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

Saturday, 13 September 2008

BBC News

• How should road signs look in the future? - public askedThe government is inviting road users and pedestrians to give their opinions on the development of traffic signs and signals.
• Turbulent timesMore holiday firms and airlines may follow XL's demise
• Virgin aims to block BA-AA tie-upVirgin Atlantic's boss launches a campaign to try to block any tie-up between British Airways and American Airlines.
• Thousands stranded by XL collapseBritain's third largest tour operator goes into administration leaving tens of thousands of people stranded abroad.

Financial Times

• Eurotunnel plans to restart limited serviceThe train services company reopened operations to freight traffic on Friday night after running two test trains through the south tunnel from Calais to Folkestone and hopes to resume passenger services soon
• Channel Tunnel faces months of delaysEurotunnel was on Friday night planning to restart limited train services through the Channel Tunnel after the worst fire in the undersea tunnel's almost 14 years of operations

The Scotsman

• Stranded holidaymakers heading homeHolidaymakers stranded abroad following the collapse of Britain's third largest tour operator were beginning to make their way home.

The Telegraph

• Drivers could face being charged for even shortest journeysMotorists could be charged for even their shortest journeys by car under proposals being examined by the Government.
• Channel Tunnel reopens for freight but disruption continuesThe Channel Tunnel has reopened to freight and passenger services were expected to resume early on Saturday following a serious fire.

Reuters News

• Channel Tunnel traffic may resume soonLILLE, France (Reuters) - A fire in the Channel Tunnel was put out on Friday almost 20 hours after it took hold on a freight train, and the tunnel operator said passenger services between Britain and France should resume slowly over the weekend.

ATOC

• Steve Howes takes on Rail Settlement PlanThe Association of Train Operating Companies is pleased to announce that it has appointed Steve Howes as Managing Director of Rail Settlement Plan Ltd. Steve takes up his new role on 29th September. He replaces Antony Lain, who is joining EDS as Director of Ground Transportation UK.

London Evening Standard

• Weekend bus users hit by 48-hour strikeBus passengers face a weekend of chaos as thousands of drivers strike over a new pay deal

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Airport bosses blame credit crunch for fall in passengersBosses at Aberdeen Airport have blamed the continued rise in oil prices and the credit crunch for a fall in passenger figures for the fourth month in a row.
• Bypass traffic ˜could be cut by more than 70%™Traffic on busy commuter routes could be reduced by more than 70% once the Aberdeen bypass is completed, a planning expert claimed yesterday.
• Transport Scotland accused of trying to hide costsA COMMUNITY leader accused Transport Scotland yesterday of trying to hide vital information about the cost of the proposed Aberdeen bypass.

Doncaster Free Press

• New destinations launched at Robin Hood AirportROBIN Hood Airport's largest operator has announced it will operate two brand new routes.
• Speeding Motorists Putting Lives At RiskIrresponsible motorists are putting lives at risk by speeding through major roadworks on the M1, says a police chief.

Aviation Industry

• Statement from BAA Gatwick regarding XL AirwaysFollowing the announcement earlier today that XL Airways has ceased trading, BAA Gatwick offers the following advice for passengers...
• Passenger information for XL AirwaysXL Airways has now ceased all operations and all flights to and from Glasgow Airport have been cancelled. Flights operated by XL Airways on behalf of ScotTravel have not been cancelled and will continue to operate...
• Big UK Tour and Airline Group CollapsesXL Leisure Group collapses and XL Airways is grounded, stranding many thousands of the company's tour customers overseas.
• Online Airfare Auctions: The Future, PerhapsJetBlue's initiative to auction flights and package tours on eBay looks a clever marketing move and could presage many more online auctions by airlines.
• BA to cut senior management staffAirline acts in œincredibly difficult environment for aviation.

Other News Sources

• Britons hit - on air, rail and roadBritish travellers and commuters were hit hard on a chaotic Friday after the collapse of one its largest tour operators and a fire in the rail tunnel connecting Britain with mainland Europe.
• Direct service threat to feeder operatorsEuropean feeder operators and transhipment hubs stand to lose traffic to new direct services from Asia set up using excess deepsea tonnage.
• Credit squeeze puts brakes on car tradePorts are reporting plummeting car volumes of up to 20% as the economic slowdown puts the brakes on consumer spending across Europe.
• MEPs want clarity on rules for big emittersMEPs in the Parliament's Industry Committee have called for the EU's emissions trading regime to be tightened, bringing an end to free emissions allowances by 2020. But questions remain about the treatment of select industries exposed to 'carbon leakage' concerns.
• Biofuel-makers denounce target downgradeEuropean biofuel producers were disappointed by a key vote in Parliament yesterday (11 September), which, though confirming a binding 10% target for renewables in transport fuels by 2020, shifts the focus away from agro-fuels and provides for a
• New Biomethane for Transport WebsiteEnvironmental Protection UK has launched a new website for the Biomethane for Transport group.
• DEFRA Consult on the Air Quality Experts GroupDEFRA is inviting input to their reviewof AQEG via an online survey.
• Biomethane Trials Hit the RoadTwo trials of biomethane-powered vehicles began over the summer.
• Noise Levels Used to Assess Health Impacts of Airports Too High?Defra publish consultation on noise action planning for airport operators.
• GMPTA officials to meet with MPs at party conferencesThe Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority has arranged a series of fringe meetings with MPs at the upcoming Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative party conferences.
• Delays continue after Tunnel fireLong tailbacks in Folkestone as the Channel Tunnel is closed after a fire on a freight train. Julian Rush reports.
• Trainline appoints new ceoCar man takes up top rail post.

EIN News Subscription

• Government holds talks with travel industry ... abroad by the collapse of XL Leisure. Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said: I have been ... has increased substantially, we are continuously seeing airlines with less than robust business models failing. ... We at TUI Travel, as the leading European leisure travel company, will help where we ...