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

Saturday, 04 July 2009

BBC News

• BA to cut spending by one fifthBritish Airways says it is to reduce capital spending by 20% as it faces falling passenger numbers.

Financial Times

• China joins carbon tax protestBeijing has joined a growing clamour of complaint about US plans for a carbon tax on imports from countries without their own emission caps, warning it could set off a global trade war
• UK ready to co-fund GM Europe spin-offBritain is ready to provide loans or loan guarantees to finance the spin-off of General Motors' European Opel/Vauxhall arm, Peter Mandelson, UK business secretary, said
• Indian Railways plans leap into the cyber ageThe state-owned rail network has presented a budget that would expand e-ticketing, introduce automated vending machines and raise big terminuses to international standards

The Guardian

• Train firms stand to receive £400mUnder 'cap and collar' arrangements in their contracts, operators of all major rail franchises could qualify for state aidThe taxpayer could have to subsidise the rail network to the tune of a further £400m over the next two years, as a swath of expensive franchises head for an increase in government support that might prevent further defaults.
• Activists who stopped train convictedClimate change protesters face community service after judge rejects justification defenceClimate change protesters who ambushed and hijacked a power station coal train failed to convince a jury today that their actions were justified by the

The Independent

• Car manufacturers and unions 'are the solution' Britain's car manufacturers and its unions are no longer the problem, but the solution, business secretary Lord Mandelson said today.

Daily Express

• Balfour Beatty motors on as rail goes slowBalfour Beatty is motoring on as a series of major road projects boosted its civil engineering business during the first half of the year.

Daily Record

• Shock as school trip buses found to be unroadworthySerious faults were found in 18 buses taking kids to end-of-term trips, it was revealed yesterday.

ATOC

• Use Twitter for the latest train service updatesRail passengers can now receive up to the minute service disruption information that may affect their journey by simply following National Rail Enquiries from their Twitter account. They can even register for updates to be sent to their mobile phones.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Pay dispute between First and unions breaks outA row has broken out between a trade union and a bus company over claims staff are demanding a 52% pay increase.
• Record number of passengers arrive at Invergordon aboard Crown PrincessA record number of passengers arrived at Invergordon yesterday when the Crown Princess cruise liner dropped anchor at the Easter Ross port for the first time.
• Parents may go to court over A9 safety concerns Parents may have no option but to consider costly court action to convince the Scottish Government it would be dangerous for children to cross a proposed three-lane stretch of the A9 near Inverness to catch a school bus.

The York Press

• Gordon Brown insists train headquarters will stay in YorkGordon Brown has personally pledged York rail jobs were safe under nationalisation “ and heard pleas for the city to remain the long-term headquarters of the East Coast Main Line.
• Westminster Road residents block street in rat-run protestAngry York residents blockaded their street to protest against speeding motorists using it as a rat-run.

Blackpool Gazette

• Campaigners aim to block £20m tram depotDefiant opponents to Blackpool's £20m tram depot and heritage centre have vowed to continue their struggle against the plans.

Sunderland Echo

• Brown praises East Coast Main rail linePrime Minister Gordon Brown, right, has been given a first-hand view of the North East rail service that the Government will soon take over.

The Shields Gazette

• A19 flyover scheme is safe from cutsTransport bosses have allayed fears that a £41m flyover plan lined up for a busy roundabout could be driven off the road.

Aviation Industry

• Continental to sell $390 million in notes to raise CashContinental Airlines Inc. said Thursday it would sell $390 million in notes to finance 17 aircraft that it owns or plans to acquire through September.
• BA reports new slump in premium travelBA today (July 3) reported a 14.9% drop in premium traffic for June compared with the same month in 2008. While the slump in passengers travelling business or first class is continuing, the rate of the fall is slowing. April showed a 17.7% decline and May a 17.2% drop. In February the fall was 20.2%. The UK carrier said overall passenger numbers for June were 3.8% below the figure for 2008.

Other News Sources

• Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative launches a €140 million call for proposals for cutting-edge researchWith today's publication of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative (JTI)'s second call for proposals for research, Europe stays the course to realise the potential of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies and to create a cleaner energy system for the future.
• Commission Rejects Bulk of Air Quality Derogations Decisions given on PM10 time extension requests for nine EU countries but no UK decisions expected until later in the year.
• 'Clean Sky' gets off the ground despite initial delayThe �1.6 billion European programme to drive the aviation sector towards more environmentally-friendly development is now on track, according to Allan Cook, president of the Aerospace and Defense industries association of Europe (ASD).
• Environmentalists uncover Shell’s dirty flaring secretOil giant Shell continues to practice gas flaring in Nigeria despite having known of its environmental and health dangers for the past 15 years, according to a new report published this week. Since 1996 Shell has promised to stop gas flaring in Nigeria - the biggest source of heat trapping gas in sub-Saharan Africa, according to [...]
• Maersk rejects VLGC leasingMaerskTankers will not lease out their VLGC vessels at current poor charter rates, Fairplay was told today.
• Cargo B grounded by the recessionCargo B Airlines has become the latest victim of the recession, forced out of business by falling rates, delayed aircraft deliveries and a failure to attract new investors.
• Freight train derails in ItalyMore than a dozen people were killed when a freight train derailed in Italy, causing an explosion in the Tuscan town of Viareggio last week.
• Shippers shy away from shortseaThe European shortsea sector needs to overcome some major challenges if it is to win significant business from shippers.
• UK transport unions welcome renationalisation of east coast railway networkUK unions have given the British government’s plans to renationalise the country’s east coast mainline railway service the thumbs up; the service runs from London in the south up to Scotland.
• Volvo to invest £15.7m in fuel cellsVolvo Group, in partnership with international organisations Midroc and OCAS and the Swedish Energy Agency, is investing £15.7 million in the development of fuel cell technology.
• Emirates Scores A Double With First-Ever A380 Services To Bangkok And TorontoEmirates launches first-ever A380 services to Bangkok and Toronto
• Dramatic Increase in Truck Weight Limits ProposedThe coalition's focus is on a proposed increase in truck weight limits from 80,000 pounds to 97,000 pounds, an increase of more than 21 percent.
• Up to 331 Norbert Dentressangle staff face redundancy A total of 331 Norbert Dentressangle (ND) employees could be made redundant following a decision...
• DfT scotches LHV rumoursA Department for Transport (DfT) source has scotched rumours reported in the national press recently that the EU is looking to force member states to accept Longer, Heavier Vehicles (LHVs) on their roads.
• Future fuelA new report shows that Europe's energy needs will continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels in the short to medium term despite government efforts to move towards renewables.
• Transport trialLondon buses are trialling a new kind of hybrid propulsion system that promises to save fuel and lower emissions.
• No hike in rail fares, freight chargesA freeze on passenger fares and freight rates, non-stop trains between a host of key stations, air-conditioned double-decker trains for inter-city travel, sale of tickets at 5,000 post offices and aut...
• High Speed Rail Plans Met By Peninsula OppositionCalifornia's high-speed rail plan is raising objections among some in the San Francisco Bay area who say the line could take out trees, homes and businesses and split their communities. ...
• Mixed reaction to rail budget in North MaharashtraNGOs and industry bodies expressed disappointment that no new new trains have been announced for Nashik, an important city in the region. Reacting to the budget proposals, presented by Railway Minist...
• Government must prioritise rail over road, says Liberal DemocratsThe Liberal Democrats have responded to news of a potentail £29bn budget shortfall in British transport projects by urging government to prioritise rail spending over roads.
• Ryanair agrees voluntary actions with OFTRyanair has reached agreement with the Office of Fair Trading to increase the clarity and transparency of its website and other advertising.
• Mandelson pledges Vauxhall support Business secretary Lord Mandelson has pledged the Government's support in a deal to buy out struggling vanmaker Vauxhall.
• BA to hold talks over job losses British Airways will meet next week with unions over planned cost-cutting, including thousands of job losses.Related StoriesLloyds to axe 2,100 jobsBritish Gas to create 2,600 jobsDrinks group Diageo to shed jobsVirgin Atlantic jobs risk as services cutRussia's gambling ban 'sees 300,000 jobs axed'

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