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

Thursday, 22 July 2010

BBC News

• Audit finds department 'at risk' [video]A scathing attack on the way the Welsh Assembly Government has run its economy and transport department has been made in the wake of an internal audit.
• Dartford charge suspension considered at busy times The barriers at the Dartford Crossing toll booths could be lifted during times of severe congestion.
• Crimes on public transport in England 'cost £1.5bn'Crimes on public transport in England cost an estimated £1.5bn a year, according to government figures.
• Network Rail bonuses get approvalControversial six-figure bonuses for Network Rail bosses are approved, despite criticism from the prime minister and unions.

Department for Transport

• Shaping the future of rail franchisingRail franchises would be longer, more flexible and more responsive to the needs of passengers, and provide better value for taxpayers, under proposals set out today by Rail Minister Theresa Villiers.

Financial Times

• Move to avoid Heathrow for new rail link An ambitious plan to build a 250mph high-speed rail network between Birmingham and London should bypass Heathrow, according to an independent report commissioned by the government.

The Guardian

• Heathrow link to high-speed UK railway 'must wait' Lord Mawhinney's report says there is no need for airport link until the London to Scotland railway goes beyond Birmingham
• Tube Lines: "it's worse than we thought" Transport for London's board meets this morning to consider a short agenda with a single, weighty item near its end. Item 4 is headed Status of the Jubilee Line Upgrade and has been compiled in the roughly three-week period since TfL completed its effective takeover of Tube Lines Limited, the PPP company responsible for improving the Jubilee's track, trains and, most significantly, its signaling system.
• Leeds lobbies government over threatened trolleybus scheme Meeting with minister over the future of Leeds' under-threat trolleybus scheme described as 'constructive'
• Leeds lobbies government over threatened trolleybus scheme Meeting with minister over the future of Leeds' under-threat trolleybus scheme described as 'constructive'
• Jubilee line upgrade delayed by a year Faster, more frequent trains delayed following Transport for London's acquisition of PPP contractor Tube Lines

The Independent

• Network Rail gets backing for bonuses despite PM's oppositionThe Prime Minister's spokesman expressed dismay last night after Network Rail, the not-for-profit company that runs Britain's railways infrastructure, won approval for controversial six-figure bonuses for many of its senior executives.

The Telegraph

• Skoda named as best manufacturer in consumer pollSkoda was once the butt of motoring humour, a car with the acceleration of an asthmatic tortoise, which wags said came in only one colour – rust.
• Skoda named as best manufacturer in consumer pollSkoda was once the butt of motoring humour, a car with the acceleration of an asthmatic tortoise, which wags said came in only one colour – rust.
• Mawhinney calls for railway hub in north west London A "superstation" should be built on the site of a railway depot in north-west London to link Britain's two newest railway lines, the Government has been told.

Mail Online

• Green light for BA's three-way deal to create one of world's largest airlinesIn a move that could herald higher prices for passengers, American regulators have given the go-ahead to BA's alliance with American Airlines and Spanish carrier Iberia.

Network Rail

• NETWORK RAIL ANNOUNCES KEY CONTRACT FOR MK NATIONAL CENTREWork to begin next month after construction contract is awarded
• NETWORK RAIL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2010

Birmingham Post

• £2.25m in bonuses for Network Rail directors approved at annual meeting Heavily-criticised six-figure bonuses for Network Rail (NR) bosses were approved at the company's annual meeting today despite rail union calls for a
• Birmingham to London high speed rail link should include Heathrow - report Heathrow Airport should have a direct high-speed rail link - but only after the network is extended in the north of England, a report has concluded.

Edinburgh Evening News

• New cameras put city in driving seat for bus lane finesTRANSPORT bosses are set to give the go-ahead to new measures which will see the city's bus lanes policed by a series of cameras.

Liverpool Echo

• Business minister Mark Prisk endorses Ellesmere Port as prime site for Vauxhall Ampera BUSINESS minister Mark Prisk gave a ringing endorsement for Ellesmere Port as the production site of the new Vauxhall Ampera.

Liverpool Post

• Five-week Northern Line railway shutdown will hit thousands of Merseyside commuters THOUSANDS of commuters are facing weeks of disruption as a major part of the Merseyrail network is shut down for repairs.
• The Mersey Partnership makes pitch to take over NWDA role MERSEYSIDE’S tourist and inward investment body is positioning itself to take on the duties of the region’s axed development agency.

London Evening Standard

• Heathrow Airport 'must wait for high-speed rail link'Heathrow Airport should not have a direct high-speed rail link until the network is extended to the north of England, a report concluded today. Lord Mawhinney, the Tory peer commissioned to review transport links to the airport, said there was “no compelling case” for an immediate direct link.

The York Press

• More roads added to winter gritting list COUNCIL bosses have approved a shake-up of York™s winter gritting policy to leave the city better-placed to deal with a repeat of last winter™s big freeze.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Hopes high for Leeds trolleybus to escape axeLeeds has been handed fresh hope that its trolleybus system plans will escape the coalition Government spending axe.
• Airline boosts Leeds jobs hopeHundreds of jobs could be created in Yorkshire following a massive investment in new planes by the Flybe airline.

Yorkshire Post

• Heathrow link 'should wait' Heathrow Airport should have a direct high-speed rail link – but only after the network is extended in the north of England, a report concluded.
• Transport: Region's commerce 'will suffer if railway cash cut' MINISTERS will today be warned that haphazardly abandoning investment in railways could hit tens of thousands of businesses in the region. A major report, unveiled today, claims 40,000 firms in just three of the region's urban areas, Leeds, Sheffield and Huddersfield, stand to benefit from rail improvements.

Burnley Express

• Lancashire roads chief won't fight bus pass cutsTHE MAN in charge of Lancashire™s roads said he would not ˜fight tooth and nail™ to prevent cuts to bus passes for pensioners.

Other Regional Press

• Positive trolleybus meeting with MinisterCity leaders describe discussion with Transport Minister Norman Baker as ˜constructive™.
• 1,000 new jobs thanks to £3bn airline deal UP to 1,000 new jobs are coming to Hampshire thanks to a multi-billion pound deal that will see Southampton Airport become a centre for international business travel.
• 20p to spend a penny at Warrington Bus Station USERS of the bus station will be charged 20p to spend a penny from next month.
• Car park charges set for valleys train users COMMUTERS in Caerphilly borough will start having to pay to use train station car parks, prompting concerns it could cause traffic problems and deter people from using them.
• Lack of Newport train link 'ridiculous' - rugby fan A RUGBY fan says it is ridiculous he cannot travel from Newport by train to see his favourite Valleys team.
• Port privatisation: Minister calls for more detailsShipping Minister Mike Penning has asked Dover Harbour Board to give more information about its plans for the privatisation of the port of Dover.
• Kent's roads contract out to biddersKent County Council has announced a six-strong shortlist for one of its biggest contracts.
• No plans for new barriers at M62 crash spot THERE are no plans to replace the motorway barriers wrecked in Monday’s M62 pile-up.
• Flights are cheap but you need to save up to park!A Glasgow MP has claimed airport parking charges at Scottish airports are as expensive as flights.

Rail-News.com

• Eurotunnel celebrates 250 million people through the Channel TunnelToday, 21 July 2010, Eurotunnel celebrates the passage of 250 million people through the Channel Tunnel since commercial services began, 16 years ago, in June 1994.
• Bombardier’s Electrostar Units for National Express well into Production at Derby, UKOver 2100 BOMBARDIER ELECTROSTAR cars manufactured to date at Bombardier’s Derby site, the only site building trains in the UK today. The award winning ELECTROSTAR is the most successful EMU in passenger service in the UK.
• Roger turns the page for National ExpressRoger Peacock of Stansted Express is celebrating after securing funding of £700 from the National Express Employee Charity Panel to purchase a dictionary for each schoolchild in the Chatteris area as they leave their junior school.
• First ScotRail class 380 due to arrive in UK on FridayThe first Siemens built class 380 is expected to arrive in the UK, via the Channel Tunnel, this coming Friday. Delivery of the class, which will officially enter passenger service in September, will be at the rate of 2 a week once the delivery schedule is ramped up.
• Amey awarded Network Rail contract to extend platforms on c2c networkAmey has been awarded a Network Rail contract to upgrade 9 stations on the c2c network. The work includes extending the platforms to accommodate 12 carriages and supporting work on the overhead lines, signalling and track. In addition the lighting, CCTV and public address systems will be upgraded.
• Planning consent secured for works at Northolt Junction Property consultant Ardent has secured planning consent for a crucial new railway line and junction at Northolt on behalf of Chiltern Railways. The works will create a faster, more attractive and reliable train service encouraging a further shift from road to rail.

Railnews

• News: 'Value for money' rail inquiry chief to speak at Derby conference Sir Roy McNulty, who is leading the major ’value for money’ inquiry of the rail industry for the British government, is to be a keynote speaker at the next Derby & Derbyshire Rail Forum’s conference, sponsored by Railnews. Sir Roy McNulty’s ’scoping’ report has already identified the rail industry as costing 40 per cent more to operate than under British Rail — and that Network Rail is 30–50 per cent less efficient in terms of maintenance and renewals expenditure than comparable European railways.

Transport for London

• Customers are reminded that the Hammersmith & City and Circle lines between Hammersmith and Edgware Road are set for three-week upgrade closure Block closure between 24 July and 15 August due to Crossrail and London Underground (LU) station upgrade works at Paddington

Aviation Industry

• Glasgow Airport appoints new Commercial DirectorGlasgow Airport is delighted to announce the appointment of Francois Bourienne as Commercial Director...
• BAA response to Department for Transport Economic Regulation proposalsœWe are pleased to see the Transport Secretary™s announcement today setting out his approach to reforming the economic regulation of airports...

Other News Sources

• Tube and Overground maintenance to cause weekend travel chaosMAJOR works on Tube lines and London Overground will play havoc with travel plans this weekend (24 and 25 July). The Hammersmith and City line, Circle Line and Jubilee Line will all be completely closed on Saturday and Sunday with replacement bus services running instead.
• London Underground air con fund slashed by 25 per cent Commuters in Clapham, Balham and Tooting face a sweltering summer on the tube after bosses slashed their air conditioning budget.
• G4S has been awarded a three-year contract with Northern Rail.The private security company will provide customer service and revenue protection services such as issuing and checking the validity of rail tickets, assisting with customer service, as well as continuing to protect Northern Rail’s revenue by managing potential fare evasion.
• National Express defends bus fare hilke A FIFTY per cent hike in a one-way bus fare over the last five years has put potential passengers off using public transport, a city transport chief has claimed.
• £21m boost for Welsh stations A £21m boost to improve train stations across west Wales and the Valleys has been announced by Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones.
• Green initiatives keep new line on track The new Airdrie “ Bathgate route will be a significant enabler towards a greener Scotland said Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson today.read more
• Council pledges to maintain student travel cards FOLLOWING the news that Surrey County Council is scrapping 22 school buses from next September in a bid to save £830,000, the authority has confirmed it will still be supporting student travel through a subsidised scheme.
• Concessionary bus travel in Norfolk could be hitFree bus travel for pensioners in Norfolk could be hit by nationwide cuts to services, a meeting heard. People over 60 in the county can currently travel on buses for free from 8.
• Tram chief: big works 'need brave politicians'Proposing large public building works takes political courage, according to the man behind a delayed and over-budget city tram project.