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

Monday, 06 July 2009

BBC News

• Free bus for travel to beachfrontA free summer bus service is under way to take rail passengers from a Dorset station to the beachfront.
• Landslides becoming more frequentLandslides can have a devastating effect on Scotland's road network. So far no one has been killed by a landslide, but predictions suggest they will become more frequent.

The Guardian

• 'I sense a mood of optimism and real excitement'Andrew Adonis is the only transport minister I can remember who regards his job as a project rather than a brief: more than something to be learned and endured until promotion beckons, or not, as the came may be.
• National Express: we'll extend franchiseNational Express intends to defy transport secretary Lord Adonis by extending one of its two remaining rail franchises to 2014, the company's acting chief executive has told the Observer
• Have we reached the end of the line for privatisation?First it was the banks, now the government is taking over a key rail service. But it may not be enough to reverse the process begun by Thatcher. By Richard Wachman and Tim Webb
• Transport chief wants action on parking firmsThe chairman of the Commons transport select committee is "extremely concerned" over how private car parking companies operate, a problem raised by the Observer last week.

The Independent

• Cosmen is key to future of National ExpressJorge Cosmen, the deputy chairman at beleaguered transport group National Express, is set to play kingmaker as rival FirstGroup continues to push for an all-share merger that would create a £2.2bn giant.

The Telegraph

• Lord Pannick advising National Express in rail portfolio rowLord Pannick QC, one of the "stars at the bar", is advising National Express in what is developing into a bitter legal row with the Government over the retention of its rail portfolio.
• Ryanair to make passengers standRyanair is considering proposals to make some of its customers stand during flights.

Times Online

• Cashing in on the Heathrow airport runThe snaking line of black cabs that greets passengers emerging from Heathrow arrivals tells you all you need to know about how lucrative airport pick-ups can be for taxi drivers.
• DfT pledged deal on National Express east coast lineOfficials at the Department for Transport (DfT) agreed to start talks on a bailout of National Express’s east coast franchise in May, it has been revealed, contradicting claims last week by Lord Adonis, the transport secretary, that there had been no negotiations.
• Taxi war looms at Heathrow over minicab planBAA has incurred the wrath of black cab drivers in London by striking a deal to allow a minicab company to pick up passengers at Heathrow.
• Luton airport misery as drop-off fee causes chaosLuton airport will be raising our frustration levels to new heights this summer with a new traffic-management plan causing confusion and gridlock on the approach road. Passengers arriving for early-morning flights last week were horrified to find traffic tailing back for more than a mile beyond the airport perimeter.

Daily Express

• National Express urged to do a deal with FirstGroup Major shareholders in National Express are urging the beleaguered bus and rail operator to consider a tie-up with rival FirstGroup.

Network Rail

• CENTRAL STATION CAR PARK TO MAKE WAY FOR AIRPORT RAIL LINK¢ Short-stay car park will close in September as work begins to construct new platforms for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link

Transport Briefing

• Primelines bus investment completed in CoventryCoventry City Council, passenger transport executive Centro and bus operator National Express Coventry have celebrated completion of the £41.5m Primelines project which uses a raft of high-tech equipment to provide bus passengers with better information and faster journey times.
• Motorway investment alternatives set out by CfBTCongestion on motorways and trunk roads will get significantly worse unless the government rethinks its transport policy, according to a new report published by the Campaign for Better Transport.
• Crossrail reinstates Buck as procurement chiefBuck, who was seconded to Crossrail as commercial director from 2005 to 2008, will join the company's permanent staff from 6 July. Working directly with chief executive Rob Holden he will lead Crossrail's commercial function to ensure it establishes and fulfils all the necessary commercial agreements required to deliver the £16bn project.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• New link forged in coastal pathwayA NEW section of the cycleway which forms part of the Dee Coastal Path has just been completed.

Metro

• Tube row turns capital against right to strikeTube walkouts have had a divisive effect on Britons’ views on the right to strike, a Metro poll has shown.

Sheffield Star

• MP demands £15m for tram-train routeMINISTERS have been urged to approve a new transport link between Sheffield and Rotherham amid accusations South Yorkshire is not getting its fair share of government cash.

Aviation Industry

• Go Ahead Group calls £7.5m media buying reviewThe company, which runs the Southeastern, Southern and London Midland franchises, will take over the running of domestic rail services on the High Speed 1 rail link into St Pancras in December and the winning agency will be expected to handle this account.
• British Airways to cut capacity, delay new planesBritish Airways PLC announced Friday it will ground aircraft, slash seat numbers and postpone taking delivery of a dozen new Airbus A380 superjumbos as it faces a recession-driven decline in passengers.

Other News Sources

• Campaign to restore north-south railway in WalesA CAMPAIGN group in North Wales is fighting for a direct rail link from Holyhead to Cardiff. Welsh community action group, Yn Ein Blaenau, wants to link North, Mid and South Wales together with a railway through Bangor, Rhyl, Ruthin, Llangollen, Welshpool, Newtown, Llanidloes and Brecon.
• Paddington station to recieve 'Cyclepoint' treatment?The UK's largest station cycle park planned for London hub
• Flybe is UK 's largest domestic airlineEXETER-based airline Flybe is now the UK’s biggest domestic airline according to figures issued by Civil Aviation Authority.
• Full steam ahead for community railwaysIT’S full steam ahead for North Yorkshire’s independent railway companies, who have vowed to work together to attract new customers.
• National Express set for cash callRumours in the city today suggest that National Express is set to ask investors for an additional £400 million as the fallout from the East Coast mainline saga continues. As we covered in some of our recent posts, the company was forced to give back its franchise to the East Coast mainline as losses continued to mount and the company could see no way out the predicament. There will be a significant loss to the UK taxpayer as National Express has ended its agreement with the government early and indeed there may be further repercussions for the company.
• Another attempt at restructuring EurostarEUROPE: The UK government, SNCF and SNCB are negotiating the transformation of Eurostar's tri-national structure into a single company, Secretary of State for Transport Lord Adonis told the upper house of the UK parliament on June 25. An agreement is expected later this year.
• Norwich has too many taxis - claimTaxi drivers in the city have called for the city council to step in to help them - because they claim the recession has led to Norwich's streets being flooded with wannabe cab drivers.
• Volvo to invest £15.7m in fuel cellsVolvo Group, in partnership with international organisations Midroc and OCAS and the Swedish Energy Agency, is investing £15.7 million in the development of fuel cell technology.
• TECHNOLOGY FEATURE: Amadeus' "holistic" approachAmadeus has unveiled a new suite of mobile products aimed at managing the mobile traveller. Albert Pozo, Amadeus' vp for business and corporate travel, tells ABTN how the company's increasing focus on mobile technology is providing seamless management.read more

News from Europe

• Plans for aviation black-listBRUSSELS - FRANCE has called for a world aviation black list in the wake of a Yemeni airliner crash but the plan would be tough to implement and requires the political will of many governments to succeed.