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

Tuesday, 29 September 2009

BBC News

• Stansted buys 'runway risk' homes An airport operator planning a second runway has spent £90m buying up properties around its site in Essex. Stansted owner BAA has now bought all but six properties within the proposed boundary for a second runway.
• Youngsters call for more trains Two teenagers are campaigning for extra train services to north Pembrokeshire. Joanne Griffiths and Sam Faulkner are aiming to persuade businesses, tourism operators and others to back their call for greater use of Fishguard station.
• BA's new business class only plane British Airways is going where only failures have gone before. Three London to New York business class only airlines have already collapsed - Silverjet, Maxjet, Eos - hit by rising oil prices.
• Scrappage scheme to be extendedThe government is to extend its car scrappage scheme to include a further 100,000 vehicles, Lord Mandelson announces.

Financial Times

• US airlinesCarriers' strategy can now be reduced to one word “ survival. Every financing option has been sought, and for some, exhausted
• Bigger fleets cut cost of transport on seasAs the number of large dry bulk carriers increases, low daily rates look set to continue with dry bulk carrier owners earning modest returns
• Bombardier enters fast train raceThe growing world market for very high-speed trains is to gain a new competitor after Canada's Bombardier Transportation announced the first successful sale of its own version of the technology
• EU competition officials exempt shipping linesThe move allows the industry to cooperate in transporting cargo without risking a breach of rules, but the new regulation makes changes to the so-called 'block exemption'

The Guardian

• Five things I learned as Heathrow's philosopher-in-residence How many people die at Heathrow every week? And why don't more people visit just to have a look around?
• British Airways launches luxury service to New York Twice daily flights on Airbus A318s has come under fire from environmental groups Plane Stupid and Greenpeace
• You ask, they answer: greentomatocars The first taxi company in London to use only Prius hybrid vehicles has pulled over for a grilling on its green credentials

The Herald

• Urgent review ordered into how to utilise rail upgrades An urgent review has been ordered into how to utilise major upgrades to railway infrastructure that were originally intended to be part of the abandoned Glasgow Airport Rail Link, The Herald has learned.

The Independent

• Scrappage scheme 'benefits foreign manufacturers'Around £85m of the £100m spent so far by the Treasury on the scrappage scheme for new cars has turned into a taxpayers' subsidy to foreign car companies with little production in the UK.

The Telegraph

• BA's new luxury, all-business New York flight taxis for take-off from London City Airport British Airways is defying the aviation gloom to launch a luxury, all-business class transatlantic service to New York from London City Airport today.

Times Online

• Electric car maker tops China rich listWang Chuanfu, the founder of Chinese battery and electric car maker BYD, has become China™s richest person thanks to US billionaire investor Warren Buffett, according to the Hurun Rich List.
• Car scrappage scheme gets an extra £100m of mileageThe cash-for-clunkers scheme has been extended with a £100 million injection partly funded by the taxpayer.

Reuters News

• Mandelson extends car scrappageBRIGHTON, England (Reuters) - Business Secretary Peter Mandelson announced a 100 million pound extension to the car scrappage scheme to support the recession-hit vehicle industry.

Daily Express

• Car scrappage scheme increase Car dealers such as Lookers and Pendragon received a boost yesterday when the Government announced it would extend the successful
• BA targets bankers with premium flightBRITISH Airways insists that its new business class-only service to New York launched today will be a -winner, despite a string of rivals going bust during the recession.

ATOC

• Prime Minister endorses high speed rail - ATOC responseATOC responds to the publication of report on high speed rail at the Labour Party Conference
• Jump in train journeys to holiday towns as rail feels the 'staycation effect'New ATOC analysis shows a big jump in train journeys to many seaside towns over the summer as the 'staycation' effect is felt.
• Money to improve cycling at stations is excellent news for passengersMoney set aside to improve cycling at stations will make it much easier for people to get to and from stations on their bike.
• Keep investing in rail - ATOCATOC is calling on all political parties to continue investment in the railways, arguing that passenger rail is vital to Britain's future economic success

Network Rail

• RARE PLANTS AT AVON GORGE TO BLOSSOM WITH RAIL CONSERVATION WORKTwo rare types of plant will have a better chance to survive on the railway near Avon Gorge this autumn, as Network Rail and Natural England embark on a special exercise to help them flourish in the wild. 

Daily Post (North Wales)

• New North to South Wales express train delayedPLANS to start an additional express rail service between North and South Wales may not take place this year.

London Evening Standard

• New rail station opens to serve west London commuting times A railway station that will provide regular services from west London to major interchanges was being opened by Boris Johnson today.

Manchester Evening News

• '£10bn boost' - if rail link is built CAMPAIGNERS for high-speed trains in Manchester have welcomed plans to revolutionise Britain's railways with claims that it could bring more than £10bn of benefits to the north west economy.

Sheffield Star

• Pressure mounts for fast rail link MINISTERS face mounting pressure from MPs at the Labour party conference to include Sheffield in the high speed revolution. A group of senior Labour backbenchers have launched a campaign to persuade Gordon Brown to be more ambitious in his Government's plans for a high-speed network

The York Press

• Former Grand Central boss Ian Yeowart in company rift THE businessman who realised a dream by launching his own rail company is now at the centre of a bitter dispute with the York-based business. Grand Central, which runs four direct daily services from York to London, has revealed that former managing director Ian Yeowart is taking it to an employment tribunal after it dismissed him earlier this year.
• New “cycle hub” to be created at York Railway Station CYCLISTS using York Railway Station have been given a major boost with news that a new “cycle hub” is to be created.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• East Coast rail line 'will stay renationalised' WEST Yorkshire's rail link with London could stay in public hands for several years, a cabinet minister has admitted. The flagship East Coast mainline is just weeks away from being renationalised following the dramatic collapse of the franchise in July.
• M62 West Yorkshire: Motorway barrier work beginsWork has begun on £27.9 million scheme aimed at improving safety on the M62 in West Yorkshire.

Yorkshire Post

• High-speed rail on track for investment CHANCELLOR Alistair Darling has hinted the Government is ready to make high-speed rail a priority when public spending is squeezed.

Blackpool Gazette

• 'Faded road marks could kill our kids'CHILDREN could die because of lack of paint on Blackpool's roads, a leading councillor has claimed.

Bucks Free Press

• Labour conference told: rail plan a "no brainer" A TRANSPORT boss today told the Labour party conference that a high speed rail link, which could come through Buckinghamshire, represents “sanity”.

Carlisle News & Star

• FARMER'S LEGAL CHALLENGE TO CARLISLE AIRPORT HEARD TODAY A legal challenge to the redevelopment of Carlisle Airport is due to be heard in the High Court today. Gordon Brown, who farms at Lane End opposite the Crosby-on-Eden airfield, is seeking a judicial review of Carlisle City Council’s decision to grant planning permission.

Railnews

• News: Prime Minister 'excited' by high speed rail and a new Age of the Train PRIME Minister Gordon Brown said today he was

Aviation Industry

• Approval given for ’world leading’ intelligent transport centreThe Nuneaton based centre, innovITS-Advance, is the result of a collaboration between innovITS, Mira and TRL, backed up with £6.5million funding support provided by Advantage West Midlands. Described as 'a truly world class facility', the construction of the first phase is expected to open to customers from the automotive and telecommunications industries in the late Spring of 2010.
• Icomera Connects US Fire Department Vehicles for Nuclear Emergencies San Francisco CA (PRWEB) September 29, 2009 -- Icomera, the world's leading provider of cellular broadband gateways, has announced that Maple Grove Fire Department in Minnesota has chosen the award-winning Moovbox M200 to provide real-time, secure communication services on emergency response vehicles at broadband speeds.
• Lord Adonis' Speech to Labour Party ConferenceLabour's Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis' speech to the 2009 Labour Party Conference: I took a journey for a week in the spring travelling the railways of Britain. It's taken me two thousand miles to get here. I met some wonderful people, including the transport staff who keep Britain moving day by day. I enjoyed it so much, I've still got the bug. Faced yesterday with a train from London to Brighton I had this irresistible urge to go via Inverness.
• Texting at 30,000ft: BA's new business class-only flights offer email and SMSA seat on British Airways' new all-business class flights between London City and New York doesn't come cheap - around 1,901 - but passengers onboard today will be able to keep in touch with loved ones and business contacts via internet access at 30,000ft. The twice-daily flights commenced this morning on a specially-converted Airbus A318 which has ...
• Delta Air Lines closes a total of $2.1B in loans, making progress toward 2010 debt paymentsDelta Air Lines Inc. says it has closed on $2.1 billion worth of financing, which will help with the major debt payments it has due next year.

Other News Sources

• Bridge Delays Are 'Unacceptable' The MP for Huntingdon has criticised Network Rail following delays to the construction of a bridge at St Neots station.
• Rail Group To Fight On CAMPAIGNERS for the regeneration of Crewe railway station have pledged to continue their work to save the historic terminal.
• Halton MP Derek Twigg says Network Rail to expand Widnes Train Station car park following revamp Speaking at the grand opening of the station’s new ticket office, Derek Twigg MP revealed that an agreement has been reached with Network Rail for the work, which will begin as soon as a date has been agreed.
• Rail boss faces legal threat over rival bid LEGAL action could be taken against the man trying to bring the district more direct rail links to London. Ian Yeowart has unveiled plans for a £200 million project that includes running trains from Euston to Hebden Bridge and Halifax.
• What would sale of National Express Group mean for its UK RAIL operations? The board of National Express is considering a bid from the CVC Capital Partners which would break-up of the group. What would happen to its UK rail operations?
• Is Bombardier set to ride high in rail sector? Bombardier Inc. (BBD.A-T4.860.275.88%) said it expects to generate $2-billion (U.S.) of revenue from a new contract for high-speed trains awarded to its joint venture in China.
• Airport owner buys up properties THE owner of Stansted airport has spent £90 million buying up properties on land earmarked for a second runway. BAA has bought all but six properties within the boundaries of the proposed second runway.
• Emissions trading for shipping sectorA report outlining solutions for reducing CO2 emissions through emission trading has been launched by the shipping associations of Australia, Belgium, Norway, Sweden and the UK.
• Government extends car scrappageThe government has announced an extension to the vehicle scrappage scheme, with van and car owners receiving added incentives to upgrade their modes of transport.
• Council defends bus lane decisionNorfolk County Council has defended its decision to back controversial measures allowing lorries to use a bus lane in Norwich, which was given a permanent green light last week.
• Government extends scrappage schemeLord Mandelson has announced that the government will extend the scrappage scheme and reduce the threshold for qualifying vans from 10 years to eight.
• Dangerous Bus and Truck Companies Still on RoadAs a recent study reveals, many bus and truck companies that have been ordered to cease operations because of repeat safety violations have simply reincarnated under new names.
• Infrastructure Bank could fund High Speed RailAn Infrastructure Bank, funded through the sale of bonds or road user charging could fund a high speed rail network, according to senior government sources this week.
• Tube Lines to pay £10M per month for overrunsTube upgrade contractor Tube Lines will pay London Underground £10M per month beyond December 31 for overruns to the resignalling of the Jubilee Line confirmed Tube Lines chairman David Begg today.
• Campaign group takes council to court over expansion of London City AirportCommunity group Fight The Flights, supported by lawyers from Friends of the Earth's Rights & Justice centre, today took Newham council to court over its decision to expand Heathrow.
• New business flights set to increase emissionsA new twice-daily 32-seater business flight from London City Airport to New York is set to tripple per passenger emissions.

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