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

Friday, 10 October 2008

BBC News

• In bloom: growing algae for biofuel"It's exciting because it's achievable," says Peter van den Dorpel, as he looks over the big plastic tubes full of various shades of green algae. His company has designed, produced and marketed the crop in its bid to be the first to provide the aviation industry with a feasible alternative to fossil fuel.
• Hoon reveals transport plans [video]Nottinghamshire MP Geoff Hoon gives his first TV interview since becoming transport secretary.
• Council subsidises student travelA county council has pledged £630,000 to subsidise rail travel and help teenagers continue their education.
• Clyde ferry service to be savedA 500-year-old ferry service on the River Clyde looks set to be maintained, after plans to replace it with a bridge were deemed too expensive.
• New £6m Stirling bridge delayedThe opening of a £6m bridge to link Stirling city centre with the new 40-acre Forthside waterfront development has been delayed.
• Airport expansion gets go-aheadPlans to expand Stansted Airport to deal with an extra 10 million passengers get the go-ahead from the government.

Department for Transport

• Written Ministerial Statement on Stansted AirportWritten Ministerial Statement - Planning Appeal - Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Stansted Airport

Financial Times

• GM shares at lowest since 1950sGeneral Motors lost almost a third of its market value amid concerns about the carmaker's ability to continue funding its operations in the face of the credit crunch and weakening sales
• Iberia raises stake in British AirwaysIn the past three weeks the Spanish flag carrier has been taking advantage of the steep fall in BA's share price and has more than doubled it's stake in the UK airline to 7.3%
• SNCF buys into Italian rail planFrance's state railway is pushing ahead with its expansion by taking a 20% stake in NTV, an Italian consortium that plans to launch Europe's first privately operated high-speed train service in 2011
• Airline bankruptcies 'set to double'Airline bankruptcies around the world this year are set to double over the winter to at least 70, the director-general of the European Regional Airlines (ERA) industry body said
• Air France to drop Heathrow-LA serviceEurope's biggest airline is abandoning its first foray into the long-haul market between London Heathrow and the US, only six months after launching its initial route
• Berlin delays IPO of D Bahn unitBerlin was forced to postpone the sale of a quarter stake in the train operating unit of Deutsche Bahn, the state-owned railway
• US presses on with NY airport slot salesTransportation officials will pursue the opposed auctions for take-off and landing slots in a bid to relieve air-traffic congestion and keep ticket prices low

The Guardian

• TfL had £40m investment in failed Icelandic bankBoris Johnson vows to recoup lost transport cash and urges government not to cut spending in capital after bank bail-out

The Herald

• Hoon overrules objections to huge expansion of StanstedThe UK Government faced the wrath of environmental campaigners yesterday after it ruled out local authority objections to a massive expansion of Stansted Airport.

The Independent

• Expansion of Stansted wins Hoon approvalThe Government has been accused of reneging on its commitment to tackle climate change and ignoring local opinion after it stepped in to approve a major expansion of Stansted.
• Bus drivers strike over demand for single pay rateThousands of bus workers are to stage a 24-hour strike over pay today, causing travel chaos for passengers. The walkout at three firms – First, Metroline and Metrobus – is expected to cause widespread disruption to services in London.

The Scotsman

• Virgin train that puts its power back into the tracks a real signal of intentTRAINS are commonly thought of as a more environmentally-friendly travel option than planes or cars. They are, of course, not zero-emission items. Any train trip creates emissions. But the industry takes its environmental responsibilities seriously and is working on its carbon footprint.
• Lib Dems: Don't let politicians run transportALL major transport decisions should be taken out of the hands of politicians and made instead by an independent panel, Tavish Scott, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, suggested yesterday.
• Greener, leaner jets . . . or simply a lot of hot air?The aviation industry says that it is cleaning up its act, but the green lobby is far from convinced, writes Anthony Harrington

The Telegraph

• Stansted airport expansion to go aheadMr Hoon's decision will infuriate environmentalists and heighten fears that the Government is ready to back additional runway plans at airports in the south east.
• Pilot error not to blame for Madrid air crash say investigatorsThe preliminary report by investigators into the Madrid air crash appears to absolve the pilots of any blame for the accident.
• Stansted airport expansion will add 35m passengersStansted airport's expansion is to go ahead leaving those under the flight path facing an extra 63 flights a day.
• Stansted expansion wrecks rural idyllStansted's expansion was described as

Times Online

• Stansted go-ahead for 10 million more flights Two London airports have won approval for large increases in flights and passengers in the biggest expansion of aviation for a decade.

Mail Online

• Stansted to handle extra 10million passengers a year as Government gives go-ahead to controversial expansion plansBritain's third biggest airport was given the green light for a massive expansion yesterday, to the anger of residents and environmental campaigners.

Network Rail

• A DAY™S WORK FOR 120 YEARS OF RAIL BENEFITSIt may have been standing for over a century, but thanks to a new method of bridge replacement, the Pill Bridge, in Avonmouth was replaced by Network Rail in just eight hours. This technique, being piloted in the West Country for the first time, forms part of Network Rail™s ambitions to complete engineering work in less time.

Transport Briefing

• Stansted Airport expansion plan cleared for take-offStansted Airport is to be allowed to increase its capacity to handle 35 million passengers a year, the government announced on Thursday (9 October).

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Faster train for North Wales will miss WrexhamA FASTER rail service from Holyhead to Cardiff was given the go ahead yesterday.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Rail strike is cancelled but misery to continueRAIL passengers escaped a second day of strike misery today when a 24-hour walk-out was cancelled after nine hours of talks at conciliation service Acas.

Liverpool Echo

• Canal ferry ride cruises to successMERSEY Ferry cruises on the Manchester Ship Canal have broken all records.

Liverpool Post

• Land swap plan to create new station for MaghullCOMMUTERS on Merseyrail’s packed Northern Line could see a second station built in Maghull to ease pressure on the overcrowded terminal, the Daily Post has learned.

London Evening Standard

• Jobs under threat at firm behind South West TrainsJobs at the company behind London's largest commuter train service are at risk as the credit crunch continues.
• Bus drivers' strike to hit 1m commutersA million commuters face chaos tomorrow as workers at three major companies pledged to go out on strike
• Extra 10 million passengers a year to fly at StanstedTransport Secretary Geoff Hoon has delighted business but angered green groups by allowing Stansted airport an extra 10 million passengers a year

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• MSPs step up pressure to get rail project back on trackNORTH-EAST MSPs have turned up the pressure on the Scottish Government to back an ambitious commuter rail scheme for the region.
• MSP calls for integrated travel ticketsA north-east MSP has called for integrated bus and train tickets to be introduced to encourage more use of public transport.
• Road Sense questioner reprimanded at bypass inquiryA pressure group opposing the proposed Aberdeen bypass was warned yesterday against taking œfishing trips through Transport Scotland™s evidence in an attempt to bolster its case.

The York Press

• Campaigners in railway demand CAMPAIGNERS today made fresh calls for the York to Beverley railway to be re-opened, after the latest fatality on a major road that links the city and the market town.

Wales Online

• Welsh engineering project creates ’safest school minibus in the UK’WELSH engineering scientists have come up with what they claim is the safest minibus in the UK.

Burnley Express

• MP to meet with Railways Minister to get trains movingBURNLEY MP Kitty Ussher is to discuss a fast train link from Burnley to Manchester with the new Railways Minister today.

Doncaster Free Press

• Ryan team flies in to back the airportLOW cost airline Ryanair has reaffirmed its commitment to Robin Hood Airport amid turbulent times for the aviation industry.
• Schools attack council plan to end free busesSCHOOLS across the borough have rounded on proposals to end free bus travel for thousands of youngsters.

Northants Evening Telegraph

• Police action on M1 lorries in NorthamptonshirePolice are stopping lorries on the M1 in Northamptonshire today as part of a campaign to reduce road casualties.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Green campaigners furious over Stansted expansion go-aheadEnvironmental campaigners have reacted angrily to the Government's decision to allow a massive expansion in capacity at Stansted Airport in Essex.

The Shields Gazette

• Traffic jam fears over new Tyne TunnelBUSINESS leaders have backed calls for urgent road changes before the launch of the £260m second Tyne Tunnel.

New Scientist

• Renewable energy: Electric dreamsCapture just a fraction of the energy swirling round our planet and we'll have all the power we need for a carbon-free future. In this special issue, shows how it can be done (full text available to subscribers)

Washington Post

• Financial turmoil, weaker sales batter GM shares NEW YORK -- Investors were watching to see whether General Motors Corp. shares will fall for a seventh straight session Friday as financial turmoil and a weakening global auto market have heightened worries that the automaker may be unable to pull out of its nosedive before it runs out of cash.

Transport for London

• Delay to Dagenham Dock inquiryThe Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has asked the Department for Transport (DfT) to delay the start of the Public Inquiry into the proposed extension of its network to Dagenham Dock.
• Easier journeys as Mayor announces the installation of new wide aisle gates at Gants Hill, Upney, Elm Park, East Ham and Dagenham Heathway Tube stationsThe Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has announced that London Underground (LU) has installed new wide aisle gates at Gants Hill, Upney, Elm Park, East Ham and Dagenham Heathway Underground stations to make life easier for passengers.
• TfL launches latest Cycling Safety campaignTransport for London (TfL) urges cyclists and motorists to watch out for each other on London's roads.
• Operators accredited for helping to shape the future of freight in LondonThe first members of TfL's Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) recognised with bronze status.
• Oxford Street bus diversions to facilitate Crossrail preparatory worksWorks will be taking place in Bond Street, Paddington and Tottenham Court Road areas from October 2008 to January 2009.

Aviation Industry

• Green light for next phase of growth at StanstedBAA expressed delight today at the decision by the Government to grant permission for increased passenger numbers on Stansted's existing single runway...
• The Truth About Consolidator Fares: Part OneAirlines deny they exist, but someone is getting deals.
• Ryanair 'to sell transatlantic seats for 10'Ryanair is set to use the economic meltdown as a springboard for a cutprice transatlantic airline offering fares as low as 10 a trip.
• British Airwaysa closure of Scottish cabin crew base could cost 140 jobsBRITISH AIRWAYS is planning to close its Glasgow cabin crew base, putting almost 140 jobs under threat, it was revealed yesterday.
• Iberia increases stake in BASpanish airline now holds 7.3%
• Air France drops Heathrow-LAFrench carrier stops route after seven months.

Other News Sources

• Revamp 'could signal railway heyday return'TORQUAY Railway Station could be given a new lease of life in revamp plans by Network Rail.
• 30,000 used fast ferryTHE national boss of Stagecoach has hailed its fast ferry service across the Bay a huge success with almost 30,000 passengers carried in a month.
• LOCHRANZA–CLAONAIG WINTER FERRYslanders are speaking up in support of a winter ferry service from Lochranza to Claonaig.
• Oxford Aviation considers BNASAircraft refurbishment company Oxford Aviation could relocate to the Brunswick Naval Air Station once it is closed in 2011, according to U.K.-based trade publication Flight Daily News.
• Unite Welcomes the Transport Secretary's Decision to Approve Planning Permission to Increase Capacity at StanstedUnite, the UK's largest trade union, today welcomed the statement by the Transport Secretary, Geoff Hoon MP, to approve planning permission to increase air traffic at Stansted.
• Hybrid improvementBAE Systems has unveiled an improved model of its hybrid propulsion system at the American Public Transportation Association™s Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego.
• Green light for next phase of growth at StanstedBAA expressed delight today at the decision by the Government to grant permission for increased passenger numbers on Stansted's existing single runway...
• Analyst predicts 'shake-out' in freight transportRising fuel costs and lower demand will result in a
• MAN and Knorr-Bremse create Blind Spot AssistantBraking system manufacturer Knorr-Bremse has teamed up with truck-maker MAN to create a Blind Spot Assistant which extends a driver's vision when making a turn at urban intersections and reduces the risk of accidents.
• Government green-lights Stansted expansionTransport minister Geoff Hoon has approved planning permission for Stansted airport to expand, overturning Uttlesford District Council's decision to deny planning permission for the expansion in November 2006.
• Fire stripped off Channel Tunnel liningLarge chunks of the fire damaged concrete lining in the Channel Tunnel have fallen off, the lead French investigator into the blaze on 11 September said this week.
• More corners and less speed to save roads cashNew trunk roads should be designed with tighter bends and slower speed limits in an effort to save cash which could be reallocated to local roads, municipal engineers told NCE this week.
• Campaigners blast airport expansionEnvironmental campaigners reacted angrily to the Government's decision to allow a massive expansion in capacity at one of the UK's largest airports. The number of passengers travelling through Stansted Airport is set to rise from 25 million to 35 million a year with the number of flights increasing from 241,000 to 264,000.
• Gershon takes permanent role at bmiAirline bmi has appointed interim marketing director Katherine Gershon to the permanent position of sales and marketing director.
• Comet deal for WincantonElectrical retailer Comet has signed a five year deal with Wincanton to manage its newly built south eastern distribution centre in Harlow, extending its long standing relationship with the company.
• Action in focus at first young people's conferenceYoung transport workers have this week outlined priority areas of work as part of a strategy to respond to their peers' needs.
• Cessna reveals new cabin mock-up of Columbus business jetCessna unveiled a new cabin mock-up of its Citation Columbus business jet at the show as it forges ahead with aircraft...
• Italian investors extend Alitalia offer until 31 October Italian investor consortium Compagnia Aerea Italiana (CAI) has extended the deadline on its conditional offer to relaunch Alitalia until the end of the month. CAI,...
• US shortsea scheme a step closerPROSPECTS for a shortsea shipping scheme in the US are brighter today, the US maritime administrator tells Fairplay.
• Written Ministerial Statement on Stansted Airport    Written Ministerial Statement - Planning Appeal - Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Stansted Airport
• Tackling climate changeFinance Secretary John Swinney today backed recommendations to strengthen the UK Climate Change Bill.
• Govt told to meet 80% emissions reductionNew Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband has been told in his first week on the job that the UK must increase its 2050 carbon reduction targets from 60% to at least 80%.
• One in 12 motorists have ditched their cars, says StagecoachBus operator Stagecoach Group today said eight per cent of Manchester motorists have stopped using their cars in favour of public transport in the past three years.

Other Subscription Services

• EU ministers approve diluted safety directivesTRANSPORT ministers have agreed to radically reduced versions of the civil liability and flag state control directives.