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

Monday, 29 December 2008

BBC News

• Bus service goes back to the pastVintage buses are taking to the roads of a town in Cumbria, to make up for a lack of more conventional transport.
• Century-old rail bridge replacedTrains have started to run over a new £9m railway bridge in Northolt, west London, for the first time.

Financial Times

• YRC shares fall after credit talks with banksShares in YRC Worldwide lose almost a fifth of their value after North America's biggest truck operator said it was in talks with a group of banks to ease terms of its credit facilities
• Hutchison Port Holdings in Amsterdam takeoverWorld's largest container terminal operator agrees to take control of Ceres Paragon, allowing it to dominate container flows at both the Netherlands' major sea gateways
• Hanwha's Daewoo deadline extended South Korea's Hanwha Group has been given an extra month to sign a $4.5bn deal to buy a majority stake in Daewoo, the world's third biggest shipbuilder

The Herald

• Forth Ports forced to renegotiate Ocean Terminal financingForth Ports has been forced to renegotiate its financing for Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh after its plunging value threatened its agreement with lenders.

The Observer

• Labour faces backbench revolts against third runway and privatised postLoyal Labour MPs yesterday warned the government of a double rebellion early in the new year, predicting it will lose a Commons vote and suffer party resignations if it does not back down on proposals to part-privatise the Post Office and build a third runway at Heathrow.Labour MPs told the Guardian they were prepared to vote against the government even if it meant sacrificing the partial recovery Labour has been enjoying against the Conservatives. Those holding government or official party positions would have to resign to vote with the opposition.Only 32 MPs need to vote against the governme...

Times Online

• Cycle Guy "Most cyclists don’t race, yet they ride uncomfortable racing bikes and go so fast they miss much of the world around them.” So says Chris Kulczycki, owner of Velo Orange, a bike company with a mission.
• Motor industry awaits GMAC statement over debt-for-equity swap GMAC, General Motors' struggling car finance business, is expected to give an update today on its negotiations with bondholders to swap $38 billion ($£26 billion) in debt for GMAC equity.

Reuters News

• Japan Airlines says may slash capital spendingTOKYO, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Japan Airlines Corp (JAL) said on Friday it may slash its capital spending budget for the three years to March 2011 by nearly a quarter, prompted by falling demand for international flights.

Daily Express

• Carmakers in need of a towTOYOTA, the greatest example of Japan's postwar economic miracle and among the global elite of the car world, warned last week that it would go into the red for the first time since 1941, with an estimated £1.1 billion loss for 2008.
• Balfour ready for A46ENGINEERING and construction giant Balfour Beatty was celebrating yesterday after getting the green light for a £409 million road project.

Daily Record

• Rail chaos for Scots as track works get underwayRAIL travellers face disruption from today as signalling works and track improvements get under way.
• Safety call over 'deathtrap' causeway on OrkneyAN ISLAND'S lifeline road link has been branded a deathtrap.

Journal Live

• Full steam ahead hope on rail linkCAMPAIGNERS battling to restore passenger services on a rail line are hoping for progress following a Government-promised boost for transport spending.

Liverpool Echo

• Transport shake-up welcomedTRANSPORT bosses have welcomed government plans for a shake-up of the freight system.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• North-east ˜desperately needs™ Aberdeen bypassA leading north-east businessman has urged Scottish Government reporters to make a speedy recommendation on the œlong overdue and desperately needed Aberdeen bypass.
• Scottish train travellers face delays as signal and track upgrades start Rail travellers are now facing disruption as signalling works and track improvements get under way.

The York Press

• York Station ticket barriers move AUTOMATIC ticket barriers proposed for York Railway Station will let 33 passengers through every minute “ and will be sited at four different locations, it was revealed today.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds workers condemn axing of bus serviceWorkers on two Leeds industrial estates have launched a campaign to stop transport chiefs axing a bus service they say is the only way for them to get to work.

Blackpool Gazette

• Airport shrugs off Carlisle revival plan BLACKPOOL Airport bosses say plans to increase passenger numbers will not be affected by proposals to develop Carlisle Airport.

Carlisle News & Star

• Carlisle man to take up top rail union role Long-time trades union activist Craig Johnston will be flying the flag for Cumbria when he takes up his new job next week.

Doncaster Free Press

• Airport bosses quash rumours of Thomson exitAIRPORT bosses have denied rumours that a major operator is to pull out of Robin Hood Airport after announcing expansion plans at the site.

International Herald Tribune

• Oil and gold rise on violence in Middle EastThe dollar took a hit from the jump in oil and gold prices as the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip stirred worries about energy supply disruptions.

Washington Post

• GMAC quiet on bailout hurdle after deadline passes GRAND BLANC, Mich. -- Even after a crucial deadline came and went, the financing arm of General Motors Corp. remained silent Saturday on whether it cleared a final hurdle to become a bank holding company and gain access to billions in federal bailout money.

Railnews

• News: London Midland ’sorry’ after big delays TRAIN operator London Midland has apologised for delays to thousands of home-bound commuters from London’s Euston station on 23 December.
• News: MPs want Christmas trains running again MEMBERS of Parliament have launched a campaign to get the rail industry running trains again over the Christmas festive season.

Transport for London

• Canary Wharf Group contributes £150m to Crossrail and will design and build Isle of Dogs stationPlanning approval received and work to start on station in early 2009.

Aviation Industry

• SanFran airport to feature carbon offset kiosksSAN FRANCISCO : San Francisco International Airport is planning to give guilt-ridden travelers a chance to offset the air pollution emitted from their plane rides.
• Go! airline pilots admit sleeping during flightThe pilots on board a go! airlines flight that overshot the Hilo airport last February have admitted they fell asleep in the cockpit while the plane was on autopilot.

Other News Sources

• Car bosses 'abandoned' by governmentA row has broken out between the Government and leaders of the motor industry, who have accused Ministers of abandoning the sector
• Car bosses 'abandoned' by governmentA row has broken out between the Government and leaders of the motor industry, who have accused Ministers of abandoning the sector
• Cars to Watch in 2009The past year has given us many great cars and while researching cars to be released in 2009 it would seem that the future is bright indeed. In this time of financial uncertainty we all have to take better care of our money; value for money has never been more important really.