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

Wednesday, 15 July 2009

BBC News

• Remedial work needed on £85m line About 20% of the track on the new Alloa-Kincardine rail line does not meet Network Rail specifications, it has emerged.
• MP calls for rail line HQ to stay The government has been urged to guarantee that the headquarters of the East Coast Main Line will stay in York when the rail franchise is taken over.
• City's Metrolink work 'on track' Work to upgrade the track on some of Manchester's tram services is on target to be finished by November, transport bosses say.
• Swine flu 'to disrupt transport' If 40% of the UK population contract it, as the government estimates, there will be "considerable" travel problems, the Business Continuity Institute says.
• Groups call for congestion charge Congestion charging, paying for parking at work and a version of London's Oyster card are among measures being called for to improve Welsh transport.
• Toyota moots making hybrid in UKJapanese car firm Toyota confirms it is considering building a hybrid version of the Auris in the UK.
• BA workers protest at key meetingDozens of union representatives for BA workers protest outside the airline's AGM against its cost cutting plans.

Financial Times

• More airlines put on EU blacklistAirlines from Zambia and Kazakhstan are the most recent additions to a blacklist maintained by the European Union amid concerns about safety deficiencies in their...
• Austrian warns over failure of Lufthansa dealAustrian Airlines says that it would need €1bn in new funds if a takeover proposed by Lufthansa collapses as a result of a row between the European Commission and the German carrier
• Jarvis in loss after Network Rail cutsThe rail maintenance group has been forced to scale down its business because of delayed track renewal work by the government-backed operator, which provides the bulk of revenue for Jarvis
• Taipei tries to keep bullet train firingTaiwan's government has pledged to help High Speed Rail Corporation, the operator of bullet trains, by mediating in talks on refinancing part of the company's debt
• BA looks to raise fresh capitalUK flag carrier latest of a growing list of leading international airlines to seek to raise funds to strengthen balance sheets hit by mounting losses and the impact of the recession

The Guardian

• The road ahead is green Transport, my ministerial brief, must play a major role in a low-carbon future. And I am determined we'll get there
• Ed Miliband has his head in the clouds He is the latest politician to fall for the aviation lobby's social class argument – but it just doesn't stand up to scrutiny
• Leading us astray on Heathrow The aviation minister – and others – have misled parliament over BAA's lobbying for a third Heathrow runway
• Airlines suffering 'annus horribilis'British Airways chairman Martin Broughton ruled out turning to its existing shareholders for cash, saying the time was not right for a rights issueBritish Airways admitted today that it must raise its cash reserves if it is to survive the crisis sweeping the airline industry, following an

The Herald

• Troubled BA seeks fundingBritish Airways is seeking to raise funds from investors, it said yesterday, despite remaining locked in discussions with unions over crucial pay cuts.

The Independent

• Plans to cut CO2 emissions from transport announced Green transport measures that will cut carbon dioxide emissions by an additional 85 million tonnes were announced today by the Government. Promotion of cycling, more high-speed rail and low-emission cars were part of the package put forward by Transport Secretary Lord Adonis.

The Scotsman

• Lower cost of living set to trigger cheaper rail tickets next year RAIL passengers are expected to see a cut in the price of fares in January as a result of the low inflation figures.
• CalMac hoping for smooth sailing with Sunday service FERRY operator Caledonian MacBrayne will breach the last bastion of Sabbatarianism in the Outer Hebrides this weekend with its first Sunday sailing from Lewis.
• City station tops rail incident list with 685 reported cases POLICE have had to deal with more than 800 crimes at the Capital's rail stations in the last year, it emerged today.

The Telegraph

• Free charging for electric vehicles A pilot scheme has been launched in conjunction with one of the UK's largest retailer of electric goods.
• Motorists cutting costs as they feel the pinch Motoring is becoming an expensive luxury according to the RAC's latest report, which shows that many drivers are turning to public transport to save money.

Times Online

• Toyota to build first European hybrid car in UKToyota has confirmed that it is planning to build its first hybrid car aimed at the European market in Britain.
• ExxonMobil joins Craig Venter in drive to produce petrol from algaeAfter years of sneering and dragging its feet, the world™s biggest oil company has declared its love for renewable energy: ExxonMobil is teaming up with Craig Venter, the biotech entrepreneur, to develop new road fuels using photosynthetic algae.
• Britain may go back on its promise not to buy ˜permits to pollute™ from poor nationsBritain™s plan to cut its carbon dioxide emissions by more than a third by 2022 could be achieved by buying œpermits to pollute from poor countries rather than genuine reductions in domestic emissions, according to documents seen by The Times.
• British Airways weighs bond issue as it seeks to shore up balance sheetBritish Airways is asking investors whether they are prepared to stump up more cash to create a safety net against a poor summer holiday season or cabin crew strike as the carrier is expected to burn through £400 million of reserves this year.

Reuters News

• Britain to unveil LONDON (Reuters) - The government will say Wednesday how it plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change by investing in nuclear and renewable power and promoting greater energy efficiency.

Mail Online

• I'll axe 3,700 jobs says British Airways boss, as he turns to the City for help

Journal Live

• National Express could continue on East Coast line CONFUSION surrounds the East Coast rail franchise after a minister admitted troubled operator National Express could continue running services. Junior Transport Minister Chris Mole yesterday said it was “theoretically” possible National Express could keep the prestigious franchise despite his boss Lord Adonis saying otherwise.

Liverpool Echo

• Tories won't support Merseyside’s Merseytram schemeA TOP Tory said his government would not support the Merseytram scheme.

London Evening Standard

• No seats please - we're British rail passengers I live in a quarter of London into which the Tube has never ventured. I'm not sure why this should be - I like to imagine that it's the result of some long-forgotten Victorian turf war in which Tube trains venturing beyond New Cross were set upon by gangs of thuggish steam engines wielding those massive, iron Speak Your Weight machines which all stations used inexplicably to have on their platforms.

Nottingham Evening Post

• 'Frustrating' delay on bus plugs consultation MOTORISTS desperate for the Gedling bus plugs to be removed have been told they will have to wait longer than expected.

Sheffield Star

• Shortlist for 'Pothole City' project PLANS to banish Sheffield's reputation as the nation's 'Pothole City' have moved on to the next significant stage.
• Bid to keep rail link in public ownership POLITICIANS are mounting a bid to keep the collapsed East Coast Mainline nationalised for up to 15 years. Yorkshire MP John Grogan is tabling a parliamentary motion which will urge the Government to keep the London to Doncaster line in public ownership for between 10 and 15 years to enable a comparison with the rest of the privately-run network.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Concern grows for east coast rail line after silence on cuts POLITICIANS voiced “serious concern” last night over the Scottish end of the east coast mainline after a government minister refused to rule out cuts to rail services.
• Car-sharing lane call to ease congestion on Kessock Bridge An Inverness environmentalist believes rush-hour congestion on the Kessock Bridge could be eased by creating a dedicated car-sharing lane.
• Scottish business leaders welcome new backing for Heathrow project Business leaders in Aberdeen and the Highlands last night welcomed a study claiming a third runway at Heathrow Airport would add £30billion to the UK economy.

This Is Local London Network

• BROMLEY: Online petition urges greater access to Bromley South train station The new Access All Areas campaign group wants Bromley South station to be fully accessible by 2012.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Prospects ’promising’ for York-based rail firm Jarvis despite multi-million pound losses JARVIS, the York-based rail and plant firm has announced £5.1 million pre-tax profits. But the figures, for the year to March, actually amount to a £6.3 million loss because of exceptional costs.
• MPs call for East Coast rail line to stay in public hands THE East Coast Mainline should be kept in public hands for up to 15 years to establish whether it would be better off nationalised, Ministers have been urged.

Peterborough Telegraph

• MP Jackson's warning over Peterborough rail plans PETERBOROUGH MP Stewart Jackson has warned that ambitious plans to transform the city's railway station into a world class travel hub could be derailed if the Government fails to find a new operator for the vital East Coast Main Line service.
• Parents' anger over bus withdrawalParents in a Norfolk village have protested after their free school bus was withdrawn, claiming the route is too dangerous for youngsters to walk.

Transport for London

• Overground trains with an Underground twist The latest stage of improvements to Transport for London's Overground services began today (13 July) as passengers began travelling on brand new, walkthrough trains. They have more space for passengers, improved CCTV and air conditioning.

Other News Sources

• Rail firm backtracks on plans to leave Elephant & Castle station unstaffed at weekends First Capital Connect has abandoned controversial proposals to have no regular staff presence at Elephant & Castle Railway Station on Saturdays and Sundays.
• The implementation of WiMAX services is moving forwardProof-of-concept trials for WiMAX are no longer required as the pilot phase of rolling out WiMAX wireless broadband services to planes, trains and buses has now moved to full deployment.
• BREAKING NEWS: MP lobbies for direct rail link to London CLEETHORPES MP Shona McIsaac has asked for assurances that Grimsby and Cleethorpes will get a direct train service to London following the nationalisation of the East Coast main line.
• Deflation could spark price cut for commuters TRAIN passengers are on track for a late Christmas present as fares look set to fall in the new year.
• National Express accused of ripping off taxpayer TRANSPORT group National Express has made £500m running its rail operations despite receiving £2.5bn in public subsidy, MPs were told today.
• Passengers 'accept' security measures at UK airports Few passengers using UK airports complain about the security measures, according to The Air Transport Users Council (AUC).
• Sheffield passes £2bn transport PFI hurdleThree shortlisted groups - Amey, a Carillion-led consortium and a Colas-led consortium have all completed the first stage of the £2bn Sheffield transport PFI procurement process, and demonstrated financial and technical eligibility to fulfil a 25-year contract.
• Green design index proposedA DESIGN index is needed to improve ship efficiency and reduce pollution, the Danish Shipowners' Association told Fairplay today.
• Idle boxships on the waneCONTAINER shipping consultancy Alphaliner has reported a reduction in idle container ship capacity.
• Cosco Busan pilot faces prisonFEDERAL prosecutors have called for a 10-month prison sentence for the pilot of the Cosco Busan.