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

Wednesday, 02 November 2011

BBC News

• Health cash could be raided - MPsCash-strapped councils may raid their health budgets to pay for basic services such as filling in potholes on local roads, MPs are warning.
• Engineer 'forgot to check track'A rail engineer breaks down as he tells an inquest he forgot to inspect the points blamed for the Grayrigg London to Glasgow train crash in Cumbria.
• Drivers 'save 60 seconds on M4'Motorists heading into London on the M4 have had 60 seconds shaved off their journey times after a controversial bus lane was scrapped.

Financial Times

• Stagecoach and National Express thrive abroadStrong growth for the UK-listed bus and rail operators in international markets helped to offset weaker demand for bus services at home
• Qantas long-haul tactics are on solid groundThe dramatic grounding of its entire fleet has put Australian carrier in a stronger position
• Results show oil tanker prospects still sinking Gloomy prospects for the oil tanker sector were confirmed by news of increased losses at OSG and a profit warning from Torm
• Airlines win battle with the unionsAir France and Qantas have scored victories of a sort in showdowns with staff, but experts expect the conflict over costs and strategy to drag on

The Guardian

• London Underground has drawn up a blueprint for disaster [Bob Crow]Proposals to use driverless trains might may save money but events in Washington DC have highlighted the dangers

The Herald

• Stagecoach set to meet expectationsSTAGECOACH says it is in line to meet market expectations for the current financial year and claimed rising fuel costs were spurring growing numbers of car drivers to use its buses and trains.

The Independent

• Scrapping M4 bus lane cuts journeys... by 60 seconds Closing the M4 bus lane has saved drivers one minute on journey times, Government figures suggest.

Press Association

• Tube bosses in 'dramatic' talks Moves for "dramatic" changes on London Underground (LU), including driver-less trains, will be discussed by transport bosses.

Mail Online

• Heathrow third runday will never be built as airport expansion ruled outThe controversial plans are now 'off the agenda', despite a third runway being backed by the previous Labour government
• Virgin Pendolino train manager told passengers 'sit on floor we're going faster'About 600 passengers were travelling on the delayed 10.48 service from London to Liverpool last Thursday morning when the remarkable warning was made.

Network Rail

• LONDON BRIDGE TRACK AND STATION CONTRACTS AWARDED
• NETWORK RAIL™S INVESTMENT IN THE NORTH EXHBITION COMES TO MERSEYSIDE

Birmingham Mail

• Top ten money-earning speed cameras include one in BirminghamBIRMINGHAM drivers being hit in the pocket by soaring fuel costs are facing another threat – from one of Britain’s most lucrative speed cameras.

Derby Telegraph

• Minister snubs key rail summit for back gardens planning rowTRANSPORT Minister Theresa Villiers has pulled out of a major rail conference in Derby at the 11th hour – to attend a planning hearing about back gardens in Barnet. Mrs Villiers was due to be a keynote speaker at the Derby and Derbyshire Rail Forum's annual conference tomorrow at the Derby Conference Centre, in London Road.
• Snub by minister smells of cowardice and desperation"GARDEN fence politics" is a common-enough phrase – taken to mean tittle-tattle by neighbours putting the world to rights as they lean over their fences.

Liverpool Post

• Liverpool-bound Virgin Train passengers told to sit on floor for safetyPASSENGERS on board a busy long- distance Virgin Trains service heading for Liverpool were shocked to be told they should sit on the floor for their own safety.
• Stagecoach group on track for full year profit forecastsTRANSPORT group Stagecoach said today it was on course to meet profit expectations for the year to April 2012.

London Evening Standard

• Airliner has to land with wheels upAn airliner carrying 230 passengers had to make an emergency landing in Warsaw after its landing gear failed to open.

Northern Echo

• Teesdale bus cuts will leave us isolated, public meeting told PEOPLE living in more remote rural areas claim Arriva will leave them isolated by concentrating on more profitable routes.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Breeze cycling initiative: Women on wheelsIT doesn’t promise to turn you into the next Victoria Pendleton but a new cycling initiative aims to get women out and about enjoying life on two wheels. Feature writer Ann Molyneux-Jackson got on her bike to found out more about Breeze:

Western Daily Press

• This is Somerset published Major blow for Portishead's rail link hopesArticle

Other Regional Press

• Transport cash will boost economy says minister THE TRANSPORT minister has insisted a multi-million pound government funded package to get Redditch travelling in a more sustainable way will provide a boost to the local economy and protect the environment.
• Transport group calls for revival of Abbeyhill Station Local transport group Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG) are to make a case to reopen a rail station which was closed in 1964.
• Picture special: Plans for airport twice as busy as HeathrowThis is the amazing first glimpse of a multi-billion pounds airport - including the UK's busiest rail station - which could be built in Kent!
• Government won't rule out Boris Island airportTransport secretary refuses to rule out plans for a major new airport in the Thames Estuary.
• £2m bid to keep train's movingSCOTLAND™S trains will be blasted with hot water as part of a £2million winter masterplan to keep rail services running when the big freeze returns.
• Craft fair to raise cash to fight HS2A CRAFT fair has been planned to raise money for the fight against the planned HS2 train line.

Freight on Rail

• Regional Growth Fund rail freight investment ticks the right economic, safety and environmental boxes. Freight on Rail welcomes the Government’s Regional Growth Fund 1 approval for the re-opening of the Stoke on Trent to Cauldon Lowe Railway line which has the potential to connect five quarries to the rail network via the West Coast Main Line. The single line which runs 20 miles, while currently mothballed, is still complete and could be operational next year.

Global Rail News

• London Bridge track & station contracts awardedNetwork Rail has awarded the final two major contracts for the redevelopment of London Bridge area as part of the congestion-busting Thameslink programme. Costain Ltd. will ...
• Minister backs Stratford™s transport schemeTransport Minister Norman Baker MP has spoken about the benefits of planned improvements to public transport in Stratford following his recent visit to the town. The Minister was ...
• First Great Western breaks Cardiff to London train speed recordFirst Great Western successfully completed its attempt to break the record for the fastest train journey between Cardiff and London on Wednesday afternoon, completing the journey ...
• CSX launches iPhone appCSX has announced the release of a new iPhone application, ShipCSX. The application allows CSX customers to track freight shipments and trains across the CSX network. ...
• BTP seize stolen metal during Cheshire day of actionMore than 900kg of stolen metal has been seized by British Transport Police in south Cheshire following a day of action last Friday. Officers from BTP ...
• ˜Revamped service information boards™ on Tube networkCustomers on the Tube will be greeted with ‘clearer and more extensive travel information in stations from this week as redesigned service update information boards are ...
• Invensys Rail awarded £28m Reading signalling contractNetwork Rail has awarded the £28 million signalling contract for the ‘Reading Western Mainlines programme’ to Invensys Rail. The scope of the overall programme covers the ...
• Colchester rail commuters to benefit from discounted bus travelColchester rail commuters will soon benefit from 25% off bus tickets thanks to the Station Travel Plan promotion to encourage travel by bus. The specially priced ...
• East Midlands Trains driver named ˜Train Driver of the Year™A Derby-based driver for East Midlands Trains has picked up this year™s ˜Train Driver of the Year Award™ at the Railstaff Awards. Paul Trigwell was selected ...
• QR National announces rail haulageQR National has signed a new coal-haulage contract with Aquila Resources to the new Wiggins Island Coal Terminal. The 10-year contract will see up to 1.6 ...
• Rail action group calls for re-opening of Edinburgh™s Abbeyhill stationAt a meeting to be held in the Abbeyhill area of Edinburgh on Wednesday evening, the Capital Rail Action Group (CRAG) will be making the case ...

Aviation Industry

• Airlines' dismay at Labour's Heathrow U-turnAn aviation chief has blasted Britain's three main political parties for demonstrating a complete lack of planning and consistency

Green Miscellany

• London hosts UK's first hydrogen refuelling network A new fleet of low-carbon vehicles is set to hit London's streets, following the unveiling this week of plans for the capital's third hydrogen refuelling station.

Other News Sources

• Costain lands £400m London Bridge contractCostain has been awarded the £400 million London Bridge station redevelopment contract, fending off competition from tier one rivals including Carillion and Skanska.
• Ringway Jacobs named as preferred bidder for £3bn Essex highways contractEssex County Council looks set to name Ringway Jacobs as the winner of its 10-year highways maintenance and service contract worth up to £3 billion with a potential five-year extension.

Other Subscription Services

• Call for shipping to be made central to government agendaLloyd™s Register chief sees a Chinese model for shipping developing