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

Sunday, 17 August 2008

BBC News

• BAA expects forced airport salesBAA, owner of seven UK airports, expects the competition watchdog to order the break up of the company.

Times Online

• Eco-town plan is the pits, say former miners Caroline Flint, the housing minister, faces a backlash in her own constituency after it emerged that a former mining community she represents is likely to be selected for one of the first eco-towns.
• Boris Johnson's cycling tips S is for saddle I have had five bikes stolen in four years, which is a pretty devastating comment on law and order and the modern concept of meum and tuum. But the most traumatic moment was discovering someone had taken my saddle. Why? To what perverted end?
• Regulation, not competition, will shape airports It is quite possible that you could be reading this in an airport lounge sitting out a delay to your flight. You will be irritable and likely to vent your frustration against both the airline and the airport operator, which if you are in southeast England or Scotland is most likely to be BAA.
• Transport group Sea Containers salvaged DIRECTORS of Sea Containers, the transport group that collapsed into Chapter 11 bankruptcy nearly two years ago, have offered to settle with creditors by giving them shares in a new, restructured company.
• BA's Willie Walsh vows the airline will not surrender Heathrow slots BRITISH AIRWAYS boss Willie Walsh has vowed the airline will not surrender runway slots at Heathrow in order to land its proposed alliance with American Airlines.
• International bidders line up for BAA airport sale International infrastructure groups have approached BAA with offers to buy Gatwick, London’s second airport, for up to £3 billion.

London Evening Standard

• Buttock-clenching at the bus stop: The nanny state's new bid to get us all fitA bizarre Government-funded campaign is being launched to encourage people to exercise while they’re waiting for a bus.

The News (Portsmouth)

• Crackdown on untaxed cars is a great successA TWO-DAY crackdown has forced dozens of untaxed cars off the road or made their owners pay up.

The York Press

• Weeks of misery for York drivers THOUSANDS of motorists are facing weeks of extreme misery in York as a stretch of the city™s inner ring road is dug up and re-laid.

Peterborough Telegraph

• BAA 'to be ordered to sell airports'The chairman of airport operator BAA, which runs Stansted, has acknowledged that he expects the Competition Commission to order the break-up of the company.

International Herald Tribune

• Why fuel subsidies don't workKeeping the price of fuel artificially low protects consumers but hurts the overall economy by stifling growth.

Aviation Industry

• Stansted/ Gatwick, Edinburgh/ Glasgow Airport Sales Likely, says BAA's RuddThe Chairman of airport operating group BAA has stated that he is anticipating the Competition Commission will force it to split up its seven-strong UK airport collection.Sir Nigel Rudd added that he expected that BAA “ the owner of London Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Southampton airports - would be made to sell a minimum of two of these sites.It was likely, said Sir Nigel, that the two sites in question would be one of either Stansted/ Gatwick, or Edinburgh/ Glasgow.Airport MonopolyBAA itself has faced criticism in respect of the levels of service provided ...
• COMMENT “ The Competition Commission reports “ but what about Heathrow?Later this week the Competition Commission is expected to announce its ideas on a possible transformation of BAA and its seven UK airports. Where will that leave Heathrow? Will the investment dry up?