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

Tuesday, 10 May 2011

BBC News

• London Assembly probes Tube disruption A London Assembly inquiry sparked by recent disruptions and signal failures on the Tube has begun.
• Telford and Wrekin transport on demand service ends An on-demand minibus service in some villages in the Telford and Wrekin area of Shropshire has ended as part of council cuts.
• Lift-off for private space travel dream? In a gleaming white lobby, with curiously warped furniture familiar from Star Trek, twenty-somethings in shorts and T-shirts amble past like they're on their way to hear a band.
• London prepares for Tube strikeLondon braces itself for a Tube strike next week as the RMT union plans a walk-out
• Royal couple Oyster cards net £2mTransport for London (TfL) has sold 200,000 special edition royal wedding Oyster Cards, bringing in £2m.
• VIDEO: Rail passenger numbers up 5%Rail passengers made almost 5% more journeys in the first three months of 2011 than in the same period last year.
• 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.
• US gives $2bn for high-speed railThe US government redistributes $2bn (£1.2bn) for high-speed rail in critical corridors after Florida's Republican governor declines the funds.
• Railways reveal cable theft costCable theft on the railways rose 52% and caused over 6,000 hours of train delays last year, says Network Rail.

Financial Times

• US Airways pilots in call for safety chief to be firedThe pilots' union at US Airways has demanded that the company dismiss its top safety executive, accusing him of ignoring lapses in safety protocol and refusing to address long-running concerns of pilots
• Consultations set on Underground extensionBoris Johnson says the privately funded extension of London Underground's Northern Line to Battersea could unlock the area's 'incredible potential'
• National Express reaches Elliott truceBus and rail group strikes deal with activist fund that will prevent it from challenging the board publicly for 12 months, in return for three new directors joining the company's board

The Guardian

• Devolution fosters sustainable transport Following from the success in Wales, devolving transport powers has the potential to greatly improve local sustainability, argues Eleanor Besley

The Herald

• National Express makes deal with its rebel investor UNDER-pressure transport group National Express has signed a last-minute truce with rebel investor Elliott Advisors ahead of its shareholder meeting in London today, making a tie-up with Scottish rival Stagecoach less likely.
• Edinburgh traders count the cost of trams fiascoœI LOST £500,000, says Sam Withall.
• National Express makes deal with its rebel investorUNDER-pressure transport group National Express has signed a last-minute truce with rebel investor Elliott Advisors ahead of its shareholder meeting in London today, making a tie-up with Scottish rival Stagecoach less likely.

The Independent

• National Express board seals deal with activist shareholder A potential bust-up at National Express's annual meeting today looks to have been avoided after an 11th-hour deal between the board of the bus and train operator and its activist investor, the US hedge fund Elliott.

The Telegraph

• Climate change 'could disrupt wi-fi and hit power supply' Climate change will disrupt wi-fi connections, cause regular power failures and lead railway lines to buckle unless Britain spends billions of pounds, Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary has warned. Already the transport sector is preparing for temperatures above 104F (40C) this summer, which could lead to breakdowns on the railways
• Year truce at National Express as company set to appoint Chris Muntwyler National Express is on Tuesday expected to announce the looming appointment of Chris Muntwyler as a non-executive director as part of a 12-month truce with its 18pc shareholder, Elliott Advisors.

Mail Online

• Tube strikes: Vince Cable tells Boris Johnson to talk to union boss Bob CrowThe Lib Dem Business Secretary is calling for the Conservative mayor to make overtures to Bob Crow and his RMT union ahead of next week’s strikes in London.

ATOC

• Rise in petrol prices helps railways to 4.8% growth in first three months of 2011The sharp rise in the price of petrol over the first three months of the year was one of the main reasons behind continued strong growth on the railways during the first quarter of 2011,...
• Train travellers could save up to 60% off bus journeys this summerPassengers travelling by train in June and July will be able to travel by bus to and from the station and around town for just £1.50 a day....

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Fuel protest go-slow brings A55 to crawl in North Wales FUEL protesters, furious at sky-rocketing petrol prices, reduced traffic to a crawl on the A55 as part of a mass go-slow and blockade of the region’s biggest oil refinery.

Liverpool Post

• Merseyrail partner Serco pleased with resilience SERVICES group Serco will tell shareholders today that it is on track to deliver forecasts for the current financial year.

London Evening Standard

• Limited edition royal wedding Oyster cards net transport for London £2millionTransport for London has made £2 million from the sale of a special edition of the Oyster card commemorating the royal wedding
• RMT leader Bob Crow has called for 'immediate talks' with Mayor Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson is involved in a furious row with government ministers over his handling of the union that is threatening the longest series of Tube strikes ever

Manchester Evening News

• Manchester's Metrolink trams found to be cleanest transport system in the UKManchester's trams have been found to be the cleanest in the UK, with the lowest bacteria count per cm2, compared with five other major transport systems including the London underground. Earlier this year Dettol's Mission for Health (facebook.com/missionforhealth) campaign commissioned scientists from Aston University to take swabs from various surfaces, in one session, from a tram carriage on the Altrincham to Bury line on the Metrolink.

Yorkshire Post

• Bus maker Optare to keep Leeds site STRUGGLING bus maker Optare said today it will retain a manufacturing site in Yorkshire after signing a new lease in Leeds.
• Economy to get extra weather lagging THE economy could suffer unless urgent action is taken to protect roads, railways and power supplies from the impact of climate change, Ministers have warned.
• East Coast rail staff could get £600,000 in bonusesSTAFF at the publicly-owned company running the East Coast Main Line are in line for bonuses totalling about £600,000 despite punctuality problems last year.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Bus routes between Peterborough and villages endBus services linking Peterborough with rural villages will cease from today (9 May) because of £2 million of council funding cuts.

Other Regional Press

• Have your say on airport consultation on airport mitigationResponding to today’s launch by BAA of its consultation on Heathrow Airport’s noise mitigation schemes, Hounslow Council’s deputy leader, Councillor Ruth Cadbury, called on the whole community to mobilise to seek major improvements to the company’s proposals.
• Sales drop at Blackburn bus firm BUS maker Optare insists it has a bright future — despite revealing a 35 per cent drop in sales.
• WALTHAM FOREST: Railway line electrification 'not a priority' THE Government has said it will not push ahead with proposals to electrify a major railway route through the borough.
• Northern Line extension consultation begins A public consultation starts today on plans to extend the Northern Line to Battersea.
• Glasgow Airport releases summer flight guideAirport chiefs in Glasgow hope to get the summer off to a flier by printing 100,000 copies of a summer flight guide, which will be distributed to travel agents, supermarkets, and homes throughout the west of Scotland.
• 11 Aberdeen drivers caught breaking 20mph speed limitLESS than a dozen people have been charged for breaking the 20mph speed limit on Aberdeen roads since 2009.
• Jobs joy as Jaguar unveils supercar of the future

Wall Street Journal

• Bombardier Wins $3B Contract From Siemens On German Rail Cars TORONTO (Dow Jones)--Canada's Bombardier Inc. (BBD.B.T) said Monday that it has signed a multi-billion-dollar contract with Siemens AG (SI) to develop and supply parts for up to 300 high-speed trains for Germany's state-owned railway operator Deutsche Bahn.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Official appointed to monitor wheel supply sector A senior official has been appointed by the Department for Transport to monitor the wheel supply sector, a decision that has been welcomed by MP Paul Goggins.
• Bus market competition 'a concern' Competition in the UK's bus market has been called into question, with a new report suggesting that the majority of local areas and routes have a high degree of concentration, in spite of the 1,245 companies in operation.
• Shipping industry's carbon footprint to be reduced Research is now underway to reduce the shipping industry's carbon imprint by using renewable and traditional energy sources, such as solar cells, wind turbines on board and waste heat recovery systems.
• RoSPA and Allianz to work together on fleet risk management Better fleet risk management will be promoted under a new agreement aimed at highlighting its benefits to operators of commercial vehicles.
• EU Commission seeks pan-European ticketing system The European Commission has announced the adoption of a new regulation aimed at facilitating a pan-European planning and ticketing system for rail journeys.
• Revamped Sunderland railway station honoured The £7 million refurbishment of Sunderland railway station has been honoured in the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors' 2011 North East Renaissance awards, winning the design and innovation category.

Global Rail News

• Rail travel sees 4.8% growth so far in 2011The rise in the price of petrol over the first three months of the year was one of the main reasons behind continued strong growth on ...
• Proposed Northern line extension public consultation beginsTransport for London and developer Treasury Holdings are starting a public consultation to hear local residents’ views on the proposed private-sector funded 3km extension of the ...
• Network Rail publishes analysis of passenger congestion at stationsNetwork Rail today published an analysis of passenger congestion at stations along with a range of measures that could relieve it as part of its network ...
• Metrolink Manchester Airport line on trackA crucial phase of work is underway to bring the new Metrolink line to Manchester Airport. Utility diversions will be carried out over 2011, as part ...
• Bombardier & Siemens to develop ICx trains for Deutsche BahnBombardier Transportation has signed a framework agreement with Siemens AG to become a partner to develop and supply important components of up to 300 ICx high ...
• The US rail projects that won the $2bn fundingU.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced $2 billion in high speed rail awards. The high speed rail project winners include: NORTHEAST CORRIDOR (NEC) Amtrak “ ...
• ˜Southeastern Olympic proposals unacceptable™, says watchdogLondon TravelWatch has written to Southeastern objecting strongly to its proposals to alter services in Greenwich, Deptford, Woolwich, Charlton and Kidbrooke during the Olympics. Southeastern are ...
• RMT to ballot Jubilee Line drivers for ˜action short of a strike™ over safetyThe RMT has said that it is preparing to ballot driver members on the Jubilee Line for ‘action short of a strike in a dispute over ...

Railnews

• Battersea Northern Line extension plans go on show TRANSPORT FOR LONDON has launched a consultation today over plans to extend the Northern Line from Kennington to Nine Elms and Battersea. The privately-funded 3km line would provide an important link to a regeneration area in south London.

Aviation Industry

• Airlines' price fix case starts in courtBattle lines will start being drawn this week in a cartel case by the Commerce Commission against carriers including Air New Zealand at the High Court at Auckland.
• IAG eyes up TAPBritish Airways™ parent company to acquire Portuguese national carrier TAP Portugal?
• Review of Heathrow’s Noise Mitigation Schemes Between 9 May – 1 August Heathrow is running a public consultation on a review of its noise mitigation. The proposed new schemes have been designed to cover a wider area than before and offer improved mitigation than the current schemes for those most affected by Heathrow’s operations.

Other News Sources

• Airport fit-out firm crashes into administration Leading suspended ceiling and partitioning specialist Advanced Interiors has fallen into administration.
• Official HS2 Exhibition In Stoke Mandeville Today And Tomorrow What will the high speed rail link through Bucks sound like and look like from your house? You can find out at an official HS2 roadshow at Stoke Mandeville Stadium today and tomorrow.
• Bombardier confirms deal with Germany's Siemens MONTREAL - With the deal formally signed, Bombardier Inc. confirmed Monday a rail deal in Germany that could top $3 billion U.S.
• German railway nixes Israel rail project Deutche Bahn to stop construction work on Tel Aviv-Jerusalem track because it passes through Palestinian territories, German magazine Der Spiegel reports. Decision influenced by pro-Palestinian campaign headed by Israeli feminist group