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

Tuesday, 26 February 2013

BBC News

• Bus fleet halved by commissionerA Midlothian private bus company has had its licence to run 10 coaches halved by a Deputy Traffic Commissioner.
• Rail fiasco 'to cost at least £50m'A "complete lack of common sense" in the Department for Transport's handling of the West Coast Main Line franchise deal will cost taxpayers "£50m at the very least", MPs have said.
• Public to have say on train plansA series of public meetings on future Northern Ireland railway investment is planned by Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy.

Financial Times

• MPs pinpoint blame for West Coast debacleThe findings published are the latest in a series of damning reports into the debacle which have pointed the finger of blame at ministers
• Alitalia chief executive in sudden exitUntil a new chief executive is appointed the airline™s board has given the position in the interim to the chairman Roberto Colaninno

The Guardian

• Network Rail found guilty over level crossing death Track operator, which decided not to install automated safety device at crossing where Jane Harding died, could be fined £1m
• Boris Johnson has run London like a twee nostalgia theme park The mayor's failed cable car scheme shows how he's prioritised corporate showpieces over much-needed urban development
• MPs blame west coast mainline fiasco on 'complete lack of common sense' 'Blinkered, rushed' Department for Transport officials failed to learn from past disasters, public accounts committee warns

Mail Online

• 10% of drivers aged over 70 'are not fit to be on the road' while a third of those who stop do so too soonOne in ten motorists aged 70 and over are not fit to drive and should give up their cars, a study revealed yesterday.

The Mirror

• Lack of common sense cost taxpayers £50m: MPs' fury at West Coast Main Line franchise farceA report today by MPs said the Department for Transport™s handling of the bidding process for the franchise was œlittered with errors

Liverpool Post

• Legislation on HS2 trainline which will speed up Liverpool to London rail journeys to be announcedLEGISLATION for a high speed rail line which will cut journey times from Liverpool to London was announced today.

London Evening Standard

• £10m scheme to double commuters on the ThamesA £10‰million boost to double the number of commuters travelling along the Thames over the next seven years was announced today by Transport for London.

Manchester Evening News

• £59m funding boost for Enterprise Zones The government has announced a new £59m fund to speed up the growth of Enterprise Zones, Greater Manchester's Airport City scheme.
• West Coast rail line fiasco 'to cost £50m', MPs' report says House of Commons Public Accounts Committee criticises  Department for Transport for lack of leadership

The York Press

• £220m needed to fix North Yorkshire roads AT LEAST £220 million will have to be spent by North Yorkshire County Council to bring pothole-blighted roads up to a decent standard.

This Is Local London Network

• Surbiton vandal targets bus stops A vandal has smashed up a string of bus stops in Surbiton.

Wales Online

• Stalled rail schemes 'better value' than £805m A465 Heads of the Valleys duallingRail schemes which promise strong benefits are stuck in the sidings while the Welsh Government channels transport funding into a road scheme officially classed as “low” value for money.
• Report reveals 'crass management' of West Coast main line fiascoThe bungling behind the collapse of the West Coast Main Line franchise process will be laid bare today in a damning cross-party report.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Council chiefs™ pledge over blight of Dudley potholesCouncil leaders today pledged to take action on tackling potholes blighting the Dudley borough after residents called for road maintenance to be considered a priority.

Crewe Chronicle

• UK & World News: West Coast fiasco 'to cost £50m'Civil servant failures over the West Coast rail contract will cost taxpayers

Other Regional Press

• Millions to be available for transport MILLIONS of pounds of funding for transport in Southampton and Hampshire could soon be available.
• Warning given on failed school bus firm CONCERNS were raised about the state of bus company RH Transport™s finances almost two months before it went into administration, it has emerged.
• UK & World News: West Coast fiasco 'to cost £50m'Civil servant failures over the West Coast rail contract will cost taxpayers

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Loss of AAA rating 'should trigger fuel duty cut'Britain has been stripped of its AAA credit rating by Moody's and this should force the government to reduce fuel duty rates in order to stimulate economic growth.This is the view of Quentin Willson, a leading member of the FairFuel UK lobby group, who feels that households and businesses are spending far too much money on petrol and diesel.The high prices being charged at the pumps are having a particularly bad effect on the logistics sector and Mr Willson said in his blog that firms in this industry simply cannot invest in jobs and growth.Fuel prices have risen again in recent weeks ...

Global Rail News

• A tale of two platform extensionsOn the face of it the two platform extensions should have been very similar – the same busy rail line out of Paddington Station with the same 125mph line speed, approximately the same length and width of extension, the platforms being extended at the same side of the station, the sites just a few miles [...]
• Raigarh-Bhupdeopur freight line given the green lightThe Indian government has given the nod for the construction of a new broad gauge line between Raigarh (Mand Colliery) and Bhupdeopur Railway Station. The 63 km line will be developed with an investment of $70 million through a joint venture (JV) consisting of IRCON International, South Eastern Coalfields, (SECL) and Chhattisgarh state. SECL will [...]
• Ian Bullock to lead Arriva Trains WalesIan Bullock is the new managing director of Trenau Arriva Cymru. Ian, Customer Service Director at ATW since December 2003 replaces Tim Bell. The ATW managing director is currently on secondment to the Arriva UK Trains division’s franchise bidding team. Ian reports to Steve Murphy, Chief Operating Officer of Arriva UK Trains. Says Steve, ‘Ian [...]
• European rail travel to grow 21% by 2020Passenger rail traffic across Europe will increase by 21 per cent by 2020, according to new research by Amadeus Rail. Long-distance passengers volumes will reach more than 1.36 billion by 2020. The study shows that the UK will play a big part in the increase, contributing 70 million passengers to the total European market growth [...]
• Video: First look at new Buenos Aires Line A rolling stockAfter 96 years of service, Buenos Aires’ La Brugeoise carriages have been retired and replaced by new Chinese-built rolling stock. The new CNR fleet are currently undergoing testing, but the city’s government officials have already released a video giving passengers a look at the new trains.
• Council pushes for direct Clapham to Heathrow rail linkA transport consultancy is set to be appointed by Wandsworth Council with the task of developing the business case for a direct rail link connecting Clapham Junction and Heathrow. If given the go ahead it is hoped that a journey of around 30 minutes will be possible, which would avoid the need for south Londoners [...]
• Grant supports construction of Athens-Thessaloniki rail linkThe EU has shown its support for a new rail line between Athens and Thessaloniki, pledging one million euros to complete initial studies. The studies will focus on two stretches of 2.3 km and 3 km on the rail section linking Athens main railway station to the town of Acharnes. The project, which is set to [...]
• Spanish government announces privitisation of tourist rail servicesSpanish ministers have made a landmark decision which will begin to open up the country’s rail market to international competition. On July 31, operators will be able to bid in a franchise-style system on tourist passenger services, including Transcantábrico, Al Andalus Express and La Robla. The decision marks the first step in the liberalisation of [...]

Aviation Industry

• Kingfisher loses rights to fly to UKOther Indian carriers to be offered Kingfisher's international traffic rights

Other News Sources

• Space tourism pioneer to lead drive for transport innovationThe man behind putting tourists in space has been tasked by the government with finding new ways to move people and goods.
• HEATHROW AIRPORT: PODS GET A "COMEDY MAKEOVER" Heathrow’s unique pods have been given a makeover to support UK charity Comic Relief.