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

Thursday, 20 August 2009

BBC News

• Competition fears over bus sector The local bus sector has been referred to the Competition Commission by the Office of Fair Trading amid concerns over higher fares for passengers.
• Cities could see £30bn rail boost More than £30bn of benefits could be generated from a high-speed rail line linking Sheffield and Leeds to London, a new report says.
• A82 overnight closures reassessed A council and public body Transport Scotland are trying to agree a suitable timetable for the resurfacing of two sections of the A82 in Lochaber.
• Rail staff 'quote higher fares'Many rail staff are giving out poor advice, meaning some passengers are paying more than necessary for tickets, a magazine investigation claims.
• Qantas annual profit drops 88% Annual profits at Qantas Airways slump 88% as it struggles with lower passenger numbers amid the economic downturn.
• Lookers wants more scrappageUK car dealer Lookers wants the UK government's car scrappage scheme to be extended into next year.
• Oil price rises as supplies fallOil prices rise by more than $3 to settle above $70 a barrel after a surprise drop in crude imports and inventories in the US.

Financial Times

• Greyhound buses take to British roadsThe 95-year old iconic American brand is launching its first routes running from Victoria in September
• QantasAnnouncing full-year earnings, Qantas chief Alan Joyce promised an unyielding fixation on overheads to take out A$1.5bn over three years
• I'm Alain, fly me (window or aisle?)The writer Alain de Botton is spending the week at Heathrow's Terminal Five to research material for a book on life at a major airport. But what about the poor...

The Guardian

• Eurostar gets French chief as Richard Brown steps downEurostar, the cross-Channel rail service, is to replace its British chief executive with a Frenchman as it prepares for a competitive onslaught next year.
• High-speed rail study's deficiencies {[etter Richard Brown Chief executive, Eurostar]Your article casting doubt on high-speed rail's environmental advantages draws on a study that is freely acknowledged by it authors to be limited and simplistic (High-speed rail strategy not so green, report says, 17 August).
• Greyhound buses to hit UK roads¢ Legendary US coaches to launch London service¢ Vehicles called Peggy Sue, Jolene and Sweet CarolineThe Greyhound bus inspired Simon & Garfunkel to

The Herald

• City’s transport system chaos on stage for all world to seeIt was the summer of blockbuster concerts at Hampden – but for the fans with the hottest tickets in the city, getting there and back has proved an intolerable ordeal.

The Independent

• Probe reveals poor advice on rail fares Poor advice from rail staff could mean some passengers paying more than double the cheapest train fare, according to an investigation by Which? magazine.

The Scotsman

• Advice on cheapest fares 'is poor'Poor advice from rail staff could mean some passengers paying more than double the cheapest train fare, according to an investigation by Which? magazine.

The Telegraph

• Investigation launched into bus fares The decision to refer the provision of local bus services to the Commission follows a five month inquiry by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

Times Online

• Bus operators to be investigated over higher fares The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has announced it is referring the local bus industry to the Competition Commission over concerns that passengers are being charged unfair high prices.
• Train passengers seeking cheapest fare paying too much, says Which?Train passengers may regularly be paying more than twice the cheapest fares because of poor advice from rail staff, according to a survey by Which?

Press Association

• Local bus sector in fares probe The local bus sector is to be investigated over concerns that lack of competition is leading to higher fares for passengers, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has announced.

Daily Express

• Firstgroup to roll out greyhoundsFIRSTGROUP is to launch the famous US Greyhound buses in the UK.

ATOC

• WHICH? REPORT ON FARE ADVICE œMISLEADINGResponding to the Which? report published today claiming that train passengers are receiving poor advice from rail staff, Michael Roberts, the chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) says:  œThis report is seriously misleading. Independent research last year, using a sample of passengers fifty times the size used by Which? and based on the kind of questions most commonly asked by passengers, found that the correct information on rail fares was given 99% of the time.

Transport Briefing

• FCC fleet overhaul restarts as Bombardier delivers First Capital Connect has resumed its £4.5m train refurbishment programme which was halted because of a shortage of rolling stock. Late delivery of newly-built Bombardier Electrostar trains, which were required to support Thameslink Programme Key Output 0 in March, forced First Capital Connect to put the work on hold in order to have sufficient trains to run the new KO0 timetable. Now the train operator says sufficient new units are in service on the Brighton to Bedford Thameslink route for refurbishment of the 20-year old rolling stock to resume
• Halcrow to shed jobs as clients reduce spend Transport consultant Halcrow has announced plans to shed 6% of its workforce in the UK and Ireland as clients reduce their spending as a result of the recession.
• Nat Express picks Spencer to finish Digbeth hub National Express has appointed C Spencer to complete a £5m contract to rebuild Birmingham's main coach station after the previous contractor, Ashford Construction, became insolvent.
• ORR kicks off High Speed 1 rail consultation The Office of Rail Regulation has begun a consultation to determine the best way of regulating High Speed 1, the rail line between London St Pancras station and the Channel Tunnel.

Derby Telegraph

• Diesel rethink could see jobs hope down line for Bombardier A £300m train-building contract for which Derby firm Bombardier was bidding has been sidelined by ministers – but the change of plan could spell good news.

Edinburgh Evening News

• FirstGroup out of the traps with plans for Greyhound service SIR Moir Lockhead, FirstGroup's chief executive, hopes to roll out the iconic Greyhound coach service throughout the UK within two years.

Journal Live

• Passenger groups warn of train ticket increasesPASSENGER groups are warning of train ticket price increases next year as rail bosses try to claw back money lost on commuter fares.

Liverpool Echo

• Last minute talks in bid to avoid Liverpool John Lennon airport strikeLAST minute talks are now underway in a bid to avoid strike action at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

London Evening Standard

• Light at end of the tunnel as Tube dispute resolvedDispute over jobs on London Underground which sparked a crippling strike earlier in the summer and threatened further industrial action has been resolved
• Britons 'priced off railways' by Europe's most expensive faresBritain has the most expensive train journeys in the world with fares more than twice the European average

Nottingham Evening Post

• Do not be 'fooled' over rail fare decreases CAMPAIGNERS say passengers should not be "fooled" by planned rail price cuts which they claim will leave people paying more in real terms.
• Letter: region needs a transport group I endorse the concerns expressed by David Culm (Your Views, July 27) in respect of the decades of failure to upgrade the A453.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Warning to obey rail fare cuts rule Rail operators were last night warned against trying to dodge rules forcing down fares in January next year.

The York Press

• Backing for York day free of cars FRESH support has been given to York™s first car-free day, as city leaders urge motorists to abandon their cars and walk, cycle or ride the bus.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• High speed Sheffield to Leeds rail link 'could generate £23bn'More than £32 billion of benefits could be generated from a high-speed rail line linking both Sheffield and Leeds to London, according to a new report.

Washington Post

• LaHood planning to wind down Clunkers program WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is developing plans to wind down the popular Cash for Clunkers program and could announce by Friday when the incentives will no longer be available.

Aviation Industry

• Polish Air Navigation Services Agency Selects Micro Nav™s BEST ATC SimulatorMicro Nav have supplied the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency with an ATC simulator to help train more air traffic control operators.
• American Airlines Employees Earn Second-Quarter Customer Service AwardAmerican Airlines awarded $10.4 million to approximately 70,100 employees for helping the company achieve certain customer - satisfaction goals during the second quarter of 2009.

Other News Sources

• OFT proposes referral of local bus services to Competition Commission [OFT Press Release]The OFT has today published its market study into the supply of local bus services and proposes to refer the sector to the Competition Commission (CC) for more detailed investigation. In a five month investigation into the £3.6 billion industry, the OFT found evidence to suggest that limited competition may be leading to higher prices for bus users.
• Disabled travellers "discriminated against" A MAN who is confined to a wheelchair has said more needs to be done for disabled people in Crawley. Darren Wise, 38, of Furnace Green said he sometimes feels "discriminated against" because transport services for people in wheelchairs is so poor around the town.
• ORR consults on its approach to the regulation of High Speed 1 The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) today launches a consultation on its approach to the regulation of High Speed 1, the rail line between London St. Pancras and the Channel Tunnel. Bill Emery, ORR chief executive said: “The new high speed line is an important national asset, and we believe the industry needs to understand our approach in carrying out our new responsibilities.
• 'Eco car' benefits are being exaggeratedCan 'eco cars' live up to their hype? A new report suggests that the savings might not be as high as manufacturers claim
• Port of London First Half 2009 Trade falls 16%
• Start works on Greyhound UK campaignCoach company Greyhound launches in the UK today with a branding campaign by Start Creative.

Other Subscription Services

• China Shipping set for major fleet revampCHINA Shipping Development said it would embark on a major restructure of its fleet in the second half of 2009 amid tough market conditions.
• British shippers warn on Panama Canal billsBRITISH shipping may decide to take the long way round the Panama Canal unless canal chiefs show restraint in their efforts to recoup their outlay from the current expansion programme.