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

Friday, 18 November 2011

BBC News

• 'Runaway' heritage train inquiryA south Wales heritage railway confirms that an investigation is under way after a diesel locomotive ran away down the track.
• Final ferry set to sail from portStranraer reaches the end of an era this weekend as it ceases to be a ferry port after more than 150 years.
• Bus services to be hit by strikeMembers of the Unite union employed by Translink vote for strike action on 30 November over public sector pensions.
• A5 on the agenda at council talksFunding for the A5 road between Londonderry and Aughnacloy will be on the agenda when the Northern Ireland first and deputy first ministers host a gathering of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh on Friday.
• Ministers 'won't use 2012 lanes'Ministers will not use special lanes reserved for Olympics athletes and dignitaries during the Games, a sports minister says.
• Sex crime up on London transportCrime on London's transport network decreases, according to figures released by Transport for London, but sexual offences are up.
• Traffic row over 2012 cycle routeTensions between drivers and bike riders using the 2012 Olympic cycling route through Surrey prompt police patrols.
• 'Major milestone' for ThameslinkAll the platform extensions needed for 12-car trains on the Bedford to Brighton Thameslink route are completed.
• BA and Virgin face Nigerian fineNigeria's civil aviation authority fines British Airways and Virgin Atlantic in a row over ticket prices.
• Call to scrap Air Passenger DutyFour of the largest airlines in the UK and Irish Republic call for Air Passenger Duty to be scrapped.
• Boeing bags $21.7bn Lion Air dealBoeing bags its biggest commercial order as it signs a deal worth $21.7bn with Indonesian airline Lion Air.

The Guardian

• Disabled travellers lament lack of transport access for 2012 Olympics London transport is 'getting worse' in the runup to the 2012 Games and could turn legacy claims into an embarrassment
• Bombardier boss says Derby plant depends on two government contracts The outgoing head of Bombardier's British train manufacturing operations has warned that the future of the company's Derby plant and more than 1,500 jobs depend on securing two government contracts.

The Herald

• Derailed transport plans should be taken away from Holyrood How disappointing but hardly surprising to read the Scottish Government’s approach to our future railway system in Scotland (“Train misery coming down the tracks for passengers”, The Herald, November 16).

The Telegraph

• Rail service cancelled because train is too longTrains have been cancelled because of leaves on the line, the wrong kind of snow and even escaped lions wandering across the track. But Chiltern Railways has broken new ground by scrapping a service because the train is too big.

The Mirror

• Petrol-diesel price gap growing: AAA big gap has opened up between petrol and diesel prices at the pumps, figures from the AA have revealed.

Network Rail

• NEW STREET ENGINEERING GAINS INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
• NETWORK RAIL PURCHASE OF HYDREX RAIL

Birmingham Mail

• Airline cancels services after Birmingham passengers incidentAn airline on which passengers claimed they were forced to pay for refuelling to get to Birmingham has cancelled next weekend's services in and out of the UK, it has been announced.
• Jaguar Land Rover receives 8,000 applications for 1,000 new jobs at Solihull plantCar giant Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has received more than 8,000 applications after launching a recruitment campaign for 1,000 new jobs at its plant in Solihull a week ago, it has been revealed.

Birmingham Post

• Directors fear HS2 represents 'poor value' A survey of more than 1,000 directors has revealed many consider the new high speed rail line represents poor value for money.
• MPS demand fuel duty rise delayMidland Tory MPs demanded the Treasury think again over plans to increase fuel duty by 8p next year, as the Government faced a fresh House of Commons revolt.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• £11m to bring Conwy’s roads up to scratchA BACKLOG of repairs to fix one county’s deteriorating roads would cost more than £11 million to clear, it has emerged.

Liverpool Post

• Liverpool John Lennon Airport strike threat as Servisair baggage handling staff plan walkoutBAGGAGE handlers at Liverpool John Lennon Airport have voted to strike in protest over compulsory redundancies.

London Evening Standard

• MPs to probe cable theft crisis on the railwaysTransport minister Norman Baker will be hauled before MPs to explain how he will tackle the growing problem of cable theft

Metro

• Airlines' bosses unite to call for end to £2bn 'tax on tourism'The bosses of four top airlines have urged the government to axe the airport departure tax to boost Britain™s economic recovery.

Yorkshire Post

• Growing gap between petrol and diesel costA big gap has opened up between petrol and diesel prices at the pumps, figures from the AA showed today.
• Poor value doubts on rail planMORE than a third of businesses believe the Government’s planned £32bn high-speed rail network would be poor value for money, according to a survey released today.

Global Rail News

• Crossrail begins procurement process for Custom House stationCrossrail has announced that a contract notice has been placed in the Official Journal of the European Union seeking expressions of interest for Custom House station. ...
• Metro™s West Yorkshire travel tweets reach 4,000 followersThe 4,000th person signed up to follow @MetroTravelNews on Twitter recently. Metro has been Tweeting since November 2009. In that time it has sent almost 6,500 ...
• Your chance to chat with East Coast™s top teamTrain operator East Coast is offering passengers and stakeholders a new opportunity to put questions, comments or suggestions about its services directly to its key decision ...
• Passengers to help shape future of rail services in ScotlandRail users and stakeholders are being asked to play their part in shaping Scotland™s rail services with passenger interests at the heart. Transport Scotland today launches ...
• Network Rail becomes a patron of homelessness charity CRASHNetwork Rail has become a CRASH patron partner, supporting the construction and property industry charity for homeless people that in turn has supported over 45 homelessness projects over ...
• New Street engineering gains international recognitionA Birmingham based company has won a prestigious international award for its work on the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street station. Demolition specialists Coleman & Company, ...
• Elaine Holt to move to National Express to head rail franchise driveElaine Holt, popular chairman of government-owned Directly Operated Railways and the East Coast Main Line Company is stepping down at the end of her current contract. ...
• Bridgeway Consulting secures Crossrail contractBridgeway Consulting has been awarded a contract by Network Rail to deliver Overhead Line Isolation Services for the Crossrail (West) Project. Says Pino De Rosa, Bridgeway™s ...
• Gurkhas help patrol rail cable theft hot spotsSquads of Gurkhas are helping patrol cable theft hot spots on the railway in the north east. The ex-serviceman are part of an industry wide campaign ...
• Committee gives thumbs up for High Speed 2 railThe Transport Select Committee has given a cautious backing for High Speed Two. The project has met considerable opposition mainly from people along the proposed line ...
• Network Rail and Samaritans team up to help reduce suicides on rail networkEvery year over 200 people take their own lives on Britain™s railways. Railway suicide affects drivers and staff including station staff, track workers and police officers. ...
• Centro to meet Secretary of State to win better funding deal for Midland rail projectsCentro bosses are to meet with Transport Secretary Justine Greening in a bid to win a better funding deal for rail projects in the West Midlands. ...
• ScotRail™s engineering director praises local station adopterA surprise visit by ScotRail™s engineering director, saw local station adopter, Max Bentley, singled out for praise at Giffnock. At the station to meet staff an ...
• Network Rail purchases Hydrex™s rail divisionNetwork Rail Infrastructure Limited has today completed purchase of the assets of the rail division of Hydrex Equipment (UK) Ltd from its administrators, KPMG LLP. The ...
• Thameslink platform extensions completeThe final platform extensions which are needed to allow 50% longer 12-car trains with more seats for passengers to operate on the Bedford to Brighton Thameslink ...
• Alstom signs transport cooperation agreement with Saint PetersburgAlstom and its strategic partner in Russia, Transmashholding (TMH), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the city of Saint Petersburg which establishes a programme of ...

Railnews

• Scottish proposals branded 'Alice in Wonderland' A set of proposals from Transport Scotland which could see the end of through trains between England and Scotland north of the central belt as well as a ban on alcohol and a reduction in sleeper services has been branded as 'Alice in Wonderland' by furious critics. But the Scottish Government is pointing out that the proposals are only at the consultation stage.

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow retail team help build allotment for local school childrenHeathrow™s Retail Services Team recently spent the day at St Marks Catholic School in Hounslow, helping them to create an allotment supported through funding from the BAA Communities Trust.
• Passenger Tax Harms UK EconomyIn a letter to the Chancellor, George Osborne, they blamed Air Passenger Duty for three years of declining passenger numbers at UK airports which are now lower than in 2004.

Other News Sources

• Transport for London set for £110m Crossrail comms system Transport for London is preparing for a five-year £110 million communications and control systems package for Crossrail, the rail project that will connect Heathrow Airport with the City of London and Canary Wharf.