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

Thursday, 12 November 2009

BBC News

• Lobby for urban railway services Campaigners fighting to improve local railway services are to lobby Network Rail bosses when they meet to discuss future transport plans for Bristol.
• Carbon cuts plan to be regional A programme of carbon cutting initiatives tailored to different parts of Wales has been designed.
• Company must sell 'bus war' rival A transport firm which bought out its rival in a "bus war" in Lancashire has been ordered to sell it by the Competition Commission (CC).
• Flashing speed signs to increase New signs are being put up across Nottinghamshire to try to make more motorists slow down.
• Peak District's £1m cycling boost [video]The Peak District in Derbyshire is to receive a £1m grant to improve cycle paths in the area.
• Plea to Whitehall over rail links London's mayor is urging the government to meet concerns of south Londoners over local rail links when a new £6bn upgrade in the area is completed.
• Railway star rails at rail depot An actress has joined residents in their campaign against plans for a road and rail freight depot in Kent.
• How far? Strange sign appears on Bristol streetMotorists on a busy commuter route into Bristol are surprised a more exotic destination on a street sign.
• Thousands suffer rail disruptionCommuters in south-east England are facing a second day of reduced services because of a row over pay.
• Transport firm in £360m cash callBus and rail operator National Express says it plans to raise £360m in a rights issue in order to cut debts.

Financial Times

• TPG could invest in struggling JALPrivate equity firm TPG Capital could partner with American Airlines to invest in Japan Airlines and prevent a defection to a rival airline alliance, says the chief financial officer of American parent AMR Corp
• National Express faces uphill battleThe bus and rail operator launches a £360m rights issue to help cover interest payments on its debts of more than £1bn, but the Cosmen family, its largest shareholder, fails to back the move

The Guardian

• What's new in cyclingLounge around looking stylish in some new cycle cafes and fixie shops, or leave rampant cycle commercialism behind with a biking and bushcraft courseOne of the best things about being a cyclist is the amount of food you can consume without exploding. So finding a good excuse to ride the trails at Glyncorrwg MTB centre “ other than glorious scenery and nice, flowing singletrack “ has just become much harder. The Drop Off cafe, which has fed and watered exhausted riders for the past five years, is set to close on 30 December. Skyline Cycles, which runs the bike shops at both Glyncorrwg and Afan,...

The Independent

• Undercurrent of doubt over electric motors Electric cars, which emit no carbon dioxide from their tailpipe, are not the answer some people think they are to environmental transport problems, a new report claims today.

The Scotsman

• Electric cars may not be answer, green lobby groups say GREATER use of electric cars may not cut carbon emissions because of the extra power that would have to be generated to run them, green groups reported yesterday.

The Telegraph

• Dean Finch tapped up for National Express boss Dean Finch, the boss of London Underground maintenance company Tube Lines, has emerged as a leading contender to be the new chief executive of National Express.
• Electric cars 'could increase carbon emissions' Electric cars could lead an increase in carbon emissions, a green lobby group has claimed.
• The Railway Children's Jenny Agutter battles rail planJenny Agutter the former child star of The Railway Children has joined a campaign to stop a major rail project on the outskirts of a village where she grew up.

Times Online

• Electric cars 'may not cut CO2 emissions or oil dependency'A switch to electric cars may not necessarily reduce CO2 emissions or dependence on oil, a report for the Environmental Transport Association claims.
• Airport is latest lavish Japanese public project to fly in the face of factsDeep in the Ibaraki backwaters, far from anything useful and tucked at the end of an orchard-lined B-road, workmen are putting the finishing touches to a beautiful Japanese disaster: an international airport with (almost) no planes.
• Bmi struggles to get sale of landing slots off the groundBritish Midland (bmi) may struggle to raise the £95 million in funding it needs to keep flying because potential buyers for its Heathrow landing slots have become thin on the ground.
• British Airways and Iberia move closer to landing merger dealBritish Airways is closing in on its long-awaited merger with Iberia, the Spanish flag carrier. An annoucement could be made as early as Friday, according to Sky News, although sources last night cautioned that any deal could still fall through.

Daily Express

• National Express in £360m cash call rowSTRUGGLING bus and train operator National Express yesterday launched a £360million cash call to cut its £1.1billion debt without the support of its largest shareholder.

Network Rail

• Improvements Announced for 240 Midlands' StationsNetwork Rail today unveiled its plans to improve two hundred and forty stations in the Midlands as part of a five year, £3.25bn, programme of investment to develop thousands of stations across the country. At the same time it launched the first ever piece of passenger research targeting stations.
• £3.25BN To be invested in Britain's Train StationsNetwork Rail today unveiled its plans to improve thousands of stations across the country in a five year, £3.25bn, programme of investment. At the same time it launched the first ever piece of passenger research targeting stations.

Derby Telegraph

• Bus lane proposal sent back to council A CONTROVERSIAL decision to create bus lanes along a busy city centre road is to be reconsidered by Derby City Council.

London Evening Standard

• Motorists may escape speeding fines following budget cutsLatest: Hundreds of thousands of motorists could escape prosecution for speeding and other offences after road safety unit budgets were slashed
• Railway chaos as drivers stay at home and plan Christmas strikePassengers using one of London's busiest train services face pre-Christmas disruption after a drivers' union ordered a strike ballot over pay

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Station in line for £10m of improvements NOTTINGHAM station is set to receive at least £10m from Network Rail for improvement work.
• Bus company awaits awards announcement BUS company Nottingham City Transport was due to find out whether it has won a top industry award today.
• More speed signs for Notts TWENTY-seven more flashing speed signs will appear on Notts' roads after a £200,000 county council investment.
• Cash-call from National Express EMBATTLED transport group National Express has launched a £360m investor cash-call in a bid to repair its battered balance sheet.
• Airport jobs plan 'needs A453 dualled' PLANS to treble the number of jobs supported by East Midlands Airport over the next 20 years make a scheme to upgrade the A453 vital, an inquiry has heard.

Blackpool Gazette

• Blackpool set for cycling cash windfall BLACKPOOL is set to receive close to £750,000 for cycling improvements. The cash windfall – part of £10m spent nationally by the Government on two-wheeled iniatitives – comes as part of the resort's status as a cycling demonstration town.
• Blackpool set for cycling cash windfall BLACKPOOL is set to receive close to £750,000 for cycling improvements. The cash windfall – part of £10m spent nationally by the Government on two-wheeled iniatitives – comes as part of the resort's status as a cycling demonstration town.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Train drivers to vote on strikesTrain drivers on rail routes in the region are to be balloted for strikes in a row over pay, threatening pre-Christmas travel chaos.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Government campaign highlights effect of transport CO2A new campaign has been launched about the environmental impact of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from vehicles.The climate change initiative from the Department for Transport features a television advert, now airing, that highlights the difference that can be made by travelling five miles less per week by car.Aimed at encouraging drivers to alter their habits, it is part of the cross-government Act On CO2 campaign and transport minister Sadiq Khan pointed out that "every action we can take to reduce this figure will make a difference".A target was set by the government in De...

Railnews

• New American locos for Freightliner arrive in Britain The first American GE PowerHaul locomotives for Freightliner have arrived at Newport in South Wales.
• National Express brand stripped from East Coast ahead of handover The National Express brand is already being stripped from East Coast rolling stock. The process began more than two days before the scheduled handover at the end of Friday evening, and some trains were in service from Wednesday without the National Express title.

Aviation Industry

• £7 million investment to transform Southampton AirportOver £7 million is being invested in Southampton Airport over the next year to improve facilities. The developments aim to enhance the airport experience for the 2 million passengers a year who breeze through the region's award-winning airport.

Other News Sources

• First Capital Connect Strike UPDATED - St Albans MP To Raise Dispute In Parliament ST Albans MP Anne Main has been given the go ahead to raise the First Capital Connect (FCC) dispute, which has led to a 50 per cent cut in Thameslink services today, in the House of Commons.
• Obama administration seeks to fix airline industry WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is taking its first step toward trying to fix the ailing airline industry, mired in a severe economic slump and facing safety worries.
• Anger over council's plans to cut student transport subisidies Proposals to reduce bus subsidies for post-16 students in Norfolk, as part of a raft of measures to plug a funding shortfall at the county council, have been met with anger.
• Stagecoach must sell Preston Bus The Competition Commission has told Stagecoach it must sell Preston Bus. Stagecoach has been told it must sell Preston Bus to a rival operator by anti-monopoly investigators.
• 'Station bid is a tactic to stop regeneration' Preston MP Mark Hendrick has urged ministers to reject a bid to list the city's bus station. Mr Hendrick said the attempt by the 20th Century Society to have the station listed is "a tactic to stop the redevelopment of Preston city centre".