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

Thursday, 06 November 2008

BBC News

• TfL could save £2.4bn in a decadeTransport for London (TfL) has said it plans to save about £2.4bn over the next 10 years.
• Mayor announces transport plansDedicated cycling routes into central London and opening up bus lanes to motorbikes are among Boris Johnson's plans to improve transport in London.
• Smith to unveil airport ID schemeWorkers at two airports will be used to test UK national identity card, the government is expected to announce.
• Oil giant Total's profits up 35%French oil group Total reports a 35% rise in third-quarter profits despite a recent 5% fall in production.
• Transport switch helps FirstGroupRail and bus operator FirstGroup says half-year revenues are up 57%, helped by people switching to public transport.

Financial Times

• Delay for D Bahn unit stake saleGermany's biggest privatisation in eight years appears heading to be for the buffers after the government warned it would probably not sell a stake in the train...
• Cathay Pacific hit by hedging lossCathay Pacific issued its second profit warning of the year because of a sudden fall in fuel prices, which could have a surprisingly negative impact on its earnings because of hedges against surging oil prices

The Guardian

• Expand Heathrow, says train firmFirstGroup, owner of the First Great Western and First Capital Connect rail services, said that Heathrow should be expanded as well as extra rail capacity being built, such as a high-speed line linking London to the north of England and Scotland. Sir Moir Lockhead, FirstGroup's chief executive, said new rail lines would not solve Heathrow's congestion problems.

The Herald

• Government subsidy signals smoother ride for FirstGroupFirstgroup shares gained yesterday after a difficult few weeks as the company sought to convince investors that any pressure on UK rail revenues would be offset by government subsidies and long-term contracts for its US buses.

Reuters News

• Two airports agree to trial ID cardsLONDON (Reuters) - Two airports have signed up to trial the government's controversial ID cards scheme, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is due to announce on Thursday.

Transport Briefing

• Arriva confirms bus orders totalling £130m for 08-09Bus operator Arriva has placed orders for its UK bus business which will see more than 500 new buses come into service during 2009. The orders represent a second year of significant fleet renewal and growth by the group with investment totalling more than £130m over 2008 and 2009.
• £35m Portsmouth-Clanfield A3 bus corridor completedTransport Minister Paul Clark has opened the £35m A3 Bus Corridor - a 10km stretch of road on which buses have priority between Clanfield and Portsmouth.
• Bradford rail bottleneck removed during school holidayNetwork Rail says its has removed a bottleneck for train services after completing an £8.5m upgrade of track and signalling outside Bradford station.
• Eco-town frontrunner pledges new Bittern Line stationNorfolk's successful Bittern rail line could receive significant infrastructure improvements after Rackheath, north east of Norwich, emerged as the government's surprise favourite location for building a new eco-town.
• Mayor moots south London Underground rail extensionsMayor of London Boris Johnson has published a consultation document containing his current thinking on how to develop London's transport networks. Entitled Way to Go, the paper is a precursor to the Mayor's Transport Strategy, now expected to be published towards the end of 2009.

Birmingham Post

• Tories pledge to build extra Birmingham station for high speed rail linkBirmingham would gain a major railway station under a Conservative government, it has been revealed.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• No change for Airbus cost-cutAIRCRAFT manufacturer Airbus which has major operations in North Wales is refusing to abandon its cost-saving plans despite a potential profits windfall as the dollar soars in value.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Transport plan under scrutinyTHE future of the region's transport strategy is to be outlined at a meeting in the Scottish Parliament next week.
• MEP supports shake-up for flight pricingSCOTTISH Nationalist MEP Alyn Smith has welcomed new EU rules requiring greater transparency in airline ticket pricing.
• City taxi fares set to rise as the cost of fuel hits driversTAXI fares in Edinburgh are set to rise as the cost of fuel and the global economic slowdown hits drivers.

London Evening Standard

• Mayor and Adonis clash over £1.4billion Tube funding crisisBoris Johnson has launched a ferocious attack on the Government for refusing to stump up more money for the Tube upgrade
• Get cars and buses out of Park Lane, says Boris JohnsonPlans to turn Park Lane into a pedestrianised boulevard lined with restaurants and shops were revealed

Manchester Evening News

• One man's C-charge campaignA ONE-man anti-congestion charge movement has taken his fight direct to the M60.
• TransPennine Express powers First's resultsTRANSPORT company FirstGroup hailed the success of its TransPennine Express rail services as it unveiled higher interim profits.
• Airport flights plummetMANCHESTER Airport has seen a dramatic fall in passengers and airlines with 2,500 fewer flights per month.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Couple want compensation if Aberdeen bypass is builtA couple whose home could sit within 100ft of the proposed Aberdeen bypass yesterday insisted they were entitled to compensation for the œhorrific consequence of living alongside the road.

The York Press

• £9m York road upgrade but first comes pain MOTORISTS in and around York are facing a year of disruption, as a multi-million-pound upgrade of the outer ring road gets under way.

Carlisle News & Star

• Work starts to demolish Mossband viaduct near CarlisleWork starts today on the demolition of the old Mossband Viaduct which carried the A74 over the West Coast railway line north of Carlisle.

Chester Standard

• MP welcomes completion of initial works at Chester stationChester MP Christine Russell urged more people to use trains as she welcomed the completion of first phase improvement works at Chester Railway Station.

Northants Evening Telegraph

• East Midlands Trains commuters put boss on the spotCommuters grilled rail bosses on a station platform as the row over timetable changes continues.

Sunderland Echo

• Try the smart route to workWorkers have been getting help to go green and leave their cars at home.
• Rail king's life trackedIt's full steam ahead for a museum as it delves into the life of the brains behind Sunderland's railway.

The Shields Gazette

• S Tyne roads are safest in regionSOUTH Tyneside has some of the safest roads in the UK, new statistics reveal.
• MP demands airport payout probeAN MP is calling on the Government and the Audit Commission to probe an out-of-court settlement between Newcastle Airport and its former chief executive.

International Herald Tribune

• Flag carriers learn lessons from the budget airlinesFollowing in the footsteps of Qantas' successful subsidiary Jetstar, British Airway's new OpenSkies budget airline is cautiously expanding, providing further signs of how flag carriers are implementing all viable strategies to stay afloat.

New Scientist

• Invention: Aviation speciallooks at the latest patents that could take the world of aviation and space exploration to new heights

Railnews

• News: FirstGroup reports passenger growth — and a hint of slowdown FIRSTGROUP is the latest rail operator to report profits and a continuing growth in passenger numbers — although there was the first hint of a slow-down in September.

Aviation Industry

• National road toll trials start in 2009Despite previous statements from the Government suggesting that it had abandoned the idea of a national road-pricing scheme, hundreds of drivers are being asked to take part in trials that it is likely will result in charges of up over £1.30 a mile on the most congested roads.
• SAS posts $260 million loss in third quarterScandinavian airline group SAS AB said Wednesday it swung to a loss of 2.01 billion kronor in the third quarter, citing weakening demand for air travel due to a weakening economy and high oil prices.
• Delta Air Lines adding first bag feeDelta Air Lines , the world's biggest carrier, says it will impose a $15 fee to check a first bag, becoming the last of the six legacy airlines to impose such a fee.
• Boeing delays 787 test flight due to strikeBoeing Co. said Tuesday the first test flight of its long-delayed 787 jetliner has been postponed until next year due to an eight-week strike by union workers.
• Unions jeopardise Alitalia dealPilots threaten action
• Watchdog slams BAABut permits rise in Stansted charges

Green Miscellany

• Schools win awards for traffic reductionTwo schools in the Wirral area of Liverpool have been given awards for reducing local road congestion.

Other News Sources

• Greyhound chugs back to profitFirstgroup is weighing up plans to launch its iconic US Greyhound coach service in the UK, pitching it into a head-to-head fight with rival National Express.
• Stobart acts swiftly to kill off Innovate brandRestructure includes new Scania tractors with manual gearboxes.
• Members praise Palletline's new hub£1m IT investment and six-lane scanning system result in faster throughput at Solihull hub
• Wireless IFE continues to challenge suppliers Challenges associated with bringing wireless in-flight entertainment systems on board aircraft remain great enough that hardware giants Panasonic and Thales...
• Congested Heathrow denies commemoration landing slot to British Eagle DC-6 Operators of a vintage Douglas DC-6 have been blocked from conducting a commemorative service to London Heathrow, owing to congestion concerns at the hub...
• German ports keep top priorityGERMANY must continue efforts to improve its port and hinterland infrastructure, regardless of today™s slowing of traffic growth and the global financial pinch, a port umbrella group has warned.
• AIB shutting its shipping deskIRELAND™S Allied Irish Bank announced today it will close the bank™s shipping desk and scrap its dividend in an attempt to support its balance sheet.
• EU talks on car CO2 cuts enter final roundEU member states have given the French Presidency a mandate to start negotiations with the European Parliament to fine-tune a draft regulation on reducing CO2 emissions from new vehicles. The law could see manufacturers' obligations delayed to 2015.
• CAA publishes CC Stansted Airport charges report The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has today published the Competition Commission's (CC's) report and recommendations on charges at Stansted Airport, which will govern how much the airport's owner, BAA, can charge airlines during the five-year period beginning April 2009. The report is available on the CAA website at: http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=78&pagetype=90&pageid=10232 and on the CC website at http://www.competition-commission.org.uk.
• Reducing Scotland's carbon footprintProjects as diverse as thermal imaging to spot heat escapes, allotments and a new cycle path for children are among the latest beneficiaries from funding to cut Scotland's carbon footprint.
• Public consultation opens on toughest ever green standards for eco-townsLocal communities will get their next chance to have their say on the eco-town proposals as Housing Minister Margaret Beckett today launches the Government's second round of formal consultation on the proposed locations and standards for eco-towns.
• BMI stops Manchester transatlantic flightsBMI has confirmed it is pulling out all transatlantic flights from Manchester Airport.
• Industry will emerge from downturn “ EppsChallenges make it stronger