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

Tuesday, 03 August 2010

BBC News

• Train passenger numbers rebound following recession Train passenger numbers, which are seen as an economic barometer, have returned to levels of growth not seen since the recession began in 2008.
• 'As new' £7.5m upgrade to Arriva Trains Wales fleet A £7.5m upgrade of trains on mainline routes from Wales has been announced.
• New Forth crossing archaeological dig to begin Headland Archaeology (UK) Limited will carry out archaeological investigations on the land earmarked for the Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC).
• Cycle thefts increase in Oxford Thefts of bikes in Oxford are at their highest in five years, according to figures from Thames Valley Police.
• £7.5m upgrade on Arriva Trains£7.5m train upgrade to encourage switch from road to rail
• Staff 'cannot be 2012 volunteers'A union threatens action against a rail firm accusing it of effectively banning staff from Olympic volunteering.
• First air-conditioned Tube trainThe first air-conditioned Tube train goes into service on the London Underground's Metropolitan Line.

Financial Times

• State set to ease control over train orders Train operating companies will gain greater influence over the procurement of rolling stock under plans being considered by Philip Hammond, transport secretary.
• Thai Airways and Tiger to launch new airlineThailand's flag carrier is teaming up with its Singapore rival to form a low-cost carrier to capitalise on the growing Asian leisure travel industry

The Guardian

• Kent Rail & Freight Terminal: Green belt under threat An important habitat for a number of protected species, including great crested newts
• Spotlight on trams: Manchester In the latest of our occasional series on the experience of trams in other cities, guest blogger Alan Salter looks at what light rail network means to Manchester

The Herald

• Big bus companies face ban for predatory practices in cityTwo of the UK™s biggest bus companies have been found guilty of breaching regulations in Glasgow that aim to prevent firms poaching their rivals™ customers and to keep traffic moving.
• Scots haulier put up for sale as suppliers vent anger over billsOne of Scotland™s biggest hauliers, MRS Distribution, was put up for sale last month after suffering a plunge in profits, amid complaints from suppliers that they are taking three months to be paid and some have gone out of business.

The Telegraph

• Rail passenger numbers up as recession eases The number of people travelling by rail has increased, reversing the downturn which hit the industry during the recession.

Reuters News

• BA and cabin crew union restart talksLONDON (Reuters) - British Airways and the union representing its cabin crew restarted talks on Monday in a bid to end a long-running dispute and prevent further walkouts.

Mail Online

• 'The coolest ride in town': First ever air-conditioned Tube trains (but they are only running on outside lines)The new, cool trains will serve 40 per cent of the Underground network, but there are no plans to run them on deep-lying, often boiling hot lines.

Belfast Telegraph

• BA in talks to prevent new wave of cabin crew walkouts Crucial talks aimed at averting fresh strikes by British Airways cabin crew will be held today, with little sign of a breakthrough to the long-running dispute. Related StoriesFears of a 'double-dip' global recession gain groundThriving British market helps food and drinks sector to growMPC set to hold rates as recovery fears growDevelopers reapply to demolish a ‘quintessentially Belfast building’HSBC profits hit £7bn as flak flies over lending and bonuses

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham Airport tops visitor poll BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL Airport has topped a poll by holidaymakers rating their travel experiences in the UK.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Tram row goes internationalEDINBURGH's troubled trams project has picked up two more high-profile critics - the United States' and France's representatives in Scotland are the latest voices

London Evening Standard

• First air-conditioned Tube train arrivesThe first air-conditioned Tube train arrived — on a little-used and above-ground section of the Underground network
• Boris Island airport dead in waterPlans for a 'Boris island' airport in the Thames estuary were killed off today as Transport Secretary Philip Hammond rejected the idea
• Rail staff ’banned’ from volunteering for GamesLondon rail staff have effectively been banned by their firm from volunteering to help at the 2012 Olympic Games

Manchester Evening News

• CCTV upgrade for Manchester Airport Manchester Airport is upgrading its CCTV system at a cost of more than £1m. Bosses are splashing the cash to improve security across all three terminals. Chiefs are replacing their 20-year-old control system, which is dubbed the heart of their massive security operation.

The York Press

• New sweeper to keep cycle paths clear Cycling City York funding has been used to buy a new, ride-on sweeper to help City of York Council™s communities and neighbourhoods team maintain the area™s 55 miles of off-road cycle routes and paths.

Carlisle News & Star

• Sainsbury™s to fund Carlisle cycleway extension Carlisle's newest supermarket chain is to fund a £370,000 extension to the city™s cycleway as part of a £1 million programme of investment in the area.

Sunderland Echo

• Wearside gearing up for electic carsWearside is gearing up to go electric as the search starts for super-fast charging point spots across the region.

Other Regional Press

• Passengers vote Birmingham as best UK airport Air passengers rate Birmingham the best UK airport and Luton the worst, according to a poll today.

Rail-News.com

• P&O Ferrymasters appoints DRS to operate cross country rail trialsDirect Rail Services (DRS), the UK’s leading rail freight operator started innovative trials to move freight from the East Coast to the West Coast by using a new type of wagon to enable cross country service to operate with the necessary gauge clearance.
• All clear for three new Metrolink linesIn a historic decision, Greater Manchester’s leaders have given the green light to three Metrolink extensions, which will see the city region’s iconic tram system running to Oldham and Rochdale town centres and to Manchester Airport via Wythenshawe.
• Engineering trains get a refitTubeline’s fleet of 29 Electric Engineering Locomotives are getting a refit. Although the team responsible for the redesign decided to stick with trusted vented lead acid batteries, new production techniques and cell design has allowed for a number of improvements – particularly in cab size, battery installation procedures and safety.
• Demand for rail returns to pre-recession levels during last six months, new analysis showsA significant increase in demand for rail travel during the first six months of 2010 has seen a return to growth in passenger numbers on the railways not witnessed since before the recession.

Other News Sources

• Network Rail Signs up for 850m Cambridge RegenerationNetwork Rail has signed an agreement with developer Brookgate which will see Cambridge station overhauled as part of a £850m regeneration of the city's centre.
• New signals vital for Met Line trains' success says transport commissioner THE first of a new breed of Tube trains has been launched in Wembley to run on the Metropolitan Line.
• A cab ride without a carbon tyreprint - Northampton firm hires fleet of eco carsA private hire firm in Northampton is helping the environment one eco-friendly car at a time.
• Extra trains for revellersA TRAIN company is planning extra services for people taking in The Tall Ships Races.
• RMT writes to Transport Secretary and safety organisations demanding urgent action on railways following Potters Bar inquestRAIL UNION RMT has today written to Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) and the Health and Safety Executive demanding assurances that urgent action is being taken on rail safety following notice from the Judge at the Potters Bar Inquest that there is a continuing risk of fatalities eight years on from the disaster.
• Demand for rail travel returns to pre-recession levelsA significant increase in demand for rail travel during the first six months of 2010 has seen a return to growth in passenger numbers not seen since the onset of the recession.
• Abolishing the Western Extension Zone Would Increase London's Illegal Air Pollution LevelsProposal to remove Western Extension Zone condemend by NGOs.