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

Wednesday, 22 July 2009

BBC News

• Planes 'should fly on biofuels'A think tank says plans to run cars on biofuel should be scrapped in favour of using them for aviation.
• Continental makes 1,700 job cutsContinental Airlines has said that it is to cut 1,700 jobs amid a slump in revenue and passenger numbers.

Financial Times

• US airlines cut costs as revenues tumbleUnited, Southwest and Continental take further steps to cut costs by eliminating jobs and flights amid a steep decline in air travel demand
• Trade down 20% on prime container routeThe container shipping industry is facing the worst crisis in its 53-year history as volumes on the busiest route fell by a fifth against a backdrop of plunging prices
• Ryanair makes fresh attack over airport feesThe European low-cost airline has used the announcement of planned cuts in services at its biggest bases as a weapon against airport owners over airport fees

The Guardian

• Cardiff rail route to be electrifiedOne of Britain's busiest rail lines is to be electrified in a move that will introduce greener and more reliable services for millions of passengers.The government is finalising plans to transform the Great Western mainline as part of a drive to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from transport. The programme will involve installing hundreds of miles of electric cables as well as alterations to tunnels, bridges and stations on one of Britain's oldest rail routes.An announcement could come as soon as Thursday, although the financing is still being put in place. The Department for Transport (DfT) a...

The Herald

• Stevenson vows ministers are committed to airport rail linkThe Scottish Government has said it is committed to the delivery of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link after fears were raised the project could collapse.

The Telegraph

• Air passengers suspected of having swine flu may not be able to rebook The carrier, which lost £401 million last year, has insisted that normal ticketing conditions will apply, which means that only those who bought expensive flexible tickets will be offered the chance to travel at an alternative date.
• Piilots' leader: Air taxes could price families off planesOrdinary families will no longer be able to afford to fly because of increases in Air Passenger Duty a pilot's leader has said as the lowcost airline Ryanair announced sweeping cuts to its Stansted operation.
• Government 'complacent' over pirates link to terrorists Somalia pirates are probably using the ransom money they collect from hijacking western ships to finance Islamic terrorists an investigation by a parliamentary committee has found.
• Ryanair cuts raises second home owner fearsThousands of second home owners face being cut off over the winter as Ryanair announced drastic cutbacks in services from Stansted.

Times Online

• Ryanair to put scheduled routes on ice over winter Ryanair is to cut 670 flights a week, close ten routes and reduce frequency on a further 30 routes in the biggest winter shake-up for the airline so far.

Network Rail

• RAIL IMPROVEMENTS BRING LONG TERM BENEFITS BETWEEN FOLKESTONE AND DOVER

Transport Briefing

• John Laing picks up NUCKLE station build contract Infrastructure specialist John Laing has been awarded a 20-year contract to design, build, finance and operate the planned new railway station at Kenilworth in Warwickshire.
• Reading station entrance upgrade plans unveiled Reading Borough Council has shown off plans to build a new entrance to Reading railway station as part of a package of improvements to passenger facilities that would increase capacity and make it easier to access the station.
• Network Rail brushes up Shakespeare for 140mph link Work to allow domestic High Speed 1 trains to continue as far as Dover will start this weekend as engineers spend just over a month upgrading the Shakespeare Tunnel in Kent.

Airwise News

• London to Cardiff rail line will be electrified to cut carbon footprint One of Britain's busiest rail lines is to be electrified in a move that will introduce greener and more reliable services for millions of passengers.

Derby Telegraph

• Airport bosses happy with noise policy despite residents' protests East Midlands Airport has put in place measures to reduce the volumes of noise from planes, but many people living nearby say they are still woken by night flights.
• Barriers at station set to stop people dodging rail fares TICKET barriers installed at Derby Railway Station to clamp down on fare dodgers will go into operation within weeks.

Nottingham Evening Post

• End tram expense [letter]Let's all hope that anyone with common sense supports the new county council administration in it's decision to not support the proposed tram routes, as they have promised in their manifesto.
• Tram will help all [letter]B Cooper suggests there is only one proposed tram stop which would serve Rushcliffe (£28m tram farce, Your Views, June 15).
• Crunch funding talks aim to secure £63.8m 'Hub' future CRUCIAL talks on a funding package that would secure plans for a £63.8m redevelopment of Nottingham railway station were being held today.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Council chief clashes with police over speed camerasA row has broken out between the leader of Highland Council and senior police officers over Northern Constabulary™s use of speed cameras as part of a safety drive on one of the region™s most notorious roads.

Wales Online

• Parents say bus cuts will put pupils at risk PARENTS will stage a protest today as anger mounts over cost-cutting plans to scrap home-to-school transport for hundreds of pupils.

Sunderland Echo

• Nissan leading the green revolutionGordon Brown was in bullish mood when he visited Nissan as the company revealed it was creating 350 jobs as part of its bid to lead the green transport revolution.

The Shields Gazette

• College chiefs create new 3D portCOLLEGE chiefs are creating a new virtual port to help train harbour pilots of the future.

Railnews

• News: East Midlands Trains drivers vote to strike for six days after pay offer rejected EAST Midlands Trains has condemned six days of planned strike action by drivers’ union Aslef saying it is “a crazy decision” to reject an above-inflation pay deal.

Aviation Industry

• Risk Professional: highwaymen target British transport in France.The road between the town of Calais and the ferry port is sparsely populated. And it's making ideal territory for marauding gangs of modern-day highwaymen to stop passing vehicles and rob their occupants.

Other News Sources

• Wantage Town Council proposal to move bus zones clashes with county council policy BUSES may no longer be an eyesore in Wantage Market Place if a proposal to move waiting zones out of the town centre is approved.
• Row will hit plans for more city bus services WORCESTER’S newest bus company says it is scaling back planned bus services due to a row over use of the city bus station.
• ’Neither side is right’ in First bus pay battle COUNCIL LEADER WARNS THAT PASSENGERS ARE LOSING OUT BECAUSE OF DISPUTE
• Donation paves the way for new cycle path link A COMMUNITY project in North Kesteven is set to benefit from a £20,000 donation from the district council.
• Mayor Boris unveils cycle superhighway FANCY cycling along the A13? Well, Newham's busiest road has been designated a 'cycle superhighway' in London Mayor Boris Johnson's drive to promote pedal power.
• Appeal for Radlett Rail Freight Depot Developers Helioslough will appeal decision on Rail Freight Depot at Radlett in Hertfordshire. The decision to appeal follows the St Albans City and District Council meeting on Monday night where the second application for this site was unanimously rejected by Councillors.
• New bid to extend rail link to Ollerton A MAJOR boost could be brought to Warsop, Edwinstowe and Ollerton after it was revealed the Robin Hood train line could be extended.
• Ryanair cuts Stansted flights by 30%Budget airline Ryanair has slashed the number of routes from Essex airport Stansted, blaming BAA charges and Government taxes on flying
• We™ll continue to oppose Ford Eco-town proposal, says West Sussex County CouncilWe™ll continue to oppose Ford Eco-town proposal, says County Council A PLEDGE to continue fighting the Ford Eco-town proposal has been made by West Sussex County Council™s Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning.