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

Tuesday, 12 July 2011

BBC News

• Qantas sees $122m carbon tax costQantas Airways says the new carbon tax is likely to increase the cost of its operations by as much as 115m Australian dollars ($122m).
• Renault sees global car sales hitRenault's global car sales grew just 0.4% in the first six months of 2011 after it was hit by a big decline in sales in Europe.
• Oil prices fall after China dataOil prices fall after figures show a drop in Chinese oil imports and as concerns continue about the US economy's strength.

The Guardian

• The decline of Britain's train-manufacturing industry: who is to blame? The story of British train-maker Bombardier reveals a hard lesson: who owns a company matters

The Herald

• 6% rise in passengers at airports SCOTLAND™S three biggest airports saw a 6% rise in passenger numbers last month, even as domestic traffic declined.

The Independent

• Search-and-rescue plans unveiledPlans to keep search-and-rescue helicopter services going at four key centres were announced by the Government today.

The Scotsman

• Network Rail bonuses 'unacceptable'The big bonuses enjoyed by Network Rail (NR) bosses were "simply unacceptable", a report by MPs has said.
• Summer drink-drive campaign beginsNearly two in three motorists think the responsibility for cutting alcohol-related deaths on the roads lies with the drink-driver themselves, an AA/Populus survey has shown.

Daily Express

• £1BN CORRUPTION FINES OF GERMAN FIRM THAT COST BRITAIN 1,400 JOBS THE German engineering giant which cost 1,400 British workers their jobs after landing a huge train contract was at the centre of a corruption row yesterday.

Mail Online

• Inventor unveils outsize jacket to beat budget airline luggage chargesBusinessman Andrew Gaule, pictured, invented this coat with huge pockets in frustration at seeing fellow budget passengers charged over the odds for their luggage.

The Mirror

• Summer drink-drive campaign begins Nearly two in three motorists think the responsibility for cutting alcohol-related deaths on the roads lies with the drink-driver themselves, an AA/Populus survey has shown.
• Network Rail bonuses 'unacceptable' The big bonuses enjoyed by Network Rail (NR) bosses were

Birmingham Post

• Opponents of high speed rail to be quizzed by transport committee MPs A major inquiry into controversial plans for a new high speed rail line between Birmingham and London is to hear from critics of the £17 billion scheme.
• Transport spending hit by north-south divide, claims passenger group There is a widening north-south divide in spending on transport, according to new figures.

Derby Telegraph

• Bombardier issue 'is damaging to whole of the UK'SUPPORT for Bombardier workers is continuing to grow in the corridors of power
• We'll be fighting all the way to save your jobs, says union bossSURROUNDED by shop stewards from across Bombardier, Len McCluskey, the leader of the UK's largest trade union, made a promise.
• Siemens train decision 'risky' claims union THE Government has been accused of overlooking proven train technology developed in Derby in favour of rival German designs that are untested.
• THE 16 QUESTIONS MP MICHAEL DUGHER WANTS THE GOVERNMENT TO ANSWER1 What meetings took place after/between May 2010 and June 2011 between ministers at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and ministers at the Department for Transport to discuss the bids for Thameslink?

Journal Live

• Air Passenger Duty protest set to reach new heights CAMPAIGNERS will today issue a rallying call demanding that the Government grounds plans to increase the cost of air travel.
• Leaders call for Government to plug transport spending gap A TRANSPORT divide which sees London get more than three times as much funding as the North East has been blamed for holding back the region’s economy.

The York Press

• Union Terrace car park sale is shelved CONTROVERSIAL plans to sell one of York™s main coach and car parks have been shelved, as the public backlash against the move gathers pace.

Yorkshire Post

• Big bonuses for rail chiefs unacceptable, say MPsBig bonuses enjoyed by Network Rail (NR) bosses were “simply unacceptable”, a report by MPs has claimed.

Other Regional Press

• Student bus pass saved from axe A CUT-price bus pass for students in Somerset has survived a threat of being axed.
• Government announces five-year search and rescue contractThe goverment is to tender for a five-year interim contract to operate coastguard search and rescue helicopter services at Sumburgh after a £6 billion privatisation plan was ditched earlier this year.
• Transport in the spotlight ROADS and transport in Northumberland will come under the national spotlight as a new survey is launched.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• EU unveils plans to enhance transport connectionsThe European Commission has unveiled new proposals intended to boost transport connections between areas to the east and south of member states.According to the European Union (EU) executive, the Neighbourhood Transport Action Plan includes more than 20 provisions to increase links with neighbouring regions.Both long and short-term measures are included in the document in order to enhance the safety, reliability and the efficiency of connections, in addition to increasing market integration.Siim Kallas, vice-president of the European Commission, stated: "If we are serious about a rela...

Global Rail News

• New rail director appointed for devolved Western routeNetwork Rail has appointed a new route managing director, Patrick Hallgate, to lead its devolved business unit on the Western route. Mr Hallgate, 37, brings with ...
• Wirral rail apprentice keeps up 140 year traditionCraig Dobson is keeping up a 140 year old family tradition by being part of Network Rail™s apprenticeship scheme. Every generation of the family back to ...
• 200 rail apprentices hit the track runningNearly 200 apprentices have started work at Network Rail depots across Britain after completing their first year at Europe™s largest engineering training facility at HMS Sultan ...
• Railfuture holds high speed rail conferenceRailfuture, the organisation campaigning for better rail services, recently held a high speed rail conference at Bletchley Park. The conference was held on 9 July 2011, ...
• FirstGroup™s graduate scheme sees record number of applicantsFirstGroup, the leading transport operator in the UK and North America, today revealed that its UK graduate schemes has attracted 749 applications “ a record for the company. ...
• Atkins wins design contract for Denmark™s Northwest RailwayAtkins, in partnership with Cowi, has been appointed by Rail Net Denmark as detailed designer on a £160 million scheme to double-track Denmark™s Northwest Railway. The ...
• Southeastern to run direct high speed services to SandwichAs the professionals begin practicing at Royal St George™s in preparation for The Open on Thursday, Southeastern is also finalising plans to run direct high speed ...
• European rail industry commits to Joint Technology InitiativePresidents and CEOs of some of the largest rail companies in Europe met on 1 July and signed a ‘Declaration of Intent’ to launch a Joint ...
• Transport spend in London is three times higher per head than in the West MidlandsNew analysis of Treasury public spending figures reveals that spending per head on transport in London is now triple the amount being spent in the West ...
• Transport for London aims to make public transport more accessibleLondoners are being asked what they think about plans to make public transport in the Capital more accessible in the future at stakeholder meetings to be ...
• Crossrail awards first central London main construction contractCrossrail today announced its intention to award the first of the main construction contracts for the new central London stations. Crossrail intends to award the contract ...
• New international rail ticket travel desk at Leicester stationEast Midlands Trains today launched a new international travel desk at Leicester station, giving passengers the chance to buy rail tickets for Europe and many other ...
• Siemens to supply signalling for new railway lines in AlgeriaSiemens, as part of a consortium including Algeria’s national rail operator SNTF, has been awarded a contract to supply and install signalling and telecommunication systems for ...

Aviation Industry

• June 2011 traffic figures - BAA's airportsColin Matthews, chief executive of BAA, said: œHeathrow™s position as the UK™s only hub airport enables it to benefit from growth in long-haul routes and emerging economies. June™s passenger figures are an early indication of a busy summer, and we will focus on delivering the best possible service standards at our most popular time of year.
• Birchanger C of E Primary School receives cash boost from Airport Community FundBirchanger Church of England Primary School™s ambitious plan to upgrade its computer suite has been boosted thanks to a donation of £1,000 from the Stansted Community Fund.
• Homeless charity benefits from airport donationAn innovative basketball project designed to raise the aspirations of young homeless people in Essex has received a bumper £1,500 cash windfall from Stansted Airport™s charity.
• Glasgow Airport reports increase in passenger numbers for June 2011Glasgow Airport has reported an increase in passenger numbers for the sixth consecutive month with over 700,000 people passing through the airport in June 2011.
• Lufthansa A321 partially powered by biofuel to enter service FridayLufthansa plans start its scheduled biofuel flights Friday, launching a six-month trial in which an IAE V2500-powered Airbus A321 will operate on the Frankfurt-Hamburg route.
• Record June for HeathrowFollowing a bumper spring, Heathrow continued its spate of record-breaking months in June

Green Miscellany

• The autonomous cars that will be our first robots Car makers are developing technology that paves the way for small electric vehicles that behave like robots; electric network vehicles (EN-V) will be able to drive themselves and could be sent off on their own to do the school run or pick up the weekly shop. read more
• Toyota pioneers mind control bicycle gear changes Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and Mercedes are amongst the cars makers that have put their names bicycles. Even Hummer, the American manufacturer of military vehicles and SUVs puts its name on a useful-looking folding full-size mountain bike.read more

Other News Sources

• Union claims are ’rumours’, says Siemens Siemens has denied claims from Unite union that they have made attempts to hire Bombardier staff.
• British union mulls possible court action against government over rail car deal MONTREAL - A British union is considering dragging Prime Minister David Cameron's government into court over its decision to grant a major rail contract to Siemens instead of Canadian transportation giant Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B).
• House Of Lords Consider Future Of TravelWatch London could lose its independent representation for transport users if London Assembly proposals to abolish TravelWatch go ahead this week.
• Transport funding gap grows even wider New figures show transport spend in London now close to triple the spend in the North of England and West Midlands.
• Sussex Safer Roads Partnership launches bike safety film A young boy emulates the father he idolises by converting his bicycle into a motorcycle.
• What progress is being made on turning London into the electric car capital of Europe? 11 July, 2011 The Mayor pledged in 2009 that London should become the electric car capital of Europe, with 100,000 electric vehicles on the streets as soon as possible[1]. How are his plans progressing and what benefit would they actually bring to Londoners? The London Assembly™s Environment Committee will tomorrow discuss the environmental effects of electric vehicles and why consumers appear reluctant to switch to electric cars. electricsml.jpg ...
• Birmingham to announce successful carbon cutting results Birmingham City Council is to announce this week it has made huge progress on its carbon cutting drive.
• New ship promises greener and safer offshore wind installation Offshore wind construction could become greener and easier after a deal to build a new turbine installation ship was announced.
• Coca-Cola set to fuel biomethane fleet for the London Olympics Coca-Cola Enterprises will be delivering its branded soft drinks to the London 2012 Olympic Games on trucks fuelled by biomethane as part of a drive to cut carbon emissions within its fleet operations.
• Crossrail confirm Costain/Skanska for Paddington Station jobA Costain/Skanska joint venture has won the £250 million contract to build Paddington Station, Crossrail has confirmed.
• Lufthansa Group lifts passenger count in first half 2011 In the first six months of 2011, Deutsche Lufthansa AG carried 50.2 million passengers. This represents an increase year over year of 10.1 per cent in the number of passengers opting to fly with ...
• Air France, Official Carrier for Marseille, European Capital of Culture 2013 As part of its ambition to promote culture in France and worldwide, Air France has chosen to team up with Marseille Provence Capital of Culture in 2013 by becoming the Official Air Transport...
• June 2011 traffic figures - BAA's airports Heathrow reports busiest ever June, following record April and May. Heathrow growth driven by long-haul traffic and strengthening transfer performance. Group wide traffic up 4.4% to 9.9...
• Munich Airport: Passenger figures up by 13percent in first half of 2011 to 18 millionWith a 13 percent increase in passengers and a 9 percent gain in aircraft movements as compared with the same period a year earlier, Munich Airport posted a torrid traffic trend in the first...