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

Sunday, 05 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.

The Independent

• Bicycle races: Manufacturers struggle to keep up with the boom Europe is running out of bikes thanks to a British cycling boom that has caught the world's biggest bike manufacturers on the hop.

Times Online

• Luton airport misery as drop-off fee causes chaosLuton airport will be raising our frustration levels to new heights this summer with a new traffic-management plan causing confusion and gridlock on the approach road. Passengers arriving for early-morning flights last week were horrified to find traffic tailing back for more than a mile beyond the airport perimeter.
• Recession requires extra customer careWedding guests get a surprise when they tuck into a slice of Ian Wellens™ dramatic multi-layered œcakes: they are made from artisan cheeses, piled one on top of another to make a savoury centrepiece for the bride and groom.
• DfT pledged deal on National Express east coast lineOfficials at the Department for Transport (DfT) agreed to start talks on a bailout of National Express™s east coast franchise in May, it has been revealed, contradicting claims last week by Lord Adonis, the transport secretary, that there had been no negotiations.

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.
• BA to slash costs after traffic slumpBELEAGUERED British Airways yesterday announced cutbacks in summer and winter capacity and said it would slash investment by 20 per cent as it reported falling passenger numbers.

Mail Online

• Stranded passengers form Facebook army to make easyJet pay up for delays

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.

Metro

• Groundbreaking green ideas unveiledFilling parts of the Sahara desert with mirrors to create clean energy and making livestock behave like herds of wildebeest to lock in carbon are among a number of innovative proposals put forward to help tackle climate change.

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.

The York Press

• Drax coal train protesters are found guilty STAY away from demonstrations, a judge warned 22 eco-protestors as they wait to learn their punishment for ambushing a train delivering coal to Drax Power Station.

Carlisle News & Star

• ˜Cars turning children into captives™ says Carlisle MP Some children are becoming prisoners in their own homes because their parents are so fearful they may be injured on the roads, says Carlisle™s MP Eric Martlew.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Government launches £30m fund for green busesThe Department for Transport has created a new £30 million fund to promote greener buses.Intended to encourage more operators and councils to purchase low-carbon public transport vehicles, the pot is part of a government strategy to improve air quality in cities.Commenting on the scheme, transport secretary Andrew Adonis remarked: "I'm delighted that this is an industry where UK manufacturers are leading the field."The minister added that several hundred buses could be purchased through the fund, which he claimed would "help to safeguard up to 900 jobs in bu...

Aviation Industry

• British Airways to cut capacity, delay new planesBritish Airways PLC announced Friday it will ground aircraft, slash seat numbers and postpone taking delivery of a dozen new Airbus A380 superjumbos as it faces a recession-driven decline in passengers.

Other News Sources

• Transport trialLondon buses are trialling a new kind of hybrid propulsion system that promises to save fuel and lower emissions.
• Airport spending plummetsAirport spending plummets