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

Thursday, 19 May 2011

BBC News

• Reading rail station's £850m upgrade to finish early Reading's £850m railway and station revamp will be completed a year early, and is now scheduled to finish in 2015.
• MPs hear coastguard concerns over Brixham and Falmouth Senior MPs have met coastguards in Falmouth to hear concerns over government plans to reform the service.
• Rail operating costs: Report may trigger wide reforms A wholesale reform of the UK's railways is likely to be triggered when a government-commissioned study into their value for money is revealed.
• Citroen 'passenger brake' recallCitroen are recalling more than 20,000 of its Picasso C3 cars because of concerns the brakes can be activated from the passenger side.

Department for Transport

• [DfT] Realising the Potential of GB Rail - Report of the Rail Value for Money StudyAn independent report of a study chaired by Sir Roy McNulty and commissioned by the Secretary of State for Transport. The report was jointly sponsored by DfT and ORR (Office of Rail Regulation) to examine the opportunities and barriers to improve the value for money of GB rail for taxpayers, passengers and freight customers.

Financial Times

• Labour calls for radical railways overhaulMinisters asked to consider ending franchise system as Maria Eagle, shadow transport secretary, says there should be 'radical simplification of the complex structures'
• Twin WTO ruling on Airbus disputeThe World Trade Organisation has upheld a ruling that Airbus benefited from some illegal subsidies to develop almost its entire range of aircraft but overturned a more serious finding

The Guardian

• Students' campaign leads to Leeds bus service changes Orange is the new favourite colour for Leeds students as bigger buses and a £1 promotion offering cheaper fares are launched
• Don't blame the staff - it's privatisation that has failed our railways [Bob Crow]The rail network has become a cash cow for businesses interested solely in risk-free profits
• Public subsidy for rail users must end, says Philip Hammond Transport secretary lays out plans to reform funding and reduce fare rises ahead of report on curbing rail industry's costs An overhaul of rail industry costs could end inflation-busting fare increases, with shorter off-peak trains and the transfer of rural rail lines to local authorities, according to the transport secretary.

The Herald

• Rail passengers face ban on alcohol before cup finalFOOTBALL fans travelling to Saturday™s cup final will face a œrigorously enforced alcohol ban on trains before and after the Hampden fixture to ensure ordinary passengers do not suffer from anti-social behaviour, British Transport Police (BTP) has said.

The Independent

• Call to cut railway costsRail fares need to be reviewed while running costs should be slashed by up to 30 per cent, a review is expected to demand today.

The Scotsman

• Rail shake-up 'will help cut fares'The Government is attempting to convince rail passengers and transport unions that a shake-up of railway costs will drive fares down, not up.

Daily Express

• Rivals Boeing and Airbus in war of wordsEUROPEAN aircraft giant Airbus and US rival Boeing both claimed victory after a World Trade Organisation ruling in a long-running row over subsidies for Airbus.

Mail Online

• Jam-busting lasers to reduce £1billion a year cost of motorway jamsLast year there were more than 18,000 full or partial motorway closures lasting a total of more than 20,000 hours, with an economic of more than £1billion.

Network Rail

• READING'S RAILWAY REDEVELOPMENT TO FINISH ONE YEAR EARLY AS EXHIBITION OPENS TO PUBLIC
• SHEEP SHEAR COST OF MAINTAINING RAILWAY BEAUTY SPOT

Belfast Telegraph

• £850m road plan illegal, eco-group tells A5 inquiry A leading environmental group has said the proposed construction of a new £850m cross-border dual carriageway could break the law if it goes ahead.
• Rail shake-up 'will help cut fares' The Government is attempting to convince rail passengers and transport unions that a shake-up of railway costs will drive fares down, not up.
• City of Derry airport passenger numbers soarCity of Derry airport is one of the UK's fastest growing.Related StoriesInflation rockets to 30-month highWickes buys out troubled DIY firmBelfast restaurant boss battles to save bankrupt firm110 Mothercare outlets face closurePint Ma'am? Queen not tempted by the black stuff

Derby Telegraph

• Variable speed limits on M1 will 'cut number of jams and crashes'MOTORISTS will see variable speed limits operating on a 14-mile stretch of the M1 through Derbyshire from today. During peak periods, or after collisions, this will see cameras above each of the four lanes, indicating to road users how fast they should be travelling. The Highways Agency says drivers will benefit from improved journey times, reliability and safety. It says the system, which will be in place between junction 25, at Sandiacre, and junction 28, at Pinxton, will enable it to smooth out traffic by varying the limits and reduce the risk of further collisions. Their introduction foll...

Northern Echo

• Clean up for rail line DOZENS of bags of rubbish have been collected after volunteers did their bit to clean up a former railway line.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds: £1 bus fares for city studentsThe future’s bright, the future’s orange for student bus users in Leeds.

Yorkshire Post

• Rail fares ˜too low™, says Whitehall reviewSOME train fares could rise under recommendations in a Whitehall-commissioned “value-for-money” review to be published tomorrow.
• Pony express...STATION staff were left speechless when a rail passenger attempted to board a train with a pony.

Sunderland Echo

• Have your say on the busesWEARSIDERS are helping to shape national decisions on bus travel.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• First Optare Versas enter service with trent barton The first of nine Versa midibuses are now entering service with trent barton as part of a three year contract placed last October under which Optare is the operator's preferred supplier.
• Rail freight 'should be protected in West Coast Mainline deal' Specific provisions should be made when the new franchise is awarded for the West Coast mainline for freight. This is the claim made by an industry body, which has called on the government to ensure the final agreement supports trade growth in this area.

Aviation Industry

• Working with Europe on aircraft efficiency, emissions trading, and VAT reformIn the past fortnight we’ve been working on a number of European issues. Tim, together with Brussels-based campaign group Transport and Environment, attended several meetings with officials from the European Commission to discuss the work on new aircraft efficiency standards that AEF has been involved with at ICAO. Tim also attended a breakfast seminar organised [...]
• APD proposals anti-green, says reportProposed changes to Air Passenger Duty, originally introduced as a green tax on aviation, will result in more CO2 emissions

Green Miscellany

• The organic bicycle that™s welcome on pavements everywhere A group of walkers has developed a new type of bicycle that effectively side-steps all local regulations outlawing the use of bikes on pavements. read more

Other News Sources

• Altrincham transport hub plan submitted Transport for Greater Manchester has submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of Altrincham interchange for bus, tram and train services.
• New transport minister for Wales Carl Sargeant is now responsible for transport policy in Wales after being appointed minister for Local Government and Communities in the Welsh government.
• Community cycling projects to apply for grants More people in Greater London may soon find it easier to use their bikes, as 25 grants are being offered with the aim of funding community cycling schemes.
• Pony express? Not this train, sirA rail passenger attempted to board a train with his pony but station staff said
• Rail shake-up 'will help cut fares'The Government is attempting to convince rail passengers and transport unions that a shake-up of railway costs will drive fares down, not up.
• East Lancashire volunteers cleaning up Leeds-Liverpool canal A TEAM of volunteers are heading out onto the Leeds-Liverpool canal twice a week as part of a huge spring clean of the waterway.
• Kier, Laing O'Rourke and Kaden land £190m Hong Kong railway contractA joint venture between Kier Construction, Laing O™Rourke and Kaden Construction has been chosen to deliver the new £190m Admiralty Integrated Station in Hong Kong.