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

Tuesday, 11 November 2008

BBC News

• MPs debate third Heathrow runwayThe need for a third runway at Heathrow airport is to be debated by MPs.
• 'Put Heathrow runway on hold' - [BBC Radio 4 Today Programme]A plan to build a third runway at Heathrow airport is to be discussed by MPs. Labour MP Martin Salter, a member of the all party parliamentary group for the environment, and Tom Kelly, director of communications at Heathrow owners BAA, discuss if Heathrow needs to be expanded
• Bus staff strike disrupts schoolsThousands of schoolchildren in north east Scotland and the Highlands are being affected by a Stagecoach bus strike.
• GM shares decline to 60-year lowShares in US car group General Motors close at a 60-year low after the struggling firm is hit by a broker downgrade.

Department for Transport

• Community rail - new life for local linesThe rail service on the North Staffordshire Line, between Crewe and Derby, has been designated as a community rail service, Minister of State for Transport Andrew Adonis announced today. The designated service allows for a more flexible approach to be adopted by the train operating company (East Midlands Trains) working alongside the local community rail partnership.
• Rogue drivers forced off the roadsThe number of rogue drivers on Britain's roads has dropped significantly, the results of a joint police and Government operation indicated today.

Financial Times

• Residents hedging bets, not changing alliancesIn the constituency of Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush, where leading Labour airport rebel Andrew Slaughter has a less-than-robust majority of 5,520 votes, the mood is one of cautious ambivalence over the prospect of a bigger Heathrow. The "marginal" residents of Ealing, it seems, are hedging their bets.
• Important role of transfer passengersPassengers transferring from one flight to another account for more than a third of all travellers passing through Heathrow, according to a study by the government’s air transport adviser.
• MPs fear Heathrow plan could lose votesLabour opponents of Heathrow expansion will meet Gordon Brown on Tuesday amid growing signs that the proposals are inflicting political damage on the government in seats crucial to victory at the next general election.

The Telegraph

• MPs discuss third runway at HeathrowIn the Commons debate, ministers will say the third runway is needed. Geoff Hoon, the Transport Secretary, is likely to approve it before the end of the year.
• Labour Uturn on car tax risesPlans to charge motorists increased vehicle duty are delayed as part of the Government's taxcutting package to revive economy.

Times Online

• GM tumbles after downgradeShares in General Motors crashed to their lowest level in 62 years yesterday after an analyst at Deutsche Bank said that they could be worth nothing at all within 12 months.The company gave warning on Friday that it could run out of cash early next year, but Deutsche Bank said that this could happen as early as next month.
• Dashboard gadget lets drivers tip off others about speed trapsDrivers who spot hidden speed cameras will be able to alert other vehicles within three seconds with the help of a dashboard gadget. They will no longer need to flash their headlights to oncoming drivers but will simply press a button on a satellite-positioning device.

Reuters News

• British Airways CEO pessimistic on open U.S. marketNEW YORK (Reuters) - British Airways' Chief Executive holds out little hope that the United States will open up its air travel market under U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and a Democrat-controlled Congress.

Transport Briefing

• First passenger trials of National Rail smartcardTrain operator South West Trains has launched a passenger trial of the UK’s first National Rail smartcard.
• Community rail status bestowed on Crewe to Derby lineThe rail service on the North Staffordshire Line, between Crewe and Derby, has been designated as a community rail service, Transport Minister Andrew Adonis announced this week.

Birmingham Post

• Eco-town under threat from commutersA planned 6,000-home new town on the Warwickshire-Worcestershire border would be a magnet for commuters, placing additional traffic on narrow rural roads, a senior planner has warned.

Journal Live

• Demand for change after airport dealAN EMERGENCY meeting of airport bosses will this week see demand for a leadership review. City leaders are seeking urgent changes following a secret decision to hand former Newcastle Airport chief executive John Parkin an estimated £2m payout ahead of a legal challenge last month.

London Evening Standard

• Face it: we no longer need a third runwaySOMEHOW, on the expansion of Heathrow, it feels as if a turning point has been reached. We can start to be increasingly hopeful that it will not happen.
• Westfield's weekend rush-hourWESTFIELD shopping centre is causing a seven-day rush hour with huge traffic jams across west London, residents claimed today.
• Boris Johnson hires experts to look at Thames estuary airportCITY Hall officials are investigating the viability of building a replacement airport for Heathrow in the Thames estuary.
• Emergency landing after jet hit by birdsA Ryanair flight made an emergency landing at a Rome airport after hitting a flock of birds, some of which smashed into the engines

Manchester Evening News

• Obama team study c-chargeBARACK Obama's transport advisers are studying Greater Manchester's congestion-charge plans - to see if they could work in the US.

The News (Portsmouth)

• New 'green' buses take to the roadA new fleet of eco-friendly buses are taking to the streets in a bid to help clean up the air.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Series of one-day bus strikes to hit school runsA series of one-day strikes will hit bus services and school runs in the Highlands and Aberdeenshire after a pay rise of almost 10% over two years was rejected yesterday.
• Cairn Gorm mountain railway comes under scrutinyThe mountain railway on Cairn Gorm is about to come off the rails for its annual maintenance inspection ”“ just as the multimillion-pound public finances behind the tourist venture are coming under Audit Scotland scrutiny.

Carlisle News & Star

• Cyclists want Cumbria council to fill 'missing link'Cyclists are asking Cumbria County Council to complete a œmissing link in the Caldew cycle way in Carlisle.

Chester Standard

• Jobs are safe for Ellesmere Port's Vauxhall workersWORKERS at Vauxhall in Ellesmere Port remain "optimistic" despite announcements that General Motors faces bankruptcy.

Northants Evening Telegraph

• Have your say on £1m cycle route around KetteringPeople will be asked for their views on a proposed £1m cycle network.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Call for railway improvementsA wide range of improvements aimed at reducing overcrowding on the East of England's rail network has been proposed by the Liberal Democrats.

Sunderland Echo

• Motoring group expects £30m loss as new-car buying plungesThe motoring group which bought up Sunderland's Reg Vardy expects to make a £30million loss this year.
• Drive to create world's fastest carEngineers at Sunderland University are working to build the world's fastest car.

The Shields Gazette

• Answers demanded over airport dealCOUNCILLORS are to demand answers in an emergency meeting over a secret deal between Newcastle International Airport and its former chief.

International Herald Tribune

• Obama asks Bush to provide help for automakersPresident George W. Bush indicated he might support some aid if Democrats accepted a free-trade pact with Colombia, people familiar with the discussion said.

Aviation Industry

• Hereford to get hourly trains to BirminghamHerefordshire rail passengers are to get a full hourly train service in each direction between Hereford and Birmingham.
• Roundabout rail to link Skipton and ColneTHE first train to start in Skipton and cross into East Lancashire at Colne for 38 years is due to leave as a Christmas Special next month – but it will have take a huge roundabout route to the east to get there!
• London’s Commissioner for TransportPeter Hendy CBE, becomes CILT Vice President. The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport's President, Richard Brown CBE FCILT, CEO of Eurostar, has announced that Peter Hendy CBE FCILT, Commissioner, Transport for London, has been appointed as a Vice President of CILT(UK).
• Belmont Launches Industry’s First Offering for Bus and Coach Operators Using GreenRoad’s Driver Safety TechnologyGreenRoad today announced that Belmont International, the UK’s leading Insurance Broker specialising in passenger transport, is launching the industry’s first insurance offering specifically aimed at bus and coach companies, based on GreenRoad’s Safety Center.

Other News Sources

• Potters Bar Rail Crash: Support Grows For Our Inquiry BidSIX years ago, seven people were killed in one of the worst train wrecks of the modern era.
• Anit-terror police investigate rail network attacksrench anti-terror police are on the hunt for vandals after several attacks on France’s rail network. The search for the saboteurs comes after a high speed TGV train rammed two concrete blocks placed on rail lines late on Sunday evening. It’s the latest in a series of sabotage incidents to hit the French rail system.
• Seafrance adds staff after rival ship is seizedSeafrance is putting on extra staff to help SpeedFerries passengers get to France after the latter’s low-budget vessel was seized for non-payment of tax.
• Ex-boss reveals 11th hour bid to save airlineThe former chief executive of collapsed budget airline EUjet has revealed how an 11th hour attempt was made to save the company.
• NY-NJ rail tunnel clears environmental hurdleTRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The multibillion dollar New York-New Jersey rail tunnel project has cleared a major hurdle: federal environmental approval. The Federal Transit Administration’s approv...
• Meggitt brakes with traditionA UK engineering team is hailing a civil aviation world first after equipping the next generation of Bombardier commercial jets with an all-electric braking system.
• 3 in 10 truck drivers in UK are breaking hours regsTruck drivers in the UK were found to have committed more drivers' hours violations than any other offences during a week-long safety crackdown by the European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL).
• UPS orders six Modecs following successful trialUPS has ordered six Modec electric vehicles for operation at its Camden facility.
• New road gritters unveiledNew road gritters unveiled

Other Subscription Services

• South West Trains launches passenger pilot of UK’s first national rail smartcardSouth West Trains has launched a passenger pilot of the UK’s first national rail smartcard.A number of season ticket holders are taking part in the pilot between Staines and Windsor to help test and perfect the ITSO smartcard technology before it is rolled out across the network.