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

Thursday, 13 May 2010

BBC News

• Community policing for train stations in Cumbria Railway stations across Cumbria are to have their own dedicated police teams to help prevent and fight crime.
• Strong support for plan to protect Leeds canal wharves Leeds City Council has said it has received strong support for proposals to protect canal wharves in the city.
• Cameron's cabinet: TRANSPORT - PHILIP HAMMONDPhilip Hammond has build up a reputation as an articulate and effective Commons performer since being elected MP for Runnymede and Weybridge in 1997.
• Profits at FirstGroup fall by 19%Bus and rail operators FirstGroup says higher fuel costs and cut backs in spending hit full year profits.
• Heathrow runway plans cancelledPlans for a third runway at west London's Heathrow Airport are cancelled by the new coalition government.
• Disruption after Tube derailmentA London Underground train is derailed in the early hours of the morning, leading to major disruption on the Piccadilly Line.

Financial Times

• Hapag-Lloyd helps shrink Tui lossesThe improved trading at Hapag-Lloyd contributed to a reduction in losses for Tui, its largest shareholder, over the six months to March 31. Earnings before interest,...
• Dubai's Emirates airline posts strong profitsGovernment-owned airline bounces back to strong profit as its chairman forecasts double-digit growth in passenger numbers and capacity in the coming year
• Planned third runway at Heathrow is scrappedPolicy pact between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats specifically identifies 'the cancellation of the third runway at Heathrow' as one of their agreed environmental measures
• Greyhound drags down FirstGroupA reduction in passenger numbers, combined with the higher price of fuel hedging, have dented profits at FirstGroup, although the company was cheered by its strong cash generation
• AP Møller-Maersk swings back into profitWorld's largest container shipping line provides the latest evidence of the sector's revival, with net profits of $639m for the quarter, against a $373m loss last time, on revenue up 20% to $13.2bn

The Guardian

• Boris Johnson: the new government and his transport strategy The finished version of the Mayor's Transport Strategy was published on Monday along with a plea to the then un-formed new government to keep the money rolling in to TfL. Hélène Mulholland was at the press conference:

The Herald

• MSPs support new £2bn Forth Road bridge Plans for a new £2 billion Forth Road bridge have been approved by the special committee of MSPs set up to scrutinise them.
• FirstGroup chief questions impact of foreign businessFirstGroup chief executive Sir Moir Lockhead wants an investigation into the impact of foreign state-backed companies on the UK transport sector.

The Scotsman

• We need a new Forth bridge, repairing old one is not a viable option – MSPs REPAIRING the Forth Road Bridge rather than replacing it is "not a viable option", MSPs ruled yesterday, as they backed a new £2 billion crossing in principle.

Times Online

• Uncertain future for delayed Thameslink trains One of the country’s busiest commuter lines could become dangerously overcrowded if the Government does not put a delayed order for new Thameslink rail carriages back on track, according to the chief executive of FirstGroup.
• Emirates posts strong profits For most airlines the recession has meant huge losses, reduced capacity and cost cutting but Emirates, the Dubai-based carrier, has bucked that trend and posted a huge increase in profits.
• War of words intensifies at BA British Airways has denied Unite’s claim that it had tried to contact the airline at the weekend and been rebuffed.

Mail Online

• Activists planning to 'destroy' BA with 20 days of strikes, says Willie WalshWalsh said the hard-core of hard-liners in the giant Unite union, which has funded the Labour Party to the tune of £11million over three years, were determined to bring down the airline - but would be resisted.

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham highways deal will see road repairs double in first year A £2.7 BILLION deal aimed at massively upgrading Birmingham’s road network will create 300 jobs and boost 150 firms, it has been revealed.

Liverpool Post

• Halewood to ramp up Freelander production by 31% PRODUCTION at Halewood’s Land Rover car plant will jump by more than 30% this year.
• Stobart in talks over next phase of expansion for Widnes hub LOGISTICS group Stobart produced resilient results for the year to February 28.

London Evening Standard

• Third runway ’buried’: how coalition affects LondonHeathrow's third runway was “dead and buried” today after Labour was ousted from power. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats sealed their opposition to expansion at the west London airport in the coalition pact agreed last night.

Sheffield Star

• Stations get bike sheltersCYCLISTS in Barnsley can now benefit from safe, secure and covered bike shelters which have been installed at four local railway stations.

The York Press

• Bus contract put out to tender A DOOR-TO-DOOR bus service for elderly and disabled people in York is to be put out for tender.

The Shields Gazette

• Port chief upbeat despite figuresTHE Port of Tyne saw both its turnover and pre-tax earnings fall significantly last year, but says the future is bright.

Other Regional Press

• Firm launches new bus link to city airportBuses will run between Glasgow Airport and North Ayrshire for the first time with the launch of a new Arriva link this week.
• Potholes to blame for shortage of windscreensCar repair companies are running out of replacement windscreens due to the record number of vehicles hit by stones thrown up from pothole scarred roads.
• Aberdeen bus giant™s profits fall THE profits of Aberdeen-based transport firm First Group have slumped with higher fuel costs hitting the business, new figures revealed today.
• Southam residents' fury at high-speed rail payouts HUNDREDS of Southam residents squeezed into a meeting to hear about a compensation scheme for residents affected by the high-speed rail line through Warwickshire.

Forbes

• India's Next 'Ultra-Cheap' CarBajaj Auto is expected to roll out a new, $2,500 car in 2012. Can the planet handle it?

Railnews

• News: Green light for High Speed rail, says coalition The new coalition government formed by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats has said the establishment of a domestic High Speed rail network in Britain is one of its priorities.
• News: Fresh bid underway to break maintenance deadlock Network Rail and the RMT are resuming talks today in a fresh bid to break the deadlock over the loss of maintenance jobs, which has already led to a vote in favour of a strike.

Other News Sources

• Guided bus makes slow progress THE construction of Cambridgeshire's controversial guided busway continues to make very slow progress.
• US transport chief test-rides Japan's bullet train TOKYO — Visiting US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood test-rode a high-speed Japanese train for the second day running Wednesday as Washington continued weighing bids for the upgrade of its rail network.
• Boris Johnson outlines his vision for London's "cycling revolution" Mayor of London Boris Johnson has published his Transport Strategy, which includes comprehensive details of how he intends to bring about a “cycling revolution” on the capital’s streets.
• Runnymede and Weybridge MP Philip Hammond rumoured for cabinet role Runnymede and Weybridge MP Philip Hammond has refused to be drawn on rumours he will be the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in the in the new Conservative and Liberal Democrat Government.
• PPP Arbiter criticises Transport for London for lack of clarity over Tube costsPPP Arbiter Chris Bolt yesterday said he was œdisappointed with Transport for London for failing to provide cost information on upgrade work in a format that allowed benchmarking with other projects.
• Babcock blames failure to secure rail contracts for 25% job cutsBabcock has cited the Office of Rail Regulation taking a reduced settlement of £28.5bn with Network Rail as the reason for cutting 25% of its rail construction and renewals workforce.
• Luton busway deal this monthContractor Bam Nuttall is expecting to finally sign its contract for the £89M Luton Dunstable busway project this month.
• Tube Lines to be freed from a Tube Lines is set to become a subsidiary of Transport for London, once the sale completes on 30 June.
• Funding fears as Tube PPP hits the buffersLondon transport schemes will face a tough battle for cash in the wake of Tube Lines™ sale to Transport for London (TfL), industry experts warned this week.
• Low-carbon economy must be coalition focusUrgent action to create a low-carbon economy must be a key priority for the new coalition Government, Friends of the Earth said today (Wednesday 12 May 2010).
• Third runway plans for Heathrow scrapped Andy Atkins, Executive Director of Friends of the Earth, welcomes an announcement that plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport will be scrapped.
• Warning as mayor buys out Tube upgrade firmLondon Mayor Boris Johnson™s takeover of contractor Tube Lines could set back the upgrading timetable and open up the capital™s transport budgets to central government cuts, experts warn
• First TransPennine Express busier as airport travellers ditch their carsLike-for-like passenger revenues on First TransPennine Express increased by 5.6 per cent last year, franchise operator First Group Plc (LSE: FGP) said today.
• Stobart hails 'very strong results' as profits rise 54 per centLogistics provider Stobart Group Ltd (LSE: STOB) today posted a 54 per cent increase in annual profit and said it expected further growth this year despite and#8220;difficult trading conditionsand#8221;.
• Huff and Puff Along the Norfolk Coast CyclewayFamilies have the chance to get in the saddle for a day of fun and fitness this summer. Read more...