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

Wednesday, 05 October 2011

BBC News

• Derby rail firm Interfleet bought by Canadian company One of Derby's biggest rail companies has been acquired by a Canadian firm. Interfleet Technology, which specializes in rolling stock, railway systems and management, has been taken over by SNC-Lavalin.
• Tube drivers have one of 'simplest jobs' says blogger [Audio clip]A Daily Mail blogger has expressed outrage that Tube drivers are "paid so much more than a soldier or a nurse".
• Drivers 'cut petrol use by 15%' research suggests Drivers have cut their petrol consumption by more than 15% since the credit crunch and the recession. The AA has calculated that petrol sales in the first six months of 2011 were 1.7bn litres less than in the same period three years ago.
• UK 'super-port' to open in 2013The owners of the London Gateway port say the project is due to open in the last three months of 2013.
• Johnson: Don't cut transport cashLondon Mayor Boris Johnson warns the government not to cut the city's transport budget for
• New Ryanair card facing criticismA branded pre-paid card for Ryanair passengers launched on Tuesday has been criticised by consumer group Which?.

Financial Times

• EU rules on airline pollution draw fireThe row over the EU's plan to make airlines pay for their pollution has intensified as one of the bloc's biggest transport groups warns there will be a backlash

The Guardian

• Dutch firm is frontrunner for Greater Anglia rail route over Olympic period Continental Europe's grip on the UK rail industry is likely to extend to the Greater Anglia rail franchise after the Dutch national rail operator emerged as the frontrunner for one of the routes connecting to the 2012 Olympics

The Scotsman

• Petrol sales down during half-yearMore motorists cut back on driving in the first half of the year as record fuel prices squeezed household incomes and triggered a 5% drop in petrol sales.

The Telegraph

• Rare bat could endanger high speed rail plans, warns Government adviser Plans to build a high speed railway line from London to Birmingham could be threatened by a small colony of bats, the Government’s environmental advisers have warned.
• City Diary: Is Dreamliner going to be flying on empty? The Dreamliner has taken flight. Last week Boeing delivered the first 787 to All Nippon Airways. The new airliner, also known as the "7-wait-7" due to the three-year delay in its delivery, will make its first passenger flight later this month.
• IAG chief Willie Walsh calls for end to Air Passenger Duty Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways owner International Airlines Group, has launched a blistering attack on the Transport Secretary Philip Hammond, accusing him of being more "excited" by the idea of deficit reduction than transport policy and growth.

Mail Online

• Ryanair 'Cash Passport': £6 pre-payment card introduced by money-grabbing airlineThe budget airline is charging passengers £6 for a special pre-payment card – without which they will have to pay a £6 each way 'administration fee' just to book their tickets.

The Mirror

• Transport chief Philip Hammond guzzles free wine at party on day 1,400 Bombadier staff face the axe THEY claim to be the new caring Tories – but Philip Hammond ­shattered that myth as he swilled expensive wine on the day 1,400 train-makers faced the axe. The Transport Secretary lived the high life while Bombardier staff prepared for the worst after their consultation on job losses came to an end on Monday.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Crisis deal to rescue tram cost city £66mThe crisis deal that rescued Edinburgh's tram project cost the taxpayer more than £66 million.

Liverpool Echo

• Eye in sky charging for new toll bridge across the MerseyTHE new bridge across the Mersey will not have toll booths – but drivers will still pay to use the flagship crossing.

Liverpool Post

• Merseytravel ’u-turn’ on helping to pay libel claim bill of chairman Mark DowdTRANSPORT authority Merseytravel has performed a U-turn on paying the legal bill of its chairman, it was claimed last night.

London Evening Standard

• 'Mixed-use runway trial will cause even more disruption'Plans to change the way runways are used at Heathrow will cause even more disruption to residents, claims Hillingdon council
• Heathrow ban on baby buggies 'to protect staff'Parents are being forced to carry their children nearly half a mile at Heathrow airport after a baggage-handling firm refused to take baby buggies because of health and safety fears
• Boris praises Tube efficiency shortly before major signal failure cripples the networkIt was tempting fate to boast how well the Tube is running

Sheffield Star

• £5.6bn plan to electrify city to London railway line at last ELECTRIFICATION of the Midland Main Line railway and improvements to the route between Sheffield and Manchester are top priorities in a £5.6 billion plan of improvements proposed by Network Rail over five years from 2014.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Meet the faces of Arriva Yorkshire bus campaignPublic transport users in Yorkshire have been chosen as the faces of a new campaign encouraging better behaviour on the county’s buses.

Other Regional Press

• Heathrow runway plan trials could 'destroy' StanwellTHE spectre of jet engines roaring over Stanwell all day long will "destroy" people's respite from the noise, fear campaigners who are alarmed that planes will be able to switch runways throughout the day as part of a new trial scheme set to run.
• Anti-HS2 activists to fight seats as parties back high speed linkSTOP HS2 has announced it will field candidates in each of the 26 constituencies affected by the controversial high speed link – after failing to persuade any of the main three parties to oppose the plans.
• Inverness' railways are not "a rich man's toy" TRANSPORT secretary Philip Hammond reckons the railways are "a rich man’s toy" and are used by the better off which is why some fares are, in his words, "eye-wateringly expensive." He is also indicating that more ticket offices will close over the next couple of years, forcing people to book online instead.
• Man ’stole £27,000 of rail cable from same spot in four days’A MAN has appeared in court accused of stealing almost £27,000 worth of cable from a railway line.
• SPT to help drive Scots bid for high-speed railThe Scottish Government has invited SPT to help develop and support the case for high-speed rail.
• Two-wheeled pavement pests told to get on their bikesActivists are hoping to reclaim the pavements for pedestrians after launching a campaign against rogue cyclists.

Global Rail News

• RMT speaks of Tory betrayal of Bombardier apprenticesAS THE Tory party meets in Manchester, rail union RMT today provided new information showing that nearly 250 apprenticeships and engineering jobs for new graduates from ...
• High marks for food hygiene for First Hull Trains staffMembers of staff from First Hull Trains have been studying hard to gain food safety qualifications, ensuring that their food and hygiene skills are up to ...
• ˜Steam in the Gardens™ at Exbury HouseThe sun shone on more than 2500 visitors enjoying a spectacular ˜Steam in the Gardens™ weekend at Exbury. More than 60 vintage steam vehicles rumbled down ...
• High speed rail group invites SPT to get on boardStrathclyde Partnership for Transport has been asked by the Scottish Government to help develop and support Scotland’s case for high speed rail. A Scottish Partnership Group ...
• EuroMaint Rail signs contract with Mantena SverigeEuroMaint Rail has signed a contract with Mantena Svergie for the supply of materials to the regional train operator NorrtÃ¥g in northern Sweden. The agreement means that ...
• Work begins to create world™s largest solar bridge at BlackfriarsThe new Blackfriars station “ which is being built on a bridge spanning the River Thames “ is on its way to becoming the world™s largest ...

Other News Sources

• Clapham airport expansion activist barred from entering United States An activist who campaigned against the Heathrow expansion has been barred from entering the United States.
• Network Rail fined after train derailedNetwork Rail Infrastructure has been fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £32,000 after a train hit a collapsed public footbridge and derailed, injuring seven people.
• American Airlines' shares slump 33% Fear of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection