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

Friday, 13 August 2010

BBC News

• Train maker Bombardier to hire 400 temporary workers Derby-based train maker Bombardier is hiring up to 400 temporary staff on one-year contracts.
• Public spending cuts affecting Darlington services [video]Many local governments are already economising before the government's spending cuts come into force, with the elderly and vulnerable feeling the pinch. In Darlington, public transport and schemes to help the disabled have had their budgets shrunk, and plans for 10 new playgrounds have been shelved.
• Plans to end free parking in Reading for shoppers About 200 parking spaces in the town centre are to be converted into short-term pay and display areas in a bid to generate more money.
• Police officers go on the buses in Leicestershire Leicestershire Police officers are being encouraged use public transport or cycles while on the beat as part of a savings drive.
• Many stuck as travel firm foldsThe travel company Sun4U collapses, leaving 1,200 holidaymakers stranded abroad.
• Jobs 'under threat' at TranslinkUp to 70 jobs are under threat at Translink as the company reorganises its bus engineering division in Belfast.
• Qantas profits slightly down on yearAustralia's largest airline Qantas Airways has reported a full-year net profit of $104m.
• General Motors chief stands downThe chief executive of the US car giant General Motors announces plans to resign, as the company reports increased profits.
• Airports staff vote for strikesStaff at airport operator BAA vote three to one in favour of strike action that could close Heathrow and five other UK airports.

Financial Times

• Will pilotless aircraft be safer in flight? Safety is always at the top of the checklist for flying, for both pilots and passengers. But a recent clutch of accidents in the commercial world has concentrated minds even more keenly than usual.
• AirlinesWith the economic recovery looking more fragile than ever, excessive enthusiasm should be left to the immature

The Guardian

• TfL tenders for speed cameras Transport for London has published a tender for the provision of average speed cameras for a project it plans to trial
• London cycle hire scheme: views from Dublin, Tooting and Mill Hill (but not Brian Coleman) Dublin has by no means pioneered civic bike schemes, but the system in place there appears far more in tune with public needs/wants than the one launched in London recently.
• Flight misery fears as airports strikeStrike action may force six airports to close later this month, causing disruption for thousands of air passengersBAA strike travel adviceThousands of air passengers will face travel misery later this month after workers at six airports voted in favour of strike action.Unite the union said its members had backed industrial action by more than three to one, which could force Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh airports to close.More than 6,000 members who work for BAA as firefighters, security guards and ground staff voted on a company pay offer that the union derid...

The Herald

• Coach builder holds £3m profit Alexander Dennis, the Falkirk coach builder backed by some of Scotland’s top businessmen, including Brian Souter and Sir David Murray, held its pre-tax profits at £3.206m last year – exactly the same as the previous year’s figure – in spite of plunging turnover and hefty redundancy payments.
• Charity in call for car exclusion zones next to schools Vehicle exclusion zones should be set up around Scotland’s primary and secondary schools to deter parents from driving their children to school, campaigners have urged.
• Row brewing over tilting trains Passengers on Britain’s busiest railway line have been warned they will be left standing on overcrowded trains under plans to deliver long-awaited new carriages to a Government-owned competitor.
• Chaos fear as airport staff vote for strikeThousands of travellers face major disruption after staff at Scotland™s main airports voted overwhelmingly to go on strike.
• Council stifling debate on trams, say residentsA group of Edinburgh residents opposed to the city™s tram scheme have claimed that councillors are stifling debate on the impact of increasing traffic levels on side streets.

The Independent

• BAA strike threatens to close six airportsAir passengers face more travel chaos after key airport staff voted to strike over a pay offer derided by the Unite trade union as

The Scotsman

• Airport strike risk hits travellersThe travel plans of thousands of people are in jeopardy because of threatened strike action at some of Britain's biggest airports.

The Telegraph

• 'After-hours army' remixes London Cycle Hire information, makes it beautiful Since the start of the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme two weeks ago, an army of coders, designers and interested citizens have been using the data published by Transport for London (TFL) to create a clearer picture of how people are using the scheme.

Network Rail

• SHREWSBURY STATION POISED FOR RAIL GROWTH
• EDINBURGH-GLASGOW IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAMME CONTRACTS AWARDED
• ESSEX RAIL USERS BENEFIT FROM MULTI-MILLION POUND STATIONS BOOST

Bristol Live

• Meet the man with safety of 6 million Bristol Airport passengers in his hands SITTING in his new office overlooking the runway at Bristol Airport you would be forgiven for thinking Chris Ware hasn't got a care in the world.

Derby Telegraph

• Busy train-maker Bombardier looks for up to 400 new staff A RECRUITMENT drive has been launched for up to 400 staff to work at Derby train-maker Bombardier. The Litchurch Lane firm has entered a busy period, with several contracts reaching a crescendo all at once.

London Evening Standard

• Airport strike risk hits travellersThe travel plans of thousands of people are in jeopardy because of threatened strike action at some of Britain's biggest airports.

Daventry Express

• NATIONAL RAIL AND LONDON UNDERGROUND UNION BARONS GET £10K RISE AS WORKERS LOSE OUT UNION barons threatening to plunge thousands of Britons into transport misery have escaped the tough pay restraints being imposed on ordinary workers, it emerged yesterday.

Other Regional Press

• West Coast to lose out on new trainsWest Coast rail passengers have been warned they will be left standing on overcrowded trains under plans to deliver new carriages to a Government-owned competitor.
• A hole lot of griefGlasgow™s pothole-riddled highways are continuing to make life hell for road users.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Government must keep its promise to make fares fair10 August: One week today we™ll find out if the Coalition Government meant it when it promised to ˜make fares fair™ “ a hazy policy pledge to be sure. read more

Aviation Industry

• BAA response to Unite announcementWe regret the uncertainty this vote has already caused our passengers and airline customers. We hope that the union will engage with us quickly to conclude an agreement..

Green Miscellany

• Cap on British electric car grant ˜unnecessary™ Business secretary Vince Cable may feel that his decision to reduce the £230m pledged for Britain™s forthcoming ˜Plug-in electric car grant™ to £43m was unnecessary following the news this week that the Spanish government has paid a similar grant to only 16 drivers this year. read more
• Copenhagen electric bike wheel reaches design competition final A device that enables almost any bicycle to be transformed into an e-bike within minutes has reached the final of the James Dyson design awards. read more

Other News Sources

• New check-in solution from Lufthansa Systems Lufthansa Systems presented its new Web Kiosk, another innovative check-in component of the GroundSolutions Platform. With this solution, airlines can offer their passengers a fast, flexible airport check-in option without having to use expensive airport systems. As the Web Kiosk is directly connected to the airline™s passenger systems, hardware and operating costs can be reduced significantly. LOT Polish Airlines will be the launching customer for the Web Kiosk. LOT is already using the GroundSolutions/Web check-in solution and recently opted to add an online upgrade function to this sy...
• Iveco pursues gas and electric powerTruck and van manufacturer Iveco is to push natural gas and electric technology, alongside traditional diesel technology, as its alternative fuel strategy to reduce CO2 emissions.
• Liverpool John Lennon Airport plans for future with simulation tool from Lanner and Human Recognition SystemsLanner WITNESS-based MFlow Forecast will optimise passenger capacity, throughput and airside retail experience
• City pledges tram fundingGreater Manchester's local authorities have agreed £500 million funding to extend the tram system with MPact-Thales to design, construct and maintain three lines.
• LaHood Sees Bright Future for High-Speed Trains in U.S.New high-speed trains will link 80 percent of Americans within 25 years, at a cost of about $500 billion, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Tuesday.
• 2010/08/12 - Commission appoints a coordinator to facilitate the creation of functional airspace blocks in the Single European Sky
• Transportation Industry Is Behind the Curve on Emissions PlanningThe global transportation industry could have a major long-term impact on climate change and world energy usage, if strategic investments are not made. Transport firms lag behind Global 500 companies in mitigating greenhouse gasses and setting targets, according to new research by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).
• Eco motorway service station approved
• T-handle latch ideal for rolling-stock side panelsA new T-handle latch from FDB Panel Fittings is said to address the need for an inset-/flush-locking system in truck or railway rolling-stock side panels where vibration is a significant problem
• Network Rail awards contracts for Glasgow-Edinburgh upgradeNetwork Rail has awarded £10m-worth of contracts to improve infrastructure in Scotland’s central belt. Carillion will begin work on the electrification of Edinburgh’s Haymarket north tunnel in September in what will be the first physical element of the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvements Programme (EGIP) to be delivered.
• £1bn reopening plans to fight looming crisis AMBITIOUS £1 billion plans have been drawn up in a bid to solve the region's impending railway crisis. Campaigners believe reinstating two stretches of disused railway could stop the gridlock expected to hit East Sussex and West Kent's train network in ten years' time – and properly link the counties together again
• Passenger outrage over reduced train services RAIL passengers are outraged that they were not informed over plans to reduce train services stopping in the borough from next month.
• Sussex rail services come under fire High ticket prices, delays and poor toilets top the list of rail passenger gripes, according to a new survey. The report by independent watchdog Passenger Focus comes as commuters launched a fresh attack on the 30-year-old rolling stock being used on Sussex lines.
• Activists oppose NI dual carriageway ENVIRONMENTAL PROTESTERS began gathering in a field in Co Tyrone yesterday in opposition to the building of an 86km stretch of dual carriageway through the county.
• Iveco broadens its low carbon expertiseIveco has launched its EcoDaily Electric van and chassis cab in the UK and Ireland, combining all the robustness, productivity and flexibility of its popular light commercial vehicle range into a model producing zero tailpipe emissions. The fully electric 3.5 and 5.2 tonne models stand out for being designed, engineered and manufactured by Iveco, rather [...]
• New SAF disc brake saves 12 kg per axleIn co-operation with Haldex, SAF-HOLLAND, supplier of parts for commercial vehicles, has developed a low-weight trailer disc brake. The reduction in weight for a trailer with triaxle suspension amounts to 36 kg. The new SAF SBS 2220 is suitable for both semitrailers and trailers up to 9 metric tonnes combined with 22.5″ tyres. According to [...]
• Olympics traffic changes for M25 link road NEW traffic measures planned for Egham's busiest road during the 2012 Olympics have been labelled "a nightmare".
• Leeds Bradford Airport may be affected by high-speed railFlights from Leeds Bradford Airport and Manchester Airport are likely to be affected if a high-speed rail link is introduced, according to the transport secretary Phillip Hammond.In a question and answer session with the transport committee Mr Hammond said that trains that travel at 250 mph are likely to reduce the need for domestic services.He added that a connection through the Channel Tunnel could also reduce the number of services to Amsterdam from regional airports.According to the secretary, such changes would have a transformational effect on the UK economy.Tony Hallwood, commercial dir...
• Servisair opens Luton Airport loungeA new Luton Airport lounge named after a local landmark has officially been opened.The Someries is operated by Servisair and allows passengers access to executive lounge facilities on a pay-per-use basis.Holidaymakers that chose to use the new Luton Airport lounge will receive complimentary alcoholic and soft drinks, light refreshments, internet access and free newspapers and magazines.Members of the public took part in a competition to name the Luton Airport lounge.The winner, James Hart from Luton, chose the name The Someries, which is the name of a local castle. Mr Hart was awarded annual m...
• Gatwick Airport passenger numbers fallGatwick Airport saw in drop in passenger numbers in July compared with the same month in 2009.The London travel hub released figures that show a 3.1 per cent decrease in the number of passengers using the airport last month.Reductions in capacity were seen on domestic services, short-haul flights and routes to destinations in the North Atlantic. There was an 11.7 per cent drop in traffic numbers travelling to the Republic of Ireland.However, the number of passengers catching long-haul services to destinations other than the US and Canada saw a nine per cent increase, which Gatwick Airport said...
• Manchester Airport named top tweeterManchester Airport has been named as the top international travel hub for connecting with passengers through Twitter.The airport sits above Heathrow Airport in the rankings, which are based on the number of Twitter followers compared to the total number of passengers that use the travel hub.Some 143 international airports were included in the list compiled by AirGate solutions.Gatwick Airport is the only other UK hub to make the rankings, taking the fifth place, with Boston and Baltimore-Washington completing the top five.AirGate said that those placed higher up the rankings are likely to be m...
• UK rail travellers concerned about value for money Top concern among those using the UK's rail network is value for money, a new survey reveals.
• Lack of sat-nav trust identified among UK drivers The majority of drivers in the UK do not trust satellite navigation technology entirely, it has been discovered.
• DB plans test run in Channel Tunnel Deutsche Bahn (DB), the German rail network operator, is planning a test run through the Channel Tunnel in October.
• BAA workers back airport strike Workers at six UK airports, including Heathrow, have voted for strike action over a pay dispute.
• HRG enhances traveller security offering Travel management company Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) has launched a new tool to help manage traveller safety and security.
• East Midlands Trains launches onboard wifi East Midlands Trains is the latest rail operator to start offering wireless internet access on its trains.

News from Europe

• New Train Route Expected To Boost French Alps Real Estate et for a December launch, a train service connecting London with the French Alps will add to the appeal of a region already favored by luxury travelers and ski enthusiasts.
• Debt woes sap Europe's big-dream investments PARIS — A rebuilt Prussian palace in Berlin. High-speed rail from Lisbon to Kiev. A new visitor center for Britain's Stonehenge. They're just some of the big-ticket European projects put on hold by the continent's government debt crisis.