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

Wednesday, 01 June 2011

BBC News

• £100m to ease Belfast bottleneckUp to £100m may be spent on getting rid of the traffic bottleneck at the junction of the Westlink and the M2 and M3 motorways in Belfast.
• VIDEO: 'Boris bike' competitors launchCompetitors to the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme, known as
• EU urges air traffic improvementAn extra 28 million passengers a year could use European airports if take-off and landing slots were used more efficiently, an EU study says.

Financial Times

• False allegations frustrate former rail chiefIain Coucher says that the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association's claims of impropriety complicated his efforts to return to work, until he was cleared in a report

The Herald

• Shell is sure of its future investment in the North SeaTHE chief executive of Shell said the North Sea was still important for the oil and gas giant, which could invest in the province for decades to come.

The Independent

• Signal failure hits City of London tube services Workers returning to the City of London after the bank holiday break suffered travel delays today when a signal failure led to a Tube line being suspended.

Belfast Telegraph

• Airports could carry extra 28m passengers Europe's busiest airports could carry 28 million more passengers every year without further expansion or extra runways, according to a study. Related StoriesIs there a way to salvage the euro?Customers are top priority at home of creative kitchenwareMy Inspiration: Liesa JohnstonLunch isn't for wimps: Nick’s Warehouse, Hill Street, BelfastOut of the office: Laura Doogan, Marketing manager, Dennison Commercials
• Bus firm drives off with retail excellence awardA Volvo truck and bus dealer in Co Antrim has won an award for 'retail excellence'. Dennison Commercials in Ballyclare won the accolade at a recent UK and Ireland Volvo dealership event.

Birmingham Mail

• Thousands face rail chaos after vandals cut train cables on Cross City line THOUSANDS of rail passengers are facing major delays to their journeys in and out of the city after vandals cut a cable sparking a signal failure.

Edinburgh Evening News

• TIE bosses 'quit en masse' as trams shake-up looms FOUR directors of the city's tram firm have reportedly quit "en masse" amid rumours of a shake-up at the company.

Liverpool Post

• Travel fair will explain merits of healthy travel plan for South Liverpool businesses BUSINESSES and workers in south Liverpool can learn the benefits of a sustainable travel plan this Thursday.

London Evening Standard

• Stock market reopening hampered by tube delaysThousands of Square Mile staff were made late for work as the markets reopened after a signal failure forced the suspension of the Waterloo and City line
• Rail services to be fined over cattle-truck train servicesRail firms will be fined for running overcrowded trains under plans to ease cattle-truck conditions

Nottingham Evening Post

• Huge drop in fatal and serious cycling accidentsTHE number of cyclists killed or seriously injured on Notts' roads has halved in just over a decade, new figures reveal. There were 66 fatal or serious incidents involving cyclists across the county in 2010. This compares with an average of 125 a year between 1994-98 – the years used as a baseline for Government casualty reduction targets. This is a drop of 47%. Slight injuries fell by 28% from 374 to 267 in the same period. Fatal and serious accidents are recorded together at the Government's request because the number of deaths is often so low that a small difference can seem drama...
• New paint to clear graffiti eyesore at side of railwaysA NEW kind of paint is being used to help reduce graffiti at the side of railways in Notts. Each year Network Rail spends thousands of pounds removing graffiti. The new paint allows it to be washed off using soap and water rather than having to paint it out or use harsh chemicals – a cheaper, and more environmentally-friendly solution. Alex Sharkey, route infrastructure maintenance director for Network Rail, said:

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Inverness Airport moves to avoid disruption in case of strike actionThe operator of airports in the north has approached Prestwick Airport to supply staff to provide cover in case their security workers go on strike.
• Bus summit leaves passengers fare way short on helpful answersAngry Easter Ross residents yesterday said their questions had still not been answered following a œbus summit held at Evanton to discuss concerns about public transport in the area.

Wales Online

• Train cleaners to strike over pay WORKERS who clean First Great Western trains are to stage two 24-hour strikes in a row over pay.

Yorkshire Post

• Rail investment call as traveller numbers are predicted to soarBUSINESS leaders have called on the Government to invest in Yorkshire’s rail network, after research claimed passenger numbers would soar over the next 13 years.

Blackpool Gazette

• Near to end of road for busesCAMPAIGNERS for a rural bus service have seen a possible reprieve for the route cancelled.

Other Regional Press

• My platform for success A RENOWNED railway engineer from Saddleworth is following in the footsteps of George Stephenson. Professor Roderick Smith has been appointed the 126th president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers — the position first held by the railway pioneer.
• Minister praises city tram schemeTransport Minister Norman Baker has lent his support to plans for a new tram network in Preston.
• Leamington cable thief who caused five DAYS worth of delays jailed A THIEF caused massive disruption for passengers when he stole copper cable from the railway line in Coventry and Warwickshire.
• HS2 protesters' fury at high speed rail debate CAMPAIGNERS have hit out at comments made by Lord Adonis to leaders in Coventry and Warwickshire, on the business case for the HS2 plans.
• MP gets a taste of HS2 noise levels AN MP has experienced a simulation of the sound made by 250mph trains set to thunder through the region on the planned HS2 line.

Global Rail News

• Alstom delivers 3rd gen Duplex TGV train set to SNCFOn May 30, 2011, Alstom™s CEO Patrick Kron delivered the first 3rd generation Duplex TGV train set to SNCF™s President Guillaume Pepy. It is the first double-deck interoperable ...
• Number of rail passengers set to double by 2024 in the NorthThe number of passengers using rail across the North of England is set to increase dramatically over the next ten and twenty years, according to a ...
• Alstom to supply 20 New Pendolino trains for PKP IntercityThe Polish operator PKP Intercity, in charge of long distance passenger transport, has awarded Alstom a contract worth €665 million to supply 20 New Pendolino high speed ...
• Centro calls for crackdown on rail metal thievesCentro is calling for a change in the law to help thwart thieves stripping metal from the nation™s rail network. The region™s transport authority is now ...
• New ˜Flying Scotsman™ express service off to a flying startThe new ˜Flying Scotsman™ express service which launched last Monday (23rd May), ran on time every day in its first week on the rails. The news ...
• Report on Reading™s rail works welcomedNetwork Rail and First Great Western have welcomed a report by Passenger Focus, which singles out the engineering works in Reading over Christmas 2010 and the ...
• Heathrow Express runs to timetable during strikesHeathrow Express has reported that during the 48 hours of industrial action by RMT members, it operated exactly to the advertised amended timetable. Richard Robinson, Managing Director of Heathrow ...
• Ansaldo STS wins contract for new Milan Metro Line 4The temporary consortium including Ansaldo STS has been provisionally awarded the tender launched by the Municipality of Milan for the selection of a private partner to build Line ...
• DB Schenker Rail operates first freight train on High Speed 1The introduction of regular European sized freight trains on High Speed 1 moved a significant step forward last week following the successful operation during the early ...
• Norwegian railway strengthens communications networkJernbaneverket, the Norwegian National Rail Administration, will soon benefit from improved communications across its railway network, supporting safe, punctual rail operations. The state-owned agency has selected ...
• London Underground celebrates Polish poetryTube customers will be able to enjoy a new set of poems by major Polish poets from the start of June. Every season, six poems are ...
• Steam rail motor launched into serviceSteam rail motor 93, the only survivor from the Great Western Railway’s original fleet of 99, was launched into service at Didcot Railway Centre in May, ...
• Severn Valley Railway could gain a new stationDevelopment of a 4 star hotel, conference centre and water park at the West Midland Safari Park could lead to a new station being constructed at ...
• Transport Secretary unveils East Midlands Trains™ Carbon CutterTransport Secretary Philip Hammond joined representatives from East Midlands Trains, Bombardier and Eversholt Rail at a special train naming ceremony today to recognise a successful joint ...
• Bodmin & Wenford Railway to celebrate 25th anniversaryThe Bodmin & Wenford Railway “ Cornwall™s only standard gauge railway still regularly operated by steam locomotives “ celebrates its Silver Jubilee this year. A ten ...
• Sports Minister flags fast track to The OpenSports Minister Hugh Robertson was at St Pancras International station on Friday morning (27th May), to wave off the High Speed train service expected to take ...
• Bombardier to maintain Dallas/Fort Worth Airport™s Innovia fleetBombardier Transportation has announced that it has signed a contract with Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport to provide maintenance services for the Bombardier INNOVIA APM 200 automated ...

Aviation Industry

• Airlines tacked on $22B in fee revenue in '10Those charges for baggage, seat upgrades and bags of pretzels added up to $22 billion in revenue for U.S. airlines in 2010.
• Three carriers plan PSS migrations News from Travel Technology Update:  Korean Air and ANA, Japan’s largest carrier, signed contracts to migrate to the full Amadeus Altea Customer Management Solution. Aerolineas Argentinas, meanwhile, expanded its 12-year relationship with Sabre and will use the next-generation SabreSonic Customer Sales and Service system. Korean Air also selected Amadeus to power its TOPAS subsidiary, which provides a central reservations system for the Korean market.
• Virgin launches agent siteNew site offers information on the airline™s policies, products and destinations, plus special offers and competitions
• Germanwings launches œcomfort zonePassengers looking for more legroom can now opt for Germanwings™ œcomfort zone at the front of the aircraft

Other News Sources

• Station needs communication The hourly train service on the Matlock branch has been a tremendous improvement, but the attitude of East Midlands Trains (EMT) to passengers on the branch has made me reluctantly conclude that it is just not safe to rely on the service if you need to be sure of arriving on time.
• Liverpool in London event targets rail investment Peel Group, Merseytravel and Network Rail are sponsoring an event in London later this month to promote "the business case for infrastructure improvements including High Speed 2 and the Northern Hub".
• Free faith school transport is axed FAITH schools in Surrey will no longer be entitled to subsidised transport for their students, it has been decided.
• A new home for GASILThe Civil Aviation Authority's GA Safety Information Leaflets (GASIL) are to reappear this summer within the covers of Flight Safety, the quarterly magazine of the General Aviation Safety Council (GASCo). The move follows a trial period which saw GASIL only being available online.
• Bombardier to Combine Efficiency and Quality in Manufacturing of CSeries AircraftBombardier Aerospace today announced that it expects to achieve predictable repeatability and enhanced quality while preventing ergonomic issues on the production line for the CSeries aircraft ...
• BTMS announces exclusive partnership with GBTAGBTA Europe is the official European association partner of the Business Travel & Meetings Show London