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

Friday, 02 October 2009

BBC News

• Rail worker: 'Crossings not safe' A Network Rail employee who had to be cut free from his car after it was hit by a train has called for barriers to be installed at every level crossing.
• September drop for US car salesThe big three US car firms saw their sales fall in September, as they suffered a hangover from the end of the 'cash for clunkers' scheme.

Financial Times

• US car sales close to year lowUS car and light truck sales came close to plumbing new 2009 lows in September, with weak consumer demand exacerbated by the expiry of cash-for-clunkers scrappage incentives and unusually low inventories of some popular models.
• Lufthansa takes full control of BMI Lufthansa has agreed to buy the 20% of BMI it does not already own from Scandinavia's SAS, boosting its holding in the British carrier to 100%
• Polish airline faces unrest over cost cutsThe decision of the new management of the troubled Lot airline to axe a generous collective bargaining agreement has prompted the unions to protest outside its headquarters
• EU regulators issue objections to BA tie-upThe fate of British Airways' planned venture with American Airlines and Spain's Iberia drew a step closer to resolution, after European competition authorities issued their list of concerns for the proposed transcontinental tie-up

Reuters News

• EU watchdog warns on Oneworld allianceThe European competition watchdog said on Friday it had written to British Airways (BAY.L), American Airlines (AMR.N) and Iberia (IBLA.MC), warning them over their Oneworld trans-atlantic alliance.
• Banks discuss National Express bid loan-sourcesBankers are working on a loan to back the proposed acquisition of British bus and rail operator National Express (NEX.L) by Spain's Cosmen family and private equity firm CVC, several banking sources said.

Daily Express

• BA considers bmi bidBRITISH AIRWAYS is waiting to alight on bmi after rival Lufthansa took full control of the airline.

Birmingham Post

• National Express sells Digbeth coach station site in leaseback deal The Birmingham-based transport firm, which is currently the subject of a takeover bid by Spain’s Cosmen family, will start a 25-year lease on the 38,000 sq ft site when the facility is fully built – due to be in December this year.

Bolton News

• Rail campaign is on track A REGIONAL transport chief has vowed to continue lobbying the Government to ease congestion on trains in and around Bolton after a disappointing trip to the Labour Party Conference. Cllr Keith Whitmore, chairman of the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA), led a delegation of local members to the conference in Brighton for a fringe meeting to discuss the future of rail travel in the North West.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Arriva Trains Wales spokesman put on spot at rail meetingTHE first meeting of the North Wales Coast Rail Users’ Group takes place next week.

London Evening Standard

• Olympic road lanes not essential, says IOC chiefLondon can do away with controversial Olympic road lanes at the 2012 Games if other traffic control measures can be proved to cut congestion, says IOC chief
• Students pay full fare as free Oyster cards are lost in postTens of thousands of students face having to pay to travel across London after their free Oyster cards were delayed by the post strike

Nottingham Evening Post

• Call to electrify Midland Mainline Assembly chairman Coun David Parsons wrote to Transport Minister Lord Adonis after he announced electrification of a number of major routes – but not the line between London St Pancras and Sheffield via Leicester, Nottingham and Derby.
• Talks to extend Kimberley bus route TALKS are being held over plans to extend a bus route in Kimberley.
• Your chance for voice on tram work CONSULTATION groups are being set up to give county residents their say on the work of crews who will build the extensions to Nottingham's tram system.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Government will keep control of east coast mainline A last-minute rebellion at Labour's Brighton conference has committed the party to keep the east coast mainline rail service in government hands.

Yorkshire Post

• Exclusive: East Coast line's new boss to be paid more than PM The new boss of the East Coast Main Line will be paid a higher salary than the Prime Minister. Elaine Holt was appointed by Transport Secretary Lord Adonis in preparation for the franchise being handed back to public ownership after current operator National Express East Coast announced they expect to lose more than £20m.
• All aboard the high-speed bandwagon for a long haul SUDDENLY, high-speed rail lines are all the rage. Initially, it was the Tories at their conference last year who supported the idea. Then the Liberal Democrats soon got in on the act and now Labour has jumped enthusiastically on the bandwagon, commissioning a study into the feasibility of a north-south line.

Blackpool Gazette

• "We need to keep Blackpool bus station" - says businessman A BUSINESSMAN is demanding a bus station in Blackpool town centre after the existing terminal is converted into shops.

Carlisle News & Star

• Have a say on how Cumbrian coast rail line is runTrain users across Cumbria are set to have a greater say in how the coastal line between Carlisle and Barrow is run to attract more passengers on the line and improve the route to meet local needs.

Sunderland Echo

• Facelift plan for 'depressing' Sunderland Station Improving Sunderland's "depressing" train station is now on city leaders' to do list. Sunderland City Council is to carry out a study into what can be done to create a station of which the city can be proud.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Motorists' group hits out at London mayor's plansThe mayor of London is risking exacerbating transport problems in the capital by concentrating on specific schemes rather than the wider issues, it has been claimed.According to the RAC Foundation, Boris Johnson needs to look specifically at areas of central London, which it claims "could become no-go areas for cars" as a result of cycle paths, bus routes and roadworks.The organisation wants to see the focus placed on "fundamental travel problems" in the city and has questioned the mayor's plan to replace bendy buses with new Route Masters.It also warned tha...

Transport for London

• London Buses seeks your views on changes to route 354London Buses is seeking the views of local residents and bus users on proposed changes to route 354 to provide a direct link with train services from Ravensbourne Station.

Other News Sources

• East Coast rail franchise to remain public for "at least" two years The East Coast rail franchise will remain in public hands for ''at least'' two years, the Government indicated today. Junior transport minister Chris Mole said this would provide stability for passengers and staff.
• East Coast joy amid a gloomy outlookTHE East Coast main line is to remain nationalised for at least two years. National Express, which over-extended itself by bidding for the franchise when Sea Containers pulled out, itself has walked away from this troubled route, whic links London King' Cross with York, Leeds, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen.
• Unions demand East Coast rail stays public Transport unions are adamant that the East Coast Main Line stays public after yesterday's announcement the most lucrative route in Britain will be in be government hands for "the foreseeable future."
• Minister asked to agree to BRT land grab Transport Secretary Lord Adonis is being asked to agree to the compulsory purchase of nearly 60 plots of land for a controversial package of transport schemes in Bath.
• LOBBY GROUP TARGETS POLITICIANS OVER A1079 Hull to York Road A lobby group pressing for much-needed improvements to the A1079 Hull to York road is urging national and regional politicians to support the campaign if only to protect the future of local economies and jobs
• How Wi-Fi Data Transmission is Unlocking Critical OTMR Information to Improve Rail Fleet Management Rail safety specialist, Rowe Hankins, has introduced the first Wi-Fi enabled on-train monitoring and recording unit (OTMR) on the UK rail network. The Teloc unit from HaslerRail has been installed by Rowe Hankins on a Porterbrook Turbostar operated by London Midland as part of a long term trial.
• Government reply to Michael Fabricant re: London-Midland train service Transport Minister, Sadiq Khan MP, has written to Michael Fabricant who told the Government, after Sunday cancellations of the London Midland train service, "If London-Midland cannot deliver the Sunday train service, give the contract to someone who can". The Minister has written back in detail and says: "The Department expects London Midland to plan its resources and work with trade union and staff representatives to ensure that the services we have specified are delivered, and this includes Sunday services."
• More seats for commuters London Midland put on an extra 1600 seats at peak times Leighton's commuters will stand more chance of getting a seat in the rush-hour from December after London Midland announced plans for extra shuttle services.
• Five new London Midland trains to carry 1,600 extra passengers from Watford and Bushey to London Euston from DecemberFive new “shuttle services” will serve train passengers in Watford and Bushey, when a new timetable is launched in December. London Midland today announced there will be an extra 1,600 seats on peak commuter services when the new trains begin to run into and out of London.
• City council parking perk to end A parking perk which allows hundreds of Preston Council workers to use city centre car parks for free will be scrapped under new proposals. But Town Hall employees could get discounts partly funded by the taxpayer on trains, buses and even taxis.
• Warwickshire County Council has unveiled plans for a second railway station in Stratford-upon-Avon. The £6.5 million Stratford Parkway development at Bishopton is intended to boost the frequency of trains to Birmingham and to reduce traffic on local roads.
• Commission tables action plan on urban mobilityThe European Commission's long-awaited Urban Mobility Action Plan was adopted yesterday (30 September) in a move designed to help local and national authorities make urban travel 

News from Europe

• European Parliament Rolls Out New Labelling Deal In three years all new tyres on sale in Europe will be classified and labelled for fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise performance. Yesterday (Thursday 1 October) European Parliament Industry Committee and Council negotiators reached a political agreement on a labelling system similar to that used for household appliances.
• EU transport chief accused of conflict of interest with RyanairEU transport commissioner Antonio Tajani has been accused of a conflict of interest for spending six hours aboard a Ryanair flight alongside the company's chief executive while on a whistle-stop tour of Ireland campaigning for the Lisbon Treaty.
• EC takes action to make urban travel greener, better organised and more user-friendlThe European Commission has today adopted a comprehensive Action Plan on Urban Mobility. The Action Plan proposes twenty concrete measures to help local, regional and national authorities achieve their goals for sustainable urban mobility.
• GPS Resolution Improved to 2 Metres Within Europe The launch of a new network of ground and space based systems has improved the accuracy of GPS systems within the European Union to around 2 meters, compared to conventional accuracy levels of around 20 metres.