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

Thursday, 09 February 2012

BBC News

• Decrease in railway cable theftsCable thefts on the West Midlands railway network have fallen, latest figures show.
• Derry school buses found unfitFour buses used to transport pupils to and from schools in Londonderry were found to be unfit for service.
• How did London transport cope in the snow?A woman's five hour journey from Tottenham Court Road to Buckhurst Hill. How was it for you?
• Olympic pay deal for Virgin staffVirgin Trains is to pay staff a £500 bonus for working during the Olympics after negotiations with union chiefs.
• Ferry route upgrades move forwardTransport Minister Keith Brown says key routes to Scottish ferry ports will be improved thanks to a £50m package of funding.
• A380 wing crack checks extendedChecks are ordered on all Airbus A380 superjumbos after cracks were found in wing components, extending an earlier safety ruling covering 20 planes.

Financial Times

• BA to team up with Japan AirlinesThe carriers plan a joint venture that would seek to maximise the profitability of routes between Europe and Japan
• Regulator orders Airbus A380 wing checksEuropean Aviation Safety Agency says all 68 of the superjumbo passenger jets in operation will have to be inspected for possible cracks
• SAS plans cost cuts amid more lossesStruggling Scandinavian airline, which warned of a weak start to 2012 after reporting its fourth consecutive full-year net loss, announces 300 job cuts
• Freight network chief rails at Europe systemPassenger focus of the continent™s railways is an obstacle to the development of cross-border rail haulage, says DB Schenken head
• Design space: London bus mixes old and newReplacement for the unpopular bendy bus pays homage to the Routemaster and is environmentally sound, writes Clare Dowdy
• EasyJet management receives boostTwo influential investor advisory groups signal their support for the airline™s board ahead of a shareholder vote on pay this month

The Herald

• Signalling staff plan two fresh strikes in jobs rowRAIL signalling workers are to stage two fresh strikes in a row over career progression amid claims that talks with management have broken down.

The Independent

• Rail signal staff to strike again Rail signalling workers are to stage two fresh strikes in a row over career progression following the breakdown of talks, it was announced today.

The Telegraph

• BA and Japan airline in joint move on rivalsBritish Airways and Japan Airlines (JAL) are manoeuvring to take on rivals Lufthansa and All Nippon Airways on routes between Europe and Japan after agreeing a joint venture.
• ID will be required from anyone selling scrap metalA trial of the scheme in North East England has proved such a success that it will be extended to other parts of the country, before going nationwide, a British Transport Police source said.
• More misery for Heathrow passengers as train drivers threaten strikeHeathrow passengers are facing the threat of fresh disruption with train drivers on the airport's express service voting in favour of a strike.

Times Online

• Cameron and Labour back The Times #cyclesafe campaign The Cities fit for cycling campaign won cross-party support yesterday, with the Prime Minister throwing his weight behind it and Labour endorsing calls to spend Highways Agency funds to build cycling infrastructure.

Mail Online

• You wait ages for a bus... then FORTY-THREE come along at once! Company shows off its new fleet with incredible convoy tripThe spectacular sight of 43 buses snaking through the Yorkshire countryside greeted residents of Temple Newsam, West Yorkshire, today when a bus company unveiled their new fleet.

Belfast Telegraph

• Toyota confident despite profit fall Toyota is reporting a quarterly profits slide of 13.5% but is confident enough in a recovery to raise its annual profit forecast. Related StoriesHomeowners cut prices by 7.5%Titanic site to exceed all expectations, says expertCutting-edge technology helps wheatgrass company growPlane maker swoops for £5m Nortel siteBig stores furious as Assembly passes levy
• Plane maker swoops for £5m Nortel siteBombardier Aerospace is set to buy the Nortel premises in Co Antrim.Related StoriesDrug giant curing collapse in salesHomeowners cut prices by 7.5%Titanic site to exceed all expectations, says expertCutting-edge technology helps wheatgrass company growBig stores furious as Assembly passes levy

Journal Live

• Newcastle station taxi drivers driven to despair in pitch rumpusPOLICE are investigating theft claims after a Newcastle taxi firm fell behind on payments needed to run cars out of the city’s central station.

Manchester Evening News

• Revealed: Charles Dickens' support for Manchester's first free library in letter to Lord MayorDickens “ a huge celebrity of his time “ wrote to the Lord Mayor of Manchester to accept an invitation to speak at the ceremony for the city™s first free library in 1852.  The opening came two years before he set Hard Times in Coketown, the fictional industrial heartland thought by many to be inspired by the city. In an amazing hand-written acceptance note to Lord Mayor Sir John Potter, he made clear his admiration for the city.

Other Regional Press

• Delight as bus route returned DELIGHTED Gornal residents have hailed a u-turn decision to restore a vital bus route through the Stickley estate.
• Call to boost rail servicesAN assurance that no train stations in Glasgow will be closed has been demanded by transport bosses.

Global Rail News

• RMT ˜secures™ Olympics payment for Virgin rail staffThe RMT said it has ‘secured a £500 Olympics and Paralympics payment’ for Virgin Trains staff. The union also said the package ‘will see wages and allowances rise by 4.6% or £950′ from April. Staff will also get one extra day of leave for the Queen’s Diamond jubilee. Negotiations with London Underground are continuing after [...]
• Network Rail awards Birse Metro London Bridge contractNetwork Rail has awarded Birse Metro, part of Balfour Beatty Rail, a contract as part of the redevelopment of London Bridge station. As part of Key Output 2 for the station’s remodelling works, a series of enabling works must be completed in advance of the main redevelopment. Birse has been named as the Multi-Utility Contractor [...]
• New rail operator boosts security on its networkGreater Anglia has said it has already ‘doubled the numbers of safety and security staff’ on its rail network after taking over the franchise from National Express East Anglia. The train operator said it wants to ‘ensure customers feel assured of safe travel’. The additional Making Travel Safe Officers (MTSOs), or Enforcement Officers, will be [...]

Railnews

• Opening date confirmed for King's Cross concourse Network Rail has confirmed that the western concourse at London King's Cross, which is part of a £400m development, will open next month. The company has also announced the names of the retailers who will open units in the new concourse.

Aviation Industry

• Singapore Airlines To Launch Boeing's Electronic Logbook SolutionBoeing has announced that Singapore Airlines will be the launch customer for Boeing's new Electronic Logbook software.
• Qantas grounds one superjumbo after cracks foundAn Airbus A380 has been taken out of service due to cracks in its wings
• 'We're not arrogant' - British AirwaysCarrier's absence from Business Travel Show is down to budgets, not 'arrogance'

Other News Sources

• NEWS FROM JOHN BIGGS: East London has fourth worst bus route in London 8 February, 2012 Local Assembly Member John Biggs is asking local residents to tell him about their experiences of the 25 bus route. The call follows the revelation that it is the fourth most complained about of London's 700 bus routes.  The 25 route that runs between Oxford Circus and Ilford via Stratford received no less than 33 complaints in four weeks.   Local London Assembly member, John Biggs said: 360-house-thumb.jpg ...
• Updated: Gatwick Station death man "was tasered" The station concourse at Gatwick Railway Station has been closed this morning after a man died.
• Big savings can be made by tackling ground travelTravel buyers urge companies to improve management
• First Great Western to 'refresh' first classTrain operator plans summer upgrade of service to tempt business travellers