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

Friday, 09 September 2011

BBC News

• Miliband calls for Commons debate on Bombardier layoffs Labour leader Ed Miliband has called for a debate in the House of Commons on the future of Derby-based train maker Bombardier.
• Bombardier: What happens next? The Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond, has said he will not change his mind on the Thameslink contract, which went to Siemens instead of Derby-based Bombardier.
• On the new MG6 production line at Longbridge [video]Chinese-owned Birmingham car maker MG has revealed it has landed more than £5m worth of orders for its new model, the MG6.
• End of the roadWhy Saab's demise seems inevitable
• Ultra-lightweight carsBMW kick-starts carbon fibre battle
• OFT to look into car insuranceThe Office of Fair Trading says it will look into UK motor insurance premiums, which are reported to have risen by as much as 40%.
• Airlines investigated for chargesAn investigation has been launched into some airlines to consider whether they are hiding card surcharges for customers booking flights online.

Department for Transport

• Transport Statistics: Port Freight and Vehicle LicensingThe Department for Transport has today published the following Transport Statistics:

Financial Times

• Medvedev tries to deflect criticism after aircraft crashThe Russian president says a large portion of old Soviet models will be grounded as soon as January, while some small air carriers will be shut
• Watchdog investigates airlines over hidden feesThe Office of Fair Trading is looking at flight operators who levy 'excessive' charges for debit and credit card use, with Ryanair a particular offender

The Guardian

• CBI says Britain's ageing road and rail networks are damaging investment Business group calls on government to tackle failings in transport infrastrucure

The Herald

• Watchdog to probe cost of car insurance THE UK consumer watchdog is to investigate the soaring cost of motoring insurance amid evidence drivers have faced average premium increases of up to 40% in a year.

The Telegraph

• Insurance companies face car insurance probe Insurance companies are facing an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading after a year in which drivers have seen their premiums rise by 40 per cent.
• 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.

Reuters News

• Bombardier Transportation and Blackpool Council and Lancashire County Council: Worldwide Launch of Bombardier FLEXITY 2 TramBombardier is hosting the global launch of the BOMBARDIER FLEXITY 2 tram in Blackpool, England. Blackpool and Lancashire County Council purchased the world's most advanced tram technology from Bombardier to revitalize Britain's most traditional tram system and will operate 16 new, ultra-modern FLEXITY 2 vehicles on the Blackpool and Fleetwood tramway.

The Mirror

• The sacrifice of Bombardier is one of the most senseless decisions David Cameron has made DAVID Cameron is increasingly fond of repeating the mantra that he governs in The National Interest so we should all be grateful he runs the country.

Network Rail

• MORE PARKING FOR CARS AT COTSWOLD STATIONS

Belfast Telegraph

• Car maker seeks court protection Swedish car maker Saab is filing for bankruptcy protection in a self-managed reconstruction process. Related StoriesAgency set to lose role as start-up programme providerNI nominees attend glitzy London ceremony for new awardsEstate agents 'optimistic' despite fall in house pricesBid to attract more visitors with £12m overseas publicity campaignOsborne standing by economic policy

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• 50 bus routes facing cuts in plan to save £4.5m Vulnerable people in the poorest and most remote areas of Bradford district will be worst hit by planned cuts to subsidised bus services, a former regional transport chief has said.

Derby Telegraph

• We are stepping up pressure for U-turn on Thameslink dealFOLLOWING the tumultuous end to the parliamentary year, the summer recess resounded with too much news.
• Labour leader lifts workers' hopesBOMBARDIER workers have said they have been lifted by Labour leader Ed Miliband's pledge to do "everything he can" to save their jobs.
• 'Saddened' industry boss wants rule change after rail-deal blowTHE head of one of the most powerful business organisations in the UK has said that Government procurement rules should be changed so that all companies bidding for the work can compete on a level playing field.

Metro

• Boris Johnson: I want every taxi in London to be zero emissionBoris Johnson wants all taxis in London to run off electricity by the end of decade.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Nissan celebrating 25 years at Sunderland NISSAN celebrates its 25th anniversary of manufacturing cars in the North East today. Andrew Glover reports on the plant’s remarkable success.

Sheffield Telegraph

• Ticketless bus planSOUTH Yorkshire’s biggest bus company is investing £2.7 million in developing a cashless ticketing system for its 500-strong bus fleet.

Blackpool Gazette

• Blackpool supertram is here!THE wraps have come off the first of Blackpool’s 16 new supertrams.

The Shields Gazette

• Rail jobs battle picking up speed A COUNCIL could give cash backing to a trade union fight to prevent part of a massive £1.4bn contract coming to South Tyneside.

Other Regional Press

• Ferry firm looks to axe high-speed service from Portsmouth to Le HavreA FERRY firm is considering scrapping its summer high-speed service because of rising running costs.
• On-the-go rail news Hard-pressed Southeastern commuters can now find out about delays and disruptions while on the move.
• Extra £1 million will help tackle potholes in AberdeenROADS bosses in Aberdeen have outlined how they hope to spend an extra £1 million on repairs and maintenance.
• Minister vows to speed up ruling on Aberdeen bypassSCOTLAND™S Transport Minister Keith Brown today vowed to try to speed up the legal process over an appeal against Aberdeen™s bypass.
• HS2 plan "ignores eco issues", MPs told ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners say the countryside has been ignored in considering the proposed high speed rail line set to cut through Warwickshire.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Fair Fares Now month of action success7 September: The Fair Fares Now month of action went better than we could have hoped for! read more
• The final dash for cash7 Sept: On Friday the competition for £630m in transport funding, and our best chance to finally see the back of dinosaur road schemes, will begin.  read more
• From Nottingham to Westminster: a big bus trip with an important message7 August: Yesterday campaigners by the bus load travelled to the Houses of Parliament to challenge Norman Baker, Minister for buses. read more

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Vehicle security systems 'may be at risk from hackers'Security systems in vehicles could be targeted by hackers, as embedded devices feature software that may become compromised.This is the warning issued by a new report from McAfee, which notes that the technology is employed in components ranging from airbags to communications systems.According to the software security company, failures are being seen in terms of protections in vehicles and it has warned that any incidents of malware could prove dangerous.McAfee senior vice-president and general manager Stuart McClure explained that the long development times for vehicles mean action is needed ...

Global Rail News

• Alstom and Promelectronica to set up a signalling JV for Russia & CISAlstom and Promelectronica have decided to develop a partnership to commercialise in the Russian and CIS market signalling equipment adapted to the standards 1520. The current ...
• Priestmangoode designs LoungeLink for train travel to airportsPriestmangoode, the leading transport designers behind Moving Platforms have unveiled their latest design concept, LoungeLink. LoungeLink focuses on the interior of trains travelling to and from airports, ...
• Scotland ˜ready to show leadership™ on high speed railThe business case for high speed rail is stronger when it includes Scotland, Scottish Transport Minister, Keith Brown, said on Tuesday. The Minister, who was providing ...
• Manchester Metrolink public consultation to closeWith the public consultation on plans for a new Metrolink line through Manchester city centre drawing to a close this week, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) ...
• Police warning after detonators stolen from rail lineBritish Transport Police (BTP) has issued a stark warning after a number of railway detonators were stolen from the rail line near to Cottingham rail station. ...
• Invensys Rail commissions latest phase of Oslo signallingInvensys Rail has successfully commissioned the latest phase of the Oslo Metro T-Bane signalling programme on behalf of infrastructure owner KTPAS. This latest scheme was commissioned ...
• FOSD to hold post conference debateFollowing the success of the second Future of Station Design conference held earlier this year, key topics and discussion points raised will be the platform at ...
• Longer trains to continue on busy Scotland and North Wales routesVirgin Trains has today confirmed that it will continue to provide additional seats on its Birmingham-Scotland and London-North Wales routes, beyond the end of the Summer ...
• Retro-style adverts herald ˜Fly Virgin Trains™ campaignVirgin Trains has a new marketing campaign called ˜Fly Virgin Trains™ which launched on Monday 5 September 2011. The campaign aims to ‘counteract marketing activities which ...
• South West Trains to issue staff with smartphones to ˜improve passenger communications™South West Trains has announced plans to provide smartphones to more than 850 of its front line customer service staff in a drive to improve real-time ...
• Chiltern Railways bring the countryside to Birmingham Moor StreetFollowing claims by passengers that Mainline trains to London are now ‘so fast that the countryside is just a blur’, today Chiltern Railways brought the countryside ...

Aviation Industry

• London Stansted Airport appoints new Commercial DirectorLondon Stansted Airport has today announced the appointment of Jonathan Crick as its new Commercial Director.
• Beijing reduces domestic jet fuel prices The Chinese government cut domestic jet fuel prices to CNY7,670 ($1,200) per ton, down 1.48% from CNY7,785 in August, because of the decline of international fuel prices. This is the first price reduction this year.
• Boeing predicts China will need 5,000 new aircraft by 2030Boeing has increased its 20-year forecast for new airliner demand in China by almost 700 aircraft compared to just 10 months ago.
• Monarch cancels its 787 ordersMonarch Group, parent of Monarch Airlines (ZB), confirmed it has canceled its order for six Boeing 787s. Boeing mentioned the cancellation of six Dreamliners on its orders and deliveries website last week.
• UK improves flight punctuality4% rise in on time services

Green Miscellany

• The pedal-powered mobile library With 400 libraries around the country under threat of closure, might cash-strapped councils be about to take a leaf out of the Institute of Green Mobility™s book?read more
• The Nils “ VW™s pragmatic approach to the electric car In answer to the challenges delaying a widespread uptake of electric cars, VW has used its Nils concept car to take a pragmatic approach to the restricted range, high cost and long re-charge times associated with today’s battery technology. read more
• The bicycle bell that shouts abuse so you don™t have to The sound is inherently friendly so it’s almost impossible to ring a bicycle bell in anger in the way that drivers use their car horns, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn of a bicycle speaker that records and plays any message to warn others of your presence. read more

Other News Sources

• Government refuses to reconsider Thameslink Contract The transport secretary has refused to rethink the government’s recent Thameslink contract decision. The controversial decision to award the £1.4bn contract to Siemens instead of Bombardier has resulted in 1,400 redundancies at the firm’s Derby factory.
• Coalition will not review Siemens Thameslink contract decision A decision to select Siemens for the £1.4bn Thameslink train contract, instead of Derbyshire-based Bombardier, won’t be reviewed, the transport secretary has confirmed.
• Thameslink contract: rip it up and start again Most commentators agree that the award of the £1.5bn Thameslink rail contract to Siemens rather than Bombardier was a bad decision. Perhaps it’s not too late to reconsider