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

Monday, 07 March 2011

BBC News

• Darlington jobs created at engines firm Cummins More than 100 new jobs are being created at the Darlington branch of an engines company.
• Cumbria Council axes subsidy to 19 bus routes A subsidy to 19 commercially unsustainable bus routes is to be withdrawn, Cumbria County Council says.
• China to grow high-speed rail despite corruption probe China will continue developing its high-speed rail network despite allegations of corruption, its newly appointed railway minister has said according to the Xinhua news agency.
• Major revamp at Scunthorpe railway junction Work has begun to replace rail tracks at one of the busiest freight routes in Europe sited in North Lincolnshire.
• Prestwick sees drop in passengersPrestwick Airport suffers a sharp decline in passenger numbers this winter, down by 40% in recent months.

Financial Times

• BAE braced for tough US curbsBAE Systems is braced for the imposition of strict curbs on its business by the US, as it moves closer to resolving a year-long review by the State Department of its guilty plea to a conspiracy charge last year
• Cautionary tale for China's rail boomWhen investment in infrastructure runs out of control, and is combined with widespread property speculation and public corruption, a happy outcome is unlikely. China should take heed of America's railway experience in the 1870s

The Herald

• Green campaigner attacks Government on transport The Scottish Government has been "a grave disappointment" on transport despite flaunting green issues as a flagship policy, the outgoing head of Scotland™s largest environment charity has said.

The Independent

• The tracks of my tears: High Speed Rail dreams Might Britain's High Speed Rail route finally get built? The news has Andrew Martin tingling but the disciples of Betjeman have been let down before, he warns
• The tracks of my tears: High Speed Rail dreams The Government has just announced the beginning of its consultation on the proposed High Speed Rail route that will be built from 2015.

The Telegraph

• Transport Secretary Philip Hammond reveals his ignorance of wind power Philip Hammond's claim that onshore wind power 'pays its way' is completely off-beam, says Christopher Booker
• High-speed rail: running rapidly right off the rails The Birmingham-London supertrain is being proclaimed as the totem of a new golden age in British transport. Already, however, it looks a safe bet that the reality will fail to match the rhetoric
• School crossing patrols victims of spending cuts Lollipop ladies across the country are the latest victims of the Government’s spending cuts, according to a report published today.

Press Association

• Johnson warned over Tube delays London's Mayor has been urged to "get a grip" on Tube services after new figures showed a massive increase in delays and station closures.
• Warning over road safety budget cut Lives are at risk if road safety budgets are cut, a Whitehall advisory body has said. It is vital that tough new casualty reduction targets are laid down to be met by 2020, said the Parliamentary Advisory Councils for Transport Safety (Pacts).

Daily Express

• BRITAIN IS FACING THIRD WORLD ROADS DRIVERS face “Third World” conditions on Britain’s roads unless action is taken to tackle a soaring number of potholes, campaigners have warned.
• MOVE TO MUMBAI OR LOSE YOUR JOB TWO hundred staff at a Government-owned rail company have been warned that they must move to India if they want to keep their jobs. Workers at the call centre, which handles bookings for East Coast rail passengers travelling between London and Scotland, were told it had lost the key contract.

Mail Online

• Petrol tax to be cut as drivers are forced to pay £1.40 a litre for the first timeMr Osborne, who delivers his second Budget on March 23, left himself with little room for manoeuvre when he reached out to motorists concerned about fuel prices.
• Slough isn¿t fit for cars now: Motorists echo Betjeman in their hatred of the town¿s roadsThe Berkshire town is one of the least car-friendly towns in the UK, a survey by Virgin Money Car Insurance found.
• Increase in British motorists driving off without paying for petrol as fuel prices soarThe number of 'drive offs' from garage forecourts rose 52 per cent in the first nine months of 2010 – costing garages more than £17 million.
• Are we nearly there yet? Ford ¿s TALKING car can tell you the answer to age-old questionTalking to your car - and having it answer straight back - could soon become a commonplace as Ford says it will introduce voice communication in the UK next year

Airwise News

• Government officials disciplined for breaking first-class travel ban Officials at the Department for International Development have been disciplined for breaking a ban on claiming first-class train fares at taxpayers’ expense.
• in it for the long haul Pulling together Half a century ago, a group of railway enthusiasts came together to celebrate a Yorkshire institution, and they’re still going strong. Andrew Vine reports.

Metro

• Tube delays increase shows Boris must get a grip, says Ken Livingstone London’s mayor will be urged to ’get a grip’ on Tube services after new figures showed a massive increase in delays and station closures.

Northern Echo

• Town prepares action plan for Hitachi jobs A NORTH-EAST town is drawing up plans to take advantage of Hitachi™s arrival in the region.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Funding joy for Buckie bus schemeMoray pensioners are delighted after a community transport charity was given a last-minute funding reprieve.
• Betrayal claim over plan to cut island fuel prices by 5pChief Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander was accused last night of betraying motorists after revealing plans for a cut-price fuel scheme for the northern and Western Isles.

The York Press

• Residents anger at move to increase speed limit on road MOVES to increase the speed limit on a stretch of road leading into a village near York have been criticised by residents and parish councillors.

This Is Local London Network

• Quiz Merton transport providers at public meeting Do you know how public transport could be improved in Merton? Residents are being asked to highlight issues and concerns directly to transport bosses at a public forum next week.

Other Regional Press

• David Cameron: Rail electrification to Swansea would not be good use of money THE Prime Minister believes electrifying the Great Western Main line from London to Swansea would not be a good use of money. David Cameron told the Evening Post the cash would be better spent electrifying lines in the valleys but he did not rule out electrification to Swansea in future.
• Hopes for Lynn rail line’s future RAIL campaigners have said they are optimistic for the future of the link between Lynn and London ahead of talks with local MPs and a government minister.
• Idea just 218 years in the making for canalA NEW canal arm in Daventry which was first mooted in 1793 is one step closer to becoming a reality as planning permission is sought to create a two-mile stretch of waterway.
• Price of fuel at Kent petrol station is 'highest in the UK'Fuel price protesters find a Kent garage selling petrol for £1.40 a litre - that's £6.37 a gallon.

The Business Desk

• Stobart and Irlam to step down from haulage giant's board STOBART Group has announced that William Stobart and David Irlam are both to step down from the group's board to concentrate on operations in its core transport and logistics division.
• Stagecoach on track despite weather BUS and train operator Stagecoach, joint owner of West Coast main line operator Virgin Rail, said today overall profitability remained good despite adverse weather.
• HS2 must have Euro links - business leaders THE high speed rail route between London and Birmingham must include links to Heathrow and Eurostar, three of the region's business groups have urged the transport secretary.

Other News Sources

• Fuel distributors agree to meet with Unite to avoid strikesA number of fuel distributors have accepted Unite's invite to discuss tanker driver terms and conditions (T&Cs) to avoid industrial action. But some believe certain discussions are best left between employers and employees.