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

Tuesday, 21 April 2009

BBC News

• Rail extension amendments debatedA bid to amend structure plans for a reopened Scottish Borders rail link is to be discussed by councillors.
• Work set to improve bus stationHaverhill Bus Station is getting a complete refit with new shelters and stands and electronic display for travel information. The work, which will last 16 weeks, is being managed to cause minimum disruption to users.
• Bus fares cut to boost passengersNew lower fares and extra routes have come into force across a number of out-of-town services on Reading Buses.
• 75 bus and train jobs to be cutSeventy-five jobs will be cut from Northern Ireland's bus and rail services next year, the Minister for Regional Development has confirmed.
• Transport group to be liquidatedThe Stoke-on-Trent transport charity Communibus is to be liquidated.
• Brussels to probe seven airlinesEuropean Commission launches two separate investigations into seven airlines, accusing them of excessive co-operation.

Financial Times

• Watchdog defends Network Rail bonusesChris Bolt, chairman of the Office of Rail Regulation, says the incentive scheme is a 'perfectly sensible way' to get the company to focus on meeting its targets
• Brussels launches probes into air alliancesEuropean Union competition authorities launched an investigation yesterday into alliances between some of the world's biggest airlines amid fears that some carriers...
• Airbus and Boeing's plans fly in the face of senseAirbus and Boeinglook to be in denial. The attitude of the two civil aircraft makers seems to be flying in the face of the worst recession in decades, which has sent...
• Hapag-Lloyd attacked over its crisis stepsKühne & Nagel chief has cast doubt on whether the group was sufficiently bold in cutting costs after container shipping rates plunged. He also called for greater transparency
• Aegis to help combat piracy off Somali coastThe private security group is in talks with several states in the region about setting up a command and control base to monitor threats and act as an information exchange centre for vessels

The Guardian

• Boris Johnson announces £8m college to train London Crossrail workersThe London mayor revealed plans for the Crossrail Tunnelling Academy, which will provide Londoners with the chance to gain qualifications for a variety of roles essential to the project.
• Driving test changes planned to cut deaths of young motoristsChanges to the driving test regime will be announced tomorrow, as part of government plans to reduce deaths among young drivers and cut the number of road fatalities by 1,000 people over the next decade.
• Electric cars 'not enough to meet transport emissions targets'Government must encourage motorists to get out of their cars and walk or cycle, say scientists

The Herald

• High-speed railway link ’must extend to Scotland’MPs are to call for Britain’s proposed high-speed rail link to start being built from Scotland southwards, rather than just between London to the West Midlands.

The Independent

• Pirates: the $80m Gulf connectionOrganised piracy syndicates operating in Dubai and other Gulf states are laundering vast sums of money taken in ransom from vessels hijacked off the Horn of Africa.

The Scotsman

• More 20mph zones in road safety bidThe Government is set to launch a 10-year road safety strategy.

The Telegraph

• Electric cars labelled 'overhype' at Shanghai Auto Show The technology that will power a new generation of electric cars has been overhyped leading industry sources said at the Shanghai Auto Show yesterday.
• Owners of older cars to be offered cash to trade in vehicles Owners of older cars are to be offered cash to trade in their vehicles for newer more environmentallyfriendly models under plans expected to be unveiled in the budget.

Times Online

• Port of Dover sell-off consideredThe Port of Dover has hired PricewaterhouseCoopers and NM Rothschild to evaluate whether it should be fully or partly privatised.
• Adonis on the rails [letters]Rail investment schemes need to be reviewed if we want to get the most for our money
• Enough green talk. Now make it happenThe third runway go-ahead throws doubt on the Government's eco-credentials
• Europe puts airline alliances in the dock over transatlantic co-operationSeven international airlines, including five national flag carriers, are under investigation by the European Commission over potential anti-competitive practices on transatlantic routes.
• Speed limit to be cut on A-roads in bid to save 1,000 lives The speed limit on many A-roads will be reduced to 50mph under plans aimed at cutting the number of road deaths by a third.
• Britain falls down European league table on road safety figures Britain has fallen well down the European league table on road safety, despite being on course to meet its own targets for 2010, according to figures released by the Department for Transport.

Daily Express

• BA facing airlines partnership probeBritish Airways is one of seven airlines facing a European competition probe into lucrative transatlantic partnerships.

Mail Online

• Eating at the wheel could add 40% to the cost of car insurance Drivers caught eating an apple, map-reading or listening to loud music face rises of up to £200 on their motor premiums.

Transport Briefing

• Rail minister pledges to address station facilitiesTransport minister Lord Adonis has completed a week-long, 2,200 mile fact-finding trip across Britain's railway network.

Birmingham Post

• Warning over plans for high-speed rail link to West MidlandsPlans for a high speed rail link from the West Midlands to London must complement regional transport strategies to bring the most economic growth, the region’s transport authority has heard.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Tram chiefs look down the line to avoid tailbacksIT is one of the abiding memories of Edinburgh's original tram system – tramcars queued up nose-to-tail along the length of Princes Street as soon as one broke down.

Manchester Evening News

• Bus drivers get bollard trainingBUS drivers are to be retrained on how to go over Manchester's infamous rising bollards - amid claims they are `frightened to death' of them.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Plans for traffic lights backedMOTORISTS in Angus have backed £60,000 proposals to instal traffic lights at a busy Arbroath junction.

The York Press

• Rail operator National Express feeling cost pinchNATIONAL Express East Coast is holding further talks with the Government, amid claims it is trying again to cut its franchise payments to run trains on the York to London line.
• End of the road for York congestion fees? THE threat of congestion charging could finally be removed for York™s motorists, after the city™s transport chief dubbed the idea œa dead duck.

Wales Online

• Stagecoach new buses offer commuters internet accessIT has taken over cafes, offices, homes and now the internet is set to invade... South Wales buses.

Blackpool Gazette

• Airline doing well despite economic downturnLOW fares airline Jet2.com's parent company, the Dart Group, is set to emerge from the economic downturn in an extremely strong position, according to analysts Collins St

Bucks Free Press

• Wycombe woman nominated for award A HIGH Wycombe woman has been named as a finalist in a set of awards which recognise the importance of women in the transport and logistics industry.
• Top councillor pledges action at M40 death junction A TOP councillor has said she will ask the Highways Agency to make a busy Loudwater motorway junction safer after a young father was killed there 10 days ago.

Northants Evening Telegraph

• Fears over road safetyPressue is mounting on the county council to sort out our crumbling roads once and for all.

New Scientist

• Yeast and bacterium turned into gasoline factorySome DNA detective work, combined with clever genetic engineering, could lead to the production of carbon-neutral petrol

Washington Post

• GM spent $2.8M lobbying federal government in 1Q NEW YORK -- General Motors Corp. spent $2.8 million lobbying the U.S. government in the first three months of 2009, while the company was surviving on $13.4 billion in federal loans, according to a government filing.
• More GM workers laid off as gov't deadlines loom DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. started firing 1,600 white-collar workers Monday, continuing its effort to slash costs and qualify for more government loans on the same day it revealed it spent $2.8 million in the first three months of this year to lobby federal lawmakers.

Aviation Industry

• Continental Airlines expected to post first-quarter loss on lower trafficContinental Airlines Inc. reports first-quarter earnings on Wednesday. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst opinion related to the period.

Other News Sources

• Ministers urged to extend rail linkChorley MP Lindsay Hoyle is using a high profile parliamentary debate to make the case for high speed trains which would slash journey times between the North West and London.
• Bus passengers can browse the web with wi-fi serviceA NEW £2 million fleet of Stagecoach buses, the company's first in Wales to be complete with Wi-fi, were unveiled yesterday.
• Bristol Airport up for saleThe owners of Bristol Aiport are thought to be seeking a buyer in a bid to raise cash.
• More motorway lights to be turned off to cut carbon footprint The Highways Agency is trying to cut its carbon footprint by turning off selected motorway lights around the country.
• GMPTE’s new chief will earn £200,000Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive is advertising for a new chief offering a salary of £200,000.
• More 20mph zones in road safety bidMore 20mph zones in road safety bid

News from Europe

• Permanent Way industry makes tracks to MünsterINFRASTRUCTURE: More than 150 companies representing all aspects of the permanent way industry will be present in Münster for the 25th International Exhibition of Track Technology taking place on April 21-23.

Other Subscription Services

• Maersk and CMA CGM extend partnershipMAERSK Line and CMA CGM have unveiled more joint services as two of the world’s largest container lines continue to expand their collaborative arrangements.