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

Tuesday, 09 August 2011

BBC News

• Flights hit by air traffic delays Some flights into London airports were delayed because of problems with air traffic control equipment.
• Plan to replace Sleaford level crossing with bridge A level crossing could be replaced by a footbridge to boost safety after a new supermarket opens in Lincolnshire.
• Investigation into length of M25 Surrey crash closure Transport Minister Norman Baker is to look into why it took more than 24 hours to reopen the M25 after a crash which left three people badly hurt.
• Railway patrols being stepped upTransport Police are stepping up railway patrols in the West Midlands as trespass incidents rise during the summer.
• Translink to cut its bus servicesFewer bus services and reducing the number of full-time drivers are among cost cutting measures being introduced by Translink, it has emerged.

Financial Times

• German court allows air traffic controllers strike European air traffic faces potential chaos after a court ruled controllers could strike for six hours as part of a campaign for higher wages

The Guardian

• Preston bus station is no St Pancras [letter]If eyesores like Preston bus station are all that pass to make a town unique, it is a sad day indeed

The Herald

• £100m wasted on Scots free bus schemeA FOUR-YEAR delay in introducing fraud management systems to combat abuse of Scotland™s controversial free bus travel scheme for elderly and disabled people has cost the taxpayer up to £100 million.
• Work to begin on £9m Games transport hubWORK on a £9 million upgrade of a key transport hub for the 2014 Commonwealth Games is due to start this month.

The Telegraph

• ROAD TEMPLATE DO NOT DELETE A Government minister has rounded on councils who use motorists as a cash cow by levying sky-high parking fees to fill town hall coffers during times of austerity.
• Rail companies cash in on engineering delays Rail companies are cashing in on weekend engineering works while passengers are being left to pay full price for journeys which take hours longer than normal.

The Mirror

• Ministers refuse to explain £15m Bombardier adviser bill because it would cost more than £600 THE Government has refused to explain how it wasted £15million on Bombardier bid advisers – because the request cost more than £600.

Derby Telegraph

• Double role of consultants in controversial trains projectA CONSULTANCY firm which advised Government agencies on the Thameslink rail project was also used by German company Siemens to help it win a £1.4 billion train deal for the route ahead of Derby’s Bombardier, it emerged today.
• High praise for Bombardier from train operatorsRAIL operators have heaped praise on trains that have recently entered service after being built by Bombardier’s Derby factory.
• Omitting city shows how out of touch leaders are [letter] I READ with interest that the Government had appointed a Minister of Cities, Greg Clark MP ("Derby not a priority for new Minister for Cities", Derby Telegraph, August 1).
• Time for Bombardier to get over it and move on [letter]I AM rather tired of hearing all this political claptrap about the Bombardier bid and the fact the Government has let us down.

Liverpool Echo

• Bus pass cuts are an “attack” on faith schools says West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper AN MP has reported Lancashire county council for an alleged “attack” on faith schools in the ongoing row over pupil bus charges.

London Evening Standard

• Ex-airline boss wants to build £15bn airport for LondonA former airline boss calls for government backing for a new £15 billion airport in the marshy flatlands of north Kent
• Fuel prices cut as oil cost fallsPetrol prices look set to fall from near-record levels after market turmoil and global recession fears caused a big drop in the cost of oil.

Manchester Evening News

• Airport City ’will ground jobs growth elsewhere’, say campaignersThe £400m Airport City project is expected to create more than 10,000 jobs but the study casts doubt on its predicted impact. But a report, by the Campaign to Protect Rural England North West Regional Group, warns it could undermine development elsewhere in Greater Manchester and cause a ˜prosperity black hole™.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Labour questions SNP over honour for Souter FIRST Minister Alex Salmond is facing calls to œlook seriously at the SNP™s relationship with wealthy individuals after it emerged that the party™s biggest donor was nominated by the Scottish Government for a knighthood.

Sunderland Echo

• U-turn over right-turn ban at busy Sunderland junctionHIGHWAYS bosses have made a U-turn over an unpopular right turn.

Other Regional Press

• Hopes of reopening the Halton Curve in Runcorn given boost by Network Rail study HOPES of reinstating the Halton Curve rail line for regular passenger services have been given a major boost. Network Rail has launched a feasibility study into the full reinstatement of the curve, which connects the Welsh coast rail line with Liverpool, via Halton.
• Rail fares in West Yorkshire set to soar RAIL fares are set to soar in West Yorkshire.
• Heavy rain sparks transport chaos in Aberdeen areaHEAVY rain over the weekend has brought disruption to travellers across the Aberdeen area.

Campaign for Better Transport

• 95% of areas could face "aggressive development"8 August: The Government's plans for sweeping changes to the planning system are increasingly controversial. We're particularly worried that developers are saying that areas without an approved local plan could face "agressive development" - especially as that could mean 95% of areas. read more

Global Rail News

• Siemens wins signalling contract for Copenhagen™s commuter rail networkBanedanmark, the Danish railway infrastructure operator, has placed a contract with Siemens for the modernisation of the whole signalling system of the Copenhagen commuter rail (S-Train) ...
• Ticket barriers installed at London Bridge StationLondon Bridge Station™s 350,000 daily passengers are now enjoying dramatically improved concourse facilities as a ‘major milestone’ was reached last weekend in London Bridge Quarter™s creation ...
• Merseytravel to introduce smartcardsMerseytravel, the Passenger Transport Executive responsible for the coordination of public transport in Merseyside, will be introducing smartcard technology on its network this year. The cards, ...
• Decision on Newport rail services expected by end of yearA decision when, or if, rail services will be introduced between Newport and Ebbw Vale is expected later this year. Currently a feasibility study into introducing ...
• Rail passengers to be better informed across West YorkshireNew Customer Information Screens mean thousands of rail passengers across the region will be better informed at stations, thanks to a partnership between Metro, the West ...
• Construction for new light rail link to Manchester Airport set to beginWork on bringing Metrolink to Manchester Airport takes flight this month, as construction gets underway on the first part of the new nine-mile line. Transport leaders ...
• Cambridgeshire™s Guided Busway opens to passengersCambridgeshire’s Guided Busway opened to passengers yesterday, over 2 years later than first planned. It was originally planned to open in Spring 2009, but has been ...

Railnews

• Franchise rethink gets welcome from train operators A revised franchise timetable announced by the transport secretary has been welcomed by the Association of Train Operating Companies, but the largest rail union has condemned the new plans as a 'rip-off'. Philip Hammond has reduced the length of the First Capital Connect franchise, but extended others. He has also accepted that East Coast cannot now return to private sector operation before the end of 2013.

Aviation Industry

• German air traffic controllers press ahead with strike actionGerman air traffic controllers, represented by the country's Trade Union of Air Traffic Control (GdF Gewerkschaft der Flugsicherung), have threatened to press ahead with a 6-hr. strike Tuesday, after a walkout that had been planned last week was ruled illegal by a court.
• Boeing unveils first 787 to be delivered to ANABoeing over the weekend rolled out the first 787 that will enter service with All Nippon Airways. The aircraft is slated to be delivered to ANA in September following certification.

Other News Sources

• London calling after Derby leaders 'unimpressed' by Cable Derby business leaders were left "distinctly unimpressed" by business secretary Vince Cable's latest visit to the city following the government's decision toshun Bombardier for the £1.4bn Thameslink contract, Insider has been told. They are now set to lobby Parliament's transport select committee to show their opposition to Siemens being awarded the contract.
• RMT slams First Transpennine franchise extension as company continues with plans to cut staff payRAIL UNION RMT today slammed news that First Transpennine Express have been awarded a franchise extension to 1st April 2015 - despite the fact that the company are still saying that they can only award their staff a de facto pay cut this year as they are in the final year of their contract.
• Report: Manchester Airport 'wrong place' for an enterprise zoneThe Manchester Airport enterprise zone will undermine attempts at economic regeneration in other parts of the city, a new report warns.
• Blackburn headteachers oppose plans to axe busesHEADTEACHERS have raised strong objections over plans to axe vital bus services for their pupils.