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

Friday, 03 April 2009

BBC News

• Boris in angry exchange over snowLondon mayor Boris Johnson left a House of Commons inquiry midway through answering a question after labelling criticism of him "pathetic".
• Virus battery could 'power cars'Scientists genetically engineer viruses to build the crucial components of batteries.

The Guardian

• Angry Boris Johnson rejects suggestion he failed capital on snow dayLondon mayor rebuts claim he did not adequately deal with transport problems caused by February's heavy snowfalls in the capital
• German rail privatisation runs out of steamDeutsche Bahn's boss was axed because the recession derailed his sale of the state-owned firm, but the country's biggest bank is changing tracks with more ease
• Ferry wins clients from 'rude' Ryanair¢ Ships boss says passengers prefer three-hour voyage ¢ Drop in freight traffic has led to more discountsRyanair's service levels are so bad that an increasing number of passengers would prefer to take a three-hour boat trip across the Irish Sea, one of Europe's leading ferry operators said yesterday. Stena Line reported a 10% increase in passengers on its Dublin to Holyhead route in February and claimed that passenger dismay at air travel conditions was a big contributor to the shift. Gunnar Blomdahl, Stena Line chief executive, said his business had ramped up service standards while Ryanair,...

The Independent

• Boris accuses MPs of 'talking tripe' over transport nightmare Boris Johnson's famously short fuse was on full display yesterday when he berated MPs for

Times Online

• British car sales still falling as Germany's roar ahead British car sales for the month of March are expected to have fallen by about 28 per cent in stark contrast to other leading European markets that have recently bounced after government “scrapping” incentives.

Mail Online

• Rail passengers left isolated in 'ghost stations'Rail passengers are increasingly faced with desolate 'ghost stations' as operators shut ticket offices and replace staff with machines.

London Evening Standard

• MPs tell Boris to sit down as he tries to leave snow inquiryBoris Johnson was told to sit down by an MP and answer
• All aboard the London bus that runs on cooking oilHundreds of buses could be powered by waste cooking oil under proposals being considered by Boris Johnson
• TfL rent rises will drive us out of Tube station, claim tradersTransport for London was accused of

The York Press

• Drivers front North Yorkshire road safety campaign A HARROWING campaign which lays bare the deadly dangers of failing to stay safe on North Yorkshire™s roads has been launched “ with a Selby driver at its forefront.

Northants Evening Telegraph

• Safety checks on school busesA total of 57 school buses have been checked during the last month to ensure the safety of schoolchildren in Northamptonshire.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Rail passengers to get 200 extra carriagesRail passengers travelling to Stansted Airport from London are to benefit from the introduction of nearly 200 extra train carriages.

International Herald Tribune

• China Vies to Be World’s Leader in Electric CarsIn a new threat to Detroit, China is investing heavily in hybrid and electric-vehicle technology.

New Scientist

• Device reveals 'sticky' dangers of vehicle pollutionComparisons of air inhaled and exhaled by people on a busy street suggest that small particle size helps traffic pollution linger longer in the lungs

Washington Post

• Mitsubishi raises output target for electric car TOKYO -- Mitsubishi Motors Corp. will increase production of its planned electric vehicle after orders for its first 2,000 cars were quickly filled, a spokesman said Friday.

Railnews

• News: Olympics cash gives major boost to London line upgrade NETWORK Rail has begun work on a £326 million 18-month project to upgrade the North London Line in time for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• News: Five-year underground track project to finish this year WORKING far below the streets of Liverpool, engineers will this Easter continue the £3.4 million track renewal scheme on the underground section of the Merseyrail route.
• News: Britain’s year of the train New generations, fast-tracked delivery, brand new and modified fleets – train building and upgrading is back on top of the UK rail industry agenda, with speed and capacity as essential design factors. Railnews looks into the latest train fleet developments and weighs up the possible entry of a major new player.
• News: Industry pulls together to meet Thameslink deadline IN A huge team effort the rail industry pulled together to transfer trains from routes across the South and South East of England to keep the £5.5 billion Thameslink Programme on track.

Other News Sources

• Southampton's £150m port rail expansion could be biggest since Isambard BrunelAS many as 500 construction jobs could be on their way to Hampshire as part of what is being called the “biggest rail expansion since Brunel”.
• CAMBRIDGESHIRE: County Council's Update On Guided Bus Shows How Far Project Has ComeTHE final pre cast concrete beam needed to build the Guided Busway track was lifted from its mould this week.
• ’We don’t want their cast-offs’BUS users in Skelmersdale are angry after it was revealed the town has been given second hand buses from Wirral.
• Arriva injects £700k into Betws-y-Coed train stationA CONWY Valley train station has been transformed thanks to a major cash injection by Arriva Trains Wales.
• End of an era as Croydon's last red tram turns greenOne of Croydon's most iconic symbols disappeared this week as the last red tram turned green.
• GM could face bankruptcy by summerCar giant General Motors is working on a plan to split the group into a 'good GM' and 'bad GM' if a radical restructuring fails
• Airport slots plan may be grounded by MEPsProposal to suspend the ˜use it or lose it™ rule; low-cost carriers and airports criticise plan.
• New buses for airport routeBus operator Arriva is investing £1.5m in 11 new buses to service its Number 19 route between Altrincham, Sale, Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport.

News from Europe

• First European airlines offering in-flight use of mobile phones thanks to EU-wide ground rulesMore and more European air passengers are being offered the choice to use their normal mobile phone to send text messages, browse the web or even make calls on board airplanes
• Stena Line Claims It is Winning Business From 'rude' RyanairRyanair's service levels are so bad that an increasing number of passengers would prefer to take a three-hour boat trip across the Irish Sea, one of Europe's leading ferry operators said yesterday.

Other Subscription Services

• megabus.com hits top spot at Travelzoo awardsmegabus.com, Stagecoach Group’s market-leading budget inter-city coach service, has won a top honour at the 2009 Travelzoo awards.