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

Friday, 17 September 2010

BBC News

• Baschurch railway station plan progresses Campaigners who want to see Baschurch railway station re-opened are happy with the progress that has been made in the past year.
• First look: Boris gives birth to 'son of Routemaster' [blog]Yesterday, I went over to Ballymena near Belfast in Northern Ireland to see how the New Bus for London project is coming along.
• London mayor requests C-charge exemption for Popemobile London Mayor Boris Johnson has asked Transport for London to exempt the Popemobile from the congestion charge.
• New London bus unveiledThe BBC has been shown the first full-size model of the new London bus which is due to replace the iconic Routemaster.
• Canal is to reopen after droughtA stretch of the Leeds-Liverpool canal, which was closed to save water in the summer's drought, is set to re-open.
• Price of oil falls for third dayOil prices fall for the third day in a row as a US government report suggested that demand remains sluggish.
• Fiat agrees to split its businessShareholders in the Italian carmaker Fiat have agreed to spin off its non-car assets, splitting the business into two.
• Demand for pilots 'set to soar'More than a million new pilots and maintenance staff will be needed by the airlines in the next 20 years, says Boeing
• AA wants fuel duty rise scrappedThe Automobile Association (AA) calls on the government to abandon plans to raise fuel duty on 1 October.

Department for Transport

• Electric dreams move a step closer to realityMass market electric cars moved a step closer today as Transport Secretary Philip Hammond awarded £24 million to further develop the UK's low carbon vehicle capability.
• Plan to make A1 north of Newcastle a route of strategic national importance unveiledProposals to identify the A1 north of Newcastle to the Scottish border a route of strategic national importance were published today by Transport Minister Mike Penning.

Financial Times

• SAS appoints new chief executiveStruggling Scandinavian carrier appoints new chief executive as it battles to lower costs amid rising competition from budget carriers

The Guardian

• Invensys accelerates on China rail deal as FTSE moves abover 5600 A bright start to the last trading day of the week has seen Invensys climb the top of the FTSE 100 after the technology group announced a deal with Chinese train company CSR.
• DfT cuts could see loss of 600 jobs The loss of hundreds of jobs from the DfT is now being openly discussed within the transport industry

The Herald

• More passengers choosing trains over planes for cross-border travel Passengers are increasingly choosing trains over flights when travelling between Scotland and England, train operators say.
• Rail deal will keep Baby Boomers on trackNew research has revealed that almost half of people aged 55 and over have more of a œdo things now and live for today attitude than they did in their twenties.
• Bus-link delay threat to 2014 GamesFears have been raised that a œtram-on-tyres transport service promised for Glasgow after its airport rail link was scrapped will not be built in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Network Rail

• DEGREES MUST MATCH BUSINESS NEEDS, SAYS NETWORK RAIL

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham Airport runway scheme back on track BIRMINGHAM Airport is set to finally build its long-awaited runway extension.
• High speed rail will cost as little as £20 JOURNEYS between Birmingham and London on the planned high-speed rail route could cost as little as £20 each way, a report has claimed.

Birmingham Post

• New high speed rail route could cut through National Agricultural Centre Plans to move the proposed high speed rail route from London to Birmingham away from picturesque Midland villages could see it cut through the National Agricultural Centre at Stoneleigh Park, it has been claimed.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• £3m Saltaire road plan wins backing Council transport engineers are set to press ahead with drawing up final plans for a £3.3million scheme to improve congestion at Saltaire Roundabout.

Journal Live

• PM looks at plan to bring rail industry back to North East THE North East’s battle to bring train building “home” yesterday reached Parliament as it emerged the Prime Minister had stepped in.
• Tyneside transport chiefs in call for meetings THE Government has been accused of trying to rush through Tyneside transport cuts after refusing to meet a delegation from the region.

London Evening Standard

• Made of wood, with no engine and few seats, the first look at a Boris busA prototype of the new Routemaster bus commissioned by Boris Johnson was unveiled today.

Manchester Evening News

• Metrolink offers travel pass for Food and Drink Festival Metrolink has launched an unlimited travel pass for the Manchester Food and Drink Festival. It is hoped the tram pass, valid for the duration of the 11-day event, will reduce congestion and discourage drink-driving.

Sheffield Star

• Cycle surgeries at stationCYCLISTS are being urged to step up their security following a spate of thefts in Sheffield.
• Journeys on track with timekeeping EAST Midlands Trains is now the UK's most punctual long-distance rail firm - but all other firms serving South Yorkshire have seen their performances dip.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• New bridge ˜only solution™ to HaudagainTransport Minister Stewart Stevenson has warned that traffic congestion at Aberdeen™s most congested roundabout will never be resolved unless a new bridge is built over the River Don.
• Transport boss has vehicle licence reducedA north-east solicitor and transport company boss has had his vehicle licence cut after œmisleading Scotland™s traffic commissioner.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• West Yorkshire to London: £7.5bn rail scheme faces axe Plans to buy a new fleet of express trains to cut journey times between West Yorkshire and London could be ditched – despite the last government splashing out £26m on the project.
• MP's bid to save Kirkstall station planMPs will today launch a last ditch bid to prevent plans for a new rail station in Leeds becoming the victim of government spending cuts.

Bucks Free Press

• Second HS2 protest walk planned A PROTEST walk against plans for a high speed railway line through the Buckinghamshire countryside was so successful another one is planned for later this year.

Reading Evening Post

• Bus driver rebels at Shinfield Road lights A bus driver was so fed up sitting in rush-hour congestion in Shinfield Road he took his passengers on a diversion to avoid the new snarl-up traffic lights.

Other Regional Press

• Kirkstall Forge station campaignMetro Chairman welcomes campaign to ensure planned new rail station is not victim of Government spending cuts.
• Protesters take on high speed trains FIVE villages in north Oxfordshire have banded together in protest against a proposed high-speed Rail route through the county.
• Have your say on county's transport wish list A MULTI-MILLION-pound package of transport improvements including new park-and-rides and workplace car parks in Oxford will be submitted to Oxfordshire County Council.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Stobart unveils new training centreHaulage specialist Stobart Group has unveiled a new training academy for managers, which is intended to boost skills among its workforce.The facility will be dedicated to the development of potential bosses from among its employees and 15 delegates have initially been selected to participate in a programme of activities.Assistance provided to those taking courses at the academy will include workshops, mentoring schemes and job swaps, intended to develop key skills and motivation.The transport firm claims that the new Management Development Programme will provide experience to individuals that ...

Rail-News.com

• Surge in intercity rail passengers points to fundamental shift in way brits travelA fundamental shift in the way that people travel around the country is taking place, as new figures show that people are increasingly turning their backs on domestic flying and choosing instead to travel between Britain’s major cities by rail.
• New look for Virgin PendolinoAlstom and Virgin Trains launched a co-branded branded Pendolino at London Euston today. During the event 390004 was named Alstom Pendolino by Tony Collins, CEO of Virgin Trains.
• Railway hope to reach Corwen within 2 yearsFollowing a meeting with the Welsh Assembly Government , Denbigshire County Council and Corwen Community Council, the Llangolen Railway are hopeful of opening their Corwen extension in the next 2 years.
• ERTMS Investments needed to make rail freight competitiveUNIFE released today the first edition of its “ERTMS Freight Corridors Tracker”, highlighting the progress made to build a fully-interoperable and competitive rail freight network in Europe.

Railnews

• News: Trains move ahead in the battle for air passengers The proportion of passengers choosing trains in Britain rather than domestic flights is rising, but there's still some way to go, judging by new figures from ATOC.

Green Miscellany

• Mobile help for electric cars with flat batteries A mobile recharging system for electric cars that have run out of power at the roadside has been unveiled by Swiss company, Nation-E.read more
• Edison 2 Very light car wins $5m X-Prize The Automotive X Prize, a competition to find the best super-efficient vehicles capable of 100mpg (or energy equivalent), has been won by the Edison 2 Very Light Car.read more

Other News Sources

• New funding routes needed to maintain infrastructure, says LGAA new system of US-style public bond issues and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) would allow long-term local investment in roads and other infrastructure, council leaders have concluded.
• London's Mall overtaken by eco cars
• Residents support station cash bidMORE THAN 1,500 Bromsgrovians have lent their support to a campaign lobbying the Government to release vital cash to prevent the multi-million pound revamp of Bromsgrove’s railway station hitting the buffers. The figure was revealed in the week Sajid Javid presented the petition to parliament which contained 1,675 signatures - including more than 100 coupons from Bromsgrove Standard readers.
• Darwen councillor in exec commuter hope AN improved railway station in Darwen could help bring more executives into the town, says a local councillor.
• The next station may soon be voted Britain's best – rail award hope (VOTE) SCUNTHORPE'S historic railway station is on track to be voted the best of its size in Britain and Ireland.
• Council stumps up £6m for footbridge at East Croydon railway station CROYDON Council is to put up £6 million to ensure ambitious plans to build a new footbridge across the railway lines at East Croydon station can go ahead.
• Transport to play key role in ’greenest ever’ plans As the North-East positions itself as a hub for electric vehicle research and development, business correspondent Andy Richardson reports from the Cenex national low-carbon vehicle event in Bedfordshire, a major showcase for the sector.
• More seats for rail travellers REGIONAL train operator National Express East Anglia yesterday revealed details of its new winter timetable, including extra seating on many mainline services into and out ofLiverpool Street.
• Leaders draw up transport wishlist for Thames Gateway and warn against Government cutsBUSINESS and community leaders have pleaded with the Government not to make east London a victim of spending cuts.
• Leeds-Liverpool Canal to reopen after rainsTHE canal through East Lancashire is to re-open on Friday after more than six weeks of closure.
• Green light for trafic-calming measuresPLANS to install new traffic-calming measures in a controversial road dubbed a "rat run" have been approved in a bid to deter motorists from using it.
• Buy into bus ticket planA BUS company has created new ways for people to buy tickets while doing their shopping.
• Future of Norfolk speed cameras is not yet sealedA crunch decision on the future of Norfolk's speed cameras will be made next week - and council bosses have insisted their fate is not yet sealed, even though workers for the partnership which runs them have been told they are to be made redundant.
• Airport Carbon Accreditation reports latest progress at Aviation Environment SummitAt this year's Aviation and Environment Summit taking place in Geneva today and tomorrow, assembled stakeholders in the air transport industry received an update on the collective efforts by...

News from Europe

• Spain unveils plan to boost use of freight rail network Spain unveiled Tuesday a 7.5 billion-euro plan aimed at modernising its freight train network and more then doubling the proportion of merchandise that is transported in the country by rail by 2020.
• Madrid-Valencia high-speed rail link to open in DecemberA high-speed rail link between Madrid and Valencia, Spain's third-largest city, will open just before Christmas, Transport Minister Jose Blanco said Monday.
• Europe's airports sign up to continuous descent approaches A joint initiative to implement continuous descent approaches at 100 European airports by 2013 is on track to meet its target, delegates attending this year's Aviation and the Environment Summit in Geneva were told today.
• EU To 'Name And Shame' Shipping Registries, by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels The European Commission has announced new rules to enhance and improve the safety performance of ships. A new online register to ’name and shame’ shipping companies, and their respective shipping registry, that perform poorly in safety inspections (port state controls) is to be included in the plans, with those with strong safety records, conversely, being publicly praised.
• Airport Carbon Accreditation Reports Latest Progress at Aviation & Environment Summit Since its launch in June 2009, Airport Carbon Accreditation has already certified 22 airports in 12 European countries