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

Tuesday, 29 May 2012

BBC News

• Cosford station: No funding for disabled access Disabled visitors to a Shropshire air show are being warned that the local station does not have wheelchair access, despite a recent £2m refit.
• London 2012: A tourist's guide to the transport system The busiest summer ever looms for London's transport system. After the problems last week, many doubt the system will cope.
• Arrests over railway cable theftEleven men, some from Birmingham, are charged with conspiracy to steal railway power cable in the North Cotswolds area.
• 'Sleep review' for night flightsMinisters say they will consider the economic impact to London residents of loss of sleep when considering the future of night flights into Heathrow.
• 'Tip-toeing back to third runway'Boris Johnson says the government is trying to kick a decision about a new airport into

Financial Times

• Brazilian airlines merge to tap boomThe Azul-Trip deal comes as Brazil™s biggest carriers, Tam and Gol, are engaged in a tough battle for market share while smaller carriers chip away at their dominance
• Beijing disciplines former rail chiefChina has expelled its one-time railways minister Liu Zhijun from the Communist party for alleged bribery and abuse of his position
• BAA wins right to appeal over StanstedCourt of Appeal is being asked to overturn a tribunal decision that upheld a 2009 Competition Commission order to sell the airport

The Herald

• Bridge closes in on world heritage statusTHE Forth Bridge has taken a step closer to being given the same cultural status as the Taj Mahal and Great Wall of China, as it has been confirmed it will bid to become a world heritage site.
• Probe over fault in new M74 sectionAN investigation has been launched after engineers discovered part of a major new stretch of motorway is sinking.
• Bond's chief quits as firm starts reviewTHE head of the aviation firm whose helicopter ditched in the North Sea earlier this month has been replaced as a review of its operations is launched.

The Independent

• Forth Bridge listed for honourThe Forth Rail Bridge could receive the same status as the Taj Mahal and Great Wall of China.Related StoriesSin and the single mother: The history of lone parenthoodHow I wooed the lovelorn shepherdessTop tat! Souvenirs for the Jubilee

The Scotsman

• Key investors question Gilbert’s role as chairman of FirstGroup FIRSTGROUP chairman Martin Gilbert was yesterday urged to “hit the phones” and talk to shareholders as some key investors raised concerns about his position at the helm of the transport giant.

The Telegraph

• FirstGroup looking for new non-executives FirstGroup is looking for at least two new non-executive directors to refresh its board amid shareholder discontent about chairman Martin Gilbert’s performance.
• London 2012 Olympics: Fears grow of Olympic tube chaosFears are growing over the ability of London's tube network to cope during the Olympics after the system suffered another catastrophic morning.
• Forth Bridge could receive World Heritage statusThe standing joke is that it is an endless paint job. In fact, contrary to popular belief, workmen do not have to begin repainting the Forth rail bridge as soon as they have completed it.

Mail Online

• Fuel prices sets to soar after refinery that provides 20% of South East's supplies closes downThe AA fears the closure of the Coryton refinery, in Essex, will lead to City speculators pushing up the wholesale price of refined fuels – meaning higher prices at the pumps.

The Mirror

• Delays on the railways: No funds yet for Thameslink train deal which would cost 1,400 British jobs Last June, Rail Minister Theresa Villiers gave the contract to German firm Siemens, saying it needed signing as soon as possible
• Delays on the railways: No funds yet for Thameslink train deal which would cost 1,400 British jobs Last June, Rail Minister Theresa Villiers gave the contract to German firm Siemens, saying it needed signing as soon as possible

Network Rail

• WHAT THE DICKENS? FARRINGDON EXHIBITION GIVES COMMUTERS A TASTE OF THE PAST AS STATION REDEVELOPMENT NEARS END
• MORE SPACE FOR WATERLOO COMMUTERS AS FIRST STAGE OF REDEVELOPMENT COMPLETES

Birmingham Mail

• Power cut at Birmingham Airport forces travellers to jet off without luggageHUNDREDS of angry passengers left Birmingham Airport without their luggage after a power cut caused chaos for travellers.

Birmingham Post

• Power cut at Birmingham Airport forces travellers to jet off without luggageHUNDREDS of angry passengers left Birmingham Airport without their luggage after a power cut caused chaos for travellers.

Journal Live

• Northumberland A1 dualling requires strong business caseTHE Transport Secretary has said the North East must make a stronger case if it wants to win A1 dualling cash.

Liverpool Echo

• Merseytravel chairman Mark Dowd faces call for reignation from Labour colleaguesTHE CHAIRMAN of Merseytravel should resign for failing to deal with a catalogue of revelations rocking the transport authority, his own Labour colleagues have demanded.

London Evening Standard

• Government adviser suggests radical Heathrow Airport plan: ˜Forget a third runway, turn it into a garden city™Heathrow™s runways and terminals should be bulldozed to make way for a œgarden city�, says a new report to be published tomorrow.

Manchester Evening News

• Railways could be taken over by Greater Manchester transport chiefs under devolution planGreater Manchester is set to take control of the region™s railways “ in an historic move that promises better trains, more carriages and improved services for passengers.
• Metrolink services suspended after power cable snaps and shatters tram drivers windowStunned passengers described the moment a live electricity cable snapped and shattered a tram driver™s window. The incident led to widespread Metrolink delays between Manchester city centre and Altrincham.
• Metrolink bosses consider plans to run trams on train tracks Transport bosses are keeping a close eye on a pioneering bid to run trams on train tracks in Yorkshire “ amid hopes Metrolink could also hit the railways. They plan to monitor the development of a £58m tram-train scheme in Sheffield which has been given the green light from government.

Wales Online

• Cheryl Gillan accused of misleading AMs over rail electrificationWelsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan has been accused of giving misleading information to AMs over the issue of rail electrification.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• A38 ‘danger road’ sparks new safety campaignThe number of deaths and accidents on the busy A38 in Staffordshire are being tackled in a new safety campaign.

Other Regional Press

• Lowestoft bus services receive revamp in push towards sustainable transport A drive towards sustainable transport in Lowestoft has led to an overhaul of the bus services to help curb traffic congestion and promote greener travel.

Bus and Coach.com

• Paris show focuses on innovationThe European Mobility Exhibition, which takes place in Paris from 5-7 June, will include electric buses, ticketing and passenger information innovations with 250 exhibitors aiming to attract 10,000 visitors.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• EU urged to back Smart Move towards collective passenger transportThe European Union (EU) should back a Smart Move proposal to double the use of collective passenger transport in the region by 2020.According to the International Road Transport Union (IRU) Passenger Transport Council, which has published the plans, leaders should seize the opportunity to boost the number of people travelling by bus and coach by improving the affordability and accessibility of services."Europe could reach the ambitious objectives of its 2020 Growth Strategy on employment, innovation, social inclusion, climate and energy at the lowest costs to taxpayers, if it actively...

Global Rail News

• Unions claim ˜over 20,000 jobs at risk™ on UK railwaysUnions have claimed that ‘over 20,000 jobs on the UK™s railways could be lost’ as a result of the government™s reforms to the rail industry. As part of its plans for the future of the rail industry, the government is asking train operating companies and Network Rail to outline how they will make cost reductions [...]
• Vital lights up Sloane SquareVital Technology has completed the installation of a new energy saving lighting system at Sloane Square station on the London Underground. The job was completed on time and on budget. Infra red detectors check levels of natural light and boost artificial lighting when needed. The technology saves money and energy. Passengers and staff at Sloane [...]
• Network Rail fined £150,000 over rail worker incidentsNetwork Rail has been fined £150,000 and ordered to pay costs of £32,500 following a prosecution brought by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for breaches of health and safety law which led to the death of one Network Rail maintenance worker, and the serious injury of another, in two incidents that took place in [...]
• Local energy for EarlestownRailway staff and volunteers have been sprucing up historic Earlestown station in Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside. The clean-up is part of a community project aimed at improving Northern Rail stations between Edge Hill and Glossop. Known as Route 28, the scheme joins rail industry people and the local community. Staff from Merseytravel, Transport for Greater Manchester, Network [...]
• Heathrow Express unveils new trainsHeathrow Express has unveiled its new refurbished fleet of trains, with the first one set to go into service tonight. The refurbishment to ˜premiumise™ the brand ‘mirrors an airline experience whilst complying with forthcoming safety standards due to be introduced in 2019′, the train operator said. The project has taken Heathrow Express nine months from [...]
• Thales wins ETCS Level 2 project in HungaryThales Austria recently signed a contract with the Hungarian infrastructure company NIF to provide modern electronic train control technology for the Boba-Bajánsenye line. The contract includes the design, supply, installation and commissioning of a complete European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 solution and adaptations to the existing ETCS Level 1 system. The project is [...]
• MP calls for direct rail link from the west to HeathrowA Slough MP is calling for a direct rail link between the west of England and Heathrow. Fiona Mactaggart believes a new route could cut journey times dramatically, reducing a trip from  Reading to Terminal 5 by 18 minutes and creating a nine-minute train from Slough to Heathrow. Currently there is no direct rail link [...]
• Siemens land $73 million Portland light rail contractSiemens has received a $73 million order from Portland’s mass transit provider for 18 new light rail cars. The latest batch, which will be manufactured entirely at Siemens’ rolling stock production plant in Sacramento, California, will take the total number of light rail cars manufactured for TriMet by Siemens to 119. The new order has [...]
• China expels ex-rail minister from party over corruption allegationsChina’s former railway minister has been expelled by the country’s ruling communist party amid allegations of bribery and corruption. The expulsion comes a year after Liu Zhijun was relieved of his government post after an investigation was opened into claims that he had used his position to help a private businessman make illegal profits. The [...]

London TravelWatch

• Will everyone get to the Games?Will everyone get to the Games?

Railnews

• Freight group sounds warning about reforms The Office of Rail Regulation is being urged to think again about its proposals for freight charging. The Rail Freight Group fears the changes could damage the sector and divert some cargoes to other modes.
• New strike threat as unions harden McNulty stance Rail unions have launched a nationwide protest against the possible loss of more than 20,000 rail jobs as a result of the recommendations in the McNulty 'value for money' report. Speaking to Railnews, RMT general secretary Bob Crow said a ballot for nationwide industrial action is now on the cards.

Aviation Industry

• New Heathrow runway would 'boost economy' - BransonVirgin boss calls for government to stop opposing airport's third runway

Other News Sources

• Heathrow Express unveils new train carriagesOperator says refurbished seats have been designed for business travellers