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

Friday, 27 February 2009

BBC News

• Plan to curb car use at airportA five-year plan has been unveiled to cut car use and boost public transport among people using Glasgow Airport.
• Rail firm hints at more job cutsChief Executive Richard Bowker said "It is certainly possible that some of the plans will result in further headcount reductions."
• Tata Motors says its $2,000 Nano car will launch in MarchIndia's Tata Motors says its $2,000 Nano car will launch in March

Financial Times

• Railway groups criticise EU recovery planTwo leading railway industry groups have fiercely criticised European Commission economic stimulus plans, saying they are focused on industries that are able to fund their own investments.
• National Express cuts dividendNational Express said it was not planning a fundraising and expected the rail business to be profitable in 2009, as it cut its dividend in a bid to reduce debt.
• GM future in doubt after $31bn lossGeneral Motors underlines its dire financial condition as it reports an unexpectedly heavy cash drain in the final three months of 2008 and warns that Deloitte, its auditor, might cast doubt on its standing as a going concern
• Tui warns over Hapag stake saleTui yesterday said the immediate cash inflow from the sale of a stake in Hapag-Lloyd would fall by €400m ($510m) to €1.6bn after the slump saw one of the...
• National Express cuts dividendEven is it reduced its dividend in a bid to reduce debt, the transport operator is not planning a fundraising and expects the rail business to be profitable in 2009
• BBA Aviation cuts jobs but maintains dividendThe world's leading provider of service bases for business jets, maintained its underlying profits last year and is paying an unchanged dividend despite the increasing problems sweeping through the private aviation sector

The Guardian

• National Express chief comes out fighting as recession grips railwaysRichard Bowker, chief executive of National Express, is vowing to hold on to the group's recession-hit rail business after the bus and train operator cut its dividend and refused to rule out more job losses yesterday.

The Independent

• Red light for National Express dividendsNational Express slashed its dividend by 40 per cent yesterday in an attempt to cut net debt that rose to £1.2bn in 2008, from £910m the year before.
• Rail funding row descends into food fightNational Express, which operates the East Coast Main Line (ECML), is obliged to pay the Government £1.4bn for the right to run trains between London and Edinburgh until 2015, after winning the franchise at a time of economic growth and booming passenger numbers. Richard Bowker, its chief executive, told The Independent the company was now prepared to axe extra train services as well as snack trolleys and buffet cars after the Government made it clear it would force National Express to hand back the franchise rather than allow it to alter its agreement.

The Scotsman

• Transport lessons ignored [letter]It is symptomatic of TIE's problems that its correspondence comes from a "stakeholder relationship manager" (Letters, 25 February). This organisation has been arrogant and a triumph of jargon over reality.
• Transport minister calls for deal on city trams disputeSCOTLAND'S transport minister has stepped into the Edinburgh tram dispute to call for an "early settlement" as the row enters a second week.

Times Online

• Business big shot: Richard Bowker of National ExpressThe irony will not be lost on Richard Bowker, the chief executive of National Express, who admitted yesterday that he was holding “constructive discussions” with the Government about the company’s rail franchises.
• National Express: running out of steamIn the glory days of rail travel, the Flying Scotsman and the Mallard puffed along the East Coast line. Since then, it has become more of a headache for its owners.
• Jobs at risk as National Express seeks to cut costs More jobs may go at National Express, the debt-laden transport company, which yesterday slashed its dividend.
• General Motors awaits auditors’ verdict as losses exceed $30bn$ General Motors (GM) lost almost $10 billion ($£6.9 billion) in last year’s final quarter and nearly $31 billion over the whole of 2008, the stricken car company reported yesterday as it awaited advice from its auditors on whether it remained a going concern.$

Reuters News

• Obama budget would hike air fee, boost fast railWASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama proposed on Thursday to raise the U.S. air passenger security fee beginning in 2012 to offset the cost of screening passengers and to offer more money for high-speed rail.

Mail Online

• End of the buffet car? Rail company plans to scrap on-board catering due to credit crunchNational Express, which operates the 393-mile route between London and Edinburgh, says it is planning to scrap all on-board catering services because of the credit crunch.
• End of the buffet car? Rail company plans to scrap on-board catering due to credit crunch Dining in first class and nibbling at a sandwich in cramped economy may be consigned to history on one of Britain's major rail lines.

Transport Briefing

• Liverpool underground stations get makeover cashLiverpool's public transport network is to receive more than £6 million from the Northwest European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
• National Express profits up as rail discussions continueNational Express says it has met is first year financial commitments for the East Coast rail franchise and expects its rail division to make a profit for 2009.
• Virgin trains face more West Coast wire problemsDisruption to train services on the West Coast Main Line during January 2009 cost passengers and train operators more than £10m according to the Network Rail Q3 Monitor, published by the Office of Rail Regulation this week.

Birmingham Post

• 20-year rail plan to ease congestion on Birmingham's roadsA 20-year vision to move more than one million car drivers from road to rail has been unveiled by the region’s passenger transport authority.
• Recession dashes hopes of passenger increase at Birmingham AirportHopes for a dramatic increase in passengers using Birmingham International Airport have been dashed by the recession, its chief executive says.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Wrexham to consider scrapping free school transportCONTROVERSIAL proposals that could see a free school transport scheme axed, leaving hundreds of pupils without a ride, were blasted yesterday.

Derby Telegraph

• Plea to protect rail heritageMINISTERS may irreparably damage British industry if they do not give a £7.5bn contract to Derby-based Bombardier.

Journal Live

• North East launches £30m bid for electric car industryA GROUNDBREAKING £30m bid has been launched to base the car industry of the future in the North East.

London Evening Standard

• Mayor accused of not having faith in public transport after £1,000 taxi billBORIS Johnson has been branded a "wimp" and accused of lacking faith in his own public transport system after spending £1,000 of taxpayers' money on taxis after a public meeting.

Manchester Evening News

• MP slams transport divideAN MP has slammed a massive imbalance in transport cash given to London compared to the north west. New figures show the government spends nearly £700 per Londoner on road, rail and buses - and less than £300 per person in Manchester.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Watchdog to monitor north-east bus serviceA government agency is to scrutinise the performance of an under-fire north-east bus service, the Press and Journal can reveal.
• Campaigners™ shock at road ˜admission™Campaigners fighting for safety improvements at a dangerous north-east road junction claim the Scottish Government would only take action if the death toll was higher.

Northants Evening Telegraph

• £5m to repair roads damaged by snow and ice: County council budget meeting latestThe Conservatives at County Hall have confirmed they will not reduce their proposed council tax increase in line with the rate of inflation.

Forbes

• How Long Can GM Stay Alive? With or without Washington's help, the carmaker is in dire straits.

Wall Street Journal

• Commission Urges Taxing Drivers MoreThe government should make it a lot more expensive to drive and should install devices in cars that levy a fee for every mile, a report says.

Railnews

• News: Passenger growth at lowest for five years GROWTH in passenger travel on Britain’s railways has fallen to its lowest rate for five years — and in London and the South East it has fallen to zero.

Aviation Industry

• VIRGIN TRAINS BRINGS CLASS TO WEEKEND TRAVELVirgin Trains will be opening its First Class lounges for travellers on Saturdays and Sundays. A three month trial to test to test the popularity of weekend opening has begun at Virgin-managed stations along the West Coast mainline, one of Europe's busiest rail routes
• Glasgow Airport sets out five year plan to boost public transport as bus operator celebrates 'milestone' achievementA five year plan to improve public transport access and reduce private vehicle use at Glasgow Airport has been launched by airport operator BAA Glasgow.

Other News Sources

• Channel rail link scoops Mayor of London's Planning Excellence prizeThe London section of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, High Speed One, has received the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson's Award for Planning Excellence at the London Planning Awards.
• Clipper Logistics goes by rail at SelbyClipper Logistics is taking over the lease on the 310,000 sq ft rail connected distribution centre at the Potter Group site at Selby in North Yorkshire. Clipper has a number of retail customers for the facility that will go-live in the autumn.
• New online booking for Southern rail operatorSouthern rail passengers who want to skip queues can now purchase their tickets online.
• 30 minute Tavistock to Plymouth rail link planA MULTI-MILLION-POUND scheme to reopen a disused railway line in South West Devon could get commuters from Tavistock to Plymouth in half an hour, a new report claims.
• Cost share sought for London schemeThe London Borough of Southwark is seeking a joint venture with Transport for London (TfL) to fund transport works for the regeneration of Elephant and Castle.
• Two Ways Forward For Transport In Welwyn HatfieldTHE core strategy lists two options for the way forward regarding transport.
• Bendy bus plan thrown outProposals to operate bendy shuttle buses on Oxford High Street from an interchange near Magdalen Bridge are to be dropped in the face of widespread opposition.
• UK Minister calls for switch to low-sulphur fuelsUK climate change minister Ed Miliband has called for the shipping industry to switch to cleaner fuels to help reduce harmful emissions polluting cities in Britain.
• Councillor urged to try buses [letter]ALTHOUGH Councillor Bob Roberts is technically correct explaining the legalities of bus service operation (Letters, February 19), it doesn't mean this maddening piece of legislation is any the better for it.
• Transport minister calls for deal on city trams disputee of the dispute had briefed MSPs without informing them. One source likened it to a "suicide note" and "another nail in the coffin of the contract".Stewart Stevenson, the transport minister, in a let...
• Rail funding row descends into food fightA major rail operator is considering cutting services and onboard catering to save money, as ministers discussed temporarily renationalising some of Britain's rail network rather than allow struggling...
• Global air freight sees major slump in JanuaryKuala Lumpur - International demand for air freight recorded a dip of 23.6 per cent in January because of a lull in world trade amid the global economic downturn, the Association of Asia Pacific Airli...
• Middle East air traffic falls amid global slumpAir passenger traffic across the Middle East has been hit by the economic crisis as fewer travellers take to the skies, a report by aviation chiefs reveals.
• Crossrail confirms contracts award dateCrossrail executive chairman Douglas Oakervee this week confirmed that lucrative contracts for the programme partner and delivery partner will be awarded next month.
• Virgin Blue™s long-haul arm V Australia launches flightsToday Virgin Blue's new long-haul carrier, V Australia, is due to formally launch operations with an inaugural departure from Sydney bound for Los Angeles.Virgin...
• Bioplastic Toyota Camry Concept CarToyota is studying the materials used in its hybrid vehicles, including bioplastics. These are now in use for biodegradable items, but can be made so that they will not break down, which is obviously necessary in cars. Of major importance is that they incorporate fewer derivatives from oil and are more environmentally friendly. However, these materials [...]
• Governments are wary of getting behind the wheelRequests for help from troubled carmakers are becoming more and more urgent, but they might not get the assistance they want from governments.
• Commission warns against 'economic nationalism'Preparing the ground for EU leaders meeting at a summit in Brussels on Sunday (1 March), the EU executive has outlined measures to tackle 'economic nationalism' looming large over the European car industry. 
• Network Rail to do work on rail bridge over Oxford RoadNetwork Rail will spend £350,000 strengthening a rail bridge in Manchester city centre.