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

Tuesday, 23 June 2009

BBC News

• Electric cars trialled in citiesElectric cars are to be trialled in two cities in the West Midlands. Over the next 12 months 110 electric cars and plug-in petrol-electric hybrids will be tested in Birmingham and Coventry.
• Deaths on Scotland's roads fallThe transport minister has warned against complacency after road fatalities in Scotland fell by 3% during 2008.
• Japan Airlines to receive bailoutJapan Airlines is to receive emergency state funding after being hit by the economic downturn.

Financial Times

• Lufthansa to take control of BMIThe German airline will take control of BMI British Midland on July 1 after agreeing to pay its chairman £223m for his stake of 50 per cent plus one share in the UK carrier
• JAL secures Y100bn emergency fundingJapan Airlines secured Y100bn in emergency funding after the Japanese government agreed to guarantee new loans to the indebted group
• Air India warns of 'moment of truth'Air India, which is struggling to stay in business while awaiting a hoped-for government bail-out, is looking for ways to cut Rs5bn from its staffing costs

The Guardian

• Haulage lobby plans to force 'megatrucks' on to Britain's roadLarger trucks reduce congestion and pollution, industry claims, as EU considers introduction of 'road trains' across Europe
• UK powers up plans for world's largest green car trialUK government's £25m scheme to slash emissions from transport will allow public to take part in long-term trials of a range of electric cars
• BA shares dip after Branson warning¢ British Airways shares drop 9% ¢ Branson: 'Virgin ready to take over BA's routes and slots'Sir Richard Branson's latest salvo in his ongoing spat with British Airways knocked nearly 9% off the airline's share price today after the Virgin tycoon spooked investors with a warning that his arch-rival could collapse.British Airways was the biggest faller in the FTSE 100, slipping by 8.65% to 124.6p, after the co-owner of Virgin Atlantic said the loss-making airline was

The Independent

• Lufthansa wins BMI sale battle with £115m to spareSir Michael Bishop is selling his BMI airline to Lufthansa for £115m less than expected after withdrawing a lawsuit against the German carrier.

The Scotsman

• Capital's big four employers pledge only £1m for tramsTHE four largest private sector firms in Edinburgh have pledged just over £1 million between them to the cost of the city's £545m tram project, it can be revealed today.

The Telegraph

• Bicycles will be stolen in under four hours, finds survey of Britain's cycle theft hotspotsBicycle thieves strike in under four hours even in Britain’s ’safest’ cities, according to the results of a test to find where criminals would strike most quickly.
• Virgin adds planes to fleet as it attacks BAVirgin Atlantic has placed the biggest order for Airbus A330 series aircraft since a similar Air France plane crashed three weeks ago over the Atlantic, with the loss of 228 lives.
• Lord Adonis launches electric car trialsLord Adonis, the Transport Secretary, drove an electric car on to the forecourt of London's historic Guildhall as he launched trials of low-carbon vehicles.
• BA may start charging for peanuts and wineBritish Airways might charge for peanuts and wine to cut costs.

Times Online

• Japan Airlines gets $1bn government bailout$Japan Airlines, the loss-making Asian giant, is to receive a $1 billion government-backed loan to tide it over while management struggles to concoct a $œcrisis plan to save the company.
• Virgin celebrates 25 years with $2.1bn order$Sir Richard Branson announced a $2.1 billion order for new aircraft today as he celebrated Virgin Atlantic$™s 25th anniversary.

Daily Record

• Death toll on Scotland's roads falls to lowest for 60 yearsTHE death toll on Scotland's roads is at its lowest for nearly 60 years, figures revealed today.

Mail Online

• Transport secretary Lord Adonis warns ailing airlines there will be no bailout

The Mirror

• Virgin make £1.3bn plane order

Network Rail

• TRAIN PUNCTUALITY REACHES NEW RECORD HIGH (ANGLIA)
• REPAIRS REQUIRED ON KILMARNOCK-CARLISLE ROUTE¢ Engineers to carry out vital works ¢ Replacement buses to minimise disruption

Transport Briefing

• Rail electrification for inter-city lines advertisedNetwork Rail has invited expressions of interest in work on a major railway electrification programme which it says could be worth between one and one and a half billion pounds to contractors.

Birmingham Post

• Birmingham Airport expansion plans revealedBIRMINGHAM Airport is aiming to knock two terminals into one and double passenger figures to 20 million in ten years in a massive expansion programme, it was revealed today.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Public to get say on future of Llangollen canalWATERWAY communities who live in the shadow of mighty Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and along the Llangollen Canal corridor will have a say in their future.

Derby Telegraph

• Angry parents speak against bus cut planA HEATED meeting last night heard worried parents and head teachers speak out about proposals to axe school buses in Derby.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Developer optimistic despite scheme haltA DEVELOPER has had to put plans for an £80m business park on hold because of the recession. "The roads are vital," said Mr Booth, who has worked in developing business and retail sites for more than 30 years. He argued the proposed tram extensions were also important to the future economic prosperity of the city and the count

Blackpool Gazette

• Plea for disabled bus lifelineFEARFUL users of a vital bus service for the elderly and disabled today pleaded with council chiefs to: "Save our lifeline."

Chester Standard

• Rural roads in West Cheshire to undergo surface dressingRURAL roads in West Cheshire are to undergo surface dressing later this week.

Sunderland Echo

• City centre road closed after 10ft hole appearedA busy city centre road has been closed after the carriageway collapsed creating a deep hole.

C.N.N.

• 'Synthetic tree' claims to catch carbon in the airScientists in the United States are developing a

Forbes

• The Airlines: Fly The Empty Skies The industry cut costs, and profits are up. Now to get some passengers.

Aviation Industry

• Cycles snatched in under four hours in theft hotspotsNew research details where bicycles are stolen from quickest London Bridge, Glasgow and Birmingham earned themselves the ’bicycle theft hotspots’ tag after research found the areas to be where bicycles are stolen most quickly by thieves, as reported by the Daily Telegraph.
• The Passenger Transport Management Awards 2009Results Summary
• Car-sharing benefits businesses financially, it is suggestedBusinesses which encourage employees to car-share on their commute to work could experience financial benefits as well as helping the environment.
• Coventry confident of business aviation futureThe UK regional airport at Coventry is confident in its ability to transform itself into a business aviation centre as its new fixed-base operation nears completion.
• Electric Smart ready for switch-onReaction from customers taking part in the UK trials of the Smart ForTwo Electric Drive, including police, universities, local councils, architects and energy companies, has been so encouraging that Daimler has confirmed it will go into production, with cars coming to the UK in early 2010.
• EU intelligent transport systems plan stallsMPs have postponed a debate on European Commission proposals to control the direction of intelligent transport systems (ITS) across Europe. The Commons European Committee said a debate seemed appropriate but it would not take a decision until it had information on how the Commission intends to amend proposals for a draft directive and how the next Swedish-led presidency of the EU will carry the issue forward.
• Governor of Bank of England visits Southampton AirportThe Governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, has visited Southampton Airport as part of a tour of the region to get a first-hand impression of the local economy...
• Barcelona Airport's T1 Opens with UFIS Airport Innovation's Baggage Handling Solution UFIS Airport Innovation (UFIS AI) has played an important role in the successful opening of the new terminal one (T1) at Barcelona Airport. By delivering its state-of-the art, high-level control baggage handling solution, UFIS AI was an integral part of the smooth start of operations in T1. The new terminal was officially inaugurated on 16 June and operations began on 17 June, with the first Spanair flight taking off for Madrid at 6.15am. "This was one of the largest projects undertaken in Europe," said Frank Mikkelsen, managing director of UFIS AI. "We are proud...

Other News Sources

• Survey of transport servicesPEOPLE are being given the chance to air their views on the highways and transport services in North Yorkshire. A random sample of more than 4,500 residents will be invited to take part in a major nationwide survey designed to ensure advances on transport policy are exploited across the country.
• London Councils urge Mayor to work together on electric carsThe organisation representing London authorities, London Councils, is urging Mayor Boris Johnson to work with the capitals boroughs to increase the use of electric vehicles.
• Earls Colne: Mum campaigns for child bus fareAn “irate” mum has complained to the House of Commons because her 11-year-old is charged an adult day bus fare to travel to and from school.
• Bus company moving in the right directionSTAFF at a Redditch based bus company are celebrating after winning a number of prestigious awards. At the 2009 Passenger Transport Management Awards, held in London, staff from Diamond Bus Company beat stiff competition to win four awards.
• Train improvements welcomedRail passengers have welcomed news that the number of trains arriving on time in East Anglia has reached a record high. The rail network between Norwich and the capital was branded “horrific” by MP Norman Lamb, who sent a letter to the Secretary of State for Transport stressing the importance of a new stock of trains.
• No legal challenge over buses contractA BUS company which missed out on a council parkand- ride contract has announced it will not challenge the decision.
• Hard shoulder to be used to ease congestion on the M4 and M5THE hard shoulder on sections of the M4 and M5 near Almondsbury are to be turned into a fourth lane to help ease congestion.
• NATIONAL EXPRESS: 12 Week Consultation Programme To Improve Train ServicesNATIONAL Express East Anglia has today launched a 12 week consultation to seek the views of stakeholders and customers on the recently announced plans to improve train service capacity
• Lufthansa seals new deal to buy BMIFRANKFURT (AFP) - The top German airline, Lufthansa, on Monday unveiled a plan B to buy troubled British Midland Airways (BMI) from founder Michael Bishop and secure key take-off and landing slots at Heathrow Airport.
• 'No bailout for BA,' says transport secretary There would be no bailout from the government if British Airways went bust, the new transport...
• Delhi Govt. to focus on transport, urban development and water-sanitationNew Delhi, June 22 : Delhi Government on Monday revealed through its budget that it would primarily focus its attention on transport sector, urban development and water and sanitation in the year ahead.
• British Airways slumps on talk of state aidRumours of a pension shortfall, the sale of OpenSkies and a potential state bailout sent shares in British Airways in plummeting today
• Ford prices its fuel-saving Transit ECOneticFord has announced pricing for its Transit ECOnetic van, which is claimed to offer a combined fuel economy of 39.2mpg and a fuel saving of 10% over the standard equivalent.
• Judge strikes down NYC's green-cab incentiveNEW YORK (AP) — A judge on Monday rejected the city's latest maneuver to force taxicab owners to buy fuel-efficient hybrids, the second time in eight months he deemed such rules to be pre-empted by federal laws.
• Crisis? What crisis?Work is under way to measure the impact of the financial crisis on the aviation industry - updating Contesting the Crisis, the definitive survey of how it was affected by the September 11 attacks.
• EU may lift ban on four Indonesian airlines in JulyThe European Commission could allow four Indonesian airlines to serve its members from July, partially lifting a blanket ban that it imposed in 2008 after...
• Summit deal paves way for second Irish Lisbon referendumA compromise was reached today (19 June) between EU leaders offering Ireland legally-binding guarantees on the Lisbon Treaty without requiring other countries to re-ratify the text.
• Eurostar content to go on GetThereGrowing corporate demand for rail Eurostar content is to be made available for users of the GetThere booking tool from next month. The full content of the high speed cross channel train operator will be available on the Sabre-owned tool which is compatible with all four major GDSs, Sabre, Amadeus, Galileo and Worldspan.

Other Subscription Services

• Investment programme continues for East Midlands Trains as £9 million HST makeover gets underwayEast Midlands Trains has announced the start of a £9 million refurbishment programme bringing improvements to its High Speed Train (HST) fleet, designed to offer passengers a greatly enhanced travelling environment.