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

Tuesday, 15 March 2011

BBC News

• Rail ticket offices could closeConsultations are under way about shutting nine rail ticket offices across the West Midlands.
• Snow affects road and rail travelHeavy snow led to the closure of the A9 between Inverness and Perth overnight and continues to cause disruption.
• New train arrives at city docksThe first of 20 new trains for Northern Ireland Railways arrives at Belfast docks.
• Good Tube service 'once' in yearTube service 'good' for one day in a year, figures showThere were no delays on any part of the underground on 11 May, but this was the only time it happened between 1 February 2010 and 1 February 2011.
• Freeze travel cost '£280m a day'Travel disruption in last December's freezing weather cost the UK economy about £280m a day, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond tells MPs.

Financial Times

• Carlyle to lead landmark shipping pushThe US group is poised to lead the biggest private equity investment in the industry, after it set up a joint venture with Seaspan, aimed at buying $5bn of new container ships
• China's shipyards brace for downturnHigher steel prices, overcapacity and very low global bulk rates have hurt the industry's margins, raising questions about how the country's shipbuilders will weather the crisis
• Transport sector poised for M&A boomKPMG is predicting that a wave of acquisitions is on the way, as cheaper debt, higher fuel prices and the drive for global scale combine to make big deals irresistible

The Scotsman

• Many road markings 'barely visible'Some of Britain's most dangerous roads have white line markings which are completely worn out, according to a new report.

The Telegraph

• Heathrow 'refused army help to clear snowbound runway'Heathrow's owners of were accused of turning down army help to clear one of its runways because it did not want to use unsilled labour, despite thousands of passengers still being trapped at the airport.

Press Association

• Many road markings 'barely visible' Some of Britain's most dangerous roads have white line markings which are completely worn out, according to a new report.

Mail Online

• We must strictly enforce speed limit if it's raised to 80mph, insists Transport Secretary Raising motorway speeds to 80mph must be accompanied by tougher enforcement of the new limit, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond insisted on Monday.

Birmingham Post

• Passengers face more disruption as London Midland dispute continues Passengers using London Midland services could face more disruption this week as a dispute over overtime continues.

Edinburgh Evening News

• TIE accused of forcing changes to trams reportMSPs have called for Audit Scotland to be brought before a Scottish Parliament committee to explain alterations to the recent Edinburgh trams report after it emerged that key
• Sarah B: Keeping track of this fiasco is easier said than doneUnnecessary secrecy has undermined the Capital's troubled trams project, says blogger Sarah B

London Evening Standard

• Many road markings 'barely visible'Some of Britain's most dangerous roads have white line markings which are completely worn out, according to a new report.

Manchester Evening News

• Manchester Airport protest at sky-high flight taxManchester Airport is calling on the Government to halt any further rises in air tax “ warning it could price holidaymakers out of trips abroad. Bosses are backing a national campaign “ launched by airlines and holiday company “ in response to soaring duty on flights.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham in the running for high-speed link to LondonHIGH-SPEED trains will come directly into Nottingham city centre if proposals being considered by the Government are given the go-ahead. Ministers have already said they want a station in the East Midlands as part of a £32 billion plan to build a 250mph national rail network. The Post has now learned Department for Transport officials are drawing up plans to see the super-fast trains rolling into Nottingham Station. A source close to Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said:

Sheffield Star

• CCTV to roam the region’s railway SOUTH Yorkshire’s local train operator has launched a mobile surveillance vehicle that will roam its network to cut crime on trains and in and around stations.

Yorkshire Post

• Deadly road branded worst in country for worn-out markings A winding Yorkshire road said to be one of Britain’s most dangerous routes is undergoing urgent improvements after a survey found that more than half its white line markings had completely worn out.

Bucks Free Press

• 'Dragons would snub High Speed 2'IF HIGH Speed 2 were pitched on Dragons' Den the businessmen proposing it would be shown the door, a leading councillor has said.

Carlisle News & Star

• Cumbrian college students face losing free bus passes Students at Lillyhall™s Lakes College could lose their free annual bus pass and face charges of £350 for a new one if Cumbria County Council pulls the plug on transport funding.

Other Regional Press

• Rail station more jungle than the National Forest BURTON Railway Station sends out a ’terrible message’ to tourists and visitors stepping off the platform, the town’s MP has claimed.

Global Rail News

• Maintenance depot in Glasgow opened ScotRail’s expanded Shields Road maintenance depot in Glasgow was officially opened today by Transport Minister Keith Brown.
• Dudley Port railway station set for Park and Ride extension Passengers using a busy Sandwell train station have been handed a boost after work started last week to extend its popular Park and Ride service.
• Prince™s Trust scheme helps six young people secure apprenticeships with Virgin & CentroSix unemployed young people from the West Midlands have been offered apprenticeships with Centro and Virgin Trains after completing a Prince™s Trust course to help them ...
• Southampton appoints Visiting Professors in Railway ResearchThe University of Southampton has announced the appointment of two new Visiting Professors, to strengthen its capabilities and industrial links in the field of railway track ...
• First of Translink N.I Railways™ new fleet arrives in BelfastThe first of a further 20 brand new trains arrived today on schedule for Translink N I Railways heralding the next major milestone in the modernisation ...
• China completes its first underwater rail tunnelChina’s national news is reporting that the country has completed its first railway tunnel that runs underwater. The Shiziyang Tunnel was completed on Saturday12 March in ...
• Bombardier to supply Metrolinx with 50 BiLevel commuter rail carsBombardier Transportation announced today that it has received an order from Metrolinx for the supply of 50 Bombardier BiLevel commuter rail cars to be delivered to ...

Aviation Industry

• Stansted™s iconic terminal celebrates 20th anniversary Stansted Airport is today celebrating the 20th anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen officially opening one of the world™s most iconic terminal buildings on 15 March, 1991...
• BA sets new world recordBritish Airways (BA) has hosted the world™s highest stand-up comedy gig
• Olympic sells Heathrow slots to AegeanAegean Airlines has bought four London Heathrow and Charles de Gaulle slots from Olympic Airlines

Other News Sources

• Croydon hit hardest by Boris Johnson’s fare rises Croydon commuters have been amongst the hardest hit by decisions taken by Conservative Mayor Boris Johnson and Conservative Chancellor George Osborne to inflict huge increases in tram, bus, tube and rail fares and scrap the extension of the popular Croydon Tram service to Crystal Palace.
• Gatwick Express turns the light on training Gatwick Express has developed a training scheme to assist frontline customer service employees to identify different types of customer. This is in order to deliver customer service to meet individual passenger needs.
• "Appalling" casualty rate of young drivers needs tackling, say MPs The government needs to continue its efforts to curb the number of young people being killed or injured on the UK's roads, according to MPs.
• Aerospace and Automotive Academy opens in FarnboroughVince Cable, secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, has opened a new Aerospace and Automotive Academy at the Farnborough College of Technology.

Other Subscription Services

• Exclusive: Labour wants local protection for transportScrutiny of local transport decision-making and an examination of how communities can be better empowered will form major parts of Labour’s transport policy review, it can be revealed.