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

Wednesday, 12 October 2011

BBC News

• German police find explosive devices on Berlin railway German police have discovered another explosive device designed to derail trains in Berlin - the third in two days.
• Norfolk MPs spell out concern over threat to buses [video clip]Transport Minister Norman Baker admits that the grant paid to subsidise bus travel in Norfolk needs to be re-examined.
• Gatwick Airport: South Terminal departures revamp I've just visited the opening of the new departure lounge at Gatwick Airport in West Sussex. Here's an extended interview I did with the transport minister, Theresa Villiers.
• 'No review' into Thameslink decision by watchdog The National Audit Office (NAO) has decided against a full Value for Money review into the decision to deny Bombardier the Thameslink contract.
• Union raises ferry service fearsUnion leaders seek assurances from the transport minister on the future of lifeline ferry services in Scotland.
• Trams team 'did not have skills'Edinburgh City Council's transport convener says he did not have the right skills to
• Campaigners hand in HS2 petitionA petition against the government's planned HS2 high-speed rail project connecting London and Birmingham is taken to Downing Street.
• 'Have a beer' to skip 2012 queuesTransport chiefs recommend an old-fashioned way for commuters to avoid Olympian queues during London 2012 - have a beer before heading home.
• Passenger boost for BAA airportsScotland's BAA-owned airports handled more passengers last month, with Edinburgh having its busiest-ever September, says the operator.

Department for Transport

• £33M boost for hauliers with longer lorries trialSome hauliers will be allowed to use longer trailers under plans to boost growth published today by Roads Minister Mike Penning.

Financial Times

• Virgin to use 'recycled' fuel on flightsAirline hopes to run some flights using a blend of ordinary fuel and ethanol from emissions of carbon-intensive manufacturing operations
• Rural bus services facing a Beeching-style cullTransport campaigners have revealed figures showing £36m of planned cuts to rural bus services in England
• BAA 'cautious' as Heathrow numbers softenOwner of Heathrow and five other UK airports cautious about outlook despite London hub reporting record month for passenger traffic

The Herald

• Ferry service to expandA PASSENGER ferry service between Argyll and Northern Ireland has proved so popular it will be expanded next year.
• Boost for air link to London as passenger numbers soarBRITISH Airways is to put on an extra 20 flights a week between Glasgow and Heathrow amid further signs passenger numbers are recovering from a prolonged aviation crisis.

The Telegraph

• How cargo ships are taking on piracyOn October 10, 2011, the MV 'Montecristo' was first reported attacked some 620 nautical miles from Somalia.

Press Association

• Longer lorries allowed in trial Some freight companies will be able to use longer lorries in a 10-year trial announced by the Government.
• Bombardier workers to lobby MPs Workers from the Bombardier factory faced with job losses are to lobby MPs as part of a campaign to persuade the Government to change its mind over a lucrative train-building contract.
• Ryanair boss slams 'Heathwick' plan Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has hit out at proposals for a fast rail link between Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

Daily Express

• Greener fuel for VirginVIRGIN Atlantic is planning to use processed industrial waste gases as jet fuel in the next three years as part of a drive to become a greener airline.

Mail Online

• Jack Straw: Motorists fleeced £2bn a year by car insurance 'parasites'Former Home Secretary Jack Straw took a swipe at lawyers, claims firms, garages, credit hire firms and others engaged in a controversial cash-for-contacts referral fee 'racket'.
• Theresa Villiers: Threat of terrorism means airport security must remain tightTheresa Villiers, pictured, was speaking at Gatwick as she officially opened a new £45million ‘queue-busting’ security area at the West Sussex airport’s south terminal.

The Mirror

• Bombardier train workers to lobby MPs to save their jobsBOMBARDIER staff and supporters will today lobby MPs to persuade the Government to change its mind over giving the Thameslink contract to Siemens.

Liverpool Post

• Merseyrail train given a Beatles make-over to drive tourismA MERSEY train was given a Beatles-style makeover

Manchester Evening News

• Transport bosses ready to pay millions to make sure bus schemes go ahead Transport bosses are offering to pay millions of pounds towards two projects in a bid to win government approval, we can reveal.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Middleton Railway unveils restored locomotiveA 120-year-old piece of locomotive history has been brought back to life in Leeds.

Other Regional Press

• Metro push by EurotunnelA cross-Channel "metro" line linking Ashford, Calais and Lille could be a step closer after Eurotunnel said it would offer cash incentives to launch the service.
• Chiltern Railways chairman to give HS2 talk in LeamingtonTHE chairman of Chiltern Railways Adrian Shooter will be giving a talk on HS2 later this month.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Send in your views on the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road11 October: Just three days left for the public to comment on where Government should spend £630 million of transport funding. read more
• Public transport needs your support11 October: The deadline for comments on the Development Pool of 45 transport schemes is looming, and we don't just need your comments on the big road schemes. read more

Global Rail News

• Crossrail confirms signalling system shortlistCrossrail has confirmed the shortlist for the central section signalling system. The following organisations will be invited to tender later this year: Bombardier Transportation UK Limited ...
• Indian Railways starts first double decker train serviceThe Indian Railways has started its first AC double decker train service from Howrah, West Bengal to Dhanbad, Jharkhand. The new train was flagged off by ...
• East Coast says ˜book now™ for Christmas & New Year train travelTrain operator East Coast is encouraging passengers to book tickets as soon as possible for travel over the Christmas and New Year holidays. East Coast opened ...
• Vital Rail Security awarded ˜significant™ contract by Network RailSince Vital Rail Security won a place on Network Rail™s Framework Contract for Manned Security Services, the company has been waiting for the first ˜mini tender™ ...
• c2c staff celebrate National Rail AwardNational Express train operator c2c™s staff are celebrating after taking delivery of their National Rail Award. c2c which operates train services from London Fenchurch Street to ...
• New footbridge installed at Cambridge stationThe transformation of train services between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street took a major step forward recently with the installation of a new footbridge at Cambridge ...
• National Express & Norfolk partners win Community Rail AwardNational Express East Anglia, Paston College and the Bittern Line Community Rail Partnership have won a Community Rail Award. The Norfolk partners won the ˜Passengers Matter™ ...
• CrossCountry launches mobile ticketing appCrossCountry trains has launched a mobile app that not only provides real time travel information across all rail networks – you can download your ticket to ...
• Network Rail announces Glasgow Queen Street development partnerGlasgow Queen Street station is to be transformed for passengers following the selection by Network Rail of the Buchanan Partnership as its development partner for station. ...
• Major resignalling commissioning keeps Thameslink on trackA major milestone in the Thameslink programme which will ultimately allow more frequent trains to run between Blackfriars and St Pancras was achieved recently with the ...
• Welsh rail partnerships shine at rail awardsWelsh rail partnerships have scooped five awards at the recent Association of Community Rail Partnerships Awards held in Sheffield. The first prize for ˜Best Station Garden™ ...
• Solving a rail bottleneck near Norton BridgeNetwork Rail is holding more public consultation events in Staffordshire to give local residents the opportunity to comment on plans to solve one of the few ...
• Raileasy & Thales introduce first live-ticketing app for Android phonesLeading online retailer of train tickets Raileasy and technology solutions specialist Thales UK have unveiled a new version of Thales™s popular Rail Planner Live system, a ...
• Plans submitted for London™s newest public square at King™s CrossThe transformation of King™s Cross station has taken another step forward after detailed plans for a new public square were submitted. The application by Network Rail ...

Aviation Industry

• September Traffic figures - BAA's airportsBAA™s airports handled 1.0% more passengers during September 2011 compared to the same month last year. Heathrow, which saw passenger numbers grow by 1.4%, experienced a record September for passengers, aircraft movements and the number of seats filled per plane.
• Virgin to pilot œlow carbon fuelGreener fuel has half the carbon footprint of a standard fossil fuel alternative, due to the process used to create it
• Gatwick unveils £45m upgradeNew security area in the South Terminal will cut queuing times by 25%, Gatwick claims
• BAA œcautious about the futureDespite a rise in passenger numbers at five of its six airports in September

Green Miscellany

• New cars getting cleaner and cheaper The average new car sold in Europe last year was 4% more fuel efficient, emitted 4% less CO2 and was 2.5% cheaper in real terms than 12 months earlier.read more

Other News Sources

• Longer semi-trailer trial divides road transport sector opinionThe Department for Transport’s (DfT) decision to begin trialling 1,800 longer semi-trailers on UK roads from January of next year has reignited debate over whether longer vehicles are the way forward for the road transport industry
• September 2011 Traffic figures - BAA's airportsBAA's airports handled 1.0% more passengers during September 2011 compared to the same month last year.  Heathrow, which saw passenger numbers grow by 1.4%, experienced a record September for...
• RYANAIR LAUNCHES “CASH PASSPORT” CARD TO DELIVER HUGE SAVINGSRyanair today (11th Oct) launched its Ryanair Cash Passport card in the UK and confirmed that all card holders are fully protected and will enjoy huge savings every time they use the card to...
• More than 1,000 aircraft will be needed within the next 20 years in RussiaRussian carriers will need more than 1,000 passenger aircraft over the next 20 years in response to the strong traffic growth, according to the latest Airbus Global Market Forecast (GMF). The...