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

Tuesday, 30 December 2008

BBC News

• Calls for 'speed-limiting' carsGovernment transport advisers want voluntary speed-limiting devices fitted to cars to help save lives and cut emissions.

Department for Transport

• Children to be seen as well as heard in 2009 A groundbreaking new THINK! campaign is launched today as new Government research shows that children want to know why, as well as how, to stay safe on our roads.

Financial Times

• Brakes hit as job cuts loomThousands of workers in the north-west have spent a long Christmas break worrying what the new year may bring. The region is second only to the West Midlands as a centre for the UK automotive industry and as vulnerable to the sudden collapse in the car market.

The Guardian

• 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.
• Time to give up on runway threeThe government may be hesitating over its decision to build a third runway at Heathrow, but the opponents of expansion are growing in determination and confidence, as evidenced by loyal Labour MPs warning yesterday of a rebellion over the issue.
• Rail firms under fire over rise in dividend payoutsA fresh row over rail fares flared today after the UK's biggest transport groups were accused of making "bumper" profits, fuelling dividend increases of up to 33%
• Dr Beeching turned the country I have come to love into an outpost of empireA strange thing has happened to me over the two years since I moved to Wales. I have become susceptible to a novel and disturbing sensation: pride in my adopted country. England, the land of my birth, means nothing to me, nor does Britain. I despise nationalism. But I have been overtaken by an irrational impulse. I find myself supporting Wales in rugby, football (someone's got to, and we did beat Liechtenstein) and all its competing claims against other nations.

The Independent

• Reduced rail ticket office opening times 'unacceptable' Rail union leaders have urged the Government to halt plans by South West Trains - which operates services across the region - to reduce ticket office opening times, which they warned would lead to a "vastly poorer" service.

The Scotsman

• Drivers 'face 10-year health tests'Drivers could face new health tests every 10 years to ensure that they are fit to be behind the wheel, it has been reported.
• Row over rail firms' profitsA fresh row over rail fares has flared after a new study said the UK's biggest transport groups were making "bumper" profits, fuelling dividend increases of up to

The Telegraph

• Low cost airliners in price war Lowcost airliners are heading for a price war as they slash fares in a bid to pull in ever more precious passengers as the recession bites.
• Vintage Model T Ford converted to travel on railway line It's one way to beat the traffic jams. The 1927 car has been restored and transformed into a selfpowered locomotive.

Times Online

• Car production faces global fall until 2010 Car production in North America will sink to its lowest level for more than 20 years next year and output in Europe will fall to a 12-year low, with Britain hit the hardest, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Network Rail

• YORK CHRISTMAS BRIDGE WORK COMPLETE EARLY

Transport Briefing

• Rail barcode deal heralds mobile ticketing revolutionTrain operators will be able to introduce new mobile ticketing systems following the development of a standard, secure barcode system.
• Atkins scoops East-West Rail western operations briefMilton Keynes Partnership and the East-West Rail Consortium have commissioned work to complete the design for the western section of the proposed Varsity Line reinstatement from Cambridge to Oxford. The GRIP 4 studies will include developing a full operating and business case and will be completed by December 2009.
• Transport Scotland chief executive to relinquish roleTransport Scotland's chief executive, Dr Malcolm Reed, is to retire in February 2009
• 2009 start for Crossrail Isle of Dogs station workWork on the new Isle of Dogs Crossrail station at Canary Wharf will begin in early 2009 after Canary Wharf Group concluded agreements with the Department for Transport and Transport for London to contribute £150m towards the costs of the new Isle of Dogs Crossrail station at Canary Wharf.
• £5m Nelson bus and rail hub opens in LancashireLancashire's new Nelson bus and rail interchange has opened.
• Grand Central Chinese venture on £300m train rosterA sister company to open access train operator Grand Central has been shortlisted to provide a fleet of trains built in China for use across Britain's rail network.

Journal Live

• City transport may go to potREGENERATION bosses have been told they could solve the region’s transport problems by pooling resources and setting up a huge funding pot.

Liverpool Echo

• Kirkby tram link still on the cardsTRANSPORT bosses said the delay to Everton’s proposed Kirkby stadium does not mean the end of the line for their proposed tram link to the town.

London Evening Standard

• Unions attack plan to leave stations unstaffed for longerMain line rail stations serving London could be left unstaffed for longer periods during the day, and late at night

Metro

• Row over rail firms' profitsA fresh row over rail fares has flared after a new study said the UK's biggest transport groups were making
• Drivers 'face 10-year health tests'Drivers could face new health tests every 10 years to ensure that they are fit to be behind the wheel, it has been reported.

The News (Portsmouth)

• Union vows to fight over ticket office hours cutsBRITAIN'S biggest rail union today urged the government to use its powers to ensure South West Trains doesn't slash ticket office opening times.

Chester Standard

• Chester bus travellers to enjoy free ticket giveaway by FirstBUS company First is spreading festive cheer on a Chester estate with a free ticket giveaway.

New Scientist

• Green fuel technologies pick up speed in 2008As Obama prepares to green the US, we take a look at the new technologies that may help – from super batteries to oil-cleaning fungi

Washington Post

• U.S. puts up $6 billion to support auto lender GMAC WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration on Monday expanded its bailout of the U.S. auto industry, saying it was buying $5 billion in equity in auto and mortgage finance company GMAC and increasing a loan to General Motors by $1 billion.
• NZ airline flies jetliner partly run on veggie oil WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- A passenger jet powered in part by vegetable oil successfully completed a two-hour flight Tuesday to test a biofuel that could lower airplane emissions and cut costs, Air New Zealand said.

Aviation Industry

• Future Fibre Technologies Reveals Airport Security™s ˜Poor Cousin™ The increased threat of terrorism has placed a huge impost on travellers. People being forced to purge themselves of problem items such as shoes, keys, laptops, liquids and aerosols, in order to make it through the security checkpoint, has become a familiar scene in airports across the world. There is the extra time required for the inevitable delays and increased confusion over what can and cannot be taken on aircraft. However, baggage scanning, explosive checks and passenger scans are all necessary security precautions that contribute greatly to maintaining the travelling publi...
• FAA, Southwest negotiating on safety penaltySouthwest Airlines is still negotiating with the Federal Aviation Administration over alleged safety violations four months after regulators gave the airline a deadline to pay a $10.2 million penalty.
• United pilots criticize CEOPilots for United Airlines took aim Monday at Glen Tilton, chief executive officer of the company, saying United had failed this year in efforts to regain its former stature as the world's preeminent airline.
• United rolls out fully flat seats United's new fully flat business on majority of B767 fleet read more
• COMMENT: Simon Montague (Dec 29) High-speed rail's environmental advantages are encouraging changes in travel behaviour, says Simon Montague, Director of Communications, Eurostar read more
• Transatlantic market shrinking Fewer seats in 2009 read more
• Aeroflot predicts record profits Russian carrier to cut staff and replace aircraft read more

Other News Sources

• Highways Agency celebrates successful year for Traffic OfficersThe Highways Agency has today claimed success for its Traffic Officer service after releasing figures showing how its officers have attended an incident on England's motorways on average every two minutes in the last 12 months.
• Highways Agency announces £3.8M upgrade of A180 in North LincolnshireDrivers on the A180 in North Lincolnshire are to benefit from safer and quieter journeys after the Highways Agency announced a £3.8M project to renew the carriageway surface.
• Row over rail firms' profits
• SIA outlines initial plans for A330sSingapore Airlines (SIA) has outlined initial plans for its new fleet of Airbus A330-300s, which it starts taking delivery of next month to replace older...
• ANZ says biofuel test flight a successAir New Zealand (ANZ) is reporting a successful first test flight of a Boeing 747-400 powered in part by the biofuel jatropha.The flight was conducted...
• Reducing Transport Emissions Campaign for Better Transport set out how to reduce transport emissions.
• Committee on Climate Change Sets the Bar for 2020Committee sets out how to meet first carbon budgets set by Climate Change Act.