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

Sunday, 20 February 2011

BBC News

• Anger after trackside trees cut in Enfield [video]Network Rail has been criticised by a council and an MP for removing hundreds of yards of mature woodland on a railway embankment in north London.
• Rolls-Royce to show electric carLuxury car maker Rolls-Royce will unveil an electric version of its Phantom flagship model at next month's Geneva motor show.
• High-speed rail opposition meetsHundreds of campaigners opposed to the high-speed rail line (HS2) stage a national convention ahead of government consultation.

The Independent

• Two-thirds of London's Boris bikes need repairs Two-thirds of London's

The Scotsman

• Network Rail moves to regional structure NETWORK Rail's Scottish operation is set to become a semi-independent business as the company moves to a more "devolved" structure.
• China in Tube phone network bidA Chinese telecoms firm is bidding to install mobile phone transmitters in the London Underground in time for the 2012 Olympics, it has been reported.

The Telegraph

• Questor share tip: Buy into a solid dividend stream with Go-Ahead Interim results from Go-Ahead Group, the rail and bus operator, confounded the critics when they were released on Friday. Record numbers of passengers on its service and a beat from the rail group resulted in an upgrade to full-year expectations. Questor says buy.
• Fewer trains run on time at majority of rail companies The majority of train companies ran fewer services on time last month than in January 2010, despite milder conditions at the start of this year, according to latest figures.

Press Association

• China in Tube phone network bid A Chinese telecoms firm is bidding to install mobile phone transmitters in the London Underground in time for the 2012 Olympics, it has been reported.

Daily Express

• Companies in dock over Potters Bar crash NETWORK Rail and rail maintenance company Jarvis are due to appear in court tomorrow to face health and safety charges over the 2002 Potters Bar train crash which killed seven people.
• Bumpy ride for BA as fuel risesBRITISH Airways' fuel bill hit an estimated £1.9 billion in the first nine months of its financial year as the cost of jet fuel soared, figures out this week are expected to show.

Daily Record

• Road chiefs given the thumbs up after M8 winter travel chaos EXCLUSIVE: ROADS chiefs have been given a glowing report over the snow chaos that brought Scotland's main motorway to a grinding halt for three days.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Airport boss says it can lift economy to new level Leeds-Bradford International Airport is entering one of its most important periods ever, its boss has revealed.

Derby Telegraph

• National award for train firm websiteDERBY train operator East Midlands Trains has received national recognition for its website. The firm has won the Information Technology Excellence award at the Rail Business Awards for its Best Fare Finder tool, which allows passengers to find the cheapest available fare out of around 450 journeys. Marc Turley, head of marketing at East Midlands Trains, said:
• Disabled passengers to get more help on the busesA EURO MP said using bus services in Derbyshire could be made easier for disabled passengers thanks to new rights agreed by the European Parliament. MEP Glenis Willmott, leader of the Labour Party in Europe, backed the rights for passengers in a vote which has been welcomed by disability organisations. The new rules mean that bus and coach company staff will need to know how to take simple steps to make their services more accessible. Mrs Willmott said:

Journal Live

• Figures show slump in East Coast rail service FREEZING temperatures, cable theft and trespassers caused delays for commuters travelling to the busiest route to the North East, with only 80% of trains running on time.

Northern Echo

• Work starts on extra line on Weardale Railway PASSENGERS using a rural rail service are to benefit from the installation of an extra line on its route.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Car drives home a green messageAn electric car is on a charge 100 miles across Argyll next week to highlight the benefits of green, cheap-to-run vehicles.

The York Press

• More East Coast trains run late YORK-BASED rail operator East Coast saw its punctuality record deteriorate in January, despite improved weather conditions.

Carlisle News & Star

• Train rolled backwards down Cumbrian line because driver 'tired' - report Investigators looking into why a freight train rolled backwards 2.1 miles on the West Coast Mainline in Cumbria, reaching speeds of 50mph, say it is likely it happened because the driver was tired.

Other Regional Press

• Train firm dismisses ditching London link TRAIN passengers have been assured there are no plans to scrap an hourly train to London, despite a report suggesting the move would help speed up journey times.
• Sutton Council shortlisted for triple transport award Sutton Council has been shortlisted for a hat-trick of honours in a major transport awards competition.

Forbes

• How Long Until Your Hybrid Pays Off?There are many things to consider when buying a hybrid??car.??One is the??payback period, or how lon

Global Rail News

• Translink NI Railways announce Larne line delay “ repay schemeTranslink NI Railways are advising that monthly season ticket holders for the Larne rail line will receive a 10% discount off their next monthly ticket purchased from 20th February as part of the Customer Charter Compensation scheme. Mal McGreevy, General Manager, Rail Services explained, œUnfortunately, due to a number of mechanical engineering issues affecting mainly our older train fleet, a number of Larne line express services were cancelled during December and January. œWe want to ...
• Rail clincher for Aer ArannEncouraged by the prospect of fast and frequent rail services to London from the purpose built station at London Southend Airport, Aer Arann is starting daily flights to and from Waterford and Galway in March. Says Alastair Welch, managing director of Stobart Air which owns London Southend Airport, ˜This is a significant milestone in London Southend Airport™s development, the first new daily passenger service since Stobart Group took ownership two years ago. ˜It also marks ...
• Northern Rail™s Arctic Husky ChallengeMaggie Whitaker and Emma Hind, who both work for Northern Rail, are training hard for the 250 kilometre Arctic Husky Challenge. The intrepid pair will be joining other teams to sled across the ice cap from Norway to Sweden in April. Says Emma, ˜Myself and Maggie will be expected to erect our own tents, cook and take care of our own team of huskies – we have four each.™ The aim is to raise money ...

Other News Sources

• Mayor announces funding for outer London cycling Mayor Boris Johnson and Transport for London (TfL) have unveiled plans to make funding available for the purpose of creating cycling hubs in the outskirts of the capital.
• Cycling cash for outer London boroughs Transport for London (TfL) has announced £4 million of funding to create cycle hubs and cycling communities in outer London. The move follows the granting of ’Biking Borough’ status to 13 of the capital's 32 local councils in 2010.
• ViewRanger adds 'Business Traveller' city guides to its growing leisure guides portfolioAugmentra has entered into a pilot programme with 'Business Traveller', the leading magazine for the frequent business traveller, to publish a selection of Business Traveller guided city walking tours as downloadable routes within their ViewRanger GPS smartphone app.16/02/11