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

Tuesday, 28 October 2008

BBC News

• Salmond praises 'green' bus firmA Falkirk firm set to launch a new generation of diesel-electric buses has been praised by the first minister.
• Landslide blocks busy train lineA double landslide has temporarily closed a busy commuter train line through the Pennines.
• In pictures: Green technologies [photos]Alternative transport companies show off their goods to industry experts at the UK's first national low carbon vehicle event.
• Changes to city's congestion planAmendments have been put forward to Manchester's planned congestion charge, including a cut in the maximum rate.
• Motorways contract 'dragged on'A contract for communications services on England's motorways and major roads took more than twice as long as planned to arrange, MPs say.
• Climate bill 'to include planes'Measures to cut UK carbon emissions by 80% looks set to cover aviation and shipping, heading off a rebellion by MPs.
• Boeing unions reach strike dealUS planemaker Boeing has reached a tentative deal to end a strike by assembly workers,
• VW shares up 146% on Porsche moveVolkswagen sees its share price more than double on news carmaker Porsche has upped its stake in the firm.

Department for Transport

• New jobs on the horizon as Britain leads green motoring revolutionNew initiatives to put Britain at the forefront of a green motoring revolution by encouraging a mass market in electric and hybrid cars have been announced today.

Financial Times

• Hedge funds hit as Porsche moves on VWVolkswagen's shares more than doubled after Porsche moved to cement its control of Europe's biggest carmaker and hedge funds, rushing to cover short positions, were forced to buy stock from a shrinking pool of shares in free float
• Labour rebels join Heathrow T6 fightA group of rebel Labour MPs have joined forces with Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders to oppose the planned third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow...
• Experts doubt Tory Heathrow rail planSeveral speakers at the Integrating High-Speed Rail with Heathrow conference produced figures regarding existing air and train services and passenger numbers that cast doubt on the Conservatives' proposal
• Eastern Airways gains London City footholdThe UK regional airline's entry into the London business market has been made possible by a deal overseen by the Office of Fair Trading aimed at preserving competition at London's short-haul business airport
• Deutsche Bank team buys UK rail stock groupThe owner of nearly a third of the UK's passenger rail rolling stock has been sold to a consortium led by Germany's Deutsche Bank in a deal that could mark its expansion into the growing continental European market

The Guardian

• £2bn sale of train company raises fears for health of Banco SantanderAbbey yesterday agreed the sale of train-leasing company Porterbrook for a reported £2bn amid concerns that the bank's owner, Banco Santander of Spain, had joined the list of major financial institutions wounded by the credit crunch.
• MPs hit out at government over motorist projectThe government's commissioning of a £385m telecommunications contract to help motorists beat jams on motorways took nearly three times as long as planned and cost five times more than expected, a committee of MPs says today.

The Herald

• Dennis has £15m orders for hybridsAlexander Dennis, the Falkirk-based bus builder, yesterday announced it had £15m orders in the pipeline for pioneering hybrid models that could help operators slash operating costs and carbon emissions.

The Independent

• BA is no longer ‘British’ Airways Britrish Airways has stopped being the UK's national carrier and effectively become London Airways. The airline still operates flights from Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. But, as with the colour options for Henry Ford's Model T, passengers' choice of destination from these cities is limited: they can fly to any other city they like – so long as it is London.

The Scotsman

• Growth in cross-Border services 'would add most to UK economy'RUNNING more trains between Edinburgh and London would have a greater economic benefit than simply adding more services from northern England to the UK capital, according to a new report.

The Telegraph

• Green cars to be tested to cut motoring carbon footprintOrdinary drivers are being enlisted to test drive
• Labour facing revolt on Heathrow expansion plansLabour is facing a growing revolt over plans for a third runway at Heathrow.

Times Online

• Families sought for new trial of electric cars Families willing to exchange their petrol or diesel car for one that plugs into the mains are being sought to take part in a Government trial of electric vehicles.

Mail Online

• Rail passenger gets his arm sucked down on-board toilet trying to save his mobile phone A passenger on a French train had to be rescued by firemen after having his arm sucked down the on-board toilet.
• The 'quiet' train carriages that will block mobile phone signals It is the scourge of public transport - you settle into your seat hoping for a relaxing journey and someone beside you starts a loud and animated mobile phone conversation - and now it could be banished.

Transport Briefing

• Bristol cycle city phase one plans commuter routesDetailed proposals for the first phase of Bristol's Cycling City programme, an initiative to make the city one of the most cyclist-friendly conurbations in Europe, have been revealed this week.
• Crossrail Tottenham Court Road £300m contract postedTransport for London is seeking a main works contractor for the Crossrail Tottenham Court Road station upgrade, valued at between £150m and £300m.
• Electric car industry gains £100m government backingThe government is throwing its weight behind plans to create a new generation of electric cars which will have mass market appeal.

Liverpool Echo

• Pier Head canal link is opened this weekTHE first phase of an £8m scheme to revamp Liverpool’s World Heritage waterfront will be officially opened this week.

London Evening Standard

• Motorcyclists to be allowed in red route bus lanesMotorcyclists are to be allowed to use most bus lanes under plans by Boris Johnson
• Flights to be included in 2050 green targetsGreen groups praised Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband after it emerged he would include aviation in proposed laws to tackle global warming

Newcastle Journal

• World can halt fossil fuel use by 2090Renewable energy could provide all global energy needs by 2090, saving $18 trillion in future fuel costs, a report says

Wales Online

• Expert in call for a Severn Barrage superportCOULD a Severn Barrage lead to Wales becoming home to one of the world’s largest ports?

Blackpool Gazette

• Threat to future of old taxi rankCAB drivers fear it could be the end of the road for one of Blackpool's oldest taxi ranks.

Carlisle News & Star

• Stobart chiefs star in TV documentary seriesViewers will get a behind-the-scenes look into the lives of haulage bosses William Stobart and Andrew Tinkler on ITV Border next month.

Reading Evening Post

• Bus fares up for second timeBus passengers are facing a second fare hike in four months with transport bosses blaming the credit crunch and a massive 44 per cent hike in fuel costs for the rises.

Forbes

• Why China May Save The Electric Car Recession or no recession, Asia will be buying a massive number of green cars in the coming decade.

International Herald Tribune

• Honda's quarterly profit drops 41%Honda also lowered its annual profit forecasts as a deepening financial crisis hammers global car demand and sends the yen soaring against major currencies.
• White House explores aid for merger between GM and ChryslerThe Bush administration is examining a range of options for providing emergency financial help to spur a deal, government officials said.

Transport for London

• New work of art for Tube map cover by Pae WhiteTube customers can now pick up the latest Pocket Tube map cover from stations. The new artwork '...fragment of a Magic Carpet, circa 1213' is now on the front of millions of Pocket Tube maps.

Aviation Industry

• Go-Ahead going where?ad and rail transport has held up better than most in the current markets, but the prospect of a downturn is putting a dampener on Go-Ahead. The shares fell 7 per cent after the company's first-quarter trading statement revealed slowing demand for its key Gatwick Express airport route - due to reduced air traffic at the South London airport - and a £400,000 credit exposure to failed airlines.
• National Express says travel sector not immune from slowdownThe bus and rail operator, National Express, has warned that the travel sector is not invulnerable when it comes to the worsening economic slowdown.
• Cathay denies British Airways takeoverHONG KONG carrier Cathay Pacific today denied market rumours that it was planning a takeover of British Airways.

Other News Sources

• 'Strong case ' to make rail track dualA SENIOR Network Rail official has said there is a "strong case" for the proposed dualling of the Hereford to Malvern rail link.
• Bus firm stepping green credentials up a gearFirst Minister praises Alexander Dennis for its contribution to climate change fight.
• Positive response to John Lewis eco-truck ideaRetailer John Lewis says it has had a
• LD Lines plans expansion to RO-RO ferry servicesFrench ferry company LD Lines is planning a recession-defying expansion of its cross-Channel RO-RO services in the next year.
• Small hauliers urged to grab skills fundingSmall truck operators are being urged to tap into the Government's £350m of additional funding for free training for small business employees in the wake of the credit crunch.
• TC warns of illegal trade in O-licence marginsTom Macartney, the Traffic Commissioner for the North-Eastern area, warned operators attending the Commercial Motor/ATS Euromaster legal seminar in Wakefield of the dangers of buying and selling O-licences from and to third parties advertising these services in the trade press.
• Scania to cut truck production in EuropeScania is to cut production in Europe in the face of falling demand because of the current economic uncertainty.
• British Airways marketing chief quitsBritish Airways head of marketing communications Katherine Whitton has resigned after 15 months in the role. She will step down in December and it is not known if she has a job to go to.
• BA, Qantas agree price-fixing fines in AustraliaBritish Airways (BA) and its Oneworld alliance partner Qantas Airways have agreed to pay millions of dollars in fines in Australia to settle charges of price-fixing...
• Greening logisticsSoaring fuel prices, together with growing road congestion and increasingly stringent EU legislation, are forcing freight and delivery services to rethink their transportation strategies so as to save money on fuel and limit their environmental impact.
• Global airlines blast EU ETS decisionThe International Air Transport Association (IATA) has condemned a decision by EU ministers to ignore the current economic downturn and approve a compromise deal on including aviation activities in the bloc's emission trading scheme (EU ETS).

Other Subscription Services

• Brussels deaf to box lines consortia rules protestsEC stands firm against pressure from container lines to grant a formal green light to alliances that have a large market share.
• CSCL slides into the redCHINA Shipping Container Lines sank into the red in the third quarter and industry analysts remained gloomy about the firm’s future prospects.