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

Tuesday, 02 August 2011

BBC News

• South Africa Gautrain opens Johannesburg-Pretoria route Africa's fastest train has opened its new route to the capital, Pretoria, from Johannesburg in a bid to speed up travel between two of South Africa's major cities.
• Rail flood hits Gatwick AirportRail services between London and Gatwick Airport resume with severe disruption, after a burst water main flooded the track.
• Mayor's cycle scheme criticisedBoris Johnson's decision to extend Barclays' sponsorship of London's bike hire scheme without new competition is criticised by the Liberal Democrats.
• Honda profits plunge 88% on quakeHonda Motors becomes the latest Japanese company to report a slump in profits due to the earthquake and tsunami.
• Ford recalls 1.2m pick-up trucksFord is recalling 1.2 million pick-up trucks in the US and Canada because of fears their fuel tanks could fall off and start fires.

Financial Times

• BA risks doubling of OFT fineAirline has been reviewing the size of the penalty since the collapse of a related prosecution brought by the watchdog against current and former BA executives

The Herald

• Babcock reports change in fortunes thanks to key Network Rail contractBabcock Rail has reported a £6.8 million turnaround in its financial performance, suggesting a brighter future for 500 engineering workers in Lanarkshire after a troubled few years.

The Scotsman

• Bombardier: £15m 'insult to injury'The Government "added insult to injury" by spending £15 million on consultants for a rail contract that was awarded to a German company, union chiefs said.
• Gatwick trains back after floodsSome rail services to a major airport have resumed after holidaymakers' journeys were seriously disrupted when a burst water main flooded train tracks.

The Telegraph

• Commuter services hit by landslide after Thames Water main bursts Commuter services between London and Brighton have been disrupted by a landslide at Croydon, south London.
• Record aircraft orders help Senior's profits to soar A record order for aircraft by American Airlines last month has helped engineering group Senior post an 18pc increase in half-year profits.
• Low response to HS2 consultation does not prove a lack of opposition [letter]The results of the high-speed rail consultation.
• Virgin space tour: The tourists going into spaceThe world's first space tourists include an eclectic mix of celebrities, scientists, and entrepeneurs.
• Proportion of young drink drivers increasing Drink-driving is on the increase among motorists under 25, according to the latest figures released by the police.
• How to turn a roundabout into a meadow Guerilla Gardeners have transformed Hogarth Roundabout in Chiswick, west London into a meadow.

Daily Express

• 'CROCODILE TEARS’ JIBE AT VINCE CABLEVINCE Cable was yesterday accused of shedding “crocodile tears”. The attack came after Vince Cable met Derby-based train builder Bombardier to discuss its future after it lost a £1.4billion Government contract – to build carriages for the Thameslink route – to German giant Siemens.
• BOMBARDIER: £15M 'INSULT TO INJURY' The Government "added insult to injury" by spending £15 million on consultants for a rail contract that was awarded to a German company, union chiefs said.
• IS THE ELECTRIC DREAM CAR FAR AWAY? WE discover how the race to replace the petrol engine has never been closer to becoming a reality – even if it is Jeremy Clarkson’s worst nightmare.

Mail Online

• Lifelines for pensioners are facing axe in council cuts as 70% target bus routes Tens of thousands of pensioners could be left without transport as cash-strapped local councils target bus routes to make savings, campaigners warned yesterday.
• Trains to Gatwick airport delayed: After leaves and snow on the line, now it's SANDHolidaymakers heading to Gatwick Airport by train faced long delays after a burst water main caused a landslide dumping tons of sand on to the tracks.

The Mirror

• Union fury as doomed Bombardier deal sees £15million go into consultants’ pockets FURIOUS union chiefs hit out last night as it emerged £15million of taxpayers’ cash was lavished on consultants for the doomed Bombardier contract that could cost up to 3,000 jobs.
• Get off this train, CamTHE decision to hand a lucrative Government train contract to Germany grows more mysterious by the day. Ministers paid £15million for advice onwho should be awarded the work making Thameslink carriages.
• Bombardier: £15m 'insult to injury' The Government "added insult to injury" by spending £15 million on consultants for a rail contract that was awarded to a German company, union chiefs said.

Belfast Telegraph

• Cable in Bombardier talks as train maker faces tough future The Business Secretary has met officials from train builder Bombardier to discuss its plans after losing a lucrative Government contract, leading to the loss of 1,400 jobs.

Bristol Live

• Bristol Evening Post commented Council will build link road ...that could go nowhereArticle

Derby Telegraph

• Sorry, I can't change £1.4bn trains deal decision, says Vince Cable ANGRY city leaders turned on Business Secretary Vince Cable after he gave them little hope of a resolution to the Bombardier contract crisis. Mr Cable said he could not help change the £1.4 billion deal his Government has made with German firm Siemens to build trains for the Thameslink project.
• It's not for me to dictate how all this should proceed, says Vince Cable Business Secretary Vince Cable yesterday met Derby leaders to hear their fears over recent job cuts. Kirsty Green quizzed him after the meeting.
• Action needed from Cable, not 'hoping and thinking positively' THERE are several interpretations which might be made of Vince Cable's words on the Thameslink rail row yesterday – all of them deeply depressing.
• Derby Telegraph commented Council will look at number of lorries using rat-run roadArticle
• Derby Telegraph commented Business Secretary in city to visit BombardierArticle

Journal Live

• North East MPs in warning over bus cuts CUTS to bus services could hit the country’s economic road to recovery, according to dozens of MPs.

London Evening Standard

• Highgate box junction nets £1m fines in one yearThe most lucrative yellow box junction in the capital earned Transport for London more than £1million last year, the Standard can reveal

Manchester Evening News

• ’Human rights’ battle over Trafford bus pass axeChurch leaders are set to take town hall bosses to the high court over plans to scrap free school bus passes. Trafford council wants to withdraw free transport for children not attending their nearest school “ apart from the most deprived and those with special needs. The move would save the authority £375,000 a year.
• Royal Lounge at Manchester Airport gets £20,000 makeover in case Kate and William drop in The Royal Lounge at Manchester Airport has been given a £20,000 makeover “ because bosses hope it will be used by Prince William and his new wife, Kate. The location of the lounge “ which has played host to top politicians and star names from the world of music, as well as royalty “ has always been a closely-guarded secret.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Bypass delay adding £1m a month to cost THE bill for Aberdeen™s long-awaited bypass road is rising at the rate of £1million a month “ without a single yard of tarmac being laid.

The York Press

• Cyclists told to do more to protect their bikes CYCLISTS must do more to protect their bikes from thieves, a York crime-fighting group has said.

Wales Online

• Bombardier: £15m 'insult to injury' The Government "added insult to injury" by spending £15 million on consultants for a rail contract that was awarded to a German company, union chiefs said.

Other Regional Press

• Western Morning News commented High-speed rail project 'will starve Westcountry'Article
• Burst water main causes railway delaysFLOODING is causing delays and cancellations on some rail services going in and out of London.
• UK & World News: Bombardier: £15m 'insult to injury' The Government
• Updated: Giant airport in Kent would improve life... 'for Londoners'Lord Foster today said his controversial plan to build the world's biggest airport on Kent's Hoo Peninsula would

Campaign for Better Transport

• Our calls for joined up bus tendering prove fruitful 2 August: We are pleased that at least two councils are trying new ways of tendering bus services. This could mean savings are made while passengers are protected. read more

Global Rail News

• Siemens achieves ˜strong growth™ in third quarterSiemens achieved strong growth again in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. New orders climbed 20% year-over-year and revenue rose 2%. These figures include negative currency ...
• Full fleet of new Victoria line trains now in serviceThe 180 million passengers who use the Victoria line each year are now being served by a full fleet of brand new trains, following the successful ...
• Station Supervisor named ˜Northern Star of the Year™A station supervisor from Garforth has been awarded Northern Rail™s highest honour in customer service, by the UK™s largest rail operator. Angela Thompson, who has worked ...
• Network Rail publish new guide to station improvementsFrom local gateways to major commuter hubs, ‘getting the best for all Britain™s stations is the aim’ of a new design guide published today by Network ...
• More rail services on the Hope Valley lineRail passengers on the Hope Valley line between Manchester and Sheffield will have more services to choose from, starting in December. Transport for Greater Manchester, in ...
• HS2 ˜may increase carbon emissions™ says engineering bodyLeading engineers have suggested that ‘flaws’ in the analysis of the High Speed 2 (HS2) proposal might result in the project producing ‘more, not less, carbon ...
• New stats put intermodal freight as biggest user of railThe growth of the intermodal rail freight market remained on target last year, reporting a strong 3% year-on-year growth through 2010/11, with total volumes moved at ...
• Scotland™s train and station quality annual performance resultsAn annual evaluation of ScotRail™s rail and passenger services shows improvements in a range of key areas. Transport Scotland™s SQUIRE (Service Quality Incentive Regime) system monitors ...
• Union Pacific named ˜Rail Carrier of the Year™ConAgra Mills named Union Pacific its Rail Carrier of the Year for its grain product transportation service. “We work hard to maintain a high standard of ...

Aviation Industry

• AA extends full content agreement with TravelportWorking agreement does not signal an end to the bitter dispute, however, with neither side having dropped their ongoing law suits

Other News Sources

• Johannesburg unveils high-speed rail to Pretoria JOHANNESBURG — The main line on Africa's fastest railway opens Tuesday, shuttling commuters from Johannesburg to Pretoria at speeds up to 160 kilometres (100 miles) an hour -- if they're willing to leave their cars.
• RMT welcomes implementation today of Equality Act 2010 regulations on seafarers pay and pledges to step up campaign for full enforcementMARITIME UNION RMT today welcomed the implementation of regulations on seafarers pay that will at last outlaw discrimination on UK flagged ships after a long and sustained campaign mounted by the unions in the teeth of all out hostility from the shipping companies.