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

Thursday, 26 May 2011

BBC News

• West Midlands Safari Park considers new railway station The West Midlands Safari Park could get its own steam railway station.
• Swindon to Weymouth rail service to be trialled A new Sunday rail service from Wiltshire to the Dorset coast is to be trialled through the summer.
• Ian Faletto's 'train trolley sacking' heads to Parliament A campaign to reinstate a rail worker who said he was dismissed for going on to the line to remove a shopping trolley is to be taken to Parliament.
• Germany's 'tough view on ash risk' [video]Germany closed part of its northern airspace on Wednesday because of ash from an erupting volcano in Iceland.
• Volcanic ash disruption: Evidence for precautions [video]Flights are expected to resume across the UK after a day that saw thousands of passengers affected by an ash cloud from the erupting Icelandic volcano.
• County Durham school transport changes approved A shake-up of school transport in County Durham, which will save £6m over four years, has been approved.
• Scenic Skye road upgrade completeA single track road that gives views of the Old Man of Storr is now a two-lane carriageway following an upgrade.
• Ferry route to be passenger onlyThe car ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon is to be replaced with a passenger only service at the end of June.

Department for Transport

• Further progress on reducing ash cloud disruptionThe volcano Grimsvötn has currently paused its eruptions and Met Office modelling indicates that significant disruption between now and the end of the weekend is unlikely, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has said.

Financial Times

• British flights resume as ash cloud movesFlights at UK airports were returning to normal on Wednesday after the ash cloud from the volcanic eruption in Iceland cleared British skies
• Later trains to smooth Olympic flowLater and longer trains from London to the regions are among plans announced by Network Rail for 2,000 additional services to handle demand during the 2012 Olympic Games and paralympics
• Singapore Air to launch budget armCarrier to battle for Asian long-haul budget passengers against rivals Kuala Lumpur-based AirAsia X and Australia's Jetstar with plans for a low-cost subsidiary
• German airports reopen as ash cloud liftsFlights out of the UK return to normal while airports in northern Germany are reopening after dense cloud from an Icelandic volcanic eruption began to dissipate
• Port operators set course for new shores High costs and low returns mean developed markets are missing out
• Frontline warns of rough times aheadThe operator of the world's largest crude oil tanker fleet says it is preparing to batten down the hatches as ship deliveries continues to outpace demand
• DP World planning London listingOwner of P&O, and one of the world's largest container terminal operators, currently listed on Nasdaq Dubai, wants to attract broader range of investor with dual listing
• Train-making back on trackHitachi is to spell out its plans to restore train-making to the town of Shildon, the place that inventive British engineers turned into the cradle of the railways
• UK rail reform poses 'big test' for operatorsCompanies will have greater powers to determine how the £5.2bn budget is spent, in an overhaul of the franchising system that will create the biggest shake-up since privatisation 15 years ago
• Spending on holes wrecking the roads, says studyCouncils are responsible for almost a quarter of a million miles of road but are facing a 26 per cent drop in government revenue for maintenance and a 16 per cent cut in capital spending over the next three years

The Guardian

• British Airways sends test flight into volcanic ash cloud zoneJet plane crewed by two BA pilots and two engineers flies through 'red-zone' hanging above ScotlandBritish Airways flight 9271E had an unconventional cargo and destination. There were no passengers on the A320 aeroplane, which took off on Tuesday evening and flew north through a swath of UK airspace that contained, according to Met Office forecasts, a high density of volcanic ash.Crewed by two BA pilots and a pair of observers from the airline's engineering department, the jet flew at various altitudes through a
• US to store passenger data for 15 yearsDraft of Washington-EU deal leaked to the Guardian shows agreement 'violates basic European principles'The personal data of millions of passengers who fly between the US and Europe, including credit card details, phone numbers and home addresses, may be stored by the US department of homeland security for 15 years, according to a draft agreement between Washington and Brussels leaked to the Guardian.The

The Independent

• All aboard for 'flash dump' of 50p rail fares Thousands of train tickets will go on sale today for 50p each way, in the latest and biggest "flash sale" in the travel industry. The operator of Brighton-to-London trains, Southern Railway, which links London with Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire, is cutting all its advance fares by 90 per cent in a one-day online sale.

The Scotsman

• Report outlines threat to roadsEngland's local roads are under attack from increasing traffic, severe winters, higher repair costs and dwindling highways funding, a report by a public spending watchdog

The Telegraph

• Icelandic volcano: ash flight rules to be overhauled Aircraft are to be allowed to fly underneath dense concentrations of ash cloud under new rules designed to prevent aviation being crippled by future volcanic eruptions.
• Barack Obama visit: US cuts at 'slower pace' than in the UKBarack Obama has said he will
• British airline passengers to US could have details kept for 15 yearsBritish airline passengers flying to the United States face having their personal information, including addresses, phone numbers and credit card details, stored for 15 years under under a proposed agreement between the US and the European Union.

Daily Express

• Break-up hopes boost InvensysENGINEERING group Invensys was in demand yesterday as traders bet on a break-up bid.

ATOC

• National Rail Enquiries introduces new updates by e-mail or TwitterRail passengers can now receive free updates on e-mail or Twitter about any delays or cancellations to their trains thanks to a new service being introduced by National Rail Enquiries (NRE)....
• Olympic and Paralympic timetable boosts rail services for London 2012 GamesLonger trains running more frequently and later into the night will help get more than 8m people to and from London 2012 Games venues and help keep London and Britain moving next summer,...

Derby Telegraph

• The next arrival is ... 17 new trainsA DERBY train-leasing firm has bought a fleet of 17 trains for an undisclosed sum. Porterbrook Leasing, on Pride Park, has bought the rolling stock from the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive. The deal comprises seven Class 155 units and 10 Class 144 units, also known as Metro trains. Both fleets are currently leased by Northern.
• Airline says ash disruption 'will not last'BUDGET airline bmibaby cancelled Scotland-bound flights yesterday as the Icelandic ash cloud threatened UK airspace. But managing director Julian Carr predicted no flights would be affected today. He said the airline was forced to cancel Edinburgh and Glasgow flights last night but that he did not expect the problems to last. He said:

Journal Live

• Newcastle Airport back to normal after ash cloud THE problems with the Icelandic ash cloud be over after after air traffic control chiefs said the ash had dissipated from skies over the UK.

London Evening Standard

• Rail chiefs offer bargain fares to 2012 visitorsOlympic ticket holders are to be offered 'bargain basement' train fares, it has been revealed

Wales Online

• Returning ash cloud casts a shadow over bank holiday flights HOLIDAY-MAKERS planning a bank holiday getaway could be faced with flight delays and cancellations with the Icelandic ash cloud predicted to make a return to the UK tomorrow.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• OAP’s west Leeds railway station car park battleCAMPAIGNING grandad Stan Hobson is refusing to pay a parking ticket he got at a Leeds railway station – and claims it is an “injustice” because the facilities aren’t good enough.

Yorkshire Post

• Revealed: What you think about the awful state of Yorkshire™s roadsDRIVERS in Yorkshire are among the most dissatisfied with the state of Britain’s roads and soaring fuel prices, according to a new survey.

Bucks Free Press

• Dignitaries launch new-look train station RAIL commuters were greeted by dignitaries and a jazz band at the launch of a train station™s new-look transport interchange and multi-storey car park.

Other Regional Press

• £200k revamp at Leamington rail station STYLISH waiting rooms at Leamington rail station were revealed yesterday as part of a £200,000 makeover merging the old with the new.
• Most flights are back to normal ... for nowFlights from Scottish airports were starting to return to normal today after a volcanic ash cloud left UK airspace.

Global Rail News

• EIM presses for independent rail Infrastructure ManagersThe European Parliament™s Transport Committee yesterday discussed the draft report prepared by Ms Serracchiani on the European Commission™s proposal for a Recast of the First Railway ...
• Invensys Rail awarded Salisbury to Exeter Signalling Recontrol contractInvensys Rail has been awarded a contract by Network Rail for the Salisbury to Exeter Signalling Recontrol programme, the scope of the contract covering all design, ...
• ORR consultation to help shape future of GB railThe rail regulator has today launched a consultation which will contribute to shaping the future of Great Britain’s railways. The consultation is the first phase of ...
• c2c named ˜Best Business in the Community™National Express train operator c2c has won the ˜Best Business in the Community™ award at the Essex Countywide Business Awards 2011 in recognition of the positive ...
• High Speed rail services welcomed in MaidstoneThe launch of High Speed rail services direct from Maidstone West to St Pancras on Monday 23 May is being welcomed by Kent County Council and ...
• Virgin Pendolino fleet clocks up 100 million milesVirgin Trains™ iconic Pendolino tilting train fleet, designed, built and maintained by Alstom, has just clocked up 100 million miles since the first train entered service ...
• Rail industry gears up for 2012 OlympicsLonger trains running more frequently and later into the night will help get more than 8m people to and from London 2012 Games venues and help ...
• RMT demands assurances on London Midland redundanciesThe rail union RMT today demanded ‘urgent assurances’ from London Midland over compulsory redundancies and adherence to procedure over plans to ‘slash the opening hours at ...
• Melbourne™s Regional Rail Link works to kick-off in JulyEarly track works on the Regional Rail Link will begin on 1 July, Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder announced last week. Regional Rail Link is ...
• Russian Railways and Austrian Railways sign cooperation agreementRussian Railways and Austrian Railways (ÖBB) have signed a cooperation agreement on three core activities at the railway companies. These cover logistics and intensifying freight shipments ...
• Amtrak seeks private investment to help fund high speed projectAmtrak is developing an in-depth business plan that will ‘maximise the opportunity for private investment to finance the construction of infrastructure and the acquisition of equipment ...
• Alstom wins €21m contract for Hannover tram bogiesÃœstra Hannoversche Verkehrsbetriebe (Hannover’s local transport authority) awarded Vossloh Kiepe and Alstom a contract for 50 trams in April, and Alstom has announced that they will be providing ...
• ATOC launches TARIF credit insurance schemeA new insurance scheme offering a cost-effective alternative to bonding for agents selling rail tickets has been launched by the Association of Train Operators (ATOC), in ...

Aviation Industry

• British Airways sends test flight into volcanic ash cloud zoneA plane flies over central London as the Icelandic ash cloud moves away from British skies.

Other News Sources

• RMT demands assurances on redundancies and procedures from London Midland as company places 350 staff 'at risk'RAIL UNION RMT today demanded urgent assurances from London Midland over compulsory redundancies and adherence to procedure over plans to slash the opening hours at 86 out of 90 ticket offices and close nine ticket offices in their entirety putting 350 staff on the 'at risk' list.
• RMT First Great Western Mitie cleaners vote 100% for actionRAIL UNION RMT announced today that cleaners on First Great Western employed on the Mitie contract have voted 100% for strike action by a similar margin for action short of a strike in a dispute over pay.