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

Monday, 13 April 2009

BBC News

• Rail scheme 'may run over budget'The opening of a rail terminal in Shropshire may be delayed and be over budget after its main contractor collapsed, a council has warned.
• All aboard as rail minister embarks on solo train trip across BritainFrustrated commuters will get direct access to the Transport Minister Lord Adonis when he embarks upon a rail voyage to cross Britain in six days.
• UK moves towards car scrap schemeThe government is likely to introduce an incentive scheme to scrap old vehicles in exchange for new ones, the BBC learns.

Financial Times

• Cargo airlines fined $214m for price fixingThree cargo airlines have agreed to pay fines totalling $214m for their roles in a global conspiracy to fix prices for air freight

The Guardian

• Victory of the 'Shropshire thunderbolt'Its staff are polite, serve afternoon tea and let you buy your ticket on the train - and now they've seen off competition from Virgin
• Government could boost rail work and target fare dodgers in £250m packageThe government is considering a £250m stimulus package for the railways aimed at boosting revenues and passenger numbers. It is understood that Network Rail, the owner of Britain's rail infrastructure, has been asked to select projects that can be brought forward at a cost to the taxpayer of between £200m and £250m
• Losing trackBritain's railway operators are struggling badly in the recession. Will unprofitable branch lines survive? Julian Glover visits the country's quietest station, and asks how much longer trains will run from it

The Scotsman

• Old car trade-in idea wins supportThe Government is set to press ahead with incentives for motorists to trade in old cars for new ones, it has emerged.

The Telegraph

• Eurostar feeding on hunger for travelTrain chief sees holidays as the new eating out, writes Andrew Cave

Metro

• Old car trade-in idea wins supportThe Government is set to press ahead with incentives for motorists to trade in old cars for new ones, it has emerged.

Blackpool Gazette

• Recession will hit Blackpool Airport, warn expertsBLACKPOOL Airport could struggle in the recession, according to aviation experts.
• £20m tram depot for BlackpoolTRANSPORT bosses today unveiled plans for Blackpool's new multi-million pound tram depot.

Daventry Express

• Red light to speeding carsA DAVENTRY village is part of a new trial scheme aimed at cutting the number of speeding vehicles.

Washington Post

• Shippers face higher insurance as pirates run amok LONDON -- Shipping your oil across the Gulf of Aden? Don't forget your piracy insurance.
• Ohio wants $57M in stimulus for highway studies COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio wants to spend $57 million in federal stimulus money on highway projects that won't begin for years, an unusual strategy for money that President Barack Obama said should be used to give the economy an immediate job-creating jolt.

Other News Sources

• Paris does public transit right [letter]All local buses are fitted with digital screens that advise passengers of the next bus stop.There's also a voice announcement) and the time of arrival at the final destination.
• MPs demand answers to Bristol's 'too high' bus faresBus fares in the Bristol area are too high and must be lowered to get more drivers out of their cars, according to two city MPs. Dawn Primarolo, Labour MP for Bristol South, and Kerry McCarthy, Labour MP for Bristol East, have demanded that transport firm First reduces the cost of travel.
• Rail company told: 'We're not sardines'Northampton South MP Brian Binley has hit out at train overcrowding and the whereabouts of promised new carriages for London Midland services. Mr Binley – who has previously raised the issue of the number of people on board Monday services to the capital – said he had been surprised when the same problem happened on a Thursday on the 9.05am service.
• £200m London rail link on right trackCommuters will be able to get their first close-up look at plans for a new £200m Oxford-Bicester-London rail service from Friday. Chiltern Railways wants to start running services to London Marylebone by 2013.
• Car scrapping £2,000 bounty gets green lightMotorists will be promised a £2,000 bounty for scrapping old cars in the Budget, ending months of debate between MPs and the motor industry
• Airlines left in the dark over airport slotsA proposal that would allow airlines to keep much-valued landing slots at European airports even when they are left unused has run into political headwinds, as companies struggle to maintain profitability in a depressed market.