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

Monday, 04 May 2009

BBC News

• Fiat confirms Opel deal interestItalian carmaker Fiat will hold talks with German ministers to discuss a takeover of Opel - the German business of GM.

Financial Times

• Tories hit at CBI in third runway disputeThe Conservatives yesterday launched an attack on business groups backing a third runway at Heathrow, saying the CBI and others should "wake up" to growing concerns over the plans among its grassroots membership.
• Fiat plans European car supergroupFiat plans to join its core cars division with Chrysler and General Motors Europe to form new publicly traded car company
• National Express call for aid is rejectedRail franchise contracts would not be renegotiated, the government insisted yesterday, in spite of calls from National Express, the transport group, for greater...

The Guardian

• National Express in talks over scrapping east coast franchiseNational Express is in talks with the Department for Transport to scrap its east coast rail franchise after admitting that the £1.4bn contract is unsustainable.
• London Transport faces funding crisis over modernising tube networkGap in financing threatens overhaul of capital's overcrowded transport network despite £40bn government investment, business group London First warns
• New Heathrow third runway protestInfluential group, including Sainbury's and Carphone Warehouse bosses, hopes to derail government's runway plansA group of some of the most influential businessmen in Britain have lined up against the government by opposing plans for a third runway at Heathrow.The rebels “ led by Ian Cheshire, chief executive of Kingfisher, and Tony Blair's

The Telegraph

• National Express feels the heat over East Coast lineRichard Bowker, the National Express chief executive, will this week face investor calls to come clean over the future of its East Coast Main Line train franchise and the group's creaking balance sheet.
• Heathrow runway rethink demanded by business leaders A group of business leaders will tomorrow call on the Government to scrap plans to build a new runway at London's Heathrow Airport.
• Labour MP attacks Network Rail over Bank Holiday engineering works A Labour MP tonight hit out at Network Rail for undertaking extensive engineering work during the Bank Holiday weekend.

Times Online

• Electric vehiclesJust how realistic is Irish politicians' target of having 350,000 plug-in vehicles on our roads by 2020?
• Edinburgh tram sham is a warning to other citiesThe much vaunted integrated transport system has never had mass approval, so maybe it’s time to put it to the popular vote
• Complaints against train ticket websiteOffice of Fair Trading notes incorrect payments, problems with cancellations and refunds and tickets not arriving on time
• Business can do without a third runway [letter]A misconception that those in the business community support the Government rationale for the third runway at Heathrow
• Third runway gets thumbs down from executivesThe dispute over the proposed third runway at Heathrow erupted again yesterday as 13 top business leaders came out in opposition to the plan.
• Rail deal sparks £400m cash callNATIONAL EXPRESS has struck an outline deal with the government to scrap its troubled east-coast train franchise, which should pave the way for a £400m rights issue and boardroom shake-up at the bus and rail group.

Reuters News

• Top executives lead Heathrow runway revoltLONDON (Reuters) - The leaders of some of the country's largest companies have started a revolt against the third runway at Heathrow, citing

Journal Live

• All change on East Coast line?It seems like it could be all change yet again on the East Coast Main Line. Speculation is growing that National Express has been talking to the Government about renogiating its franchise to run East Coast services.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Vision of rails across the DalesRural public transport is typically sparse and poorly co-ordinated. Chris Berry reports on how grassroots action brought back buses and trains to Wensleydale.

C.N.N.

• Fiat plans to purchase GM EuropeFiat Group, fresh from an agreement to buy a piece of troubled automaker Chrysler, has plans to purchase GM Europe and spin-off the recombined carmakers into a new company.

Washington Post

• Fiat eyes new company with GM Europe, Chrysler ROME -- Fiat Group SpA confirmed Sunday that it is in talks to buy most of General Motors Corp.'s European operations, taking another step toward creating a global automotive powerhouse.

Other News Sources

• Sustrans survey: school cycling on the riseIn a Sustrans survey of 19,000 children in both primary and secondary schools conducted in the school year 2007/08, 8 percent of children said they now cycle to school every day, compared to 4 percent before the Sustrans Bike It project.
• Internet facilities for train passengers on anvilNew Delhi (PTI) Be it booking a ticket or keeping a tab on the stock market, select rail passengers will soon be able to work online while on the move as Railway authorities are mulling on a proposal to provide satellite-based Internet facility on premier trains.
• Get rid of these dreadful old trains, fumes MPRAIL operators have been attacked by a Worcestershire MP for using “dreadful” trains on key services from Worcester to London each day.
• COMMENT: Get the trains right then you'll bring in passengersPETER Luff has a point when he complains about the standard of trains used between Worcester and London for many journeys.
• Rail engineering works rap by MPRAIL services are still being disrupted by engineering works despite a promise to keep lines open at weekends, Polegate's MP has claimed.
• Fed up over first class fare ’farce’COMMON sense seems to have flown out of the window as far as National Express is concerned. How else can you describe what happened to businessman Eric Vose? The poor chap had to pay twice for the same journey on the east coast main line.
• Businesses attack Heathrow planThe Government's claim that all businesses back a third runway at Heathrow has been
• My Tips for Next Try At Commuter RailIn spite of the anger of supporters, an Orlando area commuter rail is not dead just because the Senate would not exempt CSX for liability of injuries it might cause to passengers.
• Government should focus on electric vans, not carsThe government should focus on electric vans and not cars, says Modec chief executive Bill Gillespie.
• Used van prices rise sharply in MarchUsed van values are up as Manheim Auctions is the latest to reveal average prices rose 3.6% in March compared to the previous month, while online prices rose by 12.7%.
• Businesses attack Heathrow plan The Government's claim that all businesses back a third runway at Heathrow has been
• SIA gets temporary agreement with pilots over no-pay leaveSingapore Airlines (SIA) has implemented a shorter working week for staff after reaching a last minute compromise with the Airline Pilots Association- Singapore...