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Friday, 10 July 2009

BBC News

• Fare rise fears over '£1.7bn gap'A report warns of possible fare rises because of a potential £1.7bn shortfall in London's transport budget.
• Cut Heathrow 'stacking', say MPsThe government must reduce the number of planes that are allowed to "stack" over Heathrow Airport, MPs have said. A report by the Commons Transport Committee says stacking - where planes queue up to land - needs to be cut if a third runway is to be built.
• Auto aidDo schemes to help the car industry really work?

Financial Times

• US transport chief rejects fuel tax riseThe US government will encourage private-sector investment in new ports, railways, airports and bridges but will not raise federal fuel taxes or restructure financing for existing roads, according to the transport secretary.
• MPs see merit in third Heathrow runwayA third runway at Heathrow should be used to cut the "excessive" stacking of aircraft over the airport, according to a report published by MPs today.
• Air India turns to business leaders for helpIndia's government is to call on the expertise of its business leaders to rescue the state-owned flag carrier, which is facing the most serious liquidity crisis in its history
• Iberia chief steps down amid BA merger talksFernando Conte has resigned as chairman and chief executive of the Spanish flag-carrier, pre-empting by at least six months his planned retirement from the company
• Gap in London transport fundsThe London Assembly will warn that the capital's crowded transport network could face £1.7bn funding hole by 2018 due to recession, which could force the mayor to increase fares well above inflation
• Australia's Virgin Blue in deal with DeltaDelta Air Lines and Virgin Blue are planning a joint venture in a bid to expand the reach of both carriers between the US, Australia and the South Pacific
• Virgin America plans shake-upVirgin America, the carrier founded by Sir Richard Branson, is seeking US approval for a new slate of domestic investors it expects will end a rival's bid to challenge the company's ownership structure
• Lufthansa to offer concessions on Austrian dealLufthansa is expected to offer additional concessions to European antitrust regulators, in an effort to win quick approval for its proposed merger with Austrian Airlines

The Guardian

• Got you!Portsmouth is the first city in Britain to impose a blanket 20mph limit on its residential streets. This go-slow revolution is about to sweep the country - but will drivers take any notice? And will it make our roads safer? Patrick Barkham grabs his radar gun to find out

The Scotsman

• West coast rail travellers face worst delays in UKPASSENGERS on the west coast main line have suffered the worst delays on the rail network this year, triggering a major increase in complaints. Nearly one in four Virgin Trains services which use the Glasgow-London route were late in the first three months of this year, and one in five in the year to March.

The Telegraph

• Lord Adonis faces East Coast line grilling from MPsLord Adonis will be asked to explain himself to the chairman of a parliamentary committee amid concerns that he may not have given MPs the full picture over his decision to strip National Express of its East Coast rail franchise.

Reuters News

• London City Airport set to up flights by 50 percentLONDON (Reuters) - London City Airport is to be allowed to increase its flights by 50 percent by the end of next year, a move likely to boost development in east London ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Mail Online

• Aircraft 'destroying the peace of national parks'Noisy aircraft are blighting the tranquillity of the nation's most treasured beauty spots, a damning report by MPs says today.

Network Rail

• WORLD FAMOUS RAILWAY SET(TLED) IN STONEAs one line closes, another one opens

Belfast Telegraph

• Asda drops fuel price below £1 Supermarket chain Asda cut its fuel prices to 99.9p per litre today, saying there was "little justification" to charge more than £1 at the pumps. Related StoriesNo job cuts at Bushmills DistilleryGlobal demand for oil set to remain depressedNationwide offers 125% mortgages to existing customersMcGuinness 'reassured' over toxic assets threat to Northern Ireland property marketInterest rates held at 0.5%

Birmingham Post

• Complaints soar on London to Scotland rail linePassenger complaints have soared on a main London to Scotland rail line where problems have persisted despite a £9 billion upgrade.

Derby Telegraph

• Chip fat to make roads greenerA YOUNG Derbyshire engineer is hoping chip fat can be used to in road-building across Britain – to reduce the country's carbon footprint.

Liverpool Echo

• Liverpool on track for high-speed rail link to LondonA HIGH-speed rail line from London must run to the North and not stop at Birmingham, the Liverpool man in charge of the project told MPs.

London Evening Standard

• iPhone that shows you the closest TubeThe ultimate satnav accessory for every Londoner - a mobile phone that takes you to the nearest Tube station
• Campaigners blast 'brazen' expansion of City AirportCouncil's decision to allow the expansion of London City Airport is been slammed by green campaigners
• Asda sparks price war with petrol and diesel 99.9p a litreA new petrol price war kicked off today when a supermarket chain slashed the cost of a litre of unleaded and diesel to less than £1
• A vision of hell on 7/7 Tube trainThis is the first image of the devastation wrought on a Piccadilly line Tube train in the 7 July terror attacks.

Manchester Evening News

• High speed rail '10 years away'AN 80-minute rail link between Manchester and London is likely to be at least 10 years away, MPs heard. A company called High Speed Two (HS2) has been set up by the government to look at options for a new, high-speed line.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Letter: Developers have deeper pocketsLearned commentators inform us that it was fear and greed surrounding investment, particularly in land and property, that led to the collapse of the monetary system.
• Letter: Tories' bad visionFor the county council to withdraw its contribution to the new tram routes (quite small in real terms apparently) would represent very poor, long-term economic vision, especially when the business and academic communities seem to be lining up in support of continuation.
• Full steam ahead as new platform opensSIX years of hard work by volunteers will come to fruition when a new railway station platform is unveiled tomorrow. A gala celebration will launch Platform 1 at the Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre in Ruddington.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Cameras to target speeding on the A82THE entire length of a Highland trunk road is to be targeted by mobile speed cameras because of serious concern by police over the number of crashes “ including 14 fatalities in two years.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Lord's comments boost campaign for high-speed railTRANSPORT Secretary Lord Adonis last night gave campaigners a major boost by declaring high-speed rail as "the project about which I am most passionate", while a key adviser warned failing to build a line north of the Midlands was not "a very sensible thing" to do.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Work to start on £70m jam-busting technologyWork is to start on a £70m project to install traffic monitoring equipment on the main road which links Felixstowe to the Midlands.

Sunderland Echo

• Earlier start times for free bus pass usersPassengers aged 60 or over are to get a double bonus with earlier start times on buses and the Metro in July and August.

Aviation Industry

• World™s first Personal Rapid Transit System bursts onto scene at HeathrowThe world™s first Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system, at Heathrow Airport, reached a significant milestone this week as the system was officially handed over from construction to operational testing.

Other News Sources

• Arriva promises Skelmersdale a new fleet of buses by the end of the yearSKELMERSDALE is likely to get a new fleet of buses before the end of the year. Bus company Arriva has confirmed it is looking to bring new vehicles to the town’s depot towards the end of 2009.
• Cash for new Aylsbury Vale roads? Not my decision says Transport Minister?Transport Minister Lord Andrew Adonis officially opened the Vale's new railway station on Friday – but refused to comment on future funding for roads and railways as Aylesbury continues to grow.
• Town stages transport spectacularA Lancashire town is the hub of events this weekend with hundreds of people due to descend on the town for a transport festival and charity run. The Leyland Transport Festival is returning to its spiritual home for a two-day spectacular on Saturday and Sunday.
• Passengers face £1.7bn cash gap from recessionMILLIONS of passengers on London’s buses and the Underground could be facing the burden a £1.7 billion gap in funds over the next nine years caused by the recession.
• Transport secretary to visit KirkgateThe high-profile visit on Friday, July 24, is a result of the Express's Kirkgate S.O.S. – Staff Our Station campaign, which was launched in February after a young woman was subjected to a violent rape. Mary Creagh MP has asked new secretary of state for transport, Lord Adonis, to visit the dilapidated station to see the frightening conditions passengers are forced to wait in.
• Anger over city one-way system plansROAD rage has erupted over plans for a new gyratory in Wakefield. Hundreds of people have signed a petition against the plans for a one-way gyratory, which would bring traffic into the city centre via Leeds Road into Northgate, and take it out of the city via Wentworth Street and along Bradford Road.
• QUESTION MARK OVER RAIL LINKANGUS MP Mike Weir is pressing the Transport Secretary Lord Adonis for assurances as to the future of the east coast rail services to London following the news that the franchise is being withdrawn from National Express and the route was effectively being nationalised.
• Taxi drivers vow to fight Heathrow minicab planLONDON (Reuters) - RMT union leader Bob Crow was meeting black cab drivers at Heathrow on Thursday to co-ordinate opposition to a plan by airports operator BAA to allow privately operated taxis to operate at two terminals.
• London transport faces £1.7 billion funding gapThe London transport network is facing one of its biggest financial challenges yet, with a potential £1.7billion funding gap by 2018, the London Assembly has warned.
• Facebook group praises Ashford Council action A social networking campaign that is callling for the removal of lorries from a business park in Kent has praised the actions of Ashford Council
• Highways Agency launches procurement strategyThe Highways Agency wants the industry to come up with innovative ideas in order to meet value, delivery and sustainability targets, as part of its new procurement strategy.
• G8 addresses oil sector pricesOIL PRICES, and their ties to the struggling tanker sector, are a main focus for leaders of the west™s most powerful countries at the G8 summit in Italy.
• Government's low carbon focus must not eclipse rest of environmental sector In the drive to tackle carbon emissions Government is in danger of overlooking the value of key industries in the environmental sector that are vital if we want to build a truly sustainable economy.

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