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

Friday, 25 July 2008

BBC News

• 'Car free commute' eco-town planAt least one person per household in England's planned eco-towns should be able to have a car-free journey to work, the government has said.
• Cameron's bike stolen as he shopsTom Bogdanovich of the London Cycling Campaign said he hoped the theft would not discourage Mr Cameron from using his bike. The case highlighted the need for a greater number of secure cycle stands in London, he added.
• Ford Fiesta in 'eco' makeover [video]A fuel-efficient version of the Ford Fiesta has made its debut at the 2008 London International Motor Show.
• Bus drivers rally over more payHundreds of London bus drivers will converge on City Hall during a rally to demand better pay and conditions.
• Carmakers tackle profit problemsThree of the world's top carmakers unveil plans to help them survive as the industry faces slumping demand.
• Easyjet plans cuts as costs biteAirline Easyjet will cut flights this winter to offset a challenging economic climate and high fuel prices that have hurt profits

The Guardian

• Aviation: EasyJet to slash capacity as oil price continues to hurt industryEasyJet is slashing a planned increase in capacity because of high fuel costs and weakening demand, confirming that the brakes have been applied to the low-budget airline industry.
• Two wheelsI've been spat on, sworn at and forced off the road - and that's just by pedestrians. Cars, buses and taxis have driven at me, cut me up, swerved into my path and knocked me to the ground. During five years of daily cycling in Glasgow I have become accustomed to "almost dying" on a regular basis.

The Herald

• Car use keeps rising despite soaring prices at the pumpCar journeys have increased substantially since Labour's return to power in 1997, despite a series of measures to encourage more drivers to go down the green road.

The Independent

• Rolls-Royce defies downturn thanks to Middle Eastern dealsRolls-Royce, Britain's biggest manufacturing company, has so far managed to confound the economic slowdown, it said yesterday, with a series of new contracts enabling it to boost sales and profits.

Times Online

• People: Adam Sherwin No carbon footprint worries
• Shipping sector rides wave of boom in trade Rapid economic growth in China and India has led to a boom in world trade, which in turn has brought good times for the shipping industry.
• Speed cameras and road safety keep drivers within 30mph speed limit Motorists are sticking to the 30mph speed limit in greater numbers than at any point in the last decade, Department for Transport statistics have revealed.
• Emergency on Planet 4x4 The part exchange car market can be notoriously fickle. Like the butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil leading to a warm summer in the UK, there are many variables to consider. Fluctuating interest rates, rising petrol costs, spiralling inflation, taxation, demand and supply. All these factors feed back into the market and indirectly affect the desirability and value of all the vehicles in it.
• US slowdown pushes Ford to record $9bn loss$ Ford reported record losses of nearly $9 billion ($£4.52 billion) in the second quarter of the year as the slump in the US truck and bigger vehicle market hit the company hard. America's second-biggest motor manufacturer also laid out plans to make small cars an integral part of its US line-up with a transformation of its portfolio and production in North America.
• Rolls-Royce scores on efficiency and emissions Soaring fuel prices and concern over CO2 emissions have forced the global shipping fleet to start buying more efficient engines, which has led to a surge in orders for Rolls-Royce.

Reuters News

• Ford posts loss on truck slumpDETROIT (Reuters) - Ford posted a record $8.7 billion (4.4 billion pound) quarterly loss on Thursday as it wrote down the value of slumping truck and SUV operations and revamped plans in a bid to break its reliance on the gas-guzzlers that have been its franchise vehicles for a decade.

Network Rail

• CONTRACT AWARDED FOR RUGBY STATION CAR PARK
• YORK TO GET MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT

Birmingham Post

• Regeneration experts say Birmingham must be improvedBirmingham needs an improved inner-city transport system to tie together disparate development projects, top regeneration experts have said.
• Former Travel West Midlands chief joins calls to scrap ’cosmetic’ New Street schemeThe refurbishment of New Street station should be derailed according to a former chairman of Travel West Midlands.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Bustracker system expanding to boost routesDOZENS of new electronic Bustracker signs are to be installed in a bid to boost passenger numbers on some of the city's least popular routes.
• Transport chiefs to give Euro bike rental idea a spinEIGHT hundred bicycles would be available in the city centre and Leith for people to hire under £2.8 million plans announced today.

London Evening Standard

• Heathrow doesn't need third runway says top travel agentA leading chain of travel agents has come out firmly against the proposed third runway at Heathrow

Manchester Evening News

• Wilson: C-charge is flawedMOTORING expert Quentin Willson believes Manchester should not be bullied into a congestion charge scheme in exchange for a better public transport network.

Metro

• Traffic up by 14% despite car vowRoad traffic has increased by 14 per cent since Labour returned to power in 1997 despite its pledge to cut vehicle journeys.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Metro services delayed after thieves steal cableMETRO bosses have hit out at thieves who risked their lives by stealing cable from the railway.

The News (Portsmouth)

• Rapid bus plan's getting into gearA RAPID bus scheme linking Fareham and Gosport has moved a step closer.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Speculation over future role of bus depot at InvernessThere was a questionmark hanging over the future of an Inverness bus depot last night after it emerged the lease on the property expires next month.
• MP vows to challenge Tesco over ˜inconsistent™ fuel pricesA north-east MP yesterday vowed to challenge Tesco over its œinconsistent fuel pricing policy in the region.
• Tesco stands firm against fuel price war with rivalsSUPERMARKET giant Tesco, which gave in to pressure to standardise fuel prices across its main stores in the Highlands and islands and Moray, has refused to be drawn into a price war with rival stores.

The York Press

• Bus station hope for teardrop site YORK should finally get a long-awaited bus station after developers across Europe were invited today to invest more than a billion pounds in the city™s biggest ever development.

This Is Local London Network

• Economic case for Heathrow expansion 'flawed'The economic case for expanding Heathrow is flawed, a new report claims.
• Clapham Junction on Tube by Olympics?Clapham Junction could be on the Tube in time for the London Olympics and save taxpayers £10million in the process - if officials can agree funding for the project by September.

Wales Online

• Airport chiefs red-faced after security blunderCARDIFF International Airport today found itself at the centre of another security blunder after a woman flew to the Canary Islands – using her husband’s passport.

Blackpool Gazette

• Bus fares go upA £1m increase in the cost of fuel has forced an increase in Blackpool Transport's bus fares.

Northants Evening Telegraph

• New Corby rail service not ruled out by train bossesEast Midlands Trains has not ruled out the possibility of a train service running north of the new Corby station later this year.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Airline to cut capacity at stanstedAirline easyJet is to cut capacity by 12% at Stansted Airport this winter as profits slump amid rising fuel bills.

Reading Evening Post

• Rail safety improvements get on trackRail commuters travelling on South West Trains will see some new faces on their journeys from next week.

Transport for London

• Public exhibition to showcase future redevelopment of Tottenham Court Road stationA public exhibition outlining the transport improvements taking place at Tottenham Court Road station will be held from Thursday 24 July to Saturday 9 August 2008 at New London Architecture, Store Street, London.

Aviation Industry

• Branson would pay aviation carbon emissions taxGENEVA—Virgin Group chairman Richard Branson said Tuesday he is willing to pay carbon emissions taxes on his aviation business to fight climate change.
• Bus station scheme on trackhe refurbishment of Skipton Bus Station is on track to get under way shortly.
• The future for new developmentshe Chapelford Connector bus service, which launches this week, will offer residents at Chapelford free unlimited bus travel, with every family receiving either one complimentary 12 month bus pass worth £430 or two six month passes depending on their individual needs.
• Heathrow East Project DelayConstruction on the £1.5 billion Heathrow East project could be subject to a 12-month delay, according to reports.Trade magazine Contract Journal reports that Heathrow operator BAA has briefed contractors on the project about possible hold-ups to the construction of the new £1.5 billion terminal building.The magazine quotes one un-named contractor as saying: "We were all geared up to start this year, but we have now been told that work won't start until 2009".According to the source, BAA has blamed the delay on the knock-on effect presented by the chaotic opening of Terminal ...
• easyJet price hikeCharging for checked baggage means each easyJet passenger now spends an average £7.45 more than their ticket price “ a 93 per cent increase compared with last year.
• Titan Airways adds business Boeing 737Titan Airways, the ad-hoc charter specialist, has introduced an all-business class Boeing 737 to its fleet as it prepares for further expansion, including delivery of its first wide-body.

Other News Sources

• Euro 6 emissions regs at EU approval stageThe next tightening of emissions standards for trucks within the European Union will be introduced by 2014 at the latest, according to the EU Council of Ministers.
• MAG puts another £13m into Bournemouth Airport expansionManchester Airports Group is reported to have injected an additional £13m into a £45m project to expand Bournemouth Airport.
• PZ Cussons backs congestion charging plansThe business lobby group supporting Greater Manchester’s £2.7bn Transport Innovation Fund proposals has recruited two more members.