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

Sunday, 05 August 2012

BBC News

• Motorway closure for bridge workA section of the M54 motorway is due to close later to allow preparation work to start on a new business park on the Wolverhampton border.
• Olympics sees record Tube numbersThe record for the most number of people using the London Underground in a day is broken twice in week.

The Scotsman

• Analysts warn FirstGroup’s west coach rail bid ‘a double-edged sword’ SNATCHING the west coast rail franchise away from arch rival Stagecoach would be a double-edged sword for FirstGroup chief executive Tim O’Toole, because it would give him less incentive to sell his under-performing UK bus ­operations, analysts claim.

The Telegraph

• Chancellor urges maximum proceeds from rail franchise bids or risk high-speed line The Chancellor has told transport ministers to maximise proceeds from rail franchise bids or put at risk the planned £32bn high-speed line to Birmingham and the North.
• Threat to Richard Branson’s train empire Virgin’s presence on Britain’s rail network could be derailed as FirstGroup offers £1bn more for the West Coast franchise.
• Former Tory transport ministers attack Coalition over Heathrow and HS2Three former Conservative transport ministers have attacked the Government’s airport and rail strategy, urging the Coalition to press ahead with a third runway at Heathrow and abandon the controversial £32 billion HS2 rail project.

Press Association

• Transport copes with Super Saturday London's transport system is coping well with the huge crowds on Super Saturday - one of the busiest days of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Reuters News

• Bombardier Awarded 10-Year Operations and Maintenance Services Contract for AirTrain at Newark Liberty International AirportBERLIN, GERMANY-- Bombardier Transportation announced today that it has signed a contract with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to provide operations and maintenance (O&M) services for a further 10 years and a capital asset upgrade program to ensure the system continues to perform optimally. The contract is valued at approximately $243 million US (197 million euro) and will start on August 3, 2012.

London Evening Standard

• Transport copes with Super SaturdayLondon's transport system is coping well with the huge crowds on Super Saturday - one of the busiest days of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Manchester Evening News

• Manchester Airport secures £1bn boost to buy StanstedManchester Airports Group has struck an £1bn deal with Australian investors paving the way for a swoop on Stansted airport.

Sheffield Telegraph

• Complaints over bus routen Shire horses, a breed of draft horse, were originally used in battle as they were strong enough to carry knights in armour.

The York Press

• Transport concerns leads to review of council contracts City of York Council has had to review how it classifies the services it buys from businesses after a supplier raised concerns about how it handled a transport contract for taking disabled children to school.

Wales Online

• Trains could be 'run by a co-operative made up of rail workers and passengers' Trains in Wales could be run by a co-operative owned by rail workers and passengers in six years time, according to a leading transport expert.

Carlisle News & Star

• Carlisle Airport: ˜How many of those jobs actually go to local people? In the flatlands and fields which make up the low-lying countryside community around the airport, people were quietly going about their business as the airport approval news came through.
• Carlisle Airport: Legal and planning obstacles still remain Plans to redevelop Carlisle Airport have been cleared for take-off, raising hopes of scheduled flights to London and Dublin by this time next year.

Other Regional Press

• Bus? It's cheaper to organise a taxiCounty Hall's transport boss has said it would be cheaper to put passengers in taxis than continue to support some heavily subsidised bus routes.
• More action by transport workers remains possibleUNION members have not ruled out further industrial action after a strike by transport workers in Swansea.
• Lindley cyclist and councillor slams Kirklees Council road resurfacing of A640A MONTH ago a Lindley cyclist followed Team Sky on a training run through Huddersfield.

The Business Desk

• Bus investment pays dividends for National Express COMMUTERS in the West Midlands are feeling the benefit of major investment in the region’s public transport, a new study has said.
• Transport chiefs told to get rail franchises right for HS2 THE award of new rail franchises has to be carried out to maximise the potential of the proposed £32bn HS2 high speed rail link.
• Stobart given green light for Carlisle Airport scheme PROPERTY and logistics group Stobart has been given approval by Carlisle City Council to go ahead with a £20m+ expansion at the city's airport.

Other News Sources

• Bus company pays after road works strand a disabled man A BUS company has paid a disabled man’s taxi fare after a road closure left him stranded.