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

Tuesday, 11 August 2009

BBC News

• Petrol hikes 'boost bus journeys' Soaring fuel prices prompted more than seven million extra journeys on public transport across Tyne and Wear last year, officials have claimed.
• Heathrow sees passenger pick-upHeathrow enjoyed its third-busiest month on record in July, says owner BAA, giving a boost to the struggling airline industry.
• Scrappage scheme at half-way markAlmost 155,000 new cars have been ordered through the government's scrappage scheme, half the total provided for.

Financial Times

• China Eastern returns to profit China Eastern Airlines, one of the country's big three carriers, returned to profitability in the first half because of fuel-hedging gains in spite of a fall of almost 16 per cent in revenues
• Deutsche Bahn rules out NatEx bidDeutsche Bahn, the owner of Chiltern Railways, has ruled itself out of bidding for National Express, the troubled bus and rail company that is at the centre of a...
• Maersk shipyard to end productionDenmark's AP Moller-Maersk announced it is to stop building ships at its Odense Steel Shipyard at Lindo on the Danish island of Funen

The Telegraph

• Heathrow's bumper July gives BAA hope of recoveryBritain’s premier airport handled 6.48m passengers, up 0.9pc year-on-year – though total traffic for the latest 12 months is down 3pc at 65.7m passengers.
• Motorists set to recoup parking fines after credit card challengeMotorists who have paid millions of pounds in parking fines are in line for refunds after a test case ruled that town hall surcharges imposed for paying by credit card are unlawful.

Times Online

• Mystery as cargo ship disappears in English ChannelMystery surrounds the fate of a cargo ship that disappeared while sailing through the English Channel.
• Electric cars prove profitable for Tesla MotorsTesla Motors, the maker of high-end electric sports cars, turned a profit for the first time last month, the company announced.

Daily Express

• Heathrow's take-off lifts recovery hopesHeathrow Airport recorded its third-busiest month on record in July offering further hope of recovery in the battered aviation industry.

Mail Online

• Heathrow sees record passenger numbers as families ditch the 'staycation' and go in search of the sun

Network Rail

• PREPARATORY WORK ON GATEWAY STARTS SEPTEMBER 2009
• PREPARATORY WORK ON GATEWAY STARTS SEPTEMBER 2009

Transport Briefing

• Winchester traffic alerts develop Tube technology Hampshire County Council is piloting a travel information service that will advise motorists how to avoid rush hour congestion via personalised travel information sent by phone or email.
• Internet spells end of Eurostar tickets by post High speed rail operator Eurostar says 70% of its passengers now print out their train tickets following the company's decision to stop sending out tickets by post.
• Station upgrade package agreed for Chase line Six stations in the West Midlands are to be revamped as part of a £2.1 million programme of investment on the Chase Line.
• Hornsey and Three Bridges to get Thameslink depots Plans have been revealed to build two train depots which will be required to support the introduction of a new fleet of rolling stock for the Thameslink Programme.
• Manchester bids to build five flagship cycle centres Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority has published details of its £29 million bid for Manchester to be chosen as Britain's first sustainable travel city.
• Manchester bids to build five flagship cycle centres Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority has published details of its £29 million bid for Manchester to be chosen as Britain's first sustainable travel city.

London Evening Standard

• Rail unions warn of ’lockdown’

Manchester Evening News

• Free bus travel - at what cost? THEY always did like to be beside the seaside, and because they now have a lot more time to do it, they turn up in mid-morning crowds to find a bus to take them there.
• £29m green transport planTRANSPORT chiefs in Manchester want to build a string of charging stations for electric cars as part of a £29m green revolution. The stations - `plug-ins' to recharge batteries - would be installed in the city centre.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Letter: Transport network Apparently tram fan and Broxtowe Labour MP Nick Palmer has said: "I expect there was a lot of disruption when the Tube was built but people in London look back to those who built it and say 'what a fantastic job the Victorians did'." (Post, August 3).
• Boots creates more problems for levy IT'S not even a fortnight since Nottingham's controversial workplace parking levy was approved. But already campaigners against the parking tax are stepping up their fight.
• Campaigners hit out as passengers in the dark over rail action CAMPAIGNERS have hit out at a lack of information on industrial action affecting train services from Nottingham.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• FirstBus workers back to normal shift patternsStaff employed by bus company First in Aberdeen returned to normal working patterns yesterday “ but strike action has œonly been suspended for the meantime.
• Treasury says £1bn Forth Road Bridge cash still on tableThe Treasury yesterday insisted that a £1billion œoffer to help fund a new Forth road crossing was still available.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Cash for Wakefield ex-pit site revampMORE than a million pounds will be handed to council bosses in Wakefield to pump into transport projects aimed at supporting a huge revamp at a former pit site.
• Airport rat run fear sparks 20mph zoneA 20MPH zone will be introduced following concerns about drivers using residential streets as a rat run to Leeds Bradford Airport.

Blackpool Gazette

• Buses face axe to pay for free ridesBLACKPOOL'S bus routes could be cut as council bosses attempt plug a funding gap caused by pensioners free travel.

Other News Sources

• Public meeting over Ilfracombe bus station plans THE people of Ilfracombe have been invited to have their say on revised plans for the controversial bus station site at a special meeting on Monday of next week (August 24.)
• Bridge planned at Downham Market station A footbridge is set to be built at a Norfolk railway station because it has one of the most dangerous level crossings in the country.
• Plea to improve public transport PUBLIC transport needs to be improved to serve major new housing developments instead of building new roads, it is today claimed.
• DfT asks SWRDA to alter transport planThe Department for Transport has asked the South-West Regional Development Agency to rethink its ten-year transport investment plan after raising concerns that the region had put back a number of key public transport schemes to the later years of the programme.
• UK ports weigh up new planning framework As a new era of planning inquiry legislation begins, port managements may be delaying publication of their masterplans until the smoke clears, writes Roger Hailey “The masterplanning process is, by definition, putting everything together. Therefore, it is valid that we have consultations for the whole of our port business and not just sections” Milford Haven chief executive Ted Sangster
• UK ports weigh up new planning framework As a new era of planning inquiry legislation begins, port managements may be delaying publication of their masterplans until the smoke clears, writes Roger Hailey “The masterplanning process is, by definition, putting everything together. Therefore, it is valid that we have consultations for the whole of our port business and not just sections” Milford Haven chief executive Ted Sangster
• Road transport and logistics supportBusinesslink.gov.uk has introduced a dedicated area for those with road transport and logistics operations in association with Department for Transport and its Executive Agencies VOSA, DVLA, VCA and DSA as part of its range of business advice and support. Focusing initially on businesses with HGV operations, passenger vehicles and MOT testing stations, these businesses will be able to keep up to date with regulations as well as apply for licenses, taxes and permits. In addition they will be able to access a wide range of official business advice such as taking on new employees, health and safety and how to fill out tax returns
• VOSA appoints new chief executiveAfter six months as acting chief executive, Alastair Peoples has been appointed as VOSA's new chief executive.
• TomTom Work launches portable navigationTomTom Work has launched a portable navigation device aimed at fleets that require drivers to change vehicles on a regular basis.
• SNP rejects Forth bridge aid pledgeA reported £1bn of taxpayers™ money to help pay for a new Forth road bridge has been rejected by Scottish finance secretary John Swinney.
• New Heathrow terminal plans unveiled BAA unveiled plans yesterday for the new £1 billion Terminal 2 which will become the new home for Star Alliance airlines and will provide an estimated 20 million passengers every year
• Crossrail station design contracts issuedA new batch of Crossrail design contracts have been issued, for four central London stations and three key portals.
• Introducing Heathrow's new Terminal 2Exciting plans for Heathrow Airport™s newest terminal are unveiled today. The £1 billion Terminal 2 will become the new home for Star Alliance...
• P&0 accuses UK TreasuryUK FERRY group P&O has reportedly blasted the UK Treasury for delivering it with a backdated bill for £6M ($9.98M) in port rates.
• Eurogate cargo drops 10%GERMAN container terminal group Eurogate recorded a 10% drop in box throughput across its pan-European terminal network in the first six months of this year.
• Airport saw 16 per cent drop in charter passengers last monthManchester Airport saw a 16 per cent drop in charter flight traffic last month compared with July 2008, according to newly released statistics.

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