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

Thursday, 22 December 2011

BBC News

• Scottish sleeper service funds announced The Scottish government has committed £50m in funding to secure cross-border sleeper train services.
• Greenwich's Woolwich Foot Tunnel re-opens after £11.5m revamp The Woolwich Foot Tunnel has reopened after £11.5m work to bring the structure up to date.
• Tyne Tunnels tolls to rise by up to 33% Drivers using road tunnels under the River Tyne face a rise in tolls of up to 33%, a month after a £260m scheme to add a second crossing was completed.
• Reading 'could get extra bridge' A new bridge could be built in Reading as part of the council's multi-million pound bid to get people using more green forms of transport. Plans for the pedestrian and bicycle crossing over the River Thames is part of the council's £31.8m proposals.
• Somerset County Council plan to cut 35 bus routes Somerset County Council has proposed to cut £1.5m from its bus subsidies which could see 35 bus routes withdrawn.
• US rejects European Court ruling on airline emissions The US says EU plans for an emissions tax on airlines must be dealt with by the international aviation body.
• New plan for ferry fares schemeAll ferry fares in Scotland could become cheaper under government plans to roll out a west of Scotland pilot scheme.
• Aberdeen passenger growth 'soars'Aberdeen Airport saw passenger numbers rise faster than any British airport over the past year, figures show.
• 'False mandate' for Tube strikeAslef union created a 'false mandate' for a 24-hour strike of Tube drivers on Boxing Day, London Underground tells the High Court.
• Roads and airports set for Christmas travel surge Travellers visiting friends and family for Christmas are being warned the coming days will be among the busiest of the year for UK roads and airports.
• Roads and airports set for Christmas travel surge Travellers visiting friends and family for Christmas are being warned the coming days will be among the busiest of the year for UK roads and airports.

Financial Times

• Cargo carriers escape new US pilot rulesThe Federal Aviation Administration will require pilots to rest more and work shorter stints in an extensive overhaul of pilot fatigue regulations
• Foreign carriers must pay EU carbon feesUS airlines must abide by a European Union regulation requiring them to pay for their carbon pollution, Europe™s highest court rules

The Guardian

• London's Greens put congestion charging back on the road From Boris Johnson's transport strategy:

The Independent

• Tube chiefs in strike court plea London Underground asked a High Court judge today to stop a Boxing Day strike by Tube drivers in a row over pay.

The Scotsman

• Blueprint will see most ferry fares cut – but Northern Isles trips could cost more FERRY fares could be slashed on most routes, but may rise on some longer sailings, according to a Scottish Government blueprint.
• 118 Scottish firms to work on new Forth crossing About £20 million of sub-contracts have been awarded to 118 Scottish firms as part of work to build the new Forth crossing, Infrastructure Minister Alex Neil said today.
• Aberdeen airport takes off as UK No1 ABERDEEN has the fastest-growing airport in the UK, according to new figures released by the Civil Aviation Authority.
• Vital safety upgrade for M8 is delayed by four years THE crucial, long-awaited completion of the key motorway link between Scotland’s two major cities has been delayed by four years because of a lack of cash, ministers have admitted.
• Saved: new dawn for the sleeper SCOTLAND’S cross-Border sleeper train network has been saved, after SNP ministers promised to match a £50 million offer from the Westminster government for the under-threat service.

The Telegraph

• New laws to combat metal thefts 'conflict with cuts to red tape' Ministers across Government have been locked in negotiations over how to deal with the wave of metal thefts which is estimated to be costing the country £1 billion a year.
• Top transport news stories of 2011 Yet again the job of Transport Secretary changed hands with Justine Greening taking over after Philip Hammond moved across to Defence.
• Air fares set to rise as European court backs carbon trading schemeAirline passengers face fare rises of up to £10 after the European Court of Justice ruled an aviation carbon trading scheme was legal.
• Rail staff urged to be passenger friendlyRail staff have been urged to make a special effort to be nice to passengers at Christmas by Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary.

Network Rail

• LONDON BRIDGE DESIGNS GIVEN GO-AHEAD
• OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR VISION TO TRANSFORM RAIL IN THE NORTH· 80% say plans make them more likely to use the train · Events held around the north setting out vision for rail in the region· Overwhelming majority support Network Rail™s plans to improve rail network

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph commented Bombardier must 'leave no stone unturned' if given second chanceArticle

Journal Live

• North East transport chiefs in bus takeover bidTRANSPORT chiefs looking to take control of North East bus routes have welcomed a Competition Commission report into dodgy practices.

Liverpool Echo

• John Lennon Airport Servisair strike intensifies over worker grievance claimsOVER 100 employee grievances are set to be lodged against baggage handling company Servisair as a strike at Liverpool John Lennon airport intensified today.

London Evening Standard

• Legal crackdown on scrapyards to beat £1bn metal theft epidemicNew laws are on the way to tackle the epidemic of stolen sculptures, war memorials and rail cables, transport minister Norman Baker said
• Trial gives go-ahead for motorbikes in bus lanesMotorcyclists will be given the permanent right to use bus lanes in the capital after a trial run showed it reduced congestion and improved safety, transport chiefs say

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Scots rail travellers on track for 6% fare rises in new yearRAIL fares across Scotland are increasing by an inflation-busting 6% in two weeks.

Carlisle News & Star

• Cumbrian coast rail ride one of north England's best hidden gems A rail journey along the Cumbrian coast has been named one of the two best hidden gems in the north of England.

Other Regional Press

• £1.8m for Sutton transport improvements Sutton has been promised over £1.8m for transport improvements.
• First Capital Connect announces train fare hikeRAIL users will face a hike in train fares as First Capital Connect (FCC) announced next year’s prices yesterday (Tuesday).
• Bus services on request RESIDENTS in Claydon, Cropredy, Great Bourton and Little Bourton have been thrown a lifeline with the start of a new bus service.
• Station ticket barriers 'could deter GWR centre visitors' NEW ticket barriers at Didcot Parkway could deter visitors from calling in at Didcot Railway Centre, it is feared.
• Rail fares to jump by up to 9% in 2012: What do you think?TRAIN operators have came under fire for a move to hike rail fares by an average of 5.9% in the new year.
• Train fares to rise by 5.9%THE chairman of the North-east™s transport partnership today blasted a rail fare increase.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Government planning proposals take another knock21 December: MPs today published a report that™s very critical of the proposed National Planning Policy Framework. read more

Global Rail News

• South West Trains confirms 2012 rail fare pricesSouth West Trains has announced that the average fare on its network will rise by an average of 5.8%. The increase, effective from January 2012, is ...
• Network Rail awards £55m EGIP contractsNetwork Rail has announced £55m-worth of contracts associated with the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme. Morgan Sindall will construct a new £25m station at Haymarket, in Edinburgh, ...
• London Bridge designs given the go-aheadThe transformation of London Bridge station has taken a major step forward after design proposals were given the go ahead by Southwark Council. A key part ...
• East Midlands Trains confirms 2012 rail fare changesEast Midlands Trains has announced that the average fare on its network will rise by an average of 5.7%. The increase, effective from January 2012, is ...
• Funding secured for new station footbridge at St NeotsThe Department for Transport has pledged a further £1m funding to replace the footbridge at St Neots station. The programme, due to be delivered by March 2014, ...
• First TransPennine Express provide festive gifts for charityStaff from a local train operating company have provided festive gifts and support for Leeds based charity Caring for Life. First TransPennine Express (FTPE) have donated ...
• ˜Overwhelming support to transform™ rail in the NorthPeople across the north of England have given their backing to Network Rail™s plans to improve rail links across the region. The feedback shows a large ...
• MTR welcomes start of franchise bidding processMTR has welcomed the start of the franchise bidding process for the Thameslink and Essex Thameside routes. The Department for Transport (DfT) published the Pre Qualification ...
• Train eviction ˜Big Man™ charged with assaultA man has been charged with assault after allegedly removing a ‘fare-dodger’ from an Edinburgh to Perth ScotRail service. Another passenger filmed the event which has ...

Aviation Industry

• High fuel prices hit Virgin America™s 3Q profit, despite revenue growthVirgin America (VX) saw strong revenue growth for the 2011 third quarter, but higher fuel costs brought operating profit down by $4.8 million to $16.2 million and resulted in a $3.3million net loss.
• EU upholds aviation's entry into ETSForeign airlines had questioned the legality of the scheme, but European Court of Justice rules against them

Other News Sources

• New Maersk chief wants more consolidationContainer shipping needs shake-out, says new chief executive