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

Wednesday, 23 June 2010

BBC News

• Translink fare increase criticised by Consumer Council Those who use public transport faced even more bad financial news today with the news that Translink is putting up fares again.
• Minister pledges free bus travel for injured veterans Welsh veterans who have been seriously injured in combat will be eligible for free bus travel from next year.
• Stagecoach upbeat as profits slip Transport group Stagecoach has reported a decline in pre-tax profits in what it described as a "difficult year".
• Tube strike faces legal challengeTalks are being held to avert simultaneous strikes on the London Underground and Docklands Light Railway.
• California weighs using digital number plates to run ads on carsCalifornia weighs advert-broadcasting digital number plates on vehicles in a bid to raise revenue for the cash-strapped state.

Financial Times

• Proposed sale of air traffic controller angers airlines Airlines reacted with a mix of approval and irritation yesterday as the government deferred plans to bring in a new passenger tax but said it would look at selling its stake in NATS, the air traffic controller.
• BA agrees pensions plug ahead of tie-upThe airline will be unable to pay a dividend to the new parent company that will be set up after its planned merger with Iberia for at least two years under a new pension deal
• Peel sells airports stake to VASThe private infrastructure group's joint venture with Vancouver Airport Services comes amid a slowdown in traffic at its airports, which rely heavily on charter flights and low-cost airlines

The Guardian

• Budget 2010: Air traffic control organisation Nats to be sold off Treasury in talks to fellow shareholders about selling off its 49% stake in Nats air traffic control service
• The live Underground train map: what else can be built with transport data? A single weekend plus Transport for London's API was enough to produce a live, self-updating map of where Underground trains are. What else is possible? (Updated)
• Why Canadians want our railwayThe retired teachers from Ontario have invested their pension fund in several UK ventures - now they have bid for the high-speed railwayA retirement fund set up for state-school teachers in Canada sounds like a sensible, provincial operation “ not the obvious choice to own a railway. But this week, the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan was touted as a likely bidder for Britain's first high-speed railway, which the government put up for auction on Monday.Tasked with looking after the retirement cash of 289,000 teachers, the fund is no stranger to snapping up British assets “ it already owns almost...
• Tube workers set for planned strikePlanned two-day action by maintenance staff starting tomorrow evening to affect Victoria, Jubilee and Piccadilly lines Londoners face

The Herald

• Record 83% of passengers satisfied with rail travel, says reportPassengers are happier with train travel than at any time in the last decade, a comprehensive survey has found.

The Independent

• Tube strike to be challenged in court A last-minute legal challenge is to be made to halt a planned 48-hour strike by London Underground maintenance workers, it was revealed tonight.

The Scotsman

• ScotRail is on right track say nine out of ten passengers NINE in ten passengers are satisfied with Scotland's main train operator, the latest official survey shows.

The Telegraph

• Budget 2010: transport projects in North and Midlands given go-ahead to stimulate regions A series of major transport schemes in the North and Midlands have been given the green light.
• Cost of air travel set to rise because of increased aviation taxes Families face further increases in the cost of flying with the Government looking to double the amount it raises from aviation taxes.

Birmingham Post

• Virgin Trains keen to take control of more railway stations Virgin Trains has urged the Government to let it take over management of many of Britain’s stations as Ministers launched a review into rail funding.
• Chiltern Railways and Shropshire rail company shine in rail satisfaction survey A Shropshire rail company has come out top in a rail satisfactory survey.

Liverpool Echo

• Canadian firm Vancouver Airport Services buys Liverpool John Lennon Airport LIVERPOOL John Lennon Airport (JLA) has today been bought by a Canadian firm.

London Evening Standard

• Stagecoach looks for route past recession strugglesStagecoach reported a 24% drop in annual profits today but found relief in its rail division, where it said results were improving despite its figures taking a huge hit.

The News (Portsmouth)

• Fareham to Gosport bus scheme back on trackA scheme to link Fareham and Gosport with a bus route to cut congestion is now back on track after an eight month legal battle.

Wales Online

• Electrification of line ’still being considered’ ELECTRIFICATION of the London-Swansea rail line is still under consideration by the Government, Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said yesterday.

Bucks Free Press

• Probe agreed over Swan Rider transport axe A CONTROVERSIAL plan to close a council transport service for OAPs and people with learning disabilities will go to a full watchdog probe, it was confirmed today.

Burnley Express

• New East Lancashire transport service steps into breachLANCASHIRE County Council has signed up new transport operators to provide services in Burnley and Rossendale.

Other Regional Press

• Rail survey boost for SoutheasternWhatever criticism it has received in the wake of the high speed timetable changes, Southeastern Trains has just enjoyed a boost with its best showing in a passenger survey.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Toyota scheme 'will shed light on green car usage'A selection of Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid cars are set to take part in a three-year lease demonstration that may interest businesses across the UK. From July 2010, the manufacturer is gauging the opinions of members of the public and fleet users regarding the environmentally-responsible vehicles. 20 editions of the motor will be used on London's streets as part of the initiative, which will produce data that can be used by the government, EDF Energy and the carmaker itself. The information might go some way to helping EDF Energy with its delivery of charging points at workplaces, domestic loc...

Aviation Industry

• BAA completes sale of 50% stake in APPFurther to the announcement by BAA on 27 April 2010, reporting the sale of its 50% stake in the Airport Property Partnership (APP) to SEGRO plc for £244m, the company today confirms that the sale has formally completed.
• BA faces fresh strike threatBritish Airways passengers are facing the prospect of a summer of disruption after the union representing nearly 12,000 cabin crew union threatened a fresh strike ballot.
• Osborne postpones action on APDThe UK government today (June 22) postponed any decision on the controversial Airport Passenger Duty (APD) read more

Other News Sources

• Commuter delight at improved rail service London Midland trains made greater improvements in passenger satisfaction than any rail company in the country over the last year, according to a new survey.
• Wirral Council deal with Network Rail should give West Kirby Aldi the green light WIRRAL Council is expected to do a deal with Network Rail to allow a supermarket in West Kirby to go ahead
• Rail bosses welcome report on Bradford train services An increasing number of passengers are satisfied with the overall service provided by the biggest train operator in the Bradford district, an independent watchdog revealed today.
• Virgin sees possible marriage, CEO says Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd., whose U.S. operations are based in South Norwalk, said it is open to consolidation should opportunities arise as rival carriers pursue mergers and deeper alliances.
• MP questions £80k Wrexham council post Wrexham council has been urged to rethink plans to hire a new senior officer on £80,000 a year who would reduce its spending on transport.
• Will cycle hire scheme bring a 'revolution' in London transport? London Mayor Boris Johnson is promising nothing less than a cycling revolution in the city, a key part of which will be the bike hire scheme launching in nine boroughs at the end of July. DAN HODGES was given a sneak preview of the capital's newest form of public transport
• TfL announces plans to improve Thames travelling Passengers who travel on the River Thames are set to be given increased support by Transport for London (TfL), in a raft of new proposals announced last week.
• The greenest thing about the budget was knotted around the Chancellor's neck Well, at least his tie was green. But George Osborne’s neckwear was much the most verdant part of the first budget from Britain’s ’greenest ever Government’, as the Prime Minister calls it, delivered by a man who, only a few months ago, was promising to make the Treasury ’a green ally, not a foe’.
• RMT slams 'Budget for the Rich' and warns of widespread public and industrial resistance to ConDem cuts agendaTRANSPORT UNION RMT today slammed what it described as 'the ConDem's budget for the rich' - warning of widespread community and industrial resistance once people realise the full scale of the impact of the Government's cuts plans for public services and the true cost for jobs and standards of living.
• FTA welcomes Budget but¦.The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has welcomed the Budget statement from the Chancellor and his pledge to ˜support the transport links we need to trade our goods.™ However, the FTA still wants further action to support the sector that is the lifeblood of the whole economy. The Government™s decision not to increase fuel duty in the Budget [...]
• FTA welcomes Budget but¦.The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has welcomed the Budget statement from the Chancellor and his pledge to ˜support the transport links we need to trade our goods.™ However, the FTA still wants further action to support the sector that is the lifeblood of the whole economy. The Government™s decision not to increase fuel duty in the Budget [...]
• June Budget: Support for local rail projectsThe emergency Budget has given the nod to four local rail projects while a large regional growth fund will be set up as the coalition tries to build its way out of the national deficit.
• JUNE BUDGET: Funding pledged to four regional transport schemesThe coalition Government has today committed itself to four regional transport projects in the North and the Midlands.
• Roof demolition job up for grabs on £600m Birmingham New Street schemeNetwork Rail is seeking a contractor to carry out a major roof demolition job, worth £7.5 million, as part of the £600m redevelopment of Birmingham New Street station.
• Virgin to launch in-flight mobile service When Virgin Atlantic's newest aircraft enter the fleet next year, passengers will be able to use their mobile phones on board.