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

Tuesday, 27 October 2009

BBC News

• Warning over 'cattle-class' Tube Tube passengers may face "cattle-class" conditions if improvements to the London Underground are delayed or scrapped, a business group has warned.
• Pay row bus drivers strike again Bus passengers in the north and west of Greater Manchester are facing further travel disruption in a continuing row over a proposed pay deal.
• Legal challenge to shared streets Plans to remove pavement kerbs from a tourist area in west London are to be legally challenged by a charity for the blind.
• A75 upgrade works make progress A £9.5m upgrade of the A75 has moved forward as compulsory purchase orders for the plans have been published.
• Transport plans sent to council Detailed plans for a new £11.5m transport interchange in Rochdale have been submitted for council approval.
• Group to push for £1 bridge toll A delegation of MPs and business leaders have met transport minister Sadiq Khan to discuss calls to trial a £1 toll on the Humber Bridge.

Financial Times

• Bail-out request highlights shipping crisisFresh evidence has emerged of the extent of the crisis facing Germany's container ship owners after Peter Döhle Schiffahrts sought state aid to overcome the downturn

The Guardian

• Boris Johnson defends plan to send London Underground chiefs to New York Tube's move to advise NY subway could have impact on ongoing pay dispute, union leader warns

The Telegraph

• End cycle sign confusion - Pedals CYCLING group Pedals is calling for an end to confusion over where people can ride in the city centre. It wants Nottingham City Council to make sure there are enough signs and markings to help cyclists find their way around
• Southeastern commuters face double fare rise Those travelling on services run by the Southeastern train company will have to pay extra to use the new 140mph ''Javelin'' trains in a new timetable that takes effect from December 13. Then, in January, Southeastern season ticket holders will face 1.6 per cent fare rises under a special price formula.
• BA passengers face Christmas of strike delaysAir passengers face a Christmas of delays as British Airways cabin crews consider strike action.
• Tranquillity is 'subjective', rules Government Replying to a call from the House of Commons' own Transport Committee for flights over such sensitive areas to be limited, ministers said that to do so would be "impractical".

Times Online

• Businesses turn to pay-as-you-go car clubs to cut costs Thousands of drivers are turning to pay-as-you-go car clubs as businesses hit by the recession scrap their company fleets.

Press Association

• Rail link costs 'underestimated' Airport chiefs warned three years ago that an axed rail link was heading over budget, MSPs are due to hear.

The Mirror

• High-speed rail dilemma Passengers on some of the UK's busiest rail routes face a stark choice between higher fares or slower trains, it was revealed yesterday.

Network Rail

• WAGONS ROLL OUT RENEWALS IN RECORD TIME A ground-breaking project by Network Rail to significantly reduce disruption caused by renewals work reached a major milestone as engineers replaced a set of points within record-time.
• PLANS SUBMITTED FOR NEW ENTRANCE TO LEEDS STATION Plans to improve access for thousands of rail passengers at Leeds station have been submitted to city planners. Metro and Network Rail are developing the scheme for a new southern entrance which will allow people to get in and out of the station from both sides of the river Aire around Granary Wharf.

Bristol Live

• Transport debate in Bristol stalled by train delaysThe chairman of an MPs' select committee coming to discuss transport issues in the Bristol area couldn't make the meeting – because of train delays. MP for Plymouth Alison Seabeck was supposed to be heading the first public hearing of the South West committee's new inquiry into transport.

London Evening Standard

• Travel threat to Christmas as BA cabin crew prepare to strikeNEW: Thouands of British Airways cabin crew members are poised to strike before Christmas, causing major travel chaos

Newcastle Journal

• Rail struggles but times are good on the buses HEAVYWEIGHT UK firms will have their turn in the spotlight this week after a largely positive run of third quarter results in the United States.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Orders published for Notts A1 improvement scheme PLANS for improvements to junctions on the A1 in north Notts have been published by the Highways Agency. Junctions at Elkesley will be replaced to improve safety along the road.
• Will Tories derail city tram tax? THE Conservative Party will make moves to scrap Nottingham's Work Place Parking Levy if it wins power at the next general election. Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers has told the Evening Post the Conservatives oppose the levy, which will see all firms in the city forced to pay £253 every year for each parking space.

Carlisle News & Star

• Farmer taking Carlisle Airport fight to appeal courtA farmer hoping to scupper plans for a passenger airport on the edge of Carlisle is to take his fight to the Court of Appeal.

Wall Street Journal

• Alstom To Get French State Railway Order For 100 Trains-Source PARIS (Dow Jones)--French power and transport engineering company Alstom SA (ALO.FR) will sign Tuesday a firm order to supply 100 regional trains in France, a person familiar with the matter told Dow Jones Newswires Monday.

Other News Sources

• CROSSRAIL AND TUBE REVAMP WOULD BOOST ECONOMY BY £24BN Crossrail and overhaul of London's Tube would benefit the wider UK economy, says research
• Report warns of A report is warning of "decades of misery" for London Underground passengers if investment is not maintained. London First said any reduction in funding could result in "cattle-class conditions every morning".
• DLR station ’moves’ at the weekend An extraordinary feat of engineering on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has effectively moved a whole station without any disruption to passengers.
• Green plan to add £3,300 to cost of a carMotorists face a huge increase in fuel duty and a £3,300 levy on new cars under plans that could see families' green tax burden soar
• Wincanton says promote carbon benefits of longer semis to publicThe haulage industry should use the environmental credentials of longer-semi-trailers to counter public objections, argues Wincanton director.
• FTA calls on government not to 'greenwash' fuel tax increasesThe Freight Transport Association has called on the government not to apply 'greenwash' fuel tax increases proposed by the Green Fiscal Commission.
• Bombardier and Embraer say Trans States MRJ order was no-bidEmbraer and Bombardier senior executives say US regional carrier Trans States Holdings (TSH) did not hold a formal competition between airframers before...

News from Europe

• Katowice airport link design underway POLAND: A consortium of Pöyry and DB International has begun detailed design for a rail link between central Katowice and the city's international airport at Pyrzowice.

Other Subscription Services

• Japan’s big three shipowners in the redMitsui OSK Lines, NYK and K Line all report first half losses