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

Friday, 23 November 2012

BBC News

• 'Sooner the better' for north rail electrification case The sooner the case for a massive upgrade of the north Wales main line can be made the better, says Welsh Secretary David Jones.
• Rail firm on track to grow abroadRailway contracting firm QTS Rail is seeking new business in the Far East and Australia, after reporting record annual results.
• Car rental company investigatedA major UK car and van rental company - A1 National Car and Van Rental Limited - is being investigated following claims that it failed to return customers' deposits.
• Network Rail debts increase againNetwork Rail, which maintains Britain's rail track and signalling system, has reported flat profits but higher debt over the past six months.

Financial Times

• Airlines take off after Barclays upgradesLufthansa, Air France-KLM and Ryanair climb as analysts hail ˜continued revenue strength™, while across Europe, markets trade in positive territory
• Rail chief warns on industry overhaulNetwork Rail finance director says radical change after West Coast main line debacle puts plans to cut the £10.5bn annual cost of the system at risk
• Brussels steps up challenge to RyanairEuropean Commission argues that a tie-up with Aer Lingus would leave merged carrier in a stronger position than at time of prohibited 2007 takeover
• Faster rail link to Stansted urgedAirport™s operator says it would gain an extra 1.4m passengers annually if train journey times from central London were cut to 30 minutes

The Guardian

• Network Rail pleads for more cash as its debt soars Figures suggest there will be a record 1.5 billion journeys on the railways this year and more money is needed
• Could Twitter help urban planners improve transport networks? Data-mapping expert Eric Fischer has used geolocated Tweets to find the most frequently travelled routes in US cities. Could this sort of data be used to plan transit systems in the future?

The Herald

• Train operator hits back in sacked ticket inspector rowSCOTRAIL has hit out at union claims a ticket inspector was dismissed with

The Telegraph

• Network Rail debt will 'keep rising for decades' Network Rail’s debt will continue to rise for another three decades, the group’s finance director has admitted, after half-year results showed its borrowings have broken through £28bn.
• Train travel: Britain's substandard rail network is turning tourists awayA developed, affordable railway network is one of the best adverts for any tourist destination. The Americas and the UK should take note.

The Mirror

• I'm on the ring road: A third of motorists admit using their phone while drivingA million have been caught chatting, texting or even surfing the web since the dangerous practice became illegal in 2003

Network Rail

• Network Rail half-year results 2012/2013Financial highlights of the last six monthsRevenue was £3,167m compared to £2,997m for the same period last yearOperating profit was £1,226m compared to £1,227m Profit after taxation was £573m compared to £136mCapital expenditure “ the amount invested in the railway over the period “ was £2,064m compared to £2,071m Net borrowings were £28,043m compared to £27,200m at 31 March 2012
• Passengers to benefit from investment at Horsham stationA host of improvements which are providing a better experience for thousands of passengers at Horsham station every week have been officially unveiled.

Birmingham Post

• BA and Virgin say Birmingham Airport will never be international hub Read More http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/other-uk-business/2012/11/22/ba-and-virgin-say-birmingham-airport-will-never-be-international-hub-65Two of Britain’s leading airlines have launched an astonishing attack on Birmingham Airport, saying it will never be a national hub.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Edinburgh faces £1m tram payout to injured cyclistsCITY chiefs could face a compensation bill of up to £1 million from cyclists injured in falls on Edinburgh’s tram lines.

London Evening Standard

• Disruption as broken down train blocks Hastings to London lineA Broken down train blocked the busy main Hastings to London line today causing travel chaos to thousands of commuters throughout the morning peak.
• Friday Tube strike on Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines called offTomorrow's Tube strike, which could have disrupted services on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines was dramatically called off this afternoon.
• How we can make the capital safe for cyclistsEarlier this week, Brian Florey was cycling on the A13 when he was killed by a lorry. He was the 13th person killed cycling on London™s roads this year.

Manchester Evening News

• Greater Manchester councils call on government for more cash to solve 'pothole crisis'Town hall bosses have called on the government to invest in resurfacing the region™s roads amid claims the ˜pothole problem™ has reached crisis point.

Metro

• Tube strike due on November 23 called off after maintenance work suspendedA Tube strike set to hit commuter services on Friday November 23rd has been called off after London Underground bosses cancelled engineering work that was due to take place this weekend. Strike off: Tube maintenance workers have suspended their proposed industrial action (Picture: PA) Workers across the capital had feared their journeys to and from work tomorrow would be affected after maintenance workers threatened industrial action.However, after Transport for London elected to cancel the scheduled engineering work due to go ahead over the next three days, the Tube Lines Company have now o...

Northern Echo

• Family-run firm create UK's first super-gritter Family-run firm create UK's first super-gritter A FAMILY-RUN engineering firm is helping Britain fight back against the extreme wintery weather which has resulted in roads grinding to a halt over the past two years.
• Family-run firm create UK's first super-gritter Family-run firm create UK's first super-gritter A FAMILY-RUN engineering firm is helping Britain fight back against the extreme wintery weather which has resulted in roads grinding to a halt over the past two years.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Bus operators on the road to gloryBUS operators in Notts have won a series of accolades from a national awards ceremony.
• Nottingham Post commented Council's 'sorry' for rush-hour traffic chaos in NottinghamNOTTINGHAM City Council has apologised for "unacceptable" delays after tram construction roadworks overran on a busy...

Sheffield Star

• 60 jobs at risk at South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive SIXTY jobs will be lost at South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive as £6.8 million of cuts are made over the next year.

The York Press

• Deighton villagers show support for reduction of A19 speed limit VILLAGERS between York and Selby have shown their support for the reduction of a speed limit on a road past their homes.

Bucks Free Press

• Rail campaigner: 'Don't condemn Wycombe to car-only economy' A CAMPAIGNER has urged councillors to block plans for a housing development on former railway land “ saying the scheme could œcondemn Wycombe to a car-only economy.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Old Newton: Rail crash ˜could have been prevented™SUFFOLK County Council has accepted that it should have acted sooner to install safety barriers that could have helped prevent an accident involving a train and a car.

Sunderland Echo

• LATEST NEWS: Metro fares to rise in JanuaryPASSENGERS must pay higher fares from January as transport bosses hike prices by 4.1 per cent.

Global Rail News

• Video: Trailer released for Russian high-speed rail filmA minute-long trailer has been posted online for a new collection of films that feature Russia’s Sapsan high-speed train in the starring role. “Sapsan, I Love You” is a compilation of five short films that all take place aboard the Sapsan. Russian Railways received more than 200 responses from amateur filmmakers wanting to take part [...]
• Network Rail investment flat despite Olympic shutdownNetwork Rail’s profits and debts rose in the first half of the 2012/13 financial year as Britain’s infrastructure owner continued to increase investment in the country’s railway. Profit after taxation rose to £573 million compared to £136 million last year. Net debt also rose from £27.2 billion to £28.04 billion – an increase Network Rail [...]
• RVEL supports London Underground 150th anniversary restorationDerby-based Railway Vehicle Engineering Limited (RVEL) is supporting London Transport Museum™s campaign to restore Met Locomotive No. 1 in time for next year™s 150th anniversary celebrations of London Underground – the world™s first underground railway. Once restored, the 1898 built former Metropolitan Railway locomotive  No. 1 will take part in a recreation of the inaugural [...]
• Construction starts on Brazilian ˜Airmobile™ rail terminalStructural work is being carried out this weekend on Salgado Filho International Airport’s ‘Airmobile’ terminal in the Brazilian World Cup host city of Porto Alegre. Aeromovel, literally translated as Airmobile, is an atmospheric railway system developed by Coester Group, São Leopoldo, with rail operator Trensurb, which once complete will connect the airport and the Estação [...]
• Alstom to install new traction system on Shanghai MetroAlstom has been awarded a 37 million euro contract to install new traction systems on Lines 3 and 4 of the Shanghai Metro. Alstom and Shanghai Alstom Transport Electrical Equipment will install the new systems for the 210 metro cars that operate on both lines. Shanghai Metro Line 3 covers 29 stations, connecting North Jiangyang [...]

Railnews

• Timetables to be more flexible after Olympic success The Government's micro-management of rail franchises is being eased slightly, after successful trials before and during the Olympics. Transport minister Norman Baker said the introduction of a 'General Consent Protocol' would affect only English operators, who now have the power to adjust their timetables to some extent during special events, such as matches and concerts.

Other News Sources

• Baker praises Sheffield bus partnershipLocal transport minister Norman Baker has paid tribute to efforts underway in Sheffield to boost bus services through partnership working between operators and the council.
• Uptown Oils - Clean Fuel for the City - Video How one pioneering company is recycling used cooking oil and turning it into a sustainable fuel for London's taxis and modern office buildings.