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

Monday, 31 August 2009

BBC News

• Tram links reopen after upgrades Tram services are on schedule to return to Altrincham and Eccles when several major projects on two Metrolink lines are completed.
• General Motors expands in ChinaGM signs up to a joint venture with the Chinese state-owned carmaker FAW to make light trucks and vans.

The Guardian

• Why Virgin Trains' driving force is ready to go to war for the railway Tony Collins has got a big problem with the state of the industry in Britain. It's called Network Rail, writes Dan Milmo

Times Online

• National Express seeks £300m in rights issue National Express plans to launch a £300m rights issue within three weeks as it strives to shake off the attentions of a gaggle of would-be bidders led by Spain’s Cosmen family, its largest shareholder.
• Be one of the first to drive a Mini E This week Mini is launching a search to find 20 British motorists to drive an all-electric Mini for six months. As of Tuesday, September 1, drivers can apply online to take part in the UK trial, allowing them to lease a Mini E for £330 a month (it was to be £550 a month but, because the government is part-funding the trial, Mini has been able to considerably reduce the fee). To apply, you’ll need to have a garage, car port or private driveway and live within the trial zone, which is confined to an area west of London (roughly south of the M40, east of the A34 a...
• Motorists suffer 2p rise in fuel duty as first of five tax increases Motorists face more pain from tomorrow when fuel duty is increased by 2p, the first stage in the removal of government assistance to help families and businesses through the recession.

Press Association

• Half of drivers own a bicycle Around 50% of motorists own a bicycle and two in five cycle regularly, figures from the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) revealed.

Reuters News

• Aer Lingus denies report mulling long-haul exit Irish airline Aer Lingus (AERL.I) on Sunday denied a report it was considering spinning off its struggling long-haul operation as part of plans to reverse rapidly mounting losses.

Mail Online

• Fuel tax rise of 2p per litre to leave motorists worse off again

Birmingham Post

• High-speed trains may still stop at Birmingham airport and NEC, insists government expertThe man appointed by the Government to investigate high-speed rail has made it clear that a new route from London to Scotland could still stop at Birmingham International Airport and the NEC, even though the option has been rejected by Network Rail.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Green light for Nottingham tram AS THE leader of the city council posed for a picture on a Hucknall-bound tram, a passenger leaned in to enquire what all the fuss was about.

Transport for London

• Next set of bendy buses to leave LondonThe demise of the bendy bus in the Capital continues as today sees bendy buses operating on route 521 for the last time.

Aviation Industry

• Rob Fyfe's $1.24 million bonusAir New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe's payment from the airline's short term incentive scheme for the 2009 financial year will be worth more than his base salary.

Other News Sources

• oneworld airlines to move to Barcelona’s new Terminal 1 in September All airline members of the oneworld alliance serving Barcelona’s El Prat airport are to transfer their operations into its new Terminal 1 with effect from 9 September.
• 'Put our safety first' say Britain's women Women don’t believe that British roads are safe enough for them to cycle on. That is the message from a poll of British women conducted by sustainable transport charity Sustrans, in which concerns for their own safety emerged as the most common reason why women do not cycle at all.
• Call for better cycle facilities in Hastings and Bexhill Hundreds of cyclists have signed petitions calling for better facilities for riders. More than 350 signatures were collected at Hastings Urban Bikes' (HUB) Bike Festival in Alexandra Park on Saturday.
• £200,000 revamp of Nelson railway station completed A £200,000 revamp of Nelson Railway Station has returned it to its former Victorian glory, rail bosses have said.
• Lack of credit will hamper trailer take-upThe fall in available business credit will limit the take-up of longer semi-trailers, even if the government approves their use, according to the Road Haulage Association (RHA).
• One in five haulage firms making a lossA fifth of haulage and logistic businesses are making a loss, and profitability continues to be in steep decline, according to two separate surveys on the perilous state of cash flow within the road transport industry.
• Fuel duty due to rise by 2p a litre

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