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

Thursday, 24 November 2011

BBC News

• Ferry security 'loophole' fearsAn MP accuses the UK government of ignoring a
• £75.5m aqueduct in road optionsEight potential routes for a new road in Inverness - one that would involve an aqueduct - are to be published online.
• Tram work suspended for ChristmasTram works are being suspended in the heart of Edinburgh until the start of next year..
• Civil servants 'to staff borders'Civil servants from across Whitehall are being lined up to act as border staff at UK ports and airports during next week's public sector strikes.
• Subway to be closed on strike daySPT says it will be forced to close Glasgow underground on 30 November because of a strike by public sector workers.

Department for Transport

• Greening puts passengers firstPassengers' needs are to be put first under new airports legislation published today by Transport Secretary Justine Greening.

The Independent

• Ministers urge Osborne to reduce steep rail fare risesGeorge Osborne is being urged by fellow ministers to scale back steep rail-fare rises due in the new year amid fears that the planned increases will force passengers back on to the roads.

The Mirror

• A delay signing the Thameslink deal with Siemens raises hopes at Bombardier RAIL Minister Theresa Villiers is refusing to name a date to sign off the Thameslink contract, raising hopes it may yet got to British train-maker Bombardier.

Network Rail

• NETWORK RAIL HALF-YEAR RESULTS 2011/12The interim results for the half year to 30 September 2011 mark the mid-point of the five-year settlement running to 2014.Network Rail remains broadly on course to meet its tough efficiency challenge and thus its commitment to drive down the cost of the railway. Network Rail™s running costs are, in real terms, over £300m lower in the first six months of the financial year than the prevailing costs back in 2008-9, when the efficiency challenge was set. The forecast is to achieve over £700m of savings by the end of the year.
• NATIONAL TRAIN PERFORMANCE FOR PERIOD 8 IS 89.3%
• NETWORK RAIL WINS GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE AT THE GREEN APPLE AWARDS

Journal Live

• Nexus to ask Tyne and Wear councils to take over bus routesTRANSPORT bosses have launched a bid to take back control of buses in the North East.

Metro

• Villager sick of speeding drivers paints giant 30mph sign on side of his houseDisgruntled Tim Backhouse is so fed up with cars and HGVs ignoring the speed limit he has painted a 30mph reminder “ on the side of his house.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Bus companies issue warning on shake upBUS operators today warned town halls to expect a bitter fight over who controls miles of routes across Tyneside.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Airport launchpad for £20m economic boost The north-east™s economy is poised to take off in the wake of major improvements at Aberdeen Airport.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Suffolk: MP sees new hope for rail travellers as franchise change loomsDUTCH-based transport group Abellio hopes to run rail services in East Anglia until 2029 after being awarded the short-term franchise starting in February.

Other Regional Press

• Airport launches public consultation into accessLUTON Airport has launched a draft of plans to improve access to the airport and wants your feedback.
• EasyJet takes off fastest in ScotlandEASYJET has expanded at twice the rate in Scotland as the rest of the UK this year.
• Olympic travel plans: Weymouth Esplanade traffic ban CLOSING Weymouth Esplanade to cars from 10am until 10pm daily during the Olympic sailing events is among a raft of new measures proposed for 2012.

Global Rail News

• Tyne and Wear Metro vote for industrial action in pensions fightTransport Union RMT has confirmed that its members on the Tyne and Wear Metro working for DB Regio and Nexus have voted by large margins for ‘strike ...
• ScotRail commemorates ˜Railplane™ at Milngavie stationA poster commemorating the ˜Bennie Railplane™ is to go on permanent display at Milngavie station. The extraordinary contraption even ran in Milngavie for several months in the 1930s, ...
• Minister commends rail safetyThe Minister in charge of the UK™s railway performance has commended the industry™s commitment to safety on the track, at an event held in London yesterday. ...
• Transport Minister to open Infrarail 2012Minister of State for Transport the Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP is to formally open Infrarail 2012 at the UK™s National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on ...
• Gatwick Express creates new customer service roleGatwick Express, the non-stop rail-air link between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport, has created new roles to enhance their customer service provision at the stations. Research ...
• Passenger Focus welcomes extra seats for Thames Valley and West Country rail passengersPassengers on some of the country™s busiest rail routes are set to benefit from extra seats Rail Minister Theresa Villiers announced yesterday. Passengers in the Thames ...
• Publication of rail White Paper delayed until next yearThe White Paper response to Sir Roy McNulty’s Rail Value for Money report will now be published in the new year. Originally scheduled to be released ...
• National rail performance drops to 89.3%Punctuality on the railways fell to 89.3% during Period 8, according to monthly performance data released today by Network Rail. Period 7 saw 91.5% of trains ...
• c2c celebrates highest punctuality score this yearNational Express train operator c2c has topped the national punctuality table once again. Rail industry statistics released today reveal that East London and Essex train operator ...
• Crossrail awards major construction contractsCrossrail today announced that it has awarded the main construction contracts for Farringdon and Whitechapel stations. Intensive construction for both stations will get underway next year. ...

Aviation Industry

• CAA to be given more powersAviation body will be able to impose tough financial penalties on under-performing airports
• Airlines welcome airport regulation reformsCAA will be able to "discipline market abuse by airports in a more proportionate and effective way", says Easyjet CEO

Other News Sources

• Government delays award of Thameslink contract to New Year as thousands of jobs at Bombardier and in the supply chain hang in the balanceRAIL UNION RMT today slammed the 'sickening incompetence and bare faced lies' of the Government as Transport Secretary Justine Greening confirmed that the award of the Thameslink fleet contract has been shunted off into the New Year as Siemens's appear to be unable to put the finance in place due to the chaos in the financial markets.
• Thames Tunnel report branded 'illogical' A commission report which suggests alternatives to the proposed Thames Tunnel, and that a level of sewage in the Thames should be 'accepted', has been strongly rejected by environmental, wildlife and amenity groups.
• Christian Schleifer Appointed President of ICAO Air Navigation CommissionThe Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has unanimously appointed Mr. Christian Schleifer, of Austria, to a one-year term as President of the Air Navigation...