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

Thursday, 04 June 2009

BBC News

• UK new car sales 25% lower in MayUK car sales fell by 24.8% in May compared with the same month last year, the latest industry figures have shown.
• Cabbie delivers bus lane petitionA fleet of about 20 taxis accompanied a Greater Manchester private hire taxi driver when he delivered a petition over using city centre bus lanes.
• West Coast rail delays condemnedNetwork Rail has been criticised over "unsatisfactory" delays and disruption on the West Coast Main Line.
• Crime fears on public transportThere have been calls for research into why public transport users in Sunderland have a high fear of crime.

Financial Times

• TSA blocks Delta flights to Kenya and LiberiaDelta Air Lines' efforts to expand its US-to-Africa service, filling a void in air travel left by Pan American World Airways' demise almost two decades ago, hit a snag...
• Network Rail misses savings targetThe operator of the UK's rail network confirmed that it missed the government-imposed savings target set by the rail regulator as it fails to bring down soaring costs
• Crash jet data 'may not be recovered'French air accident investigators indicated they were unlikely to be able to find the 'black box' flight data and voice recorders of an Air France passenger jet that crashed into the Atlantic
• British Airways business traffic falls sharplyBritish Airways said its premium traffic had fallen 17.2 per cent year-on-year in May following a fall of 17.7 per cent in April, as the global economic recession takes a heavy toll of premium long-haul air travel
• Iberia heading for first annual loss in 13 yearsSpanish flag-carrier Iberia is on course to incur its first annual loss in 13 years, the airline's chairman has warned

The Guardian

• IATA to raise 2009 airline industry loss forecastLosses from the world's airlines will be worse than forecast this year and will cause a knock-on effect on suppliers, with Boeing and Airbus orders next year looking to be down 30 percent, the industry's top body said on Thursday. International Air Transport Association (IATA) Managing Director Giovanni Bisignani told Reuters in an interview that the body would revise its forecast of $4.7 billion of losses at its annual meeting on Monday.
• Network Rail executives to receive bonuses despite possible licence breachChief executive Iain Coucher says £1.5bn pre-tax profit and the best punctuality figures since 1992 justify the payouts

The Herald

• Level crossings still safety risk, says reportSafety at railway crossings is being jeopardised by confusing signs and misleading information, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch said in a report yesterday.
• BA traffic increase in April may have been aberrationBritish Airways said yesterday that passenger traffic fell last month, suggesting that an increase in April may have been an aberration.
• Network Rail in trouble for failing to meet its targetsNetwork Rail has failed to meet efficiency targets and risks breaching its licence conditions again as a result of continued performance problems which have seen one in five trains delayed on the West Coast Main Line, its regulator warned yesterday.

The Independent

• Ryanair on the attack ahead of rival's AGMThe spat between Ryanair and Aer Lingus over the latter's non-executive directors' fees reached a new pitch yesterday in advance of a shareholder vote on the issue at tomorrow's annual general meeting.

The Scotsman

• Car scrappage effect to be revealedMonthly new car sale figures will give the first indication of how successful the Government's "cash for bangers" vehicle scrappage scheme is likely to be.

Times Online

• Network Rail bosses to get over £1m in bonuses despite blundersNetwork Rail™s directors are due to share more than £1 million in bonuses despite causing misery for millions of passengers by mishandling the upgrade of Britain's busiest line.
• BA's premium passengers fall 17%British Airways' premium passenger numbers continued their downward trajectory last month as the recession took its toll on the top end of the aviation sector.
• GM and Chrysler defend slashing dealershipsTop executives from General Motors and Chrysler insisted that they had to get rid of thousands of car dealerships, as they faced attacks from lawmakers angry at job losses across America as a result of the car companies™ decision.
• Gaz Automobile set to withdraw LDV support next weekGaz Automobile, the Russian carmaker, is set to walk away from its investment in LDV on Monday.

Mail Online

• How the car scrappage scheme could be scrapped by August

The Mirror

• Call to axe rail bonusesTRAINS
• CAR PLAN TWO GOODThe "cash for bangers" scheme may have to end early - because it is too successful.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• £28m Welsh Highland Railway project runs out of cashTHE official opening of the world’s longest heritage railway has had to be postponed – because the company laying the track needs more cash.

Liverpool Echo

• Commuters stranded on Southport lineHUNDREDS of commuters were stranded last night after trains were suspended between Southport and Hillside stations.

Newcastle Journal

• Methanol challenges hydrogen to be fuel of the futureDespite intense research, the hydrogen economy remains an elusive dream, but a greener way to manufacture methanol is a reminder there are other options

Sheffield Telegraph

• Hopes voiced for a new high speed rail link to LondonLONG-TERM hopes of a new high speed rail link between Sheffield and London will be expressed today. Local transport leaders will moot the possibility of a new station being created to the east of the city centre to avoid disrupting the existing network.

The News (Portsmouth)

• East Hampshire residents have say on transportResidents can help shape the future of transport in East Hampshire by taking part in a major review.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• First bosses™ letters to staff ˜propaganda™Bosses at transport giant First have written to more than 400 drivers in an attempt to avert possible strike action.

Reading Evening Post

• Reading station revamp will have a 'dramatic' impact The £848 million revamp of Reading station is set to have a “dramatic” impact on the town centre transport network.

Transport for London

• Mayor's Transport Director joins cast of internet drama to urge teenagers 'Look out for your mates'Part of TfL's latest teen road safety campaign to reduce number of teenagers killed or seriously injured on London roads.

Green Miscellany

• Charging gadget redefines power-walkingThe nPower PEG (Personal Energy Generator) from a company called Tremont Electric harnesses personal kinetic energy as a person walks, transferring it into electricity to the portable electronic device plugged into it.

Other News Sources

• Campaigners against toll contact GovernmentCAMPAIGNERS against a proposed toll increase on the Humber Bridge have written to the Government claiming a rise would be “unfair” as the region is rocked by the recession.
• MP praised for A11 safety campaignNEWMARKET MP Richard Spring has had his efforts to get improvements made to the A11, one of the region's most treacherous roads, recognised by road safety campaigners.
• It may be time for a shake-up, warns Coun GreavesMETRO is warning that service cuts and fare hikes could lead to a substantial drop in bus passenger numbers. The West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority has carried out research to gauge what impact recent ticket price increases and service reductions could have on public transport in the area.
• First bus operators launch campaign to get problem passengers in Ellesmere Port to behaveFIRST is launching a campaign to encourage people to be more considerate to one another when using its buses. Passenger Focus has backed the campaign, entitled It’s your bus. Respect it, which will be advertised on each of First’s 9,000 buses across its 14 bus operating companies in 40 towns in the UK.
• Jarvis secures £20m contractRAIL maintenance and freight group Jarvis has announced that its Fastline subsidiary has secured a new contract worth more than £20m with power group E.ON.
• New Stagecoach bus can't cope with country lanesOFFWELL has been cut out of a bus service to Honiton because a newly introduced bus is unsuitable for country lanes.
• Ryanair moots baggage handling role for passengersLONDON - Ryanair is considering asking passengers to load their own luggage into aircraft holds to save money on baggage handlers, according to reports.
• Ryanair plummets to £145m lossBudget airline Ryanair has dived into the red after being hit with a 60% hike in its fuel bill
• ORR sets Network Rail efficiency deadlineThe Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has given Network Rail a mixed report for the past five years of operation, in particular that it missed efficiency savings targets it promised it would make, and now wants a plan for improving performance by the end of the month.
• Stansted expansion still on, says BAAAirport operator BAA last week said it remained committed to building a second runway at Stansted even though it could be forced to sell the airport and could face planning inquiry delays.BAA Stansted airport commercial and development director Nick Barton said he was confident the £1.66bn proposal for a second runway would go ahead, despite a 12.6% fall in passenger numbers between April 2008 and 2009.Speaking at NCE™s œAirport Design & Engineering Conferen
• BA records dip in passenger numbers British Airways carried 7.3 per cent fewer passengers in May than the same time last year, the airline has announced.Related StoriesWreckage 'is from missing jet'