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

Wednesday, 17 April 2013

BBC News

• VIDEO: Tiny alleyway gets double yellow linesAn alleyway, which would not accommodate even the smallest car, has been painted with double yellow lines.
• Airport passengers fall below 1mPassenger numbers at Cardiff Airport fall below the one million mark for the first time in recent years.
• Millions already spent on A5 schemeAlmost £60m has already been spent on the A5 road project, which has now been halted.
• Train operator in £40m fleet upgradeA train operator is spending £40m to upgrade 91 vehicles in its fleet.
• Great War bus is to be restoredA bus that was once driven from the streets of London to the battlefields of France to aid in the First World War is to be restored.
• Daimler to sell final stake in EADSCarmaker Daimler is selling its remaining 7.5% stake in pan-European aerospace and defence group EADS, the owner of Airbus
• Hertz agrees deal with China firmCar hire firm Hertz agrees a deal to pick up a 20% stake in China Auto Rental (CAR), as it looks to expand its presence in China.
• Computer chaos for American AirlinesAmerican Airlines grounds all flights across the US for several hours due to a fault with its computerised reservation system.

Financial Times

• Low-cost versus legacy airlinesFor short-haul business journeys, no-frills airlines are often just as good, but you may arrive in an out-of-town airport, writes Rhymer Rigby
• EasyJet shortlists Barton for chairman roleNext chairman John Barton and easyJet deputy chairman Charles Gurassa are strong contenders to succeed Sir Mike Rake when he steps down
• American Airlines grounds US fleetProblems with airline’s reservation system cause flight delays and cancellations across the US are now resolved
• Iberia to cut wages further as talks failPilots and cabin crew face falls of 18% rather than 14% after productivity negotiations between lossmaking Spanish airline and unions end

Mail Online

• Mr Cake: Chris Holmes hands in resignation to bosses at Stansted Airport by baking a cake and icing itChris Holmes, 31, who worked for UK Border Agency at Stansted Airport, handed the cake in person to his duty manager.
• Majority of passengers flying from a UK airport are now travelling on budget airline flightsLow-fare budget airlines now carry the majority of passengers flying from the UK according to the latest research, making Britain one of the best performing countries from budget carriers worldwide

ATOC

• Make a day of it this May bank holiday with great train travel savingsThis spring, join the million people who saved money on top UK attractions last year. Find the best days out, the best value train fares and the best May bank holiday savings by taking a look at...

Network Rail

• Rail industry to offer 50 more places on Track & Train graduate placement schemeThe rail industry is seeking 50 more graduates to join its unique 18-month paid work placement scheme, Track & Train. Graduates are employed for three, six-month placements: one at Network Rail and two at either a passenger or freight operator or another company within the rail sector to gain a broad range of experience.
• Improvements will mean a better railway in GravesendWork is due to start at Gravesend station next month as Network Rail continues to improve the railway in Kent.
• More Midlands places on rail industry Track & Train graduate schemeRail companies serving the West Midlands are seeking more graduates to join its unique 18-month paid work placement scheme, Track & Train. Graduates are employed for three, six-month placements: one at Network Rail and two at either a passenger or freight operator or another company within the rail sector to gain a broad range of experience. In total, 50 places will be offered nation-wide.

London Evening Standard

• Hands up for a Thatcher airport? Oh dear...An early day motion was tabled last Wednesday  proposing that an international airport should be renamed after Lady Thatcher to commemorate her “colossal achievements”. And how many MPs have signed this motion? Er,  three. 

Sleaford Standard

• Railway bridge re-opens for trainsThe railway bridge at Speedway Corner on the A153 at Ruskington has re-opened for trains, but not cars.    

Other Regional Press

• Transport Secretary opens Huddersfield Institute of Railway Research A GOVERNMENT minister says the future rail engineers and leaders could herald from Huddersfield.
• Labour slam railway snub for region Dumfries and Galloway has once again been labelled by Labour politicians a forgotten region after the Scottish Government announced that nearly 60 railway stations would be spruced up as part of a £5.27m investment - but none in Dumfries and Galloway.
• Heathrow night flights ban urged by London Assembly THE London Assembly has called for a complete ban on night flights at Heathrow.
• Bid to block further attempts to list Preston bus stationAn eleventh hour bid has been launched to stop further attempts to list Preston Bus Station.
• Hunt for rail vandals in DewsburyTHREE boys are being hunted by police after stones were placed on a railway line through Kirklees.
• Huddersfield bus driver in court after passenger became trapped in doors of moving vehicleA BUS driver has appeared in court after a passenger was trapped in the doors of his moving vehicle.

C.N.N.

• Can Europe unite rail train high-speed

Airportwatch

• Branson calls on Government to expand Heathrow airport Sir Richard Branson is demanding the Government “get on with it” and expand Heathrow airport through private-sector investment, claiming doing so would create the jobs and infrastructure to “pull a country out of recession”.

Global Rail News

• Inspiring InnovationThe 177 delegates attending the fifth Railway Industry Association’s (RIA) Technology and Innovation Conference were treated, amongst other things, to a mix of success stories, blue sky thinking and guidance on the current maze of technology initiatives. With such wide ranging topics there was certainly a buzz about the conference. Rail innovation is certainly a [...]
• The Guardian launches online rail booking toolThe Guardian has become the first national newspaper to offer European train booking with the launch of its new travel tool, Guardian Trains. The newspaper has partnered with European rail travel website Loco2 to design the new service, which aims to make it easy for readers to plan and book rail tickets to thousands of [...]
• Network Rail placement scheme begins search for 50 graduatesNetwork Rail has launched its Track & Train graduate scheme, with opportunities for 50 graduates to join the rail industry on 18-month paid placements. The scheme, funded by Network Rail and launched in January 2012, involves companies based across Britain providing employment opportunities to graduates in their area. Graduates are employed for three, six-month placements: [...]
• Bombardier wins Florida SunRail contractBombardier has been awarded a $195 million operations and maintenance contract for Florida’s SunRail service. The contract, which was signed by the State of Florida Department of Transportation, includes a 10-year maintenance agreement for the route’s new fleet of 20 Bombardier BiLevel commuter rail cars. Bombardier’s scope of work for the SunRail commuter rail service [...]
• Train collides with crane in the south of FranceThe driver of an SNCF service in the south of France and 31 passengers who were onboard have been injured after the train they were travelling on collided with a mobile crane. Seventy-five people were on the train when it struck a crane between Marseille and Miramas at around 8.23 this morning (April 16). French [...]

Aviation Industry

• American Airlines cancels hundreds of flights; blames res system glitch American Airlines experienced significant computer system problems Tuesday, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations. read more
• FAA administrator: Boeing 787 battery fix still under reviewFAA administrator Michael Huerta gave no indication of how close the agency is to approving Boeing’s fix for the 787’s battery system in testimony before Congress. read more

Green Miscellany

• Cars get built-in vacuum cleanersThe modern day car has become so homogeneous in terms of appearance and efficiency that they say it’s the small details that sell one model over another; iPod compatibility, coloured mood lighting, additional cup holders and now the in-car vacuum cleaner. The Honda Odyssey Touring Elite MPV will from next year be equipped with its own built-in vacuum cleaner. The HondaVAC works…

Other News Sources

• Dangerous working at Winchester railway station admitted by contractors TWO contractors have pleaded guilty to dangerous working at Winchester railway station.
• Invensys Rail wins £53m signalling contractsNetwork Rail has awarded signalling contracts in Reading and Watford worth £33.5m and £19.4m
• Shocking way to park electric cars in Brighton An illegally parked car left drivers unable to charge electric vehicles in a Brighton parking bay
• Gulf airlines’ hub strategy pays offMore European passengers flying to Asia via the three major Middle Eastern hubs