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

Thursday, 16 April 2009

BBC News

• Union anger over fingerprint planMore than 100 cleaners at Eurostar are to vote on whether to take industrial action over the introduction of new finger-printing machines.
• Transport minister faces grilling [video]Commuters were given the chance to quiz the Transport Minister Lord Adonis as he travelled on the South East's trains as part of a six-day tour across the country.
• Council wants to leave potholes in road - as traffic-calming measureA parish council in Essex wants potholes left unfilled for longer to act as a
• Oil weak as demand fears remainThe price of oil remains weak, at just under $49 a barrel, amid Opec warnings of falling demand and reports of high inventories.
• Fiat warning to Chrysler unionsThe boss of Italian carmaker Fiat threatens to walk away from an alliance with US carmaker Chrysler.
• Green car subsidy plan unveiledMotorists will be offered subsidies of up to £5,000 to encourage them to buy electric and hybrid cars under government plans.

Financial Times

• Thameslink eyes automated journeysThameslink, the key cross-London rail route, could become the world's first mainline commuter network to hand most train driving to computers, if upgrade plans get the go-ahead
• Aerolineas stays with stateTroubled airline Aerolineas Argentinas is a prime example of Argentina's plans to give the state a greater role in the country's economy
• Passenger numbers fall at UK airportsThe number of passengers flying to and from BAA's seven UK airports fell sharply last month led by big drops in traffic across the North Atlantic and in European charter operations
• American Airlines hit by drop in passengersAMR, the parent company of American Airlines, on Wednesday reported a heavy net loss for the first quarter as shrinking demand for air travel replaced record oil prices as the biggest threat to the airline industry

The Guardian

• http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/apr/16/letters-community-railToday's strategy makes one thing abundantly clear: government ministers have identified transport as an important part of the drive towards a low-carbon economy and have developed some high aspirations in the role the UK is going to play. Their strategic approach should be applauded in what will be an international shift in the way we travel.
• Community rail view lost in big picture [letter]Julian Glover's piece about the vulnerability of "unprofitable" branch lines (Losing track, G2, 13 April) raises the issue of the viability of these lines. In 2008 research was commissioned by the Association of Community Rail Partnerships, of which the branch line to Looe and our own Heart of Wales Line are members.
• Network Rail directors face row over executive bonusesNetwork Rail is preparing to defy ministers by awarding bonuses to directors amid criticism of its performance and public anger over executive pay.
• £5,000 sweetener to launch electric car revolutionUltra-green vehicles at heart of £250m plan to slash UK's carbon emissionsConsumers are to be offered incentives of up to £5,000 to purchase an electric car under government plans to be unveiled today that will also see the creation of electric car cities across the UK and the launch of large-scale experiments with ultra-green vehicles. The proposals are part of a £250m strategy, seen by the Guardian, spelling out a revolution in Britain's road transport network based on ultra-low carbon vehicles. It will be launched today by Geoff Hoon, the transport secretary, a...

The Scotsman

• Cash plan to promote electric carsConsumers could receive incentives of between £2,000 and £5,000 to buy an electric car from 2011, the Government has announced.

The Telegraph

• Dining cars disappear as trolleys roll on board In the halcyon days of rail passengers would enjoy afternoon tea at tables covered with linen table cloths with waiters clad in starched white jackets catering to their needs.
• Scrappage schemes not 'green' Environmentalists suggest that paying people to replace their cars with newer less polluting models isn't as beneficial as claimed.
• Electric car buyers to be given £5000 in incentives Motorists are to be offered incentives of up to £5000 to buy electric cars under new government proposals.

Times Online

• Andrew Adonis: suffering the railway refreshment desertI arrive at Hastings at 6.30am in the company of a dozen other passengers, having set off from Brighton at 5.30am with only two others before Norman Baker MP joined at Lewes.
• Greener fuels will add to cost of motoring, oil companies say The cost of motoring will rise under a European Union plan to force oil companies to add more biofuel to petrol and diesel, the industry has claimed.
• BA and Virgin passengers set for price-fix refund Thousands of long-haul passengers affected by price-fixing by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are finally set for a refund after three passengers dropped a challenge to a £73.5 million deal struck with the airlines by American class-action lawyers.
• Network Rail defend controversial bonus scheme Network Rail has mounted a campaign to defend its controversial bonus scheme, under which the directors are due to collect more than £1 million funded largely by the taxpayer.

Press Association

• Transport costs soar in 20 yearsBus, coach and rail fares have soared over the past two decades, official figures have revealed. Between 1987 and 2008, bus and coach fares rose by 183% and rail fares went up by 172%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Daily Record

• Forth Road Bridge requires almost 2000 nuts to be replacedALMOST 2000 heavy-duty nuts are to be replaced on the Forth Road Bridge after a routine check last year found nine had cracked.

Mail Online

• As camera numbers triple, we’re the speed trap capital of EuropeBritain has become the speed camera capital of Europe with the number of sites almost trebling in six years.
• As camera numbers triple, we’re the speed trap capital of EuropeBritain has become the speed camera capital of Europe with the number of sites almost trebling in six years.

Network Rail

• NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR FIRST EVER NETWORK RAIL PARTNERSHIP AWARDS

Transport Briefing

• Oxford Circus Tokyo-inspired crossing work startsWork begins this week on a £5m project to transform one of Britain's busiest pedestrian crossings to make it easier for shoppers to access London's West End.
• Metrolink MediaCity tram spur gains Works OrderTransport secretary Geoff Hoon has granted a Transport and Works Act order allowing construction of a Manchester Metrolink tram line to serve the new MediaCity property development.
• Jacobs scoops Crossrail project representative jobJacobs Engineering has been appointed by the government as its Project Representative for Crossrail.
• Blackpool tram depot planning application filedA planning application has been submitted by Blackpool Council to build a £20m tram depot as long-running plans to modernise the seaside resort's historic tramway move a step closer to delivery.

London Evening Standard

• Britain 'facing £300m fine' after Mayor shelves pollution plansTHE Mayor's decision to shelve anti- pollution measures and curb the congestion charge could leave Britain facing a £300million EU fine, ministers fear.
• £2m to airbrush Metronet out of London commuter historyPlans to wipe out the final traces of Metronet, one of the most unloved names in London's transport history, are to cost passengers and taxpayers up to £2million
• First photos of women killed within 24 hoursThe grieving families and friends of two women cyclists killed on London's roads called on the Government to do more to make the roads safer

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Perth bus firm vows to run free services, and appeal ruling A PERTHSHIRE bus company has said it will continue to run free services “ despite having its operator™s licence removed.

Blackpool Gazette

• Town hall defends £20m tram depotBLACKPOOL'S new tram depot is in the right place, claim council bosses.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Potholes to be left unfilled to slow carsA parish council in Essex has said it wants potholes to be left unfilled to act as a "natural traffic calming" measure.
• New timetable set for Stansted inquiryA date for an inquiry into the development of Stansted Airport in Essex will be announced by the end of next month, the Government has said.

New Scientist

• Transformers: Protecting pedestrians from killer carsCars will soon be able to tell that they're about to hit a pedestrian and modify their shapes to minimise injury – but will manufacturers take up the technology?

Wall Street Journal

• Tricky Course for Environment CzarObama's environmental-policy czar, Carol Browner, will examine initiatives aimed at curbing greenhouse gases, while syncing the policies of multiple agencies.

Washington Post

• Fiat Chief's Mixed Messages Fiat chief executive Sergio Marchionne is sending mixed signals about his company's potential tie-up with Chrysler.
• Malaysia's Proton launches multipurpose vehicle KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Malaysian national automaker Proton launched its first seven-seater multipurpose vehicle Wednesday, pinning hopes on the long-awaited model to spur sales and boost exports amid a global economic slump.
• GM pushes faster plan to cut U.S. dealers: sources DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp has told U.S. dealers it is accelerating its timetable for closing about 1,700 dealerships as it rushes to meet a June 1 deadline to restructure under U.S. government oversight, people with knowledge of the discussions said.

Aviation Industry

• March traffic figures BAA's airportsBAA™s UK airports handled a total of 10.6 million passengers in March, a reduction of 11.3% against the same month last year. Around 2-3% points of the reduction can be attributed to the fact that, in 2008, the Easter travel peak centred around the third weekend of March whereas this year the main peak will not have begun until April.
• Cowl Pump Improves Safety and Reduces Engine Servicing TimeThis article introduces new aircraft maintenance equipment that helps reduce overall maintenance costs by improving efficiency, safety and environmental performance.
• American Airlines Parent Rises Most in Six Months as Results Top EstimatesAmerican Airlines parent AMR Corp. jumped the most since October after posting a narrower first- quarter loss than analysts expected and saying travel demand may rise by midyear.

Other News Sources

• Funds in place for rail work studyFUNDING is in place for a feasibility study into work which would vastly improve rail services to and from Stroud on the Great Western Line.
• New Contract For Rail Safety FirmA CREWE firm has been awarded a five-year contract from Network Rail to investigate signals suspected of being 'passed at danger'.
• New scheme to make rail travel more secure and saferTRAIN operator National Express East Coast is supporting a new scheme launched last week to help improve safety and security on the railway.
• Adonis experiences beauty of our rail systemTransport minister Lord Andrew Adonis is due to arrive in Margate today (Wed, Apr 15) as part of a six-day rail journey across Britain, Yourthanet reports.
• Electrification announcement this summerWe expect an announcement on electrification this summer,' says Iain Coucher, chief executive of Network Rail. In confident mood Iain Coucher, Simon Kirby and Robin Gisby have been readying the industry to move from an operations and maintenance regime to an era of sustained investment in an expanded, high capacity railway.
• Commuters' chance to quiz ministerJADED rail passengers in Ipswich will today get the chance to air their grievances to a top government minister as he embarks on a six-day rail voyage across Britain. Frustrated commuters will have direct access to Transport Minister Lord Adonis when he visits the town on his trip to get “first-hand experience” of the rail service.
• Transport minister hears rail concerensThe minister was visiting on day three of a marathon six-day fact-finding trip by train, which is taking him from Truro to Inverness on at least 45 trains.
• London to get its 100th Elektromotive charging bayElektromotive, a provider of electric-vehicle charging stations, is set to install its 100th charging bay in London by the end of May. There are currently 80 in the capital.
• Manchester Airport shakes up sales team Manchester Airport has strengthened its route development team in a bid to attract more long-haul routes to the airport.
• Ferry crossings to France blockedBritish ferry companies sue the French government after a blockade by French fishermen causes a second day of chaos. Emily Reuben reports.

EIN News Subscription

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News from Europe

• Air France-KLM to Cut as Many as 3,000 Jobs by 2011 Air France-KLM Group, Europe’s biggest airline, may cut its workforce by as much as 2.9 percent in the next two years amid a collapse in global air travel.
• Czech PM wants commission on leak of aircraft deal data - TVPrague - Outgoing Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek wants a commission to investigate the leak of information on the prepared purchase of Spanish Casa C-295M tactical transport aircraft by the Czech military, Nova TV reported today.
• Airlines cut flights worldwide due to global crisisAirlines will reduce their carbon emissions by nearly 8 percent this year as they cut the number of flights they operate in line with a drop in cargo and passenger demand.