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

Friday, 23 September 2011

BBC News

• Leicester railway station to get £3.5m improvement A £3.5m refurbishment of Leicester railway station has been given the go-ahead by the city council.
• Bombardier pays off 40 agency staff in Belfast Belfast plane maker Bombardier has confirmed that it has paid off 40 agency workers in recent weeks.
• What do rail delay excuses really mean?Rail passengers want franker and more factual explanations of delays, a report suggests. So how do you decode the excuses for lateness?
• Speed cameras net 24,000 driversNew figures show which speed cameras in south Wales catch most drivers, with more than 6,600 caught on a stretch of the M4, and two in Cardiff triggered just once each.
• Rail link 'on time and on budget'The first minister tells MSPs that the Borders to Edinburgh rail line will open by 2014 and within its £295m budget.
• Aviation links 'threaten growth'Poor aviation links could cost Britain £14bn in lost business over 10 years, a Heathrow airport-commissioned report says.
• Protesters want car-free LondonEnvironmental activists campaigning for car-free areas and 20mph restrictions in central London protest outside Transport for London's offices.
• Saab wins bankruptcy court appealTroubled carmaker Saab will seek bankruptcy protection after overturning a court decision that prevented it from doing so.
• Car production up 11% in AugustCar manufacturing rose 10.7% in August compared with the same month last year, according to the SMMT.
• Easyjet increases profit forecastLow-cost airline Easyjet increases its full-year profit estimate and also announces a special dividend for shareholders.
• EU electric car standards agreedEurope's motor industry agrees on a common system for charging any electric car across Europe.

Department for Transport

• Transport Statistics: Port Freight Statistics: 2010 final figuresThe Department for Transport has today published the following Transport Statistics:

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
• EasyJet predicts Sir Stelios' defeatBudget airline raises profit guidance on the back of higher numbers of business travellers and short-break tourists
• Ryanair credit card fees warningAirline branded card refunds booking fees “ but carries many others
• Aer Lingus rejects Ryanair's pay-out callIrish flag-carrier's board sticks by its position that a dividend should only be considered once a 'more durable' economic recovery is apparent

The Guardian

• A light rail renaissance The government has set out its intention to trigger a light rail renaissance in the UK and while specialists welcome the move some are concerned about costs

The Herald

• Fury over decision not to extend ferry subsidy plan to all islands ISLANDERS have criticised the decision not to extend a ferry subsidy scheme to all Scottish islands amid claims they are losing out on tourists lured by cheaper fares to other destinations.
• Bus plan that would take off Now that Edinburgh Airport has become an important hub for more airlines, when will bus companies realise the problems passengers travelling from Glasgow have reaching the terminal building?

Daily Express

• Stelios in line for £70m easyJet cash windfallEASYJET founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou is to snap up more than £70million from his family's stake in the budget airline after the company bowed to investor pressure and announced plans to return a large slug of cash to shareholders.

Mail Online

• Fuel prices and inflation push up holidays even furtherHigher fuel and accommodation costs will drive up headlines prices by five per cent, according to TUI Travel, which owns Thomson and First Choice.
• Is this the most useless speed camera in Britain? £20k safety device captures just ONE motorist in a yearThe pricey yellow speed camera in Cardiff, which checks drivers on a leafy suburban road, pulled in just a single £60 fine where one M4 camera nabs 18 drivers a day.

ATOC

• Government Minister Norman Baker to speak at integrated transport conferenceNorman Baker MP, Parliamentary Undersecretary for State for Transport, will be the keynote speaker at the 2011 Rail and Integrated Transport Conference this month. The conference,...
• Train companies respond to Passenger Focus report into rail passengers' needs during unplanned disruptionIn response to Passenger Focus’s report into rail passengers’ needs during unplanned disruption,...

Network Rail

• TEEN FILMMAKERS SCOOP RAIL PRIZE AT OXFORD AND CHERWELL VALLEY COLLEGE

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph commented Award nomination for BombardierArticle

Journal Live

• 'Cycle car' to be sold exclusively in the North East THE first new models of an iconic three-wheel “cycle car” will be on sale exclusively in the North East.

London Evening Standard

• Boost Heathrow 'or Britain will be cut-off island'Britain faces being an 'island cut off' from key markets as Heathrow falls behind rival hub airports, it is claimed
• River commuters to benefit from new Thames routesLondon's largest river bus commuter service has revealed new and expanded routes as it prepares for the Olympics and record numbers of passengers

Manchester Evening News

• Hulme residents launch protests to stop drivers using streets as 'free car parks' Residents are holding rush hour protests against commuters who clog their inner-city streets to avoid parking charges. People living near the Mancunian Way in Hulme say they are sick of their streets being used as 'free car parks' so drivers don't have to pay for parking in town.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post commented MPs 'must fight together on rail'Article

Wales Online

• Let’s use lawmaking powers for more than just cycle lanes A POLITICAL row broke out last night after the chair of the inquiry that paved the way for this year’s Assembly powers referendum voiced disappointment at how they were being used.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Bus routes review if Peterborough surgeries are closedHEALTH bosses have reassured patients in three areas of Peterborough that access to GP surgeries would be maintained under proposals to shake-up the city’s healthcare.

Other Regional Press

• £500k boost for extra bus servicesExtra bus services between Combe Down and Twerton are being laid on in a £500,000 boost for public transport.
• Rail study points to new county station COUNTY commuters could be set for a major boost after a study commissioned by Transport Scotland showed a positive business case for a railway station at East Linton as part of an improved Dunbar local service.
• Campaign for 20mph limit gains strengthLEADERS of the 20’s Plenty campaign in Chichester are striving to get another 600 signatures by October 20 to show the county there is support for the scheme.
• Bus service wins a partial reprieve after a petitionA BUS route which was facing the axe has been partially saved.
• Fury over bus chaos in Dorset: Transport watchdog slams county council A TRANSPORT watchdog has slammed the county council over the on-going school bus chaos.
• Councillors urge people fighting HS2 rail line to oppose constituency boundary changes NORTH Warwickshire council leaders are urging people fighting the HS2 high speed rail line to oppose a planned shake-up of constituencies for general elections.

Bus and Coach.com

• Dorset school bus complaintsFaced with a large number of complaints from parents about new school bus services, Dorset county council has this week taken on the direct operation of five contracts for one week only while Go-Ahead™s Damory Coaches, which secured all of the contracts, addressed the council™s concerns.
• Walrus smartcard launched in MerseysideMerseytravel, the Merseyside PTE, is launching an ITSO smartcard, the Walrus.
• First promotes buses with TV campaignIn a rare example of the bus industry using TV advertising, First UK Bus is running a 30-second advert promoting its services for a six-week trial period in two regions, ITV Yorkshire and HTV Wales & West.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Join us for a 'Rally in the Valley' this Saturday22 September: This Saturday we'll be joining the Hastings Alliance for a Rally in the Valley against the proposed Bexhill-Hastings Link Road read more
• Make sure bus cuts in your area aren™t breaking the law22 September: Is your community being left with no public transport?  Were you consulted before your bus was cut? Have vulnerable people been left stranded? It could be that bus cuts in your area were illegal. read more

Global Rail News

• 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 ...
• Haythornthwaite urges vision˜I’ve never been in an industry before where growth felt like such a problem,™ says Rick Haythornthwaite, Network Rail™s chairman. Speaking at the inaugural Bradshaw Address ...
• An Asset to the CauseAccountants tend to sniff at plant and equipment, placing it in a different column and shaking their heads as they work out asset depreciation. However heavy ...
• Virgin Trains pays Government £110mVirgin Trains has paid the Government £110 million this year – in stark contrast to last year™s figure when the train operator received a subsidy of ...

Transport for London

• New Docklands Light Railway extension an instant hit with passengersNew six-kilometre extension gets match-fit for 2012 Games by supporting the success of Westfield Stratford shopping centre's first week. Total Docklands Light Railway (DLR) passenger numbers break all previous records.

Aviation Industry

• UK risks being cut off from growth by poor trade links, says new studyNew economic research claims that Britain œrisks being cut off from global growth, becoming œa less competitive place to do business because it is losing out to European competitors in the battle for flights to emerging markets.
• Heathrow losing out on new routes Business going to œbetter connected airports
• Air Berlin to cut fleet by 10%Airline aims to raise revenue by €200m
• Analysis: A glimpse into the futureStanley Slaughter looks at how digital natives could change the face of travel management
• easyJet in line for £250m pre-tax profitReturn higher than expected
• Comment: The customer will decideKevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition, argues that the customer will ultimately decide how travel distribution evolves in the marketplace
• Gatwick airport creates passenger panelGatwick airport is to consult a panel of independent experts on passenger issues in a bid to improve traveller experience at the airport

Other News Sources

• Cycle for London: Protestors urge TfL to rethink capital's transport priorities (+ video) Climate Rush joins cycle campaigners at Blackfriars Bridge this morning to mark World Car Free Day
• RMT takes rolling protest over McNulty Review rail carve-up to LiverpoolIN THE latest leg of the rolling national protest over the McNulty Rail Review attack on jobs, services and passenger fares, rail union RMT will be taking to the streets of Liverpool next week.
• RMT demands end of rail job cuts threat as 'Active Shooter' report warns of 'strong possibility' of Norway style gun attack on transport systemRAIL UNION RMT today called on the Government to 'wholly reject' the McNulty Rail Review proposals to axe station-based staff and guards on trains after the union was presented with a stark intelligence report from Southeastern Railways setting out a strategy for dealing with a Mumbai or Norway style 'Active Shooter' attack on the railways with a warning that such an attack is a 'strong possibility.'
• News from John Biggs: John Wins Concessions on Olympic Route Network 22 September, 2011 Following representations by Local London Assembly member, John Biggs, and residents of Wapping TfL have made some changes to the Olympic Route Network in East London. TfL have agreed to shorten the operation dates of the ORN and have re-instated 3 bus stops they had previously removed. 360-house-thumb.jpg Yes read more
• TfL achieves 95 per cent construction waste recyclingA total of 331,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste was generated at TfL sites in 2010/11 as the transport body targets a 90 per cent reuse and recycle level by 2017/18.