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

Thursday, 11 March 2010

BBC News

• High-speed rail plans announced by government Plans for a new high-speed rail network, featuring 250mph trains, have been announced by Transport Secretary Lord Adonis.
• Derby's new bus station flooded Derby's new bus station has suffered damage after a pipe burst leaving flooring under three inches of water.
• Bedfordshire busway gets government funding [video]A plan to build an 8.3 mile guided bus route in Bedfordshire has received government funding.
• Harrabin's Notes: Battle over biofuel strategy Legislate in haste, repent at leisure: is that the syndrome afflicting the EU's biofuels policy?
• 'Smart' £1.1m Nottingham transport boost debated Nottingham City councillors are to decide whether to invest £1.1m into "smart ticketing" to improve public transport schemes.
• Parents who take buggies on buses face crackdown Parents with buggies who take up wheelchair spaces on buses face a crackdown in a government campaign to improve passengers' experiences.
• Switch-off for main road lights in Caerphilly county Thousands of street lights will be switched off around Caerphilly county to reduce carbon emissions and save money.
• New Kent rail service 'too early to judge' A Government minister has denied rail users in Kent are getting a raw deal from new timetables and trains.
• Beijingers get back on their bikes Office worker David Dai is one of a growing army of Beijing residents returning to two-wheeled transport. But the 28-year-old does not rely on his own pedal power - like hundreds of thousands of others, he has bought an electric bike.
• High-speed rail line plan awaitedPlans for a new high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham are to be published by the government later.
• Tram project 'could be delayed'The contractors working on Edinburgh's tram line say they want to delay the project for a further 30 months.
• Rail-to-tram line will shut downMillions of pounds of three-year-old track is to be ripped up as part of an upgrade of the Metrolink services in Oldham.
• Mayor threatens Tube legal actionLondon Mayor Boris Johnson says he is considering legal action after it is ruled contractor Tube Lines must be paid £4.4bn.
• Airlines offer slots in EU probeBritish Airways, American Airlines and Iberia offer to give up take off and landing slots in London and New York, say EU watchdogs.
• Union to consider BA strike datesUnion leaders representing British Airways cabin crew will meet later to decide whether to announce dates for a strike.

Financial Times

• Edinburgh trams hit by delaysA contractor for Edinburgh's troubled new tram system has estimated it might not be in operation until the start of 2014 - nearly four years after the controversial...
• Heathrow sees 5.3% increase in trafficPassenger numbers at Europe's busiest airport rose to 4.6m in February, the largest jump in two and a half years, in a sign that demand for travel could be returning as the economy improves
• Cathay Pacific returns to the blackCathay Pacific returned to profits last year as lower fuel cost and hefty hedging gains helped the Hong Kong airline cushion the effect of the economic downturn, which hit both passenger and cargo traffic and drove turnover down by more than a fifth
• Airlines offer concessions to secure allianceThe planned global alliance between British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia moves closer to securing regulatory approval as European officials begin testing the concessions offered by the airlines
• TCC to launch slimmed-down shipping servicesOne of the boldest shipping ventures of the past two decades is to start operations next month during the sector's worst downturn with the first sailing by a simplified container shipping operation
• Efforts to reach BA deal and avert strike end in failureTalks aimed at averting strikes by British Airways cabin crew broke down on Wednesday night after efforts to reach a compromise deal ended in failure
• Tube ruling angers transport chiefThe London transport organisation has failed in its efforts to reduce the costs of the London Underground public-private partnership after the contract's arbiter increased the funding by £65m

The Guardian

• High-speed rail plans unveiled – live Follow the train of events as the government's plans for a high-speed rail network are made public

The Herald

• Trams could face two-year delay A tram project for Edinburgh may not be finished for another two years, it has emerged.

The Independent

• BA faces prospect of crippling strikes as talks break down British Airways is facing the prospect of crippling strikes by its cabin crew after talks aimed at resolving a bitter row over cost-cutting broke down last night.
• High-speed rail route to be set outThousands of households will learn that their properties will be affected by a multi-billion pound high-speed rail line today when the Government finally lays out its detailed plan for the project. The route for the 200mph service is also likely to anger green groups, as the line between Birmingham and London is set to run through the picturesque Chiltern Hills, in Buckinghamshire. However, HS2, the company that drew up the route, is said to have devoted a lot of time to minimising its environmental impact.

The Scotsman

• High-speed rail plan to be unveiledPlans for a high-speed rail (HSR) network featuring 250mph trains will be announced by the Government.

The Telegraph

• BA strike looms as peace talks collapse A crippling British Airways cabin crew strike looks inevitable as the airline rejects peace proposals from the Unite trade union.
• Foreign lorry drivers should pay for road use say MPs Foreign lorry drivers should pay for their use of British roads, an all-party committee of MPs has said.

Times Online

• Prepare for the fourth transport revolution [Andrew Adonis]Britain needs it and can afford it. There is no reason to hold back high-speed rail
• Tube Lines looting London, says the MayorLondon Underground must find an extra £460 million to finance the upgrade of the Northern and Piccadilly lines.

Daily Express

• Branson attacks BABRITISH Airways has tabled sweeteners to win regulators' blessing for a tie-up with American -Airlines and Spain's Iberia but Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic has blasted the plans.

Mail Online

• HARRY PHIBBS: Road safety is not just about speed - we need traffic police to tackle bad driving

The Mirror

• High-speed rail plan to be unveiled Plans for a high-speed rail (HSR) network featuring 250mph trains will be announced by the Government.

Network Rail

• NETWORK RAIL ON BOARD FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL

Birmingham Mail

• High speed rail line details to be published Details of a possible multibillion-pound high-speed rail line running to Birmingham from London, featuring 250mph trains, will be announced by the Government on Thursday.

Derby Telegraph

• Clean-up operation begins as flooding hits new bus station A BURST water pipe flooded Derby Bus Station, leaving it under three inches of water – less than three weeks before it is due to open.

Edinburgh Evening News

• City set to fast-track trams for council electionsTRAM works could be speeded up so a key section of the route is finished before the 2012 council elections, it was claimed today.

Liverpool Post

• Liverpool John Lennon airport breaks into UK’s top 10 busiest operators LIVERPOOL John Lennon Airport has broken into the top 10 of busiest UK airports for the first time.

London Evening Standard

• Tube misery as two million passengers face delays after funding slashedTwo million passengers who use the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines face years of delays after a major row broke out today over the amount that will be spent on the Tube network.
• Lord Adonis blast train companies over Oyster cardsTransport Secretary Lord Adonis expresses astonishment that Oyster cards are not on sale at all railway stations across London
• High-speed rail plan to be unveiledPlans for a high-speed rail (HSR) network featuring 250mph trains will be announced by the Government.
• Union to discuss BA strike movesBritish Airways is facing the prospect of crippling strikes by its cabin crew as union bosses meet to decide their next move after talks aimed at resolving a bitter row over cost-cutting broke down.

Manchester Evening News

• Anger at 'learner' traffic wardens Council bosses have admitted some of Manchester™s new breed of traffic wardens haven™t even passed their driving test. A team of ˜civil enforcement officers™ “ who patrol the city on scooters “ have been spotted sporting L-plates.

Nottingham Evening Post

• City to decide on £1.1m smartcard investment plans CITY councillors will decide whether to accept a £1.1m grant to invest in smart ticketing to improve public transport across Nottingham.
• New tram boss hopes to build good relationships REBUILDING relationships that were frayed by industrial action last year will be one of the first tasks of Nottingham Tram Consortium's new general manager.
• Letter: apology to MPs FURTHER to my letter (Your Views, February 22) an apology to local MPs Nick Palmer and Alan Simpson who have endorsed the Campaign for Better Transport campaign for lower train fares.
• Letter: apology to MPs FURTHER to my letter (Your Views, February 22) an apology to local MPs Nick Palmer and Alan Simpson who have endorsed the Campaign for Better Transport campaign for lower train fares.

The York Press

• £170k bus boost is double delight TWO new buses are to be added to a fleet which ferries disabled and elderly people around York after £170,000 was ploughed in the scheme.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Police station for Leeds Bradford International AirportA cop shop has been launched at Leeds Bradford Airport to help provide a police presence from early morning until late at night.

Other Regional Press

• Caerleon cycle route gets £500,000 boost THE next stage of the Newport to Caerleon cycle route will be built after £549,000 funding was secured.
• Drivers still dicing with death at level crossingsThere were seven near-misses between trains and cars in Kent last year - and that is just the
• Westminster rail debate: Roger Gale's verdictThe House of Commons was the next stop for a row over a the Southeastern train timetable that has angered hundreds of Kent commuters.
• Residents™ anger as councillors slash town speed limitsA CONTROVERSIAL scheme to slash speed limits on a string of Fraserburgh roads has been backed “ despite mass objection.

Railnews

• News: TfL poised to challenge Tube Lines funding decision The PPP Arbiter has ruled that Tube Lines will receive £4.46 billion in its next Control Period. The decision leaves the London Underground contractor with a shortfall of more than £1 billion. Even so, Transport for London, which had offered just £4 billion, says it may now challenge the Arbiter’s ruling.
• News: Coucher calls for Government action over level crossing risks Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher is urging the Government to take action over level crossing misuse. Mr Coucher wants driving tests to include compulsory questions about how to use crossings properly. There are more than 8,000 level crossings on the National Rail network, and 95% of the 3,000+ incidents annually are being blamed on the actions of vehicle drivers or pedestrians.

Aviation Industry

• February traffic figures: BAA's airportsColin Matthews, BAA™s chief executive officer, said:
• BA, AA and Iberia offer up Heathrow slotsOneworld alliance members British Airways (BA), American Airlines (AA) and Iberia are volunteering four daily pairs of slots at Heathrow for other airlines to lease.read more

Other News Sources

• Transport minister announces £80 million funding for busway Transport Minister Sadiq Khan announced an £80 million government funding package for the new Luton Dunstable Busway at Luton Train Station this morning.
• Transport minister backs night-time deliveries Transport minister Paul Clark has reinforced his view that quiet night-time deliveries will be able to tackle urban congestion, reduce carbon emissions and encourage more reliable deliveries without impacting on the lives of local residents at the FTA’s Urban Logistics Conferenc.
• High-speed rail link will create jobs and lead to a greener transport systemResponding today (Wednesday) to plans for a new high speed rail link to be included in the Transport White Paper tomorrow, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
• RMT demands an end to Tube Lines privatisation chaos on London UndergroundTUBE UNION RMT today demanded that London Mayor Boris Johnson take 'urgent and decisive' action to terminate the Tube Lines contract on London Underground as it emerged that LU are calling in forensic accountants to 'examine massive and secretive payments to Tube Lines' shareholders' and after the company were branded as 'ailing and failing' by TfL.
• London transport plansBoris Johnson has announced plans for the future of transport in London. The Guardian focuses on the projects that have been dropped including the Thames Gateway bridge, the £1.3bn Cross River Tram; a £500m tram scheme for Oxford Street; and a £70m extension of the Docklands Light Railway to Dagenham ’London Reconnections’ reports on what has been [...]
• Speed slashed on 'death road' in LancashireThe speed limit on one of the main routes into Preston is to be slashed by 20mph after two deaths.
• High-speed rail plan to be unveiledHigh-speed rail plan to be unveiled