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

Saturday, 02 May 2009

BBC News

• US car sales continue to sufferUS car sales continued to struggle in April as cash-conscious consumers remained reluctant to buy new vehicles

Financial Times

• Meiras named as successor to Ferrovial chiefIn a surprise move reflecting tension at the infrastructure group, Ferrovial names Inigo Meiras, vice-president of BAA, as successor to chief executive Joaquín Ayuso
• Revenues down at China's shipping groupsThe profitability of China Cosco and China Shipping appears to be falling faster than their rivals' as they come under pressure to fill their fleets with cargo at low rates
• Moller-Maersk in disposal talksThe Danish company, owner of the world's largest container shipping line, confirms that it is in talks about a 'possible transaction' involving Norfolkline, its ferry business
• Tube Lines names chief executiveA senior transport industry executive is set to be the new chief executive of the company upgrading three of London Underground's most important lines, it was...
• EasyJet finance chief transfers to First GroupJeff Carr is to leave the low-cost carrier less than a month after chairman Sir Colin Chandler said he would step down earlier than expected amid concerns at continuing discord on the group's board

The Herald

• Forth Ports confident of recovering lossesForth Ports said yesterday it was hopeful that £27m of property development cost writedowns which scarred last year's performance could be reversed as the market recovers.
• Carr takes charge of FirstGroup finances but Finch flies nestAberdeen-based FirstGroup has hired easyJet’s finance director Jeff Carr to perform the same role for it but has lost chief operating officer Dean Finch who spearheaded its US drive.

Times Online

• Across Sweden by canal boatIt was a heart-stopping moment. There I was, strolling along a deserted tow path, a dawn breeze rustling the leaves on the trees lining the canal, when suddenly I noticed our cruise boat come up behind, pass me, pick up speed and disappear into the distance.
• UK's largest dealership Pendragon blasts scrappage schemeThe Government™s flagship scheme to boost the car market was dealt a blow yesterday when Britain™s biggest dealership dismissed the scrappage incentive plan as likely to have œvery little if any effect.

Daily Express

• Invensys surges on rail gainsHOPES that its railway control and communication systems business was on track to deliver strong results shunted engineering group Invensys higher yesterday.

Mail Online

• ... as transport chiefs predict May Day mayhem on road and rail

London Evening Standard

• It’ll be a bright bank holiday ... just avoid taking a trainRail passengers were warned of disruption on virtually every major rail line out of London over the bank holiday weekend
• Rail delays to hit bank holidayRail passengers were warned of disruption on virtually every major rail line out of London over the bank holiday weekend

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Bus lanes blueprint for Newcastle's West RoadTRAFFIC lights that can tell how many passengers are on buses are planned for a busy city road.

The News (Portsmouth)

• Inquest into Hilsea rail death opensAN inquest into the death of a man on railway tracks has opened.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• I do not know how we will pay for bypass, says ministerTransport Minister Stewart Stevenson admitted yesterday that he had no idea how the government was going to pay for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
• Accidents up at A90 blackspotThe number of road accidents at a dangerous north-east junction has risen since safety measures were installed, new figures have revealed.
• Watchdog orders Black Isle bus firm to cut fleet A Black Isle bus company which provides school services has had its fleet reduced from 10 to four vehicles for a year by the Traffic Commissioner.
• Concern that buses are creating havoc in new-look city centreA city councillor has accused bus drivers of damaging expensive new Streetscape bus shelters in central Inverness.

Blackpool Gazette

• £20m tram depot “ public meetingA PUBLIC meeting will be held tomorrow night for people to have their say about the planned £20m tram depot on New South Promenade.

Sunderland Echo

• Weekend shifts return to NissanWeekend shifts are to return at Nissan from next Saturday as the car market shows its first signs of recovery.

New Scientist

• Plastic cups could boost auto performanceThe dream of being able to fuel a car on waste comes a step closer with the discovery that dissolving polystyrene cups in biodiesel increases power output

Washington Post

• Chrysler: From Hero to Zero NEW YORK, May 1 -- Chrysler early last year was so flush with cash and optimism that the firm's owners decided to repay a $3 billion loan to its lenders, believing that a turnaround for the company was just about to begin.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Hapag-Lloyd increases Far East ratesHapag-Lloyd has revealed that it is raising its rates for services from the Far East to northern Europe and the western Mediterranean.From June 15th 2009, the shipping line will increase rates by $500 (£336) per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) from the Far East and by $150 per TEU in the opposite direction.The company is also imposing a peak season surcharge of $150 per TEU between August 1st and October 31st this year.One of the largest shipping lines in the world, Hapag-Lloyd owns around 130 ships and employs more than 7,500 people in 130 countries around the globe, transporting 5...

Railnews

• News: Call for end to rail replacement bus services AS passengers face further disruption over the May Day bank holiday weekend, consumer watchdog Passenger Focus has called for train companies to use rail replacement services as a last resort — and to relax rules governing alternative routes.

Other News Sources

• Disused rail station could house 5,000 jobs at 'Whitehall of the north'More than 5,000 civil service jobs could be concentrated at a “Whitehall of the North West” on the site of a disused railway station in Manchester city centre.
• Alabama master in ship arms pleaMAERSK Alabama captain Richard Phillips has publicly advocated arming ranking officers aboard vessels transiting piracy-prone waters.
• Boeing researches œdynamic bumps for drag reductionBoeing is investigating the use of oscillating jets of air at certain locations on an aircraft wing to significantly reduce drag and consequently boost speed or fuel economy for high speed cruise, including transonic or supersonic regimes. Analysis presented as supporting material for a US patent titled œDynamic bumps for drag reduction at transonic-supersonic speeds (application number 20090084906) shows overall mean drag reductions as high as 7.3% relative to a normally configured wing. At transonic or higher speeds, air flowing over a swept wing is accelerated causing drag producing a œn...
• Bulmers debts totalled £14mBulmers Logistics had total debts of £14.1m when it went into administration in January, according to papers filed at Companies House.
• Langdon ˜pleased™ with £2.5m pre-tax profitTemperature controlled haulage firm Langdon Group saw turnover rise 10% and pre-tax profit increase 32% last year.
• PD Ports bullish as buyers circleGrowing interest in the port-centric logistics concept has led senior PD Ports executives to predict bullish 2009 volumes as possible buyers circle the company, now officially for sale.
• Labour slam one year of 'Incoherence' under BorisLabour™s London Assembly group has slammed Tory mayor Boris Johnson for: œIncoherence, a lack of vision and criminal transport cuts in the poorest parts of London.
• New Crossrail chairman Terry Morgan to join five months earlyCrossrail has today announced that Terry Morgan will take up his post as non executive chairman on 1 June, five months ahead of the previously announced date of November 2009.
• Crossrail route safeguarded west to ReadingThe Government today safeguarded a potential extension to the Crossrail route from Maidenhead to Reading.
• Government should focus on electric vans, not carsThe government should focus on electric vans and not cars, says Modec chief executive Bill Gillespie.
• Go-Ahead Q3 trading meets hopes, demand growsGrowing demand for rail and bus keeps Q3 in line with hopes, Reinforced confidence in FY expectations, Shares up over 4 pct.
• Air rage at Gatwick on the riseAir rage incidents at Gatwick are on the increase, according to figures obtained by the BBC today. The number of incidents dealt with by police has...

Other Subscription Services

• Woodside Petroleum says LNG production to doubleAUSTRALIA’S Woodside Petroleum expects global production of liquefied natural gas to comfortably more than double during the next decade.
• Maersk master and corporate boss differ on arming vesselsDIVERGENT views on the issue of firearms on ships have emerged in Congressional testimonies by the master of the Maersk Alabama and his corporate boss.