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

Monday, 09 May 2011

BBC News

• Fuel protesters' go-slow protestFuel protesters stage a go-slow on major routes from north Wales into north west England.
• More journeys for rail passengersRail passengers made almost 5% more journeys in the first three months of this year compared with the snow-hit January-March 2010 period.
• 'Too few' electric car chargersJust over a tenth of electric car charging points the government had expected to have been built in the UK are in place, the BBC has learned.

Financial Times

• Rising petrol price fuels UK rail boom Sharp fuel price rises in the first quarter of the year contributed significantly to an unexpectedly rapid rise in the number of railway passengers, the train operators’ trade association said.
• Underground promises faster journeysTrains will be faster and more frequent, says Mike Brown, London Underground's managing director, in spite of 'insane' planning rules, after Tube problems on the line last month left hundreds trapped
• Demand for LNG flares worldwideShipowners who had been forced to lay up gas tankers amid the slump are benefiting from a sudden revival following the Japan earthquake and increases in coal and oil prices

The Independent

• Crossrail close to new chief Final interviews have taken place for the top job at Crossrail, the £15bn Heathrow-to-Essex rail link, with project programme director Andy Mitchell among the remaining candidates.

The Scotsman

• Rail union's fears of job cuts and fare rises grow Union leaders have warned that a government study into the railway industry threatens safety and could lead to cuts in train services.
• Scots design picked for £50m revamp of iconic airport site Two Scottish design firms have won the €60 million (£52m) contract to redevelop Berlin's historic Tempelhof airport.

The Telegraph

• Operators face little competition on the buses Local bus passengers are paying higher prices and enduring less frequent services because of a lack of competition in the industry, according to the Competition Commission.

The Mirror

• More drivers take train as petrol price rises take toll DRIVERS fed up with petrol prices are taking the train.

Wales Online

• Lifeline for Swansea to Cardiff electrification THE proposed rail electrification to Swansea could be thrown a lifeline if the South Wales route is used as a testbed for new equipment, an industry expert said yesterday.
• Competition report slates ’transport monopolies’ such as Cardiff Bus A MAJOR report has criticised transport services in areas such as Cardiff where major bus companies face little or no competition.

Yorkshire Post

• Unions attack railway study over job fears UNION leaders have launched an attack on a Government study into the railway industry claiming the findings will lead to cuts.

Other Regional Press

• Rail boss backing new Northampton station plans THE CAMPAIGN for a new railway station in Northampton has received a boost after the boss of Network Rail backed the plan.
• Train firm is criticised SOUTHEASTERN trains chief Charles Horton faced a barrage of questions from frustrated commuters during the unveiling of Kent's rail action plan.
• Rail Journey Numbers Increasing Rail passengers made almost 5 percent more journeys in the first three months of this year, compared with the year before when heavy snow fell.

Other News Sources

• Bus chiefs play down competition probe fears LOTHIAN Buses have played down fears over the company's future after a long-running probe by competition bosses called for local bus markets to be opened up to multiple operators.