vans.
• Stagecoach attacks 'chaotic' DfT Tensions between train operators and the government escalated after Stagecoach's chief executive, attacked the Department for Transport as
• Adonis knocks back road-chargingLabour will 'definitely not' proceed with a national road-user charging scheme if it wins the next election, says the transport secretary

The Guardian

• Tanfield boosted by government electric vehicle grantThe rehabilitation of Tanfield, the platform access and electric vehicle group beloved of private investors, continued today with news the company had been awarded a £1.6m government grant.
• Train boss lays into Department for TransportChief executive of Stagecoach, which runs the South West and East Midlands train franchises, blasts Department for Transport, claiming it could owe the firm £200m
• Buses ride to the rescue of StagecoachStagecoach reported slowing passenger and revenue growth at its major rail businesses today but saw its shares rise 7.5% after its bus operations helped the public transport group report stronger-than-expected full-year results.

The Herald

• Scots roads ’most dangerous in UK’Scotland has a greater proportion of dangerous roads than the UK as a whole, a report published today by a road safety group has found.
• Rail chief with a love of the fast things in lifeKeith Ludeman is a speed freak. The chief executive of Go-Ahead, Britain’s busiest bus and rail company, has celebrated the launch of the country’s fastest train service next Monday by indulging in his number one passion – the Formula One races at Silverstone.
• Stagecoach is committed to rail industry despite debateStagecoach chief Brian Souter yesterday launched a furious attack on the integrity of
• Fury over rail firm’s 7 million phantom travellersFirst ScotRail has ­systematically over-estimated its passenger numbers by nearly 10%, ­provoking furious calls from opposition politicians to re-examine the controversial decision to extend its rail franchise.

The Independent

• Keith Ludeman: Getting Britain movingThe Business Interview: After a lifetime working in public transport, the Go-Ahead chief executive feels that the moment towards which he has been speeding has finally come
• Talks continue to avoid fresh Tube strikes Talks at averting fresh strikes on London Underground will resume today between union leaders and Tube managers.

The Scotsman

• 58% of British roads rated 'unsafe'As many as 58% of Britain's A-roads and 25% of motorways fail to rate as safe, a survey has revealed.

The Telegraph

• Road pricing killed off by Transport Secretary Lord Adonis Plans to impose pay as you drive charges on every motorist in the country have been killed off by Lord Adonis the new Transport Secretary.

Times Online

• Axed railway is a haven for people [letter]Sir, While I respect the views of Dr Llewellyn (letter, June 22) regarding the benefits of trams over railways, he omitted to mention one important fact about the Guildford-Horsham railway line.
• Bill to cut carbon emissions 80% by 2050MSPs put Scotland on course yesterday to go further than any industrialised nation in cutting greenhouse gas emissions after they unanimously passed a Climate Change Bill that set targets for cuts at 42 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050.
• Legal spat makes Stagecoach one to missStock markets famously hate uncertainty, but FTSE 250 chief executives seem none too keen on it, either. That was the distinct impression left by Brian Souter, the plain-speaking boss of Stagecoach, who spent much of Wednesday’s full-year results presentation by the bus and train operator fulminating against the Department for Transport (DfT).
• Rising costs put the brakes on dozens of roadbuilding projectsDozens of road schemes announced by the Highways Agency will have to be delayed or cancelled because of escalating costs.
• Single-carriage A-roads rated the most dangerous in Britain As many as 58 per cent of Britain’s A-roads and 25 per cent of motorways are not safe, according to a survey by the Road Safety Foundation (RSF).

Mail Online

• High-speed railway link between North and South a priority for Britain, says Lord Adonis

The Mirror

• 58% of British roads rated 'unsafe'As many as 58% of Britain's A-roads and 25% of motorways fail to rate as safe, a survey has revealed.

Network Rail

• WOULD IT KILL YOU TO WAIT? (Narborough)HARD HITTING LEVEL CROSSING SAFETY MESSAGE DRIVEN ACROSS EUROPE
• GREEN LIGHT FOR NEW STATION AT SMITHAM

Transport Briefing

• Road construction schemes bust budget by 54%Road building projects completed in the past year have cost 54% more than budgeted for, according to figures published by the Campaign for Better Transport.
• National stations fund pays for Smitham moduleSmitham railway station in Surrey is to be rebuilt using money from the National Stations Improvement Programme. The existing station building will be demolished and replaced by a new modular unit constructed using a stainless steel column and roof structure. This framework will then be clad with terracotta-finish panels, similar to those used at Corby, Mitcham Eastfields and Greenhithe.

Birmingham Post

• Birmingham can lead rail 'revolution' says Transport SecretaryA new high-speed rail network linking London to Birmingham will lead a “revolution” in Britain’s transport system, according to the Transport Secretary.
• AWM chief backs road-pricing to help to reduce congestionRoad pricing may still be necessary in order to cut the traffic congestion which costs businesses billions of pounds, the head of the West Midlands development agency has warned MPs.

Derby Telegraph

• Stagecoach Group reports 13% rise in profitsEAST Midlands Trains owner the Stagecoach Group says its bus operations are performing well as it revealed a 13% rise in annual profits to £196.4 million.

Newcastle Journal

• Ice on fire: The next fossil fuelMethane trapped in sub-marine ice and permafrost could possibly fuel the world for hundreds of years – but there's an explosive snag

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Electric cars plan set to spark green revolutionAN ELECTRIC tipper truck and minibus are the first vehicles to be used as part of a revolutionary green project.

Nottingham Evening Post

• County council standing in way of new tram - claimTHE city council had said it will have the cash to 'go it alone' on the extension of Nottingham's tram system. But the authority is pleading with Notts County Council not to obstruct the project, which would see new tram lines connecting the city to Clifton and Chilwell.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds villagers fight to save buses RESIDENTS in a Leeds village have been lining up to join the fight to save their bus service.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Rail company promises faster timesFaster journey times between Norwich and London have been promised by rail company National Express East Anglia.

Sunderland Echo

• Plugging into motoring futureThe North East is to hold the world's biggest on-road trial of electric vehicles.

Aviation Industry

• Lufthansa increases fuel surchargeDeutsche Lufthansa AG said Wednesday that it is increasing its fuel surcharge on domestic and European flights, blaming a steep rise in oil prices this year.
• American Airlines not outsourcing maintenance out of the country.American Airlines is the only remaining airline in the country that does over 90 percent of the maintenance, repair and overhaul work on its own fleet.

Other News Sources

• BAA in Heathrow brand campaignA brand advertising campaign for Heathrow is being launched by owner BAA in an effort to make the airport ’Europe’s hub of choice’.
• Texas Bus Fleet Gets Connected with IcomeraSan Francisco, CA - Icomera AB, the world's leading provider of cellular broadband gateways, has announced that Irving, TX-based charter provider Executive Coach Inc. has selected Icomera's award-winning Moovbox M200 Mobile Broadband Gateway to provide Wi-Fi connectivity to passengers on its fleet of charter bus vehicles.
• Your buck may go further on the bus in Britain [from Canada]We mentioned Britrail (www.Britrail.com) passes for getting around in a previous column, but buses may be even cheaper and offer more flexibility for you. Buses go everywhere not just the cities, towns and heritage destinations. They also make stops in national parks such as Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia in Wales, the Lake District in England and the Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands.
• On track to improve Bristol ParkwayA plan has been launched aimed at tackling traffic congestion and improving accessibility at Bristol Parkway railway station.
• Birkdale railway station sign plan delayedPLANS to install signs at Birkdale railway station to promote the area to train users have stalled for a year – because the wording cannot be agreed.
• Rail track upgrade 'ahead of schedule'RAIL bosses say workers are already ahead of schedule on a £19-million track upgrade between Scunthorpe and Doncaster.
• Airport railway plan has hit the buffersPLANS for a new railway station to serve Southend Airport could have hit the buffers – if only for a short time.
• Rail firms want branch line and station reopenedA NEW railway station to serve Grove and Wantage and a reopened branch line linking Witney and Oxford are on a list of rail network improvements proposed by the body representing train companies.
• China ready to roll out 35 high-speed rail lines by 2012Beijing, June 24 : As part of its ambitious plan, the Chinese Railway Ministry is planning to spread thirty-five high-speed rail lines measuring 11,000 kilometres throughout the country.
• Arup to lead Coventry & Birmingham low carbon car project Transport secretary Lord Adonis and science minister Lord Drayson has announced that Arup will lead CABLED, project managing the development and testing of 110 low-carbon cars and vehicles in the West Midlands.
• Highways Agency '£3.9bn over-budget'The Highways Agency™s road building programme is running up to £3.9bn over-budget according to research from the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT).
• Fleet of electric cabs about to hit the roadAllied, a taxi company is going to use an Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator car that was developed in the Technology Strategy Board in Glasgow. The development of the car was a joint effort by Scottish Power, Strathclyde University, the Glasgow City Council, and Axeon. Managing director of Allied Paul Nelson commented that this is an exciting [...]
• Small firms to be muscled out of wind power business The Government is not going to give wind power sites to small firms, according to the British Wind Energy Association.

Other Subscription Services

• No let-up in shipyard cancellationsCapacity lower than thought, but orderbook could still result in twice as many vessels being delivered than needed over the next five years, says Drewry.
• Moby chief forecasts ferry failuresLEADING player in the Mediterranean ferry market has warned that there will be casualties before the year is out.