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

Monday, 20 August 2012

BBC News

• http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/340610/Bargain-fares-for-train-earlybirdsChancellor George Osborne must change course on the economy now or cause "immeasurable damage", his predecessor Alistair Darling has warned. ... He suggests more spending on homes, the railways and a third Heathrow runway.
• Qantas chief Joyce to forgo bonusAlan Joyce, chief executive of Qantas, says he will forgo his bonus and pay rise after a sharp plunge in the airline's profits.

Financial Times

• Virgin Rail seeks reasons for franchise lossCompany pushing the government to provide detailed feedback this week on why it lost the contest to run the lucrative West Coast rail franchise

The Guardian

• Airport-style screening to be considered for train and tube stationsHome Office in search for technologies that can rapidly screen for explosives, weapons and chemical and biological materialsFresh consideration is to be given to the introduction of airport-style mass security screening at mainline rail stations and across London's tube network.The Home Office has launched a search for new and emerging technologies that are capable of rapidly screening huge numbers of passengers and which could be used in major train and tube stations and across the tube network.The new rail and tube screening technology is to be used to detect explosives, guns and knives, bei...

The Herald

• Rail journey time fearTRAIN journeys between Edinburgh and the Borders could be extended to more than an hour if cuts to a £295 million project go ahead, campaigners have warned.
• Bid to get Glasgow cycling to work by 2020GLASGOW is aiming to make cycling the biggest participatory activity in the city by 2020 as part of an ambitious bid to capitalise on the sport's surge in popularity.
• New Borders railway may have longer journey timesCAMPAIGNERS fear design changes to a proposed new 35-mile rail route linking Edinburgh with the Borders could lead to journey times being extended from 55 minutes to more than an hour, making it far less appealing to commuters.

The Scotsman

• Franchise bids and renewals become statement of intent from FirstGroup FIRSTGROUP is pursuing bids for three more UK rail franchises this year after scooping the West Coast service from Virgin.

The Telegraph

• Forget QE, what the UK needs is a better transport system Economic growth has become a major concern in Western economies. And the UK is no exception.
• Franchise bids and renewals become statement of intent from FirstGroup FIRSTGROUP is pursuing bids for three more UK rail franchises this year after scooping the West Coast service from Virgin.
• FirstGroup's £13bn West Coast rail bid faces probe by MPs Transport ministers and executives at FirstGroup and Virgin Rail are expected to be called before two parliamentary committees amid growing controversy over the bid for the West Coast rail franchise.
• Technology could help motorists beat red lights It is the ultimate source of frustration for motorists, crawling through a town being stuck behind a succession of red traffic lights.
• David Cameron facing rail revolt in Labour vote David Cameron is facing a revolt from his own backbenchers over plans to to raise the cost of rail commuting by up to 11 per cent, in a vote planned by Labour to exploit Coalition tensions.
• All aboard for 45 minutes of panic and fear The horrors of the packed commuter train fill Cristina Odone with anxiety and loathing.

Daily Express

• BARGAIN FARES FOR TRAIN EARLYBIRDS CHEAPER rail tickets for workers who set off early could be introduced under plans to offset inflation-busting fare rises and ease overcrowding. Transport Secretary Justine Greening is studying a proposal to pioneer lower fares for commuters who avoid the busiest “high peak” rush hour trains.
• Airlines unite over high taxBRITAIN'S airlines are stepping up their fight against sky-high air-passenger duty by investigating whether it is damaging the growth of the -economy.

Daily Record

• Alistair Darling warns of 'immeasurable damage' to UK economy In an open letter, the former chancellor and Labour MP claimed both Osborne and the Bank of England have “given up on any plan for growth”. He urged more spending on homes, railways and a third Heathrow runway.

The Mirror

• Rail revolt: Tory backbenchers fear election boot over crippling fare risesBut none of the MPs voted with Labour to cap rises at 1% above inflation in January

This is Money

• FirstGroup chief lets rip over 'hysterical' Branson: Virgin boss under attack for spreading fear among workers Tim O’Toole, chief executive of transport company FirstGroup, has launched an unprecedented attack on Sir Richard Branson, branding the Virgin Rail boss hysterical and accusing him of spreading fear among his workers.

Bolton News

• Trade chief in call for more trains to capital CALLS have been made to introduce more than one London to Bolton train per day from 2016.

London Evening Standard

• Monday misery on mainline as Euston railway station blocked by derailment - London travel latest Mainline rail commuters faced a bad start to the week after an engineering train derailed overnight blocking West Coast Main Line tracks into Euston.

Sheffield Telegraph

• Fears over cuts to hospital bus route ELDERLY residents are facing a new battle over bus services - a year after they fought to preserve a direct route through their Sheffield neighbourhood.
• Get aboard for grand day outSOUTH Yorkshire transport representatives will be getting out and about this weekend, in the hope that travellers will follow in their footsteps.

Burnley Express

• Burnley MP œappalled after being asked to post bus petitionBURNLEY MP Gordon Birtwistle is “appalled“ after Lancashire County Council said they will not receive his bus station petition in person.

Other Regional Press

• Bus bosses say sorry for failing FALKIRK’S main bus operators went on the record to apologise to customers for delivering a poor quality service.
• Passenger slams transport system leaving Weald pensioners stranded A BENENDEN man has slammed the public transport system in the Weald, which he says is leaving pensioners stranded.
• Running rail passengers warned: 'Don't try to be like Mo Farah'Commuters making a mad last minute dash for their train are being rapped on the knuckles for running on the platforms due to health and safety.
• Cash will improve bus station and whole areaA multi-million pound re-development of Bedford Bus Station will include refurbishment of the Allhallows multistorey car park, the mayor revealed this week.

The Business Desk

• Peel Airports losses soar to £11m after Durham sale LOSSES soared from £3.2m to £11.4m at Peel Airports as a result of a one off impairment charge of £8.8m - following the sale of Durham Tees Valley Airport to its shareholder Peel Group in February.

Other News Sources

• A masterplan for movement around central London’s busiest station London Bridge station is about to undergo a six-year redevelopment as part of the £6.5bn Thameslink programme to increase north-south rail capacity across London. But how will the works change the local transport network? Andrew Forster met Network Rail’s Alex Machin and Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Graham James to find out