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

Tuesday, 10 March 2009

BBC News

• City fears loss of 200 rail jobsNetwork Rail is planning to move 200 jobs from York to a national centre at Milton Keynes, a trade union has said. Union officials said staff at the York offices of the rail infrastructure company had been left "in a state of shock" after learning of the plans.
• Passengers fight bus service cutsPassengers angry at cuts to bus services in York have started an online petition to get some routes reinstated.
• Bus interchange set for faceliftBlaydon Interchange in Gateshead will get new shelters, information boards and fencing in a six week programme of work starting on 16 March.
• East-West rail link views soughtMulti-million pound plans for a new rail line linking the East of England with the west of the country have gone before a regional assembly.
• Ford staff accept working changesWorkers at Ford accept a wage freeze and other changes to their contracts, amid plummeting car sales in the US.

Financial Times

• Airport reform to put passengers firstThe interests of consumers rather than of airlines should be at the heart of future airport regulation, UK ministers said as they unveiled proposals for the reform of airport regulation
• Goldenport reassures on debt and promises dividendThe Athens-based shipping group, which is listed in London, reassured investors on Monday that it would comply fully with its debt covenants and pay a final dividend in contrast to many of its rivals
• Chinese airlinesEvidence of flagging demand is at odds with Beijing's vigorous rhetoric following the formation of three national champions in 2002

The Guardian

• Passenger to come first in airport regulation shake-upThe aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, has been given a primary duty of promoting passengers' interests while Passenger Focus, the organisation that champions the interests of rail and bus users, will take on a similar role for airline passengers.

The Independent

• High-speed Midlands rail link approvedThe final go-ahead for a high-speed rail line from London to the West Midlands could be given as soon as 2010, with firm plans for the line to be finalised by 2011. Fresh details of the Government's scheme for a new high-speed network for Britain, including the ambitious timetable, were disclosed in a letter to the head of High Speed 2 (HS2), the company created to advise the Government on the project, from the Transport minister, Lord Adonis.

The Telegraph

• High speed rail moves a step closer Train passengers could travel from London to Birmingham in just 45 minutes rather than the 80 it currently takes as a new highspeed rail line moved a step closer.

Times Online

• Dover day-trippers do their bit to keep ferry port afloat Jeff Flint sat with his wife and two infant daughters in the lounge of the Pride of Kent as the ferry left Dover for Calais. The builder from nearby Faversham no longer had enough work to fill his time so was giving his family a day out.
• Carmakers' appeal for €40bn bailout is rejected as Brussels takes tough stance Car companies were told yesterday that the European Investment Bank (EIB) had rejected their call for €40 billion (£37 billion) in soft loans this year because that amount would contravene good banking practice.

Press Association

• Train company 'concealed' job cutsA leading train operator has been accused of trying to "conceal" job cuts under plans to axe hundreds of posts, including ticket office and revenue protection staff.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Arriva Wales unveils £1.75m investment in new busesNEW easy-access buses fitted with CCTV eye-in-the-cab security cameras are taking to the roads in a £1.75m Arriva Wales investment.

Derby Telegraph

• East Midlands Airport expansion plans - the eight-year wait goes onJUDGEMENT day was supposed to come this month for East Midlands Airport, when it expected to find out – after an eight-and-a-half-year wait – if it could carry out its much-vaunted runway extension.
• Supplier is dismayed at trains dealONE of the suppliers to Derby train-maker Bombardier has accused the Government of not supporting British jobs after awarding a multi-billion-pound rail contract to a Japanese-led consortium.

London Evening Standard

• Airports could be fined for keeping passengers waitingThe Government has demanded the end of

The News (Portsmouth)

• Transport chief fails to appear at meetingA transport boss has come under fire for snubbing residents opposing a £20m high-speed bus route.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Safety of bilingual road signs to be investigatedTRANSPORT Minister Stewart Stevenson has told Highland Council it would be œirresponsible not to review existing policy on English-Gaelic road signs because of the effect they may have had on some drivers.

The York Press

• 250 NRM staff to get free rail barrier permitsA GOVERNMENT Minister has thrown his support behind the controversial plans for ticket barriers at York Railway Station – and revealed that National Railway Museum staff will have special rights of access after the gates are installed.

Bucks Free Press

• New powers "could force M40 noise reduction" SENIOR councillors tonight backed looking into radical new laws which could see motorway chiefs forced to reduce noise from the M40.

Washington Post

• Public Transit Ridership Hits Highest Level in 52 Years Despite job losses and falling gasoline prices, record numbers of Americans rode subways, buses and commuter rail last year, boosting public transportation ridership to its highest level in 52 years, according to a survey to be released today by the American Public Transportation Association.
• Ford workers approve UAW contract changes DETROIT -- Unionized workers at Ford Motor Co. have approved contract changes that include freezing wages and cutting benefits in a move aimed at helping the automaker remain competitive. The United Auto Workers said Monday a majority of hourly workers voted in favor of modifications to the 2007 contract with Ford, eliminating cost-of-living increases and cash bonuses.
• Autos task force sees Chrysler, GM electric cars WARREN, Mich. -- Four members of President Barack Obama's autos task force spent much of their Monday driving General Motors Corp. electric vehicles and touring a Chrysler LLC pickup truck factory.

Aviation Industry

• BAA responds to Government consultation on airport regulationThe Department for Transport today published a consultation document which considers the future economic regulation of UK airports.
• ITM steps up lobbying efforts Institute to tackle UK and EU key issues read more
• Virgin considering short haul network in Europe Airline also looking for more long haul destinations read more

Other News Sources

• Cycle track plans from Fairford to Lechlade boosted by grantPLANS to open a cycle track running from Fairford to Lechlade have got into gear with a grant being awarded to the group steering the project.
• Stagecoach freezes bus faresSTAGECOACH today backed the Echo's Exeter Bites Back campaign and announced a price freeze on many of its fares.
• Marshall calls for a study into pod ideaMARSHALL has called for the idea of using space-age pods to travel across the city to be seriously considered. Jonathan Barker, company secretary, urged transport chiefs to examine the 'Ultra-pods' idea to beat the congestion charge.
• Plans to move Lowestoft rail station hitGOVERNMENT guidelines which could have seen a busy train station moved just a quarter of a mile without any public consultation have been scrapped.
• MP wants rail tracks preservedLUDLOW MP Philip Dunne is calling for a ban on building on any existing disused railway lines in south Shropshire. This is one of a package of steps he is calling for in a bid to improve rail services for the future.
• Council 'wasting' £26,000 repairing unadopted Burnley roadThree members from the Queensgate ward in Burnley plan to use public cash to make improvements to four streets which they say will make life easier for residents.
• Blackburn Reverend slams rail firm over disability scooterNorthern Rail workers have repeatedly refused to let Rev John Snape, 68, of Quebec Road, Lammack, Blackburn, onto their trains because his mobility scooter is 4cm larger than their guidelines say is acceptable.
• Community bus celebrates year of new serviceThe route, which runs from Watlington and Chinnor to Lewknor in the morning and evening rush hours, provides a vital link to London and Oxford.
• High-speed Midlands rail link approvedThe final go-ahead for a high-speed rail line from London to the West Midlands could be given as soon as 2010, with firm plans for the line to be finalised by 2011. Fresh details of the Government's s...
• More people using public transport in USMore people in the US were using public transportation at present than at any time in the last 52 years, according to an industry study released Monday.
• Working time victory for drivers in EuropeEuropean transport workers have won a victory on working time for drivers after the European Parliament voted to reject plans for an 84-86 hour working week.
• UK warned on ˜light dues' riseTHE PLANNED 67% rise in operations charges will undermine confidence in UK shipping, a parliamentary reception heard today.
• No let-up in US box slumpUS BOX imports fell precipitously over the past two months, and an 11.7% slide is predicted for 1H09 overall.
• Wheego Whip EV set for US releaseUrban electric vehicle (EV) the Wheego Whip is set to be launched in the US this summer, with the manufacturer’s website already taking direct orders. The $19,000 Wheego Whip is similar in size to a two-seater Smart car. It can travel up to 60 miles on a single charge. Fuel costs average out at $0.03 [...]

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• New shipping mediation service unveiledBALTIC Exchange and London Maritime Arbitrators Association set up service for shipping and commodity disputes.