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

Friday, 16 September 2011

BBC News

• Transport and women's questions [Video Clip, House of Commons]A Labour MP has blasted the government's "disastrous decision" to award the Thameslink contract to Siemens rather than Derby-based Bombardier.
• South Bristol link road 'waste of money' Campaigners opposing the proposed south Bristol link road say it is a "poison chalice" and a "staggering" waste of public money.
• Norfolk and Suffolk MPs call for rail line investment All 15 Suffolk and Norfolk MPs have called on the government for investment in the Great Eastern Main Line.
• Bombardier 'should bid for Crossrail' says minister Trainmaker Bombardier has been told by the Transport Secretary Philip Hammond to bid for contracts for a new railway in London.
• Dover Port sale bid to continue after deadline is met Dover Harbour Board is to submit further details to the government over its plans to sell the town's port.
• SOS loudspeaker for road tunnelA loudspeaker system is be installed on an A55 tunnel so that people can be ordered out of their cars or given messages in an emergency.
• New deal signed with tram companyEdinburgh City Council signs a new deal with its main trams contractor, ending speculation over the future of the project.
• Prices go up after fuel cut newsWestern Isles council's convener says prices at fuel pumps rose following news of a fuel duty discount scheme.
• VIDEO: Send civil servants to Derbyshire?The prime minister was asked to create more civil service jobs in Derbyshire following job cuts in the area and concerns over the future of train maker Bombardier.
• Cable theft blamed for rail delayThe theft of overhead power cables causes major disruption to rail services in Essex and Cambridgeshire.
• Tube evacuation after cables fallPassengers have to be led off four Jubilee Line trains after cables fall off Tube tunnel walls in central London.
• Pilots claim holiday pay victoryUK pilots claim a
• Passenger suggestions for improving the railways Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has told MPs British railways are a "rich man's toy", describing some fares as "eye-wateringly expensive".

Financial Times

• Ryanair steps up Aer Lingus confrontationEurope's leading low-cost airline has demanded that the Irish flag-carrier in which it has a 29.8% stake pay a special dividend to shareholders
• BAA to challenge market dominance rulingBAA is to mount a fresh legal challenge against the competition regulator's rulings that it must reduce its market dominance

The Herald

• BAA in appeal over sale of airport rulingBAA, the owner of Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports, will today launch an appeal against the ruling demanding it must sell Stansted and either of its two main Scottish operations.

The Independent

• BAA to fight on in airport sell-off Airports operator BAA today vowed to fight on in its battle against a ruling that it must sell Stansted and either Edinburgh or Glasgow airports.
• Cable thieves shut down train servicesRail services from London to Stansted Airport and other parts of eastern England were crippled yesterday following the latest theft of copper cables.

The Scotsman

• Transport Scotland to bill city for tram rescue team A government agency is under fire after it emerged it will bill the city council for hundreds of thousands of pounds for mounting a "rescue" of the trams project.

The Telegraph

• David Millward: small fixes to a huge congestion problem are not enough MPs have suggested a number of methods to ease congestion including a tougher driving test. But the Daily Telegraph's Transport Editor David Millward says more drastic action is needed.
• Motorists failing to benefit from fall in oil prices Motorists are being denied benefit from the recent falls in crude oil prices at the pumps because of the weakness of the pound and market speculators, the AA has warned.
• High speed rail opponents allege £28 billion hidden bill High-speed rail could cost the country £28 billion more than the Government has admitted, the TaxPayers’ Alliance has said.
• BAA launches fresh legal challenge over Stansted airport sale BAA is launching a second judicial review of the Competition Commission's ruling that it must sell Stansted airport in a move criticised by its airline customers as another delaying tactic.

Press Association

• Bid for Crossrail, Bombardier told Derby-based train manufacturer Bombardier should bid for contracts for the multibillion-pound rail project linking east and west London, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said.

Mail Online

• Transport Secretary Philip Hammond tells Bombardier to bid for £16billion Crossrail contract Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said today that British train manufacturer Bombardier should bid for contracts on the multibillion-pound rail project linking east and west London.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Transport Scotland to bill city for tram rescue team A government agency is under fire after it emerged it will bill the city council for hundreds of thousands of pounds for mounting a "rescue" of the trams project.

Journal Live

• Port of Tyne campaigners to hand over petition THE Government will today be handed a 5,000 strong petition urging ministers to protect jobs on the Tyne.

London Evening Standard

• Suspected cable theft halts train service to StanstedThousands of holidaymakers and commuters were left stranded after a suspected cable theft halted trains to Stansted airport

Manchester Evening News

• Twelve new roadside CCTV cameras in £150k drive to catch rogue motorists in ManchesterRogue motorists in Manchester will have twelve new CCTV cameras costing £150,000 to contend with as town hall bosses make life tougher for law breakers.

Other Regional Press

• Minister's comment helps fuel HS2 fight PHILIP Hammond not only failed to counter arguments from HS2 critics at the final Transport Select Committee (TSC) hearing, but further fuelled their desire to stop it.
• Hammond’s rail comments attacked Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has been attacked as a “rich, southern millionaire” for suggesting poor people could not afford train travel.
• MP Julien Huppert warns eight per cent fare hike will deter rail use [Cambridge First]The eight per cent fare hike will deter people from using the train. Cambridge MP Julian Huppert told a meeting in the House of Commons today (Thursday).
• Government: “HS2 is rich man’s toy” [Banbury Guardian]PROTESTORS have branded the Government’s backing of the controversial HS2 rail scheme “ridiculous” after Transport Secretary Philip Hammond admitted it was a “rich man’s toy”.
• Minister: 'Trains are for the rich'Transport minister's comments trigger anger among rail commuters facing huge fare hikes.
• New tickets plan for First bus BUS passengers in Huddersfield will soon be able to pay their fare with bank cards.
• BAA legal move on airport sell-offA legal battle will begin tomorrow to try to prevent a possible £1billion sale of Glasgow Airport.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Council road spending goes through the roof We've now received final details of all but three of the 45 local authority major transport schemes competing for funding this autumn. read more

Global Rail News

• New rolling stock for London Midland & First TransPennine ExpressLondon Midland has announced that it has selected preferred bidders for the manufacture, maintenance and financing of new rolling stock. This is intended for both London ...
• ATOC responds to Philip Hammond™s comments on the cost of rail travelThe Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said earlier this week that it was an ‘uncomfortable fact’ that trains were ‘a rich man’s toy’. Hammond said that people ...
• East Coast dedicates ˜West Riding Limited™ to key service hubWest Yorkshire business leaders joined representatives from train operator East Coast at Leeds station to unveil a special tribute to the region™s business and leisure travellers. ...
• Winners announced in East Midlands Trains™ Best Station AwardsEast Midlands Trains™ station staff are celebrating after the winners of the company™s second annual ˜Best Station Awards™ were announced. The awards look to recognise the ...
• Government and rail industry announce investment to ˜accelerate innovation™The Technology Strategy Board and RSSB are to invest up to £4m to accelerate business innovation in the UK™s rail industry. The aim of the Accelerating ...
• Northern Rail to provide more seats for SellafieldNorthern Rail has said workers travelling to and from Sellafield will be provided with more seats on the 14:54 Barrow in Furness to Carlisle service, which ...
• Network Rail unearths ˜major Roman discovery™Almost 2,000 years of history has been unearthed by Network Rail engineers following the discovery of Roman bath house ruins on land being re-developed as part ...
• New train technology will ˜save time, energy and money™Research at the University of Salford is on track to solve the ‘age-old problem of leaves on the line’ delaying trains. Leaves, as well as snow ...
• RMT to ballot for strike action on Gatwick Express ˜over threat to jobs™The RMT union has announced that they are preparing to ballot members for industrial action, ‘up to and including strike action’ on Gatwick Express in ‘response ...
• Over 55s set to enjoy cheaper rail fares with FirstGroupThe UK™s largest rail company, FirstGroup, today revealed that its hugely popular Club 55 – a discounted, walk up and go rail travel offer for people ...

Railnews

• London Midland, TransPennine set to gain new Desiros A fleet of new electric multiple units is to be built for London Midland and First TransPennine Express. The trains will be the latest version of the Siemens Desiro UK series, and probably built at Krefeld in Germany.
• Tram project moves ahead after government intervenes THE Scottish Government has released the remaining funds needed to complete Edinburgh's troubled tram project. It is also effectively taking control of the scheme from Edinburgh City Council.

Aviation Industry

• OECD statistics shows slow air cargo growth in 2011 first halfInternational trade statistics through the first half of 2011 reveal that

Other News Sources

• Bombardier urged to bid for Crossrail projectTransport Secretary Phillip Hammond has urged train maker Bombardier to bid for contracts for the London Crossrail project.
• Parking could go up by £1 an hour at two Brighton car parks The cost of an hour™s parking could go up by a pound to fund a £4.2 million facelift of two city centre car parks.
• RMT to ballot for action on Gatwick Express over threat to jobsRAIL UNION RMT announced today that it is preparing to ballot members for industrial action, up to and including strike action, on Gatwick Express in response to a threat to jobs from increased automation at the gate line at Victoria and Gatwick.
• News from John Biggs: John Welcomes New Bus Services For Stratford 14 September, 2011 Local London Assembly member, John Biggs, has today welcomed the announcement by TfL that four routes will now stop at Stratford. They are route 97 from Chingford, Walthamstow and Leyton, route 241 from Custom House and Plaistow, route 339 from Shadwell and Old Ford, and route D8 from the Isle of Dogs and Bow will all serve the new bus station. 360-house-thumb.jpg Yes read more
• News from John Biggs: Mayor's 'unfair' fare rises slammed 15 September, 2011 Local London Assembly member, John Biggs, has described Mayor Boris Johnson's latest public transport fare rises as unfair and unnecessary. The Mayor this week announced that fares will soon rise by as much as 8 per cent - the third significant hike since Boris Johnson was elected in 2008. A single bus fare has now gone up by 56 per cent. A zone 1-6 travelcard will now cost commuters in East London £16 - an increase of 6.7% per cent 360-house-thumb.jpg ...