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

Tuesday, 29 July 2008

BBC News

• Long-term plan to dual A9 stretchThe Scottish Government backs a plan to dual carriageway the Perth to Inverness section of the A9, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has said.
• Minister booed over eco-town planOpponents of government plans for eco-towns have booed housing minister Caroline Flint as she visited a proposed site in Warwickshire.
• Branson unveils space tourism jetVirgin Galactic boss Richard Branson unveils a key piece of his space tourism programme in California.
• European airlines see shares fallShares in many of Europe's largest airlines have fallen amid more worries for the industry.
• Cheap flights?Can the budget airlines survive soaring fuel prices?
• Fuel harvestIn spite of global fears, Brazil hails its ethanol revolution

Financial Times

• Jetstar's Joyce boasts record of keeping lid on costsDubliner's success at the budget carrier, which needed relentless focus on costs to succeed, helped him beat off rivals for the top job at Qantas

The Guardian

• Second Qantas plane makes emergency landing in AustraliaA second Qantas jet in four days was today forced to make an emergency landing, Australian media reported.
• Mobile use on planes moves step closerWidespread use of mobile phones on UK airlines moved a step closer today following a ruling by the communications watchdog Ofcom.

The Herald

• Tram work amnesty sees capital road reopened - but not to carsThe latest changes in Edinburgh's tram works caused confusion in the city centre yesterday as a key road reopened, but not to cars.

Times Online

• Pedal power challenges car culture as cyclists seize Los Angeles freeways Los Angeles, meet the bicycle.
• 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.
• Ryanair heads for red over Michael O'Leary price war Ryanair will plunge into the red this year after launching a high-risk price war in an attempt to increase demand and drive competitors out of business.

Reuters News

• China Railway wins contracts worth $1.2 billionSHANGHAI, July 29 (Reuters) - China Railway Group , the country's largest railway and highway builder, said on Tuesday that two of its subsidiaries have won two contracts worth a total of 8.1 billion yuan ($1.2 billion).

Transport Briefing

• Uckfield-Lewes rail reopening report publishedLocal authorities in East Sussex have clashed following the publication on Friday (25 July) of a report by Network Rail and consultant Mott MacDonald which claims there is currently no business case for restoring a seven and a half mile rail link between Uckfield and Lewes.

Edinburgh Evening News

• City eyes private parking spaceTHEY are already planning to target gas-guzzling cars, now city council officials may take control of Edinburgh's private parking spaces.
• Trams told to keep the noise down around the PlayhouseEXTRA soundproofing measures are to be built into the city's tram line to ensure performances at the Playhouse are not interrupted, it was revealed today.

London Evening Standard

• Plan for 50% more flights at City is ready to take offCity Airport could see a 50 per cent increase in the number of flights using its runway with a decision on a crucial planning application this week.
• Leading architect: Capital needs more river crossingsA leading London architect has called for more bridges to address the capital's "great north-south divide" and encourage greener modes of transport.
• Rail bosses reveal radical revamp plan for WaterlooWaterloo station is set to be transformed, with the concourse sunk to the level of the Eurostar terminal, under plans revealed today.

Manchester Evening News

• Bypass cost may trebleTHE cost of the Mottram to Tintwistle bypass could hit £315m - more than treble the original forecast.

Metro

• Please get off this train... it's run out of fuelHundreds of passengers were left stranded after a packed commuter train apparently ran out of diesel.

The News (Portsmouth)

• Private firm steps in to end funding row over replacement of ageing harbourside pontoonA private firm looks set to step in to fund a new pontoon for the Gosport Ferry.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Three-lane a12 plan rejectedCalls to widen the busy A12 to three lanes throughout Essex have been rejected by an independent inquiry.

Washington Post

• Toyota cuts 2008 outlook TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) on Monday cut its 2008 groupwide global sales forecast by 350,000 units to 9.5 million vehicles due to a pronounced downturn in the U.S. market, in a rare setback for the world's biggest automaker.
• Air Travel Failings Exposed Again by Weekend Storms The line of thunderstorms stretching from Albany to Washington over the weekend showed once again how broken the nation's air system is, according to travelers and activists.

Railnews

• News: Liverpool Fares Reflect Environmental Culture AS part of its official partnership with European Capital of Culture, Virgin Trains is offering a 10 per cent discount on Advance tickets between London Euston and Liverpool until the end of the year.

Aviation Industry

• UK canals see highest use since industrial revolution.British Waterways have announced a record number of boats on the country’s canals. A programme of regeneration and restoration has transformed the canal network to such an extent that more than 31,000 boats travelled on the waterways last year.
• Emirates buys 60 Airbus wide-body aircraftAirline signs letter of intent for 30 Airbus A350 XWB plus 30 A330-300s.
• High oil price hits Heathrow expansionA new report commissioned by Friends of the Earth says the Government™s argument for expanding Heathrow is weak.
• Ryanair's new zero-bag policyRyanair will trial a œzero bag policy on flights aimed at business travellers from the autumn “ potentially charging passengers more for them.

Other News Sources

• AA brings in Manchester bike patrols to cut congestionThe Automobile Association said today it was sending patrols on motorbikes into central Manchester to tackle congestion.