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

Tuesday, 11 September 2012

BBC News

• Tycoon Branson rails a lot and steams up over rail firm's number crunching FirstGroup CEO Tim O'Toole stokes up confident defence of his winning franchise bid for the west coast line
• VIDEO: Branson: Rail move 'bad for UK' Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has told MPs it will be "bad for the UK" if the West Coast mainline rail franchise is awarded to rival First Group.
• VIDEO: Who controls food, fuel and rail costs?Food, fuel and rail fares squeeze many household budgets, and many governments claim they do all they can to keep costs down, but the public rarely believe this or give them any credit.
• Ben Gummer's fair rail fare fightIpswich MP Ben Gummer says passengers in the east subsidising other rail users' fares is unfair, and plans to consistently raise the issue with ministers.
• UK™s railways ˜a gigantic scam™Transport union leaders at the TUC Congress call for the renationalisation of Britain's railway network, claiming it would cut fares by up to 18%.
• Call to expand free bus pass scheme on 10th anniversary A free bus pass scheme for older and disabled people should be extended to all forms of public transport, a charity says.
• Rail move 'bad for UK' - BransonVirgin boss Sir Richard Branson tells MPs it will be
• Tube weekend closures to resumeWeekend closures are to resume on London's Tube network, after pausing during the Olympics and Paralympics.

Department for Transport

• Driver CPC “ don™t miss the busMany professional bus and coach drivers have just one year left to complete the 35 hours of periodic training needed for their Driver CPC.

Financial Times

• Japan Airlines “ budget offeringThere are headwinds ahead for the world™s second-largest IPO this year as officials cannot afford a botched sale of the poster child for Japanese turnrounds
• Maersk agrees $860m Russian ports dealAPM Terminals, the Danish group™s container terminal arm, will take a 37.5% stake in Global Ports, a subsidiary of N-Trans, the Russian transport company
• Branson denies profit is driving rail moveVirgin chief tells MPs the UK rail franchising system is ˜flawed™ and calls on the government to put the west coast franchise decision on hold while review carried out

The Guardian

• Tycoon Branson rails a lot and steams up over rail firm's number crunching FirstGroup CEO Tim O'Toole stokes up confident defence of his winning franchise bid for the west coast line
• Plan to axe Scilly helicopter service puts islanders in a spin Decision to withdraw passenger scheme after more than 50 years condemned as a blow for residents with mobility problems
• From transports of delight to inaccessible transport For the last six weeks, disabled people in London have enjoyed unprecedented access to the tube. Extra staff at stations have provided assistance and advice.
• Richard Branson denounces DfT for accepting FirstGroup rail bidVirgin Rail head claims department is being taken for a ride by rival's 'preposterous' sum for lucrative west coast rail franchiseSir Richard Branson has accused the government of failing to follow its own rules by accepting an

The Herald

• Rail giants step up battle for West Coast franchiseTHE two transport giants vying to run the lucrative West Coast Main Line have traded blows, with Virgin Rail accusing FirstGroup of making a

The Independent

• Fuel prices return towards near-record levels The price of petrol at the pumps is back up towards near-record levels, the AA said today.Related StoriesSpy chief may testify in bullying case'Stowaway' falls out of plane on to quiet streetBranson: rejecting my rail bid is bad for BritainLabour MP warns Sun over stolen phone claimDivorces may be settled by simple new formula
• The rail franchise system is flawed, says Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson The Department for Transport (DfT) did not follow its own rules over the West Coast main line franchise bidding process, Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson told MPs today.Related StoriesSpy chief may testify in bullying case'Stowaway' falls out of plane on to quiet streetBranson: rejecting my rail bid is bad for BritainLabour MP warns Sun over stolen phone claimDivorces may be settled by simple new formula
• Branson: rejecting my rail bid is bad for Britain Shortly before Sir Richard Branson took his place before the Transport Select Committee in the Grimond Room of the House of Commons yesterday, the Red Arrows flew over central London.Related StoriesThousands turn out as athletes thank the fans who 'made the Games'Spy chief may testify in bullying case'Stowaway' falls out of plane on to quiet streetLabour MP warns Sun over stolen phone claimDivorces may be settled by simple new formula

The Scotsman

• Petrol prices ’have drivers over barrel’ The price of petrol at the pumps has returned to near-record levels, the AA said yesterday.
• Branson attacks ’preposterous’ decision on rail-line franchise VIRGIN Rail boss Sir Richard Branson has attacked the UK government’s plans to hand a multi-billion-pound contract to rival bidder FirstGroup as “absolutely preposterous”.

The Telegraph

• Virgin's Sir Richard Branson still steaming as Tim O'Toole chugs round the MPs It had been billed as an attempt to recreate the Golden Age of Steam.
• FirstGroup: Richard Branson's claims don't 'square with the facts'FirstGroup has moved to quash Sir Richard Branson’s efforts to cast himself as the defender of Britain’s railways, warning the entrepreneur’s image as the “voice of sobriety” doesn’t “square with the facts”.
• JAL back from bankruptcy to biggest flotation since Facebook Japan Airlines will return to the stock market next week in the world’s biggest flotation since Facebook, defying the gloom pervading the airline industry.
• Speculators accused of driving up petrol pricesThe cost of petrol has shot up by nine pence a litre in only two months as refiners saw their profit margins reach a five year high.
• Petrol price up 9p as refiners take bumper profitsMisery for motorists as cost of petrol rises by 9p a litre in two months, as refiners' profit margins reach five-year high.

Reuters News

• FirstGroup says its riskier rail bid won't fail British transport firm FirstGroup (FGP.L) dismissed suggestions it might have to walk away from a contract to operate the country's west coast rail service, even as it conceded its plans were riskier than those of failed rival bidder Virgin Rail.

Mail Online

• Richard Branson: To go tieless is to declare your coolness. So saith the gospel according to BeardieQUENTIN LETTS: Beardie may be about to lose his west coast mainline rail franchise and he is jolly cross about it. Yesterday he swaggered into a Westminster committee room to talk (down) to MPs on the Transport Select Committee.

ATOC

• National Rail helps to deliver exceptional Paralympic GamesWith a significant increase in capacity, high levels of punctuality and the provision of special assistance to thousands of passengers,...

Daily Post (North Wales)

• 10th anniversary of free bus passes in WalesTHE Welsh Government will today celebrate the 10th anniversary of the free bus scheme.

London Evening Standard

• Rail commuters told to speak up or face 11.2% rise in faresRail commuters were today urged to back an email petition direct to David Cameron protesting about next January's fare increases of up to 11.2 per cent.
• Fuel prices creep near record levelThe price of petrol at the pumps is back up towards near-record levels, the AA has said.
• Branson slams DfT on rail franchiseThe Department for Transport (DfT) did not follow its own rules over the West Coast main line franchise bidding process, Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has told MPs.

Manchester Evening News

• Sir Richard Branson slams Department for Transport over West Coast franchise awardThe Department for Transport (DfT) did not follow its own rules over the bidding process for the West Coast main line franchise, which runs through the North West, Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has told MPs.

Wales Online

• Swiss airline quits Cardiff Airport - and switches to BristolCardiff's ailing airport has been dealt a fresh blow after it was confirmed a Swiss airline will stop its Zurich service this winter.

Yorkshire Post

• Tom Richmond: Who is actually steering our shambolic transport system?WHO is in charge of transport policy following David Cameron’s reshuffle – George Osborne, Boris Johnson or Patrick McLoughlin?

Other Regional Press

• Merseyrail deal puts club on track for success THE home of Southport Football Club will be renamed the Merseyrail Community Stadium after a historic sponsorship deal was struck this week.
• UK & World News: Branson slams DfT on rail franchiseThe Department for Transport (DfT) did not follow its own rules over the West Coast main line franchise bidding process, Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has told MPs.
• New route is due in four yearsA rail route between Preston and Manchester Piccadilly, calling at Bolton Station, is due to be up and running in four years time.
• MPs bid to cut rail faresKent MPs are to meet the new transport secretary as they call for a cut to rail fare hikes crippling hard-pressed commuters.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Improvement agreed to south-east rail freight linkA key rail freight route in the south-east of England is set to be improved under plans approved by the government.Under the plans from Network Rail, services between Felixstowe in Suffolk and Nuneaton in the West Midlands will be enhanced by the scheme.Preliminary testing work is underway on the route to create a £41 million upgrade from Haughley Junction, with major work on the project scheduled to start in 2013, according to the East Anglian Daily Times.The new rail chord would enable freight trains to head west from Felixstowe without having to turn around at Ipswich by connectin...

Global Rail News

• West Coast bidders to address MPs amid nationalisation reportsMPs are preparing to grill Virgin and First Group bosses later today, amid reports that the Government is preparing to nationalise the service. Virgin’s founder Sir Richard Branson and First Group chief executive Tim O’Toole will state their case in front of the Transport Select Committee this afternoon after the West Coast franchise was controversially [...]
• Tunnelling œbreakthrough for CrossrailVideo footage released by Crossrail shows the project’s first tunnelling “breakthrough” at the Limmo Peninsular worksite near Canning Town. The newly constructed tunnel connects the two launch shafts, and will allow the third and fourth TBMs, Elizabeth and Victoria, to be lowered down in sections and assembled underground.
• Lille “ top rail clusterNord France Invest (NFI), the economic development agency for Northern France has done its sums. And from the Lille Region point of view they are very encouraging. They™ve worked out that they have direct access to Europe™s largest concentration of consumers, providing a marketplace population of 78 million with a purchasing power of €1.5 billion. [...]
• New plastic footbridge for Dawlish rail stationAn ageing steel footbridge in Devon is to be demolished to make way for a £1 million plastic replacement The 75-year-old Dawlish station footbridge has been left with “significant areas of corrosion” because of the surrounding marine environment. The new footbridge will be the second fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) footbridge to be installed on the [...]
• Olympic and Paralymic spectators applaud London™s rail networkTransport to and from Paralympic venues has been commended by spectators, with three quarters praising the efficiency of London’s public transport network throughout London 2012. Almost £430 million was invested in infrastructure within and outside London to prepare for the Games. During the Olympics and Paralympics, spectators were asked by the London Organising Committee (LOCOG) [...]

Railnews

• Branson to step up attack on DfT today The Commons Transport Committee is to take the first evidence about the disputed award of the West Coast franchise today. Richard Branson is expected to tell the MPs on the committee that the DfT's franchising process is flawed, ahead of a preliminary hearing of his grievances by the High Court.

The Business Desk

• National Express Foundation pledges funds to community groups A CHARITABLE foundation set by Birmingham-based public transport group National Express has announced the very first community groups and colleges to receive funding.

Aviation Industry

• Virgin Atlantic CEO Ridgway to retire in spring 2013 Virgin Atlantic (VS) CEO Steve Ridgway has announced he will retire in spring 2013, after 12 years in the position.
• Bmibaby ends all flights No-frills brand stopped flying on Sunday after failing to find a new owner
• Lufthansa and cabin crew agree truceUnion suspends strikes as both sides head for mediation talks

Other News Sources

• A line in the sand from Branson the beach bumPlans have been developed to make Preston's mooted tram project run on wind power, it has been claimed.
• Rail campaigners call for more trains in Blackburn to Hellifield route RAIL campaigners want to open up East Lancashire to Yorkshire and Scotland by promoting extra trains along a rarely-used route.
• 2012 transport legacy and cycling safety on the agenda 10 September 2012 The London Assembly will hold back-to-back sessions on 2012 transport and cycling safety tomorrow “ with London™s Transport Commissioner first up at 9.30am to answer questions on the network™s performance during the Games and the transport legacy for the capital. No read more
• NEWS FROM JOHN BIGGS: œScandal that Tower Hamlets is lacking in step-free Tube stations 10 September 2012  New analysis by Local London Assembly Member John Biggs shows that seven out of the nine stations in Tower Hamlets still have no disabled access and five of the seven have no accessible stations either side of them. In total, 183 of London™s tube stations are completely inaccessible for disabled and less-able Londoners and visitors.  The analysis shows: No read more
• NEWS FROM JOHN BIGGS: œScandal that the City of London is lacking in step-free Tube stations 10 September 2012 New analysis by Local London Assembly Member John Biggs shows that all the tube stations in the City, with the exception of the DLR at Bank, have no disabled access.  In total, 183 of London™s tube stations are completely inaccessible for disabled and less-able Londoners and visitors.   The analysis shows: No read more