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

Tuesday, 04 August 2009

BBC News

• 'Tweets' warn drivers of delays Drivers will be warned of delays on a section of Scotland's busiest motorway on the micro-blogging website, Twitter.
• Protesters oppose bus firm sale About 100 people have protested against Plymouth City Council's plans to sell off council-owned bus firm CityBus.
• Railway staff begin pay protest Railway staff have started a month-long campaign of industrial action, which will include employees refusing to pick up litter from trains.
• Low fares 'making ferries busier' A pilot scheme offering lower fares on all ferry routes to the Western Isles has increased traffic significantly, First Minister Alex Salmond has said.
• Hauliers want bridge toll freeze A transport group has said the cost of using either of the two bridges across the Severn is "cripplingly high" and is harming the local economy.

Financial Times

• German ship financing faces its deepest crisisThe system that financed a third of the world's container ships is facing its biggest crisis after the industry slump cut many specialist shipping funds' earnings

The Guardian

• Boris Johnson: bike hire news Last month I reported some informed speculation that the front runner in the race to run Mayor Johnson's bike hire scheme, promised for next spring, was Serco, which has its fingers in a few other London transportation pies. Since then I've been told that Clear Channel, who do a thing called Smart Bikes in Milan as well as outdoor advertisng here, were still contenders, along with one or two others.
• 'High speed rail possible in the UK [video]Transport minister Andrew Adonis talks about the future of high speed rail travel in the UK
• UK train parts maker working round the clock Staff at Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems are working triple shifts as the manufacturer of train brakes and platform screen doors is thriving in spite of the recession.

The Telegraph

• Motorists must have warning of parking spy cameras Thousands of motorists could have their parking tickets quashed after an appeal tribunal cancelled a fine issued by Wirral Borough Council, ruling that councils using spy cameras must put up warning signs.

Times Online

• Ford boosted by 'cash for clunkers' Ford has become the first major US car manufacturer to report a sales increase in 2009 after receiving a boost from the government ’cash for clunkers’ scrappage scheme.

Journal Live

• Uncertainty over North East transport improvmentsA £480M road and rail package faces cuts and delays before even a penny is spent. Government transport bosses have written to the region agreeing a timetable of improvements – then warned the funds are by no means guaranteed.

Liverpool Echo

• Plan to link Merseyside’s rail network to John Lennon airport with “tram-train” linkA HIGH-TECH “tram-train” could link Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport with Merseyside’s rail network.

London Evening Standard

• The bike you can take for a walk Its London inventor claims this could be the most convenient commuter bicycle ever. Called the Contortionist, it is hinged so that when not in use it can fold up inside its own wheels.
• Airline to auction superjumbo tickets for charity

Manchester Evening News

• Commuters' tram 'nightmare' COMMUTERS faced delays and confusion as they made their way into Manchester on the first morning of a major overhaul of the Metrolink system.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Funding needed for new international air servicesSCOTTISH Government funding is needed to develop new international air services for the north and north-east and secure landing rights at Heathrow, a report urged last night.

The York Press

• Selby rail station makeover give go-ahead RAIL passengers in Selby are on track for a travel boost after a £50,000 revamp of the town™s railway station was given the go-ahead “ and it is set to be completed by the end of the year.
• York's car park income drops by £1m PARKING bosses in York have seen £1 million wiped off their profits in the past two years, an investigation by The Press has found.

Yorkshire Post

• Commuter bike in line for award AN ART graduate has come up with what he believes is the perfect bike for commuters.

Washington Post

• 'Clunker' sales nearing quarter-million; what now? WASHINGTON -- The White House warned Monday that the

Aviation Industry

• Air France-KLM announces huge lossEurope's largest airline, Air France-KLM, has announced a second quarter loss of 426 million euros.

Other News Sources

• Former Railway Station To Become Café A proposal to build a modern café in the former entranceway to Blackfriars Road station, across the road from Southwark tube, has won planning permission.
• 'Keep England moving this winter'England doesn't have to grind to a halt in the coming winter like it did in February this year, according to a UK Roads Liaison Group (UKRLG) report produced at the request of the Transport Secretary.
• Norwich bus drivers to be monitored Buses across Norfolk are to be fitted with new technology which will monitor whether they are being driven correctly.
• Opinions sought on Elmbridge taxi licensing changes Councillor Chris Elmer, chairman of the licensing committee, said: The consultation will not only provide for input from the trade but also give the opportunity for regular users of these vehicles, and other interested parties, to make their views known to us about how we encourage and control this important part of the local transport system.”
• Longer semi-trailers: picture galleryIn June, the Department for Transport commissioned a study into longer semi-trailers (LSTs),
• Skanska wins road and rail contractConstruction group Skanska has won a contract worth £43.3M (520M Swedish kronor) to develop a motorway and expand rail lines in western Sweden.
• Hapag quickens cost-cutting paceHAPAG-Lloyd has ramped up its cost-cutting plan for this year from €400M ($571M) to €560M.
• Great Eastern profits fall 55%GREAT Eastern Shipping has reported a 55% drop in operating profits for the first quarter ending 30 June, which was mostly caused by lower freight earnings on all segments.
• Master hurt in pirate attackPIRACY attacks continue to occur in the South China Sea with the master of a Singapore registered tug sustaining a slight injury as the crew fought to ward off an attack.
• Night train no more Catching the night train to St. Petersburg could soon be a thing of the past for business travellers with the introduction of a new Siemens-built train that eats up the distance from Moscow in less than four hours.
• UK's first parking levy splits opinion The UK’s first parking levy will be introduced in Nottingham in 2012, Transport Minister Sadiq Khan announced today.
• Edie shines spotlight on CRC The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) is likely to be one of the most far-reaching pieces of regulation to come out of Whitehall for years and with this in mind we've set aside a section of the website devoted to the subject.

News from Europe

• EU to look at lost luggage problemBRUSSELS - The EU's top transport official put airlines, airports and national transport authorities on notice last week that he wants them to do more to address the "very serious" problem of airline passengers' lost luggage.
• European Consumer Centres – transport remains the number one problem sector for consumers, accounting for one third of complaintshe European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) handles over 62.000 contacts with EU consumers who turn to them for advice or for help with problems affecting cross-border shopping, both in person and online.
• Transport receives most complaints from EU consumersBRUSSELS -- Transport received most complaints from consumers in the European Union (EU), remaining the number one problem sector, a report released on Monday said.

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• Pirates may be dragging out ransom negotiationsPIRATES could be deliberately protracting negotiations in the hope of getting more cash.