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

Tuesday, 20 September 2011

BBC News

• Norman's late night bargain? [BBC South of England]Sussex MP and Transport Minister Norman Baker has just told the Liberal Democrat conference that his rail fare from London to Birmingham cost just £10.80.
• Minister heralds 'biggest rail expansion programme since Victorian times' [BBC South East]There may only be two Liberal Democrat MPs in our region but it's a big day at the party's conference in Birmingham for them.
• Plans to increase rail capacityNetwork Rail says it will consult the public on plans to increase capacity on the Redditch branch line to Birmingham.
• Rail fare rise lower than EnglandBBC Wales learns that many rail passengers in Wales will see fare rises of about 6% next year - 2% below those in England.
• Borders rail assurances renewedTransport Scotland has said the Borders to Edinburgh railway will be delivered "efficiently and successfully" despite concerns over its timetable and costs.
• Baker says Lib Dems delivering on railNorman Baker may be a veteran MP but he is making his first speech to the Liberal Democrat conference as a government minister, writes Louise Stewart.
• Hammond 'should read rail brief'Train operators have criticised Philip Hammond, saying the transport secretary should "read his brief more closely".
• Airbus: Plane numbers to doubleThe number of passenger planes worldwide will double over the next 20 years, according to aircraft maker Airbus.
• Jaguar plant 'to create 750 jobs'A new Jaguar car factory near Wolverhampton which will build low-emission engines is expected to create hundreds of jobs.

Financial Times

• Siemens shelters up to €6bn at ECBGerman group™s transfer of up to €6bn from a French bank is a sign of how companies are seeking havens amid Europe™s sovereign debt crisis
• Rail: Europe fails to follow US routeQuestions remain over the effects of the continent's rail liberalisation strategy
• Airline consolidation to take off once moreEuropean airlines are likely to undergo another wave of regional consolidation before the industry truly globalises, Finnair CEO says
• Airbus warms to customer financingChief operating officer says France-based group is worried by effect of 'dollar crunch' on European banks and may consider helping buyers
• IAG looks at three potential mergers A move for British Midland, Transportes Aéreos Portugueses or Aer Lingus could ease the pressure on revenues at International Airlines Group

The Guardian

• Lib Dems vow to end above-inflation rail fare increases Transport minister Norman Baker's conference speech signals compromise after making pre-election promise to cut fares

The Herald

• Opposition demands assurances as Borders Railway runs late OPPOSITION politicians have demanded reassurances that the Borders Railway Project can still be completed on budget by 2014 after a further six-month slippage in the timescale emerged during contractual negotiations.
• First-class boost for rail firmA SURGE in first-class rail travel has been reported over the summer by East Coast, which operates passenger services between London and Edinburgh.

The Scotsman

• New threat of soaring costs over flagship train link THE Borders Railway has run into more major trouble which will delay the start of construction by nearly a year and could see costs rocketing further, The Scotsman can reveal.

The Telegraph

• Rail passengers baffled by train tickets Rail passengers have been left baffled by complex travel restrictions imposed by train operators, a study has found.
• Liberal Democrats Party Conference 2011: speech by Norman Lamb MPNorman Baker, the Transport Secretary, tells Liberal Democrat Party Conference that "horror stories" about the High Speed Two rail link are untrue and the line is necessary.

Press Association

• Railways 'must be available to all' The railways should be "available for all", the Liberal Democrat Norman Baker has said in a thinly disguised dig at his boss, the Tory Transport Secretary Philip Hammond.

Daily Express

• WE TAKE OUR BATTLE FOR BOMBARDIER TO NO 10 BOMBARDIER workers yesterday took the fight for their jobs to Downing Street – backed by the Daily Express. They handed in a petition signed by 75,000 of our readers as part of our Battle for Bombardier crusade.

The Mirror

• Train tickets are unclear and confusing, a survey finds RAIL passengers are left baffled by different types of train tickets.

ATOC

• “Excuses please”; £200m cost of fare dodging on the railways, figures reveal Fare dodgers are depriving the rail network and other passengers of an estimated £200m a year,...

Network Rail

• NEW ROOF UNVEILED TO GIVE A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE AT KING™S CROSS
• NETWORK RAIL CONSULTS ON PLANS TO INCREASE CAPACITY BETWEEN REDDITCH AND BIRMINGHAM
• READING CHRISTMAS WORK WINS COMMENDATION AT RAIL AWARDS
• GRAND DESIGNS AT EXETER STATIONS BEGIN

Birmingham Mail

• Watch: New Wolverhampton Jaguar Land Rover plant could mean up to 10,000 new jobs Business leaders have welcomed news of a new Jaguar Land Rover plant as a major boost for the West Midlands’ economy

Birmingham Post

• High speed rail link vital to economy, Clegg tells Lib Dem conference High speed rail services linking Birmingham to London and the North are essential in order to boost the economy, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has told delegates at his party conference.

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph commented Top travel industry honour for airport fifth year in a rowArticle

Edinburgh Evening News

• Tram probe in 'blame game' fearCity leader Jenny Dawe today said a public inquiry into the tram project in the run-up to May's local elections would descend into a "political blame game".

Journal Live

• Opposition grows to high-speed rail plan OPPOSITION to the Government's high-speed rail project is growing ahead of a key parliamentary debate next month.

Liverpool Echo

• Merseyside’s ’Oystercard’-style revolution launches on Monday MERSEYSIDE’S technological revolution in public transport will be launched today.

Metro

• Sex-free British passports to help transgenders mootedThe Home Office is considering plans to allow transgender citizens to opt-out of identifying their sex on their passports.

Yorkshire Post

• Passenger figures grow on route to LondonPASSENGER numbers on the East Coast Main Line rail service rose three per cent to 18.5 million journeys in the year to March 31.

Other Regional Press

• HS2 campaigners force parliament debate CAMPAIGNERS against HS2 have unexpectedly succeeded in persuading Parliament to hold a debate on the project.
• Train company aims to bring 130 extra carriages to southA TRAIN company is hoping to provide 130 new carriages on services in the south.
• MP Leadsom pleased Parliament will discuss controversial HS2 rail link plansAN MP fighting the HS2 rail link proposal, which will cut through the Northamptonshire countryside, has secured a debate in Parliament on the controversial topic.

Wall Street Journal

• Winners Announced in East Midlands Trains 2011 Best Stations Awards Lincoln, Derby, East Midlands Parkway, Kidsgrove and Market Rasen all named as winners
• Hitachi Develops Integrated Railway Systems Simulator for Further Expanding Railway Systems Business Globally Hitachi, Ltd. today announced that it has developed an "integrated railway systems simulator", which contributes to developing systems that meet the needs of local railway operators, including the improvement of transportation capability and saving energy costs.

Global Rail News

• Rail industry safety partnership recognised at industry awardsA successful and unique approach taken by train operator East Midlands Trains in partnership with Network Rail, British Transport Police (BTP) and the Office of Rail ...
• York station receives top award at National Rail AwardsTrain operator East Coast is celebrating after York station picked up two awards at the National Rail Awards 2011. The station, which is managed by East ...
• GB Railfreight scoops top award at National Rail AwardsGB Railfreight (GBRf) picked up the top prize for Freight and Logistics Achievement at the National Rail Awards 2011, held at the Grosvenor House Hotel Park ...
• Ten bizarre excuses used for dodging rail faresFare dodgers are ‘depriving the rail network and other passengers of an estimated £200m a year’, according to figures published today by the Association of Train ...
• Treble win for Southern at National Rail AwardsTrain Operator Southern won three prizes at the prestigious National Rail Awards last week. Southern™s wins were in the Environmental Excellence Award, Medium Station, and Outstanding ...
• Southern publishes Autumn ˜leaf fall™ rail timetableTrain operator Southern has published details of its Autumn ‘leaf fall’ timetable. From Monday 03 October, a small number of weekday morning peak services will start ...
• Network Rail unveils first section of new roof at King™s CrossFor the first time in half a century, passengers can pass through the concourse at King™s Cross station bathed in natural daylight after the first section ...
• ˜Urgent™ escalator maintenance completed at Earl™s CourtPiccadilly line passengers are now able to access Earl’s Court the morning after urgent escalator works finished ahead of schedule on Sunday. London Underground’s (LU’s) ‘rigorous ...
• Network Rail consults on plans for increased capacity between Redditch & BirminghamNetwork Rail is holding a public consultation this week to give members of the public the opportunity to comment on plans to increase capacity on the ...
• ˜Invest in Nottingham™ train officially unveiledNottingham City Council, East Midlands Trains and representatives from Invest in Nottingham Club joined forces at a special train naming ceremony today to officially launch the ...

Railnews

• Southern to order more trains as Thameslink slips Southern has launched a procurement process for more trains, after it became clear that the slipping Thameslink rolling stock programme means that 23 Class 377 units on sub-lease to First Capital Connect are unlikely to be returned on time.

Aviation Industry

• BAA challenges order to sell airportsAuthority hopes to stop Stansted sale
• Premium travel still on rise - IATABut future prospects œgloomy

Other News Sources

• WE JUST DON'T NEED HS2, SAYS CLARK UKIP MEP Derek Clark has issued a strong rebuttal to the planned HS2 rail extension and we post it here in full:
• Bombardier eyes 2 British train contracts [Montreal Gazette]MONTREAL - Bombardier has been invited to bid for two separate British train contracts that, if successful, could save hundreds of jobs at its factory in Derby, England, the Globe and Mail reported Monday.
• Councils Opposed To HS2 Gobsmacked By Hammond's Comments On Rail Being Toys For The Rich Martin Tett, chairman of 51m, the group of 18 local councils challenging the Government's proposal to build HS2, a £32 billion rail project, responded with astonishment at Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond's comment to Tuesday's Transport Select Committee that railways had become a 'rich man's toy' and some fares were 'eye-wateringly expensive'.
• Network Rail consults on second Redditch rail lineNetwork Rail will begin public consultation this week on its proposal to build a second railway track on the Redditch branch line, south of Birmingham.
• Jaguar Land Rover creates jobsCarmaker Jaguar Land Rover will invest £355 million to build low-emission engines in the Midlands, creating up to 750 jobs.
• Metro and commuter lines the new China rail opportunityChina’s suspension of new high-speed rail projects has prompted Bombardier to look for new growth areas in the country.
• New camera technology being used by rail maintenance teamsRail maintenance teams across Britain are using new camera technology to help them identify defects on overhead wires.
• Ministers pledge £500m for local infrastructureChief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has announced plans to create a £500 million pot to fund infrastructure and drive growth.
• £355m Jaguar investment could create 750 jobsCar giant Jaguar Land Rover announces a multi-million pounds investment which could bring hundreds of jobs to the employment-starved Midlands.
• U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Takes Action to Make Websites and Kiosks Accessible to Air Travelers with DisabilitiesThe U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), in its ongoing effort to ensure equal access to air transportation for all travelers, today proposed a regulation that would require airlines to make ...
• Munich Airport: Governing body calls for rapid implementation of third runway project The Supervisory Board of FMG, the Munich Airport operating company, has warmly welcomed the ruling in the planning permission process in favor of Munich Airport's third runway, including the...
• Deutsche Bahn to start London services in 2013Plans for trains to Amsterdam and Cologne