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

Wednesday, 30 January 2013

BBC News

• First to hold consultation over Bristol bus faresBus firm First has announced it is to hold a consultation on the price of its fares and whether they represent value for money in the Greater Bristol area.
• National Passenger Survey: Rail satisfaction at record high The number of passengers satisfied with their rail journey is at a record high but fewer than half of people think ticket prices are worth the money, a Passenger Focus survey says.
• Douglas bus station move scrapped Plans to relocate a bus station on the Isle of Man have been abandoned following a public consultation.
• 20 reasons why it can take 20 years to build a railwayThe HS rail link won't be finished until 2033 so why does it take two decades to finish a project like this?
• Four fall ill at railway stationFour people are treated at London Bridge Station after being taken ill in what was initially feared to be a chemical incident.
• Peugeot job cuts halted by courtA court in France suspends a restructuring plan by Peugeot Citroen involving 8,000 job cuts, saying the carmaker did not consult workers properly.
• Ford shares down on Europe lossesShares in Ford fall, despite the US carmaker reporting strong profits for the last three months, as problems in its European business continue to mount.
• OFT releasing petrol market studyA study into the competitiveness of the UK petrol and diesel market is due to be published by the Office of Fair Trading later.

Financial Times

• HS2 simply masks the north-south divideFar from addressing regional disparities, up to now every government action has reinforced the capital, writes Peter Hetherington
• Rail passengers unhappy about valueFewer than half of travellers believe that they get a good deal for their money, the watchdog Passenger Focus finds in a survey
• CP shares up as chief projects record yearThe rail network has been undergoing a comprehensive shake-up since shareholders last June installed Hunter Harrison as chief executive
• Confusion remains over 787 battery faultNational Transportation Safety Board says it has moved from a ˜macroscopic™ investigation of January incident to a ˜microscopic™ examination

The Herald

• Drivers warned of delays as £9m A82 plan unveiledMOTORISTS are facing lengthy delays on a key route to the Highlands as work finally starts on the removal of
• Only half of ScotRail travellers 'get value'JUST half of ScotRail passengers are satisfied they get value for money for the price of their ticket, according to a survey.
• Scotland losing out as HS2 proposals attackedTHE high speed rail route in England that would have offered the most benefit to Scotland has been rejected in order to protect services to Lancashire, new documents show.

The Telegraph

• Passengers still unhappy about rail value for moneyPassengers in London's commuter belt still believe they are getting poor value for money from their train operators.

Daily Express

• Toyota pulls ahead in the race for salesJAPAN'S Toyota reclaimed its position as the world's leading carmaker yesterday, leaving rivals General Motors and Volkswagen in its tracks.
• Ryanair profits soar thanks to rising faresBUDGET airline Ryanair said it offered the best passenger service in Europe yesterday as strong demand for Christmas holiday flights and rising fares set it on course to post higher profits.

Daily Record

• Survey states that 52% of Scots are content with rail ticket costs AROUND half of ScotRail passengers are satisfied they get value for money for the price of their ticket, according to a survey.

Mail Online

• Less than half of rail passengers believe they get value for money but operators still celebrate 'record' satisfaction poll resultsThe damning verdict comes after passengers were hit with inflation-busting fare rises in January of up to 10 per cent. Rated joint worst for value for money are South West Trains and Greater Anglia.
• Chancellor George Osborne faces furious backlash as he is accused of diverting controversial HS2 rail route from his backyardChancellor George Osborne (pictured) has said he did not influence the HS2 route in his constituency of Tatton, Cheshire, but critics have pointed out a 'bend' which avoids some affluent areas.

The Mirror

• Ford fiasco: Carmaker hit by £1.1billion of annual losses from struggling European armThe company is the second biggest carmaker in the US but has been hammered by weak sales in the recession-ravaged eurozone

ATOC

• “Passenger satisfaction at a record high” - ATOC responds to Passenger Focus National Passenger SurveyResponding to the publication of Passenger Focus’s Autumn 2012 National Passenger Survey (NPS), Michael Roberts,...

Network Rail

• Weather damage delays reopening of footpathEngineers are working to repair a weather-damaged footpath and foundations which have delayed the reopening of the railway footbridge at Roodee viaduct, Chester.
• Join as apprentice to earn your degree, says Network Rail Wales chiefThere are 16 places available on the 2013 Network Rail advanced apprenticeship scheme in Wales, the company announced today.
• Cable gang who cost railway almost £650k jailed - London/Bucks/Herts/Essex/LeicestershireSix men whose attacks on railway and communications cable across Hertfordshire, Essex, Leicestershire, Buckingham and London cost almost £715,000 have been jailed.

Belfast Telegraph

• Ryanair profits take-off thanks to revenue riseLow-cost airline Ryanair gave another boost to its profits guidance after benefiting from strong demand for pre-Christmas flights.Related StoriesLaw firm increases its ranksIntegration is key if we are to unite such a divided cityOsborne firm against calls to ease austerityUnder-pressure marketeers need a clear plan of actionA great mission is now made possible

Bolton News

• High speed rail on right track but concerns remain over cost DETAILS of the next phase of the controversial HS2 high-speed rail link have been unveiled ” confirming that it will be extended to the North West.
• High-speed rail link from London could be delayed until 2022 Britain's high-speed rail link may be delayed by a decade following a threat of legal action over the project.

Bristol Live

• The Bristol Post published First Bus to review fares after 3,000 sign petitionFIRST Bus has pledged to review all the fares it charges passengers in the Bristol area.

London Evening Standard

• Several people taken ill at London BridgeFour people were today taken ill at London Bridge station sparking fears of a gas or chemical leak.

Northern Echo

• Rail company gets record satisfaction rating A NATIONAL survey of rail customers released today (Tuesday, January 29) reveals that satisfaction with East Coast’s services has reached a record-breaking high.

The York Press

• Mixed reactions over York™s high-speed railway link-up YORK™S link-up to Britain™s new high-speed railway line will safeguard railway jobs and boost the city™s economy, business leaders have said.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds farming family concern as HS2 route cuts through landThe family behind an award winning organic farm have spoken of their dismay after discovering the HS2 line will go straight through their land.

Yorkshire Post

• Optare secures order from Stagecoach YORKSHIRE-based bus maker Optare has secured a significant order from transport giant Stagecoach.
• Optare secures order from Stagecoach YORKSHIRE-based bus maker Optare has secured a significant order from transport giant Stagecoach.

Bucks Free Press

• Transport Secretary rejects HS2 north-south call TRANSPORT Secretary Patrick McLoughlin today rejected a south Bucks MP's call for work on the controversial HS2 project to start in the north instead of London.
• Transport Secretary rejects HS2 north-south call TRANSPORT Secretary Patrick McLoughlin today rejected a south Bucks MP's call for work on the controversial HS2 project to start in the north instead of London.

Other Regional Press

• Suffolk: Passenger satisfaction levels increase but Greater Anglia still among country’s worst rail companiesRAIL passengers in East Anglia have dramatically increased their confidence in the service provided by Greater Anglia, according to new figures released by the official rail watchdog.
• FGW passengers 'least satisfied in county' FIRST Great Western passengers are the least satisfied rail travellers in Oxfordshire, according to the latest UK survey.
• Passengers happy with rail servicePassengers on First Capital Connect are increasingly satisfied with rail services but still feel there is not enough room according to a recent survey.
• Bring high-speed line to coast, MP urgesA Kent MP has called on the transport secretary to extend HS1 rail services to Thanet after proposals for high-speed trains to the north were unveiled.
• Snow joke! Southeastern's best ever passenger surveyRail operator Southeastern has achieved the best ever results of a passenger survey - days after commuters were left stranded in snow chaos.
• Mid Yorkshire chamber welcomes HS2BUSINESS leaders have welcomed news that the HS2 high-speed rail link will come to West Yorkshire.
• Aberdeen International Airport reveals plans for new terminalAIRPORT chiefs in Aberdeen today revealed their big ideas for the future.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Temperature rises in the Combe Haven valley29 January 2013: This week, road protest camp evictions continue, while six major environment groups visit the valley and the Hastings battle site issue goes to court. read more

Global Rail News

• Looking forward 30 yearsOn the 13 December at the British Library Conference Centre, Steve Yianni, Network Rail’s director of engineering, presented the Railway Technical Strategy (RTS) 2012 for the British railway for the next 30 years. It builds on the RTS that was published by The Department for Transport in 2007. The RTS 2012 has been produced by [...]
• BMT wins Hong Kong Shatin “ Central Link contractBMT has been appointed to provide consultancy work for Hong Kong’s Shatin – Central Link. BMT Asia Pacific will deliver system assurance and risk management services on the project which once complete, will transform the region’s rail network. The project, which will be built by Samsung-Hsin Chong Joint Venture (SSHCJV), marks a significant step forward [...]
• Tropical cyclone Oswald devastates Queensland™s rail networkRail services have been cancelled across Queensland, with severe storms submerging sections of track and knocking out overhead lines. Although trains have returned to the region today (January 29) – at a significantly reduced service – engineers continue to work round-the-clock to repair the damaged system. Flood waters have cut off sections of the network [...]
• New Orleans streetcar line open in time for Super BowlThe redevelopment of New Orleans’ historic streetcar network has been at the centre of the city’s rebirth since Hurricane Katrina swept through eight years ago. Yesterday (January 28) a new $53 million line opened, extending the historic tram system to the French Quarter, the Superdrome arena – which will host Super Bowl XLVII next month [...]
• Track system contract awarded for Doha tram projectRAIL.ONE is to install the track system for a new tram line in Doha. The $412 million light rail system, which is being designed and build by the Habtoor Leighton Group, will serve Education City on the outskirts of the Qatari capital. Under the contract, RAIL.ONE will deliver various models of the RHEDA CITY system, [...]
• Crossrail submits Bond Street planning applicationPlans for over-site development (OSD) works at Bond Street station have been put before Westminster City Council. Crossrail and development partner Grosvenor have submitted a planning application for the 65,000 sq ft development above the station’s western ticket hall. The proposed scheme includes six floors of office accommodation. Grosvenor will be responsible for delivering the [...]

Rail Technology Magazine

• Elsafe-Railway Power and Signalling Surge Protection Products Elsafe acts as a designer, manufacturer and supplier of railway power and signalling surge protection products (SPDs). We manufacture a range of surge protection devices, power and signal conditioning filters, and automatic power switching units in A¦
• Bombardier-led group wins signalling contract from Latvian Railways A consortium of Bombardier and Belam Riga has secured a LVL9.5m ($18.2m) contract from Latvian Railways (LDz) to build and upgrade signalling and associated infrastructure systems in the district of Bolderaja in the Latvian capital, Riga.
• Siemens to install GSM-R technology on Danish rail fleet Siemens has won a €20m contract from Danish railway infrastructure operator Banedanmark to equip 840 rail vehicles with GSM-R (global system for mobile communication railways) technology.
• An App to Map, Monitor and More by Lat-Lon Lat-Lon LLC, a leading provider of industrial tracking and monitoring solutions, announced it has an app available for Android and Apple devices. This fleet management tool is compatible with IPhone, IPod, IPad, and most Android 2.2 and newer operati¦
• Phooltas at International Seminar on High Speed Trains in India Phooltas is participating in the International Seminar on High Speed Trains in India, organised by IREE (Institution of Railway Electrical Engineers) in Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi on 1 and 2 February 2013.
• Future Rail: Issue 5 In this issue: London™s Crossrail stations, Amtrak™s high-speed vision, fire-safe metro carriages, the new Eurostar trains, mobile eTicketing, and more

Railway Gazette

• New Orleans streetcar extension opensUSA: The Loyola Avenue extension of the New Orleans tram network opened on January 28, ahead of Super Bowl XLVII which is to be held at the nearby Superdome stadium on February 3. Starting at the Union Passenger Terminal inter-city rail and bus station, the new double-track line runs 1·3 km along Loyola Avenue with stops at Julia Street, Poydras Street and Tulane Avenue. At Canal Street it joins the line towards the riverfront which opened in 2004. Services are operated using RTA's existing fleet of modern air-conditioned heritage-style cars, built to the network's unusual 1 586 mm gauge. Th...

Transport for London

• London Underground outlines plan to cut Tube delays even furtherNew programme will enable London Underground to meet the Mayor's commitment of reducing delays by 30 per cent by end of 2015. Radical new approach taken to deliver even greater reliability for passengers.
• London Overground tops passenger satisfaction tableLondon Overground has the highest passenger satisfaction of any franchise or concession in the UK, according to a new survey by the independent passenger watchdog Passenger Focus.

Aviation Industry

• The Wall Street Journal: American Airlines CEO Tom Horton in talks to ...The Wall Street Journal: American Airlines CEO Tom Horton in talks to become chairman of possible merged carrier Tom Horton, chief executive of American Airlines and its parent AMR Corp., is in talks about becoming chairman if the carrier merges with US Airways Group Inc., The Wall Street Journal reported today .
• Business travel continues to grow despite UK downturnLatest figures show that the industry is outperforming the overall British economy
• 'Government too slow on transport' - shadow ministerCoalition is accused of being "in the slow lane" on airports policy and high-speed rail

Other News Sources

• £678,000 for Reading's roadsMOTORISTS could soon have smoother journeys around after Reading's roads were promised £678,000 for repairs.
• Hydrogen and fuel cell sector to grow 26% annually to 2023 The global fuel cell and hydrogen energy market is projected to be worth over $180m (£114m) in 2050 while revenues in the fuel cell sector are expected to grow by 26% per year over the next decade, according to a report.

Other Subscription Services

• Kensal order safeguards Crossrail depot schedule Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin has granted a Transport and Works Act order that will allow Crossrail teams to temporarily commandeer land at Kensal Green in order to build track connections...