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

Monday, 29 September 2008

BBC News

• Delay fears over new rail stationThe managing director of East Midlands Trains has admitted that the opening of a £25m flagship new rail station could be delayed.
• Platform collapse delaying trainsPart of the platform at Whitehead Railway Station in County Antrim has collapsed, public transport company Translink has said.
• Villages need more transportA conference about the lack of transport services available to rural communities is looking for solutions.
• Channel Tunnel safety review callLiberal Democrats have urged a safety review for lorries using the Channel Tunnel, following a recent fire which caused major disruption to services.
• Kelly leak a mistake, says HoonThe way news of Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly's resignation emerged was a
• Tories would scrap Heathrow plansThe Conservatives have said they will scrap plans for a third runway at Heathrow airport and build a high-speed rail line instead.

Financial Times

• Deloitte to audit BAEBAE Systems has appointed Deloitte to conduct an independent review of its business practices to ensure they meet the highest ethical standards
• Alitalia rescue hits next stageOperation Phoenix to save Alitalia from bankruptcy moves into its next stage this week when its prospective Italian owners start negotiations on selling a minority...
• Singapore's NOL bids for Hapag-LloydNOL said it made the offer to Hapag-Lloyd's owner TUI AG on Friday, the same day a group of Hamburg investors announced a binding offer for the German container shipping firm which is the world's fifth largest by capacity
• Shipping costsThe Baltic Dry index, which measures dry bulk shipping costs, plunged by nearly a quarter last week as rates plummeted for the biggest ocean carriers of raw materials

The Guardian

• Union backing for third Heathrow runwayThe aviation industry is going through a difficult period with the high cost of fuel, a downturn in passengers and global competition from European liberalisation and the transatlantic Open Skies agreements. This has resulted in airline and travel company failures, mergers and alliances, with many job losses in the sector, and many more failures predicted as passenger numbers continue to fall and fuel prices remain high and unstable.
• Tories plan £20bn 180mph rail link instead of Heathrow third runwayGreenpeace welcomes Cameron's plans for TGV-style high speed rail linking major cities

The Herald

• Reassurance sought about Network Rail’s future ’vegetation management’Pollokshields Heritage, of which I am chairman, has been working with Network Rail on options for the B-listed station building for the past 18 months and is at present adopting the station. We have encouraged Network Rail properly to maintain the embankments.

Times Online

• Free travel for police costs taxpayer £24m a year The cost to the public purse of giving London’s police officers a free ride on the railways has risen to £24 million a year, The Times has learnt.
• Alitalia rescue on course as pilots won over Alitalia, the struggling Italian airline, hopes to link up with Air France-KLM or Lufthansa once its planned rescue concludes.

Network Rail

• A PLAN FOR GROWTH: NETWORK RAIL LAUNCHES STRATEGY FOR YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE

Transport Briefing

• Shepherd's Bush rail station opens two years lateShepherd's Bush Overground station on the West London Line has opened to passengers after contractors completed finishing touches to the site over the weekend.

Birmingham Post

• Tories backing high-speed rail link from Birmingham to EuropeA Conservative government would approve a new high-speed rail line linking Birmingham with Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels, and cutting journey times to London by 35 minutes.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Green light for £50m transport boostA £50 MILLION package of transport improvements needed to support plans to regenerate Edinburgh's waterfront has been given the green light by council chiefs.

Metro

• Daredevil's bid to cross Channel falls shortA french adventurer's attempt to enter the record books by becoming the first person to cross the English Channel in a pedal-powered airship ended in failure on Sunday.

The York Press

• Firm is on track for longer trains RAIL commuters between York and Leeds can look forward to less overcrowding, under new plans to lengthen trains and increase peak-time services.
• Council savings on transport costs A MAJOR review of York™s community transport provision has led to significant savings and a more efficient service.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Ambitious blueprint for future of West Yorkshire railwaysTRANSPORT bosses today unveiled an ambitious blueprint for the future of West Yorkshire's railways.

C.N.N.

• Japan's transport minister quits over gaffesRead full story for latest details.

Washington Post

• Airfares aren't taking off everywhere MINNEAPOLIS -- Air fares are up, right? The short answer is yes _ 22 fare increases this year. But fares in some cities are flat or even down, as fierce competition keeps airlines from charging as much as they would like.

Aviation Industry

• New Air France-KLM Ceo as Top Roles are SplitAir France-KLM said on Thursday it was splitting the chairman and chief executive roles and Jean-Cyril Spinetta would hand day-to-day running of the world's biggest airline by revenues to his deputy.

Other News Sources

• Trial today to ease Operation Stack nightmarePolice are set to trial a new scheme aimed at easing traffic congestion around the Port of Dover today.
• Bus firm on awards shortlistPioneering technology to help bus drivers cut fuel consumption by 10 per cent has led to the Oxford Bus Company being nominated for a national award.
• A second giant ferry en routeTHE second of a controversial fleet of new cross-Solent ferries has set sail for the UK to begin sea trials.
• National Express keeps tabs on its moneyTransport group National Express has closed multi-million pound deals to deliver revenue management systems for two of its biggest rail franchise operations.
• Businesses in the county demand better rail services between Swindon and Kemble.BUSINESSES are being called on to add their clout to a campaign to improve rail services between Swindon and Kemble
• Awards given to adoptersAWARDS have been given to volunteers who have worked to improve village stations in the Great Yarmouth area.

• New eco-friendly abras set for launchThe Marine Agency at Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has revealed its strategy to bring higher levels of security and safety on waterways in the emirate.According to Mohammed Obaid Al-Mulla, CEO o...
• Bahrain approves plan for monorail systemThe Cabinet has unveiled ambitious plans to overhaul public transportation through introducing the Monorail Metro, similar to the project being built in Dubai.Government officials have ordered an exte...
• Virgin Galactic mothership's first flight delayed to year's endThe maiden flight of Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo mothership has been delayed, possibly to the end of...
• NOL makes binding bid for HapagNEPTUNE Orient Lines has made the final push for Hapag Lloyd by submitting a binding bid for the German container shipping line.

Other Subscription Services

• Somali pirates free MISC tanker after ransom paymentTHE second of MISC two tankers hijacked by Somali pirates has been freed following a ransom payment.