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

Tuesday, 07 June 2011

BBC News

• Bristol free bus scheme plans weekend start A free-to-use bus service which has been funded by local residents is to launch in Bristol on Saturday.
• Newbury buses and offices vandalised overnight Six buses had their windows smashed by vandals who broke into a depot in Newbury, Berkshire, in the early hours.
• Peace Bridge could halt free school bus A school principal has said she is worried a new footbridge in Londonderry could make some of her pupils ineligible for free school transport.
• Future of Northamptonshire street lighting under review Northamptonshire County Councillors are to consider a revised Private Finance Initiative (PFI) proposal for street lighting. If it is approved by the government, it will see most of the county's street lighting replaced within five years. David Farquhar, assistant director for Highways Transport and Infrastructure, said: "The new technology will allow us to have far more remote control.
• Torbay Council revises school bus subsidy cut A Devon council has revised plans to raise the cost of school buses for families with more than one child at faith or grammar schools.
• Work starts on £35m relief roadA ceremony is to mark the start of a project to build a long-awaited relief road serving Wrexham Industrial Estate.
• 'Huge hike' in cable rail theftsFigures released by British Transport Police show that while overall crime on Wales' railways is down but there has been a big increase in cable theft.
• Tube property thefts 'up by 48%'Theft of railway property on the Tube and the Docklands Light Railway rose by 48% in the past year, British Transport Police says.

Financial Times

• Greener skies over EuropeEurope has chosen to lead on climate policy and it is right to extend the EU Emissions Trading System to all aviation servicing the EU “ including airlines based elsewhere

The Guardian

• Network Rail losing millions from copper theftsCopper theft from railway lines is so rife the rail operator has had to take on new staff, as well as pay compensation for delaysThe theft of copper cables from Britain's railways is reaching epidemic proportions, costing the operator Network Rail millions of pounds as it takes on extra staff to catch the criminals and pays out compensation to train companies for delays on the system.Copper theft from railway lines jumped by 67% to 3,116 incidents in the year to April as metal prices have soared and Britain's stumbling recovery from recession has continued to push impoverished groups into crim...

The Herald

• Souter drives expansion with new Polish serviceTRANSPORT entrepreneur Brian Souter is launching inter-city coach services from a hub in the Polish capital of Warsaw, through his personal investment vehicle as opposed to the Stagecoach business which he runs.

The Telegraph

• IAG's Willie Walsh confirms interest in bidding for bmi The man at the controls of IAG, the airline group formed through the British Airways/Iberia merger, has confirmed he would look at buying bmi if current owner Lufthansa is willing to sell.
• New five-second airport scanner explainedPlans for a fast new screening system would not require passengers to remove their personal belongings.

Daily Express

• Airlines fear profit crash after tax and fuel hikesHIGHER passenger taxes, soaring oil prices and unrest in the Middle East would more than halve airlines' profits this year, said the International Air Transport Association (IATA) yesterday as Willie Walsh boss of British Airways owner International Airlines Group (IAG) predicted more carriers would go bust.
• Singapore to sell stake in Branson's virginSINGAPORE Airlines yesterday said it was
• Rolls-Royce gains TognumROLLS-ROYCE and German car giant Daimler have gained control of Tognum, owner of historic engine maker MTU, after sweetening their offer to 3.4billion (£3billion).

Daily Record

• Thieves targeting railway cables as price of metal rises worldwide CABLE thefts from Scotland's railways has almost trebled in the past year as the value of metal continues to increase across the world.

Network Rail

• NORTH COTSWOLD REDOUBLING COMPLETES FIRST STAGE OF WORK

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham airport bosses hit the road for talks with householders AIR travel chiefs are hitting the road to keep householders in touch with operations at Birmingham Airport.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Tram axe 'is bad for all'SCRAPPING Edinburgh's tram scheme would hit people well beyond the Capital, an MSP has warned.

Metro

• TfL calls in team to help fix problems with London's Boris bikes schemeA team of trouble-shooters is being called in to iron out problems that have hit the mayor of London™s 'Boris bikes' scheme.

Yorkshire Post

• Transport blueprint puts focus on congestion and road safety Cutting congestion and improving road safety across Bradford are among the main aims of a 15-year transport plan for the area. Bradford Council has produced a Local Implementation Plan to provide a local focus for the wider West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan 2011-2026 which was approved by the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority earlier this year.

Other Regional Press

• Ipswich: New railway station footbridge openedIT MAY have arrived at Ipswich station months late, but the new footbridge has finally opened – providing a passenger lift over the tracks for the first time ever.
• Stagecoach steps in to save axed Warwickshire bus services A BUS company has stepped in to help ease the burden of service cuts in Warwickshire.

Global Rail News

• Violent crime and robberies down but Cable theft soars on UK RailœThe continued reduction in crime is very good news, but economics is having its effect, said British Transport Police (BTP) Chief Constable Andy Trotter. œWe know ...
• Network Rail seeks home for rare German wagon from Bath Spa StationA rare German wagon, which has emerged for the very first time from the historic vaults at Bath Spa station, now needs a new home. The ...

Other News Sources

• Polish express coach service is Souter's latest expansion SCOTTISH transport entrepreneur Brian Souter yesterday launched an express coach service in Poland, marking the Stagecoach chief executive's second personal investment in the east European country.
• Third WaveTrawsCambria is the Wales region-wide longer distance bus service improved in 2005 & 2007 following funding from the Welsh regional assembly.
• SINGAPORE AIRLINES AND VIRGIN AUSTRALIA UNVEIL LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIPSingapore Airlines and Virgin Australia group of airlines have signed a landmark agreement which will enable them to establish a longterm alliance. Under the agreement, the two airlines...
• Upgrade of 15-year-old radar set to enhance safety at Sydney AirportAirservices has commissioned an upgraded $6 million terminal area radar at Australia's busiest airport. Located airside at Sydney Airport, the upgrade is part of Airservices national $80...

News from Europe

• The Commission seeks one single journey planner for Europe European Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas is challenging industry to come up with a truly European journey planner that includes all countries and transport modes. The Commissioner stressed that while we are supposed being in one European market, there is too many journey planners. He also added that although the technology already exists, travellers still have to switch tickets from air to rail or sea, to urban or road transport.
• Lorries to be charged for pollution impact Haulage companies could be made to cover the costs of air and noise pollution caused by heavy goods vehicles under polluter-pays proposals to be voted on by MEPs in the European Parliament tomorrow.
• Siim Kallas Vice-President of the Commission, responsible for Transport Smart Mobility Solutions Conference “Intelligent Transport Systems in Action” Lyonit is my pleasure to be here on the first day of an interesting week in Lyon for all of us, looking for smart solutions to mobility challenges.