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

Thursday, 26 January 2012

BBC News

• Council approves £2.4m for Cornwall subsidised bus routes Cornwall Council has approved a budget of £2.4m over the next two years to make up for a government funding shortfall in subsidised bus routes.
• Demand for Scottish high-speed rail timetable The Scottish government is planning to form an alliance with politicians in the north of England to ensure the planned high-speed rail link extends as far as Edinburgh and Glasgow.
• Forth Ports in £95m acquisitionForth Ports takes another big step in its plans to develop its ports business by acquiring a major container services firm.
• Immigration 'burden' plea at portDumfries and Galloway's Chief Constable says a bid to increase port policing in Cairnryan is being driven by a rise in immigration offences.
• Demand for high-speed rail dateThe Scottish government is planning to form an alliance with politicians in the north of England over a planned high-speed rail link.
• Get tough on scrap dealers - MPsThe government must urgently tighten the rules around scrap metal dealing to tackle the growing problem of theft, especially from railways, a committee says.
• Norwegian signs $22bn plane dealLow cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle says it has signed a deal to buy 222 new planes from Airbus and Boeing for a cost of 127bn Norwegian krone.
• Surge in plane sales lifts BoeingBoeing reports a sharp rise in profits, thanks in part to stronger sales of commercial planes.
• IMF warns of Iran oil shock riskThe International Monetary Fund warns of a possible 20-30% spike in oil prices if Iranian exports are disrupted.
• Stop HS2 seeking judicial reviewCampaigners against the London-Birmingham high speed rail project say they will seek a judicial review of the scheme.
• Committee attacks UK carbon priceThe House of Common's energy and climate change committee criticises government plans to put a minimum price on carbon emissions.

Financial Times

• Norwegian carrier aims high with 222 aircraft ordersBoeing and Airbus line up deals worth an estimated $21.1bn with low-cost airline

The Guardian

• RAF Northolt may be sold to raise defence funds Ministry of Defence considering selling off all or parts of one of its oldest airfields, which could become Heathrow satellite
• MPs call for action against metal theft The theft of metal has caused the delay or cancellation of over 35,000 national rail services in the last financial year

The Herald

• Pressure on free travel schemeA RELATIVELY mild winter has put fresh pressure on Scotland's flagship free bus travel scheme, with demand for journeys expected to outstrip the funding available this year.
• Anger over 'active' travel budget cutsOPPOSITION politicians have hit out at cuts of one-third to
• Bus firm admonished over mechanical failings on vehiclesTRANSPORT giant First has been admonished for mechanical failings which led to one bus catching fire, a wheel falling off another and a bus crashing after its steering wheel failed.
• Warning bus passengers face fare hikeBUS passengers in Scotland face paying 10% more for journeys this year as firms are squeezed by Government funding cuts and soaring fuel costs, an industry-funded report has warned.

The Scotsman

• Storm in coffee cup over ‘penny-pinching’ ScotRail SCOTLAND’S main train operator has slashed the size of its tea and coffee cups because it cannot meet the demand for hot drinks from passengers on long journeys.

The Telegraph

• David Cameron faces Tory revolt over Thames Estuary airport on 'Boris Island' David Cameron is facing a revolt from Tory MPs over his readiness to consider Boris Johnson’s plans for a new airport in the Thames Estuary becasuse they say it will cause huge environmental damage.
• Train operators cashing in on delays According to the latest figures, Network Rail paid train companies £91 million last year, of which £12 million was to recompense operators for disruption caused by cable theft.
• London 'held to ransom' as Tube driver paid £61,218 a yearLondon is being

Daily Express

• WH Smith hails success of big airport expansionWH Smith's chief executive Kate Swann yesterday hailed the success of the group's drive into airports, hospitals and railway stations by pointing to its reduced dependency on Christmas.

Mail Online

• Opponents of high-speed rail link seek judicial review of Government’s decision to approve £33bn scheme Opponents of the Government’s controversial £33bn high-speed rail project are to seek a judicial review of ministers’ decision to approve the scheme, they announced today
• Supermarkets rush to raise fuel prices as the pumps run dryFuel prices have risen again just 24 hours after one of Britain’s biggest refineries went bust, stopping supplies to filling stations.

Network Rail

• MORE RAIL APPRENTICES WANTED IN WALES

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• MPs call for more scrapyard powers over metal thefts Police must be handed new powers to search and shut down rogue scrap dealers blamed for an explosion in metal thefts from railways, MPs demanded today.

Bristol Live

• Bristol Evening Post published RAIL LINES OPEN WITHIN 5 YEARSArticle

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Norwegian carrier buys 222 Boeing and Airbus planesA NORWEGIAN airline ordered 222 single-aisle airliners from Airbus and Boeing valued at a combined 127 billion kroner ($21.5 billion), including models equipped with fuel-efficient engines.

Journal Live

• Tory transport spokesman defends not dualing A1 in NorthumberlandA GOVERNMENT transport spokesman in the Lords has defended the failure to fully dual the A1 – declaring motorists are better off using a different road.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Metro bosses planning to freeze gold card faresGOLD Card fares are to be frozen as Metro bosses set out new plans for ticket prices. Transport bosses will meet this week to agree to keep the card at £25 a year for free elderly travel, with changes to ensure the card remains a 365-day pass regardless of when it is bought.
• Tory Whip tells drivers to take alternative route NorthDRIVERS who want to go from Newcastle to Scotland should use the M6 via Carlisle instead of going straight up the A1, a Government transport chief has said.

Sheffield Telegraph

• First boat makes a real splash on canalTHE first boat for more than 50 years has made a celebratory voyage along a stretch of canal after an 11-month restoration project which has also involved the construction of a new marina.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• North airports ˜could enjoy spin-off from energy sector™The managing director of Highlands and Islands Airports (Hial) said yesterday he believed the energy sector™s growing importance in the north would open up opportunities for the company™s terminals.
• Minister to talk to angry hauliers over ferry discountTransport Minister Keith Brown has agreed to talk to hauliers angry at the loss of their ferry discount in the Western Isles.

Yorkshire Post

• Call for councils to be given lorry cash for roadsThe Government has been urged to provide guarantees that it will hand over money from its proposed £10-a-day charge on foreign lorry drivers to councils responsible for fixing roads.

Bucks Free Press

• Action group aims to raise thousands towards HS2 legal challenge A CHILTERN action group has launched its own fundraising initiative to raise £15,000 to continue its fight against HS2.

Burnley Express

• Burnley Bus Station scoops top safety awardBURNLEY’S bus station is among the safest in Britain after winning a top safety award.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Bus passengers left in the rain as station works continueANGRY bus passengers have criticised Peterborough City Council after being forced to wait for buses in pouring rain and driving wind.

The Shields Gazette

• Union boss backs Metro cleaners™ fightOLDER Metro travellers in South Tyneside have struck gold after the price of their travel pass was frozen.

Other Regional Press

• New Anglia railway bosses announce leadership teamTHE railway operator which takes over from National Express East Anglia next month has appointed its new management team in readiness for the change.
• Unexpected twist in transport debate THE integrated transport debate has taken an unexpected twist, with a group of Conservative MPs calling for commercial flights at RAF Northolt.
• Bus giant vows to keep 99% of routes A BUS operator has vowed that it will retain 99% of its routes following a £10million acquisition.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Ask first, ignore later?24 January: We forced Cambridgeshire to freeze bus cuts and go back to the drawing board. But after a full consultation, is the new plan any better? And what lessons can other Councils learn? read more
• Government to repeat M6 Toll failure?25 January: New traffic figures from the M6 toll road show it is still spectacularly failing. So why is the Government considering a new generation of toll roads? read more
• Welsh cut to bus funding faster and deeper than expected25 January: With just 3 months warning the Welsh Government has announced this week a 25% cut to the Bus Service Operator Grant from April 1st 2012. read more

Global Rail News

• Make a date for MacroRailRail Alliance™s MacroRail 2012 will be held on the 12 and 13 September. The Rail Alliance is building on the success of last year™s event where 60+ exhibitors pioneered the idea. The aim this year is to have 100 exhibiting companies with plenty of outside exhibitors carrying out demonstrations. So, reserve space in your diary [...]
• London Midland announces February half term fare offerFrom 4th to 19th February London Midland customers can take advantage of ˜Go-Anywhere™ unlimited travel on any of London Midland™s trains across the whole London Midland network. For just £15 (£5 for children) customers can buy a day™s unlimited off-peak travel. (Adults with railcards only pay £9.90). For an additional £10, customers can upgrade to [...]
• Northern Rail & Network Rail alliance ˜to deliver benefits for passengers™Northern Rail, a Serco and Abellio joint venture, and Network Rail have signed a framework agreement for an alliance. The alliance will focus on seeking ways to improve industry efficiency and reduce costs to deliver improved facilities and services for passengers across the north of England. Ian Bevan, Managing Director, Northern Rail said: œWe have [...]
• Translink ticks m-ticketingRail passengers in Northern Ireland can now use Translink™s new mobile phone ticketing system, mLink. Passengers can buy, receive and display an electronic ticket on their mobile phone doing away with the need for a paper ticket. Says Catherine Mason, Translink Group Chief Executive, ˜With Northern Ireland having the highest mobile phone penetration in the [...]
• Keyline launches specialist rail businessKeyline, part of the Travis Perkins Group, has launched a nationwide operation to deliver building materials solutions to the rail industry. Drawing upon expertise within the sector, the specialist business will enable Keyline to support all rail infrastructure projects across the UK providing the highest levels of compliance, product range and availability, service levels and logistics [...]
• New Greater Anglia franchise operator outlines plansAbellio is to take over the Greater Anglia franchise from National Express on 5 February. The Group will be responsible intercity, commuter and rural services throughout the region including the Stansted Express service. The duration of the contract is 29 months (32 railway periods). Upon taking over the contract Abellio will be responsible for ’ensuring priority is [...]
• Network Rail™s Simon Kirby to speak at InfrarailIn a revision to plans for keynote presentations at Infrarail 2012, Simon Kirby will now speak for Network Rail, replacing Robin Gisby. Mr Kirby, who is Managing Director, Investment Projects for the company, will make his presentation on Thursday 3 May. A member of Network Rail™s board since 2003, Simon Kirby is currently leading a [...]

London TravelWatch

• Ticket Office Mystery Shop Survey London TravelWatch report shows the promised presence of visible and helpful gateline staff at tube stations has failed to materialise in many cases, following the recent reduction in Underground station ticket office opening hours.
• London TravelWatch Board meeting 24 January 2012 Members will receive a presentation from Shashi Verma, Director of Customer Experience at Transport for London (TfL) on customer services at TfL and changes following their internal reorganisation.

Aviation Industry

• Flight sales fall for first time since 2009Air travel bookings fall 0.2% - reflecting similar fall in GDP
• Air New Zealand has 'no intention' of dropping UK routeBut carrier admits it may have to cut capacity from London

Other News Sources

• Concert in Bishop's Waltham for minibus service A BRASS band concert will help to ensure the continuation of a community transport service.
• Campaigners set to win battle for road crossing in Winchester SAFETY campaigners are poised to celebrate victory in their fight for a road crossing in Winchester.
• Foreign lorries should pay their way on UK roads “ but safeguards needed, warns FTAGovernment proposals to charge lorries for using the UK™s roads should mean a fairer deal for domestic road freight operators, but it must be ...
• Tube stations to get wifi before OlympicsUp to 120 stations will offer internet access by summer games