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Thursday, 08 November 2012

BBC News

• First Group dividend on hold after West Coast fiasco Travel company First Group has decided to freeze its interim shareholder dividend due to the uncertainty created by the cancellation of the West Coast Main Line franchise competition.
• Bus and Tube fares rise by 4.2%Fares across London's transport network will go up by 4.2% from January, mayor Boris Johnson says.
• Emirates airline for 2014 GamesThe airline Emirates is unveiled as the latest official sponsor of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
• Kingfisher Airlines' losses widenLosses at India's Kingfisher Airlines widen in the July to September quarter, adding to fears about the future of the embattled carrier.

Financial Times

• Aer Lingus spent €50m fighting off RyanairIrish carrier, which reported revenues up almost 6% in the latest quarter, is confident European authorities will block its rival™s latest approach
• FirstGroup dividend pledge under threatTransport group warns pledge to increase full-year payout may be at risk after the West Coast rail line bidding fiasco and pre-tax profits fall
• IAG targets full control of VuelingGroup™s move to raise 46% stake in budget carrier to 100% is seen by analysts as attempt to improve competitiveness at its troubled Spanish arm Iberia

The Guardian

• London tube and bus fares to rise from January Boris Johnson says fares in the capital will increase by an average of 4.2% in the new year
• FirstGroup in talks to extend Great Western rail franchise Rail boss Tim O'Toole seeks answers and compensation for west coast franchise fiasco as pre-tax profits fall to £8.4m
• On London transport fares, Boris Johnson tells it like it isn't London fares are to rise above inflation despite Johnson pledging otherwise. The mayor has a cavalier attitude to the truth

The Herald

• Green light for £348m rail project as new deal signedA DEAL to revive rail travel between Edinburgh and the Borders for the first time in more than 40 years has been signed, as it emerged the Scottish Government's bill to build the route was in danger of running over by more than £100 million.
• ScotRail apologises after overcrowding complaintsSCOTRAIL has apologised for overcrowding on its flagship Edinburgh-Glasgow service, blaming mechanical failures and two crashes elsewhere on the rail network for a shortage of train carriages over the past three weeks.

The Independent

• Tube and bus fares to rise by an inflation-busting 4.2% Tube travellers and London bus passengers will face above-inflation fare rises in the new year.Related StoriesLondon's Olympic Stadium might not re-open until after the Rio GamesA lorra, lorra lashes - why Scouse girls are the picture of glamourChildren 'fear' their family petsPaying hospitals a bonus for providing best patient care saves 900 lives in 18 monthsSir Norman Bettison resigned after learning he faced possible dismissal over his role in the Hillsborough scandal

The Scotsman

• Aer Lingus expecting London to Edinburgh update next week Irish airline Aer Lingus expects to get a progress report next week on its application to take over former BMI routes between Edinburgh and Heathrow after announcing a 30 per cent jump in operating profits for the first nine months of the year.

The Telegraph

• Schiphol claims to operate Heathrow's third runway Amsterdam is laying claim to be recognised as a British hub airport operating Heathrow's third runway.
• London cab drivers 'warn of taxi shortage' London taxi drivers have warned of a shortage of black cabs in the capital during the festive season, one of the trade's busiest times of year.
• IAG considering full takeover of Spanish low cost airline Vueling International Airlines Group, owner of British Airways and Iberia, is looking at mounting a full takeover of Vueling, Spain's second biggest domestic airline.
• FirstGroup: West Coast rail fiasco could have been 'remedied another way' The Government’s shock decision to scrap the bidding competition for the West Coast Main Line was an overreaction, FirstGroup has suggested, as the rail industry prepares to plead with the Government not to overhaul the multi-billion pound franchising system.
• Cost of hiring Boris Bikes to doubleThe cost of hiring "Boris Bikes" is to double from £1 to £2 a day in the new year, Transport for London has announced.

ATOC

• ATOC appoints new Director of PolicyNick Ellins has been appointed as the new Director of Policy at the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC). With more than 25 years’ service in the water industry,...

Network Rail

• PAISLEY CANAL ELECTRIFICATION WORKS EXTENDED

Liverpool Echo

• Jaguar Land Rover doubles second quarter profitsLuxury car maker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has doubled profits in the last quarter and seen sales soar.

Liverpool Post

• Overhead line problems at Watford Junction causing delays in Liverpool to Lonson rail servicesRAIL services between Liverpool and London faced severe disruption this morning.

London Evening Standard

• A flying start: first look inside as new £2.5bn Heathrow terminal 2 building takes shape Flooded with light under the sweeping arc of its huge roof, Heathrow’s new Terminal 2 begins to take shape.
• More rush-hour misery for commuters Rail commuters were today hit by a third day of rush hour misery triggered by signalling problems and driver shortages.
• Boris bike charges to double in inflation-busting travel fares hikeLondon's biggest cycling organisation has hit out at the Mayor's announcement that fares for Boris bikes will be doubled.

The York Press

• York to get new bus lane City of York Council will be carrying out essential works next week to construct a new bus lane on Boroughbridge Road in Acomb.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Store wars move to the pumps as prices are slashedA Leeds-based supermarket has sparked a fuel war after slashing prices at the pumps.

Daventry Express

• Bypass seen as importantA CONSULTATION has stated that a bypass for Flore and Weedon was seen as important.

East Anglian Daily Times

• East Anglia: Regional bus operator First reports fall in half-year profitsTRANSPORT operator FirstGroup today insisted that it was seeing signs of recovery within its bus business despite reporting a 33% plunge in first-half earnings at the division.

Global Rail News

• New rail technical strategyThe Department for Transport (DfT) is about to launch a new Technical Strategy for Rail in the UK. What is this all about and why is it necessary? The Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE) recently hosted a Railway Engineers Forum (REF) meeting at which Clive Burrows from First Group and James Hardy from the [...]
• BTP launches investigation into Angus derailmentBTP officers believe an object placed deliberately on a rail track in Angus caused the derailment of a CrossCountry service at the weekend. The front section of the 8.04am passenger service between Edinburgh and Aberdeen came off the tracks at Iverkeilor in Angus on Sunday morning. Police now believe an object found at the scene [...]
• Alstom wins Turkey high-speed maintenance contractAlstom has signed a 22.3 million euro maintenance contract with Turkish State Railways (TCDD) to maintain its fleet of 12 high-speed trains. The trains have operated between Ankara and Eskisehir (245 km) since 2009, as well as between Ankara and Konya (310 km). The high-speed trains are expected to cover 10 million kilometers in the [...]
• London rail fares to rise by 4.2% in 2013Tube fares are to rise by 4.2 per cent next year, London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced. The cost of tickets on London’s Tubes, Overground, DLR and trams will increase by one per cent above inflation from January 2013. On the Tube, cash fares will increase by 20p and Oyster pay as you go fares [...]
• FirstGroup freezes dividend at 2011 level after West Coast inquiryFirstGroup has decided to hold the interim dividend at last year’s level until an inquiry into the flawed West Coast competition has been completed. The rail operator announced today (November 7) underlying profit before tax for the first six months of the year to September 30 had fallen by 42.2 per cent to £48.7 million. [...]
• Video: Crossrail TBMs lowered undergroundCrossrail has released a time-lapse video of TBMs Elizabeth and Victoria being lowered into position last month.

London TravelWatch

• Passenger watchdog cautiously welcomes Transport for London™s announcement about their January 2013 fare increasesLondon TravelWatch has welcomed Transport for London™s (TfL™s) announcement that fares will rises by 1% above inflation in January 2013, less than originally planned. At the same time, the independent passenger watchdog has urged passengers to make sure that they take advantage of the money saving tips available on its website to ensure that they get the best possible value for money when paying for their travel in and around London.

Railnews

• £1.3bn means goodbye to 'Cinderella' main line A special online edition of Railnews -- RailnewsPlus -- is published today alongside the print edition for November, containing a special feature about the East Midlands, where the rail network is about to undergo a major overhaul as the result of an investment of £1.3 billion.

Aviation Industry

• Cheap flights bring tough stance on carry-on bag limitsA consumer advocate is warning of a carry-on baggage crackdown as the battle between airlines for budget-conscious customers sees a growing number of seat-only ticket sales.
• Northern Ireland scraps APD on long-haul flights From next year passengers taking direct long-haul flights from Belfast airport will no longer have to pay Air Passenger Duty, following the partial devolution of powers to the Northern Ireland Executive. Last year the Department for Transport (DfT) cut the APD rates paid on long-haul flights out of Northern Ireland to the same level as short-haul services, and also announced plans to devolve powers on the setting of long-haul APD charges from Westminster to the Northern Ireland Executive. With this process now completed the Northern Ireland Assembly has now voted to scrap APD on long-haul fli...

Other News Sources

• Transport improvement plans extended in Guildford A TRAVEL Smart project aiming to improve transport links in Guildford has been extended to include two more areas in the town.