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

Friday, 01 October 2010

BBC News

• Buzzing ahead on two more cycle superhighways [blog]A press release says: "Initial works start on two more continuous, direct cycle routes for Londoners - routes from Wandsworth to Westminster, and Bow to Aldgate."
• East Coast trains least punctual: Network Rail The UK's only public sector train firm had the poorest punctuality last month, figures have shown.
• Russia expands railway tourism It takes about 10 hours to cross Russia from west to east by air, but the much longer option of travelling across the vast country by train has always been a popular choice for many.
• Humber Bridge toll rise bid prompts public inquiry The government has ordered a public inquiry after proposals were put forward to increase Humber Bridge tolls by as much as 11%.
• 'Traffic master plan' for BelfastTransport Minister Conor Murphy has launched a consultation process for a traffic master plan for Belfast city centre.
• Road hauliers fear fuel cost riseThe Freight Trade Association is unhappy at a fuel duty rise that will put 1p on the cost of a litre of petrol or diesel.

Financial Times

• Railways adviser supports devolved networkThe railway industry must tackle its inflated costs with clearer leadership than the government appears able to provide, according to Sir Roy McNulty, who is leading a review of efficiency in the sector.

The Herald

• East Coast passengers face wi-fi internet charges Customers on East Coast trains will have to pay for wi-fi internet connec-tion for the first time next month to help pay for improvements to the service, the company announced yesterday.
• Fuel tax hike will hit businesses Drivers’ groups and haulage operators have stepped up pressure on the Government to revise a 1p fuel duty increase due to take effect today.

The Scotsman

• Invest in blueprint for 250mph rail link or pay price later, expert warns SCOTLAND must spend £10 million on its own blueprint for a high-speed rail route north of the Border because the UK coalition government is only serious about building lines from London as far as northern England, a rail expert has warned ministers.

The Telegraph

• Prescott's M4 bus lane to be scrapped The M4 bus lane – popularly known as "Prescott's folly" – is to be scrapped, allowing ordinary motorists to use the road for the first time in more than a decade.

Reuters News

• Bombardier Transportation: Bombardier Awarded Contract for 50 V300ZEFIRO Very High Speed Trains in ItalyBombardier Transportation announced today it has signed a contract with Trenitalia (Italian Railways) for the delivery of 50 very high speed trainsets V300ZEFIRO, a model of the BOMBARDIER ZEFIRO high speed trains family. The V300ZEFIRO (known as ETR 1000 in Italy) is developed in partnership with AnsaldoBreda, a subsidiary of the Finmeccanica group of Italy. The total contract is valued at 1,54 billion euro ($2.10 billion US). Bombardier's share of the contract is valued at 652 million euro ($889 million US).

Mail Online

• The elephant without his castle and a dog called Barking (of course): But how many can animals can YOU find on the London Underground map? The world famous London Underground stations are about to come to life - as they take the shape of animals in a brand new children's book.

Network Rail

• SEPTEMBER SEES ALMOST 94% OF TRAINS ON TIME

Belfast Telegraph

• FirstGroup sees upturn in demand for first class travelDemand for first class train travel is recovering to levels not seen since the recession struck, transport giant FirstGroup said.Related StoriesClothing firm Moss Bros cuts its clothActions are louder than words in bank protestsGoldman Sachs in dual role on AngloMcDonald's moves to grab bigger slice of market with Espresso launchAnglo Irish Bank collapse could sink Republic of Ireland

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham's return to robotic parking MORE than 40 years ago the Bull Ring shopping centre announced a revolution in car parking.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Soaring drain cover thefts 'costing thousands' Thefts of metal from roads and railways are soaring across Bradford as the global prices of materials such as copper and iron continue to boom.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Train travellers caught short [letter]THE news that Southern Railway is to introduce a fleet of trains with no toilet facilities will be more that a little worrying for people of a certain age, parents with children and any person with a medical problem.

Yorkshire Post

• Bridge-tolls rise 'bad for business'Business leaders are to oppose a "damaging" rise in tolls on the country's most expensive river crossing.
• 'Lives at risk' as funding cut for speed cameras GOVERNMENT cuts in funding for speed cameras could lead to an increase in the number of people killed on South Yorkshire's roads, transport watchdogs have warned.
• East Coast trains shamed with UK's worst punctuality record THE only train company in the public sector, which runs main line services between Yorkshire and London, had the poorest punctuality during September, figures reveal today.

Blackpool Gazette

• All aboard to celebrate 125 years of tramsTHIS Streetcar was certainly desired as a procession of historic trams took to the tracks to celebrate their 125th birthday.

Other Regional Press

• Jaguar unveils electric supercar at Paris Motor Show JAGUAR has taken the Paris Motor Show by storm by unveiling a radical 200mph-plus electric-powered concept supercar.

Other News Sources

• Bridging way to new look station CITY councillors last night gave the go-ahead to plans paving the way for a multi-million pound revamp of Oxford Railway Station.
• Kilwinning bus boss squares up to Stagecoach A KILWINNING bus owner has vowed to take on Stagecoach after they moved back on to his patch.
• Echo steps up trains campaign with wraparound A regional daily newspaper has published a special wrap-around supplement as part of a campaign to bring back train-building to the North-East.
• Re-inventing the wheel – is bicycling the future? On 5 October London Transport Museum will host a debate to examine what role the bicycle could play in London's transport system and whether it really is the future.
• Protests greet HS2 minister in Aylesbury Secretary of State for transport, Philip Hammond, was jeered by around 50 HS2 protesters as he attended a meeting in Aylesbury on Thursday evening. Mr Hammond spoke privately to a select group of councillors and residents about the Government's high speed rail plans at Aylesbury Vale District Council's Gatehouse offices.
• 150 HS2 Protestors Meet The Transport Secretary in Buckinghamshire Campaigners against the planned High-Speed train route through Buckinghamshire - say yesterday's protest won't end there.
• Rail finances deteriorate by £1.1 billion in 3 yearsOur latest analysis for the Business Monitor project has highlighted the challenges which Network Rail™s new boss and the Coalition Government both face in getting the rail industry™s finances back under control. Our new report on Rail Industry Structure and Funding highlights the impact that the recession and cost increases have had on the rail [...]
• 'Death trap' tube warning as RMT releases pictures of worn train brakesAS WORKERS across London Underground prepare for a further 24 hour strike over safe staffing levels starting this Sunday evening, RMT have today released pictures of worn-away brake blocks on trains that with finance-driven maintenance changes would be forced into service, a move that the union says demonstrate that financial cuts are ripping to shreds safety and maintenance schedules with lethal consequences for passengers and staff alike.
• RMT calls for intervention from local MP to save 150 jobs as Bombardier serve redundancy notices on staff at Kent depotRAIL UNION RMT today called for an urgent intervention by Ashford MP Damian Green to halt the axing of 150 jobs at the Bombardier rail maintenance depot in Chart Leacon, Kent as the company begins issuing redundancy notice to their workforce.
• Predicted rise in passengers triggers retail revamp by JHP at Bordeaux-Merignac airportJHP is redeveloping the 'retail masterplan' of Bordeaux-Merignac airport's two original terminal buildings in France.
• Virgin Atlantic follows birthday ad with œsurreal and glamorous spotVirgin Atlantic is set to launch its first global television campaign to reinforce its added value positioning.
• Health chiefs urged to share gritting bill in Hampshire NHS chiefs should consider splitting the bill for gritting hazardous icy pavements and minor roads, a committee of Hampshire county councillors has said.
• Four shortlisted for phase 2 of the East London Line extension jobFour firms are in the running for the main civils contract on the £75 million second phase of Transport for London™s East London Line extension.
• Seven shortlisted for £3bn Essex highways maintenance contractSeven teams have been shortlisted for Essex County Council™s 10-year highways maintenance and service contract - worth up to £3 billion.
• First stage of McNulty rail report submitted early for CSRThe man conducting the value-for-money study into the country™s railways has said that the government encouraged him to submit his initial findings earlier than first intended in order to inform the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.

News from Europe

• French court charges Ryanair over employment law MARSEILLE, France — French prosecutors have charged Ryanair with illegal working practices after the Irish budget airline declared 120 employees in France as working in Ireland, a justice source said on Tuesday.