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

Monday, 10 August 2009

BBC News

• Heathrow Terminal revamp unveiled Plans for a £1bn refurbishment of Heathrow Airport's Terminal 2 in west London which will increase passenger capacity will be unveiled later.
• BAA passenger numbers stabilise UK airport operator BAA has said that the recent decline in passenger numbers stabilised in July - partly thanks to a pick up in long-haul traffic.
• Rail talks resume to avert strike Talks between rail unions and National Express East Anglia are resuming to try to avert two more 48-hour strikes.

Financial Times

• How Chiltern Railways chalks up success Simple, frequent trains, with fast turnround times to keep expenses down are key to the service.
• Jet Republic warned off ex-NetJets Europe staffAn injunction is preventing Jet Republic, the business jet company, from hiring workers recently employed by its rival NetJets Europe

The Guardian

• Rise in Heathrow passengers signals soft landing for BAAHeathrow reported its third busiest month on record today, as July passenger numbers indicated that the UK's main airport is recovering from the recession.
• Your brand goes here Railway stations have long been named after pubs, but next stop could be Primark Paddington
• BAA expects rise in Heathrow passenger numbersBAA is expected to report a rise in July passenger numbers at Heathrow airport for the first time in three years tomorrow, reinforcing the group's claim that it does not need to sell Gatwick to meet a £1bn debt payment.

The Independent

• Second rail firm seeks 'amicable agreement' Industrial action by rail workers continued today as a firm said it hoped for an "amicable agreement" on pay and working conditions.

The Telegraph

• Heathrow airport defies recession with third busiest month on record Heathrow airport enjoyed its third-busiest month on record in July, as a damp summer fuelled a surge in late holiday bookings and raised hopes of a recovery in the air traffic sector.
• P&O Ferries warns it may cut investment in the UK P&O Ferries, the shipping group that employs 4,000 people in Britain, has warned that it may cut its investment in the UK if the Government fails to resolve the row over backdated business rates.
• BA slams Virgin 'double standards' over airline tie-ups British Airways has hit back at Virgin Atlantic's lobbying against its proposed transatlantic tie-up with American Airlines and has accused its UK rival of double standards over airline alliances.

Times Online

• BAA reports return to growth at Heathrow BAA, the airport operator, today reported further evidence of stabilising passenger numbers in July as Heathrow delivered the first increase in three years.
• I’m in a dirty old business but I try “No Thanks. I’ll take the train,” said Sir Richard Branson, turning down the offer of a limousine as he arrived at Shanghai airport. It was the best he could do after flying for 12 hours from London on a Virgin Atlantic jet to talk to Shanghai’s mayor about green business. But, even as an environmental gesture, it soon seemed futile.
• Can the numbers add up for BA and Business Plus?British Airways has made no secret of the fact that it mourns the loss of thousands of business travellers. Moreover, it wants them back and if they won™t travel mere business class, then, it reasons, they may travel œBusiness Plus. The problem is what Business Plus means ” and what it will cost.

Daily Express

• Branson battles BA tie-up SIR RICHARD BRANSON is to take his battle against a proposed transatlantic tie-up between British Airways and American Airlines to the US House of Representatives next month.

Birmingham Post

• New pledge to Birmingham on high-speed rail project High speed trains from London to Glasgow are likely to stop in Birmingham city centre, the man behind the multi-billion pound project has forecast.
• Rail chaos as CrossCountry Trains strike kicks inHundreds of holidaymakers and day-trippers from Birmingham New Street faced travel chaos yesterday as industrial action on Britain’s most extensive rail franchise kicked in.

London Evening Standard

• First pictures of Heathrow’s £1bn hubThese are the first images of the planned new £1 billion Terminal 2 at Heathrow. The computer generated pictures show the glass-fronted building that will increase the terminal's capacity by 11.5 million to around 20 million passengers each year.
• Time to fall in love with Crossrail Londoners must be encouraged to "fall in love" with Crossrail to keep the £16billion rail line on track, says the project's new chairman.
• Rail firms seeks 'amicable agreement' to end disputeIndustrial action by rail workers continued today as a firm said it hoped for an "amicable agreement" on pay and working conditions.

Wales Online

• Many executives back road tolls to fund better public transport THERE is growing support from Welsh executives for the introduction of more road tolls as a way of reducing congestion, according to research published today.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Industrial action causes travel chaosRail passengers travelling to Stansted have faced disruption as industrial action and engineering work coincided.
• 'No plans' to close Vauxhall plantOne of the last two bidders in the running to buy Vauxhall said it has no plans to close its Luton plant or drop the brand, it has been reported.

Washington Post

• EBay, GM set to start car-selling trial Tuesday -- SAN FRANCISCO - General Motors and eBay Inc. are expected to announce Monday that hundreds of the auto maker's California dealers will let consumers haggle over the prices of new cars and trucks through the online marketplace, as part of a previously disclosed trial.

Other News Sources

• Travel from Woking to the French Capital in under 4 hours SOUTH West Trains are now the latest rail operator to team up with Eurostar. In a joint ticketing deal, passengers will be able to book direct trips to Paris and Brussels.
• Train co-operative aims to connect communities through rail network Electrification of the London to Swansea rail line is good news for public transport users in the South West and the Government’s approval for Network Rail to meet the £1 billion cost is a demonstration of real commitment not just to the rail system, but also to combating climate change.
• BAA unveils latest plans for Foster's new Heathrow terminal Read more: First phase of the building formerly known as Heathrow East will be complete in 2013
• Viking River cruises introduces rail baggage transfer service Viking River Cruises plans to introduce a baggage transfer service that will deliver rail-cruise clients' luggage from the UK straight to the ship. Viking...
• Liverpool given transport boostTransport links from the M62 into Liverpool town centre have been given a £17.1M investment by transport minister Sadiq Khan.