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

Thursday, 19 September 2013

BBC News

• Air France plans to cut 2,800 jobs French carrier Air France has said it plans to cut a further 2,800 jobs through voluntary redundancy as it struggles to cut costs.
• Concerns at First Great Western rail franchise delay Concerns have been raised about the tendering process for Devon and Cornwall's main rail franchise.
• Nottinghamshire free school bus pass scheme scrapped Free bus passes for children who choose to go to a school outside of their catchment area are to be scrapped.
• London Routemaster buses may get opening windows Buses with downstairs windows which can be opened could be introduced as part of the New Bus for London scheme, BBC London has learned.
• Western Greyhound and First Cornish bus route closures Bus services in Cornwall are at risk following plans by the county's two main providers to cut a number of routes.
• Edinburgh tram ticket fares unveiledTickets for Edinburgh trams within the city centre will be the same price as bus tickets, the local council confirms.
• Bus firm issues warning over strikesBus builder Alexander Dennis warns it may move production away from its Falkirk base, as staff prepare to strike over a pay dispute.

Financial Times

• Ryanair takes wing after ‘winter wobble’Michael O’Leary says Ryanair’s profit warning has led to a surge in bookings while a decision to extend aggressive pricing poses a challenge to rivals

The Herald

• Jet2 airline expansion at GlasgowAN airline is to base a fifth plane at Glasgow Airport as it expands its services.
• Most Edinburgh trams tickets will cost same as bus faresTickets for Edinburgh trams will match bus fares within the city, it has been announced.

The Independent

• Agriculture minister warns of HS2 rail link's risk to woodsA senior minister warned today that the proposed £42.6bn HS2 high-speed rail line could damage irreplaceable ancient woodland.    

The Scotsman

• Rail services face Sunday shutdown in pay disputeALL Sunday trains would be halted if ScotRail drivers vote to ban overtime as part of a pay dispute, their union has told The Scotsman.
• High Speed Rail ‘would boost central belt’Trains that can go from Glasgow to Edinburgh in under 30 minutes and on to London in two hours could boost the central belt as a world leading “mega region”, according to the Transport Minister.
• Bus maker Alexander Dennis staff in pay strikeStaff at bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis are to take strike action today in a pay dispute.

The Telegraph

• Our trains are already full, says Osborne in urgent plea for HS2Britain's railways are already full, George Osborne has said, as urged Britain to urgently back the case for high speed rail.    

Mail Online

• £500 payout if your flight is caught in weather chaos: Landmark court case opens door to millions of pounds of compensation claims dating back six yearsA court ordered easyJet pay £210 compensation to passenger Frederique Jager after her flight from Gatwick to Nice was delayed because of bad weather earlier in the day.
• Just HALF of Ryanair passengers are satisfied: No-thrills airline voted worst for customer service out of UK's biggest brandsThe airline was rated lowest in a league table compiled by Which? while energy giant Npower and phone provider Talk Talk were in joint second-last.

Network Rail

• Music artists take unique sound test to support new rail safety campaign in the north eastUK rapper Wretch 32 and spoken word performer George the Poet have put their hearing to the test in a unique experiment as part of a new Network Rail safety campaign aimed at young men called Track Tests.
• Music artists take unique sound test to support new rail safety campaign in YorkshireUK rapper Wretch 32 and spoken word performer George the Poet have put their hearing to the test in a unique experiment as part of a new Network Rail safety campaign aimed at young men called Track Tests.

Birmingham Post

• Birmingham Airport passenger figures break nine million milestoneFigure achieved after the airport enjoyed the second busiest month in its history during August

Bolton News

• New cycle lane opens — on a pavement BOLTON’S newest cycle lane has opened — on a pavement.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• £2.6 million for Canal Road dual carriageway 'must not be lost' The leader of Bradford Council has urged his transport supremo to get “out there with a digger and jack hammer” to make sure a traffic-busting scheme gets finished before funding is pulled.

London Evening Standard

• One way rail tickets mustn't be as expensive as a return, says Government in fares shakeupRail passengers are likely to see the cost of single-journey fares decreased, as the Government announces a "mix and match" plan for long-distance journeys.

Sheffield Star

• Boost for Doncaster airportPassenger numbers at Robin Hood Airport are on the increase.
• Sheffield road reopening end to miseryMisery for motorists ended at rush hour last night when one of Sheffield’s busiest roads reopened after several days of closure .

Bucks Free Press

• HS2: funeral stunt "prevented meaningful discussion" HS2 LTD has today said a community forum was brought to a close last night after a mock funeral cortege
• Chilterns 'funeral' held at HS2 meeting MOURNERS held a mock funeral to mark the death of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at a public meeting last night - prompting a walkout of HS2 bosses.

Carlisle News & Star

• New row over parking 'free-for-all' on Carlisle street A fresh row has erupted over a parking free-for-all on a key Carlisle street, after the police used cones to temporarily ban traffic during the Tour of Britain cycle race.

Doncaster Free Press

• New map to help Dearne commutersA new online map has been launched to make it easier for Dearne residents to plan their journeys on public transport.    

Other Regional Press

• Time-lapse video shows bridge removal at Northampton Railway StationNew time-lapse video footage has revealed how the footbridge at Northampton Railway Station was removed.
• Thanet council to appoint consultants to find new ferry operator from Ramsgate after Transeuropa went into administrationA council has been criticised for launching efforts to woo a new ferry company to its port as it is still owed money by its troubled former operator.
• Train services affected after Repertor barge hits Kingsferry BridgeA tug has been brought in to remove a sailing barge which struck the Kingsferry Bridge at Sheppey this morning.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• EAST COAST TEAMS UP WITH ABSOLUTE RADIO FOR ’FEEL AT HOME’ DAY Top national station gets on track with exciting chances to win train travel East Coast is teaming up with top national rock and pop radio station Absolute Radio for an entire day to promote the train operator’s new ’Feel at Home’ message.
• FLEXIBLE FARES The Liberal-Democrat Transport minister, Norman Baker, has raised the possibility that rail operators could introduce a flexible season ticket to ensure that Londoners who commute to work three or four days a week are not placed at a cost disadvantage to those who do so five days a week. He also wants to see a tapered peak-time fare, made possible by smartcards, to come into effect at the start of rush hour.
• MULTIMODAL 2014 SET TO BREAK NEW RECORDS Next year's event will be the biggest in the show's history and will host a new Air Freight Pavilion. London, UK, September 17th 2013 - Multimodal 2014, the UK and Ireland’s leading supply chain event, will be 16% percent bigger than this year’s show and is already 50% sold out, with over 150 exhibitors signing up to attend so far.
• DSV AIR & SEA EXPANDS SERVICES THROUGH DSV Air & Sea has become one of the largest forwarders on the UK-US trade lane after the acquisition of SBS Worldwide Holdings Ltd.
• INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF SHIPPING HOLDS TALKS IN LONDON The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has announced details of discussions it held in London.

Global Rail News

• HS2 hits back at high-speed doubtersHS2′s head of engineering and operations said the project is not an “open cheque book” in response to a barrage of negative press coverage about the cost of the planned[...]
• Siemens awards Wi-Fi contract for new Eurostar fleetSiemens has awarded Nomad Digital the contract to install the on-board passenger Wi-Fi system on Eurostar’s new fleet of e320 trains. Nomad previously signed a contract in 2011 to install[...]
• Rail Interiors: The Inside StoryAre you an existing supplier to the railways or would you like to be? The Rail Alliance and Rail Media Group, in collaboration with Coventry University, are proud to offer you the opportunity to help shape the rail sector of the future. Rail Interiors: The Inside Story – will take place at Coventry University on [...]
• Challenge against Seattle light rail route dismissedSound Transit has said that a legal challenge against plans to run light rail vehicles on the I-90 over Lake Washington has been quashed by the Washington State Supreme Court.[...]
• Vossloh consortium shortlisted for Bogota tram projectA consortium of FGV, Torrescámara and Vossloh Spain has been shortlisted for a contract to design, build and operate a new tram network in the Columbian capital Bogota. The project,[...]
• British designer appointed creative director at CSR SifangThe designer behind the Virgin Pendolino has been appointed as global creative director to Chinese train builder CSR Sifang. Paul Priestman, one half of the British design group Priestmangoode, described[...]

Rail Technology Magazine

• Relationship Expands as Kontron System Solutions are Proven to be De-Facto Standard for Wireless IFE and Connectivity Deployments Expanding the two companies' successful relationship, Kontron today is named as the preferred provider of Airborne Servers and Cabin Wireless Access Points (CWAPs) for Rockwell Collins' new wireless in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems.

Railnews

• First signs of major shake-up in ticketing rules The first hints of major changes to the way railway travel is charged for have been emerging, with two announcements of ticketing trials from the Department for Transport. The first appears to pave the way for shoulder peak pricing, allied with 'flexible' season tickets using smartcard technology. The second would change the way intercity fares are regulated.

Railway Gazette

• Eurostar wi-fi contract awarded EUROPE: Siemens has awarded Nomad Digital a contract to supply wi-fi equipment for the fleet of 10 Velaro e320 trainsets under construction for cross-Channel high speed train operator...

Aviation Industry

• Air Lease Corp. finalizes order for three Boeing 787-9s and 30 787-10s Los Angeles, Calif.-based Air Lease Corp. (ALC) has finalized for 30 Boeing 787-10 and three 787-9 Dreamliners. read more
• Lufthansa plans charge for seat reservationsCarrier will introduce fee for passengers wanting to select their seat
• Air France to axe another 2,800 jobsCarrier has to make further cuts to keep turnaround plan on track

Other News Sources

• £4.5million investment for Littlehaven railway station The platform capacity at Littlehaven railway station will be doubled as part of a £4.5million investment project, the County Times can reveal. It follows talks between Network Rail and Horsham District Council (HDC).
• Government plans to end 'confusing' single journey train faresRail passengers could see a change in the cost of a single-journey fare, following a government initiative to end the practice which sees return tickets priced at almost the same amount as singles.
• Experts call for a drastic overhaul to ease transport planning crisisIn the last few years, experts have argued that transport planning is “at a crisis point”, and have called for a quick, sustainable solution to this urban planning nightmare.