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

Tuesday, 19 August 2008

BBC News

• Passengers call for more trainsFewer than half of passengers who use the rail line between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury say they are happy with the number of trains running.
• Work for rail passengers on trackWork is starting on a £3.4m scheme to improve facilities for rail passengers using Liverpool's Lime Street station.
• BAA expects forced airport sales [Today programme]The airport operator BAA may be forced to sell some of its key airports. The chairman, Nigel Rudd, believes the Competition Commission is going to say that its near monopoly must be broken up.
• Underpass defended after floodingA director of the company which built Belfast's Broadway underpass has said a design fault was not to blame for its flooding.

Financial Times

• Tube staff accused of 'political' strikeLondon Underground maintenance workers threatening to strike this week are accused of launching a politically motivated push to return all Tube work to the public sector
• BAA finalises £13.3bn airports refinancingBAA has completed a £13.3bn debt refinancing, leaving the UK airport operator's finances in an improved state as it faces pressure to break up its monopoly on the main London and Scottish airports
• Rising rail demand pulls Deutsche Bahn aheadRecord petrol prices appear to have spurred hundreds of thousands of Germans to ditch their cars for the train, a trend that has buoyed state railway Deutsche Bahn ahead of this autumn's flotation of its train operations
• China South Loco jumps 58% in debutChina South Locomotive & Rolling Stock made one of this year's most successful Chinese stock debuts in spite of the broader Shanghai market falling to a 19-month low

The Guardian

• Watchdog expected to order BAA's break-upBAA could be forced to sell Gatwick airport after the Competition Commission orders the break-up of Britain's dominant airport operator this week.
• GM pulls out of Oscar sponsorshipBusiness & money: America's largest carmaker slashes promotional budget as it struggles to trim losses that top $18bn

The Independent

• British Airways details plans for flights from London City airport to the Big AppleWhen British Airways' planned flights to New York from London City airport stop in Ireland to refuel, passengers will be allowed to go through US immigration checks in advance, the company said yesterday.

The Telegraph

• Air rage incidents trebleAir rage attacks by British passengers have trebled in the past five years with pilots blaming airport delays for allowing passengers to get drunk.

Times Online

• BAA completes £13bn refinancing package BAA, the airports operator, has completed the £13.3 billion refinancing of its debt, quashing fears that the company could run out of cash this year.

Daily Record

• Rail passengers fear fares are to rise by six per centTRAIN passengers are facing a rise in fares of up to six per cent.

Mail Online

• Foreign firms ready to swoop on BAA airport sell-offForeign companies are poised to snap up some of Britain's key airports if BAA is forced into a sell-off by regulators this week. The Competition Commission is expected to call for BAA to give up one or two of its London airports and another in Scotland.

Network Rail

• LOUNGING IN LIME STREET STATION
• FASTER, MORE FREQUENT SERVICES GET CLOSER ON THE WEST COAST

Birmingham Post

• Why not pause and think deeply before agreeing rail plan [letter]Dear Editor, As a train user, may I offer my opinion on the ongoing saga of Birmingham New Street Station.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Fares rise for rail travellersRAIL travellers are facing a hike in fares of up to six per cent, it was reported today.
• Protest cards to be given to drivers over bus pram banCAMPAIGNERS will be handing out protest cards to Lothian Buses drivers in their attempt to overturn the controversial ban on prams.

Liverpool Echo

• 34 port jobs go in crunchTHE Port of Liverpool is closing a Cardiff operation due to rising fuel prices and the credit crunch.

London Evening Standard

• Manchester airport set to buy Gatwick after break-upThe owner of Manchester airport said it was ready to take over Gatwick ahead of the publication of a report on BAA's monopoly
• Third runway a mistake says environment chiefA third runway at Heathrow would lead to
• Tube boss: these strikers aim to bring down our firmThe main Tube union has hit back at accusations it is orchestrating an illegal political strike

Manchester Evening News

• 53pc 'support for road charge'THE people of Greater Manchester WILL vote for congestion charging, according to secret polling data obtained by the M.E.N.

The News (Portsmouth)

• Cycle track bill rises as surface gets upgradedTax payers have been saddled with an extra £57,000 bill for the new Mountbatten Centre after the wrong surface was chosen for the cycle track.

The York Press

• People urged to use bus or lose it BUS-USERS in York have been issued with a fresh rallying cry as decision day on an under-threat service looms larger “ it™s time to use it or you could lose it.

Wales Online

• Golden opportunity to get on your bikeNicole Cooke’s stunning Olympic gold medal win in the women’s road race should act as a catalyst for the people of Wales to get on their bikes, the Sports Council for Wales believes
• Safety campaigners defend speed camerasROAD safety campaigners last night defended the use of cameras to catch motorists who flout the law, after it emerged drivers are fined nearly £10m a year through fixed penalties.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds MP demands apology from rail staffA LEEDS MP has demanded an apology after he was stopped by rail staff from taking his bicycle onto a London to Leeds train and called "stupid".

Blackpool Gazette

• Scruffy Fylde station in line for a revampVOLUNTEERS in rural Fylde are set to revamp Kirkham and Wesham railway station.

International Herald Tribune

• Top scientist calls use of biofuels 'frightening'A British scientist says people should curb the growing use of biofuels to help cut the amount of water used in food production.

Railnews

• News: New Members For TFL Board MAYOR of London Boris Johnson has made further appointments to the Transport for London board and has reappointed seven previous board members.

Transport for London

• Green Park Tube station to be upgraded ahead of London 2012 GamesLondon Underground has applied for planning permission to bring major improvements to Green Park Tube station in time for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• Visit the new on-line destination for London's cyclistsTransport for London (TfL) asks the Capital's cyclists to share their knowledge with others, at www.tfl.gov.uk/cycling

Aviation Industry

• July Traffic Figures BAA's UK AirportsBAA's UK airports handled a total of 14.8 million passengers in July, a drop of 1.7% on the same month last year...
• Successful completion of refinancing and establishment of long-term financing platformBAA Limited is today pleased to anounced the successful completion of the £13.3 billion refinancing of its UK airports...

Green Miscellany

• Europe To Spend 1.6 Billion (Euro) On Clean Aircraft ResearchEurope's Clean Sky initiative is targeting a 50-percent reduction in CO2 emissions, an 80-percent reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions and a 50-percent reduction in perceived noise levels (all from baseline year 2000 levels) to be met by the year 2020.
• Biofuels imports are tarnishing UK renewablesBritish farmers are being caught in the crossfire as eco-protestors wage war against biofuels. Johann Tasker reports
• 'Increased pollution' from third runwayThe new head of the Environment Agency has warned that a third runway at Heathrow would cause problems such as air pollution and traffic jams, it has emerged.

Other News Sources

• Bus firm feedback encouragedPeople in Hawick are being urged to let First Buses know of any complaints they may have about its local service.
• CAMBRIAN PASSENGERS CALL FOR MORE TRAINSOnly 41% of passengers are happy with the number of trains running on the Cambrian line, Britain’s rail watchdog has found.
• First trial for 'pay as you go' road taxPay-as-you-drive road taxes moved a step closer last night after the Government confirmed it was starting the first ever trials of the scheme
• Car values plunging after road tax changeMore than a million drivers were warned last night that up to £1,000 will be knocked off the value of their cars because of Labour's road tax hikes
• Hybrid batteryFraunhofer scientists are developing a high-performance battery for hybrid cars that is more resilient, reliable and less harmful to the environment.
• Sainsbury's runs on rubbishSupermarket giant Sainsbury's is running a Mercedes-Benz Axor on rubbish, and has plans to roll out the initiative to its entire fleet.
• Manchester Airport eyes BAA's London operationsBids are already being made for BAA airports, as the Competition Commission's draft report into the airports operator is this expected to push BAA to sell of some of its airports in London and Scotland.
• Manchester transport authority hunts agenciesGreater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive is hunting a roster of agencies to handle its £2.3m marketing services.
• Steel loads switch from road to canalA Leeds metal firm has started shifting steel by canal rather than truck in an effort to save fuel costs and become greener.
• Virgin Atlantic in talks over Virgin Nigeria exitVirgin Atlantic Airways is negotiating the disposal of up to its entire 49% Virgin Nigeria stake and may withdraw its branding from the carrier as part of...
• BA's premium London City-NY service to refuel in Shannon British Airways has confirmed that its all-business London City-New York services will refuel at Shannon while operating westbound. The Irish airport...
• First phase of GTF flight testing complete Pratt & Whitney has completed the first phase of flight testing for its Geared Turbofan-PW1000G demonstrator as it prepares for test flights with Airbus...
• EasyJet swaps 25 A319 orders for A320sEasyJet has implemented its plans to convert some A319 orders to A320s, switching 25 over to the larger variant, according to Airbus's latest July sales...
• New Container Handling Equipment At PortThe Port of Felixstowe's new state-of-the-art empty container handling fleet is up and running following completion of its commissioning period.
• Police Campaign For Cycling SafelyCyclists in Felixstowe are being urged not to ride on footpaths and to remember to ensure they use lights on their bikes after dark as part of new cam
• Call for greater EU flexibility over customs chargesThe head of a leading UK freight software organisation has called on the European Union (EU) to provide more flexibility in its proposals to overhaul the current customs system.
• Transport sector welcomes £52m Northern Ireland roads planA £52 million plan to improve the roads in Northern Ireland has received a warm welcome from the freight transport industry.
• Network upgrade promises delays for airport passengersRail passengers using the cross-London Thameslink route to reach Gatwick or Luton airports face multiple obstacles over the coming months as work begins on a massive upgrade to the network.