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

Wednesday, 22 June 2011

BBC News

• Derby leaders plan to visit Bombardier bosses in Berlin Derby's business and political leaders are calling for a meeting with the bosses of train maker Bombardier to help ensure it stays in the city.
• Southeastern in new compensation system for passengers Southeastern is to announce plans for a new system that will make it easier for passengers to claim money back if trains are late.
• Essex street lights switch-off plan Plans have been approved to switch off most street lights across Essex each night between midnight and 0500 BST to save £14m over the next 13 years.
• Jersey Connex bus passengers to get wi-fi access Jersey's bus operator Connex is adding wi-fi connections on its major routes.
• Daylight returns to rail stationA Birmingham railway station will be lit by natural light for the first time in more than 40 years.
• Third 'making fewer car journeys'A third of drivers have cut down on the number of car journeys they make because of the cost of motoring, an RAC report suggests.
• Air tax threatens New York flightAirline may withdraw its Belfast to New York route due to the level of air travel tax in comparison to rates in the south.
• VIDEO: Oyster card 'confuses' passengersA transport watchdog is warning that passengers could lose trust in Transport for London's (TfL) Oyster card system because of confusion over fares and refunds.
• Road pollution fears for pupilsMore than 1,100 London schools are close to busy roads, raising the risk of asthma in pupils, says an air quality campaign group.
• Mayor urged to tackle congestionLondon needs a more dynamic approach to tackling its transport issues or face gridlock, a London Assembly report warns.
• Virgin Atlantic pilots to strikeVirgin Atlantic pilots vote to go on strike for the first time in the airline's history, in a dispute over pay.
• Online check-in: Saving and trading your airmiles [video]Carmen Roberts finds out how to make the most of your airmiles online. Plus, an app that helps you find transport information for airports worldwide.

Financial Times

• O'Leary slams Boeing 737 'confusion'Budget carrier signs co-operation agreement with China's Comac and will advise on the development of a 200-seat aircraft

The Guardian

• Business case for HS2 London-Birmingham rail link questioned The controversial campaign to build a high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham was dealt a blow on Tuesday when an independent report questioned the business case for the £32bn scheme.
• Rising petrol prices will cause drivers to reduce family tripsRural motorists believe cost of motoring will force them to cut back on journeys for financial reasons, according to RAC survey

The Independent

• Benefits of new £32bn rail link 'uncertain', MPs are toldTransport wonder, or white elephant? The argument over the proposed HS2 high-speed rail link from London to Birmingham deepened yesterday when a consultants' report prepared for MPs said that the economic benefits from the £32bn hi-tech project were
• Virgin pilots vote for actionVirgin Atlantic pilots have voted to go on strike in a row over pay for the first time in the company's history, raising the threat of summer walkouts which would cause travel chaos.

The Telegraph

• China expresses wish to build UK's high-speed rail link China wants to build the high-speed rail link between London, the Midlands and the North, the Chinese ambassador said yesterday.
• Virgin Trains chief calls for A-levels and degrees to be taught at work Tony Collins, chief executive of Virgin Trains, has called for a major shake-up of the education system where A-levels and degrees are taught at work rather than in schools.

Mail Online

• Virgin Atlantic pilots strike puts holidays at riskThe walk-outs by the airline's 750 pilots will hit key long-haul routes, including flights to Disney theme parks in California and Florida.

The Mirror

• Passengers 'jump start' tram in Manchester A DRIVER got his tram moving again after its doors stuck open in Manchester city centre by asking passengers to jump up and down.

ATOC

• 2012 Games train fares will offer spectators great value for money Millions of London 2012 spectators will be able to take advantage of great value rail fares from this month, well ahead of next summer’s Games....
• Train companies respond to London TravelWatch Oyster research Commenting on the latest London TravelWatch Oyster research, a spokesperson for the Association of Train Operating Companies said: “Train companies welcome the research,...

Network Rail

• READING RAIL BRIDGE REPLACEMENT SCOOPS ENGINEERING AWARD
• RAIL DIRECTOR APPOINTED FOR NEW WALES ROUTE
• NETWORK RAIL STATION RETAILING CONTINUES TO SHOW GROWTH IN SALES
• NETWORK RAIL ANNOUNCES NEW BUILDING AND CIVILS DELIVERY PARTNERSHIP CONTRACT

Birmingham Mail

• Arctic winters put a strain on Birmingham roads Freezing conditions and lying snow during December last year caused a long period of freezing and thawing that put a huge stress on the highways.
• Independent report casts doubts over benefits of high speed rail link There is a “degree of uncertainty” around the financial benefits of the Government’s HS2 high-speed rail project, an independent report prepared for MPs has said.

Journal Live

• Newcastle Airport luxury hotel to open at long last A LUXURY hotel at Newcastle Airport will open within months, creating more than 100 jobs.

Liverpool Post

• North-South high-speed rail link campaigners accused of creating ’class war’ CAMPAIGNERS in favour of a North-South high-speed rail link were accused of launching a “class war” last night, on controversial new posters.

London Evening Standard

• Eight million passengers a month overcharged on OysterEight million passengers a month are overpaying on Oyster pay-as-you-go cards because they are confused by the system or the card readers fail to work properly, new research reveals
• Airport chaos looms as Virgin pilots vote on summer strikesHundreds of thousands of air travellers will know over the next 24 hours if strike action threatens a repeat of last summer's chaos

Sheffield Star

• Secret’ rail plans denied by ministerTRANSPORT Secretary Phillip Hammond has denied claims the Government has a ’secret plan’ for the route of the high speed rail line through South Yorkshire.

Sheffield Telegraph

• Campaign to prevent cuts in bus servicesPENSIONERS on a Sheffield estate have mounted a campaign to save a lifeline bus route from being cut.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Drivers ditch cars to avert traffic chaos in InvernessDrivers shunned their cars in favour of trains, buses and bikes yesterday “ and stopped the Highland capital descending into gridlock.
• Road deaths toll continues to fall, latest figures show The number of people killed on roads in the north and north-east continues to fall, according to new figures.

Yorkshire Post

• Expert warns against parkway station for high speed rail lineBUILDING a “parkway” station in South Yorkshire for the high-speed rail line rather than in a city centre “probably won’t work” because of problems getting passengers to and from it, MPs have been told.

Peterborough Telegraph

• City rail vandals put lives at risk TRESPASSING children put train passengers’ lives in danger by deliberately placing rocks, bricks and a cricket bat onto the tracks.

Other Regional Press

• MSP presses for better rail links in East Lothian eAST Lothian’s MSP Iain Gray is seeking a meeting with Transport Minister Keith Brown to discuss improvements to Dunbar’s train service and the re-opening of a station in East Linton.
• First fires back in bus shake-up rowA bus giant hit back after claims timetable changes would hinder economic recovery.
• New bus route for housing estateA brand new bus service has been launched that will link a housing development to a town centre. Residents in Biddenham Vale can now take advantage of a bus service which connects the new community in

Global Rail News

• High speed rail report shows ˜uncertainty™ over benefitsAn independent report published today found there is a degree of  ’uncertainty’ around the benefits of the high speed rail project the government is proposing (HS2). ...
• Transport Minister presses for high speed rail link to ScotlandKeith Brown has today announced plans for pressing home the case for a High Speed Rail link to Scotland. Speaking at the high speed rail summit ...
• VINCI wins concession to build high speed rail line between Tours and BordeauxThe concession contract for the future South Europe Atlantic high speed rail line (SEA HSR) between Tours and Bordeaux was signed on 16th June by the concession company ...
• Reading rail bridge replacement scoops engineering awardWork to replace the Caversham Road rail bridge in Reading has won a prestigious engineering award from the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE). Network Rail and ...
• RMT announces further wave of strike action on Heathrow ExpressThe RMT has announced a further wave of strike action and action short of a strike in an on-going pay dispute on Heathrow Express. Members will ...
• Atkins lands major comms contract on London UndergroundAtkins has been appointed by VINCI BAM Nuttall JV to design, install, test and commission telecommunications assets at London™s Victoria Underground station, as part of the ...
• Rail director appointed for new Wales routeNetwork Rail announces today the appointment of a new route managing director, Mark Langman, to lead its devolved business unit in Wales. Mark, 41, brings with ...
• Peter Seabrook names NXEA locomotiveA National Express East Anglia (NXEA) Class 90 electric locomotive has been named ‘Bressingham Steam and Gardens’ by the popular TV gardener Peter Seabrook in a ...
• Chiltern Railways driver gets well deserved MBE recognitionChiltern Railways driver and Schools Safety Officer, Dave Newell has been awarded an MBE for services to the railway industry. Dave Newell is famous along the ...
• ™2012 Games Train Tickets™ go on sale this monthMillions of London 2012 spectators will be able to take advantage of great value rail fares from this month, well ahead of next summer™s Games. Train ...
• Network Rail station retailing shows growth in salesNetwork Rail today released station retail sales results for January to March 2011 showing a 5.17% growth in like-for-like sales, compared to the same quarter the ...
• Public trust in Oyster could be ˜undermined™, says watchdogPublic trust in the Oyster card could be undermined unless changes are made, according to research undertaken by London TravelWatch. The research was prompted by concern ...
• Longer lorries will ˜decimate rail freight™ says RFGThe Rail Freight Group today expressed its concern at Government proposals to extend the length of articulated lorries by up to 2.05m. The DfT consultation, which ...
• Major strengthening programme completed on London UndergroundAs part of a major strengthening programme on the London Underground, an innovative solution was required to provide long term strengthening to over 90 cast iron ...

Other News Sources

• Opinion: Bombardier – the end is nigh? [Liberal Democrat Voice Blog]ust over a year ago, I wrote on Lib Dem Voice that the future for the Bombardier train building plant at Derby looked precarious. At that time, my fears were around the deep spending cuts that we were being forewarned of.
• Station group calls for improved rail services CALLS for an improved train service for Market Rasen are being headed up by the town’s station adoption group.
• Heathrow Airport achieves major plaudits from Business in the CommunityHeathrow Airport has been recognised for its outstanding Corporate Responsibility as part of two Business in the Community (BITC) initiatives...
• RYANAIR AND COMAC (COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT CORP. OF CHINA) SIGN C 919 MOU IN PARISRyanair today (21st June) in Paris signed a Memorandum of Understanding with COMAC to participate in discussions on the development of the COMAC C919 aircraft for Ryanair, which would be...