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

Saturday, 23 July 2011

BBC News

• Thousands set for train deal demoThousands of people will march through Derby in support of the UK's last train maker, which lost out on a £1.4bn government contract to a German firm.
• Hydrogen buses return after fireLondon's fleet of hydrogen buses are to be phased back in from next week after Transport for London made modifications.
• RBS to sell its aircraft businessRoyal Bank of Scotland clears the sale of its aircraft business for take-off, with the aim of raising at least £5bn.
• Easyjet raises profits forecastShares in Easyjet soar after the low cost airline raises its profit guidance for the year because of a rise in business passengers.

Financial Times

• Business travel drive pays off for EasyJetLow-cost carrier's strategy of attracting more corporate travellers pushes revenues up by almost a quarter during the three months to July
• RMT's Crow may bolster hand with mergerA combined set-up for the two groups would cover all the roles in the rail network from train drivers to signallers and clerks

The Guardian

• Bob Crow in talks for powerful rail union mergerRMT union leader renews plan to combine with TSSA over threatened cuts, but critic brands move a Gordon Gekko-style takeoverBob Crow may increase his power over the rail industry after the RMT trade union announced merger talks with its closest rival, the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA).A combined RMT and TSSA would have 110,000 members and cover all roles across the rail network from train drivers to signallers. One prominent critic of trade union activism labelled the move a

The Herald

• 40mph limit lifted on most of M80 ALEX Neil has hailed the near completion of central Scotland™s motorway network as speed restrictions were being lifted on most of the M80.

The Independent

• Minor British Institutions: Old trains Officially, of course, they are so over, left behind like the coach and horse and carrier's cart, hissing, clunking, smudging antitheses to our age of supposed clean efficiency.

The Scotsman

• Thousands to march over train dealThousands of people will join a demonstration in support of the UK's last train manufacturer as a new opinion poll called for a rethink on a lucrative contract to build ne

Daily Express

• Business flyers help easyJet profits to soarNO-frills airline easyJet -yesterday forecast profits would take off after more business -travellers used its planes to hop across Europe, sending shares skywards.

The Mirror

• Thousands to march over train deal Thousands of people will join a demonstration in support of the UK's last train manufacturer as a new opinion poll called for a rethink on a lucrative contract to build new rolling stock.

Birmingham Post

• AWM sees New Street station development as its legacy to Birmingham Advantage West Midlands’ accounts highlight the redevelopment of Birmingham’s New Street Station as its swansong that will be enjoyed by the region long after its abolition.

Journal Live

• Bicycle hire scheme is launched in Newcastle CITY dwellers will be using pedal power to boost their fitness as a budget bike hire scheme is extended throughout Newcastle.

London Evening Standard

• Thousands to march over train dealThousands of people will join a demonstration in support of the UK's last train manufacturer as a new opinion poll called for a rethink on a lucrative contract to build new rolling stock.

Manchester Evening News

• Thousands jetting from Manchester Airport on summer hols Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to jet off from Manchester Airport this weekend at the start of the great summer getaway. The airport says it expects around 288,000 passengers through its doors today and tomorrow as the school holidays begin.

Northern Echo

• Rail station boss honoured as hero A QUICK-THINKING railway station manager who saved a distressed woman from the path of a speeding train has been honoured for his dramatic rescue.

Global Rail News

• Independent poll shows ˜massive support™ for BombardierAn independent poll of over 25,000 people shows massive support for Bombardier, and ‘shames the Tory-led government’, as thousands prepare to march in support of Britain’s ...

Railnews

• Rail unions reveal merger talks are under way Talks have been agreed over a possible merger between the RMT and TSSA, it has been revealed. The general secretary of the RMT, Bob Crow, said it was an historic day.
• Derby demonstrators urge Thameslink order rethink A major demonstration opposing the government's plan to award the Thameslink rolling stock contract to Siemens is set to go ahead in Derby today, with organisers predicting that thousands of people will take part. The protest is being led by four unions – RMT, UNITE, TSSA and GMB – who are calling for a rethink over the government's decision to have some 1,200 vehicles for the Thameslink Programme built in Germany. The marchers are assembling at Bass’s Recreation Ground in Derby (DE1 2PB) at 10.00.

Green Miscellany

• The bicycle repair vending machine open 365 days a year Cyclists in Minneapolis who need to fix a puncture or make other repairs out of hours now have access to a self-service vending machine that is open 365 days a year.read more

Other News Sources

• UK transport workers take strike action over pay and conditionsTransport workers based at a UK rail infrastructure company have taken industrial action over pay and conditions.
• Tube upgrade spending and delivery on the agenda 22 July, 2011 - 12:22 As part of its ongoing investigation into the state of the London Underground[1] the London Assembly™s Transport Committee will on Monday question guests about Transport for London™s spending and progress on upgrading the Tube. Committee Members will question the Chair of the Independent Investment Programme Advisory Group (IIPAG)[2] about the transparency of its work on the upgrade programme.  It is yet to publish any findings about its assessment of TfL™s expenditure on the upgrades. ...
• Thousands to march over train dealThousands of people will join a demonstration in support of the UK's last train manufacturer as a new opinion poll called for a rethink on a lucrative contract to build new rolling stock.
• BRITAIN'S TWO LARGEST RAIL UNIONS AGREE TO MERGER TALKSThe TSSA and RMT unions today agreed to commit to formal talks which could ultimately lead to a merger of the two unions. Initial discussions will focus on closer working between both unions initially through a federation structure with a view to moving towards a merger.
• RMT raises serious questions over Siemen's bogies in Thameslink/Bombardier dealON THE eve of the mass Derby rally, rail union RMT revealed that there are major question marks over the Siemens Thameslink bid on the basis that they don't have a tried, tested and compliant set of bogies for their proposed fleet.
• 500 jobs now threatened in London and South East by Thameslink/Bombardier stitch upRAIL UNION RMT revealed today that more than 500 train maintenance and cleaning jobs in London and the South East are now under threat as a result of the Government awarding the Thameslink fleet contract to Siemens. The bombshell news comes on eve of a national demonstration in Derby tomorrow in defence of train building in the UK.

Other Subscription Services

• Electric car grants total 680 in six months Sales of electric vehicles bought with help from the government's Plug-In Car grant have more than halved in the second three month period since the scheme launched.Department for Transport figures...