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

Saturday, 20 September 2008

Financial Times

• Alitalia flies into uncharted territoryThe Italian flag-carrier, with its fuel tanks and forward bookings running close to empty, looks like a dead man walking but still no one is sure of its next destination

The Guardian

• Buy Gatwick? Why not?Business & money: Interview: Richard Branson talks about buying a stake in Gatwick and climate-change scepticism

The Independent

• Consumers urge further fuel price cuts Customers at the pumps today welcomed the drop in petrol prices but said fuel was still too expensive.
• Fuel price war cuts costs Total became the latest chain to cut its petrol prices today in what is developing into an all-out war among retailers.

The Telegraph

• Millions of motorists to be hit by green parking taxesMillions of motorists are facing punitive increases in the cost of parking their cars as councils across the country plan new green levies.
• Doctors told they must report unfit drivers to the DVLADoctors must report any patients who they think are unfit to get behind the wheel to the DVLA under new rules set out by the GMC.

Times Online

• Silvio Berlusconi given deadline for Alitalia rescue Italy's civil aviation authority intervened in the saga over the failing national airline Alitalia today and gave Silvio Berluscuno, the Prime Minister, an effective deadline of Monday to mount a rescue attempt.

Reuters News

• ANALYSIS-Berlusconi's Alitalia election promise turns sourROME (Reuters) -
• ANALYSIS-Investors gamble on airline stocks recoveryNEW YORK (Reuters) - As the stocks of major U.S. airlines recoup more of their losses, some investors are tempted to bet that the revival might be for real.
• China Railway Group wins $1.4 bln subway contractSHANGHAI (Reuters) - China Railway Group , the country's largest railway and highway builder, said on Friday it had won a subway construction contract worth a provisional total of 9.5 billion yuan ($1.39 billion).
• Qantas and Airbus cool new aviation crisis talkTOULOUSE, France (Reuters) - Qantas and planemaker Airbus sought to cool fears of deepening turmoil in the aviation industry on Friday as Australia's top airline took the first of 20 A380 superjumbos and pledged more expansion.

Daily Record

• Exclusive: Police hunt after pilots are blinded with lasers at Edinburgh AirportTWO airline pilots were dazzled by laser beams during their final approach into Edinburgh airport.
• Jail for first offender caught speeding at 70-mph on country roadA DRIVER was jailed yesterday after being caught speeding on a country road.

Birmingham Post

• Extra train carriages for West Coast Main LineOvercrowding on West Coast Main Line trains passing through Birmingham will be eased after a new deal to provide 106 extra Pendolino carriages.

London Evening Standard

• People who live by busy roads have 75% fewer friends than those on quiet streetsPeople who live beside busy roads have 75 per cent fewer friends than residents of quiet neighbourhoods, new research revealed today.
• XL planes were 'flown home empty' while thousands of passengers were left strandedAirline pilots have demanded a Government inquiry into why thousands of passengers were left stranded abroad while planes from travel giant XL flew back to UK empty.
• TfL funds £21,000 bike plan to get residents back in the saddleA London council is giving out a fleet of bicycles worth £21,000 in a 30-day trial to encourage people to leave their cars at home
• Relief at last for drivers as fuel costs are slashedMotorists looked set to cash in on a major petrol price war as fuel retailers slashed prices at the pumps in response to the falling cost of oil

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• No longer a bridge too far “ thanks to new roadA temporary traffic measure “ put in place 23 years ago “ was replaced yesterday with a new stretch of road.

Sunderland Echo

• Full speed ahead for new £2.5m bus stationPassengers are promised better, brighter and cleaner facilities when work on a new £2.5million bus station finishes next month.

International Herald Tribune

• Berlusconi faces prospect of liquidating AlitaliaThe Italian prime minister is hoping for a face-saving solution before the aviation authorities decide Monday about grounding Alitalia.

Aviation Industry

• Airbus Affirms A380 Target as Qantas Receives FirstAt hand-over of Qantas' first A380, CEO confirms Airbus will deliver 12 of the superjumbos this year.
• Social Networking in the SkyPassengers are beginning to view social networks as an important air travel research tool and they're becoming an important way for airlines to market to specific demographic groups.

Other News Sources

• 48-hour rail strike called offSep 19 2008 A planned 48-hour strike by drivers and guards at a leading rail company has been called off following a legal challenge, the firm announced. Southeastern Trains said it was pleased that...
• PD Ports looks east for Northern Gateway businessPD Ports Ltd. is sending senior managers to India later this month to entice Asian cargoes to its 1.5 million-TEU Northern Gateway Container Terminal development in Teesport, in the North East of Engl...
• Railways soon to enable use of laptops in trainsNew Delhi, Sept 19 : Indian Railways is planning to provide satellite-based internet facility in premier trains to enable passengers to use laptops.
• Scheme boosts bus services, GMPTA saysThe Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority claims its Quality Bus Corridor scheme has led to a 20 per cent passenger increase on some bus services.