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

Wednesday, 24 March 2010

BBC News

• Study puts cost of Kemble to Swindon rail plan at £52m The cost of converting the railway line between Kemble and Swindon into a dual track will be about £52m, a Network Rail feasibility study has shown.
• Portsmouth ferries plan for extra business Portsmouth ferry port is hoping for a boost in the number of travellers to France and Spain because of the British Airways strikes. Two new ferries are being brought onto routes from Portsmouth this week. BBC South's transport correspondent Paul Clifton has been to see the first of them arrive.
• New bridge across the River Wye in Herefordshire A new foot and cycle path is to be built across the River Wye linking Hampton Park with Rotherwas.
• Kent disabled woman gets ticket to opposite platform A disabled woman has received an apology after she was told she had to go on a 45 minute return train journey to get to the opposite platform.
• Trams to feature famous citizensEdinburgh's trams are to be maroon, white and gold with two special ones bearing the image of famous Edinburgh citizens.
• Thousands face airline cash lossThousands of customers owed money by failed airline Flyglobespan could receive only 5% of their fares back.
• Cash sought for Subway overhaulScotland's largest transport authority is to ask ministers for up to £400m to overhaul Glasgow's Subway system.
• BA boosts flights for next strikeBritish Airways says it will run more flights through the next planned strike as more crew will report for work.

Financial Times

• Guardian chief to head EasyJetCarolyn McCall, chief executive of the Guardian Media Group, is to become chief executive of EasyJet. Ms McCall has overseen a lengthy and controversial restructuring...
• BA adds flights in hope of more crewBritish Airways says it will run more flights during the second wave of strike action, due to start on Saturday, because more cabin crew were volunteering for work.

The Guardian

• Frustration as Virgin's Wi-Fi service hits the buffers Virgin Trains and T-Mobile get their wires crossed after their wireless network is hit by delays

The Herald

• Closure ˜an option™ for Glasgow™s outdated undergroundGlasgow™s subway system could face being shut down if a £400 million modernisation programme is not approved.
• 10% of Glasgow Subway trains are cancelledOne in every 10 subway trains in Glasgow was cancelled last month as passengers continued to desert the service.
• Scots business leaders warn of being hit hardest by BA strikeScotland bore the brunt of the continuing British Airways strike yesterday as business leaders warned of œhuge disruption to the national economy.
• Globespan owes creditors £70mFifty thousand creditors are owed £70 million from the collapsed airline Globespan and many will only recoup a fraction of what they have lost, it was revealed yesterday.
• Forth Ports chief opens door for a buy-out bidHammond to meet consortium hoping to take over company

The Independent

• Rail strikes threatened over Easter weekend The prospect of rail and air strikes affecting millions of passengers loomed large last night after unions warned of industrial action that would bring widespread disruption during the general election campaign.
• So, is there any truth in Stephen Byers' claims that he was able to alter policy? National Express won the bidding in 2007 for the franchise to run the East Coast rail line. Last year, they realised that they had overbid, and wanted to buy themselves out of the contract. Stephen Byers claimed that he had secretly brokered a deal with the Transport Secretary, Lord Adonis, under which the company would be severely criticised in public, but on the quiet it would be let off lightly
• BA to run more flights during next strike British Airways plans to expand its flight schedule for the second wave of strikes by its cabin crew from this weekend, the airline announced tonight.

The Telegraph

• BA finds an unlikely ally in Ryanair boss O'Leary Michael O'Leary, who once ran an advert branding British Airways "Expensive BAstards", has backed the airline in its battle with union Unite.
• Third runway at Heathrow has fewer benefits, Government admits A third runway at Heathrow has fewer benefits than originally thought, the Government has admitted.

Times Online

• Leading doctors call for ban on smoking in carsTwenty of Britain™s most senior doctors call today for a ban on smoking in cars as part of a sweeping expansion of laws to protect children against the effects of inhaling smoke.
• Eurostar bang on time in non-exec announcements With timing that would grace its trains, Eurotunnel put out a press release on Monday updating shareholders on resolutions for its AGM.

Reuters News

• BA open to union talksLONDON (Reuters) - British Airways is open to holding further talks with the Unite union to avert a second wave of strikes by its cabin crew but has made plans to cope with a fresh walkout this weekend, it said on Tuesday.

Mail Online

• Get full body scanners in all airports now or face terror attacks, warns damning report Ministers are accused of sitting around waiting for terrorists to strike at British airports in a damning report published today. The Home Affairs Select Committee warns that the introduction of body scanners and explosive detection equipment at airports must be hastened in order to prevent unnecessary deaths.

Network Rail

• 92 OUT OF 100 TRAINS ARRIVE ON TIME DURING FEBRUARY

Birmingham Post

• Power problems cause rush hour misery between Birmingham and London Hundreds of commuters between Birmingham New Street and London Euston were delayed after a power cut caused signalling problems on trains.

London Evening Standard

• Heathrow third runway has fewer benefits than we thought, admit ministersThird runway at Heathrow will not benefit Britain as much as previously claimed, ministers admit
• Boris Johnson plans £25,000-a-day fines for roadworks that run lateUtility firms face paying out tens of millions of pounds under proposals by the Mayor to increase penalties under his roadworks permit scheme

Nottingham Evening Post

• County Council outlines £10.6m plan for transport improvements REVAMPS to town centres, railway stations and footpaths are planned under a £10.6m investment. Notts County Council has drawn up a provisional plan for local transport improvements over the next 12 months.

Sheffield Star

• Supertram fare hikes of up to 18 per centSTAGECOACH Supertram has been slammed over "absolutely disgraceful" fare hikes of as much as 18 per cent - six times the rate of inflation.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• MPs condemn ˜waste of money™ in closing motorcycle test centresThe UK Government is being accused today of œwasting millions scrapping local motorcycle test centres, despite bikers protesting it would force them to travel miles to multipurpose centres.
• Posters from golden era of rail travel going up for auction Vintage British Rail travel posters depicting iconic views of the north and north-east are to be sold at auction in the US.
• SNP step up drive for fairer fuel pricesFinance Secretary John Swinney yesterday stepped up SNP calls for action on rising fuel prices.

Bucks Free Press

• Train campaigners take to the web THE battle to stop a high speed rail link in Buckinghamshire has spilled over into cyberspace “ with one webmaster calling for people to Save The Chilterns.
• Pothole efforts 'oustanding'ROAD crews have been praised by a council chief for their ˜phenomenal achievement™ in tackling a surge in potholes.
• Train plan 'callous' MPs tell Parliament SOUTH Bucks MPs today called for a consultation over plans for a multi-million pound high speed rail link for the county to be extended.

Burnley Express

• £7m. upfront price tag for Todmorden Curve rail linkBURNLEY MP Kitty Ussher has received information from the Government that the cost of reinstating the Todmorden Curve is agreed to be £7m. upfront and then it will probably re

Other Regional Press

• Leeds Station southern entrance plans approvedMetro and Network Rail's proposed southern entrance to Leeds Rail Station has passed the planning approval stage and now has funding from the DfT.
• Video: Cheap fares campaign kicks offCommuters will be asked to sign up for cheaper train fares when a group of campaigners visits a Kent railway station today.
• High-speed rail line will destroy Warwickshire farmland, says NFU HUGE swathes of farmland will be concreted over to build the new high-speed rail line set to slice through Warwickshire, farmers have warned.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Smarter travel choices need more than promises23 March: We've been calling on the Government to support and fund "smarter choices" measures, like school travel plans and promoting walking and cycling. Transport minister Sadiq Khan has just confirmed to us that smarter choices will only be supported through the new urban challenge fund or as part of local transport plans. We don't think this is enough. read more

Railnews

• News: Conservatives call for inquiry into Adonis ’intervention’ Claims that Lord Adonis was involved in a secret arrangement in connection with the ending of the National Express East Coast franchise are being dismissed by him as ’pure fantasy’, but the Conservatives are calling for an inquiry by the Cabinet Secretary.

Aviation Industry

• United Airlines Spent $600K Lobbying Gov't in 4QUnited Airlines spent $600,000 in the fourth quarter lobbying on proposed rules for dealing with stranded passengers and prohibiting using computers and other electronics in the cockpit.

Green Miscellany

• Bamboo bicycles grown to order - from bush to bike to Britain Bamboo has been used to make bicycle frames for more than 100 years, but while the material is lightweight, environmentally friendly and cheap to produce, its use is usually confined to basic models for the developing world or prohibitively expensive designer bikes. read more
• World™s best-selling electric car now available in Britain The world’s best selling electric car, the four-seater GEM, is now available to buy in Britain. 40,000 of the vehicles have already been sold around the world.read more
• MPs' illegal Segway convoy to demand electric bicycle rights A group of MPs yesterday defied the law by riding a convoy of Segways on London roads. The protest aimed to question why the use of such vehicles is currently illegal in Britain on roads, pavements or parks “ in other words, anywhere other than on private property.read more

Other News Sources

• Increased compensation for train commuters TRAIN company First Capital Connect has increased compensation for season ticket holders for the serious and prolonged disruption of its winter service.
• Bid to make north Norfolk stations eco-friendly Moves are being put in place to make more north Norfolk stations environmentally-friendly, including introducing energy efficient lighting and solar panels to station buildings.
• City success story WHO says they don't make 'em like they used to? We do – in Plymouth. Bombardier Transportation is a city success story, and proof that manufacturing can and does thrive in the UK and in Devon.
• £400m blueprint to get Subway back on track The plan, which will be considered at the next Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) meeting on April 16, is understood to include new track and signalling infrastructure and improvements to stations and tunnels, and possibly driverless trains.
• Wales launches £11m community transport fundThe Welsh Assembly Government has announced an £11 million grants package aimed at improving bus and community transport services across Wales.
• Network Rail hit with safety Improvement Notice across South EastRAIL UNION RMT today reissued the call for Network Rail to halt its maintenance cuts programme as it emerged this morning that the company has been hit with an Improvement Notice covering the South East Territory.
• Employees in Brackmills team up to cut congestionAround 11,000 employees at more than 130 businesses on the Brackmills industrial estate in Northampton have joined forces to reduce congestion on the roads and to help the env
• Will it be 16/16 for Alistair Darling?The road haulage industry is among those waiting to see if Alistair Darling will make it 16 out of 16 on fuel duty in his Budget tomorrow. If an increase of at least 2 pence a litre goes ahead as expected on April 1, fuel duty (petrol and diesel) will have risen by an average of [...]
• County council boost community transport FOUR community transport schemes in Hampshire have received a cash boost from the county council.
• Cycling showcase towns get on their bikesCycling England has recorded significant increases in the use of bicycles in its six ˜demonstration towns™.
• Drop Segway road ban, says ÖpikLiberal Democrat MP Lembit Öpik led a convoy of Segways through Westminster from outside Parliament yesterday, as part of a campaign to lift rules banning the vehicles from the roads.
• Bristol launches hydrogen ferry competitionBristol City Council has announced an innovative new project designed to get companies thinking about clean energy.

News from Europe

• France Backs SNCF in Bidding War With Deutsche Bahn Over Arriva March 24 (Bloomberg) -- France’s Transport Ministry said it will back state railroad SNCF in a bid for Arriva Plc, setting up a contest with German rival Deutsche Bahn AG for a U.K. bus and train company valued at 1.43 billion pounds ($2.15 billion).
• Olsztyn to develop tram network POLAND: Olsztyn city council has decided to build a modern tram network, which will be the first new network to be opened in Poland since trams were introduced in Czestochowa in 1959.

Other Subscription Services

• DfT begins tonnage tax hike consultationPlans to increase payments made by shipping firms as alternative to recruiting officer trainees