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

Tuesday, 20 July 2010

BBC News

• Concerns aired on Aberdeen transport project delays North east business leaders have signed an open letter to Scotland's transport minister over fears about delays to projects including the Aberdeen bypass.
• Will superhighways help cyclists?The first of London's cycle superhighways is opening. Beyond the encouraging name, are they any good?
• City transport delay fears airedBusiness leaders sign a letter to Scotland's transport minister over fears about delays to the Aberdeen bypass.
• Tram man in 'be courageous' callThe man in charge of Edinburgh's tram project said leaders must have the courage to support public infrastructure projects.
• Cycle superhighways are launchedThe first two cycle superhighways - the first of 12 in London - are officially opened by mayor Boris Johnson.
• Rail works to stop for 2012 GamesTransport for London (TfL) and Network Rail announce all engineering works will be suspended during part of the summer of 2012.
• Eurotunnel traffic rises sharplyEurotunnel, which manages the Channel Tunnel, reported rising revenues as more people and freight passed through its tunnel.
• Model of supersonic car unveiledThe British team hoping to drive a car faster than 1,000mph unveils a full-scale model of the vehicle at the Farnborough air show.
• First Farnborough deals unveiledEmirates says it will buy 30 Boeing 777 aircraft in a deal worth $9.1bn, while Airbus receives a $4.4bn order from Air Lease Corp.

Financial Times

• Eurotunnel warns over insurance disputeThe Channel Tunnel operator said a dispute over insurance payments following a 2008 fire could force the group to declare its first full-year loss since 2007
• Pick-up in air travel lifts Delta to profitDelta Air Lines swung to it first quarterly profit in more than two years, as the world's biggest carrier by revenues benefited from rebounding demand for travel, filling its planes and raising ticket price

The Guardian

• 'Big society' will transform rural Britain, says trekking Tory MP Charlie Elphicke, MP for Dover, hopes that the 'big society' will allow his constituents to buy their port. He has written to Philip Hammond, the transport secretary, asking him to use his powers under the Ports Act to make a "Big Society direction".

The Herald

• Services disrupted one month after ferry breakdownA month after one of the most serious breakdowns ever suffered by one of its ferries, Caledonian

The Independent

• BA strike ballot result due todayA long-running industrial dispute involving British Airways cabin crew will reach a critical point today when the result of a peace deal ballot is announced.
• London cycle-hire scheme delayedBoris Johnson's £140m scheme to bring bicycle hire to London is being delayed. Tourists and visitors to the capital will have to wait until the end of August before being able to use the new bikes, which will be available only to pre-registered members when the scheme is launched a week on Friday.

The Scotsman

• Edinburgh airport: Even the Greens say No to 'kiss and fly' fee THE Greens have dismissed Edinburgh airport's proposed £1 charge for dropping off passengers at the terminal as "simply one more way to screw money out of travellers". The party, which supports the principle of cutting car trips to the airport, said the charge would simply be a tax because it would be too low to change drivers' behaviour.

The Telegraph

• Salary and pay are banned words for new Network Rail boss The railway group was advertising last weekend for a replacement for its no-so-fat controller Ian Coucher. The ad called for someone with an “instinct for pushing the boundaries of pace, ambition and innovation to the edge of possibility.” It sounds like Captain Kirk might be the man for the job.
• New footage of train dodgers released Network Rail reports 3,400 criminal acts on involving young people on railways as they launch a new campaign.

Network Rail

• NATION'S RAIL GREEN MOVEMENT BEGINS IN WESTBURY
• MORE STATIONS IN WALES MAKING RAIL PROGRESS

Birmingham Post

• Designer shares his vision of how speed rail link train should look Paul Priestman shows off his proposed design for the 250mph trains that could run on the Birmingham to London high-speed rail link.

London Evening Standard

• Delay puts spoke in Boris Johnson's London bike hire schemeBoris Johnson’s flagship £140 million bicycle hire scheme will not be ready in time forcing cyclists and tourists to wait until the end of next month before they can use it
• BA cabin crew ballot result dueThe latest twist in the long-running British Airways dispute is due to be revealed on Tuesday when the result of a ballot among thousands of cabin crew over a

Manchester Evening News

• Airport chief backs 'naked' body scanners The boss of Manchester Airport has backed its controversial ˜naked™ body scanners “ in the same week officials in Dubai refused to install them over privacy concerns. Geoff Muirhead, outgoing chief executive of Manchester Airports Group, insisted they were right to introduce the devices despite fears passenger privacy could be violated.
• Commuters set for a week of Metrolink distruption Tram passengers have been told to prepare for a week of disruption because of work to extend the Metrolink network. Part of the Bury line will shut from next weekend (July 31) so that it can be connected to the new line to Oldham and Rochdale.

Metro

• Positive trolleybus meeting with Minister Leeds’ council leaders and transport bosses have described an all-party meeting organised by Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew with Transport Minister Norman Baker as ’constructive’. “Primarily the meeting was an opportunity to reiterate to Mr Baker the significant, economic, environmental and social benefits the planned NGT trolleybus network would bring to Leeds and the City Region,” said Stuart Andrew.
• Boris Johnson launches 'cycle superhighways' in LondonMayor of London Boris Johnson launched two new flagship 'cycle superhighways' in London on Monday, designed to make cycling in the capital safer.

The York Press

• York to Leeds bus service is scrapped BUS wars on the flagship York to Leeds route are coming to an end after First decided to scrap a service which it only launched last year.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds bus fares increaseThe biggest bus company in Leeds has announced a round of fare rises.

Yorkshire Post

• Disappointed transport chiefs issue challenge to bus operators TRANSPORT bosses at an authority which oversees buses in South Yorkshire have spoken of their disappointment at figures which show one in 10 passengers is unhappy with services.

Blackpool Gazette

• Grant axe threat to bus routes MOVES to scrap a Government grant could put bus routes on the Fylde under threat and increase fares in rural areas, it is feared.

Rail-News.com

• The ’8-Hour Bridge’ wins Best Small Project at Network Rail Partnership AwardsArup, in partnership with Carillion, has been awarded ’Best Small Project’ at Network Rail’s annual Partnership Awards for their 8 hour rail bridge replacement trial at Holm Farm, Dumfries, Scotland. The initiative was praised as exemplary in delivering bridge replacements in a safe, controlled and cost-effective manner.
• Rail companies attract passengers by opening nurseriesRailway companies in Tokyo and the surrounding areas are opening nurseries at or near their railway stations to make the areas along rail routes more appealing to working parents and attract more passengers to their trains.
• Eurostar naming remembers FromellesA Eurostar train has been named Remembering Fromelles at St Pancras International station.
• Bike and ride initiative from South West TrainsA new trial bike and ride scheme has been launched at Richmond station by by South West Trains. The trial allows passengers to hire a bike from just £10, allowing them to explore the surrounding area or take them on peak or off-peak trains to complete their journey. In addition 108 extra cycle spaces have also been provided at Richmond station.

Aviation Industry

• An old favourite making a come-backGreat news for passengers today, with confirmation that one of Aberdeen Airport's previously most popular destinations is making a come-back!
• Farnborough International Airshow NewsEmirates pushes for 777 upgrade as it orders 30 777-300ERs Airbus sales top triple digits on first day GECAS back in a buying mood with order for 100 A320s, 737s Additional stories

Other News Sources

• St Albans MP questions minister over FCC's franchise performanceST ALBANS MP Anne Main questioned the transport minister about the recent assessment of First Capital Connect's performance.
• Ex-Mill Hill School pupil wins Crossrail design competition A FORMER Mill Hill school boy has won a national competition to design the seating on the proposed Crossrail platforms.
• Council Leader raises concerns with Transport MinisterThe Leader of Rochdale Council, Councillor Irene Davidson has met with Transport Minister Norman Baker to raise the Council’s concerns over the Government’s decision to delay the approval of the Rochdale Transport Interchange.
• 'No decision' on Newport - Ebbw Vale rail link - transport minister Despite years of campaigning from the Argus, Wales' transport boss still cannot give a date for when passenger trains will take people from Newport direct to the Ebbw Vale, and it looks as if no decision will be made by the current Assembly government.
• Crossrail wildlife park excavations job up for grabsCrossrail has advertised a six year contract covering the shipping and disposal of excavated materials for the construction of a wildlife reserve at Wallasea Island in Essex.
• Bidders down to two for £2bn Sheffield highways PFI dealThe race for Sheffield City Council™s £2 billion highways maintenance PFI deal is down to two as the Colas-led team has been knocked out of the running.
• Travel websites failing consumers Online travel websites are delivering inadequate customer service, according to recent research. The survey by Edigitalresearch revealed that airline websites don't answer more than half of all email enquiries, with hotels and online travel providers also performing badly.

News from Europe

• German Transport Minister Favors WTO Rules for Airlines, Handelsblatt Says Germany’s Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer said the World Trade Organization should be given the job of ensuring even competition within the airline industry, Handelsblatt reported, citing an interview.