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

Saturday, 09 July 2011

BBC News

• Next generation Oyster cards could stop overcharging It looks like some good news could be on the way for commuters who use Oyster cards.
• Shuttle crew board Scott's ship RSS DiscoveryAstronauts from space shuttle Discovery's last flight board Captain Scott's Antarctic exploration vessel during a visit to Dundee.
• Tall Ships Races weekend beginsThe Tall Ships Races arrive in Greenock for a weekend of public events, expected to draw over half a million visitors.
• MPs criticise DfT over East CoastMPs criticise the Department for Transport for letting National Express

Reuters News

• Renault says stops advertising in News Intl publicationsLONDON (Reuters) - French carmaker Renault has decided to stop advertising in all News International publications until further notice due to phone hacking allegations at the News of the World paper.

Daily Express

• MINISTERS FOLLOWED RULES THAT FAVOURED FOREIGNERSTHE more that emerges about the process that saw Germany’s Siemens chosen ahead of Derby‑based Bombardier for a giant rolling stock contract, the more unjust the result appears.
• READERS DEMAND UK JOBS GO TO UK WORKERS DAILY Express readers have rushed to join our Battle For Bombardier crusade with a deluge of coupons arriving in our offices.
• EU CHEATS US OUT OF JOBS BRITISH train maker Bombardier “never stood a chance” of winning a key contract because the rules favoured its German rival, it was claimed yesterday. The deal was always likely to be awarded to German company Siemens because of its superior financial clout within the European Union, an insider revealed.

The Mirror

• Why EU can't have British jobs for British workers IF I had a euro for every time I had heard a British politician promise “British jobs for British workers” I could single ­handedly fund the next Greek bailout – or the one that will be needed in poor, bankrupt Portugal.
• Ryanair’s money-grabbing boss Michael O’Leary LOW-cost airline Ryanair is whacking up the cost of checking luggage into the hold from £15 to £20 for the first bag and from £35 to £40 for the second. Hmm, just in time for the summer holidays, but the best reason to shop around for another airline is this little nugget from Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary: “I came into business to make money. I wanted to make a lot of money but after the first £50million or £100million, it became less about making money and more about having fun.” Glad you’re having fun Mr O’Leary – you ob...
• Rage of the train: Paul Routledge joins betrayed workers at Bombardier ReTHEY survived a Zeppelin bombing raid in 1916, and the Luftwaffe in 1940. But where the German bombers failed Tory ministers are succeeding, with a simple, but cruel, stroke of the pen. Dave Cameron confirmed in Prime Minister’s Questions a crucial £1.5billion order for Thameslink trains will go to Siemens in Germany, not Britain’s last train maker, Bombardie

Derby Telegraph

• Bombardier campaign grows WHILE the Government continues to bury its head in the sand, support for the battle to save Bombardier in Derby is gathering strength every day.
• Woman behind task force wants to help workers facing redundancy stay local THE woman heading up a government task force set up to help Bombardier workers facing redundancy has pledged to do all she can to ensure their skills remain in the local area.
• Hugh Grant and Lord Sugar back Bombardier HOLLYWOOD actor Hugh Grant has described the fact that the Thameslink trains will be built in Germany as "awful".
• Whitehall did not have 'balls or brains' to beat Germans European business law expert Professor Chris Bovis believes that the UK Government has only itself to blame for letting the £1.4 billion Thameslink rail contract go to the Germans. Business editor Robin Johnson reports.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Stop the tram, we want to get off, say TIE staffALMOST the entire workforce at the city's beleaguered tram firm are said to have applied for voluntary redundancy amid fears over the company's future.

Journal Live

• Widdrington Station allotments keep gorwing A VILLAGE allotment that stood unused for years because of a pollution scare has proved so popular since its relaunch that more land has been opened up to growers.
• Government lost £30m taking back East Coast Main Line services GOVERNMENT transport bosses missed out on £30m when they took back control of the East Coast Main Line from National Express, it has emerged.
• Bus company boss cleared of murder A GRANDFATHER accused of murder on a holiday island was last night found not guilty.

Liverpool Echo

• Merseyside councils repair potholes on road ... days before it’s due to be dug up TAXPAYERS’ cash was used to fill in potholes on a stretch of road which is due to be completely dug up next week to lay a gas main.

London Evening Standard

• Setback for Games traffic planMeasures to speed Olympic traffic on London's roads have hit delays, the Standard can reveal
• Taxpayer lost £30m on rail dealWhitehall created a

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Epic bike journey from fundraiser to thank doctorsJohn Landragon went from racing 200 miles at a time for cycling clubs to becoming out of breath when he walked upstairs.
• Maud open event will track steam railway eraA major milestone in the story of a once-vital north-east transport link will be marked this weekend at a popular museum which tracks Buchan™s bygone railway era.
• Jinxed ferry to set sail once again after embarrassing breakdownsThe jinxed new Islay ferry, previously hailed as œthe most technically-advanced in the CalMac fleet is set to go back into service any day now, following three weeks of repairs.

Other Regional Press

• 'Empty words' over British jobs The Government is guilty of "empty words" on its promise to support British manufacturing after Bombardier announced plans to cut 1,400 jobs at its plant in Derby, Labour claimed.

Global Rail News

• Blackfriars station to install SilentTrackBlackfriars station is to have SilentTrack noise dampers installed during its rebuild as part of the Thameslink route upgrade. With up to 24 trains an hour ...
• Pathfinder Railtours raise £2500 for Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway appealTrain excursion company, Pathfinder Tours, based in Stroud, presented £2,500 to Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWR) at Winchcombe Station on Thursday, 7th July. This sum, which ...

Aviation Industry

• United flight diverts; passenger called suspiciousAuthorities say a United Airlines flight headed from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany, has been diverted to Cleveland and a passenger arrested after an onboard disturbance.

Green Miscellany

• Fast food: Electric car that cooks rice on the go As mainstream manufacturers such as the Renault-Nissan alliance, General Motors and Renault battle to establish themselves as leaders in zero-emission transportation, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has interesting developments in store for its i-MiEV, the world™s first mass-produced electric vehicle. Drivers of the electric cars will soon be able to alleviate the boredom of traffic jams by rustling up meals with an inboard microwave oven or rice steamer powered by the i-Miev™s powerful battery. read more

Other News Sources

• A30 Cornwall | Both directions | Incident, road closed The A30 from, Honiton towards Penzance, is closed in both directions between A394 and A3074, due to a Police led incident.Further updates will be posted as available. For live traffic information, please select www.highways.gov.uk/traffic
• UK approach to EU procurement a 'false economy' The decision to award the contract to build Thameslink trains to the German company Siemens rather than British-based Bombardier exposes the UK public sector's fixation with economic considerations, writes professor Christopher Bovis
• Ealing rejects HS2 routeEaling Council has lodged a holding objection to the initial route plans for High Speed 2 (HS2) because of the disruption that could be caused at borough level.
• Form consortiums now for Qatar metro constuction urges Qatar RailwaysDeputy chief executive officer of Qatar Railways, Geoff Brian Mee, says firms should form consortiums now to be well positioned for design-and-build tunnelling packages.
• Network Rail names route director for Western routeNetwork Rail has appointed Patrick Hallgate to lead its devolved business unit on the Western route.