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

Thursday, 22 September 2011

BBC News

• Southend Airport railway station officially opened The new railway station at Southend Airport in Essex has been officially opened by the transport minister Theresa Villiers.
• Bombardier: Clegg gives fresh assurances on train maker's future Nick Clegg tells me he's frustrated, really frustrated. Normally when a grown man volunteers such information to me, I head for the hills. But the Liberal Democrat leader wanted to share with me his frustration over the controversial Thameslink rail contract.
• Is hydrogen the future of motoring?The UK gets its first public hydrogen refuelling station
• VIDEO: Tourist spaceport unveiledA spaceport where spacecraft carrying tourists will be assembled and tested is unveiled in the Mojave desert in the US.
• Urbee printed car goes on displayAn environmentally friendly car, partly made using 3D printing technology, has gone on show in Canada.
• Mayor's new roadworks initiativesA new series of initiatives against disruptive road works are announced by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.
• Cycle role for bridge to nowhereA notorious Glasgow landmark - the bridge to nowhere - is to be given a new lease of life as part of a scheme to boost cycling.
• Saab wins bankruptcy court appealTroubled carmaker Saab will seek bankruptcy protection after overturning a court decision that prevented it from doing so.

Financial Times

• Aviation shortfall expected to cost UK £14bnInadequate links to emerging markets such as China and the lack of a 'credible aviation policy' will hit British trade, report finds

The Guardian

• Two arrested over railway cable theft on east coast mainline Scores of trains cancelled or delayed this week after signalling cable stolen in West Yorkshire

The Telegraph

• Blind spot crashes increase The number of crashes caused by blind spots has risen by 50% over the last two years, a study has found.
• Free bus travel can benefit older people’s health... but queue up to find a bus Public transport is a lifeline for many, especially the elderly, but recent cuts have driven the UK's bus infrastructure to breaking point.

Reuters News

• Heathrow falls behind rival European London's Heathrow is falling further behind rival European airports in the battle for lucrative routes to emerging markets, according to a study released on Thursday.

Mail Online

• Green activist who stopped Heathrow third runway heads to U.S. to explain how he did it... by aeroplane of course Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2040182/Green-activist-John-Stewart-stopped-Heathrow-3rd-runway-flies-US-explain-.html#ixThe ’green’ activist whose successful protest campaign scuppered plans for a controversial third runway at Heathrow is going to the USA for a month to tell the Americans how he did it –by aeroplane.

The Mirror

• Jobs casualty Bombardier shortlisted for manufacturing award Train maker Bombardier has been shortlisted for a top manufacturing award – mere months after being dumped for a German rival.
• Pirate radio station affects Gatwick Airport air traffic control system A PIRATE radio station was shut down after Gatwick complained its air traffic control systems were disrupted by the music.

Derby Telegraph

• MP demands DfT notes about Thameslink dealA DERBY MP has asked Transport Secretary Philip Hammond to hand over documents relating to the award of the Thameslink contract to Siemens.
• AWARD NOMINATIONASSESSORS and moderators for a national manufacturing awards competition will be visiting Bombardier's Litchurch Lane factory today.
• Bombardier campaign takes protest on to city's billboardsBILLBOARD posters have gone up near to Bombardier's Derby factory declaring the firm's pride at being a British manufacturer.
• Lobby group raises support for train-makerTHE next meeting of the Bombardier Community Support Group takes place tomorrow night.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Tram works cut off web at HolyroodTRAM works were today blamed for the loss of internet access at the Scottish Parliament for a day.

Manchester Evening News

• Rail chiefs ask passengers: ’Are we on the right track?’ Thousands of passengers will be asked their views on the future of rail travel in Greater Manchester. Network Rail says it consultation on the future of the ˜Northern Hub™ will be its biggest ever test of public opinion.

Metro

• Train passengers want 'more honesty and fewer excuses'Commuters want ˜more honesty and fewer excuses™ as they increasingly rely on radio and TV information rather than botched ˜real-time™ announcements from rail companies, a train customer watchdog has said.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Over 90% of the public oppose RoadSense stance on bypassNine out of 10 people in the north-east believe that RoadSense should drop its legal challenge to the long-awaited Aberdeen bypass.

Bucks Free Press

• Health bosses axe free shuttle busA SHUTTLE bus which provides free door-to-door transport between Wycombe and Stoke Mandeville hospitals has been axed by health bosses.

Other Regional Press

• Plans for junction works already £1mMULTI-million pound road improvements to a busy roundabout linking Luton with the M1 motorway have already cost £1 million even though overall funding for the project has yet to be secured.
• Edinburgh tram costs nearly £100m per mileEdinburgh™s over-budget tram project is expected to cost nearly four times as much per mile of track than similar light rail projects elsewhere in the UK, a Government report has confirmed.
• £2.5m scheme to make cycling saferA bid to get more people on their bike towards a healthier lifestyle has been launched in Glasgow.
• Parents™ school buses summitPARENTS and guardians of parents from five schools are invited to a meeting tomorrow night (Friday, September 22) about bus cancellations.

Campaign for Better Transport

• New interactive transport project mapOur new map helps you find and comment on transport proposals in your area. read more
• Save Our Buses campaign pack now available!21 September: Are you losing your local bus? Do you want to fight to get it back? Order your Save Our Buses campaign pack here! read more
• Save our Buses tour of the party conferences gets off to a flying start in Birmingham!21 September: With flyers, a loadhailer and a banner that was literally the size double decker bus, we hit the Liberal Democrat party conference in Birmingham with some good old fashioned campaigning. read more

Global Rail News

• Reading Christmas work wins commendation at Rail AwardsWork to upgrade the railway through Reading last Christmas has received a special commendation in the ‘project of the year’ category at the National Rail Awards. ...
• Light rail ˜has a future in UK if costs can be reduced™Light rail has a future in this country if capital costs can be reduced Local Transport Minister Norman Baker said yesterday as he published a review ...
• Grand designs at Exeter stations beginWork to improve Exeter Central and Exeter St Davids into bright, accessible and secure stations has started. Nearly 4m passengers are set to benefit from better ...
• Many people ˜don™t understand train tickets™Few people understand what their train tickets entitle them to “ and train websites ‘aren™t helping’. Which? surveyed rail passengers to find out how much they ...
• BTP officer receives National Rail AwardA British Transport Police officer from Brighton was last week presented with an award for Outstanding Personal Contribution at the National Rail Awards Ceremony. Nominated by ...
• Which? research on train tickets is ˜dubious and misleading™ “ ATOCIn response to Which? research about train tickets, a spokesperson for the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) said: œThis is a highly dubious and misleading ...
• Railways attract fresh talentAndré Blackwood, an engineer, is enjoying a new career in the railway industry. André, 24, from Erdington, is working on the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street ...
• Bombardier Wins Third Mass Transit Complete Signalling System in BrazilBombardier Transportation has won a new order to deliver the signalling solution for Line 5 of the Sao Paulo Metro in Brazil. The new system will ...
• Bombardier™s Litchurch Lane staff praisedHard working staff at Bombardier’s Derby factory have triumphed yet again with the delivery, ahead of schedule, of 379002 and 379030 to Ilford depot. All 30 ...
• Network Rail pushes ahead with project reform plansNetwork Rail is pushing ahead with plans to reform project delivery which will save money across the industry. Projects will be delivered more quickly as successful ...
• Glasgow base for Balfour Beatty RailBalfour Beatty Rail has opened a new base in Shettleston, Glasgow and celebrated with an Open Day showcasing new plant and equipment. Determined to build close ...

Railnews

• Passengers 'confused' by rail restrictions, says survey The consumer watchdog Which? is claiming that many people are confused by the small print of rail travel. It said that in a survey of rail passengers, almost half those who took part failed to realise that Advance tickets commit them to travelling on a specific train. But ATOC has branded the research as 'dubious and misleading'.

Aviation Industry

• Aberdeen airport pulls out all the stops for OE2011The figures are just in and it is official, Offshore Europe week 2011 was a record breaker!
• Bombardier to lower CRJ production Bombardier said

Other News Sources

• Bombardier campaign hits the party conferences and builds up to Parliamentary lobby on 12th OctoberRAIL UNION RMT today set out the next phase of the on-going, joint union and community campaign to save Bombardier in Derby, and the UK train manufacturing industry, with a presence at the forthcoming Labour and Conservative Party conferences, building up to a major lobby of Parliament on 12th October.