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

Thursday, 02 July 2009

BBC News

• Plan to scrap one-way PiccadillyThe one-way traffic system at London's Piccadilly Circus could be replaced under £10m plans to cut congestion.
• Rail overcrowding pledge 'broken'A transport chief has accused the government of going back on a promise to provide extra train carriages to cut overcrowding across Yorkshire.
• New sales falls for US car makersUS vehicle sales dropped in June, but there were signs of stabilisation as Ford saw its smallest decline in a year.
• BA calls negotiators over pay rowBritish Airways asks conciliation service Acas to intervene to help reach a deal with unions on jobs and pay.
• Jobs risk as Virgin cuts flightsVirgin Atlantic, the airline owned by Sir Richard Branson, says it will cut back on winter services and may cut up to 600 jobs.

Financial Times

• Focus turns to rail franchise systemThe collapse of National Express's contract to run InterCity East Coast is the latest blow to the system that has come under criticism from passenger advocates, regulators and the industry
• Q&A: East Coast troubles for UK railRobert Wright, the FT's Transport Correspondent, gives a lowdown on what the government's takeover means for passengers and the industry
• Counting the cost of cheap faresAt Newcastle Central passengers express mixed opinions about nationalisation but there is consistent support for the view that the east coast service is better than 20 years ago
• Action leaves company in line of fireNational Express, which has rebuffed a recent offer, may have to deflect a whole lot more bids after the scrapping of the loss-making east coast franchise
• National Express rail empire hopes endThe British government took the dramatic step of temporarily nationalising the East Coast mainline after National Express said it would run out of money to operate the service later in the year
• Virgin Atlantic to cut 600 jobsThe UK long-haul airline controlled by Sir Richard Branson is cutting capacity by 7% in the coming winter season and is planning to axe about 600 jobs, or close to 8% of the workforce

The Guardian

• Privatising profit, nationalising lossNational Express has been deeply embarrassed by the loss of the £1.4bn east coast contract. But the government's franchise policy, and the taxpayer, will take the financial blow.
• Tories accuse Labour of undermining train operatorsLabour was blamed by the Tories today for the failure by National Express to maintain its franchise for the east coast main line.
• East coast rail nationalised: 'Two sequential contract failures' [audio clip]Dan Milmo on National Express losing East coast rail contract
• Rail franchises were always on a timetable to disasterSystem needs to be tightened up considerably if taxpayers aren't going to continue to have to foot the bill for railways
• £30bn shortfall threatens rail and road plansLeak reveals transport funding crisis as East Coast mainline nationalisedThe full scale of the funding crisis facing Britain's transport system was exposed today as the country's most expensive rail contract was nationalised, while details emerged of a potential £30bn spending gap.A leaked industry memo seen by the Guardian warned of

The Independent

• Adonis gambles on tough stanceIn forcing the nationalisation of the East Coast mainline, Lord Adonis, the newly installed Transport Secretary, has set out his stall to Britain's rail bosses: if you are happy to take the profits in the years of plenty, don't come crying to the taxpayer when times are hard.

The Telegraph

• National Express faces legal fight to keep remaining rail franchisesNational Express is heading for a major legal battle with the Government over the future of its two remaining rail franchises after ministers said they were taking control of the East Coast main line.
• Train passengers face misery after nationalisation of East Coast rail linePassengers face years of misery after the rail line was taken over by the Government transport experts claim.
• More rail lines could be nationalised after East Coast line taken over Many more rail lines could be nationalised as the recession continues leading transport experts warned after the East Coast franchise was taken over by the Government.

Times Online

• BA calls in mediator to head-off summer strikesBritish Airways (BA) has been forced to call in Acas, the conciliation service, after failing to reach an agreement with unions over job losses and pay cuts as it seeks to avoid a damaging summer of strikes.
• Virgin cuts flights, threatening 600 jobsVirgin Atlantic is to cut flights and axe up to 600 jobs this winter due to falling passenger demand.
• Passengers to pay price for crisis on the railwaysPassengers face years of overcrowded trains and dilapidated rolling stock as plans to expand and upgrade the network are cancelled or put on hold.
• Rail franchises shake-up after National Express escapes East Coast contractNational Express faces a battle to keep its rail businesses as the Government weighs up whether to strip the company of its two remaining franchises. Lord Adonis, the Transport Secretary, condemned the company for walking away from its contract to operate the East Coast Main Line, saying it was unlikely to be allowed to bid for any more franchises.

Reuters News

• British Airways calls in mediators - unionLONDON (Reuters) - British Airways has put in a request for mediation in its dispute with unions over cost-cutting proposals, the Unite union said on Wednesday.

Mail Online

• Why taxpayers are picking up the bill for National Express' failureNational Express signed a deal in 2007 to run the East Coast mainline rail franchise - which carries 18million passengers a year - for eight years, promising to pay £1.4billion to the Government.

The Mirror

• NATIONALISED EXPRESSBritain's biggest rail service, the East Coast Main Line, will be renationalised, the Government announced yesterday. The state will take over control of the London-Scotland route after failed operator National Express said it would ditch the lossmaking franchise. Ministers promised all services would continue as normal and passengers' tickets would be honoured.

Belfast Telegraph

• £30m fund for ‘green’ buses may stimulate productionThe Government has launched a new £30m fund to encourage the purchase of low carbon buses, a move that could have positive repercussions for Ballymena-based Wright Bus.

Birmingham Post

• Points failure causes train delays at New StreetHundreds of commuters had their journeys disrupted on Wednesday after a points failure led to two trains being cancelled and a further 14 being delayed in Birmingham.

Glasgow Herald

• East Coast pull-out may derail takeoverNational Express's jettisoning of the East Coast rail franchise has reduced the likelihood of a tie-up with FirstGroup, analysts said yesterday, but the Aberdeen company is considering another attempt to secure the Scotland to London line for itself.
• Main Scotland to London rail line nationalised The Government is to take over the running of a major Scotland to London rail route - the East Coast Main Line - after cash-strapped present operator National Express defaulted on its franchise.

London Evening Standard

• Back to the future as the streets of Piccadilly become two-way againA £10Million plan to ease traffic congestion in the heart of the West End was unveiled today.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Thieves now pinching bus stops for scrap metalBUS stops are being targeted by thieves who are dismantling them for their scrap metal. Police were alerted to the trend of pole-pinching after a steel bus stop on Tyneside was hacked down.
• East Coast Main Line taken over by GovernmentTHE NORTH East’s rail link to London is being nationalised. Struggling transport operator National Express will abandon its prestigious East Coast Mainline franchise by December, the firm said today.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Tram walk and meeting in KimberleyBroxtowe MP Nick Palmer and Kimberley councillor Richard Robinson have met with local transport chiefs and MEP Glenis Willmott over the proposals.

The York Press

• Rail giants may bid for East Coast service following National Express pull outUpdated: 12.50pm Virgin and First say they will consider putting in bids to take over the troubled franchise.
• East Coast mainline to stay nationalised until late 2010The Secretary of State for Transport has announced that the East Coast mainline through York will stay in Government hands until September 2010.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• David Wragg: If we want to guard our rail system,we may have to nationalise it againTHE one good thing about the railway franchise system is that there is always a safety net if a franchisee fails, and so the East Coast Main Line will be handed back to the Government by the present operator National Express, which took over the route 18 months ago.

Northants Evening Telegraph

• National honour for railway stationCorby's new railway station has won a national award.

Sunderland Echo

• East Coast Main Line nationalisedThe Government today announced it will take over the running of the East Coast Mainline from troubled transport company National Express.

The Shields Gazette

• Speed clampdown on danger roadMORE traffic calming measures are to be put in place to cut speeding on a South Tyneside road.

New Scientist

• Taxibot could save airlines billionsRobotic tractors could one day be used to tow airliners from the airport gate to the edge of the runway, saving billions in fuel costs

RailNews.co.uk

• News: Bowker resigns from National Express — Government takes over East Coast services RICHARD Bowker is resigning as chief executive of National Express Group — and its flagship East Coast inter-city rail service is being taken over by the Department for Transport until the franchise can be re-let.

Other News Sources

• Third runway Heathrow debate divides London membersLondon’s civil engineers are divided on whether a third runway at Heathrow should go ahead, a debate at the ICE revealed last week.
• Norwich-London rail line franchise threatTrain passengers in the east of England could see improvements put on hold if the government follows through with its threat to nationalise the region's services.
• Row threatens train improvementsTrain passengers in the east of England could see improvements put on hold if the government follows through with its threat to nationalise the region's services.
• Fears National Express faces asset fire saleNational Express warned it may be forced to resort to a fire sale of assets to survive as the group was frozen out of the rail business by the government after being stripped of its East Coast franchise.
• High praise for airport's noise teamStansted™s commitment to its community and high levels of customer service has been praised following an audit of the airport's Flight Evaluation Unit (FEU) by Uttlesford District Council™s environmental team...
• Tradeteam is Haulier of the Year at MT AwardsTradeteam was named Haulier of the Year last night at the Motor Transport Awards. It was a special night for Tradeteam as the drinks distributor also won the Customer Care Award.
• Tories' pledge to raise HGV speed limits gets DfT boost Tories' pledge to raise HGV speed limits gets DfT boost The Conservatives' plan to increase speed limits for HGVs on single-carriageway trunk roads...
• Wincanton agrees £40m deal with ArgosWincanton has signed a three-year, £40m agreement to run a container transport operation for retailer Argos.
• Mitron Supplies Passenger Information Displays for Danish Railways Mitron Oy announced today that it has won a contract to supply passenger information displays and display management systems for Danish Railways. The agreement is made with Banedanmark, a state-owned Danish company responsible for most of the Danish railway network. According to the agreement, Mitron will supply 700 TFT platform and monitor displays for several railway stations all over the country. The first supply will take place in spring 2009 and the supplies will continue until the end of 2010. The agreement includes TFT displays in sizes 32in, 46in and 52in. Mitron's servi...
• BAE to explore new UAV technologies for Australian DoD Australia's Department of Defence has contracted BAE Systems to perform a new capability and technology demonstrator programme into unmanned surveillance...
• London Gatwick Airport opens doors to noiseLondon Gatwick Airport is hosting its first public session on the content of its draft noise action plan on Thursday 9 July 2009...
• High praise for airport's noise teamStansted™s commitment to its community and high levels of customer service has been praised following an audit of the airport's Flight Evaluation Unit (FEU) by Uttlesford District Council™s environmental team...
• SURVEY REVEALS GROWING AIRLINE DEMAND FOR MOBILE APPLICATIONSITA, the specialist air transport IT provider, today outlined its vision of the future of mobility in the industry as the 2009 Airline IT Trends Survey reveals that 78% of airlines intend to adapt their web-sites to work on mobile phones by 2012 opening a whole new vista of convenience and self-service for passengers.read more