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

Friday, 17 June 2011

BBC News

• Kent school transport fee plan set to be approved Plans to scrap free transport for children attending faith and grammar schools in Kent look set to get the go ahead.
• Sir Brian Souter in buy-out of Turkish ferry operator Stagecoach transport mogul Sir Brian Souter has led a buy-out of Istanbul's main ferry operator for £528m.
• Siemens Desiro train deal creates 300 new Hebburn jobs Engineering giant Siemens is creating up to 300 new jobs on South Tyneside in a deal to build train carriages.
• Thameslink setback could put Bombardier future at risk The decision not to award train-maker Bombardier a £1.4bn government contract could put its Derby base under threat.
• Derby's long association with train making [video]BBC East Midlands Today's James Roberson reflects on more than 150 years of rail engineering in Derby.
• Tube bosses in appeal over strikeTube bosses appeal for a series of strikes to be called off, saying it will reinstate a sacked driver if told to by an employment tribunal.
• Artist seeks Tube 'kind gestures'Passengers and staff are asked to recall moments of
• Aircraft fault triggers emergencyAn emergency was declared at Glasgow Airport after reports of smoke coming from the engine of a taxiing passenger aircraft.
• Airports in aviation taxes callThe operators of Scotland's four largest airports call for aviation taxes to be devolved to Holyrood from Westminster.
• GoAir airline places Airbus orderIndian budget airline GoAir orders 72 Airbus aircraft in a deal worth about $6bn as the carrier targets ambitious expansion plans.
• Bombardier beaten to train orderA consortium led by German firm Siemens is named as the preferred bidder to build new train carriages for the Thameslink route, ahead of Bombardier.

Department for Transport

• Drivers urged to THINK! Biker in bid to cut road deathsA new THINK! campaign to help cut the number of motorcyclists killed and injured on Britain's roads was launched today by Road Safety Minister Mike Penning.
• Rail passengers to benefit from 1,200 new carriagesRail passengers are set to benefit from less crowded and more frequent trains after Rail Minister Theresa Villiers today announced the next stage in a plan to build around 1,200 new rail carriages. The carriages will be used on the busy Thameslink route, allowing existing Thameslink carriages to be redeployed to relieve over-crowded rail routes across the country.
• Transport Statistics: Quarterly Bus Statistics: Q1 2011The Department for Transport has today published the following Transport Statistics:

Financial Times

• Bombardier loses out to Siemens on train order The UK's last remaining train factory suffered a significant blow when a consortium led by Germany's Siemens was named preferred bidder
• Levy tax on Heathrow and Gatwick trips, airports urgeA congestion tax should be charged on passengers and airlines that use Heathrow and Gatwick, UK regional airports have told the government
• EasyJet to offer flights from SouthendEurope's second-largest budget airline has signed a 10-year agreement in time for the 2012 London Olympics

The Guardian

• Bombardier train factory at risk after £3bn Thameslink deal goes overseas Unions attack 'disgraceful' move they say exposes Tory support for manufacturing as a sham

The Herald

• BAA calls for Scots airport tax powerSCOTLAND™S biggest airport group has thrown its weight behind calls to devolve responsibility for aviation tax in order to promote business travel and tourism.
• Souter™s Turkish ferry deal partnersSIR Brian Souter™s investment vehicle has revealed that the transport tycoon™s sister, Ann Gloag, and Scottish investor Sir Angus Grossart, are part of a consortium that acquired the Turkish ferry business Istanbul Deniz Otonuslen (IDO) for $861 million (£534m).

The Scotsman

• Borders rail link in doubt as bidder No2 walks away MINISTERS are to review the future of the troubled Borders Railway project after one of the two remaining bidders signalled it would abandon the race for the £230 million contract.
• Airline timekeeping at Scotland's airports hits a 13-year high THE increasing hassles of air travel have been eased for passengers at Scotland's two busiest airports, which started the year with their best flight punctuality since the 1990s.

Daily Express

• Brian Souter buys ferriesA CONSORTIUM led by Stagecoach co-founder and chief executive Sir Brian Souter has snapped up a Turkish ferry group in a deal worth $861million (£538million).
• EasyJet set to fly from SouthendEASYJET is to launch flights from Southend airport, owned by the company behind iconic road haulier Eddie Stobart, from next April.

Mail Online

• Southend international airport to open in time for 2012 OlympicsEasyJet will carry around 800,000 passengers in the first 12 months at its new Southend base, three miles from the seafront of the Essex resort.

ATOC

• Train companies respond to announcement on new carriagesIn response to the Government’s announcement on new train carriages, a spokesperson for the Association of Train Operating Companies, said: “New carriages and more seats will be welcomed...

Birmingham Post

• Tory MP demands publication of plans for HS2 route north of Birmingham A Staffordshire Conservative MP has demanded that his constituents be allowed to see plans for a high speed rail line north of Birmingham after claims were made that it could devastate the countryside.
• £20m compensation offered so far to homeowners near HS2 route Taxpayers have stumped up £20million offered in compensation to homeowners affected by the planned high speed rail line - even though Ministers are still considering whether or not to build it.
• Chiltern Railways fined for breaking franchise agreement The railway operator responsible for services between London and Birmingham Moor Street station has been fined £350,000 for breaking its franchise agreement with the Government.
• Residents still concerned over HS2 after visiting information roadshow The backlash against high speed rail has continued this week as the Government’s road show arrived in towns and villages close to where the 225mph trains will pass.Experts from HS2 Ltd were in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, and Hampton-in-Arden, Solihull, this week to meet homeowners worried about the impact of the route.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Poorest will be hit worst by Wrexham bus cuts, say councillors FEARS were raised that poorer people in rural areas will be hit worst as eight subsidised council bus services face the axe.

Derby Telegraph

• Campaigners to protest against bus funding cuts CAMPAIGNERS battling to save bus services after the city council agreed to cut their funding are to stage two protests this weekend.
• Council wants high speed rail plans to protect countryside A HIGH speed rail network that would link the East Midlands to London should follow the line of existing motorways to protect the environment, Derbyshire County Council has said.
• Hammer blow for Derby as Germans win £1.4bn rail deal TRANSPORT Secretary Philip Hammond confirmed today that Derby train maker Bombardier has lost the contest for a £1.4bn government contract.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Tram-train interchange 'will be built'THE new tram-train interchange at Gogar will be built even if Edinburgh's tram scheme is shelved.

Journal Live

• Newcastle Airport unveils congestion tax response to APD THE Journal today joins North East transport chiefs and regional airports across the country to demand the creation of a “new age” of aviation tax.

Liverpool Post

• Sefton Park parking charges plan may allow Liverpool Council to adopt potholed roads at last LIVERPOOL council could bring in parking charges around Sefton Park in order to get round a “legal catch-22” which forbids them from spending road maintenance cash on unadopted pothole-ridden roads.

London Evening Standard

• Impose congestion charge on Heathrow, say UK regional airportsGeorge Osborne has been urged to impose an aviation 'congestion charge' on passengers flying from Heathrow and Gatwick
• 1,200 new carriages for 'cattle-truck' lineTransport minister Theresa Villiers has vowed to tackle

Manchester Evening News

• Transport chiefs in bid to get more people cycling to work More than a thousand cycle spaces could be built in a radical bid by transport chiefs for government cash. Up to 650 spaces would be created at seven new bike centres that would have lockers, toilets and showers for cyclists.

Metro

• Germans win race to build British trains for new Thameslink rail routeNew trains for the key Thameslink rail route look set to be built in Germany rather than Britain following a government decision.
• Watch: Reporter Sarah Firth caught in tear gas attack during Athens riotsFootage of a reporter and her crew getting caught up in violent street protests in Athens has attracted the attention of web users divided as to whether the team were brave or foolish to continue filming as tear gas fired.
• Virgin Atlantic warn passengers airline taxes ˜to hit £3billion™ next yearAir passengers could be paying £1billion more in departure tax next year, Virgin Atlantic have warned.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Union rage as bosses trained in staff rolesAirport chiefs have been trained to do security duties to try to head off the threat of flights chaos during the busy holiday season and a prestigious golf tournament.

Wales Online

• Network Rail and councils clash over plans for stations COUNCILS and Network Rail appear to be on a collision course over plans for new stations and services to relieve the congested M4 motorway in South Wales.

Yorkshire Post

• MP rebuffed over eye tests for driversA MINISTER has rejected a Yorkshire MP’s call for drivers to face eyesight tests but denied the Government is complacent about road safety.
• British rail-link trains look set to be built in GermanyNew trains for a key rail route look set to be built in Germany rather than the UK following a Government decision announced yesterday.

Bucks Free Press

• £125,000 set aside to fight HS2 A COUNCIL is to set aside £125,000 as a fighting fund against the controversial High Speed 2 rail project.

Other Regional Press

• Passengers say it's fine on the buses The number of passengers satisfied with travel on Nottingham's buses continues to top 90 per cent.
• Scottish Government remains committed to Borders rail projectRAIL chiefs this week insisted long awaited plans to rebuild the line between Edinburgh and the Borders remained on track - despite admitting one of the main bidders are expected to announce they are pulling out of the race for the contract.
• Time to get rail fares back on track: Shadow ministerThe Shadow Transport Secretary has thrown her weight behind hard-pressed rail passengers by backing the KM Group's Commuters' Charter.
• Airport boss claims it wasn't a 'sweetener'Manston's boss has defended efforts to persuade the government to underwrite the costs of a new service out of the Kent airport.
• Cars clamped in Aberdeen road tax crackdownDRIVERS in Aberdeen found their vehicles clamped in a road tax crackdown.
• War of words over cash for potholesA war of words has broken out over funding to repair Glasgow™s roads.
• Glasgow to Edinburgh rail link™s £200m boostA rail investment programme which will cut Glasgow-Edinburgh journey times to 37 minutes is likely to come in up to £200 million under budget, according to senior officials.
• Bus cams help catch killersImages captured on CCTV by the city™s bus fleet have helped solve some of Glasgow™s most horrific crimes.

Global Rail News

• Eurostar raises the bar on environmental commitmentsEurostar, the high-speed passenger service linking the UK and mainland Europe, today launched the next phase of its pioneering environmental programme, Tread Lightly, and announced a ...
• Union says excluding Bombardier from Thameslink order is a ˜disgrace™The union Unite has branded the government’s decision to award a contract to build new train carriages to a ‘German-led consortium’ over Derby-based Bombardier as a ...
• Passengers welcome order of 1,200 trainsIn response to the Government™s announcement on new train carriages for Thameslink route, Passenger Focus have said they ‘welcomes the announcement’. Anthony Smith, Passenger Focus chief ...
• ABB presents new augmented reality technology for railABB has turned to augmented reality specialist Hidden Creative to develop a demonstration of its fast track modular substation solutions for railway applications using the latest ...
• Siemens selected as preferred bidder for Thameslink rolling stockSiemens and Cross London Trains (XLT) (a consortium consisting of finance partners Siemens Project Ventures GmbH, lnnisfree Limited and 3i Infrastructure plc), have been selected as ...
• Rail passengers to benefit from 1,200 new carriagesRail passengers are set to benefit from less crowded and more frequent trains after Rail Minister Theresa Villiers today announced the next stage in a plan ...
• L.B. Foster announces new rail teamL.B. Foster completed the acquisition of Portec Rail Products, Inc. in mid December, 2010. The company is now pleased to announce the rollout of a new ...
• Flowcrete showcasing systems at RailtexWorld-leading specialist manufacturer Flowcrete will be showcasing its comprehensive flooring systems, geared up for the unique needs of the rail industry, at Railtex 2011. Serving the ...
• Dorking station™s Access for All improvements completeSouthern has celebrated the completion of a £2m Access for All improvement project at Dorking station with a grand opening event. Representatives from Southern™s project team, ...
• Invensys Rail have a major presence at RailtexInvensys Rail have a major presence at this year™s Railtex, with the company showcasing its extensive range of signalling and control solutions. At the heart of ...
• Tube strike update “ London Underground say they will re-instate driverThe RMT are set to begin a series of walkouts this weekend in a row over the sacking of a driver member. Yesterday, counselling service ACAS ...
• National structure ˜will deliver McNulty rail freight savings early™ says DB Schenker Rail ChiefRail freight operators are united in delivering early savings from the McNulty Value for Money Study if a national network is retained, Alain Thauvette, Chief Executive ...
• London Midland apologises for severe rail delays on Euston LineLondon Midland have released a statement regarding the disruption caused to some services yesterday morning. The train operator published an explanation on their website: “We are ...

The Business Desk

• Special Report: Lufthansa flies ahead with fleet investment programme I'M standing in a hangar that could almost fit two full-sized football pitches within its walls. At one end stands a Boeing 747 cargo plane; a large aircraft but in this space it looks incredibly miniature.
• Yorkshire councils make transport bid BIDS for more than £40m to improve transport in Yorkshire and boost the region's economy have been made to Government.

Aviation Industry

• Scottish Airports Support Scottish Government's Call for Aviation Tax DevolutionScotland's largest airports have joined together to demand that the UK Government devolves its Air Passenger Duty (APD) to the Scottish Government as part of the Scotland Bill.
• Heathrow announces plan to reduce aircraft noiseThe area affected by noise from Heathrow is expected to shrink over the next five years as the airport launches its Noise Action Plan.
• AA pilots tap iPad to save weight and timeAmerican Airline pilots on Thursday began testing U.S.-approved iPad tablets as part of a broader effort in aviation to make cockpits paperless.
• British Airways codeshares with Air BerlinStronger ties ahead of Air Berlin joining oneworld

Green Miscellany

• The bicycle with a handlebar-mounted laser The idea of using a powerful handlebar-mounted laser to keep inattentive motorists on their toes will appeal to many cyclists, but the design by Emily Brooke of Brighton University is not intended to leave a trail of smouldering vehicle in its wake “ rather it projects an image onto the road to increase the cyclist™s visibility to motorists.read more

Other News Sources

• UK appoints Siemens as preferred bidder for trainsBritain has appointed German group Siemens and XL trains as the preferred bidder to build and maintain 1,200 train carriages for a key London commuter rail service.
• Loss of Thameslink contract a body blow to UK rail manufacturing - Maria Eagle Maria Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, responding to the decision today on the contract for Thameslink trains, said:
• News from John Biggs: Taxpayers May Be Lumbered With Cost of the Cable CarDuring today™s Question Time at the London Assembly the mayor finally admitted that the taxpayer may be lumbered with the costs of building the Cable Car between the Excel Centre and the O2. Boris Johnson said that he could not œguarantee that the private sector would be able to cover the £56.9m cost of setting up the Cable Car scheme. 360-house-thumb.jpg Yes