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

Thursday, 29 March 2012

BBC News

• Airport name change bid rejectedA proposal to change the name of the airport in Londonderry to honour aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart is rejected.
• Minister quells NI petrol panicStormont Energy Minister Arlene Foster moves to quell fears of a petrol shortage in Northern Ireland because of a UK fuel tanker drivers' strike.
• Electric car charge points set upStormont ministers are due to launch the next phase in encouraging people in Northern Ireland to use electric cars.
• VIDEO: Airport tower built in nine daysA 60m (197 ft) air traffic control tower is built in nine days at Manchester Airport
• LibDems' one hour London bus ridePassengers should be able to travel on several buses using an one-hour ticket, the Liberal Democrat London mayoral candidate says.
• Motorway upgrades to cost £415mPlans to upgrade the motorway network in central Scotland will cost £415m, the Scottish government has announced.
• Row over 'top up' advice on fuelThe government is facing criticism from petrol retailers and Labour for its handling of the threat of a strike by fuel tanker drivers.
• UK economic growth revised downUK economic growth in the last three months of 2011 is revised down to a contraction of 0.3%, partly due to the transport sector.
• Jerrycan fuel advice 'a mistake'The government made a mistake in advising people to store petrol in jerrycans to prepare for a possible strike by fuel tanker drivers, a minister says.

Department for Transport

• Bidders to oversee improvements on rail franchises announcedImprovements for rail passengers under Government franchise plans came a step closer as the bidders to run services were announced by Rail Minister Theresa Villiers today.

Financial Times

• Pressure grows to avert tanker drivers™ strikeAcas, the UK conciliation service, invited unions and oil companies to talks to avert possible strike action by haulage drivers over Easter

The Herald

• Maude condemned over fuel storage advice to motoristsFRANCIS Maude was censured by fire brigade chiefs and motoring organisations last night for suggesting that drivers should start hoarding petrol at home or in their vehicles in the face of a possible tanker drivers' strike.
• Motorway upgrade budget increases to £600mA PACKAGE of road improvements including completion of the motorway between Glasgow and Edinburgh will cost more than £600 million “ around £150m more than previous estimates.
• Row over free bus passes as firm unveils fare risesA ROW over who should be given free bus passes broke out yesterday as politicians traded insults over who was responsible for the funding crisis affecting the scheme.
• Cameron under fire as country rushes to fill upDavid Cameron was accused of stoking up a national fuel crisis after urging motorists to

The Independent

• Carolyn McCall: In the pilot's seat at easyJetAfter nearly two years in charge, the budget airline's chief executive is used to dealing with headwinds, as Lucy Tobin discovers
• How ministers fanned the flames of fuel strike panicThe briefing by the Prime Minister™s official spokeswoman took journalists by surprise.Related StoriesFuel strike: David Cameron tells drivers not to panic, but they are advised to top up cars and petrol cansWomen bear brunt of austerityAbandon overseas aid pledge, lords urge No 10How the humble Cornish pasty became a political hot potatoPublic still slow to warm to this summer's Olympics

The Telegraph

• Fuel strike: minister Francis Maude attacked for 'dangerous' advice to store petrolFrancis Maude, the Cabinet Office Minister, has come under fire for suggesting that motorists should keep an emergency store of petrol

Press Association

• Bid to boost electric vehicle use The Scottish Government is teaming up with industry leaders and environmental campaigners in a new drive to get more electric cars on the roads.

Mail Online

• French commuter wins payout from rail firm after train delays saw her fired for arriving at work lateSoazig Parassols worked as a secretary for law firm in Lyon, but was fired after just a month because she repeatedly turned up late.
• Fuel strike: No.10 shambles over drivers hoarding fuel, and the tax on takeaway foodFirst, ministers appeared to give conflicting advice on how motorists should cope with the strike threat. Then, Then, in a clumsy attempt to calm criticism of the new ‘pasty tax’ from last week’s Budget, David Cameron declared his love of Cornish pasties.

The Mirror

• Taking us for fuels: Tories spark panic buying at the pumps as tanker driver strikes loomsCritics accused the Government of picking a fight with tanker drivers in a cynical bid to deflect from its disastrous Budget

Network Rail

• NETWORK RAIL CONFIRMS CHAIRMAN-DESIGNATENetwork Rail today confirmed the appointment of its chairman-designate, Professor Richard Parry-Jones CBE.

Belfast Telegraph

• Ship fit-out firm to cruise through 2012 as it wins £4m worth of workCo Antrim fit-out firm Mivan has announced over £4m worth of work on cruise ships for 2012 in Europe.Related StoriesBP sells off North Sea platforms for £251mLithuania deal for firm that already boasts Claridge's among customersYouth unemployment bill now £20m per weekHotel shoots for the stars with switchover to renewable energyTyrone food firm Vion announces 164 new jobs

Liverpool Post

• Merseyside petrol stations report panic-buying ahead of potential fuel tanker strikeMOTORISTS bracing themselves for a tanker driver strike were frantically filling up at petrol pumps across Merseyside yesterday.

London Evening Standard

• Gatwick second runway would hit fewer people than Heathrow expansion, says airport boss A second runway at Gatwick would hit fewer people than expanding Heathrow, the Sussex airport's boss has said.
• Oyster card-holders 'fined' £4.60 a time for walking through Paddington stationTube bosses are being accused of “robbing” commuters by penalising them for simply walking through a station.

Manchester Evening News

• Bicycle hire scheme to launch in Manchester next weekA minister got on his bike to help launch Manchester™s first official cycle hire scheme. Norman Baker visited the trail-blazing project at Piccadilly Station, which will go live next week, during a tour of the region. From next Tuesday, commuters who register in advance and pay a fee will be able to hire one of 40 fold-up bikes from a docking point at the station.
• Queues at petrol stations around Greater Manchester amid fears of strike by tanker driversMotorists are being urged not to panic buy with the threat of strike action by fuel tanker drivers looming. One garage, Esso on Alderley Road, Wilmslow has already run out of fuel and petrol stations across Greater Manchester have seen lengthy queues build throughout the day.

The York Press

• Move to end free transport to faith schools FREE transport to faith schools in York could end for all new pupils from next year.

This Is Local London Network

• Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith warns of Heathrow expansion backlash Zac Goldsmith has warned that a Government u-turn on Heathrow expansion would have “crushing political ramifications” for his party.

Yorkshire Post

• Ministers on spot after panic buying starts at petrol stationsThe Government is facing increasing criticism over its handling of the fuel drivers dispute amid signs of panic buying by motorists and a controversial call to use jerry cans for storage.

Blackpool Gazette

• Petrol stations close as the Fylde drys upCHAOS at petrol stations has led to pumps running dry and motorists enduring long queues as they scramble to fill up.

Other Regional Press

• Boris vows to fight for HS2 opponents on Greenford visit BORIS Johnson has vowed to continue to fight for a tunnel to appease residents threatened by HS2 despite engineers saying it would be too costly.
• A HOLE LOT OF IMPROVEMENT ROAD BOSSES CLAIM FEWER COMPLAINTS MEAN THEY ARE ˜WINNING THE WAR™ ON POTHOLESROADS bosses in Glasgow claim they are finally winning the war against potholes.
• Bus users hit by 28% hike in fare pricesBUS passengers in Glasgow are to be hit with a massive fare rise of almost eight times the rate of inflation.
• Rail firm should support Olympic volunteersNorth East Bedfordshire MP Alistair Burt has written to First Capital Connect to ask them to support volunteers helping out during the Olympics with the cost of their travel...

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• New Green Freight Europe initiative to tackle emissionsA new scheme has been unveiled that is aimed at enhancing the environmental performance of the European road freight transport sector.Vice-president of the European Commissioner Siim Kallas was in attendance at the launch of Green Freight Europe and delivered a keynote speech."We hope this sends out a strong signal to other companies and organisations to join us and get involved in the development work that is taking place," European Shippers' Council policy director Andrew Trail told Logistics Manager.Formerly called SmartWay Europe, Green Freight Europe was launched...

Global Rail News

• Passenger numbers on HS1 ˜lower than forecast™The National Audit Office has released a report claiming that the number of international passengers using the HS1 Channel Tunnel line is lower than forecast. The report said ‘international passenger numbers are falling far short of original forecasts and the project costs exceed the value of journey time saving benefits’. The NAO said the project [...]
• Midland Metro agreement signedCentro and Birmingham City Council have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that recognises and acknowledges the council™s support to facilitate Midland Metro development on land and highway that it owns. Further agreements with the authority will still be required to deal with the transfer of land and highway works but the Memorandum underpins the partnering [...]
• Amey to deliver electrification project for Network RailRail services provider Amey is preparing to deliver the UK™s first ever high output electrification project as part of Network Rail™s £700 million programme to increase speed and capacity on the network. Amey has been awarded a five-year OMD (operate, maintain and deliver) contract to electrify the Great Western Main Line. As part of this, [...]
• We ask the rail safety experts¦ Part 3In preparation for this year™s Rail Safety Summit, we sat down with leading figures from the rail safety industry and asked them a series of pressing questions about safety practices within the rail industry. Today™s question is: Do we need separate categories for near misses and close calls? Answers: Willie Baker, Emergency Incident Consultant: What [...]
• Track and Train is no foolThe rail industry is renewing its efforts to attract more graduates onto the metals. Selection is now underway for the ˜Track and Train™ scheme. Graduates will be starting the vertically integrated programme on 1st April. Figures show many graduates turn down job offers feeling they are over qualified or that the job wasn™t for them. [...]
• More apprentices for WalesExpansion of rail projects in Wales means more skilled engineers are needed to support its continuing growth. Network Rail Wales has launched its latest advanced apprenticeship scheme for 2012. The intake of apprentices is being stepped up particularly in the field of electrical engineering. Rail chiefs want to be well prepared for the forthcoming electrification [...]
• King™s Cross New Concourse “ A Magnificent Blend of Old and NewBack in August 2011 (issue 82), the rail engineer reported on the work being done at King™s Cross to create a new Western Concourse and generally improve the structure and amenities of the station. Since then, work has progressed rapidly and the new concourse opened on 19 March 2012 while the train-shed roof repairs will [...]
• Catch-22 at Liverpool StreetAs the largest addition to the south east rail network in 50 years, the engineering challenges presented by Crossrail are well known. But while the major projects are what make the news, there is a host of detailed, day-to-day work taking place behind the scenes which is every bit as vital to its successes. UK [...]
• Bogies for ThameslinkThe order for new trains for Thameslink has been controversial since it was first announced back on 16 June 2011. Siemens became the preferred bidder, and since then the national and local press has been awash with politicians, interest groups, trade unions and others urging the government to think again and hand the order to [...]

Aviation Industry

• JetBlue Pilot's Rant Puts Focus On Medical ExamsThe case of the JetBlue captain who came unglued at 35,000 feet has focused attention on what some aviation experts say is a less-than-rigorous system for detecting psychological problems in pilots.
• American asks bankruptcy court to reject labor contractsAmerican Airlines (AA) has filed a motion with a US bankruptcy court seeking to have its contracts with three unions representing nine work groups terminated, saying that its
• Spanish general strike causes flight cancellationsAirlines forced to cut back services to Spain for one-day stoppage
• BA parent offers more concessions on BmiIAG has to make improved offer to European Union to try to secure approval for deal

Other News Sources

• STAGECOACH GROUP SHORTLISTED FOR GREAT WESTERN AND THAMESLINK RAIL FRANCHISES Stagecoach Group plc ("Stagecoach") is pleased to confirm that it has been shortlisted by the Department for Transport ("DfT") to bid for the Great Western and Thameslink passenger rail franchises.
• Alresford steps up campaign to save bus service GIVE us back our buses! That™s the cry from residents in a chunk of Alresford now without a service.