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

Wednesday, 24 December 2008

BBC News

• Papers cover new motorist finesThere is little Christmas cheer on some front pages of the newspapers, which cover new motoring fines and railway delays.
• Lorry crime doubles in 12 monthsThe amount of reported theft of and from lorries has almost doubled in the last year, a monitoring body says.

Financial Times

• Cars and transport head lowerEuropean shares edged lower yesterday, extending the previous session's losses as carmakers and transport companies continued their drive downhill.

The Guardian

• Lunacy clouds climate change policyBritish politicians have failed to heed expert advice on greenhouse gases, but maybe Barack Obama will be different

The Telegraph

• Flying car really takes offBritish adventurers take a fly/drive trip to Timbuktu.

Reuters News

• Lufthansa to offer 4.49 eur/share for AustrianVIENNA, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Austria's Takeover Commission has set the price Lufthansa will offer shareholders in Austrian Airlines at 4.49 euros per share, slightly more than indicated earlier, Lufthansa's law firm said late on Monday.

Daily Express

• BA adds new fleetBRITISH AIRWAYS is facing up to the competition on its short-haul services by ordering a new fleet of fuel-efficient jets for £254 million.
• Toyota heading for loss as Japan stallsJAPAN yesterday warned it was suffering a slump in exports while China slashed its interest rates again as two of the world's biggest economies were hit by the global downturn.

Belfast Telegraph

• Staff are more productive on public transport Northern Ireland’s workforce could potentially gain hundreds of hours of productivity each year by taking the train, according to research carried out by Translink and CBI Northern Ireland.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• £20m Wrexham link road plans finalisedPLANS for a vital £20m link road that will transform travel routes to North Wales’s largest industrial estate have been fine tuned.

Liverpool Echo

• Pressure mounts for cash help for Jaguar Land RoverPRESSURE is mounting on the government to release cash to help Merseyside car manufacture Jaguar Land Rover.

London Evening Standard

• Fury as Pope says gays are threat to human existenceThe Pope was under fire after saying that saving humanity from homosexual or transsexual behaviour was as important as preserving the rainforests from destruction
• Airlines slash fares to lowest levels since 1980sA price war broke out as major airlines slashed fares to their lowest levels since the Eighties

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Call to quiz commuters on benefits of Crossrail planThe Scottish Government was urged last night to commission a detailed survey of the extra passengers that could be attracted to a more frequent local commuter train service if the Aberdeen Crossrail proposal goes ahead.
• Transport Scotland boss announces his retirementTHE CHIEF executive of Transport Scotland announced yesterday he was standing down.

The York Press

• York bus fares to go up by 6 per cent COMMUTERS in York face New Year misery as bus bosses announce inflation-busting fare hikes on services in the city.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• We'll all be off the rails for ChristmasTRAVELLERS hoping to let the train take the strain over the festive period were today told: "Think again."
• Leeds rail travellers face disruptionTrain travellers were today told to brace themselves for a month of disruption on the Leeds to York rail line.

Peterborough Telegraph

• £5m plan for direct trainsNetwork Rail has begun drawing up £5m plans to bring hourly direct trains between a Suffolk resort and London.

Sunderland Echo

• Bus and Metro holiday servicesMore than 50,000 people are expected to use Boxing Day bus and Metro services this year.

Washington Post

• GM's oldest plant nears end of its days in Wis. JANESVILLE, Wis. -- As the last SUV rolled off the production line at General Motors' oldest plant here Tuesday, Karen Green promised herself she would keep her emotions in check.

Other News Sources

• Airlines slash fares to tempt back passengersLeading carriers have been forced to cut prices by up to 25% amid fears that the economic downturn will lead to a post-Christmas slump