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

Thursday, 19 April 2012

BBC News

• Stevenage MP makes plea to upgrade rail stations London commuters, including many of the region's MPs, have been united in their praise of the refurbishment of King's Cross station.
• Wellingborough railway station expansion plan unveiled Plans to expand a Victorian railway station in Northamptonshire with a modern building and six-storey car park have been unveiled.
• Bus firm seeking 1,700 employeesNational Express West Midlands says it wants more young people and women to become bus drivers as it signs an agreement to fill 1,700 posts over three years.
• Plea to upgrade rail stationsThe MP for Stevenage, Stephen McPartland, used a debate in the Commons to call for better funding to improve rail stations in East England.
• Labour claims bus grant cut 'risks fare rises' Labour has accused the Scottish government of "causing real misery" in communities following changes to the grants given to bus operators.
• Bus and rail fares 'set to rise'Translink confirms that fares on a number of bus and rail routes across Northern Ireland are set to rise.
• EasyJet new route to BirminghamLow-cost airline easyJet launches its new route from Belfast International Airport to Manchester.
• OFT to look into bus firm mergerBus routes in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire are to be investigated by the Competition Commission
• Fuel tanker drivers reject dealFuel tanker drivers' representatives reject a deal aimed at resolving the dispute over working conditions - but say they are not going on strike.
• Car shipments boost Japan exportsJapan's exports rose in March, data shows, boosted by a jump in car shipments as the sector continues to recover from last year's natural disasters.
• Audi buys Italian motorcycle firmVolkswagen's Audi arm has bought Italian motorcycle firm Ducati for an undisclosed sum, it has said.

Financial Times

• Minister rejects calls for third Heathrow runway The aviation minister on Wednesday strongly rejected calls from business to allow Heathrow airport’s expansion, saying technology improvements enabling quieter aircraft would not happen fast enough to justify a third runway.
• US rail group eyes coal contract rethinkThe biggest railroad on the US east coast provided the first evidence that the industry™s strong recovery has continued into this year
• Eurotunnel condemns new French tollChannel tunnel operator accused the owner of France™s rail infrastructure of œeffectively killing off rail freight between the UK and Europe
• Fuel drivers reject peace dealUnion officials have held back from setting dates for a strike “ insisting that a negotiated settlement is still within reach.
• BMI pensioners face cuts to benefitsThe British airline™s owner Lufthansa plans to transfer the pension fund to the UK™s retirement insurer, a move attacked by the pilots™ union

The Herald

• Caledonian Sleeper upgrade outlined SCOTRAIL'S ageing Caledonian Sleeper trains could be upgraded with en suite cabins and airline-style seats that fold flat when a major overhaul starts.
• McGill's bus takeover investigatedONE of the west of Scotland's biggest bus companies is to be investigated by the Competition Commission following a deal that gave it control of nearly 70% of services operating in one area.
• Rail signal workers to stage walkoutRAIL signal workers have voted to go on strike after demands that they are allowed to work a three-day week were rejected by managers at Network Rail.

The Independent

• Airlines 'shun UK over Heathrow' World airlines are shunning the UK due to capacity constraints at Heathrow Airport, according to a survey.
• New fuel crisis in the pipeline as tanker drivers reject deal The prospect of petrol shortages re-emerged last night after tanker drivers rejected a proposed deal offered by six fuel-distribution companies.Related StoriesLabour fails to block tax cutJack Straw faces legal action over allegations he personally approved rendition of Abdel Hakim BelhadjTax-relief cap on gifts 'not Conservative'Don't hug a hoodie, hire one: Grayling calls for Britons to get jobs firstTUC poised to pick first female leader
• A flying feud: BA boss and Branson go to war Almost a decade of sniping between Willie Walsh, boss of British Airways, and Sir Richard Branson at Virgin Atlantic boiled over yesterday when the Irishman launched an extraordinary attack on his bitter rival, branding his opinions œirrelevant and saying he had no admiration for the serial entrepreneur.Related StoriesTUC set for first female general secretary as Brendan Barber announces retirementJury fails to agree in Alfie Meadows caseCarry on Qatada: Home Office fails to deport radical preacherWhy can't we stay married?Travellers 'treated men like slaves'

The Scotsman

• En suite cabins and airline-style seats considered for Caledonian Sleeper trains EN SUITE cabins and airline-style seats which fold flat are being considered for the upgrading of ScotRail’s ageing Caledonian Sleeper trains.
• Fuel tankers strike: Drivers told not to panic as talks failTHE threat of a potentially crippling strike by fuel tanker drivers grew last night after a deal aimed at settling the dispute was rejected by union leaders.

The Telegraph

• UK losing jobs due to immigration delays at airports, warns IAG boss Willie Walsh Britain is missing out on billions of pounds worth of investment and jobs because of long immigration delays at major airports across the country, the head of British Airways' parent company has warned.
• Theresa Villiers shuts door on third runway at Heathrow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers has implacably ruled out a third runway for Heathrow despite hopes key members of the Government were softening their stance towards expansion at Britain’s only hub airport.
• Britain could become aviation 'branch line' without third runway at Heathrow, warns chiefBritain is in danger of becoming an aviation branch line unless Heathrow is allowed to build a third runway, a business leader has warned.
• Families spending more on petrol than food, says AAMany families are spending more on fuel than their weekly food shopping because of record petrol prices, the AA has found.
• The flightplan for a new UK airport is delayed... again Two things are clear about this Government's policy on airports – or, more precisely, lack of one.

Daily Express

• Aircraft and cars revival revs up GKNA RECOVERY in global demand for cars and aircraft has driven up first quarter sales at automotive and aerospace engineer GKN.

Mail Online

• Airlines turning their backs on UK over Heathrow capacity Capacity constraints at Heathrow Airport are causing world airlines to shun the UK, according to a survey.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Council chiefs broke law over ˜shredded™ tram filesCITY council chiefs breached the law when they turned down a request for tram documents, wrongly claiming the papers had been destroyed, the Scottish Information Commissioner has ruled.

Liverpool Echo

• Ryanair to open Warsaw link from Liverpool John Lennon AirportRyanair will start a link between the Polish capital Warsaw and Liverpool from November.

London Evening Standard

• Ken’s fare cut works for Londoners and the Tube [Andrew Adonis]London would not be hosting the Olympics in 100 days had we not invested in its transport system.

Manchester Evening News

• Petrol fears return as tanker drivers reject dealThe prospect of a strike by fuel tanker drivers which could cripple petrol supplies grew closer today after union officials overwhelmingly rejected a proposed deal aimed at averting industrial action
• Fergie’s red, green and polka-dot army: Manchester United stars get art makeover in Turkish Airlines advertThey are all Reds “ but some are now blue, orange, and even polka-dotted. United™s players have taken on a wacky new look for a series of giant abstract paintings on show at Old Trafford and at airports across the world. Stars including Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Ryan Giggs have been recreated by US artist Craig Redman for an advertising campaign by club sponsors Turkish Airlines.
• Virgin to run extra carriages to ease congestion on Manchester-to-London trainsLonger trains will run between Manchester and London in an attempt to combat overcrowding. Virgin is introducing extra carriages on the route to provide more seats for passengers. The move will see 150 extra standard seats on some of the busiest Pendolino train services on the West Coast Main Line.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post commented Nottingham textile firm taking a stand against council camera carAt the beginning of this month, businesses across the city started paying for the workplace parking levy. Local Government...

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Public™s views sought on future growth of airportBosses at Aberdeen Airport are seeking the views of the public on a blueprint for the future development of the city operation.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• National Express to create 1,700 new Midlands jobsNational Express today announced it will recruit 1,700 people in the West Midlands over the next three years.

Yorkshire Post

• Rural Tory MP meets Chancellor to press case for rebate in fuel dutyGeorge Osborne has been warned of the perils of soaring fuel costs by a Yorkshire MP whose constituency is enduring the highest price for diesel in the country.

Plymouth Herald

• Support for £450m Heathrow link linePLYMOUTH is backing a campaign to have a new rail link to Heathrow Airport, writes Keith Rossiter, Political Reporter.

Other Regional Press

• Public transport in Croydon can still be a pain for people with disabilitiesWHEN London was awarded the 2012 Olympics, organisers said they would ensure the capital played host to the most accessible Games ever. With just a few months to go, reporter Emily Churchill embarked on a journey to find out how accessible Croydon’s public transport is for disabled people
• Nostalgia: Trolleybuses in old Huddersfield - What are your memories?TROLLEYBUSES will always have a special place in the hearts of

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Jobs potential identified in decarbonising transport marketDecarbonising the global transportation industry could offer substantial opportunities for jobs and revenue growth.This is the claim made in a new report, which states that collaborative financing models are required in this area in order to reduce the risk of investment and bring new technologies to market.According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) publication, policy, energy, infrastructure and consumers are the other areas in which progress is needed to ensure transportation is environmentally sustainable.Entitled Sustainable Transportation Ecosystem, the document proposes guiding principl...

Global Rail News

• Greater Anglia train fleet undergoes deep cleanTrain operator Greater Anglia has announced it has started a ‘comprehensive programme to deep clean its train fleet of over 1,000 vehicles in time for this summer’s London Olympics’. The interior deep clean of each unit includes work to steam clean all surfaces and floor coverings in each carriage including ceilings, floors and wall panels. [...]
• Murphy & Siemens awarded rail electrification contractJ. Murphy & Sons Limited and Siemens Smart Grid, Rail Electrification, have secured the North West Electrification Phase 1 Traction Power Supply contract with Network Rail, worth over £5 million. The partner companies will focus on the installation of two new substations at the Newton Le Willows and Ordsall Lane Junctions. The 77-week contract covers [...]
• Rail recycling facility ˜to save Network Rail £4m per year™Network Rail’s improved rail recycling facility is expected to save the company ‘around £4m a year’. The Eastleigh rail depot near Southampton has been upgraded so it can produce 216m lengths of serviceable rail which have been recycled from used rail removed from around the network. The recycled lengths are up to 70% cheaper than [...]
• Rail Volunteers Become Olympic Champions600 Network Rail volunteers are getting ready for the London Olympics. They will be joining Team London Ambassadors to welcome athletes and spectators “ 80 per cent of whom are expected to travel to the Games by rail. Travel champions will be out in force at 13 stations including Liverpool Street, St Pancras International, King™s [...]
• Ada and Phyllis Get to WorkThe Mayor of London Boris Johnson and transport secretary Justine Greening have officially launched the start of Crossrail tunnelling during a ceremony at Westbourne Park near the Royal Oak portal, a short distance from Paddington station. Two tunnel boring machines, named Ada and Phyllis, will now begin an 18 month journey beneath London. In autumn [...]
• Infrarail seminars: EMC in railways “ applying best practiceOn Tuesday 1 May at 11:10, Chris Marshman, Development Director at York EMC will be presenting the seminar EMC in Railways – Applying Best Practice at Infrarail. Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) is concerned with minimising electrical interference; something which potentially is a major safety issue within the railway. Many examples exist of potential electromagnetic (EM) interactions [...]
• Infrarail seminars: The Government™s priorities for rail going forwardOn Tuesday 1 May at 11:50, Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP, Minister of State for Transport will be presenting the Keynote Address ‘Introducing Rail Reform, The Government™s priorities for rail going forward’ at Infrarail. Theresa Villiers, Minister of State for Transport, will be reviewing the government™s plans for rail reform over the next few years. [...]

Aviation Industry

• American plans to cut another 1,200 jobsThat pushes the company's overall job-cut target to 14,200. It announced plans in February to cut 13,000 union pilots, flight attendants and ground workers.
• General Dynamics lands contract for JetBlue Airways subsidiaryCharlotte-based General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a unit of General Dynamics Corp., has been chosen to supply components for in-flight entertainment and communications systems operated by LiveTV, a subsidiary of JetBlue Airways.
• Easyjet reaches new tech deal with TravelportNo-frills airline's flights will be sold globally through Galileo GDS
• Flybe to offer Leeds Bradford-Glasgow flightsRegional carrier to replace Bmi on route from next month

Other News Sources

• RMT raises serious safety issues over Tube Lines strikeTUBE UNION RMT today wrote to TFL chiefs demanding safety assurances during the Tube Lines strike action next week after bosses issued statements saying that they will continue to try and run services regardless of whether essential maintenance and repairs work is being carried out and regardless of the fact that the safety-critical Emergency Response Unit will be joining the strike action.
• Scottish signallers vote 100% for strike action in rosters disputeRAIL UNION RMT confirmed today that signallers in the Stirling area have voted 100% for strike action and action short of a strike in a dispute over rosters.