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

Friday, 30 August 2013

Government

• £5 million boost to cut pollution from local busesEleven local authorities have been awarded grants from the Clean Bus Technology Fund, which will allow almost 400 buses to be upgraded.
• All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group’s Get Britain Cycling Inquiry HM Government ResponseThe Department for Transport is pleased to have the opportunity to respond on behalf of HM Government to the recommendations of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group’s ’Get Britain Cycling’ report. The Department welcomes this report, and the contribution it has made to the cycling debate.

BBC News

• Passengers escape smoke-filled Tube train Passengers on a Tube train which filled up with smoke have spoken of fearing for their lives.
• Pinchbeck ParishThailand plans to spend $60bn on new railway lines
• Stagecoach on financial trackPerth-based Stagecoach group unveils strong growth in its UK rail division and North American operations.
• Disabled torch protest on CrossrailDisability campaigners hold a torch relay to highlight the lack of step-free access at Crossrail stations.
• Tube smoke 'terrifies' passengersA passenger who was stuck on a Tube train which was filling with smoke has said she thought she was going to die.
• Motor trade claims DVLA 'shambles'The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is described as a

Financial Times

• Brazil fines American and AlitaliaRegulator takes action against the two airlines and two Brazilian groups over an alleged air cargo cartel which it said operated between 2003 and 2005
• Qantas returns to full-year net profitAustralian flag carrier posts full-year net profit of A$6m as shrinking losses on its international arm offset tougher domestic competition
• DP World: building resiliencePast troubles may have been a blessing in disguise for the ports operator as it now is building a global presence at the right time
• Stagecoach is on target after US growthCommercial operations in UK reported to have improved partly as a result of good weather and an upsurge in regional customers, up by 4.5 per cent
• Q&A: Would HS2 solve rail capacity issue?Government argues HS2 is vital to ensure the transport system does not grind to a halt as rail and road links become more congested
• Osborne to lead fightback for HS2 projectChancellor seeks to rally support for the high-speed rail project, which is under pressure over fears of potential costs rising to £50bn

The Guardian

• The Railway: First Great Western; Monster Moves: Titanic Train Trek; Burgled – TV reviewIt's obvious what's wrong with our rail network – the passengers

The Herald

• Stagecoach shares rise 7% as bus and rail revenue growsSHARES in Stagecoach soared 7% as the transport giant signalled it is on course to hit annual profit targets.
• Two-car household numbers hit highest everThe proportion of Scottish households with two or more cars has reached the highest level on record, despite the average monthly cost of running a car almost doubling in the space of 10 years.
• Brown to meet ministers over call for improvements to A9A DELEGATION from the Free Church Of Scotland is to meet Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown after declaring it a
• Oil firms call for Super Pumas to be cleared to flyA ROW has blown up after oil industry representatives recommended that much of the Super Puma helicopter fleet should be cleared to fly, just six days after the Shetland crash that killed four oil workers.
• Motors boss hits at 'shambolic' delay on new car platesThe body representing car dealers has criticised hitches in transferring personalised registration plates to new cars as

The Independent

• Nearly one third of Britain’s trains are late according to strict new National Rail statistics Nearly one in three trains across Britain are late and delays on some routes affect more than half of  journeys, according stringent new punctuality figures.    

The Telegraph

• Thousands of trains fail to arrive on timeAlmost 150,000 fewer trains arrived on time across the country last year and more than half of trains on some lines were late, 'real time' figures show.    
• Panicked passengers try to flee Tube train as carriages fill with smokeVideo has emerged of passengers pressing emergency alarms and trying to force their way out of carriages after they started filling with smoke at London's Holland Park station on Sunday    

Mail Online

• Mum's taxi service: Average mother drives children around for 1,248 miles EACH YEAR - the same as a London to Zurich round trip!Mothers also spend £1,714.04 every year on petrol, with the average household having to top up their cars an average of four times a month.

The Huffington Post

• Jim Fitzpatrick Resigns As Shadow Transport Spokesman Over Syria VoteJim Fitzpatrick has quit in protest to oppose any military intervention over Syria. The senior Labour MP has resigned as a shadow minister after saying he would vote against Ed Miliband's policy on Syria.

Network Rail

• Transparency updateNetwork Rail refreshed the data available on its transparency portal today www.networkrail.co.uk/transparency
• Dartford station investment delivers a better railway for passengersPassengers in Dartford are benefiting from a £7m investment in the town’s railway station.

Bolton News

• Furious taxi drivers 'fight and throw chairs' as Metro fare row talks descend into chaos CLEAR-the-air talks between drivers and the town’s biggest private hire operator over taxi fares descended into chaos with police being called.

London Evening Standard

• Terrified passengers try to flee Tube train at Holland Park as it starts to fill up with smokeTerrified passengers frantically tried to escape from a Tube train as it began to fill up with smoke.
• Bendy buses sent from London to Malta taken off their roads after three burst into flamesThe doomed bendy buses decommissioned by London Mayor Boris Johnson and shipped to Malta have been taken off the roads by the government after three burst into flames in as many days.
• Thousands of pupils hurt on roadsMore than 1,000 children a month are being injured on local roads around British schools, according to figures.

Northern Echo

• Almost half of trains on some routes run late, figures show ALMOST half of trains run late on some North-East routes, new punctuality figures show.

The York Press

• Travellers frustrated by repeated delays on rail service to east coast COMMUTERS are being left frustrated and exhausted following a series of repeated cancellations on a key train route to the east coast.
• UPDATED 10.40pm: Major delays on York-London trains after power lines damaged RAIL passengers travelling between York and London are continuing to face severe delays tonight after overhead power lines were damaged.

Other Regional Press

• Passengers to get compensation after disruption on the railway Passengers delayed during a day of disruption on the King’s Lynn to London railway line caused by overrunning engineering works have been told they will be entitled to compensation if they bought a ticket, regardless of the circumstances.
• Estate may not get a new railway stationThe developer for Kilnwood Vale has said it is committed to delivering a railway station despite Network Rail’s position against one.
• ‘We’ll need £50m to make city’s key cycle routes safer’ IT could cost more than £50m to make improvements to Oxford’s top 10 cycling blackspots, city council leader Bob Price has estimated. The councillor is calling for more support from the Government to move the city’s proposed cycle schemes forward and says the council will bid for money if it is invited to.
• Busway will be no help to those using hospitalThis week the No.24 bus serving Luton and Dunstable Hospital, ceases to run after 7pm. 
The route is no longer commercially viable and Luton Borough Council has withdrawn its subsidy.
• Love your bus pass and join OAPS’ fightA BUS users' society is teaming up with national campaigners to protect the pensioners' free bus pass ahead of the next General Election in 2015.

Global Rail News

• DB orders double-deck EMUs from BombardierDeutsche Bahn (DB) is to buy an additional 18 double-deck EMUs from manufacturer Bombardier  – taking the total number of carriages bought under a 2008 framework agreement to 392. The[...]
• Southern extends smart ticketing serviceTrain operator Southern has expanded its smart ticketing service to include single and return journeys. It marks the next step in the development of Southern’s smart card, called ’The Key’,[...]
• Alstom wins role on Bangkok Green Line extensionAlstom has won a 14 million euro contract to help deliver a 12.6 km to Bangkok’s elevated metro system. As well as designing and building the trackwork and third rail[...]
• OTN to deliver underwater works for new Berlin metro lineStrukton has been appointed to carry out underwater engineering works for Berlin Metro’s new S21 line. Divers from Strukton subsidiary OTN will carry out underwater concrete pours, inspections and other[...]
• TBMs arrive in Brazil to deliver Fortaleza metro expansionThe first two Robbins TBMs have arrived in Fortaleza, marking a major breakthrough in Brazil for the US manufacturer. The Brazilian Government’s Secretary of Infrastructure in the State of Ceara[...]
• Hiroshima tram girls rememberedMorino Nakamura will not be a name familiar to most people in Japan and even less so to those outside of the country, but her place in history is guaranteed[...]

The Business Desk

• Plans for new £40m service station unveiledEXTRA Motorway Services (MSA) Group has announced plans for a new £40m motorway service station on the M1 in South Yorkshire - which it says could create around 300 jobs.
• Worcs firms to help with research on motorway bottlenecks WORCESTERSHIRE businesses are being asked to contribute to a major new research project looking at motorway and trunk road bottlenecks.
• OFT rules against referring Rotala bus deal to Competition CommissionTHE Office of Fair Trading has said it will not refer the acquisition by the Diamond Bus Company of FirstGroup’s bus operations in Worcestershire to the Competition Commission.

Transport Briefing (subscription)

• TfL seeks cash to make Crossrail 100% accessibleAll Crossrail stations are to provide step-free access between platforms and street level following criticism by disability rights...
• Clean sweep for West Yorkshire PTE bus bid Eleven local authorities have been awarded grants totalling £5m from the government's Clean Bus Technology Fund. In total 11...

Aviation Industry

• Qantas benefits from Emirates ventureAussie carrier returns to profit as it cuts losses on international routes
• Manufacturing provides most business travellers to ManchesterSector continues to lead the way for international corporate visitors

Other News Sources

• Eleven authorities share £5 million Clean Bus fundIn total, 11 local authorities will share the fund, pollutant-reducing technologies such as lower emission engines or exhaust after-treatment equipment to reduce the NOx emissions of buses currently in service.
• First Capital Connect boss tracks down Sussex passengers’ views Commuters have put their travel concerns to the operations director of First Capital Connect (FCC).
• Brighton and Hove Bus Company look for volunteer to take vintage vehicle Bus bosses are looking for a kind-hearted enthusiast to take care of its “Old Girl”.