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

Wednesday, 08 May 2013

BBC News

• Bath 'bus gate' challenge is dismissed A challenge against a decision to create a second "bus gate" for Bath has been dismissed.
• Bombardier awarded £88m Transport for London contract Train maker Bombardier has won an £88m contract to provide rail cars for Transport for London (TfL).
• 'Drive on demand' scheme launchesMore than 250 cars will be available to drivers in Birmingham in a new car-sharing scheme being launched in the city.
• Blue badge parking fees criticisedDisabled drivers with blue badges are being charged to park at council-run car parks in almost a third of local authority areas in Wales, new figures show.
• New car sales up sharply in ScotlandNew car registrations rise sharply in Scotland, with the motor trade reporting increased footfall in showrooms.
• Bypass cost to councils is cappedThe two councils responsible for the Aberdeen bypass will not have to pay more than £75m each, Transport Minister Keith Brown says.
• A5 cash 'must go to other roads'The Stormont executive is being urged to reallocate money earmarked for the stalled A5 on other roads projects.
• Rail staff balloted over contractsNorthern Rail staff are balloted for strike action over the company's use of sub-contractors for station work.
• VIDEO: Can Nissan's electric car win sales?Can Nissan persuade consumers that electric cars are the choice for the future, or are its electric dreams in danger of going flat?

Financial Times

• Hong Kong dockers end strike actionA month-long dock strike in Hong Kong that highlighted the growing income divide in the city ends with workers accepting a 9.8% pay rise
• Shareholders back new Lufthansa chairmanAppointment of former chief executive Wolfgang Mayrhuber approved despite calls from inside and outside Germany for it to be blocked
• National Express eyes German rail tendersMove follows successful bids earlier this year to operate local and express rail services in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia

The Herald

• Cap on cost to local councils of new Aberdeen city bypassA FUNDING deal for a controversial city bypass has been reached as a shortlist of firms bidding for the £745 million project is drawn up.
• New campaign encourages Scots to ditch the car for short journeysPeople are being urged to ditch the car for short journeys and get active to help to save the environment.

The Independent

• Overpriced and underused: M6 toll road is going nowhere fast From suburban South London to the doorstep of Portmeirion in north-west Wales, Britain’s motorists encounter tolls in many unexpected locations. But given a choice, most drivers will seek a free way around the problem.Related StoriesTwice as many people who sought help with debts in 2012 had payday loans93-year-old former serviceman loses ruling on expats voting in UK electionsTwice as many people now seeking help with payday loan debtsPoker’s Tiger Woods sues British casino for £7.3m in winningsPrince Charles acts as stand-in as the Queen scales down duties   &...

The Scotsman

• Edinburgh Trams firm bid for Aberdeen bypass work GERMAN industrial giant Bilfinger, the main contractor for Edinburgh’s troubled trams project, has been named as part of one of the consortia bidding for the £650 million contract to build the long-awaited Aberdeen bypass.
• How Salmond could set an example by walking to workIT WAS a lovely day for a stroll when the Scottish Government published its campaign to improve public health and the environment by getting the public to dump their cars and walk more.
• ‘Active Travel’ walk to work campaign launchedTHE Scottish Government yesterday launched an “Active Travel” campaign to encourage Scots to reduce short car journeys and walk to work instead.
• Female Virgin Trains uniforms ‘too revealling’Virgin Trains has delayed the introduction of new uniforms after some female staff said blouses were see through and too low cut.
• Three killed as cargo ship hits control towerThree people have been killed after a cargo ship slammed into a port in Genoa, Italy, today, toppling the control tower.

The Telegraph

• St Pancras: Who says Lego is just child's play?It's taken 180,000 bricks and 500 hours to build. Harry Wallop meets the creator of the newly unveiled St Pancras Station    

Mail Online

• Sparing Virgin's blushes: Train firm forced to buy staff bras because of skimpy new uniformsWorkers say the new red blouses are too short and the thin material means passengers will be able to see their bras if they are a dark colour.

The Mirror

• Masterchef duo John Torode and Gregg Wallace revamping Heathrow Airport’s food offerings After sampling nearly 80 plates of food the BBC duo gave Heathrow six months to beef up the 26 million meals it serves each year

Network Rail

• Rail campaign highlights level crossing safety across ScotlandRail safety teams are hosting awareness events at level crossings across Scotland today to help educate people about how to cross the railway safely and prevent accidents.

Belfast Telegraph

• Sales of new cars up by 22% on April 2012Northern Ireland's consumers have been feeling much more confident over the last month, ramping up spending on one of the biggest ticket items on the shopping list; a new car.Related StoriesDeloitte delivers huge jobs boost for cityNew £20m windfarm launched to provide energy to 8,000 homesHSBC's billions won't prevent staffing cutsMicrosoft acts over WindowsYouTube probes subscription idea    
• Aer Lingus fall is blamed on EasterSHORT-haul traffic at Aer Lingus fell 4.2% to 701,000 in April, partly impacted by the timing of Easter. The Irish airline said that its long-haul traffic climbed 6.3% in the month to 84,000. Total passenger traffic, excluding Aer Lingus Regional operations, was down 3.2% at 785,000.Related StoriesDeloitte delivers huge jobs boost for cityNew £20m windfarm launched to provide energy to 8,000 homesHSBC's billions won't prevent staffing cutsMicrosoft acts over WindowsYouTube probes subscription idea    
• T5 is named best terminal in worldHeathrow's new terminal T5 has been voted the world's best terminal in the World Airport Awards. The independent survey – which was based on 12.1 million questionnaires completed by travellers of 108 nationalities – also awarded Iberia the number three spot for its Terminal 4 at Barajas Airport in Madrid.Related StoriesDeloitte delivers huge jobs boost for cityNew £20m windfarm launched to provide energy to 8,000 homesHSBC's billions won't prevent staffing cutsMicrosoft acts over WindowsYouTube probes subscription idea    

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Guiseley siblings Lewis and Kessia Hadfield-Walker are young 'cabin crew' at Leeds-Bradford Young ‘cabin crew’ put the fun back into flying when they welcomed passengers on to a Monarch flight from Leeds-Bradford Internat-ional Airport.

Bristol Live

• The Bristol Post commented City MPs are urged to signal support for four-tracking planBRISTOL'S MPs have been called upon to pledge their backing to a project which could play a crucial role in the future of public transport in the city.Rail campaigners have urged MPs with constituencies in and around Bristol to voice their support for the doubling of the number of tracks running between Filton Abbey Wood and Temple Meads stations.They have been encouraged to write to the Department for Transport before June, when it will be announced whether a bid for funding for the work has...

Journal Live

• MP says chargers slowing the success of the Nissan LeafNISSAN’S electric car workforce is being undermined by a failed Government vehicle recharging scheme which would see motorists take “days to get from Newcastle to London”.

Liverpool Post

• 300% rise in Liverpool pothole compensation claimsTHE number of claims for damage to cars caused by potholes on Liverpool roads has rocketed by 300% in the last four years – but pay-outs by the council have plummeted to almost nil.

London Evening Standard

• Virgin bra wars, and other corporate uniform fails There’s a "bra war" going on at Virgin rail. Female staff are refusing to wear the new uniform blouses designed by Vivienne Westwood, saying they "leave little to the imagination," fail to protect their modesty and would allow male passengers to see dark underwear worn beneath.
• Two arrested after bomb disposal experts called to Gatwick AirportTwo men have been arrested by police investigating a suspicious van which sparked a major security alert at Gatwick Airport and led to controlled explosions being carried out on it.

Sheffield Star

• Ballot launched for walkout in dispute about railway staffA ballot of rail staff launches today about possible strike action over use of subcontractors by the company providing most local trains in South Yorkshire.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Former councillor maps out city bypass alternativeA former Highland councillor has outlined her proposals for an alternative route for the Inverness West Link road.

The York Press

• National Railway Museum looks to improve food facilities for visitors THE National Railway Museum in York is planning to use shipping containers to improve its food facilities for visitors.
• York bridge closure trial to go ahead CONTROVERSIAL plans to close a major York bridge to cars and motorbikes have been given the go-ahead, despite a last minute plea by traders for a rethink.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Ipswich: Bus station closes as road changes continueTHE main bus station serving county passengers travelling to Ipswich has closed for three months while it is rebuilt.

Other Regional Press

• Will bus cuts mean job losses for drivers?Cuts to council-funded bus services at evenings and weekends could mean job losses, drivers fear.
• Preston bus station bid fits the bill to be saved from bulldozersThe bid to protect Preston bus station from the bulldozers meets every criteria needed, according to its author.
• 'Stolen' Olympic bus stop was taken by council The Olympic sign feared stolen from the RSPB Discovery centre in Weymouth was removed by a council worker, it has been revealed.

Bus and Coach.com

• VOSA consults on fee changesVOSA is consulting on proposals to change some fees, including those for PSV testing, operator licensing and some associated services.
• Tfl: Borismasters “will save millionsLondon's fleet of 600 Borismasters will cost £213million.
• Access campaigners lose Arriva fightArriva North East did not break the law when two wheelchair passengers were unable to board one of its buses in Darlington.

Global Rail News

• Overground order for BombardierTransport for London (TfL) has placed an £88 million order with Bombardier for 57 new Overground rail carriages. The vehicles, which will be built in Derby, will increase all remaining[...]
• DB signs framework order for 450 Bombardier locomotivesDeutsche Bahn (DB) has signed a framework agreement with Bombardier that could see the delivery of 450 TRAXX locomotives between now and 2023. The new locomotives will be split across[...]
• Forth Bridge restoration honouredTwo plaques recognising the award-winning efforts to restore the Forth Bridge have been unveiled at the historic crossing. The new plaques, which represent the Saltire Award for Civil Engineering and[...]
• Work steps up on Connaught Tunnel restorationCrossrail engineers have begun to ’open up’ the Connaught Tunnel to carry out essential works ahead of the arrival of Crossrail trains in 2018. A hole has been drilled in[...]
• Siemens Rail Electrification meets BS11000 standardSiemens’ rail electrification division has achieved the BS11000 accreditation for collaborative working. BS11000 has been developed to establish a clear standard for collaboration in an effort to improve the effectiveness[...]
• Roller rink planned for Victorian King’s Cross goods shedThe team leading the redevelopment around King’s Cross have submitted plans to build a roller rink inside one of the station’s Victorian goods sheds. After arriving in the capital by[...]
• Roller rink planned for Victorian King’s Cross goods shedThe team leading the redevelopment around King’s Cross have submitted plans to build a roller rink inside one of the station’s Victorian goods sheds. After arriving in the capital by[...]
• 4-all over two legsIssue 100 of The Rail Engineer reported on the enabling works for Crossrail that were carried out at Christmas near Slough on the Great Western main line. On that occasion, principal contractor HOCHTIEF removed three brick arch bridges (two road bridges and one footbridge) and installed a new steel composite footbridge. At Easter the scores [...]
• 4-all over two legsIssue 100 of The Rail Engineer reported on the enabling works for Crossrail that were carried out at Christmas near Slough on the Great Western main line. On that occasion, principal contractor HOCHTIEF removed three brick arch bridges (two road bridges and one footbridge) and installed a new steel composite footbridge. At Easter the scores [...]

Railnews

• HS2 makes limited impact on council votes Despite predictions to the contrary, plans to build the HS2 High Speed line seem to have had only a limited impact on the results of this month's county council elections, or in the surge of support for UKIP that became clear as the results were declared. UKIP did achieve a notable success in Buckinghamshire, where it gained six county council seats – five of them in the Aylesbury area – and opponents to the scheme are claiming a significant victory.
• Crossrail opens out Victorian tunnel Work has begun on opening out a crucial Victorian tunnel in London Docklands to carry Crossrail trains. A dock had to be partly drained so that the Connaught Tunnel, which runs underneath, could be rebuilt.
• DfT explains London Midland ticket office closures The Department for Transport has been explaining why four London Midland stations are to lose their ticket offices. The DfT has turned down applications to close the offices at five others. It has also attempted to fend off its critics by saying that the changes are the result of applications from London Midland under the rules of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement, and that the proposal 'only came to the Department to arbitrate because they could not reach agreement with the passenger representative bodies Passenger Focus and London TravelWatch'.

The Business Desk

• Birmingham launches new congestion-busting car share scheme A NEW car sharing scheme has been launched in Birmingham city centre aimed at cutting congestion and easing parking problems in the main business district.
• Rail operator labelled shambolic forced to give away 127,000 tickets TRAIN operator London Midland has given away 127,000 free tickets to more than 25,000 passengers as compensation for cancellations and delays last year.

Aviation Industry

• Etihad agrees deal with South African AirwaysAbu Dhabi carrier seals another 'strategic partnership' in Africa
• Dreamliner set to make return to HeathrowEthiopian Airlines will be first to fly 787 to UK hub after four-month gap

Other News Sources

• Protect transport spending in London or risk future prosperity, business group tells Chancellor A London business group is lobbying the government to protect transport spending in order to preserve the capital as a “competitive global city”.
• Paris-Barcelona TGV service delayedPlans for new service have been set back by technical problems