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

Wednesday, 16 March 2011

BBC News

• Welsh Assembly [video]The electrification of the main train line from London to South Wales continued to dominate discussions during questions to the first minister on the 15 March 2011.
• Transport Select Committee - Severe Weather [video]Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has defended the government's response to the disruption caused by severe wintry weather in December 2010.
• Police officers given bike-riding lessonsLessons in how to get onto a bike and pedal are being given to officers from Grampian Police.
• Tram stalemate talks 'progress'Both sides in the Edinburgh tram dispute reach a
• New plan to cut road-racer deathsLearner and restricted drivers in Northern Ireland could be banned from driving high performances cars under proposed new road safety measures.

Financial Times

• Energy demand to boost shippingAn expected surge in Japanese demand for gas and coal as a result of its crippled nuclear power stations is poised to boost demand in key shipping markets

The Guardian

• In praise of ... the speed limit Those who choose to drive at sensible speeds save money and fuel, which is worth the risk of being mocked on Top Gear

The Herald

• Tram talks hit buffers with no agreementPoliticians expressed dismay last night after crunch talks aimed at saving Edinburgh™s crisis-hit tram project concluded without an agreement being reached.

Network Rail

• NETWORK RAIL MOVES TO CREATE A DEVOLVED ROUTE FOR WALES

Birmingham Post

• Virgin Trains demands more snow ploughs after cancelling 600 services Virgin Trains has demanded more snowploughs to keep tracks clear, after revealing it cancelled more than 600 services on the West Coast Main Line because of bad weather over the Christmas season.

Journal Live

• Bosses settle £2.8m Metro cash dispute RAIL bosses have backed down in a £2.8m snow row with Metro train operators.
• New warning over salt store shortages BRITAIN could be plunged back into transport chaos next winter because of “fundamental” problems with salt supplies, say town hall chiefs.

Liverpool Post

• New Liverpool Council chief executive Ged Fitzgerald says city will become cruise liners home port LIVERPOOL will become a home port for cruise liners, the city’s new council chief executive pledged yesterday.

London Evening Standard

• Snow timetables 'will ease Heathrow passenger misery'Airlines must obey new emergency timetables at Heathrow during extreme weather to avoid misery for thousands of passengers, says Transport Secretary Philip Hammond

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.

Daventry Express

• Bus cuts debate hits a dead endTHREATENED rural bus services cannot be saved unless more villagers demonstrate their opposition to the plans, according to parish councillors.

Other Regional Press

• Fight to modernise railway line all the way to Swansea goes online A professor from Swansea University has launched a petition calling on the UK Government to electrify to the Great Western Mainline all the way and not end it at Cardiff.
• Airport boss calls for end to sky high taxesA Kent airport boss has backed a campaign to stop holidays becoming even more expensive for jet-setting Brits.
• Rail depot gives 130 jobs boostA rail depot which will employ 130 people has been officially opened.

Campaign for Better Transport

• MPs call for fairer fares15 March: We™ve got a group of MPs to table a motion in Parliament calling for fairer fares. read more

Global Rail News

• Nottingham station could benefit from HS2This is Nottingham is reporting that high speed trains could go directly into Nottingham city centre as part of the Government’s proposed HS2 project. Proposals to ...
• DB Schenker Rail comment on UK rail industry reformAlain Thauvette, Chief Executive of DB Schenker Rail (UK) Ltd, said: “The rail network in the UK is exactly that. A network. Future rail growth, and ...
• New handling equipment investment for FreightlinerBarloworld Handling has been chosen by the UK™s leading intermodal rail-freight company Freightliner Ltd to supply and support 32 new units of container handling equipment for ...
• Network Rail announces devolved power to WalesNetwork Rail has announced its intention to create a new devolved business unit dedicated to serve Wales. Says Network Rail’s chief executive, David Higgins, said: œNetwork ...
• Elstree & Borehamwood station car park closureElstree & Borehamwood railway station car park will close for a weekend in March as part of a project to extend platforms for longer Thameslink route ...
• Stacey Solomon revealed as new face of East Midlands TrainsEast Midlands Trains has revealed the face of its new marketing campaign as Queen of the Jungle and X Factor finalist, Stacey Solomon. From this week ...
• UK Union slams government owned East Coast Railway for outsourcing jobs to IndiaThe Rail union RMT has condemned moves by publicly owned East Coast railway to export to India jobs currently done by staff at the National Express ...
• Bombardier Derby site is manufacturing more trains per week than ever beforeBombardier’s Derby site is currently manufacturing more trains per week than has ever previously been produced in the history of the site. By the end of ...
• The Future of Station Design conferenceThe Future of Station Design conference made its debut last year showcasing champions of rail, inspiring design, retail, engineering and construction. This year™s format focuses on ...
• Rail Training “ Investment in VisionSpring is traditionally a time for re-calibrating careers and professional life. This spring the rail industry is redoubling its efforts to recruit new people and train ...
• Chiltern Railways countdown to 90 minutesIt™s not High Speed Two but Chiltern looks set to slash journey times between London and Birmingham to 90 minutes from this May. Billed as Chiltern ...
• Airdrie-Bathgate link doubled to two an hourServices on the new Glasgow to Edinburgh, Airdrie-Bathgate link have been doubled to two an hour. Rail chiefs plan a 15 minute frequency later this year. ...

The Business Desk

• Adonis: 'Birmingham needs a mayor to avert a crisis' FORMER government minister Lord Adonis last night ignited the debate over elected mayors for Birmingham when he told an audience the city needed desperately to raise its leadership game.
• Virgin gears up for West Coast franchise fight VIRGIN Rail, which operates the Manchester to London route, is battling to retain the franchise when it comes up for renewal this year.

Aviation Industry

• BA denies discriminationBritish Airways (BA) has rejected allegations by Unite that it is forcing pregnant women to take unpaid leave

Other News Sources

• RMT slams East Coast plan to export customer-service jobsUnion welcomes MPs' call to stop 'unacceptable' transfer to Mumbai
• Groupon takes flight with bmiBritish Midland International (bmi) is the first UK-based airline to sign a deal with group buying site Groupon
• Green help for white van man A green transport initiative has been launched today (March 15) to help van drivers reduce emissions and offset their mileage.
• Qatar Airways to keep first class on A380sThe middle east airline is scrapping first class on a number of its aircraft, but will retain a top tier product on its new superjumbos
• Amadeus partners mobile travel firmTravel technology company Amadeus has signed a deal to integrate ConTgo™s mobile travel solution into its own corporate offering
• PM to backtrack on per plane tax pledge?The UK aviation community is waiting with bated breath to hear the outcome of next week™s Budget