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

Wednesday, 29 July 2009

BBC News

• Taxi drivers lose airport appeal A group of taxi drivers has lost its High Court appeal to win back a contract with Birmingham Airport.
• City relief road plans rejected Plans for a relief road for Hereford have been rejected by the government. Herefordshire council had asked for £60m of funding from the Department of Transport towards the £130m project.
• Pedestrians see red over 'look left, look right' blunderPedestrians in Manchester city centre are left confused by a mistake with the road signs - telling them to look the wrong way.

Financial Times

• Lufthansa makes further Austrian concessionsEuropean competition regulators said that they had received a new proposal from Lufthansa in attempt to soothe competition concerns over its planned takeover of Austrian Airlines
• Tui lines up funds for Hapag-LloydMany of the container shipping line's other shareholders refused to take part in a rescue deal

The Guardian

• The world's greatest cycling cities My favourite cycling cities are Beijing for the buzz, Paris for its politeness, the serenity of Copenhagen and Waterloo Bridge for the romantic reveries. What are yours?
• BP chief defends green energy recordChief executive Tony Hayward denies firm has turned its back on renewables as it reports massive slump in profits caused by fall in oil priceBP chief executive Tony Hayward today defended the company's record on renewable energy, as it reported a dramatic slump in profits for the latest quarter due to the decline in oil prices.Hayward said it was

The Telegraph

• BAA slumps to loss as air travel shrinks BAA, the owner of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, has highlighted the dire impact of the recession on air travel by slumping to a £545.7m loss in the first half of 2009.

Times Online

• BAA losses triple on growing pension deficit Losses at BAA more than tripled to £545 million in the first six months as the airports operator attempted to reduce a growing pension fund deficit. Exceptional items pushed the company, which owns seven UK airports including Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, into the red although its underlying earnings rose 28 per cent to £469.9 million.

Reuters News

• AA blames speculation for gasoline price riseLONDON (Reuters) - The Automobile Association (AA) has blamed speculation in oil markets for driving gasoline prices to a

Daily Record

• First Minister's u-turn over joyriding campaignALEX Salmond made a U-turn last night over a road safety campaign and blamed an earlier snub on a rookie staff member.

Network Rail

• FIRE-FIGHTING ROBOTS TO HELP CUT RAIL DELAYSRobots used to fight fires involving Acetylene cylinders

Transport Briefing

• Sub-surface Tube resignalling put out to tender London Underground has issued an invitation to tender for the re-signalling programme for the Circle, District, Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan lines.
• Gogar rail-tram interchange plans made public Network Rail has unveiled plans for the new rail and tram interchange at Gogar in west Edinburgh which has been developed following the cancellation of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link project.

Derby Telegraph

• Bike boost for airport CYCLING to work each day has become routine for staff at East Midlands Airport, thanks to a new campaign.
• Axe falls finally on school bus services THE final death knell was sounded for some school bus services in the city last night as leading councillors agreed to axe them, despite opposition.
• R-R's £300m vote of confidence A DECISION by Rolls-Royce to invest more than £300m in new factories in the UK has been welcomed by business leaders in Derby – despite the fact that it is unlikely any of the plants will be built in the city.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Bus stop 'scratch and sniff' to take passengers to the country ONE minute you're sitting in a dingy bus stop in the city centre, watching the bus tracker's slow countdown and inhaling exhaust fumes by the lungful.

London Evening Standard

• The Tube goes up in lights, sponsored by CokeTransport for London has signed a deal with Coca-Cola to broadcast Tube service updates at Piccadilly Circus.
• Planners delay air conditioning on the TubeCommuters could be forced to wait longer for air-conditioned Tube trains because of a planning dispute.
• More pain for debt-hit BAA as travellers cut back on flyingHeathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports owner BAA slumped to a loss of £545 million in the first six months of the year, as recession-hit travellers cut back on trips and its pension fund deficit ball
• £8 C-charge fee for road to nowhereThis dead-end street may be only 100 yards long - but it costs £8 to enter

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham passengers faced with Arriva rail action RAIL passengers at Nottingham Station could face a month of disruption after workers for train operator Arriva Cross Country announced industrial action.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Lorries may be banned from city centre to cut pollutionPolluting lorries could be banned from the centre of Aberdeen under radical proposals to be examined by transport chiefs.

The York Press

• Fixed speed cameras look unlikely for York and North Yorkshire FIXED speed cameras are unlikely to be introduced in York and North Yorkshire anytime soon, after a study found no roads in the area met the criteria for the devices.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Minister hints at go-ahead for trolleybus plansTRANSPORT Secretary Lord Adonis has dropped the clearest hint yet that plans for a Leeds trolleybus system could get the green light.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Commuters reassured over National Express's troubles HUNDREDS of Peterborough rail commuters were today reassured they would not be affected as uncertainty mounted over the future of vital rail services.

Wall Street Journal

• BAA Won't Sell Gatwick If Bids Are Too Low - CEOAirport operator BAA Ltd. is in talks with multiple interested parties over the sale of London's Gatwick Airport but won't sell the asset if bids are too low, its chief executive said Wednesday.
• House Plan Aims to Boost Airline SafetyLawmakers plan to introduce an airline-safety bill aimed at curbing pilot fatigue and beefing up training.

Aviation Industry

• Happy Birthday Aberdeen AirportMore than 2,500 people who work across Scotland's third biggest airport are celebrating today (Tuesday 28th July) as the Dyce terminal marks its 75th birthday.
• Lufthansa Seeks Austrian Merger ExtensionGerman airline Deutsche Lufthansa AG said Tuesday it has applied for a month-long extension to the deadline to merge with Austrian Airlines in order to fulfill certain obligations for the deal.

Other News Sources

• Campaign for a railway station in Middlewich is back on track A ’MAJOR breakthrough’ has been made in the campaign to reopen a train station in Middlewich. In a new report by the Railway Consultancy Ltd, a business case has been identified to upgrade the Sandbach to Northwich line for passengers.
• Railway station could be on the move BIG changes could lie ahead for Castleton station - it could be moving.
• New BAA legal head to assess external counsel BAA is gearing up for a review of its external legal advisers, it has emerged. The move follows the appointment of Carol Hui in March as the airport operating company's general counsel.
• BAA delivers a snub to Feltham residents BAA has refused to back down over plans to build a train depot on a Feltham conservation area – despite opposition from 300 residents.
• JCDecaux launches new digital offering for Heathrow Terminal 5 JCDecaux Airport has launched a new digital network for brands looking to target shoppers in the luxury area of Heathrow Terminal 5.
• Heathrow trains could paralyse Richmond roads PLANS for a high-speed rail link to Heathrow would 'paralyse' Richmond's roads, opponents have warned. BAA submitted its application for the Airtrack scheme to transport secretary Lord Adonis on Friday last week. If approved, the proposals would see dozens of extra trains running between the airport and stations in the south and west every day.
• BA claim luxury air travel days are overDemands for luxury air travel have declined since the recession and British Airways has admitted that they do not see the demand increasing to previous levels again. The demand for premium seats fell by 14.9% in June . It would have fallen more, however BA were offering a two for one offer on Business Class fares. People [...]
• TfL posts giant signalling tenderTransport for London has issued a tender to upgrade the singalling for the London Underground ˜Sub Surface Lines™ - the Circle, District, Metropolitan and Hammersmith and City lines.
• EasyJet signs shirt deal with Luton TownEasyJet has signed up as the new shirt sponsor for non-league side Luton Town Football Club.
• Freightliner’s investor acquisition signals next growth stageLeading rail haulier of maritime containers Freightliner is courted by corporate investor, but it is 'busines as normal'.
• Lufthansa makes renewed bid for Austrian AirlinesDays before merger deal was due to expire, Lufthansa requests extension to deadline and makes new proposal to EU authorities.
• Construction work to start on Chorlton tram lineThe first piece of construction work on the new Metrolink line to Chorlton will start next week, following months of work to clear the route and install drainage.

Other Subscription Services

• Chamber of Shipping members urge reformHIGH-profile members warn of resignations unless the trade association is overhauled.
• Hapag-Lloyd to sell box terminal stake for $446mCONTAINER line has agreed to sell its 25.1% stake in Altenwerder as part of a rescue package agreed with key shareholders.
• Liverpool faces backlash over cruise upgrade planBID to upgrade terminal sparks resentment from other operators still angry over city's cash handout from EU.