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

Saturday, 03 August 2013

BBC News

• Pickles backs renting of drivewaysPeople who rent out their driveways to other motorists are backed by new government guidelines aimed at tackling parking congestion in busy areas.
• Rail engineering workers' jobs axedAbout 150 skilled jobs in Milton Keynes and Glasgow are axed at rail engineering firm Railcare.

Financial Times

• IAG welcomes signs of recovery at IberiaSpanish airline trims losses after job cuts and 18% pay reductions for flight and cabin crew, as transatlantic traffic benefits British Airways

The Herald

• Getting better: ScotRail fines fall again as standards improveImprovements to ScotRail services saw the value of financial penalties incurred by the train operator more than halved last year.

The Telegraph

• Private parking ombudsman advising enforcement companiesThe agency set up to hear motorists' appeals against parking tickets issued by private firms has been advising enforcement companies how to win cases.    
• Boris Johnson hurdled by freerunnersMayor of London Boris Johnson and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith are hurdled by freerunners during a visit to a scheme helping young people in Waltham Forest.    
• Thousands to join Boris Johns on mass cycling eventAn estimated 70,000 cyclists will take to the streets of London and Surrey over the weekend for one of the biggest mass participation events in the country's history.    

The Mirror

• Spain train crash driver tells court he "can't explain" why he didn't slow downFrancisco Garzon, 52, was travelling at twice the speed limit when he hit a wall and caused the train to derail.

This is Money

• IAG boss Willie Walsh warns of 'deep job cuts' in overhaul of Spanish carrier IberiaThe airline narrowed its second-quarter losses by £51million to £30.5million, following a capacity reduction of nearly 14 per cent and 2,400 job cuts, despite fierce opposition in Spain.

Network Rail

• Raising the roof at Victoria stationPassengers using Manchester’s Victoria station are only one year away from enjoying a newly revitalised, lighter and brighter station as part of a £44m investment programme being delivered by Network Rail.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bradford Council: £5.3 million parking figure was wrong Red-faced Bradford Council has admitted it made a glaring error when forecasting a £5.3 million-plus profit from car parking charges and fines in 2013/14.

Derby Telegraph

• Mum's horror at bus driver's foot on dashboard anticsArticle

Manchester Evening News

• Back open for business after Metrolink work ends Traffic is again flowing up and down the road after it was closed so the new Metrolink tram line could be laid.

Northern Echo

• Nissan could slam brakes on UK investment if Britain leaves the EU NISSAN could slash investment in its flagship North-East car factory if Britain leaves the European Union, Nick Clegg revealed last night.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post published Happy with replacement busesArticle

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Car left at crash scene ‘not stolen’A car abandoned at the scene of a serious crash is not believed to have been stolen, police said last night.

Sunderland Echo

• Expansion plans at Port of SunderlandTHE Port of Sunderland has cemented its development plans with an onsite expansion to create additional storage space.

The Shields Gazette

• Parking fees not for profit – authoritySouth Tyneside Council insists parking charges are not set with the aim of ’making a profit’ - with surplus cash ploughed into road improvement schemes.

Other Regional Press

• Bus gate could be opened for a year’s trial if it’s approvedA PLANNING application has gone into the council for a trial lowering of a controversial bus gate.
• Councillor aims to allay fears over plansPEOPLE will get vital infrastructure improvements such as transport links and schools if hundreds of new homes are built, a councillor has stressed.
• Race firm unveils the nation’s yacht entryA ROUND-THE-WORLD race run by a Gosport firm has launched the nation’s entry.
• Bypass cash secureCash to finish of the Great Western Bypass has been secured.
This week the South East Midlands Local Transport Board announced that they have allocated Department For Transport funding of £2.5million for the scheme.
Other plans which are to benefit under the scheme include the north entrance to Luton Airport Parkway and Milton Keynes Park and Ride.
• 'Parking' fines double for boats that stay too long at Thames moorings A PILOT scheme has been introduced to double “parking” fines for boaters mooring on the Thames in Oxford for longer than 72 hours.
• Pilots raise concerns after helicopter gearbox warningFEARS were raised by pilots testing grounded Super Puma helicopters ahead of their return to operations after a warning message told them the gearbox shaft had failed.

Global Rail News

• Thameslink on trackIn June, Siemens concluded the largest deal in its 170-year UK history. Steve Scrimshaw, managing director Siemens Rail Systems UK, reflects on a turbulent couple of years for the company and the highs and lows of one of the most important rail contracts of recent times. It’s easy for me to say this now, but [...]
• Bombardier releases second quarter resultsNew orders have bolstered Bombardier Transportation second quarter, increasing revenue from $1.8 billion in 2012 to $2.2 billion in 2013. In the last three months, the company has signed a[...]

Railnews

• RMT to face new court challenge from EMT East Midlands Trains is to appeal after it was defeated in the High Court in its bid to counter industrial action by the RMT. Fresh peace talks have failed. The High Court vindicated the RMT's stance, which is in connection with disputes centred around the Nottingham blockade, but EMT said it would 'attempt to protect passengers from what it believes is unlawful strike action'.

Railway Gazette

• Zhengzhou to Hamburg freight train arrives INTERNATIONAL: An inaugural freight from Zhengzhou in China arrived at the Hamburg-Billwerder yard on August 2. The train was operated on behalf of Zhengzhou International Land Port Development...

Aviation Industry

• Flybe shareholders back sale of Gatwick slots to easyJet UK regional Flybe shareholders have approved the sale of the airline’s entire London Gatwick Airport slot portfolio to easyJet. read more
• O’Leary: Ryanair long-haul venture three to four years away Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary is still planning to press ahead with plans for a long-haul start-up, although this strategy is being hindered by aircraft availability. read more
• On the ropes - IAG boss: no Heathrow expansion nowWillie Walsh, boss of the owner of British Airways, today admitted

Other News Sources

• Airport strikes possible as Belgian state pushes ahead with privatisationITF-affiliated union ACV/CSC TRANSCOM declared strike action may go ahead if Belgian airport privatisation ignores workers’ demands.
• Ryanair to fly to Shannon from JLA all year roundRyanair have today announced that they intend to operate more flights between Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Shannon on the west coast of Ireland, with flights due to operate all year round.....
• RMT reaction to confirmation of redundancies at Railcare todayRMT General Secretary Bob crow said 'This is appalling news and RMT is demanding to know just what Vince Cable and his department have been up to following their pledges to support the workforce at Railcare in getting through this short term cash flow crisis.

Other Subscription Services

• First goes for growth with Taunton fares trial First Group has launched an experimental bus fares trial in Taunton as it begins to roll out its transformation programme to smaller towns across its UK bus network.Alongside a new bus network in...
• M-ticketing hits 1m milestone at Go-Ahead Go-Ahead reached a major milestone this month as its bus companies continued to roll-out mobile ticketing.Mobile or m-ticketing has generated over 1m of revenue in less than 12 months,...