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

Thursday, 09 July 2009

BBC News

• Wheelchair users 'need bus help'Jersey's bus service could do more to let wheelchair users know which buses they can and cannot use, the island's transport minister says.
• Tube closures and crowding probedFive concerts at the O2 Centre will be affected as Jubilee Line continues to close at weekends for upgrades, a spokesman for the venue has said.T he news comes as the London Assembly launches a public consultation asking people and businesses their opinion on how Tube disruptions affect them.
• Transport scheme decision delayedCouncil officials in Bath deferred a decision on a £50m transport scheme, moments after rejecting the plan.

Financial Times

• Qantas fined over price fixingCanada's antitrust regulator has fined Qantas A$163,722 ($127,096) after the Australian flag carrier pleaded guilty to fixing the price of cargo sent from Canada. The...
• German container shipping line seeks €1.75bnHapag-Lloyd's demand is the most serious sign of distress yet from a major container carrier since the rates the ships could earn for each container shipped collapsed late last year
• Hyundai launches first hybrid in S KoreaHyundai Motor has belatedly entered the fast-growing and potentially lucrative hybrid car market as South Korea's biggest automaker looks to meet growing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles while also boosting its brand image
• Container lines to raise Asia-US ratesThe main container shipping lines serving the trans-Pacific route between Asia and the US said they plan to raise rates and seek renegotiation of recent contracts

The Guardian

• Crowding on the UndergroundRoger Evans filled in for a colleague on the Transport Committee yesterday. Some extracts from his account:

The Scotsman

• High-speed rail line '10 years away'IT MAY be up to ten years before the first stage of a London to Scotland high-speed rail line is ready, MPs heard yesterday.

The Telegraph

• National Express failed to get customer service on trackA few weeks ago I wrote about the worst train journey of my life on the east coast line. Now Richard Bowker, chief executive of National Express, the company responsible for my journey from hell, has resigned.
• How National Express drove away its regulars [letter]SIR – I returned from holiday to the welcome news that National Express is no longer to operate the East Coast rail franchise. C J G Macy (Letters, July 7) wonders what the problem is, given the apparent demand. I can tell him.

Times Online

• East Coast debacle puts rail franchise rules in spotlightWe were back last week in that parallel universe whose jurisdiction is the œcourt of public opinion. A steady chorus demanded that National Express should be stripped of its two other rail franchises, East Anglia and c2c, in the event that it decided to walk away from the East Coast Main Line route despite having paid the due penalty.

Press Association

• Rail woes soar despite £9bn upgradePassenger complaints have soared on a main London to Scotland rail line where problems have persisted despite a £9 billion upgrade, it has been revealed.

Reuters News

• RMT to ballot for strike on East Anglian lineLONDON (Reuters) - Rail staff working for National Express East Anglia are to be balloted over whether to take strike action in a dispute over pay and working conditions, the RMT union said on Wednesday.

Birmingham Post

• High speed rail must go north to be viableThe Government inquiry into a new high speed rail service between London and Birmingham is to call for a nationwide network taking passengers to Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh.
• Kings Norton railway station to take part in green travel initiativeA Birmingham railway station is set to become the region’s most environmental stop as part of a national scheme.

Derby Telegraph

• Bombardier's £33m order for new trams at seasideBOMBARDIER has won a £33m order to supply new trams to Blackpool. The company, which has its UK train-making factory in Litchurch Lane, Derby, has signed a deal with the Department for Transport, Blackpool Council and Lancashire County Council, to build 16 trams.
• Tram link could be built between Nottingham and Ilkeston by 2018A TRAM could go through the new "super-village" at Stanton Ironworks by 2018, linking Ilkeston with Nottingham.

Journal Live

• MP to pursue National Express brake complaintsAN MP has vowed to pursue complaints against the National Express East Coast service made to him by a constituent. Junior transport minister Paul Clark will be consulting unions after he was approached by National Express staff afraid a “major accident” on the line “is just around the corner”.
• Lord Adonis facing new franchise woeTRANSPORT Secretary Lord Adonis is facing claims of failing to keep Parliament informed about the Government’s “confused” handing of the failed East Coast rail franchise.

London Evening Standard

• Campaigners blast 'brazen' expansion of City AirportA council's decision to allow the expansion of London City Airport has been criticised by green campaigners. The airport will accommodate nearly 50,000 extra flights per year after the project is complete.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Tram cash queryReaders may be interested in a few lesser-known facts regarding the proposed Beeston Tesco development and transport issues.
• Letter: Tram versus road argument Enough is enough!

The York Press

• York Station ticket barriers plan ˜should go™ CAMPAIGNERS say plans for ticket barriers at York Station should be permanently scrapped following the collapse of rail operator National Express East Coast (NXEC).

This Is Local London Network

• Shops could be bulldozed for new roadShops in St Albans Road could be bulldozed to make way for a new road linking Watford Junction with the M1 motorway.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Jarvis secures extended debt dealRAIL services firm Jarvis has been granted extended banking facilities until February 2011 – but at a higher price.

Sunderland Echo

• Nissan car sales move up a gearNissan has seen orders soar since the introduction of the Government's old car scrappage scheme.

Other News Sources

• Pensioners stand up for right to sit downArthritic pensioners in Herne say they are suffering every time they catch a bus because Canterbury council has not yet provided a place for them to sit down.
• It’s full speed ahead for new train serviceThe new high-speed train system should be rolled out to isle stations in a little over six months.
• Sir Alan Beith MP hits out at collapse of East Coast Main Line rail franchiseBERWICK MP Sir Alan Beith has condemned the government for its role in the collapse of the National Express franchise to run the east coast main railway line. The Lib-Dem, who uses the train to travel between his constituency home in Berwick and Westminster, says the government must stop looking at the route as a cash source.
• Experts wrong over rail line costs, say campaignersEXPERTS drafted in to weigh up the cost of re-opening the Cambridge-St Ives railway line got it wrong, campaigners claim.
• Huge setback for Ricoh Arena train station planFAST-TRACK plans for a new railway station at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena have hit the buffers.
• UK government blasted for milking port sectorBPA says ports seen as ’cash cows’ rather than ’valued assets’
• Road pricing: is pay per km next?Pressure on transport funding caused by the public spending crisis has thrust nationwide road pricing back onto the political agenda, industry experts said this week.
• Crossrail to let three contractsUp to three more design contracts on London™s £15.9bn Crossrail scheme are expected to be let tomorrow, NCE can reveal.
• Transport minister marks official start of M25 wideningTransport minister Sadiq Khan today welcomed the start of construction on the M25 widening scheme - the £6.2bn design, build, finance and operate contract by the Connect Plus consortium.
• BAA Heathrow staff™s commitment to the local community recognised at the I-Volunteer AwardsHeathrow employees were big winners at the fifth BAA I-Volunteer Awards, scooping a total of £31,000 for their charities.
• G8 meeting in Italy - Climate and energy topping the agenda When many of the world™s heads of state and government meet in Italy later this week, there are primarily two issues on the agenda: the climate threat and the global economic and financial crisis. In its capacity as holder of the EU Presidency, Sweden will be participating at the meeting. Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt will represent the European Union.
• Southern announces new executive team for new franchiseTrain operator Southern has announced its new executive team, which will lead the company in delivering the commitments of the new South Central franchise which begins on 20 September this year.read more