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

Thursday, 22 May 2014

BBC News

• States to set maximum taxi faresThe States will soon set the same maximum tariff for all types of taxi in Jersey, says the transport minister.
• Joint bid for Reston and East Linton station opening fundsTwo Scottish councils are making a joint bid for funding to help open stations on the East Coast line
• FirstGroup says no dividend payments for second yearAberdeen-based transport giant FirstGroup has announced that it will not pay a dividend to shareholders for the second year running.

Financial Times

• Maersk: naut yetConglomerate’s returns on invested capital, at 10%, were up from 7.8% a year ago but improvement is uneven with some units not pulling their weight
• FirstGroup drops dividend payment pledgeTransport company’s drive to achieve double-digit margins hampered by severe winter weather in the US, but it did cut underperforming contracts
• Maersk raises profit guidanceDanish group posts stronger-than-expected first-quarter results as it reaps the reward of big cost cuts and an uptick in global trade
• New French trains too big for stationsFrance’s railway operator has been forced to spend €50m widening stations after an order of new trains turned out to be too wide to fit into the platforms

The Guardian

• FirstGroup chairman revamps board and quashes dividend hopesJohn McFarlane said it would be some time before the bus and train operator is financially strong enough to pay a dividend
• French railway operator SNCF orders hundreds of new trains that are too bigSNCF's failure to verify measurements results in cost of 50m to modify 1,300 platforms in one in six regional stations Continue reading...

The Telegraph

• Metrodecker: the new London busLondon’s historic red buses could be driven into the 21st century after Britain’s richest man unveiled plans to make a lighter, more fuel-efficient version.
• French rail company order 2,000 trains too wide for platformsFrance's national rail operator admits it has already spent €50 million on 'shaving' 1,300 platforms that are too narrow to fit new trains
• French trains do get fat

Mail Online

• Over half of us are tailgaters on motorways despite 95% of drivers admitting it is the thing they most worry about on the road A survey of 1,000 drivers found that 57 per cent of drivers admit tailgating, while another 60 per cent say they broke motorway speed limits by 10mph or more.

Network Rail

• A338 Wantage Road bridge to stay open during £2bn rail electrification upgradePlans have been confirmed to keep the A338 Wantage Road bridge in Grove open after Network Rail addressed concerns raised by stakeholders including residents, businesses and Oxfordshire County Council.

Birmingham Mail

• Watch: Schoolboy Alexander - aged NINE - goes to war with HS2 Pupil creates YouTube video and sends petition to Parliament protesting against proposed rail line

Bolton News

• £16,000 to be spent on making accident black spot safer CAMPAIGNERS living by an accident blackspot are celebrating following the announcement that £16,000 will be spent making the dangerous junction safer.

Manchester Evening News

• Airline taken to court over 27-hour delay which could pave way for millions of pounds of compensation claimsRonald Huzar from Stockport claims technical faults on planes shouldn't be classed as 'extraordinary circumstances'

Northern Echo

• Axed Moorsbus is set to return - thanks to volunteers A CHERISHED bus service across one of the most spectacular landscapes in the country is about to return – thanks to the efforts of volunteers.

Sheffield Star

• Student bus offer means unlimited travel in Sheffield for £7Bargain bus fares are on offer to Sheffield students from Stagecoach - at a cost of just £7 a week.

The York Press

• York railway consultant proposes 'greener, cheaper' alternative to HS2 A RAILWAY consultant from York has helped devise a radical alternative to HS2 which he claims would be cheaper and greener, and connect up many more cities.

North Wales Live

• Rail passengers to benefit as extra mainline services are introduced from Liverpool Lime Street Revival of Newcastle upon Tyne service among services introduced

Other Regional Press

• Westminster visit for railway firmAlfreton-based railway engineering firm Collis Engineering Ltd received a visit from Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin and Amber Valley MP Nigel Mills.
• Manston airport: Thanet council says it cannot yet issue Compulsory Purchase Order as protesters set to march in MargateAs protesters prepare to march for closed Manston airport today, councillors say they are not yet able to issue a Compulsory Purchase Order.

Global Rail News

• Northern Line extension could open before CrossrailLondon Underground’s Northern Line extension could be completed before Crossrail, according to the project’s head Graeme Shaw. Speaking at Infrarail 2014, Shaw said that a rapid planning and consultation period[...]
• ADIF completes €4.9m catenary renewalSpanish infrastructure manager ADIF has completed a major renewal of the overhead wires between Barcena de Pie de Concha – Torrelavega. Catenary equipment has been completely replaced along the 15-kilometre[...]

Aviation Industry

• Singapore Airlines flight veers off...Singapore Airlines has confirmed that one of its planes veered off the runway on Wednesday while landing at the Yangon International Airport in Myanmar.
• Delta and Virgin reveal new transatlantic scheduleAirlines to transfer operations connecting LHR to Atlanta and LAX