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

Tuesday, 22 March 2011

BBC News

• Hard shoulders opened on busy M6Drivers are able to use the hard shoulder on one of the busiest stretches of motorway from Tuesday.
• Highlands needs fuel networkA strategic network of filling stations should be established across the Highlands, the area's local authority says.
• High-speed rail 'vital' for cityA high-speed rail link between London and Manchester is vital to help boost the North West economy, transport minister Theresa Villiers says.
• Japan carmakers look to start upJapanese car firms are looking to restart production with Toyota Motors expected to announce its plans on Tuesday.

Department for Transport

• Government crackdown on drink and drug drivingA package of measures to tackle drink and drug driving was announced today by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond.

Financial Times

• Ryanair pilot sacked in leaflet disputeRyanair's strained relationship with trade unions will come under fresh scrutiny when a former pilot appears at an employment tribunal, alleging he was sacked for handing out a union recruitment leaflet

The Guardian

• BAA's PR chief resigns Malcolm Robertson's departure leaves airport owner in search of fifth communications director in as many years
• French high-speed rail on track but progress too slow on commuter lines France's TGV is the envy of Europe, but the country's commuter services are creaking after years of under-investment
• Poll: Will the high speed rail link be good for Leeds? Transport secretary Philp Hammond talks up economic benefits for region - but would you welcome a high speed rail link to London?
• Mark Bayley, the rail boss who put St Pancras back on track, is moving on The outgoing London & Continental Railways boss talks about a legacy that has transformed King's Cross in London

The Independent

• Government rules out lower drink-drive limit Britain’s legal drink-drive limit will not be lowered, the Government said today, despite a recommendation by its own experts that it should be reduced.
• George Osborne to freeze air passenger tax Chancellor George Osborne will use his Budget on Wednesday to trim the cost of holidays abroad by freezing air passenger duty.

The Telegraph

• Train firms hire 300 'delay attribution officers' to avoid paying compensation Train companies are employing hundreds of staff whose only job is to find excuses not to pay delay compensation to commuters.
• Motorists to be denied blood tests when stopped on suspicion of drink driving Motorists who are marginally over the limit when stopped by the police are to lose the right to demand a blood test under the biggest changes to drink-drive law in over 40 years.
• Ten of the most ridiculous excuses for late trains A new documentary, Dispatches: Train Journeys from Hell, hears what rail passengers have to endure. Here are some of the most unlikely announcements heard in the past.

Mail Online

• Drink live limit will not be slashed to continental levels as Government opts for better enforcementTransport Secretary Philip Hammond said improving enforcement was likely to have more impact on drivers who 'flagrantly ignore' current regulations.
• South West Trains with seats so small you complain when you DO get oneCommuters on South West Train Services between Portsmouth and Waterloo have been left falling into the aisles and complaining of back pain and fearing deep vein thrombosis.

ATOC

• Train companies respond to Channel 4 Dispatches programme In response to the Channel 4 Dispatches programme on the railways, a spokesperson for the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) said: “The railways are attracting record numbers of...

Birmingham Mail

• Train fares to London could soar without high speed rail, claims Minister The cost of a train ticket from Birmingham to London will rise unless a new high speed rail line is built, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has warned.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• MP's backing for laser pen movesAn MP has backed the Government™s efforts to tackle the number of dangerous laser pen attacks at Leeds-Bradford International Airport.

Derby Telegraph

• Pupils' talent in rail engineering contest praised STUDENTS from Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire have been praised after competing in an engineering challenge aimed at getting them interested in a career in the rail industry.
• Interfleet links with trade mission to win deals in India A DERBY rail consultancy has taken part in a trade mission in India in a bid to win more business.
• Backing Britain is the way TRANSPORT Secretary Philip Hammond says: "We cannot afford not to invest in Britain's future – even at a time of severe pressure on public spending."
• 'Superb' trains built in city to provide 11,000 extra seats on London services TRAINS built in Derby have entered into service – providing 11,000 more seats for London commuters. The fleet of 30 trains produced by Bombardier's Litchurch Lane factory has started operating services from London to Stansted Airport and Cambridge.

Liverpool Post

• Liverpool MP Louise Ellman to lead high-speed rail scheme inquiry LIVERPOOL MP Louise Ellman will lead an inquiry into the Government’s controversial HS2 high-speed rail scheme.
• Bus services at heart of transport review launched by Liverpool MP Maria Eagle PUTTING bus passengers rather than private companies in charge of services will be at the heart of a Labour transport policy review.

London Evening Standard

• Tube commuters 'ripped off' by premium-rate phone numberCommuters checking whether Tube trains are on time are being 'ripped off' by having to phone a premium rate number, it was claimed
• Child traffickers exploit London Eurostar loopholeHuman traffickers are using Eurostar to smuggle vulnerable children into Britain for use in domestic slavery and benefit fraud, it is claimed
• Rail-users can claim for delay refund after change in rulesTens of thousands of rail commuters will be able to claim compensation for late trains on London's busiest and most expensive routes following a proposed change in the rules
• London cable cars are go but £40m bill is in the airLondoners will be treated to spectacular views of the Thames after Boris Johnson approved plans for a cable car across the river - but taxpayers could be forced to foot the £40 million bill

Yorkshire Post

• Campaign anger as Ministers refuse to cut drink-drive limitMinisters have refused to lower Britain’s drink-drive limit, rejecting the advice of their own expert and frustrating safety campaigners who claim one in six road deaths are caused by motorists under the influence.

Other Regional Press

• Changes to bus pass schemeTHE administration of the bus pass system for people eligible for concessionary fares is to change at the beginning of April.
• Alert after ˜bomb™ found at Aberdeen AirportBOMB disposal experts were called to Aberdeen Airport after workmen uncovered a World War 2 training device.
• Warwickshire minibus service saved by government cash A COMMUNITY minibus service has been saved after Warwickshire County Council secured government money to help pay for it.
• Staffordshire council backs Coventry and Warwickshire HS2 opposition ANOTHER council has joined those in Coventry and Warwickshire opposing a high-speed rail line set to cut through the region.
• Burton Green protesters to walk 40 miles along HS2 route PROTESTERS fighting the high speed railway line through Warwickshire will walk 40 miles along land expected to be built on under the plan.

Global Rail News

• Bombardier™s AVENTRA “ A new era in train performanceTwo years ago, Bombardier decided that the ELECTROSTAR vehicle had been taken as far as possible; future requirements, particularly in the UK, require a step-change in ...
• A glimpse at the future Birmingham New Street StationThe current New Street Station isn’t known for its spacious design and good facilities. It has been, in the past, described as unwelcoming, run down and ...
• c2c helps the Little Havens HospiceNational Express train operator c2c has lent a helping hand to the Little Havens Children™s Hospice in Essex by raising a total of £700 for the ...
• New Director appointed for North West Rail CampaignSusan Williams has been confirmed as the new Campaign Director for the North West Rail Campaign. Susan is a board member of the North West Development ...
• Students get a taste for engineering at iRail 2011Students from across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire have been told that their skills are the key to keeping the UK rail engineering industry on track at this ...
• Merseyrail on track for new rolling stockMerserytravel has taken the first steps in a move which could see the replacement of the entire Merseyrail train fleet. Manufacturers have been informed of the ...
• Northern Rail trials GPS to keep passengers informedPassengers on the picturesque Esk Valley line will be getting more accurate travel information as Northern Rail trials GPS vehicle tracking capabilities on its trains. The Esk ...
• Stratford Regional Station upgrade nears completionA new London Underground ticket hall and entrance at Stratford Regional Station, which will help keep Londoners and visitors moving now and during the London 2012 ...
• Network Rail work ramps up at New StreetEngineers working on the New Street Gateway project marked a significant milestone over the weekend as they demolished the old spiral ramp access between the Pallasades ...
• Funding announced for rail bicycle schemesThe Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport Norman Baker announced today that funding will be made available for certain Train Operating Companies and Cycle Towns ...
• North West urged to back high speed railA new high speed rail network would help create jobs and spread prosperity in Manchester and the North West, not just through its extra speed but ...
• ATOC responds to Channel 4²s Train Journeys from HellAhead of tonight’s Channel 4 Dispatches programme Train Journeys from Hell, a spokesperson for the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) said: œThe railways are attracting ...
• First Class Lounge at Sheffield open for longerEast Midlands Trains has announced that the opening hours for its new First Class Lounge at Sheffield have been revised from last week, allowing even more ...
• Centro encourages residents to ˜walk it™ to rail stationsRegional transport authority Centro is encouraging residents to ˜walk it™ during Climate Change Week (March 21-27), after a region wide walking journey planner went live. Centro ...

Aviation Industry

• BAA™s IT overhaul to make Heathrow more resilientHeathrow is investing hundreds of millions of pounds in IT to share real time information, better respond to crises and offer improved services to passengers and airlines...

Other News Sources

• Call to get on board Newburgh Rail Station reopening movement The potential reopening of a long-abandoned railway station will be top of the agenda at a public meeting this week.
• Contenders for top job at Crossrail revealed The names of the top contenders to replace Rob Holden as chief executive at Crossrail have been revealed.
• More tracks through Bristol and improvements for Portishead passengers agreed. Transport Councillor for Bristol, Gary Hopkins has exclusively revealed to us "Agreement from the West of England partners that the priority for our next major investment, the Portishead line and the "4-tracking" of the lines within Bristol, which is absolutely crucial."
• Local transport better than HS2, environmental watchdog warnsSpending cash on local transport projects would yield greater benefits than High Speed 2, the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) has warned.
• Labour transport review will target local service deliveryThe Labour Party launched its transport policy review today, which aims to establish how to put communities in charge of local transport decision-making, how the cost of travelling contributes to social exclusion and what impact the lack of bus services has on isolated rural areas.
• Capgemini wins UK airport IT services contractPARIS, March 22 (Reuters) - A consortium led by France's Capgemini has won a five-year contract worth about 100 million pounds ($163 million) to provide IT services at BAA's Heathrow and other UK airports, Capgemini said on Tuesday. Capgemini will be responsible for BAA's core IT services on a day-to-day basis, including applications, infrastructure and projects, for some 10,000 users, it said in a statement. 'Improved real-time information will help BAA keep passengers and airlines better informed about their flights, allowing for quicker turnaround of planes and better recovery from problems as they arise,' Capgemini said. The consortium includes SITA, Atkins, Computacenter and Amor Group, Capgemini added. BAA, which is majority owned by Spanish infrastructure group Ferrovial, owns and operates Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh airports.
• RMT condemns government hatchet-job on health and safetyGOVERNMENT PLANS to slash already inadequate health and safety inspections will give the green light to employers to cut corners and cause more workplace deaths and injuries, transport union RMT says today.
• Knowles Transport confident over extension permissionThe boss of Knowles Transport says he is not
• HS2 £34bn scheme to go before parliamentary inquiryThe government™s £34 billion High Speed 2 rail scheme is set to be the subject of a parliamentary committee inquiry.
• Morrison/Hochtief/Dragados/American Bridge scoop £800m Forth Crossing Bridge dealA consortium of Dragados, Hochtief, American Bridge International and Morrison Construction has been selected for a £790 million deal to build the Forth Crossing Bridge.
• Manchester Airport and Jet2.com support ABTA's ’A Fair Tax on Flying'As the country prepares for the Budget on Wednesday, Manchester Airport and Jet2.com have pledged their support to ABTA's ’A Fair Tax on Flying' campaign. The Fair Tax on Flying campaign is...