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

Saturday, 14 May 2011

BBC News

• Veolia to cut bus services in south and west Wales One of Wales' biggest bus operators has confirmed it is closing two of its depots which will see many of its services axed across south Wales.
• New £11m road project completedA scheme to improve the road system around Birmingham International Station, Birmingham Airport and the NEC is finished.
• School bus fears over fuel costsA confidential warns the rising cost of fuel is threatening Dumfries and Galloway Council's ability to provide school bus services.
• LU raises Tube workers' pay offerLondon Underground increases its pay offer to workers to a 4.5% rise this year.
• Planes get rare access to airportMicrolight aircraft make a rare appearance at Prestwick Airport to mark the BMAA's first ever safety event in Scotland.
• £3m fine over Potters Bar crashNetwork Rail is fined £3m after admitting safety failings that led to the 2002 Potters Bar crash in which seven people died and more than 70 were injured.

Department for Transport

• Transport StatisticsThe Department for Transport on Thursday 12th May published the following Transport Statistics:

Financial Times

• Network Rail fined £3m for Potters Bar crashThe rail industry still has substantial room to improve safety standards, its regulator has warned, after the network's owner was fined £3m for the Potters Bar crash
• Birmingham airport in for long haulTransport secretary Philip Hammond is promoting the airport as the answer to the south-east's capacity overload at Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted, highlighting that it is an hour's train journey from London
• Stobart Group denies FSA property probe claimThe British freight company denies allegations that the Financial Services Authority was examining a deal in which the group will buy property from its chief executive

The Herald

• Smartcards delayed for seven yearsIT has been hailed as a revolutionary way to cut waiting times for bus, train and ferry passengers.

The Independent

• Network Rail apology for Potters Bar deaths Network Rail (NR) said it was
• Network Rail fined £3m over Potters BarNetwork Rail (NR) said it was

The Scotsman

• NR apology for Potters Bar deathsNetwork Rail (NR) has said it was "truly sorry" for the Potters Bar rail crash after it was fined £3 million over the 2002 disaster which claimed seven lives.

Reuters News

• Bombardier Transportation Releases its 2010 Sustainability Report: "Shaping the Future of Mobility" The report highlights the engagement of our employees, customers and suppliers in achieving a carbon-neutral manufacturing footprint

Daily Express

• Stobart lashes out at property probe claimsSHARES in freight firm Stobart Group reversed 5.7 per cent yesterday as it was forced to deny

Mail Online

• Potters Bar train crash: Network Rail handed £3m fineNR had admitted breaching health and safety regulations in the May 2002 Hertfordshire disaster.

Belfast Telegraph

• BA cabin crew ready to accept deal to end strike British Airways cabin crew signalled the end of their bitter 18-month dispute with the airline yesterday, removing the threat of fresh strikes this summer. Related StoriesIndustrial slowdown fuels recovery fearsDixons avoids profits warning but tough times lie ahead40,000 may lose homes as income squeeze continuesMogul convicted in US fraud crackdownJob loss fears at Ulster's 45 Xtra-vision outlets

Birmingham Mail

• New look for Birmingham Airport as 'One Terminal' is officially opened Birmingham Airport’s new ’One Terminal’ has been hailed as a key component in establishing the airport as a global gateway.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Susan Morrison: Tram fiasco smacks of a long-running vendettaWhat particular grudge does Bilfinger Berger harbour against Edinburgh?
• Tram spend so far hits £440mTRAM bosses have spent at least £30 million on a new deal that will see one contractor return to work and the council take ownership of equipment from another.

Metro

• Network Rail fined £3m for Potters Bar rail crashRail infrastructure company Network Rail (NR) was fined £3 million today for safety failings over the 2002 Potters Bar train crash which claimed seven lives.

Wales Online

• Bus firm Veolia set to cancel services Bus operator Veolia Transport Cymru will stage a mass cull of bus routes in South Wales next month.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Bus-maker opts for new factoryBUS-maker Optare is to open a new factory – just 11 miles from its current premises.

Yorkshire Post

• Rail tunnels reopen for park™s cyclistsFOUR former railway tunnels which have been closed since the demise of the Midland Railway in 1968 were reopened yesterday – to cyclists instead of rail passengers.
• Taxpayers left to foot £3m fine on rail firm over crash disasterTAXPAYERS will be left to foot a £3m court fine imposed on Network Rail for health and safety failings over the Potters Bar rail crash which claimed seven lives in 2002.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Thieves target model trains from Railworld siteVOLUNTEERS have been left heart-broken after a collection of rare model trains worth more than £2,000 were stolen in a raid in Peterborough.

Other Regional Press

• MP uses website to voice HS2 opposition WARWICK and Leamington MP Chris White has published his response to the HS2 consultation and is encouraging others to give their views on the issue.
• Gloucestershire county council aims to cut its transport budget in half BIG changes are planned for bus services across Gloucestershire as the county council looks to save £2million from its £5million transport budget in the next two years.
• Multi-million pound investment for port of DoverA massive revamp of the Port of Dover, totalling £85 million, has been announced today.
• 4-year wait for smartcards after GamesGlasgow is to bring in commuter smartcards in time for the 2014 Comonwealth Games but it will be years later before they are rolled out across Scotland.

Global Rail News

• Bombardier releases 2010 Sustainability ReportBombardier Transportation has published its fourth bi-annual Sustainability Report, in which the company showcases its 2009/2010 sustainability achievements. Bombardier’s operations reduced its environmental footprint during the ...
• TfL takes you behind the scenes of the new automatic signalling systemTransport for London have released a video (click here to view) of Jubilee Line Manager, Kevin Bootle taking you behind the scenes with one of the first ...
• Transport Minister launches 5 new PLUSBUS rail ticketing schemesLocal and Regional Transport Minsiter, Norman Baker MP today launched the 290th new ‘PLUSBUS’ integrated ticketing scheme, with the introduction of a PLUSBUS scheme for Lewes. ...
• Alstom completes ten year overhaul projectAlstom has completed the overhaul of 27 Arriva Trains Wales class 175s which entered service in 2000. The overhaul programme began in July 2010 at Alstom’s ...
• Union calls for Government to ˜ban™ First Group from franchiseThe RMT has demanded that the government ban First Group from bidding for Great Western and any other rail franchises after it emerged that their ‘early ...
• DB Schenker Rail: ˜On track for growth and a higher share in the European transportation market™With growth of 9% compared with the previous year, the first quarter of 2011 has been successful for DB Schenker Rail, the rail freight business unit ...
• Network Rail fined £3m over Potters Bar train crashNetwork Rail, as the successor to Railtrack, has been fined £3 million and ordered to pay costs of £150,000 following a prosecution brought by the Office ...
• New Manchester Metrolink stop opensA new Manchester Metrolink tram stop has opened at Abraham Moss as part of the area’s regeneration. Metrolink consists of three lines which converge in Manchester ...
• ScotRail brings back ˜Club 55²Rail customers aged over 55 will have a spring in their step when ScotRail™s most popular ticket offer returns on 22 May. As a bonus, prices ...
• First Hull Trains launch new timetableA new First Hull Trains timetable due to come into effect in May 2011, will see a number of the companies 90 services a week arriving ...
• London Underground makes Olympic pay offer to rail unionsFollowing the ‘groundbreaking’ deal between rail unions and Network Rail over the London 2012 Olympics, London Underground has also revised its pay offer to ensure its ...
• Rail Freight Group welcomes new Channel Tunnel steel serviceThe Rail Freight Group (RFG) has welcomed the launch of a new freight service through the Channel Tunnel by DB Schenker Rail. The shuttle service, operated ...
• International Union of Railways commits to sustainable developmentThe UIC has formally launched the Declaration on Sustainable Mobility and Transport, the railway sector’s commitment to sustainable development. The UIC Declaration on Sustainable Mobility and Transport ...
• DB Schenker Rail Polska & Lithuanian Railways sign freight traffic agreementFreight traffic is set to increase between Poland and Lithuania following an agreement by DB Schenker Rail Polska and Lithuanian Railways. Hans-Georg Werner, CEO of DB ...

Railnews

• Union calls for ban on further FirstGroup franchise bids The largest rail union has demanded that FirstGroup should be banned from bidding for any further rail franchises, after the Group announced that it would not be taking up the option to run Great Western for three years from 2013. It will, however, bid for the next GW franchise. The RMT said the decision had saved the Group £826 million in premium payments which would have become due in those years, and has dubbed the decision as 'scandalous'.
• Network Rail fined £3m over Potters Bar derailment Network Rail has been fined £3 million for its share of the liability for the Potters Bar crash, which happened nine years ago this month. The company did not exist at that time, but it has accepted legal responsibility for the actions of its predecessor Railtrack.

Aviation Industry

• New technology must be controlled, say travel managersMobile technology which lets travellers book or change itineraries outside policy needs to be both embraced and controlled
• BA dispute: Some smallprint still to be agreedBritish Airways will seek further minor concessions from its staff next month despite the ending of the dispute with cabin crews which left both sides declaring a satisfactory outcome
• Singapore Airlines reveals 2010 recovery, but sees dark clouds aheadSingapore Airlines group saw its 2010 profits recover from the global economic crisis of 2009 but has warned of challenges in the coming year

Other News Sources

• London Mayor welcomes road safety improvement A significant improvement has been noted in terms of road safety in the UK capital.