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

Thursday, 28 November 2013

BBC News

• Airport hangar 'creates 300 jobs'A new multimillion-pound aircraft maintenance hangar at Birmingham Airport will create up to 300 jobs, an engineering company says.
• World heritage hopes for rail bridgeCalls are made for a 146-year-old railway bridge to be listed as a World Heritage Site.
• 'Extra moorings needed' on waterwaysMore moorings are needed on London's waterways to help address overcrowding, a London Assembly report says.
• Rail services reduced over ChristmasTravellers between London and Gatwick Airport are among those facing disruption over Christmas, due to engineering work.
• Tube workers vote for strike actionLondon Underground workers on the Piccadilly Line are to strike next month in a row over agreements being

Department for Transport

• A5758 Broom’s Cross road improvement scheme has been given approval to startCongestion on some of Sefton’s busiest roads is set to be eased, thanks to £18 million improvement works.
• A5758 Broom’s Cross road improvement scheme has been given approval to startCongestion on some of Sefton’s busiest roads is set to be eased, thanks to £18 million improvement works.

Financial Times

• China triggers new African rail eraMore than a hundred years after track building under colonial rule, Chinese investors help finance thousands of kilometres of lines
• Judge clears American-US Airways mergerGroups agreed to give up take-off and landing slots at Washington’s Reagan National Airport and New York’s LaGuardia Airport and two gates at others
• Biden to press China on airspace disputeThe vice-president’s trip to China signals the return of Asia to the top of US foreign policy priorities

The Guardian

• Google Street View goes indoors with airports and train stationsGatwick Airport and London stations including Paddington, Charing Cross and Liverpool Street among first 75 locations

Birmingham Post

• Data analysis: How road upgrades will support 900 West Midlands jobs Pproject includes the completion of a managed motorway network between junctions 5 and 8 of the M6

London Evening Standard

• All express trains to Gatwick airport set to be cancelledTravellers trying to fly at Gatwick Airport over Christmas and New Year face major disruption with all express services set to be cancelled.

Sheffield Star

• Bus operator First launches consultation in DoncasterDoncaster bus operator First is holding a series of public drop-in sessions to hear what customers have to say about its services.

Yorkshire Post

• Rural buses at risk
in 10pc funding cutRural bus services and jobs are at risk under “painful” 10 per cent public transport cuts.

Other Regional Press

• Residents "imprisoned" by rail crossing closure to meet with Network Rail Saxilby residents who say they will be left "imprisoned" over Christmas by a rail crossing closure will meet with Network Rail today.
• South West Trains – Network Rail Alliance named as cycling operator of the year The South West Trains – Network Rail Alliance has picked up the prestigious award for Cycling Operator of the Year at the 2013 National Cycling Awards.
• HS2 may free up rail network capacity for direct Grimsby to London service TRANSPORT Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has spelt out the benefits the proposed high-speed rail network will bring to North East Lincolnshire – which could include direct rail services to London.
• MP tells Transport Minister: ’Market Rasen Train service is not good enough’Edward Leigh, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Gainsborough, has raised the issue of poor capacity on Market Rasen services with East Midlands Trains and the Department for Transport.
• Public transport facing cuts as council cash dries up THE axing of late-night travel for free bus pass holders and increasing the cost of child fares from half that of adults to two thirds are among a raft of measures being considered by transport organisation Centro.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• CILT's publisher David Jinks meets Norbert Dentressangle's new Managing Director Phil ShawOn Monday I met Norbert Dentressangle Logistics UK’s new MD, Phil Shaw. Amongst his previous incarnations he was a submarine navigator and ran the outside broadcast logistics for Central TV. Quite a career and, as you can imagine, it was an interesting chat. You can read all about it in our January issue of Focus.
• National Express scoops top industry awardsIn partnership with uTrack Software Solutions – developer of its ground-breaking coach tracking application coach tracker, and National Express coach operator Travel de Courcey, the UK's largest coach operator triumphed at the UK Bus Awards 2013.

Global Rail News

• Battery train to begin dynamic testingBattery-powered train trials are to move to the track as Network Rail announces the end of lab testing. Network Rail is working alongside manufacturer Bombardier, the Enabling Innovation Team (EIT)
• CAF/Thales consortium to supply Santiago metro trainsA CAF/ Thales joint venture has been awarded a $452 million contract to supply the rolling stock and automated train control system for two new lines on the Santiago Metro.[...]
• Court rulings look likely to delay California high-speed rail projectA judge in California has blocked the state’s high-speed rail authority from issuing more than $8 billion in bonds to fund phase one of the $68 billion HSR network between[...]
• Driving innovation into signallingSignalling technology and system engineering has moved on considerably over the past twenty odd years. However, it is still perceived by many as expensive and failing to keep up with technology advances that have emerged in other industries. Network Rail is mindful of this criticism and has created a Signalling Innovations Group to investigate how [...]
• DB Regio places first DMU order from €1.2bn PESA framework contractDB Regio has ordered 36 new diesel-multiple units (DMUs) from PESA in the first tranche of a €1.2 billion framework contract with the Polish rolling stock manufacturer. The new fleet,[...]
• Blasting complete on New York subway extensionExcavation work is now complete on a $4.45 billion extension of New York’s Q Line. ’Sandhogs’ carried out the final blast on November 18 which will serve as an escalator[...]
• Australia could cut the cost of new trains by $6bnReforming Australia’s rolling stock procurement process could save the government $6 billion over the next 30 years, according to a report by the Australasian Railway Association (ARA). The ‘Opportunities for[...]

Aviation Industry

• Opinion divided on future of alliancesConflicting views on the benefits of alliance membership

Other News Sources

• Slacking contractors to lose out on rail workUnder performing contractors will lose out on work through Network Rail’s new frameworks. The railway operator will measure the performance of its framework contractors against a series of indicators and those that fail to meet them will win less work in future.
• Serco disposes of ’non-core’ London transport technology businessThe company is currently under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office
• Serco disposes of ’non-core’ London transport technology businessThe company is currently under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office

News from Europe

• Why are biofuels a key element of Europe’s transport sector?What will transport vehicles use as an energy source in 2030? Those of you who answered gas, electricity or hydrogen may be on the right track. Yet experts predict that liquid fuels will still be the main energy provider for transport– especially so for sectors such as aviation and road haulage, writes Ausilio Bauen.