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

Monday, 22 November 2010

BBC News

• Volunteers could do gritting work in Norfolk Norfolk County Council is asking parish and town councils to take over the gritting of pavements this winter, possibly by using unpaid volunteers.
• Bike hire scheme bags 47 in ten weeksA total of 47 people have signed up for Scotland's first bike hire scheme since its launch 10 weeks ago.

Financial Times

• Nissan to shift output to dollar economiesThe Japanese carmaker is planning to shift the balance of its production and support functions towards dollar-linked economies to protect itself against currency volatility, says its chief executive

The Guardian

• Boris's Bus (A Political Journey) Part 26: Some Recently Asked Questions I've been catching up on responses to last week's unveiling of the New Bus for London mock-up. Crewe blog Zelo Street was worried that it would be too long for efficient cornering, however, TfL assures me that the the length of the new bus is 11.2 metres, which is hardly any longer than current double deckers. Then there was ceiiinosssttuv commenting here:
• Waiting for Crossrail (19-11-10)Design plans for the capital's Crossrail stations have been unveiled. Plus, housing crisis stats wars, ancient jewellery in Isleworth and London's pretty patterns
• Len McCluskey becomes leader of Unite Former dock worker defeats three rivals to take charge of country's largest trade union
• London week ahead: houses, buses and boats Discord continues to reign over the forthcoming housing benefit reductions, with politicians quarreling about the scale of their impact on the capital, everyone disputing everyone else's statistics and Boris sticking to his line that he's sticking up for Londoners.

The Herald

• Timetable stokes ferry fears Fears have been raised over the future of a “vital” Clyde ferry crossing after state-owned operator CalMac admitted doubts over plans to replace it.

The Independent

• Green light for new Intercity trains The nation's fleet of ageing Intercity trains is to be replaced, at a cost of £7.5bn, ministers will announce this week.
• Flying to Barra or London City? Make sure of a window seatThe aerial approaches to two British airports feature among the 10 most stunning in the world.

The Telegraph

• High speed rail – do we need it? 20-11-10All three major parties are backing plans to run a 250mph high speed rail line through the Chilterns. But despite the consensus there is mounting local opposition. Julian Smyth-Osbourne of the High Speed 2 Action Alliance puts the case against the project.

Reuters News

• Britain to approve $12 bln train project-paper Nov 21 (Reuters) - Britain will replace its ageing Intercity Express trains at a cost of 7.5 billion pounds ($12 billion), a newspaper report said on Sunday.

Daily Express

• GREEN LIGHT FOR NEW TRAINS BRITAIN’S ageing Intercity trains are to be scrapped and replaced with a new fleet as part of an £8billion bid to ease commuter congestion.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Passengers invited to bus 'surgery' at Keighley bus station Bus passengers were given the chance to air their views when transport bosses held a public consultation event at one of the district™s main bus stations.

Metro

• London City airport named one of the most thrilling landingsThe 'stomach-churning descent over iconic landmarks such as Big Ben has earned London City airport a place in the world™s top-ten most stunning aerial approaches.

Wall Street Journal

• UK Must Invest GBP350B On Transport Network In Next 20 Years-McKinseyLONDON (Dow Jones)---The U.K. will have to spend at least GBP350 billion on renewing and expanding its transport infrastructure over the next two decades if the economy's growth potential is to be realized, management consultancy firm McKinsey and Company said in a report published Monday.

Other News Sources

• New rail fleet 'should be British-built' RMT union leader Bob Crow said on Sunday that plans to renew Britain's intercity fleet gives the government a "real opportunity" to secure train manufacturing in Britain.
• Leaked LU Memo Reveals Unstaffed Stations A leaked London Underground document discusses the possibility that more stations could be left unstaffed as a result of cuts to staff and ticket office hours, the very issue under dispute in the recent strikes.

Other Subscription Services

• Consultant claims road and rail costs can be slashedManagement consultants at McKinsey believe an extra £50bn can be saved in the UK over the next 20 years by improving the efficiency of road and rail construction.
• Councils call on Hammond to speed up lane-rental schemeLocal authorities in the capital have urged the Government to speed up regulations to allow them to charge utility companies for digging up London’s busiest roads at peak times.