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

Friday, 06 September 2013

BBC News

• Boat's voyage a shining example of solar potential How do you propel 100 tonnes of metal around the world's oceans without fuel or even a sail?
• Underground explosion closes roadAn underground explosion causes a road in Birmingham city centre to close.
• Numbers game: Figures wrapped up in new roadSome facts and figures on the Inverness West Link - Highland Council's proposed new £34.4m road.
• Route to open after city tram worksA major route into Edinburgh city centre is to reopen on Friday after being closed for 14 months for tramworks.
• Clegg hits back over HS2 criticismThe Deputy Prime Minister hits back at criticism from two high profile Labour MPs over plans for a high-speed rail link.
• Bike for blind cyclists displayedA bicycle that uses ultrasonic sensors to detect obstacles in a cyclist's path is among the innovations on display at a conference in Glasgow.
• New UK car sales jump in AugustSales of new cars jump in August for the 18th month in a row, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
• Network Rail appoints new bossNetwork Rail announces that Mark Carne, a former oil executive, will be its new boss and receive about £80,000 more than his predecessor.

Financial Times

• Ford says US car sales to hit 17mFord has fuelled the bullish mood in the US motor industry by predicting that car sales there will reach 17m in the next few years
• Go-Ahead calls for local bus partnershipsGo-Ahead does not think it would be the ‘best thing’ for passengers or taxpayers if northeast England local authorities retake control of bus services
• Shell executive to be Network Rail chiefMark Carne, who led Anglo-Dutch oil group’s response to Piper Alpha disaster, will replace Sir David Higgins at subsidised owner of UK rail network
• Brussels concessions on airline emissionsNew approach on contentious scheme to tackle airlines’ carbon pollution in effort to persuade UN agency to back a global plan to deal with issue

The Herald

• Demand for inquiry after rail link land sold for £800,000 lossA COUNCIL leader is calling on Scotland's public spending watchdog to launch an investigation into an
• Ministers frustrated by meeting over A9A DELEGATION from the Free Church Of Scotland expressed disappointment after meeting Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown to discuss plans to tackle the

The Independent

• Railway worker who rescued disabled woman off tracks suspended for breaching safety rules A railway worker who rescued a disabled woman after she fell onto train tracks in Essex has been suspended for breaking health and safety rules.    

The Telegraph

• Dozens injured as more than 100 vehicles crash in bridge pile-upMore than 100 vehicles are involved in a crash in misty conditions on a bridge, leaving some of those involved with serious injuries.    
• Railway worker suspended after rescuing disabled womanA railway worker who helped rescue a disabled woman after she fell onto a train line has been suspended over allegations his actions broke health and safety rules.    
• New Network Rail chief in salary rowNetwork Rail has become embroiled in a fresh boardroom pay row after announcing its new chief executive is to be paid nearly £100,000 more than his predecessor.    
• Clegg rounds on Labour HS2 criticsNick Clegg has rounded on former ministers who have called for HS2 to be scrapped.    
• Construction chiefs pledge HS2 will be on time and on budgetHS2 will be on time, on budget and boost Britain's economy leading construction companies have said.    

City AM

• Network Rail picks Shell man as its new bossA VETERAN of the oil industry will be the next boss of Network Rail, the manager of Britain’s railways said yesterday. Mark Carne, who spent more than 20 years at Shell, will replace Sir David Higgins on 1 April 2014. He joins as the...

Mail Online

• Sheppey crash: chaos in Kent as 200 are injured in 100-vehicle pile-upMore than 100 cars were involved in a massive ten-minute pile-up in Kent after visibility fell to just a few feet during rush hour yesterday morning.
• Network Rail boss earns MORE than predecessor taking salary to £675,000The pay deal for oil executive Mark Carne was branded an 'insult to passengers' after Network Rail missed all of its punctuality targets in 2012-13.
• Rail worker suspended.. for saving woman's life: Hero 'broke safety rules'Customer service assistant Alan Chittock has been suspended by c2c after rescuing a disabled woman from the tracks at Southend Central Station.

The Mirror

• Railway worker Alan Chittock SUSPENDED for saving disabled pensioner from tracks 'deserves a medal'He has given decades of service on the railways but is now facing disciplinary action or even the sack for failing to observe “safety procedures”

Network Rail

• Network Rail announces new chief executiveNetwork Rail has announced that Mark Carne, formerly executive vice president for the Middle East and North Africa for Royal Dutch Shell, is to be its next chief executive.

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph commented Almost 6,000 Derby street lights could be dimmedNEARLY 6,000 street lights in Derby could be dimmed by up to half their brightness as the city council tries to claw back thousands of pounds in energy bills.People living where the change will be piloted say they fear the move could make streets less safe. But the council insists people will not notice the dimming.Before the end of the year, the authority has said it will start preparing 200 lamps for a trial of the changes on parts of London Road, Osmaston Road, Duffield Road and Alfreton...
• Derby Telegraph commented Campaigners fight plan to build cycle track on nature reserveCAMPAIGNERS fighting plans for an outdoor cycle track on Pride Park have branded a council questionnaire to find out what people thought of the scheme "completely obsolete".Wildlife experts are angry at the city authority's proposals as it wants to build the track on a large chunk of the area's Sanctuary Nature Reserve.The council was behind the creation of the site – a vital spot for several birds, including the rare little ringed plover – in 2004.Derbyshire Wildlife Trust...

London Evening Standard

• Rush-hour London commuters 'will be left stranded if HS2 is scrapped'Passengers will be turned away from rush-hour trains leaving London in the next decade unless HS2 goes ahead, the Rail Minister warned today.
• New rail boss get £84,000 'rise'The new chief executive of Network Rail (NR) will start on a basic annual salary over £80,000 more than his predecessor.

Sheffield Telegraph

• Long-term decline in bus use is reversedNumbers of bus passengers in Sheffield went up by 5.3% in the last three months, reversing a near continuous decline over 30 years, according to the latest figures.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Cost fears as council decides on West Link MEMBERS of Highland Council have backed the controversial “option six” for the long-awaited Inverness West Link Road.

Doncaster Free Press

• Paving the way for major improvements to town roadsDoncaster’s battered roads are set to be revamped – with the way being paved for a £1 million overhaul.    

North Wales Live

• Rate of passenger decline for airport slows during spring Liverpool John Lennon drops out of the UK’s top 10 airports for the first time in four years.

Peterborough Telegraph

• 700 jobs to be created by distribution giant DHLHundreds of jobs are to be created by a Peterborough based distribution giant, it has been announced today.

Western Daily Press

• The Bristol Post published A ride on the top deck at the frontYOUR article (Bristol Post, September 3) on the Lodekka buses was great to read. I love seeing these old buses on the road, especially as they are so closely associated with Bristol.I always look forward to seeing the example in M shed - it brings back very happy memories of my courting days.When my girlfriend and I (we eventually married and have been together now for 52 years) used to get on the 145 in Sturminster Road, sit on top in the front, go the end of the journey at Shirehampton, get...

Other Regional Press

• Video: Giant silver wave sculpture 'Slipstream' leaves Hull for Heathrow The final part of a sculpture destined for Heathrow Airport's terminal two has been delivered by a Hull firm. Called Slipstream, it will be seen by 20 million people each year, becoming one of the most-viewed works of art in the world.
• Crossrail completes work on Connaught Tunnel early Crossrail has completed a major part of refurbishment work on the Connaught Tunnel ahead of schedule.
• Town future in spotlight at St Denys Church The meeting was set up to discuss and agree the response that the town council would take in relation to the recent planning decisions by North Kesteven District Council including the Compulsory Purchase Order of land at the Recreation Ground and the closing of the railway crossing at Southgate.
• Old railway line in the Lake District becomes a family-friendly cycle route A DISUSED railway line in the heart of the Lake District has been given a new lease of life after forming part of a new family-friendly cycle route.
• Councillor calls for M5 junction 25 improvements 'for good of Taunton' TAUNTON’S motorway junction needs to be improved to cope with the town’s expansion, a councillor claims.
• Councillors back plans to limit age of cabs A COMMITTEE has backed plans to introduce an age limit for taxis and private hire vehicles.
• Up to 60 pensioners are wanted for £1.4m 'e-bike' university study DOZENS of old people in Oxfordshire will ride electric bicycles in a £1.4m study by Oxford Brookes University.
• Pupils could get subsidised bus travel to new Aberdeen schoolABERDEEN City Council could provide subsidised bus travel for pupils travelling to a new £30 million school.

C.N.N.

• Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo completes 2nd powered flight

Global Rail News

• ORR’s funding cuts ‘unbalanced and unrealistic’Network Rail has described the ORR’s plans to cut funding for Britain’s railways by £2 billion over the next five years as “unbalanced” and “unrealistic”. In January, Network Rail published[...]
• Bidding to begin on next phase of Madrid-Extremadura-Portuguese border high-speed lineThe Spanish government has given the green light to begin tendering for three sections of the planned high-speed line between Madrid and the Portuguese border. The three sections cover a[...]
• Connaught Tunnel restoration completeCrossrail has completed work to restore sections of the Connaught tunnel, re-flooding the Royal Docks in time for its September deadline. The Victorian-era tunnel will be brought into use for[...]
• How HS2 could transform Manchester Piccadilly stationManchester City Council have produced a report which looks at how HS2 could transform Piccadilly Station and create a ’world-class intermodal transport facility’ in the city. Working alongside Arup, HS2[...]
• New Network Rail boss announcedMark Carne has been named as David Higgins’ successor as chief executive of Network Rail. Carne, a former executive for Royal Dutch Shell in the Middle East, will join Network[...]
• Rising freight levels give KiwiRail financial boostA rise in freight traffic has helped KiwiRail to an operating surplus of over $108 million, exceeding early expectations. Import Export and Forestry freight experienced increases of 8.1 per cent[...]
• Thales to deliver S&T system to new Hong Kong metro lineThales is to install the signalling system for Hong Kong’s Shatin to Central Link (SCL) metro line. The company has been awarded a contract to fit its CBTC system on[...]

London TravelWatch

• London TravelWatch Policy Committee meeting 10 SeptemberLondon TravelWatch’s Policy Committee meeting on Tuesday 10 September 2013 will consider the remit of the National Passenger Survey and its impact on stations in London, including a presentation by Passenger Focus Chief Executive, Anthony Smith and their Head of Research, Ian Wright.
• Value for money on London's transport services: what consumers thinkIn depth qualitative research published by London TravelWatch today has identified a number of actions that transport operators need to take to improve consumers’ view of the value for money they receive when using public transport in London.

Aviation Industry

• Ryanair pessimistic on full-year outlook Weak European market conditions mean that Ryanair is now expecting to hit the lower end of its €570-€600 million ($751-$791 million) full-year net profit guidance. read more
• Cathay Pacific objects to Jetstar Hong Kong’s license application Cathay Pacific Airways has filed a formal objection to the application for an air transport operating license by Qantas low-cost subsidiary Jetstar Hong Kong on the grounds it is not a Hong Kong-based airline. read more
• Delta orders 40 new aircraft from AirbusUS carrier agrees deal to buy A330s and A321s

Other News Sources

• Piling for Crossrail's Royal Victoria Portal ramps upTaking the Crossrail route from below ground to the surface presents some challenges. GE reports on the work at Royal Victoria Dock Portal
• Northgate to develop foreign HGV levy systemNorthgate Public Services has been awarded a six-year contract by the Department for Transport, to develop and operate a foreign operator payment system for the HGV road user levy
• GB Railfreight expands Class 66 fleet UK: Eurotunnel subsidiary GB Railfreight announced on September 3 that it had ordered a further eight Class 66 locomotives from Electro-Motive Diesel Inc. The manufacture and supply agreement was signed at Rannoch station on the route between Glasgow and Fort William by GB Railfreight Managing Director John Smith and Paul Denton, Senior Vice-President of International Sales at EMD’s parent company Progress Rail.
• Rail Freight Groups Face Off Unions Over 'Spy in the Cab' Controversy US – Two recent Court cases illustrate both the potential effect of modern technology in the workplace and the contrasting attitudes which even one individual can hold toward what they may view as an aid in one set of circumstances yet an intrusive and objectionable invasion of privacy in another. In the UK there was great resistance initially toward tachograph devices,
• Radlett Rail Freight depot judicial review application failsTHE push for a reconsideration of a Judicial Review over the controversial proposed rail freight depot in Park Street, St Albans, has failed.
• FTA welcomes low emissions strategyThe Freight Transport Association (FTA) has welcomed the inclusion of freight in the government’s publication Driving the Future Today – A Strategy for Ultra Low Emission Vehicles in the UK but remains concerned that not enough funding support or focus is being allocated to the hgv sector. The strategy, authored by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), aims to deliver a growing fleet of ultra low emission vehicles and to provide a network of charging points and other infrastructure to encourage uptake, although its focus is primarily on cars. Rachael Dillon, FTA Climate Change Policy Ma...
• Government strategy for ultra low emission vehicles – don’t forget the hgv sector says FTAThe Freight Transport Association has welcomed the inclusion of freight in the government's publication Driving the Future Today – A Strategy for ...
• Scotland's first carbon emissions increase since 2007 'deeply worrying' Figures showing a 4% increase in Scotland's carbon footprint between 2009 and 2010 are being described as "deeply worrying" by Scottish Green MSPs.
• Motorway pile-up in Kent leaves dozens hurtEight people are seriously injured and 60 suffering minor wounds after 100 vehicles were involved in a pile-up on the new Sheppey Crossing in thick fog.

News from Europe

• Reuters: EU agrees to deal on aviation emissions http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/09/05/us-icao-eu-aviation-idINBRE9840...

Other Subscription Services

• Royal dock refilled after Connaught Tunnel repairs Crossrail has completed a key phase of work on the Connaught Tunnel to allow part of east London's Royal Docks to be refilled with water in time for a major event at the ExCel centre.Earlier this...
• Oil and gas man Carne to lead Network Rail Former Shell executive Mark Carne is to take over from David Higgins as chief executive of Network Rail from April 2014.Carne, formerly executive vice president for the Middle East and North Africa...