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

Friday, 28 September 2012

BBC News

• Jaguar's F-type launches victory debateBritish carmaker Jaguar unveils a two-seater sportscar that will be made in Castle Bromwich and create 1,000 jobs.
• Should there be child-free zones on planes?An airline is says it will offer baby-free
• Electric car breaks speed recordA battery-powered car breaks the UK land-speed record for electric vehicles at Elvington airfield near York, its makers say.
• Dublin airport strike deferredSIPTU members at Dublin airport and Aer Lingus have agreed to defer industrial action planned for Monday 1 October.
• Most accidents 'driver's fault'Most accidents on Britain's roads last year were the driver's fault, according to the latest government figures.

Financial Times

• Brussels to push for EU-US airline mergersWashington would have to relax its stringent foreign ownership rules but it may refuse to do so because of European carbon emissions fees
• EADS plays waiting game as questions mountSome analysts are questioning whether the group™s two prime motivations for a deal with BAE are compelling enough to justify the transaction

The Guardian

• We don't need another runway, we need to change our flying behaviour Changing attitudes to flying would reduce the need for airport capacity – and business can lead the way, says Adam Corner

The Herald

• Contest for ferry services delayedCALEDONIAN MacBrayne, the publicly funded ferry operator, has been granted a three-year contract to run west coast services after a tender competition for the routes was delayed.
• Warning train fleet won't be ready for handoverTRAINS between London and Glasgow could be forced to operate in "grey primer" over the Christmas holidays as the handover of a passenger franchise from Virgin Trains to First Group is held up by a legal challenge, a union has claimed.
• Ice-breaker trucks on road for winterTWO ice-breaking vehicles, 110,000 litres of ultra-low temperature de-icing liquid and 690,000 tonnes of road salt have been unveiled as part of the Scottish Government's latest contingency plans for winter weather.
• Nationalised rail operator boosts profits and revenueTHE Government-owned rail firm which runs services between London and Edinburgh has seen an increase in profits and passenger satisfaction levels.

The Independent

• The great train robbery? How rail firms make millions from running late Private rail companies are raking in more than £100m a year in compensation for late trains that they are not passing on to affected customers.Related StoriesNemesis car smashes electric speed recordSchoolboy dies after collapse in college toilet in CornwallTwo drown rescuing dog as autumn storms wreak havocRoad deaths rise by 3% in a yearHonour for soldier who lost six pints of blood but came back to front line

The Scotsman

• East coast rail firm on track The nationalised operator of the east coast main line has posted an increase in full-year profits and said plans remain on track to return the business to private hands next year.
• Wick Airport to be rebranded to cash in on John o’Groats redevelopment THE most northerly airport on mainland Scotland is to be rebranded to capitalise on the multi-million pound redevelopment of John o’Groats.

The Telegraph

• Train operators cash in on delaysTrain operators are pocketing millions of pounds in compensation for late running trains at passengers' expense.
• Motorists admit to driving under influence of drink and drugsNearly one in 10 motorists admit they have got behind the wheel when over the drink drive limit according to a comprehensive Government study.

Press Association

• East Coast rail firm boosts profits A railway company which was temporarily re-nationalised by the Government three years ago has reported increased profits and an improvement in passenger satisfaction.

The Mirror

• Closet Tory Nick Clegg is a fool if he nicks pensioners' bus passesIf Clegg is still leader of his party come election time, he™ll have something to be really sorry about with this manifesto threat

ATOC

• Passenger compensation has become "increasingly generous and easy to apply for"Responding to union claims over passenger compensation paid out by train companies,...

Conservative Party

• New Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin insists he is Until the reshuffle, Patrick McLoughlin had been a whip for 15 years, serving six leaders, and two Prime Ministers - which explains why his media appearances have been few and far between. In his first big interview since being appointed Secretary of State for Transport, Mr McLoughlin has denied being appointed simply to see a third runway through, and insists he is "open-minded".

Edinburgh Evening News

• Mystery knitter vents Edinburgh trams fury in ˜yarn-bombing™ blanket protestIt is a case of knit-and-run. A public art craze which has swept the States has landed in the Capital as a colourful if short-lived protest against the tram works.

London Evening Standard

• Rail passengers suffer £150million delays 'rip-off'Rail passengers are being "ripped off" to the tune of more than £150 million on refunds for delayed trains during the past year, new figures reveal today.
• Union bosses threaten further strike action in the face of Boris Johnson's driverless trains planTube union bosses today openly defied Boris Johnson's plans for driverless trains and his proposals to curb their powers warning of up to three ballots for strike action.
• 'I wasn't made Transport Secretary to push through third runway at Heathrow...all options are on the table'Meet the new man in charge of our roads, rail, and airways ” a 4x4 driver with three points on his licence for speeding, who falls asleep on trains, rides on the Northern line, but has never yet dared climb onto a Boris bike.

Manchester Evening News

• This one’s a new track: Metrolink passengers get a musical treat - video Metrolink passengers got a surprise when a theatre company performed a musical on board a tram. The actors suddenly broke out in song as the 11am tram to MediaCity pulled out of Piccadilly station.

Metro

• Nemesis breaks electric car land speed record in the UKIt's the fastest electric car in Britain “ and proves wind power can be rather sexy after all. Nick Ponting breaking the land speed record for an electric vehicle in the Nemesis (Picture: Ross Parry) It's the fastest electric car in Britain “ and proves wind power can be rather sexy after all. Driver Nick Ponting hit 151mph during a run at Elvington airfield, near York “ breaking the record of 137mph set ten years ago  by Don Wales, grandson of speed ace Sir Malcolm Campbell. The Nemesis™s success shows there™s nothing uncool about electric cars, said its makers.Dale Vince, founder of green ...

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Joy for island drivers as fuel prices slashed AN ISLAND filling station has stunned and delighted locals by suddenly slashing the price of petrol and diesel by 9p a litre.
• Cruise ship cancellations could scupper port™s dream Fort William™s attempts to become a world-class cruise ship destination appear dead in the water.

The York Press

• £600k plan for new bus lanes into York A £600,000 scheme to improve bus links into York is expected to be approved today.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Rail users 'ripped off' on refunds A rail workers' union has called for a parliamentary inquiry into refunds for delayed trains after claiming that passengers were being "ripped off".

Yorkshire Post

• Turnaround in East Coast rail figures hailedTHE publicly owned railway company that runs Yorkshire’s main route to the capital has reported its best-ever punctuality figures.
• Profits up and more satisfied customers on East Coast lineTHE railway company operating the re-nationalised East Coast line has seen an increase in profits and improved passenger satisfaction.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Praise for East Coast trains refunds Publicly owned East Coast, which runs trains through Peterborough, was praised today for paying 15 times more in refunds for delayed trains than its privately run competitors

Other Regional Press

• Ticket to ride bus networkA new travelcard which can be used on buses run by different operators in the Bath area has been launched.
• Heathrow rail link vital for Thames Valley economy Four trains an hour could run from Reading to Heathrow, stopping at Twyford, Maidenhead and Slough, under plans debated at a business conference earlier this month.

Global Rail News

• Tube union threatens to strike over driverless train plansRMT is to ballot members over proposals to introduce driverless trains onto London’s Tube network. In July, the rail union leaked an internal LU document which showed possible plans to transfer the Jubilee Line to driverless operation within three years, with the scope for other deep level tube lines to follow. RMT general secretary Bob [...]
• Record breaking year for the RailStaff AwardsMore people have placed nominations and votes for the RailStaff Awards than ever before in the event’s six-year history. Five-thousand people picked their favourite nominees in the first two days of voting alone and judging is now underway, with the overall winners to be confirmed on October 4. Talking about the origins of the event, [...]
• Tata Steel to supply 50,000 tonnes of rail for French lineTata Steel is supplying 50,000 tonnes of rail for the new Brittany-Loire Valley line between Le Mans and Rennes. The steel will be manufactured in Scunthorpe, UK, before being rolled into rail at Tata Steel™s mill in Hayange, north-east France, for delivery from 2015. The order value is around €50 million. Jean-Luc Trottin, Eiffage Rail [...]
• We™re in your cornerIn January 2010 a pioneering Samaritans and Network Rail partnership launched, covering the rail network in England, Scotland and Wales, with the overall aim of reducing the number of suicides on the railways by 20% over a five year period. Suicides by men are three times more common than by women and working class men [...]
• Rail Vehicle Enhancements 2012All train operators strive to improve their passenger experience. Comfortable and happy passengers are likely to travel again, and it is a major way to secure repeat business. Rail Vehicle Enhancements 2012 is a new initiative, aiming at helping all those involved with making sure that passengers feel comfortable and safe during their journey. Running [...]
• Orion clinch top 10 spot in recruitment league tableOrion Group has been named as one of the top 10 UK manpower providers in the rail category of an international recruitment league table. It’s the first time the Orion Group’s Rail & Training Services division has made the top 10 of The Recruitment International magazine’s Top 250 Report, which examines performance figures of firms [...]

Railnews

• Government announces aid for new trains The Government has signalled that it intends to make the acquisition of new rolling stock easier, by offering official guarantees. The first project to benefit is set to be the new fleet for Crossrail. Treasury chief secretary Danny Alexander told the Liberal Democrat conference that the funding for 60 new trains would be guaranteed, so that there would no problems with timescales.

Aviation Industry

• Ryanair opens first high street shopAirline unveils temporary agency in Manchester™s main shopping area

Other News Sources

• Olympic bus boss gives transport advice to Glasgow 2014 chiefs Without athletes and team officials the London Olympic Games could never have taken place.
• RMT to ballot for action over driverless tubeTUBE UNION RMT confirmed today that it is to ballot for strike action and action short of a strike in a dispute over plans to rip up the safety rule book and begin the testing of driverless trains on London Underground.