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

Saturday, 08 May 2010

BBC News

• Memorial for new heritage trail A memorial dedicated to victims of a 1922 factory explosion is refurbished to become part of a new heritage trail in Tipton.
• U-turn demand over road sign to combat car cruisersChanging road sign leads to criticism of council
• Tube upgrade could come under TfLUpgrade work on the London Underground undertaken by maintenance firm Tube Lines could be brought TfL's control.
• 'Astronomical' rise in rail faresSome train operators are being accused of

Financial Times

• TfL buys last London Tube contractor Transport for London has bought out shareholders in Tube Lines, in a move that brings to an end the last of the Underground's public private partnerships

The Guardian

• Union threatens five-day BA strikesAction would begin on 17 May at the earliest and may run through half-term holidays after rejection of latest peace offerBritish Airways is facing the prospect of a lengthy strike by cabin crew that could affect the half-term holiday and hit 1.8 million passengers after flight attendants rejected a peace offer.The Unite union must give BA notice of strike action, making 17 May the earliest possible date for the latest phase of walkouts, which could last 20 days.However, BA has raised legal concerns over an online ballot that saw 81% of cabin crew who voted reject its attempt ...

The Herald

• New BA strike threatens fresh flights miseryPassengers using British Airways are facing further serious disruption as cabin crew planned another strike after rejecting an offer aimed at settling a long-running dispute.

The Independent

• Conservatives dangle prospect of cabinet jobs to entice Lib Dems Nick Clegg held the casting vote on who will govern Britain last night as both the Conservatives and Labour redoubled their efforts to lure the Liberal Democrats into a partnership deal after the most closely fought general election in decades ended in stalemate.
• BA faces 20 days of strikes after latest offer to crew is rejected British Airways could be hit by new strikes after the airline's cabin crew overwhelmingly rejected an offer aimed at ending their long-running dispute.

The Scotsman

• Shares deal returns Tube contractsThe end of the controversial Public Private Partnership on London Underground has been signalled with a deal to bring all Tube maintenance and upgrade work back in house.

The Telegraph

• Cruise passengers 'revolt' after ship misses stops Passengers on-board a P&O cruise are "in revolt" after missing scheduled stops at Valencia, Gibraltar and Naples due to engine trouble.
• General Election 2010: Let's talk business, kingmaker Clegg tells suitors Despite the Liberal Democrats' disastrous showing in the election, Nick Clegg now assumes the role of kingmaker.

Daily Express

• Volcano fallout stings easyJetASH from the Icelandic volcano eruption cast a cloud over passenger numbers at budget airline easyJet last month.

The Sun

• Union backs '20 days of BA hell' BRITISH Airways faces a third wave of crippling strikes after cabin crew throw out a peace deal

Belfast Telegraph

• BA boss’s hardman act is only fanning the flames Does British Airways' chief executive, Willie Walsh, really want to resolve the airline's industrial dispute with cabin crew? Related StoriesBuilding societies braced for tough yearThe rating agencies 'must be curtailed'Asda set to unveil new chief executive'Green' plastics expert to give masterclassJitters in markets at prospect of a hung parliament
• BA sacks union official amid row A union official representing British Airways cabin crew has been sacked, inflaming the bitter dispute which has led to a series of strikes. Related StoriesBuilding societies braced for tough yearThe rating agencies 'must be curtailed'Asda set to unveil new chief executive'Green' plastics expert to give masterclassJitters in markets at prospect of a hung parliament

London Evening Standard

• Shares deal returns Tube contractsThe end of the controversial Public Private Partnership on London Underground has been signalled with a deal to bring all Tube maintenance and upgrade work back in house.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• First electric car in the northTHE first electric car to be used in the Highlands has arrived in Inverness this week, giving motor vehicle students from Inverness College UHI the opportunity to service such a vehicle.
• Barrage of protest over Stagecoach changesBus giant Stagecoach launched its new timetables at the beginning of this week “ and passengers have already criticised the changes.

The York Press

• Transport recommendations to be reviewed after opposition parties join forces OPPOSITION parties joined forces to tell City of York Council™s ruling executive: œMake up your mind.

Other Regional Press

• Bus users to benefit from new servicesBus users in Renfrewshire should benefit from a revamp of Arriva services across the West of Scotland.

Campaign for Better Transport

• The election's over - now politicians need to deliver7 May: With no party winning enough seats to form a majority, a deal between parties now looks likely to form a government. Whether Conservative, Labour or Lib Dem, new ministers need urgently to set out a clear strategy for transport. read more

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Is car sharing on the rise?Car sharing appears to be an emerging trend in the UK and across the pond, with several companies springing up, providing commercial services to cater for this desire.And now, a piece of legislation - drafted to ensure that those drivers who do allow others to use their vehicles for a sum of money do not invalidate their insurance policies - is receiving a hearing in parliament today (May 5th), the Independent reports.One business apparently taking advantage of this is London-based WhipCar, which claims to be the first neighbour-to-neighbour car hire service in the world.It matches motor owner...

Railway Gazette

• 600-train framework agreements announcedGERMANY: BeNEX has announced framework agreements under which three rolling stock manufacturers could each supply up to 200 multi-section electric multiple-units. The tendering process began in 2008 and ended on May 5 with the announcement of agreements for Bombardier Transportation to supply Talent 2 units, Alstom Transport its Coradia Continental model and Stadler Rail trains from the Flirt family. Firm orders will be placed as and when rail operating contracts are won by BeNEX, the holding company owned by Hamburg public transport operator Hamburger Hochbahn and PPP investor International...

Aviation Industry

• BA faces threat of new strikes as pay deal failsBritish Airways PLC is facing the threat of new strikes after cabin crew Friday rejected an offer from the airline that would have resolved a bitter dispute over pay and working conditions.

Green Miscellany

• Post election 2010: Which way Transport Policy? Well of course it is too early to tell. The composition of the new House of Commons means that for a stable administration for a full four year term only one combination will work – a coalition between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.read more

Other News Sources

• World Cup fans face transport hurdlesSoccer face an array of transport worries when they navigate South Africa for the World Cup, crossing a country three times the size of Germany and travelling notoriously complex city streets.
• Fast rail, the French wayAnne-Marie Idrac said that Florida, which has been studying a high-speed railway for years, could be the first state to offer this system to its people. The conference room video Friday showed a sleek...
• TUBE UNION RMT CALLS FOR CLARIFICATION FROM BORIS JOHNSON ON REPORTS THAT TUBE LINES IS BEING TAKEN INTO PUBLIC OWNERSHIPTube union RMT today called for an urgent statement from London Mayor Boris Johnson on reports in the Times this morning that he is on the verge of taking the Tube Lines operation back into public ownership - killing off once and for all the PPP disaster on London Underground.
• Thames Gateway and third sector ministers oustedCabinet Office minister Angela Smith and Shahid Malik, the minister responsible for the Thames Gateway, are among those MPs with a regeneration-related briefs who have lost their parliamentary seats in the general election.
• BAA hands ad contract to JCDecauxAirports operator BAA has awarded JCDecaux Airport the advertising franchise contracts for Heathrow, Heathrow Express, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports.
• What can be done to make aviation more environmentally friendly? Since aviation accounts for such a high percentage of carbon emissions, what can be done to make it more environmentally friendly?
• Unions hail tube lines 'shareholder deal' Union leaders have claimed that the
• UK shipping officials loseSHIPPING minister Paul Clark and the parliamentary undersecretary of state for transport, Chris Mole, were among the Labour politicians who lost their seats in the UK general election.
• Day of Silence Proposed for those Positively Affected by Volcanic AshHACAN has called for a day of silence to mark eruption of volcano.
• Air Quality Figures Indicate General Improvement The Government has published the final 2009 figures for air quality.
• London City Airport Denies Stealth TacticsLCA has dismissed allegations that it is using stealth tactics
• Alternatively-powered cars 'may have sci-fi sound'Electric vehicles may be fitted with science-fiction style sounds, it has been reported.
• Boost for Yarmouth rail station campaignPlans to revive Great Yarmouth's railway station have taken a major step forward with a plan to link it with the restoration of the Vauxhall Bridge in the town.
• Cameron stresses Tory-Lib Dem agreement on low carbon economy Conservative leader David Cameron has flagged up the desire to build a low carbon economy as one of the areas of common ground between his party and the Liberal Democrats as he seeks to woo them in an attempt to form an effective coalition Government.
• Shares deal returns Tube contractsShares deal returns Tube contracts