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

Wednesday, 01 July 2009

BBC News

• Mobile pollution sensors deployedCyclists, buses, cars and even pedestrians will become mobile pollution detectors in an initiative launched on Tuesday.
• Rail firm loses East Coast line [Radio clip from Today Programme]The government will take control of the East Coast Mainline from National Express. Transport Secretary Lord Adonis says he is not prepared to bail out a company which has failed to fulfil its commitments.
• National Express loses rail routeThe government is to take the East Coast rail service, run by National Express, into public ownership. The troubled rail franchise, which is expected to have lost £20m in the first half of the year, is suffering from slumping passenger numbers.
• Beleaguered oil firms 'at risk'Thousands of jobs could be lost if the government does not do more to support British oil and gas companies, a committee of MPs warns.
• E-borders 'travel chaos' warningTravellers face chaos at airports this summer if the government presses ahead with electronic borders, MPs are told.
• National Express boss to resignRichard Bowker, the chief executive of transport group National Express, will step down, the BBC has learned.
• British Airways seeks pay freezeBritish Airways wants staff to accept a two-year pay freeze, according to documents seen by the BBC.

Financial Times

• East Coast rail line to be nationalisedThe UK government is to take over the East Coast rail route between London and Edinburgh from National Express, the struggling bus and rail operator, which on Wednesday said it expected to walk away from the loss-making franchise later this year.
• Passengers less happy on UK rail routesPassengers on three of Britain’s busiest rail franchises are feeling less satisfied with their rail services than a year ago after reliability problems on two and higher-than-average fare increases on the other.
• Embattled National Express chief to goRichard Bowker announces his resignation from the UK bus and rail operator just hours before it is to make a crucial trading statement and days after it rejected a rival's takeover offer

The Guardian

• Government statement on east coast mainline nationalisationThe secretary of state for transport, Lord Adonis, said: "This morning, National Express Group has announced that they will not provide the further financial support necessary to ensure that their subsidiary, National Express East Coast, remains solvent. As a consequence, National Express East Coast is no longer able to continue its franchise agreement to its full term.
• Arriva's CrossCountry franchise stuck in third gearRevenue growth of 2.4% is long way from target of increasing turnover by 10% a year
• If you were the bike tsar, how would you make the UK committed to cycling?The government is talking about a national plan to make cycling an everyday transport choice. But will it happen?
• BA fails to agree pay deal with unionsBritish Airways has failed to meet its self-imposed deadline to secure an agreement on pay and conditions for its 40,000 staff after trade union officials adjourned talks on a two-year pay freeze and 4,000 redundancies.Discussions at a Heathrow airport hotel ended tonight with key issues unresolved, and the threat of strike action still hanging over the airline. BA has asked for a two-year halt for salary increases and is seeking job cuts representing around 10% of the workforce, according to sources close to the talks.The Unite and GMB unions said they were willing to resume talks at 10am ...
• National Express chief to step down¢ Group struggles to keep £1.4bn east coast franchise¢ Contract must be agreed or given up by end of JulyRichard Bowker has resigned as chief executive of National Express as the public transport group struggles to hold on to its £1.4bn east coast rail franchise.Bowker will step down in August to take up a chief executive post at an unnamed company overseas. His position became increasingly precarious in recent weeks as the government rebuffed attempts to renegotiate Britain's most expensive rail contract.The National Express chairman, John Devaney, will take on Bowker's responsibilities until...

The Herald

• ADL calls for bus scrappage programmeThe major survivor of the UK's bus-building industry is calling on the government to introduce a "bus scrappage" scheme to kick-start industry investment that has been stalled by the rail franchise crisis.

The Scotsman

• Commitment the only qualification in 50-cycle giveawayPUTTING pedal power to the test and trading in four wheels for two may sound like a lot of hard work. But now one environmental group in the Capital is hoping to make things easier by gearing up to give away 50 free bicycles worth about £5,000.
• Deadlock in BA and unions talksCrucial talks aimed at agreeing job losses and other cost savings at British Airways have reached a deadlock, raising the threat of industrial action over the busy summer mont
• National Express boss 'set to quit'The chief executive of troubled rail and bus operator National Express is expected to announce his resignation, according to reports.

The Telegraph

• Richard Bowker: profile of a railmanA former head of the now disbanded Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), Mr Bowker joined as National Express chief executive in September 2006.
• National Express boss Richard Bowker quitsRichard Bowker has quit as chief executive of National Express in a move that potentially leaves the bus and rail operator more vulnerable to a takeover from rival FirstGroup.

Times Online

• Britain's most profitable rail line to be nationalisedBritain's most profitable rail service will be nationalised after National Express announced it would default on its operating franchise.
• BA fails to agree jobs deal with unions as deadline expiresBritish Airways is expected to resume crunch talks with unions tomorrow in a bid to prevent strike action this summer, despite the airline setting a deadline of today for reaching a deal.
• Bowker resigns amid National Express turmoilNational Express, the embattled transport group, has been rocked by the surprise resignation of Richard Bowker, its highly regarded chief executive.

Reuters News

• National Express CEO may stand downLONDON (Reuters) - The chief executive of train and bus operator National Express will announce his resignation on Wednesday, media said.

Daily Express

• NatEx spurns bid from rival NATIONAL Express shares leapt yesterday after the beleaguered bus and train group rejected an all-share takeover bid from rival FirstGroup.
• Arriva at crossroadsArriva went off the rails yesterday as it became the latest transport operator to warn that growth would hit the buffers.

The Mirror

• National Express boss 'set to quit'The chief executive of troubled rail and bus operator National Express is expected to announce his resignation, according to reports.

ATOC

• CHAIRMANSHIP OF ATOCFollowing the resignation of Mike Alexander, the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) is now actively engaged in the recruitment process for a new independent Chairman.
• ATOC RESPONDS TO LATEST NATIONAL PASSENGER SURVEYThe latest National Passenger Survey (Spring 2009) published today by Passenger Focus finds 81 % of passengers across Great Britain are satisfied with their rail journey “ up from 80% in the survey at the same time last year. Amongst other factors, this reflects the recent record levels of punctuality achieved across the rail network.

Network Rail

• COLWALL BRIDGE REOPENS

Transport Briefing

• Prime Minister commits to rail electrificationSpeaking in the House of Commons Gordon Brown made the commitment as he announced a wide-ranging programme of reforms contained within a new policy blueprint entitled 'Building Britain's Future'. The document outlines the government's plan for economic recovery and includes goals for modernising national infrastructure as well as improving schools, hospitals and policing.
• Olympic Route Network roads designated for 2012The priority roads that Olympic athletes, officials, technicians, sponsors and journalists will use during the 2012 Games have been designated by the Department for Transport.
• National Express gives up on East Coast franchiseNational Express is to hand in the keys to its East Coast rail franchise after failing to reach an agreement with the government to reduce payments to the Treasury.
• National Cycle Plan to be published in autumnCycling is to be the focus of a new national plan to be published by the government this autumn. Building Britain's Future, the policy blueprint unveiled by Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Monday (29 June), says the National Cycle Plan will set out the role that local authorities, public transport providers, employers and schools, can play in delivering a cycling revolution across Britain.

Birmingham Post

• Building work at Digbeth coach station halts as contractor stops tradingThe long-awaited £15 million redevelopment of Digbeth Coach Station has been stopped in its tracks after the main contractor on the prestige project suddenly ceased trading amid crippling debts.
• Network Rail to spend £50m to improve punctuality and reliabilityNetwork Rail is to spend £50 million in improving equipment and technology on the troubled West Coast Main Line as a damning report said punctuality on the line had fallen.

Derby Telegraph

• Council looks set to axe its school busesPLANS to axe council-run school buses in Derby look set to go ahead, despite opposition from parents and schools.
• Improvements get right signal from passengersCUSTOMER satisfaction among passengers using East Midlands Trains' services has improved, according to a new survey.

Journal Live

• Gordon Brown refuses to guarantee transport budgetsFEARS of spending cuts in regional transport budgets were last night ratcheted up after Gordon Brown refused to guarantee their future.

London Evening Standard

• National Express fight pledge after East Coast line sackingNational Express today said it will go to war with the Government after the Department for Transport sacked it from the East Coast Main Line out of King's Cross and threatened to strip it of its Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street franschises.
• Boris Johnson: Cycle parking is simply not good enoughBoris Johnson today gave his strong personal backing to the Standard's campaign for a huge increase in cycle parking at London's railway stations.
• Gordon Brown takes over East Coast mainlineThe Government moved to nationalise one of Britain's main rail services today and threatened to seize control of two more.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Letter: Public survey has undermined tramYOUR report about the results of the Department of Communities and Local Government's 2008 Place Survey for England (70% of city residents satisfied with Nottingham, June 24) omits one survey result that is also not publicised by the City Council on its website – the level of satisfaction with the local bus services.
• First tram strike threatNOTTINGHAM faces the threat of its first tram strike in a row over a proposed pay freeze. The GMB union had called for a five per cent rise for drivers and conductors. It was initially told by Nottingham Tram Consortium (NTC) there would be no increase this year because its operating income was due to fall.
• Government to take over rail lineTHE Government is to take over the running of the East Coast Main Line after cash-strapped operator National Express defaulted on its franchise.

The News (Portsmouth)

• Revamp of city canal is under wayWork to improve the canal basin in Chichester has started.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• FirstGroup chief takes on top role at universitySIR MOIR LOCKHEAD SAYS APPOINTMENT AS SENIOR GOVERNOR OF COURT IS ’AN HONOUR’

The York Press

• East Riding of Yorkshire Council supports bid to reopen York-to-Beverley rail linkTHE campaign to reopen the York-to-Beverley rail link has received a major boost after council chiefs agreed to support the project.
• York councillors have reacted to National Express East Coast relinquishing its franchiseYORK'S political leaders have vowed to fight for local jobs and to protect rail links, following the collapse of rail operator National Express East Coast.
• York National Express East Coast taken over by Government, boss Bowker on way outTHE Government is to take over the running of a major rail route through York after cash-strapped National Express walked away from its franchise.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Angela Smith: We must all work together to win the railway network our region deservesTHE last few months have seen the emergence of an exciting debate about the future of our railways. Tantalising proposals have emerged for a second high-speed rail programme, linking London with some of the major conurbations of the North.
• Train misery to continue as Ministers rip up pledgePASSENGERS in Yorkshire are facing more misery on the railways after it emerged Ministers are planning drastic cuts to a scheme aimed at easing train overcrowding. Former Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly announced in January last year that the Government would give train operator Northern Rail 182 more carriages, mainly for routes between Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester.

Blackpool Gazette

• Go-ahead for £20m tram depotCONTROVERSIAL plans for a £20m tram depot and heritage centre at Starr Gate have been given the seal of approval by Blackpool Council.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Road plans will go ahead - MPProposals to dual the final single carriageway section of one of East Anglia's busiest roads will definitely go ahead, regardless of who wins the next General Election, a

New Scientist

• Gallery: Electric cars get a jump-start in US bailoutSee the electric vehicles that will benefit from $8bn in loans announced by the US Department of Energy

Railnews

• News: Eight out of 10 people are happy with their rail experience – except for travellers on West Coast EIGHTY ONE per cent of passengers across the country are satisfied with their rail experience, but punctuality and reliability continue to cause concern on some routes, reveals the latest Passenger Focus National Passenger Survey.

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow gets staff on their bikesBAA Heathrow is launching an innovative scheme to get staff members ditching the car and cycling to work, in partnership with the UK™s largest cycle retailer Halfords...
• Amadeus launches mobile suiteBusiness travellers to be tracked by SMS Amadeus has today (June 30) unveiled a suite of mobile solutions that will allow travel managers to track employees by SMS text message.

Other News Sources

• Bucket Bike: 40 Gallon Cargo-Carrying CycleThe more cargo bikes I see, the more I want one. They’re immensely practical in any city, and can carry enough junk to make most car journeys pointless. But if you’re already used to a bike you likely think smaller — daily rather than weekly trips to the grocery store, for example. The cargo bike, then, may best be marketed at the guilt-ridden car user.
• P&O Ferries warns of impact of backdated ratesP&O Ferries has warned of “really horrible, direct consequences” if the UK government does not back down over the issue of backdated business rates in English and Welsh ports.
• Cycle lane trialled on bridgeA new cycle lane is being trialled over a Shropshire bridge as part of an initiative aimed at getting more people on their bikes.
• Tram-train backedHAMPSHIRE’S transport chiefs have backed plans for a high-frequency tram-train running between Southampton and Fareham.
• Maersk spurns shipping to invest elsewhere Danish shipping giant AP Møller-Maersk plans to diversify...
• Euro-6 could spark Euro-5 'pre-buying spree'Operators may go on a 'pre-buying spree' of more fuel-efficient Euro-5 vehicles shortly before the Euro-6 emissions standard becomes mandatory in 2014.
• GMITA chair raps Government U-turn on train carriagesThe Chair of Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA), Councillor Keith Whitmore, has criticised a decision by the Department of Transport not to fund 70 new train carriages to ease overcrowding on the region's rail network.
• Easyjet and Jet2.com increase Manchester routesLow cost carriers easyjet and Jet2.com are increasing services out of Manchester this winter.
• 81% of passengers satisfied with rail journey (press release)Passenger Focus has published Official Statistics on passenger satisfaction with rail travel from the National Passenger Survey for spring 2009.read more

Other Subscription Services

• Stagecoach rail franchises continue to make good progress in latest passenger surveyStagecoach Group's two rail franchises, East Midlands Trains and South West Trains, are continuing to make good progress in improving customer satisfaction, according to the latest National Passenger Survey (NPS) scores.
• Questions raised over sustainability of dry bulk rallyFREIGHT rates recovery likened to “a condemned man on death row who has had a quite unexpected reprieve”.
• Cosco hits out at dominance of iron ore giantsGLOBAL dominance of Vale, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto “could be very harmful to the industry”.