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

Wednesday, 31 August 2011

BBC News

• Ministers withhold trams fundingThe Scottish government writes to Edinburgh City Council threatening to withhold about £72m of trams funding.
• Crossrail delays competition bidThe competition to supply trains for Crossrail, the major London link, is delayed until after a review to try to ensure UK firms do not lose out.
• VIDEO: Saab seeks Chinese rescue fundsCar maker Saab's funding difficulties cast a shadow over its owner Swedish Automobile's half-year results due out on Wednesday.

Financial Times

• Volvo and Siemens in electric car tie-upThe companies plan to have a vehicle available for testing by the end of the year and the Swedish carmaker will deliver up to 200 vehicles for further testing in 2012
• Boeing to put more efficient engine on 737Competition heats up in narrow-body jet market as US aerospace group takes on its European rival Airbus
• Crossrail delay gives hope to UK bidThe one-year deferral comes as France's Alstom withdraws its interest in the project, leaving Bombardier and three others to compete for the work
• Just the factsCross-London Rail Links will put off ordering 600 carriages for the east-west Crossrail route until late, instead of early, 2013, to save costs

Reuters News

• Crossrail contract delayed, Alstom pulls outLONDON (Reuters) - Crossrail, Europe's largest infrastructure project, has delayed the award of a contract to supply trains for the $26 billion (15 billion pounds) project to save money, a move which could allow the government's review of public procurement to be taken into account.

Network Rail

• NETWORK RAIL NAMES NEW MK NATIONAL CENTRE
• OLYMPIC IMPROVEMENTS FOR LONDON STATIONS
• INVISIBLE WEAPON IN FIGHT AGAINST CABLE THIEVES IN WAKEFIELD

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph commented Bombardier campaigners fear Government's Crossrail delay may be...Article

Journal Live

• Multi-million pound losses for rail firm Grand Central RAIL operator Grand Central has posted losses for the second year running - but says its passenger numbers are continuing to grow.

London Evening Standard

• Half a million rail staff and families get discount travelAbout 500,000 current and former railway workers and their families are entitled to free or heavily discounted travel, new figures reveal

Manchester Evening News

• Eastern promise: Link-up of Manchester and Beijing airports could bring billions in Chinese investmentManchester Airport will be named the sister airport of Beijing Capital International Airport “ the second largest in the world. The massive deal will bring the first direct flights between Manchester and China. At least one long haul flight “ probably to Beijing “ will be launched. It is expected to create 250 jobs at the airport and around 400 in nearby hotels.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Protesters in new legal bid to scupper bypass for city Opponents of the Aberdeen bypass last night agreed to mount a fresh legal challenge to the road scheme “ and they want taxpayers to fund it.
• Fears mount over plan for north nuclear rail cargoes Opposition is growing to using the railway to carry consignments of spent nuclear fuel from Dounreay to west Cumbia.

Other Regional Press

• End of the road for haulage firmThe economic downturn has been blamed for the collapse of a road haulage business with the loss of 90 jobs.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Coach Concession Cut 31 August: The 50% coach concession for elderly and disabled passengers is the latest victim of government cuts to public transport. The decision could tip a number of coach routes into decline and closure, especially in rural and disadvantaged areas. read more

Global Rail News

• Virgin Trains makes record payment to governmentVirgin Trains has paid the Government £110 million, a stark contrast to last year™s figure when the train operator received a subsidy of £40 million. This ...
• West Coast Main Line speed trials to go aheadThe testing of three London Midland class 350/1 units at 110 mph on the West Coast Main Line is set to take place over 3 or ...
• Network Rail names new national centreNetwork Rail has announced that it™s new national centre in Milton Keynes will be known as The Quadrant: MK. Network Rail™s executive approved the name this ...
• East Coast launches new rail ticket promotionEast Coast rail passengers between London and South & West Yorkshire are being offered the chance to save almost 30% “ or more than £100 “ ...
• Station improvements begin on Olympic rail routeStation improvements to make travelling by rail easier on one of London™s main Olympic rail routes started this week. Network Rail is to carry out work ...
• Arriva Trains Wales brings back Club 55Arriva Trains Wales has announced that it has re-launched its Club 55 offer. Club 55 allows anyone over the age of 55 to travel anywhere on ...
• Stadler Rail to build 6 new trams for CroydonA £16.3 million contract has been signed for 6 new Croydon trams. The 32 metre-long trams will be built in Germany by Stadler and are not ...
• Rail Alliance to hold Macro Rail 2011 eventFriday 16th September will see the Rail Alliance throw open their doors to the rail industry free of charge to come and look at over 50 ...
• NXEA to provide extra trains for Chappel Beer FestivalNational Express East Anglia is providing additional train services for the Chappel Beer Festival. Extra train services will operate between Marks Tey and Sudbury from Tuesday ...
• Women™s Engineering Society to host ˜inspired™ debate on road & rail transportThe future of transport, disaster planning, energy conservation and leadership are just a few of the wide-ranging topics to be debated by some of industry™s sharpest ...
• Brunswick Rail acquires rail operator ProftransBrunswick Rail, Russia™s leading railcar operating lessor, has announced the purchase of the rail operator Proftrans. Proftrans specialises in the transportation of metal cargoes by rail. The ...

Aviation Industry

• British Airways Cabin Crew to use iPads to revolutionise customer serviceBritish Airways cabin crew are using the latest iPad model to bring a new dimension to customer service in the air.

Other News Sources

• Crossrail announces £1bn contract delay Crossrail has today announced plans to delay the procurement of its new fleet of trains and depots in a bid to make savings, raising hopes the contract could be awarded to a British company.
• RMT demands that Thameslink/Bombardier stitch up be reversed as Government delays Crossrail fleet procurementRAIL UNION RMT today demanded that the Government reverse the decision to award the Thameslink fleet contract to Siemens of Germany, and place the work with Bombardier in Derby instead, after it was announced that the Crossrail fleet tender will be delayed for a year in recognition of the Government and EU-inspired stitch up that led to the Thameslink scandal.
• Road transport remains the future, says EU Transport Chair Road transport will continue to dominate the European freight market according to MEP Brian Simpson, chairman of the European Parliament™s Transport Committee.
• Lord Provost questions funding for shorter Edinburgh tramLord Provost George Grubb has called for a special meeting of City of Edinburgh Council to review its decision last week to truncate the tram line, in place of the council™s earlier plan to go ahead with a slightly longer route.
• Above-ground development to fund Tube station improvementsLondon Underground (LU) has begun a six week public consultation on a development above South Kensington tube station, which would in turn fund improvements to the station itself.

Other Subscription Services

• Alstom out of Crossrail rolling stock contest Four bidders remain in the competition to supply Crossrail with a new fleet of trains and depot facilities following the decision by Alstom to withdraw from the procurement process.French firm...