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

Thursday, 08 September 2011

BBC News

• Sustrans Cymru project tackles school run car journeys A project to cut the number of shorter car journeys in south Wales is being launched.
• Bombardier confronts government over German contract [video clip]The chairman of Bombardier UK has said the firm is "struggling to understand" the government's decision to make Germany's Siemens the preferred bidder for a £1.4bn Thameslink train contract.
• Transport Secretary defends German train contract [video clip]Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond has indicated the government will not change its mind over a controversial decision to hand a lucrative train-building contract to a German firm rather than a British-based one.
• River Ouse barges to carry sewage [video clip]Anglian Water is to use barges to transport sewage between Ely in Cambridgeshire and King's Lynn in Norfolk, replacing a fleet of lorries.
• Rotherham Council seek funding for city link road Rotherham Council has announced it will apply for funding for a link road in South Yorkshire.
• New car sales up after poor yearNew car registrations in Scotland last month were up 10% on 2010 but they are still down in the first eight months of the year.
• Low carbon buses get green lightA new fleet of low carbon buses is unveiled in Edinburgh by Transport Minister Keith Brown.
• How accessible is London transport?Can London's transport system offer a gold standard service to disabled passengers in 2012?
• 'New life' for old Tube stationsA former banker hopes to transform some of London's abandoned Tube stations into tourist attractions.
• Saab seeking creditor protectionStruggling Swedish carmaker Saab is filing for protection from its creditors to help it avoid being pushed into bankruptcy.
• Early planning to avoid repeat of Scotland's snow chaos The first ever winter preparedness week is to be held in Scotland in October in a bid to avoid last year's widespread disruption caused by heavy snow.

Financial Times

• Hammond rules out review of train contractThe UK government will not review its controversial decision to award a £1.6bn order for train carriages to Germany's Siemens ahead of a UK-based bid
• Ryanair eschews Aer Lingus state stakeThe low-cost airline rules out bidding for the Dublin government's 25% holding, in a move that could lead to the Irish flag-carrier's takeover

The Guardian

• Transport for London says new contactless tickets will be '100% safe' Transport authority executive tells committee that he is certain criminals will not be able to obtain customers' bank details
• Minister admits he has legal right to rerun Thameslink contest Bombardier thrown potential lifeline, but transport secretary says ditching Siemens would cost jobs elsewhere
• Disabled people rely on travel concessions The removal of concessionary coach travel for disabled people and the elderly is yet another blow to our independence

The Herald

• Cleaner air for Edinburgh as 15 hybrid buses take to the streetsSCOTLAND™S first diesel-electric hybrid buses have been introduced in Edinburgh, the first sign of a £4.4 million Government investment in the green technology bearing fruit.

The Telegraph

• Fear of seeming weird putting people off cycling A three year research project has discovered that not fitting in, alongside “squashed helmet hair” and turning up “hot and sweaty” for meetings are the biggest deterrents for using a bike to commute.
• Transport Secretary Philip Hammond dashes hopes of Thameslink train contract review The Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has dashed hopes of the controversial Thameslink train contract being reviewed, warning of "very significant" consequences if the procurement process is reopened.
• Why Transport Secretary Phil Hammond was right to give Thameslink contract to Siemens Transport Secretary Phil Hammond was right to award the controversial Thameslink train contract to Siemens earlier this year and right to resist calls for the decision to be reviewed, or the procurement process reopened.

The Mirror

• Government's Thameslink bid "was like buying a toaster" BOMBARDIER lost the Thameslink deal to the Germans because the Government’s approach to value for money is like “buying a toaster”, an expert told MPs yesterday. Professor Karel Williams told the Commons transport select committee that the drive for value ignored the impact of job losses.
• A journey to the Commons with the Bombardier's Spirit of Derby THE train was named the Spirit of Derby – and nothing could have better summed up the pride, passion and indignation contained within its carriages.

The Sun

• We’re one of the last British industries...don’t kill us offHUNDREDS of train workers yesterday made an emotional journey to London to demand MPs reverse a decision that will cost thousands of jobs.
• Bus lane spy rakes in £20,000 a DAY COUNCIL accused of bamboozling motorists to rake in £20k a day from new traffic camera

Network Rail

• NETWORK RAIL CHAIRMAN MAPS OUT PRIORITIES FOR HIS FINAL YEAR

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Personal travel plans could cut Welsh traffic congestion by 14% THOUSANDS of Welsh families will be offered free bus journeys and alternative travel advice in a drive to tackle traffic jams.

Derby Telegraph

• 'Ministers chose rail bidder like people choose a new toaster in John Lewis'AN academic said the way ministers decided who should build Thameslink trains was like someone "choosing a toaster at John Lewis".
• Derby delegates meet with HammondWHILE the symbolic gestures of protest carried on outside, inside Transport Secretary Philip Hammond was telling a delegation from Derby that he would not change the Thameslink decision.
• Time is running out to save our rail industryIN the shadow of Big Ben, Bombardier painter Steve Flood had a message for the Government – act now or lose British train manufacturing forever.
• Derby Telegraph commented Rail station ticket office 'recommended for closure'Article

Edinburgh Evening News

• Free parking plan during tramworksFREE parking promotions or complimentary bus tickets should be provided during tram work to encourage people into the city centre, councillors said today.

Liverpool Post

• £10m investment plan in new Mersey buses MERSEYSIDE’S transport system is set to benefit from more than £10m of investment in its bus network.
• Merseyrail MD Bart Schmeink stepping down to head Amsterdam transport system MERSEYRAIL managing director Bart Schmeink is stepping down to take control of Amsterdam’s public transport system.
• Sir Stelios steps up war of words with Easyjet board EASYJET founder and its biggest shareholder, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, stepped up his war of words with the carrier’s board today.

Wales Online

• England’s high-speed rail threat to our jobs THE UK Government’s planned high-speed rail network could drain 21,000 jobs from Wales by 2040 and stop major companies setting up businesses in the nation, MPs were warned yesterday.

Crewe Chronicle

• Fears over report recommending closure of Sandbach and Holmes Chapel railway station ticket offices THERE are fears Sandbach and Holmes Chapel’s railway stations will become magnets for vandalism under cost-cutting plans to scrap manned ticket offices.

Peterborough Telegraph

• New taxi rank in the city centreSHOPPERS in the city centre will enjoy better access to taxis after a new rank opened up on Broadway this week.

Other Regional Press

• Ticket office closure plans for Lancashire railway stations STATION ticket offices across Lancashire - including one which is the centrepiece of a new £2million railway development - could be axed.
• End of the line for railway station ticket offices? [Staffordshire]THREE railway ticket offices in North Staffordshire and South Cheshire are on a Government hit-list of sites threatened with closure.
• Hendon MP speaks out against rail ticket office closures [Hendon & Finchley Times]HENDON MP Matthew Offord has said he will fight to keep ticket offices open midst speculation 675 have been ear-marked for closure.
• Rail ticket offices set for chop?TRAIN chiefs have denied they are planning to close ticket offices at five stations across Wigan.
• Fresh call for crackdown on utility firms over road chaosA call has been made for a clamp down on companies that cause chaos for motorists by carrying out shoddy repairs.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Performance improvements ˜boost UK bus sales™Performance improvements are boosting bus sales across the UK, according to the results of a new report.The study - undertaken by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) - revealed the number of big bus registrations rose by 114 per cent during the month of August alone and by 70 per cent over the past three months.Similarly, due to improved reliability and enhanced fuel efficiency in the sector, coach volumes were also up by a figure of 25 per cent in August.Paul Everitt, chief executive of SMMT, said: "The coach market is stable, albeit at a lower level than pre-recess...

Global Rail News

• Union says Bombardier™s loss of Thameslink contract will lead to job losses ˜all around UK™Commenting on the results of a business survey published by Unite yesterday, which shows that there will be ‘job losses throughout Bombardier’s UK supply chain following ...
• Improvements deliver more efficient railway in East MidlandsRail passengers on the Robin Hood Line north of Nottingham will be travelling on a ‘more efficient and reliable railway’ after Network Rail commissions new signalling ...
• Network Rail chairman maps out priorities for his final yearRick Haythornthwaite, Network Rail™s chairman, yesterday delivered the inaugural Bradshaw Address outlining his priorities for the final year of his three-year term as chairman. Before an ...
• Europorte concludes a major partnership with TrenitaliaTrenitalia, the leading rail operator in Italy, and Europorte, a subsidiary within the Eurotunnel Group, have concluded a strategic agreement establishing an international rail freight link ...
• East Coast cuts weekend parking rates at stationsTrain operator East Coast is cutting up to 45% off weekend daily parking rates at seven of its managed stations. The new rates are being trialled ...
• New solution developed for Kirknewton level crossingNetwork Rail has developed a new solution to enhance safety at a West Lothian level crossing following consultation with the local community. The new proposal, which ...
• Russian Railways orders further Desiro trains from SiemensRussian Railways (RZD) have placed an order for further Desiro RUS type regional trains with Train Technologies, a joint venture of Siemens and the Russian rail ...
• First Hull Trains joins campaign to combat rail cable theftFirst Hull Trains has joined a national campaign to combat cable theft in an attempt to eradicate tens of millions of pounds in losses and huge ...
• London Midland ˜trains™ students on value for moneyTo celebrate the launch of its brand new ‘every 20 mins from less than £20′ service to London, London Midland has teamed up with local students ...
• Alstom and Transmashholding present the EP20 locomotiveAlstom Transport and Transmashholding (TMH) have unveiled the first joint production resulting from the strategic partnership established in Russia between the two companies: an electric locomotive ...
• Balfour Beatty Rail celebrates opening of new Glasgow officeIn mid-August, Balfour Beatty Rail invited Network Rail, key rail consultants and members of both the Westminster and Holyrood parliaments to join them for their first ...

Aviation Industry

• London Stansted Airport appoints new Commercial DirectorLondon Stansted Airport has today announced the appointment of Jonathan Crick as its new Commercial Director.

Other News Sources

• Train supply chain suffers following Thameslink awardNearly a third of UK suppliers in the train manufacturing industry expect a substantial drop in sales because Bombardier missed out on a large government contract.
• Bombardier chairman struggling to understand Thameslink decisionThe ongoing Bombardier saga has seen the chairman of the UK firm question the government's decision to award the £1.4 billion Thameslink contract to Siemens.
• East Midlands signalling project to finishNetwork Rail will be completing new signalling on the Robin Hood Line north of Nottingham this weekend.
• Haythornthwaite will not seek re-electionNetwork Rail chairman Rick Haythornthwaite has announced he will not put forward his name for re-election at Network Rail™s annual general meeting.
• M1 upgrade project uses remote aerial cameraA Costain/Carillion joint venture has used pioneering aerial photography to speed up planning and progress reports on its Highways Agency improvement project on the M1, junctions 10 to 13.