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

Saturday, 14 February 2009

BBC News

• Inquiry into fire on Virgin planeIrish air accident investigators say they uncovered potentially dangerous problems in some Virgin Atlantic passenger jets.
• BA jet in airport 'hard landing'A British Airways flight with 71 people on board loses its front wheels in a
• Air bag jacket 'could save lives'Dozens of lives could be saved every year if motorbike air bag jackets were made compulsory, according to doctors.

Financial Times

• Orbital line for London on trackMinisters and Transport for London have agreed funding for a new extension to the East London line, giving the city a full orbital overground rail service in time for the 2012 Olympics
• Air France-KLM swings to lossEurope's largest airline has plunged into the red and is being forced to shrink its operations to cut costs

The Guardian

• High-speed trains past and presentAgility Trains have been announced as the preferred bidder for a £7.5bn contract to build and maintain a fleet of super express trains
• New York plane crash kills 50At least 50 people were killed when a commuter plane crashed into a home in suburban Buffalo, New York, moments after it lost contact with air traffic controllers.
• Plane crash-lands at London airportA BA jet carrying 67 passengers crash-landed at London City airport last night after its nose wheel failed as it landed.All passengers and five crew on board the flight from Amsterdam were evacuated safely while one person with minor injuries was taken to hospital.

The Herald

• Manor Oak Motor Group racks up heavy full-year lossesThe rump of the old Glenvarigill luxury car group has posted heavy losses according to official filings that show the business is deep in debt to Bank of Scotland.

The Independent

• UK airline check for reassurances over fleet Exeter-based airline Flybe, which has the world's biggest fleet of the type of plane involved in the US aircraft crash, made swift checks on details of the crash.
• UK airline happy to carry on with Q400 fleet Exeter-based airline Flybe is carrying on flying the world's biggest fleet of the type of plane involved in the US aircraft crash.

The Telegraph

• Traffic officer drove at 120mph in torrential rain A traffic officer who crashed his police patrol car after driving at more than 120mph in torrential rain was found guilty of dangerous driving.
• London City Airport crash: BA Avro RJ jets have experienced problems before This incident is the second time in a week that a British Airways CityFlyer jet has closed the runway at London City Airport.

Times Online

• Is government cash waiting in the sidings for train operators?Britain’s banks have done it. So have its carmakers. Are rail companies the next in line to receive Government assistance? That is set to be the big question facing Go-Ahead Group next week when the operator of the Southern, Southeastern and London Midland franchises kicks off the reporting season for the big five bus and train groups.
• Car sales across Europe plunge to 20-year lowCar sales across Europe fell to their lowest level in 20 years last month with a drop of 27 per cent.

Daily Express

• Rolls hit by sterlingThe weak pound wiped out profits at aero-engine maker Rolls-Royce despite robust sales and record orders.

Daily Record

• Dangerous driver told to visit road smash victims in hospitalA sheriff yesterday told a dangerous driver to visit crash victims in hospital to see what his "reckless" actions could have caused.

Mail Online

• The minister for upgrades: First-class flight for Keith Vaz and his wife - but the children go business classThe minister for upgrades: First-class flight for Keith Vaz and his wife - but the children go business class

Daily Post (North Wales)

• £135k roadworks at Llanbedr Dyffryn ClwydWORK to improve the drainage system on the A494 at Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd has been given the green light.

Journal Live

• Suspension for bus fare row driverA bus driver has been suspended after refusing to take a nine-year-old boy to school because he was 5p short of the required fare.

Metro

• Anger at progress since rail deathsRail union leaders have attacked progress towards protecting workers from runaway trailers as

The York Press

• National Railway Museum on a mission to raise its profileOne of York's most popular tourist attractions is hoping for a boost to visitor numbers after signing a new deal aimed at raising its profile.

Wales Online

• Police car escort for buses after attacksPolice escort for buses after attacks

Chester Standard

• Chester's improved rail link to LondonVirgin Trains is now running a full upgraded service between Chester and London.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Railway staff suspend strikeA strike by staff at a rail firm which runs services between Essex and London has been suspended after fresh talks were agreed in a row over holiday pay.

Washington Post

• GM, Chrysler Struggling to Strike UAW Deal General Motors and Chrysler are far from reaching a new labor pact with the United Auto Workers, making it unlikely they will secure an agreement before their Tuesday deadline for presenting a viability plan to the Obama administration.

Railnews

• Backlash against £7.5bn Hitachi contract A backlash is growing against the Government’s announcement yesterday that Britain’s biggest-ever order for inter-city trains — £7.5 billion — has been awarded to the Japanese train builder, Hitachi.

Other News Sources

• GDSs tackle European rail ahead of UK Major providers invest in time for 2010 read more
• Algerian transport workers welcomed into ITF foldA transport workers’ union in Algeria has been given a warm welcome as a new ITF affiliate during a visit to the country by the ITF General Secretary last week.
• Heathrow the most annoying but safest airport: surveyHeathrow has been voted the worst international airport for passport queues and baggage problems, a survey of air travellers said on Friday.
• Bmi u-turn over pilot pay freezeTroubled airline bmi yesterday staged a spectacular u-turn in its row over pilots' pay
• Trucks move 68% of all UK freight, says DfTFreight moved by truck accounts for 68% of all goods moved in the UK, according to the Department for Transport's latest statistics.
• Successful tests at Telford rail terminalA train has successfully tested the tracks and points at the new International Rail Park terminal in Telford, Shropshire.
• Emirates Advances Its A380 Global NetworkEmirates inaugural A380 to Australia goes green and heralds start of a new eco-efficient era
• New Bus for London designs go on showThe 27 prize-winning designs for the New Bus for London competition are going on display at the London Transport Museum tomorrow.
• France given deadline to explain car aidEuropean Commission gives France four days to answer questions about its aid package for its carmakers.
• EU to help cities go 'green', buy clean busesThe European Investment Bank (EIB) is developing a financing facility to help cities improve their energy efficiency and buy cleaner bus fleets. An initial 15 million euro is foreseen to assist cities in developing the projects, but actual financing could reach
• French auto bail-out plan 'not protectionist', says FillonPrime Minister François Fillon rejected accusations of protectionism regarding a 6bn euro loan for French carmakers, telling the European Commission that a clause requiring manufacturers to maintain production sites in France did not constitute unfair discrimination against other EU member states.

Other Subscription Services

• HSH unveils E3bn net lossWorld's largest ship financing bank, has reported a net loss of €2.8bn ($3.6bn) for 2008.