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

Thursday, 19 July 2012

BBC News

• Increase in road deaths is 'very disturbing' [Video -Louise Ellman MP]The chair of the Transport Select Committee has said the first increase in road deaths for a decade is "very disturbing".
• 20mph speed limit for most Bristol roads considered Nearly nine out of 10 roads in Bristol could have a 20mph speed limit by 2014.
• Queen returns for second Tyne Tunnel opening The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have visited Tyne and Wear as part of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
• East Midlands Trains gets £46m bail-out from government East Midlands Trains has been given £46m of taxpayers' money to make the company profitable again.
• Two Scotrail trains hit landslipsA Scotrail train derails in Fife, while another service hits a landslip near Loch Awe.
• Bus workers accept Olympics bonusLondon bus workers accept an Olympics bonus payment offered to them and call off strike action.
• Call for cyclists to use LanesA group of MPs call for transport chiefs in London to let cyclists use the Olympic Games Lanes.
• TfL denies driverless Tube trialsTransport for London has denied trialling driverless trains after a union accused it of a "secret agenda" to introduce the technology.
• Peugeot aid 'not unconditional'PSA Peugeot Citroen, the car company planning to cut 8,000 jobs, will have to make concessions in return for state aid, France's industry minister says.

Department for Transport

• New rules on bus and coach passenger rightsConsultation about applying Europe-wide regulations that aim to ensure bus and coach passengers have similar legal protection as other forms of transport.
• Innovative new proposals for A14 corridorThe Government today announced proposals for major investment along the A14 corridor in Cambridgeshire.

Financial Times

• CSX defies coal slump with earnings riseUS railroad withstands economic weakness and uses fuel efficiency to benefit from demand for commodities and automotive industry™s rebound
• Aer Lingus rejects ˜not credible™ RyanairIrish flag-carrier points to regulatory hurdles faced by the bidder as it dismissed the €694m cash offer as inadequate on valuation grounds
• American Airlines boosted by fare riseThe financially troubled parent company of American Airlines announces its first headline second-quarter net profit for five years
• Toll road planned in infrastructure pushThe proposal marks a significant policy shift by the government, which had previously ruled out tolls except for new road schemes

The Guardian

• Poorest pay the price of railway investment - Letter, Mark Farrar Chief executive, CITB-ConstructionSkills While Lynsey Hanley's welcome for the government's £9.4bn investment in Britain's railway infrastructure (The forgotten diesel spokes, 17 July) raises some excellent points, it overlooks what is arguably the most important of them all: the UK's construction industry's need for this boost, and many more like it, in order to emerge from the shadows of recession.
• A14 to become first existing road to exact toll under coalition plansMotoring groups express anger over 'broken promises' as transport secretary claims charging is a solution to congestionThe first moves towards making motorists pay to use an existing road have been announced by the transport secretary as part of plans to upgrade one of Britain's most congested routes, the A14.Justine Greening said that tolls could be introduced as part of an
• Heathrow may be hit by Olympic strike after border staff vote for actionBorder officials vote for one-day strike and ongoing work-to-rule over pay and conditionsBorder officials have voted for industrial action, raising the spectre of strikes affecting passport queues at Heathrow during the busiest days of the Olympics.Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union have agreed in principle to strike and other action, which could include an ongoing work-to-rule, in protest against eroded pay and working conditions and the privatisation of civil service jobs, and to highlight what they describe as a

The Herald

• Fastlink route 'not ready for Games'OFFICIALS have been forced to admit a £40 million transport project will not be completed in time for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
• Motorists warned fuel prices to rise againTHE price of petrol at the pumps is rising again after weeks of falls.
• Traders slam Leith Walk revamp planA PLANNED restoration of Edinburgh's Leith Walk, following years of upheaval from tram works, has been criticised as shambolic and lacking in vision by local traders.

The Independent

• Bus drivers accept Games cash offerLondon bus workers have voted to accept an offer of an Olympics bonus, ending the threat of another strike.Related StoriesRelief Healthcare fined for selling unapproved bedsBritons are 'obsessed with weather', says UK's tourism chief Sandie DaweAnother Olympics threat as Home Office staff vote for strikeHuge spike in use of controversial new 'deprivation of liberty' orders despite critics arguing they are not fit for purposeJohn Hemming: Deprivation of liberty system is riddled with conflicts of interest

The Telegraph

• New toll plan for upgraded roads: Q&AMotorists face paying tolls on an existing stretch of road in Britain for the first time under new plans. Here are some key questions answered.
• London bus workers win Olympic bonusLondon's 28,000 bus drivers have won a £577 Olympic bonus, whether or not they their route is anywhere near a Games venue.
• Tolls: M6 toll motorway one of Europe's 'most expensive roads'Motorists face paying tolls on an existing stretch of road in Britain for the first time under plans unveiled by the government. Here is a look at Britain's first paid road, the M6 toll motorway.
• London bus workers win Olympic bonusLondon's 28,000 bus drivers have won a £577 Olympic bonus, whether or not they their route is anywhere near a Games venue.

Daily Express

• EasyJet hits out at Stelios in Sir Mike Rake clashBUDGET airline easyJet yesterday urged shareholders to block efforts by founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou to oust chairman Sir Mike Rake following criticism of his role at Barclays bank.

Daily Record

• ScotRail train with 30 passengers on board is derailed by landslideTWO trains hit landslides in Scotland today – one them was derailed with 30 passengers on board but no one was injured.

Mail Online

• Another Government U-turn as Cameron announces toll for existing stretch of public A-road Proposal to introduce tolling on A14 in Cambridgeshire Announcement has sparked anger from motoring groups In March David Cameron said only new or enhanced roads would be tolled Work on enhancing A14 should start before 2018
• Councils with the worst road safety records are to be 'named and shamed' to cut casualty rates'Shocking' casualty figures show first annual increase in road deaths since 2003, as 1,901 people lose their lives on the nation's roads

Network Rail

• NETWORK RAIL AND BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE MOBILISE TO TARGET LEVEL CROSSINGS MISUSE
• ORR BEGINS CONSULTATION ON PROPOSALS TO FORMALISE THE RAIL DELIVERY GROUP
• LLANELLI LEVEL CROSSING RENEWALS

Bristol Live

• New cycle path would provide link from rail station to seasideA NEW cycle path could be created between Yatton and Clevedon in an attempt to encourage more people to use public transport.

Derby Telegraph

• Government moves to quash claims 'clock is ticking' on rail contractTHE Government has moved to quash speculation that the Thameslink rail contract could be taken away from Siemens if it cannot reach financial agreement with the German firm by the end of next month.

Journal Live

• Durham County seeks Leamside rail line reopeningA RAIL line mothballed for over 20 years will reopen if an ambitious plan to revive County Durham’s economy bears fruit.
• Rail minister rebuffs calls to reschedule rail works on Great North Run weekendRAIL minister Theresa Villiers has rebuffed calls for the Government to intervene over engineering works on the train network that could affect the Great North Run.

Liverpool Echo

• Mount Pleasant bus lane camera switched off after intervention from Dean of Liverpool Metropolitan CathedralA CONTROVERSIAL bus lane has been suspended after the Dean of Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral voiced his concerns that unwitting motorists were being targeted unfairly.

London Evening Standard

• Thousands held up by major delays on two Tube linesThousands of Tube commuters faced more disruption today with no Circle line services and the District part-suspended.
• Driverless Tube trains to be tested on Jubilee line from October Testing of driverless Tube trains is planned from October and begin on the Jubilee line, leaked confidential documents reveal today.
• Tube commuters told: You won't be given a refund if you are delayed during the OlympicsTube commuters whose journey is delayed by the Olympics will not be able to reclaim the cost of their travel, the Standard can reveal.
• NO bus strikes during the Olympics as drivers accept £577 bonus cash offerLondon bus workers have voted to accept an offer of an Olympics bonus, ending the threat of another strike.

Metro

• London bus workers call off strike after accepting £577 Olympic bonusLondon bus workers have called off planned strike action after agreeing a deal that will see them receive an Olympic bonus.The Unite union has confirmed that its members voted to accept a £577 bonus in return for working during London 2012. London buses will run as normal on July 24th after successful strike talks (PA) Workers staged a strike over their proposed hours during the period and a second walkout had been planned on July 24th, but the new deal has put an end to potential strikes and transport chaos in the capital.Peter Kavanagh, Unite's regional secretary for London, said: 'After alm...
• Aer Lingus shoots down Ryanair's takeover planIrish airline Aer Lingus urged shareholders to reject the latest takeover bid from rival Ryanair because its offer was ˜absurdly™ low. Aer Lingus say bid by rival airline Ryanair undervalues the business (Picture: PA) The carrier also warned European and British competition authorities could block any merger proposals. ˜Aer Lingus is a robust and profitable airline with a proven business model, a strong balance sheet and an internationally recognised brand,™ the airline said in a letter. ˜Your board™s unanimous view is that Ryanair™s offer to acquire control of Aer Lingus for €1.30 (£1) pe...

Sheffield Star

• Rail bottlenecks concern of MPSHEFFIELD Central MP Paul Blomfield has pressed Transport Secretary Justine Greening about tackling bottlenecks on the Midland Main Line railway so full benefits of electrification can be achieved.

Wales Online

• Cardiff news: Lives at risk fears over A48 road safety scheme delayLives will put at risk by a Cardiff council decision to delay a £200,000 road safety scheme at a busy city junction, the opposition has warned.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Free parking scheme at Stafford Railway Station Free parking will be trialled at Stafford Railway Station after 3pm at weekends over the school holidays, bosses have revealed.
• Free parking scheme at Stafford Railway Station Free parking will be trialled at Stafford Railway Station after 3pm at weekends over the school holidays, bosses have revealed.

Yorkshire Post

• Why we need a new drive to stem the rise in road deathsTHE Government needs “stronger leadership and a clearer vision” on road safety, according to a report by MPs. Ministers should also provide an explanation for the increase in road deaths recorded last year, the report from the House of Commons Transport Committee says.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Stansted: Airport highlights business opportunities for small firmsREPRESENTATIVES from more than 100 local and regional firms have received an insight into business opportunities at Stansted Airport.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Transport improvements announced for Peterborough including A14 toll plan12.30pm: The A14 near Huntingdon is in line for a major upgrade that could see tolls introduced on a section of the busy road it was announced today (Wednesday).

Other Regional Press

• Eric Pickles visits Hitchin rail curve following £9bn rail investment announcementA GOVERNMENT minister praised the multi-million pound Hitchin rail curve project when he visited the site this morning (Monday).
• Multi-million pound investment planned for Huddersfield Railway Station: Could it be better spent elsewhere in the town?HUDDERSFIELD Railway Station is in line for a major expansion – as villagers step up their campaign for a new stop in the Colne Valley.

Global Rail News

• HLOS reaction in the regionsTransport leaders give their thoughts on how the government’s £9 billion investment in the railways will impact on the regions. Midlands In the Midlands, the Chase Line between Walsall and Rugeley is to be electrified, a scheme costing in the region of £30 million and which Centro has calculated is worth £113 million to the [...]
• New Centennial fleet doubles haulage capacityCentennial Coal has almost doubled its haulage capacity with the introduction of a new fleet of C44ACi locomotives. On June 27, seven 4,400-horsepower CEY class units, which have been built by UGL, were presented to Centennial Coal and rail operator Shorthaul Railroad (SSR) at UGL’s production facility in Broadmeadow, Newcastle. In May 2012, Centennial Coal [...]
• A look into the futureThe third annual FOSD conference had a new venue for 2012, and a new title. Future of Station Design became Future of Sustainable Design, which allowed transport hubs and gateways to be included, and the event took place at London™s ExCeL on 25 May. Mike Goggin, formerly director of stations and customer service for Network [...]
• Prohibition theme for RailStaff Awards 2012Railways can be a serious business “ safety critical and always in the public domain. Staff have to watch their step ever mindful of the unblinking eye of passenger and political scrutiny. Happily that™s not the case at the RailStaff Awards. On the face of it, the RailStaff Awards is a ceremony recognising courage, bravery [...]
• Heathrow station improvements completed ready for GamesImprovements to one of Heathrow’s busiest Tube stations have been completed in time for the Olympics. Two new lifts, more ticket gates and a revamped ticket office and travel information centre are among the upgrades at Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3 Tube station to help cope with the millions of extra Olympic and Paralympic visitors. Gareth Powell, [...]
• German magazine knocks London™s œancient� Underground network ahead of the Olympics“There is little tolerance in their ancient system for everything that can and will go wrong,” writes German magazine Der Spiegel, in a piece that predicts London 2012 will be an “arduous obstacle course for everyone”. In a piece entitled “Preview of an Olympic-sized fiasco”, the Hamburg-based publication says that a Victorian-era public transport system [...]

Aviation Industry

• Easyjet website now easier on the moveMobile optimised site launched

Green Miscellany

• Ban cars every Sunday to make way for bicycles Calls have been made for cars to be banned from streets around Britain every Sunday morning so that people are free to walk, cycle and play on the roads in safety.read more
• How do you carry your bicycle up stairs? Whether it™s the flight of stairs at a railway station or simply a high kerb, a bicycle can be a cumbersome object to carry.read more

Other News Sources

• As Parliamentary session ends, Government kicks Thameslink fleet contract and future of UK train building deeper into long grassWITH THE current Parliamentary session ending yesterday, rail union RMT warned that the Government has kicked the Thameslink fleet contract into the long-grass for yet another summer leaving thousands of skilled manufacturing jobs in the Midlands hanging in the balance. There is also speculation that the secretive tender documentation could contain a clause meaning that Siemens may default if the deal isn't closed by the end of August.
• Cambridge airport opens door to big private jetsOperators given fee incentives