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

Friday, 19 November 2010

BBC News

• Tube bosses 'lying on unmanned stations', union claims The UK's biggest rail union has accused Transport for London (TfL) of "lying" over staffing levels on the Tube.
• New signalling for Cambrian line [video]The Cambrian line has become the first railway in Britain to use the world's most advanced signalling system.
• Edinburgh one of busiest airportsEdinburgh Airport is the fifth busiest in the UK with only London airports and Manchester handling more passengers, the CAA says.
• Council backs tram mediation planEdinburgh City Council is to lead a last attempt to broker a deal between the capital's tram line's construction firm and its contractors.
• Call to rethink tram fares riseGreater Manchester Transport chiefs are urged to revise plans to up tram fares by twice the rate of inflation.
• One in ten 'cannot use transport'One in ten Londoners cannot access much of the city's public transport because of mobility issues, a report says.
• M25 widening cost goes up by 25%The cost of widening the M25 motorway has increased by a quarter because of failings by the Highways Agency, a government report says.

Department for Transport

• Transport StatisticsThe Department for Transport has today published the following Transport Statistics:Blue Badge Scheme Statistics: 2009/10, see http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/public/parkingbadges/ for details.

Financial Times

• BA wins ruling on cargo cartel class actionThe airline won a High Court battle to prevent hundreds of air cargo customers from joining together to sue it for damages relating to BA's role in a price-fixing cartel
• Brazil strains to meet airport goalsSince Brazil won the right to host the 2014 football World Cup and the 2016 Olympics, festive exuberance has given way to sober reality: the country's creaking airport infrastructure is a huge problem
• Airbus to seek Rolls-Royce compensationA380 maker facing additional financial pressures as it prepares to juggle its own production schedules to get Rolls-Royce engines destined for other A380 customers to carriers
• Minister and mayor duck Thameslink questionsTheresa Villiers and Boris Johnson have refused to be drawn on the timing and scope of the next stage in upgrading the cross-London rail project, amid speculation that it might be delayed or scaled back
• £1bn could have been saved on M25, says NAOThe Highways Agency could have saved between £400m and more than £1bn by opting for use of the hard shoulder at peak times rather than a £3.4bn PFI deal to widen the motorway, according to the National Audit Office

The Guardian

• Crossrail designs go with the flowBritish architects and engineers have shaped calm, elegant and free-flowing spaces for the capital's 2018 east-west rail linkSudden demolitions. Unexpected views of central London opened up as if someone has taken a giant tin opener to the city's skyline. The disappearance of much loved venues, including the London Astoria on Charing Cross Road. Heated arguments over the compulsory purchase of properties along the route. A fear, even, that anthrax and bubonic plague might be released from mass 16th-century graves under Smithfield.These urban dramas and revelations prove that, at long last, Cro...

The Herald

• Diesel nears high for the year amid ˜dread™ over pricesThe price of diesel at the pumps has returned to around its highest level of the year, the AA said yesterday.
• Council orders peace talks in new bid to save trams projectEdinburgh™s councillors have ordered last-ditch peace talks in an effort to kickstart the capital™s beleaguered tram project “ days after such a move was rejected by the arm™s-length company overseeing it.
• Edinburgh is taking off as fifth-busiest airport in UKEdinburgh Airport has ridden out a two-year global recession in aviation to become the fifth-biggest hub in the UK, new passenger figures show.

Press Association

• TfL accused over Tube staffing Transport for London (TfL) has been accused of "lying" over staffing levels on the Tube after the biggest rail union said a leaked document showed some stations were being left unmanned.

ATOC

• Much done but more reform still to come, says ATOCThe Department for Transport’s plans for franchise reform need to go further to get the best deal for passengers and taxpayers, Michael Roberts,...

Network Rail

• NETWORK RAIL AND BTP SAFETY DRIVE TARGETS RAIGMORE

Bristol Live

• Land could be a solar power siteA SOLAR energy park could be built on agricultural land on the outskirts of Backwell. Renewable energy firm Sunlec wants to create a solar energy park on a 45-acre site just north of Downside in the village. The site – which is designated green belt land – is one of a number currently being considered by the renewable energy developer, which is looking at a number of locations for similar projects across England and South Wales. The company believes the land at Downside, which is a few hundred metres from Bristol Airport, is ideal for such a project, satisfying a number of...

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Lorries found with electromagnets in North Wales A BLITZ on lorries transporting goods to North Wales businesses has found a spate of truckers using magnets to tamper with their tachographs.

Derby Telegraph

• Campaigners calling for rail improvements facing setback BUSINESS leaders who have been lobbying the Government to electrify the rail line between Derby and London could be disappointed next week when transport spending plans are announced. East Midlands MPs have also argued that electrification of the Midland Mainline – which runs from London, through Derby to Sheffield – would see faster, less polluting trains, which could carry more passengers to and from the capital.
• Staff sent home following power failure at BombardierPART of Bombardier's train-making plant in Derby was without power this morning because of a fault with an underground power cable. Some workers based in the northern section of the firm's Litchurch Lane site, which mainly houses office staff, were sent home. The firm said that it hoped power would be restored by this afternoon.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Traffic to make way for tram lineA CONTROVERSIAL city-wide traffic shake-up, which will include banning cars from Shandwick Place, is set to be approved by councillors next week.

Journal Live

• A19 jams may force minister into a rethink THE Transport Secretary has admitted the A19 deserves a second chance for vital upgrade cash after regional leaders confronted him over spending cuts.
• Decision day soon on vital train jobs contractDECISION day for thousands of potential train jobs will come “within weeks not months” the region has been told. Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has said he is close to picking which firm will win a multi-million pound contract to build the new wave of Intercity Express trains.

London Evening Standard

• Three rail suicides in a day cause delays on UndergroundThree people commit suicide on the transport network causing major delays to Tube and rail services
• Diesel at 'highest price this year'The price of diesel at the pumps has returned to around its highest level of the year, according to the AA.
• Blast jet's 466 passengers 'so lucky not to die'466 passengers on the Qantas Airbus A380 forced to make an emergency landing in Singapore this month were 'very lucky' it did not explode in mid-air, killing everyone on board, aerospace experts said
• ZipCar buys up rival StreetCar for £32mCar club ZipCar gets the go-ahead to buy its rival StreetCar, giving members in London access to more than 1,700 cars and vans

Manchester Evening News

• Transport bosses look at running trams on train tracks Metrolink could be coming to Stockport after all “ under plans to use old rail lines to carry trams. Transport chiefs want to boost Greater Manchester™s network by running so-called ˜tram-trains™ “ trams on train tracks.

Northern Echo

• No decision on the Intercity Express Programme CAMPAIGNERS have voiced their frustration after a Government minister said no decision on the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) had been reached.
• Decision sought on Intercity Express Programme THE Transport Secretary will be urged today to give the North-East a £7.5bn boost when he makes his first official visit to the region since the election.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Rail electrification plans face setbackCAMPAIGNERS who have been lobbying ministers to electrify rail track running from Nottingham to London will face a major setback next week when transport spending plans are announced.
• Nottingham City Council plans to put up day care and transport costsADULT day centre charges are going up by 75 per cent – only weeks after Nottingham City Council introduced a £2 charge. Under the latest plans, it will cost people £3.50 to visit any of the city's 15 day care centres, which were free earlier this year. The council is also planning to increase the charge for transport from £2.60 to £4 for a return journey, meals at home from £2.60 to £3, and home care from £9.20 to £11.50 an hour. The maximum charge of £81 per week for home care will also be scrapped, which could leave some residents with much higher bills. Glenise Martin, 73, secret...

Sheffield Star

• Faster train plans axed THE Government will announce next week it does not have enough money to electrify the Midland Mainline, The Star can reveal.

Wales Online

• Minister admits transport infrastructure will be hit THE Deputy First Minister admitted last night that there would be a “very severe knock to infrastructure” in the wake of the Assembly’s draft Budget.
• ’We won't fund rail electrification,’ says WAG A DECISION on the electrification of the South Wales mainline is expected next week, with fears that the UK Government may only electrify the line between London and Bristol, and not onto Swansea as planned by the previous government.

The Shields Gazette

• On the buses he's the best!A BUS driver from South Tyneside has scooped a major national award in recognition of his skills on the road.

Other Regional Press

• Cost factor blow to park and ride PROPOSALS to launch a Saturday park-and-ride scheme in a Hampshire town could be driven off the road by the cost to motorists.
• Rail campaigners warned of bad news in spending plans Campaigners who have been lobbying ministers to electrify the rail track from London to Leicester will face a major setback next week when transport spending plans are announced.
• Parents could be hit by school transport cutsParents could be hit by council plans to scrap subsidised school travel to thousands of students in Hertfordshire.
• Three more years to build station car parkA plan to build a multi-storey car park at Stevenage railway station has been given a three-year lease of life.
• Terror bomb detector gives Glasgow Airport world leadGlasgow Airport is the first in the world to install hi-tech equipment which can sniff out home-made explosives.
• Bus firm fined £2800 over route ˜failures™A Glasgow firm has been fined £2800 for 67 instances of running buses late, early or with the wrong destination information.

New Scientist

• Full-body scanners: we reveal allThe recent release of pictures taken by these scanners has outraged the travelling public and focused attention on the risks the devices may carry

Railnews

• News: Revealed: how Alstom and Eurostar fell out Details of the fractured negotiations between Eurostar and Alstom for a fleet of High Speed trains have been seen by Railnews Focus, and reveal how the discussions slowly deteriorated over a number of months. Eurostar roused French fury by choosing ten Siemens Velaros for its next-generation fleet, which from 2014 should be linking London with such new destinations as Amsterdam, Lyon and Geneva.

Railway Gazette

• Italian open access passenger operator launchesITALY: Privately owned open access operator Arenaways launched its first passenger service on November 15, competing with state-owned passenger operator Trenitalia between Milano and Torino. Arenaways received confirmation of its two daily paths in each direction on November 12, however it did not obtain approval to call at intermediate stations because of regulatory concerns that this would compete with Trenitalia's subsidised regional services, rather than commercial inter-city trains. Areneways founder Giuseppe Arena said this meant the initial service would not be competitive, but the comp...

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow leads the world's aviation industry at UK's first ever global FOD conferenceAviation industry leaders from across the globe met at Heathrow last week to discuss best practice and innovation in FOD (foreign object debris) detection.
• Consistent Growth sees Edinburgh Airport enter Top FiveEdinburgh Airport has become the 5th largest airport in the UK in terms of passenger numbers according to figures released from the CAA.

Green Miscellany

• Robotic legs that give bicycles Ferrari performance Cyclists looking for an effortless boost in speed need look no further than a robotic suit that increases leg strength by up to 40kg (400N). read more

Other News Sources

• London City Airport challenge opens at High CourtA legal challenge against the expansion of flights at London City Airport has opened at the High Court.
• Tram scheme up for reviewAudit Scotland is to examine Edinburgh's troubled trams project, which is running behind schedule and over budget.
• Investigation underway after train overshoots station by 4kmThe Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has launched an investigation after a passenger train overshot a station in East Sussex by 4km last week.
• Electric shiftVehicles powered by electricity provide an opportunity for a complete rethink of car design, as well as a host of environmental benefits. So why are people so reluctant to embrace this potentially transformative innovation? asks John Stones
• Bromyard bus firm is Britain's best A Bromyard bus firm has become one of the country™s best after picking-up a major award.
• Heathrow leads the world's aviation industry at UK's first ever global FOD conferenceAviation industry leaders from across the globe met at Heathrow last week to discuss best practice and innovation in FOD (foreign object debris) detection.
• Residents in London City Airport legal challengeResidents' London City Airport legal challenge
• Nissan Leaf wins eco-award
• Next Green Car release list of approved green cars
• Hydrogen Powered Cars Key To Meeting Emission Reduction Targets In Transport Concludes New EU StudyTo keep the global warming level within the same limit of 2°C in 2050, the G8 and the European Union agreed to cut CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050. This can only be achieved if CO2 emissions from the road transport sector reduces by 95%.  With growing demand and supply for automobiles and with the emission levels of conventional petrol or diesel cars, the targets would not be met, according a new EU wide study.
• Euro rail operators "missing" millionsFragmentation in the European railway sector is holding back growth according to business travel agencies