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

Wednesday, 27 October 2010

BBC News

• Heysham to M6 link road given go-ahead Plans to build a road linking Heysham in Lancashire to the M6 have been given the go-ahead by the government.
• Anger over government's A160 road upgrade delay Business and council leaders have said they are angry after the government announced a planned upgrade of the A160 at Immingham is to be delayed.
• Plans for M1 in South and West Yorkshire approved The government has approved funding for improvements to the M1 in parts of South and West Yorkshire.
• York park and ride scheme to compete for funding Plans for three park and ride schemes in York are uncertain, after the government announced the council would have to compete for funding.
• Eight Scottish councils work on plans to share services Waste management, social transport, health and social care and IT services are areas being targeted for sharing.
• Kemble to Swindon rail upgrade plan still on the cards Plans to install a second railway track between Kemble and Swindon could still go ahead despite funding cuts, Network Rail has said.
• Backing for £25m Ipswich transport scheme A £25m scheme to improve transport in Ipswich has been approved.
• Spending Review: Doubt over Leeds trolleybus plan Plans for a £245m trolleybus system in Leeds are in doubt after the government announced the scheme would have to compete for funding.
• Kingskerswell bypass 'not on government transport list' A bypass in south Devon approved by the previous government is not on a new list of road schemes to be built.
• Departments bid for electric carsTwo government departments join forces to try to raise funding to encourage the use of electric cars.
• Four road schemes get green lightFour schemes to upgrade major roads in and around Greater Manchester are given the green light.
• Transport schemes get green lightTransport Secretary Philip Hammond gives the green light for 16 road, bus and rail improvement schemes which he says are a
• BA boss questions airport checksThe British Airways chairman says the UK should stop

Department for Transport

• Transport Secretary gives the go-ahead to 24 New Schemes and announces over £600M of further fundingTransport Secretary Philip Hammond gave a major boost to the UK economy today by announcing the go-ahead for a further 16 road and public transport schemes.

Financial Times

• Alstom‰saw Eurotunnel bid 'as just another job'Michael Bowsher QC, acting for Eurostar, tells the court that the contract to build 10 high-speed cross-Channel trains 'wasn't given priority' by Alstom during the earlier part of the bidding process
• Main operators facing stress in the cityTransport for London, the mayor's transport authority, has been faced with an unprecedented budget squeeze that has seen it try to cut costs on the £800m-a-year service
• BA attacks US airport security demandsIndustry and passenger frustration over the steady accumulation of rules on everything from onboard liquids to hand baggage that have blossomed since 9/11
• Security checks fuel airport frustrationsWhat an age it seems since airline passengers could breeze through an airport laden with liquids, sharp objects and even cigarettes they could light up on board
• London bus chief to run Go-AheadKeith Ludeman is to retire as chief executive of the train and bus operator in July 2011 to be succeeded by David Brown, a former Go-Ahead manager who heads the surface transport arm of Transport for London
• Road upgrades are 'drivers of growth', says HammondTransport secretary pledges £5.9bn package for 'unglamorous' road and bus improvements

The Guardian

• Philip Hammond unveils eight schemes to reduce motorway jams New projects announced by transport secretary mean 24 planned improvements have survived 15% cut to funding
• Leeds trolleybus scheme stalls again following government announcement * New bids will have to be submitted to compete for funding for Leeds trolleybus and Kirkstall Forge schemes * Leeds Station southern entrance gets go-ahead
• BA boss questions US airport checksMartin Broughton says the US does not enforce many of the checks it demands of British airportsBritain should stop

The Independent

• Go-Ahead poaches new chief executive from TfL The chief executive of the rail and bus giant Go-Ahead, Keith Ludeman, is to be replaced by Transport for London's divisional head David Brown.
• Road spending schemes outlined Major new multimillion-pound road schemes were announced today by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond.
• Tube workers praised for 7/7 braveryLondon Underground staff ignored concerns for their own safety and rushed to help victims of the 7/7 bombings, the inquest into the deaths of the 52 people killed heard yesterday.

The Scotsman

• BA chief slams US security demandsThe chairman of British Airways has attacked "completely redundant" airport checks and said the UK should stop "kowtowing" to US demands for increased security

The Telegraph

• Go-Ahead to say goodbye to chief executive Keith LudemanKeith Ludeman is to step down as chief executive of bus and rail group Go-Ahead, becoming the second veteran boss of Britain's transport network to announce his retirement in the space of a month.
• Airport security checks are completely redundant, BA chairman says Passengers are needlessly removing their shoes and having their laptops inspected due to pointless security checks at airports, the chairman of British Airways has claimed.
• Commuters warned of 10 per cent rail fare rise in 2011 Rail commuters face fare increases of more than 10 per cent in January, a watchdog has warned.
• Airport security checks are completely redundant, BA chairman says The chairman of British Airways says we need to stop "kowtowing" to increasing American demands for "completely redundant" security checks.
• 7/7 inquests: Tube workers ignored risks while colleagues followed orders Tube workers ignored the advice of police in order to rescue survivors from the July 7 bombings, inquest hears.

Press Association

• Road safety powers 'could be moved' Holyrood could get new powers in relation to road safety, a UK Government minister has suggested to MSPs.

ATOC

• Train companies respond to the return of rail fare 'flex'Responding to the Department for Transport's confirmation that train companies will be able to apply a 5% flexibility to regulated rail fare rises in January, a spokesperson for the Association of Train Operating Companies said:

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Half of rail stations in Wales lack access for disabled passengers DISABLED travellers are excluded from more than half of Wales’ railway stations, according to a critical report today.

Derby Telegraph

• Bombardier consortium 'looking at legal action on deal changes' A CONSORTIUM led by Derby train-maker Bombardier is reported to be considering legal action if the Government goes ahead with changes to a multi-billion contract it awarded to a rival.

Liverpool Post

• £17m Thornton bypass development gets green light A DESPERATELY-needed £17m bypass is finally set to be built north of Liverpool - four decades after the relief road was first proposed.

London Evening Standard

• 7/7 Tube chief 'stopped by police'A station manager was stopped from sending London Underground staff down to the Tube track after a bomb ripped apart a train on July 7, he has said.
• Road spending schemes outlinedMajor new multimillion-pound road schemes have been announced by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond.
• BA chief slams US security demandsThe chairman of British Airways has attacked

Manchester Evening News

• New road schemes to cut congestion on busiest stretches of M62 and M60 motorways  Major new multimillion-pound road schemes were announced today by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond, including plans to allow motorists to use the hard shoulder on the M60 and M62.He gave details of eight motorway schemes including one which provides an extra lane on the busiest stretch of motorway in the region - the anti-clockwise M60 near Swinton and Eccles.

Metro

• Response to Minister's transport announcements Trolleybus and new stations still in the running but further delays due to Government re-assessment. Responding to Transport Secretary Philip Hammond’s announcement that the Leeds New Generation Transport trolleybus network could still go-ahead, Metro Deputy Chairman Cllr Ryk Downes said,

Sheffield Telegraph

• The axe falls – and city feels the pain ...But at long last the £675m roads repair programme gets green light SHEFFIELD is braced for massive public spending cuts that are expected to be felt across much of the city.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Minister faces questions over removal of tugsUK shipping minister Mike Penning will be lobbied at Holyrood today about a controversial decision to scrap the emergency tugboat service.
• Aberdeen™s shock plan to close all its parksA north-east local authority has unveiled plans which could mean closing every public park, shelving a long-awaited bypass, forcing drivers to pay a congestion charge and axeing free personal care.
• Scottish ports miss share of £60m Scottish harbours are to miss out on a £60million fund to redevelop British ports to support new offshore windfarms.
• Minister is challenged over trains UK transport minister Theresa Villiers was challenged last night to explain how she can keep a promise to maintain direct east coast mainline connections from London to the north and north-east while still saving on the cost of badly-needed new express trains.

The York Press

• York's transport plan on agenda with Transport Minister Norman Baker THE future of York™s transport network will be on the agenda today at a meeting between the City of York Council leader and Transport Minister Norman Baker.
• York road chiefs could ditch new bus lane on Fulford Road next to Imphal Barracks CONTROVERSIAL changes to a York road where a cyclist was nearly killed could be ditched.
• £25m setback for York road plansYork has missed out on £25 million that could have funded three new Park&Ride sites - but it will be given a second chance next year.

Yorkshire Post

• Commuters face extra shock in the new year as rail fares may rise by up to 10pc RAIL commuters already facing increased annual fare rises from January 2012 could find season tickets rocketing this winter as well.
• Is Leeds trolleybus plan doomed? Hard-pressed commuters in Leeds will today learn the fate of the flagship £250m trolleybus plan designed to ease public transport misery in the city.
• Yorkshire left in slow lane by transport funding doubts THE future of important Yorkshire transport schemes will remain in doubt for another year after officials were told to slash costs or stump up more money locally if they want the green light.

Blackpool Gazette

• Bus firm back on the road to profitBUS chiefs are back on track to make a profit at the end of this financial year after axing services and making drivers redundant.

Carlisle News & Star

• Carlisle battle of buses good news for passengers BUS companies are fighting for fares on Carlisle™s roads after another operator started offering services in the city.

Other Regional Press

• Slaithwaite haulier’s hits out against broken roads in Kirklees A SLAITHWAITE haulier has hit out against soaring maintenance costs on his lorries because of broken roads.
• Head along to hear all about new cycle pathAn information day is being held to tell people about a proposed new cycle path from Hamilton to Larkhall via Carlisle Road.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Goverment tells councils: cut services to keep your road26 October: The Secretary of State has just issued an ultimatum to local councils, encouraging them to cut public services if they want to keep their road scheme alive. read more

Transport Focus

• PASSENGER FOCUS RESPONDS TO ASSOCIATION OF TRAIN OPERATING COMPANIES' STATEMENT ON RAIL FARE 'FLEX'In response to the Association of Train Operating Companies' statement on rail fare 'flex':

Aviation Industry

• Glasgow's airport scoops top national awardGlasgow Airport has won a prestigious industry award voted for by major airlines.
• BAA launches final stage of subordinated debt refinancingFollowing repayment of £1,100 million of its subordinated debt facility in September 2010, BAA is pleased to confirm plans for refinancing the remaining £465.8 million...
• BA could face price-fixing fineBritish Airways may be fined up to €80 million next month, in the final stages of a cartel case dating back several years. In 2007 the airline was found guilty by the European Commission of fixing cargo prices, alongwith Air France KLM and SAS. According to reports, the commission is now in the final stages of deciding exactly how much to fine the airlines. Reuters reported a source as saying the fine for BA alone could be as much as £80 million, with a possible date of November 9 given for the final decision. read more

Other News Sources

• Councillors back rail campaign BRIDLINGTON: The town council is the latest group to join the campaign to reopen the Beverley to York railway.
• Clare ’does a Boudicca’ for railway passengers Clare Balding, who fronts the BBC coverage of the Grand National and Royal Ascot, was travelling to Preston for a radio programme on the history of sport.
• Wi-Fi comes to Glasgow Subway Internet browsing is now available from all 15 stations – but not in the tunnels.
• Costain & Skanska Crossrail Portal project underwayA Costain-Skanska joint venture has begun work on the initial stage of creating the Crossrail rail route that will eventually traverse London, with commencement of the project to create the tunnel portal at Royal Oak, west of the city centre, next to Paddington Station.
• 'First ever' national infrastructure plan publishedThe coalition Government has published an infrastructure plan intended to identify the economic investment that is needed to underpin growth in the UK over the coming decades.
• More transport projects spared axeTransport secretary spares 16 road and infrastructure schemes from axe and unveils £600m pot to fund up to 22 other local transport schemes
• Government rubber stamps 16 roads jobs - but makes councils bid for further fundingThe government has published a list of 16 road schemes that will be taken forward - but is asking local authorities to compete for a share of £600 million for other mothballed schemes.
• Cambridge “ up and coming hot spot for commutersThe proposed new high speed rail line could mean that Cambridge commuters could reach London in less than half the time it currently takes and they could travel to Scotland in less than two hours.27/10/10

News from Europe

• Stadler opens train commissioning centre SWITZERLAND: Stadler Rail officially opened its train commissioning centre in Erlen on October 22. The Inbetriebsetzungs-Zentrum will enable Stadler to test and commission trainsets up to 150 m long, too long for the tracks at its Bussnang and Altenrhein assembly plants.