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

Wednesday, 11 April 2012

BBC News

• New bypass 'would waste millions'Farmers and business owners in County Antrim say the Roads Service is wasting millions of pounds of tax-payers'money if they go ahead with a planned bypass.
• Rail station begins £20m upgradeA £20m project to prepare a Greater Manchester railway station for the electrification of a rail route begins.
• Fifth cyclist killed in capitalA cyclist dies from his injuries after a collision in north London - the fifth cyclist to die on the capital's roads this year.
• Fuel talks with unions resumeTalks aimed at averting a strike by fuel tanker drivers resume this morning, after a break for Easter.
• Jobs boost from new Nissan modelNissan's new hatchback is to be produced at its Sunderland plant, the Japanese car manufacturer says, which could create up to 1,100 jobs.

Financial Times

• Union slams ˜cattle truck™ train servicesTSSA says operators have no clear data on passenger numbers at peak travel times, because they rely on estimates

The Independent

• Rail union slams train overcrowding data A leading rail union today accused train companies of having no idea how overcrowded their "cattle truck" commuter services were.
• The French come over here, they make our high-speed trains run on time... The French state railway company, SNCF, is plotting an audacious attempt to win control of Britain's first high-speed railway line linking London and the Midlands.

The Telegraph

• Rail industry ignorant of extent of overcrowding, claims union leaderThe rail industry has no idea of the extent of train overcrowding, a union leader has claimed.

Press Association

• Rail union slams overcrowding data A leading rail union has accused train companies of having no idea about the overcrowding on their "cattle truck" commuter services.

Daily Express

• Flybe eyes take-off as family flights pick upREGIONAL airline Flybe hailed

Mail Online

• Fuel crisis: First pictures of Army soldiers being trained to operate petrol tankers spark fear of strikeTeams of soldiers were being trained over Easter in preparation for a possible strike by militant tanker drivers over pensions and health and safety training concerns.

The Sun

• Rail bosses admit trains are overcrowded But they have no idea of exact numbers

Network Rail

• ˜HORNBY™ STATION FOOTBRIDGE RESTORED
• MAJOR REVAMP FOR STALYBRIDGE RAILWAY TRACKS AND STATION

Birmingham Mail

• North Warwickshire Borough Council in challenge to HS2 decision ANGRY Midlands councillors have joined an alliance of local authorities to launch a legal challenge against the Government decision to press ahead with its multi-million pound High Speed Rail Project.

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph commented Bus firms without seat belts set to miss out on school contractsArticle

Journal Live

• Nissan's new car to be built in WashingtonHUNDREDS of jobs will be created at Nissan's Wearside plant and nearly 1,000 more in the supply chain as the Japanese car giant pumps millions into the production of a new hatchback, it was announced yesterday.

Liverpool Post

• Talks resume to avert petrol drivers strikeTALKS aimed at averting a strike by fuel tanker drivers were resuming today after “constructive” discussions were held before Easter.

London Evening Standard

• Airline calls to end Heathrow night flight ban Super-jumbos could be allowed to land at Heathrow for more than 20 hours a day under plans being considered by ministers.
• Airline calls to end Heathrow night flight ban Super-jumbos could be allowed to land at Heathrow for more than 20 hours a day under plans being considered by ministers.
• Rail firms don’t know how many commuters are in carriages London commuter train companies don’t know the exact number of passengers they pack into carriages during morning and evening peak times, the TSSA, the second largest transport union, said today.

The York Press

• Free transport for students may end FREE transport for sixth-form students with learning problems in East Yorkshire could end in September.

Blackpool Gazette

• Bus fire sparks evacuationPASSENGERS had to be evacuated after flames broke out in the engine of the double decker bus they were travelling on.

Carlisle News & Star

• Virgin Trains workers may take industrial action in staff disputes row Rail workers in Cumbria may consider taking industrial action as union officials grapple with two fresh disputes involving staff in Penrith and Preston, it has emerged.
• Union chief hits out at rail fine ˜farce™ over Grayrigg disaster A union boss has joined the relatives of the pensioner killed in the Grayrigg train crash in hitting out at the £4m fine imposed on the rail infrastructure company Network Rail.

East Anglian Daily Times

• East Anglia: Airline Flybe says trading conditions remain ˜challenging™REGIONAL airline Flybe said today it has seen no let-up in the “challenging” conditions which have left its share price grounded in recent months.

The Shields Gazette

• Nissan boom time as fifth model creates 1,000 jobsCAR giant Nissan is to create more than 1,000 jobs in the North East with the launch of a fifth model for its Sunderland plant.

Other Regional Press

• Alternative High Speed Rail plan to go on show ENGINEERS behind an alternative route to the current high speed rail plans - which includes a tunnel through the borough - are coming to Ealing to present their ideas.
• Charging plans for Transporter Bridge get mixed reaction PLANS to turn Newport™s Transporter Bridge into a tourist attraction have received mixed views from its supporters.
• Rush to two wheels rather than four as more and more Huddersfield folk choose scooters over carsAUTHOR George Orwell coined the phrase ’Four legs good, two legs better!’ in his novel Animal Farm.
• Virgin Atlantic set to bid for Aberdeen flightsLUXURY airline Virgin Atlantic is to bid for flights between Aberdeen and Heathrow when slots are sold off.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Reviving the regions10 April: Back in 2010 when newly elected, the Department for Communities and Local Government scrapped regional bodies. The Departnment for Transport didn't get much of a say in the matter and we've just responded to their latest attempt to try and create some sort of sub-national structure. read more
• Smoothing traffic flow hasn't worked10 April: Candidates for Mayor of London normally pay at least lip service to walking and cycling. But recently more and more people have been getting angry that London™s roads are not safe and attractive for pedestrians and cyclists. read more

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Black boxes 'may reduce crash risk'Having black boxes installed in cars as part of an insurance policy tends to reduce the risk of drivers crashing.This is according to new research published by The Co-operative showing the technology not only helps to cut insurance premiums for younger motorists but also affects their behaviour.According to the insurer, telematics reduce the risk of car crashes by 20 per cent compared to those with standard policies in place and the accidents concerned tend to be less serious than among those who do not have devices fitted.Younger drivers were also recently warned not to use their mobile hands...

Global Rail News

• Union claims rail firms ˜have no idea how bad overcrowding is™The Transport Salaried Staffs Association has said that rail companies ‘have no idea just how overcrowded their “cattle truck” commuter trains are’. The TSSA claim that privately owned operators have ‘no firm data on passengers numbers during the morning and evening peaks’. The union claims ‘unpublished evidence to the Transport Committee revealed that rail regulators have [...]
• Mott MacDonald awarded HS2 design contractMott MacDonald has been awarded a contract by HS2 Ltd to provide civil and structural design services for the new high speed rail line. URS, SENER, London Bridge Associates and Weston Williamson Architects will support Mott MacDonald as sub consultants. Awarded one of four design contracts under Lot 1 of HS2 Ltd™s Professional Services Framework, the [...]
• Alstom awarded signalling contract for Amsterdam metroAlstom has been awarded a contract by the Municipality of Amsterdam to deploy its signalling technology on the four existing metro lines and on the new North-South line, currently under construction. The system will enable automatic train operation, increased capacity and the realisation of energy savings. The total value of the contract is approximately €100 million. [...]
• HCC/Coastal JV wins $33m railway tunnel contractIndia™s leading infrastructure construction and development company, HCC (Hindustan Construction Company) and its joint venture partner Coastal Projects has won a contract to build a railway tunnel from North Frontier Railway. The total cost of the project is $33 million (Rs 161.90 crore) and it will be developed between Kambiron Road and Thingou station on [...]
• EC Harris awarded depot contract by Hitachi RailEC Harris, the global built asset consultancy, has been appointed by Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd to assist with the delivery of three Inter City Express Depots that will be constructed on the Great Western Mainline between Swansea and London Paddington. The new depots will be built at London North Pole, Bristol Stoke Gifford and Swansea [...]
• Network Rail restores ˜Hornby™ footbridgeNetwork Rail has restored an iconic structure that was used by world famous railway model maker Hornby as the basis for one of its construction kits. The station footbridge in the Worcestershire village of Hagley is Grade 2 listed and was built in 1884 by the Great Western Railway, 32 years after the station opened [...]
• Refurbishment of rail tracks at Stalybridge station beginsWork has started on a major revamp of all the railway tracks and signalling in and around Stalybridge station, which will also see alterations to the platforms. Network Rail said the £20m project is needed because the existing infrastructure is nearing the end of its operational life. The opportunity is being taken to replace it [...]

Railnews

• Revealed: the DfT's plans to close ticket offices The Department for Transport has been revealed to be definitely planning to close some ticket offices at smaller stations, as part of its plan to reduce railway costs, even though a consultation is under way. But leaked emails reveal that it is holding back on admitting the closures while negotiations continue with at least one operator. The DfT is also hoping to make train operators seem responsible for staff cutbacks at stations.

Aviation Industry

• Flybe back on course despite ˜challenging™ marketRegional airline maintains its number one position outside the south-east
• Etihad extends codeshare with Brussels AirlinesCarriers agree to include three French cities in agreement
• 'Quieter' superjumbos could increase Heathrow capacityEmirates suggests a rise in night flights using A380s could solve problem
• Singapore Airlines to operate all A380 flights from HeathrowCarrier will use superjumbo for all three daily flights from June

Other News Sources

• Call for 'urgent action' to improve Surrey's rail network We are in urgent need of an increase in rail capacity.