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

Tuesday, 06 October 2009

BBC News

• Bus and rail smartcard launched Translink has launched a new travel card which can be used on its bus and rail services. The iLink card can be topped up for unlimited daily, weekly or monthly travel within three different zones.
• Branch lines improved in £2m plan More than two miles (3.2km) of railway track is being replaced as part of a £2m programme of works on three of Cornwall's railway branch lines.
• Car purchase tax is 'ridiculous' A suggestion to introduce a car purchase tax in Jersey is ridiculous, said a representative for the motor sales industry.
• Bus service 'must be improved' Jersey's bus service must be improved if car usage is to be reduced, the director of transport has said.
• Freeze for GLA council tax share Speaking at the Tory Party conference, he pledged £5bn worth of savings from Transport for London over nine years.
• MSPs to hear transport concerns Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell is to raise concerns over government transport funding when he appears before MSPs.
• Pilots protest over flying hoursAirline pilots who say rules governing flying hours are

The Guardian

• The long-hours culture for airline pilots puts passengers at risk Tiredness and loss of concentration can be extremely dangerous mid-flight, reveals one pilot
• Low-carbon licence Faster, more efficient forms of transport have transformed all of our lives – we can travel more easily than ever before in high-performance cars, trains, buses and planes, but this luxurious lifestyle comes at a price. Greenhouse gas emissions from transport are growing at a faster rate than in any other sector in the UK and account for around a quarter of all our emissions.

The Independent

• Tories put brake on growth in speed cameras fixed speed cameras will no longer be funded by the Government if the Tories win the next election, the Conservatives will announce today in a move designed to win the votes of frustrated motorists.

The Scotsman

• Walsh: Scotland needs Heathrow to have third runway WILLIE Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, last night pledged the company's commitment to Scotland but warned that failure to build a third runway at Heathrow would lead to an "inevitable erosion" of Scottish services in future.

Times Online

• Brussels gains support for carbon tax on vehicle fuelsBrussels is considering a Europe-wide carbon tax on road fuel as the European Commission seeks to bring more carbon emitters into line with the European Union™s climate change policy.

Press Association

• Rail link row set to resurface A recent row between city leaders in Glasgow and the Scottish Government over the cancellation of an airport rail looks set to resurface.

Mail Online

• Passengers to pay £50 to jump immigration queues at British airports Passengers will be able to pay up to £50 to jump the immigration queue under a new fast-track system designed to cut down on delays.

Liverpool Echo

• Liverpool bus station closure sparks travel chaos fearsA LIVERPOOL city centre bus station is being partially closed for a week leading to fears of public transport chaos.

London Evening Standard

• Rail staff cuts could lead to new disaster, warns unionCuts in railway maintenance could trigger another crash on the scale of the Paddington disaster, union bosses warn
• Heathrow charges £50 to fast-track immigrationPassengers returning from overseas to Heathrow will be able to pay to jump the immigration queue under a new fast-track system

Manchester Evening News

• Tories told to invest in transportSCANT spending on Manchester's rail network would put the city's future growth at risk, transport chiefs will tell the Tory conference.

The News (Portsmouth)

• Watchdog raps council over bus pass rulesHavant council has been criticised by a government watchdog for letting down blind bus passengers.

The York Press

• University of York staff take up Cycling City York 50 Per Cent Challenge STAFF from the University of York get on their new bikes as they take up the Cycling City York 50 Per Cent Challenge.

International Herald Tribune

• Airlines Seek Global Allies to ExpandSeeking ways to grow, airlines are uniting with global partners to expand their international reach.

Washington Post

• Chrysler Remake: New CEO shakes up exec team again DETROIT -- With sales down sharply and pressure to start generating cash before government loans run out, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne shook up his executive team Monday, replacing two of his brand managers after just four months and splitting Dodge into car and truck units.

Aviation Industry

• Massive expansion to immigration hall takes off at Edinburgh AirportEdinburgh Airport has commenced a new £2 million project to significantly increase the size of its immigration hall, following a near tripling of international passengers numbers over the last ten years.

Other News Sources

• Villiers - transport budget to focus on 'sustainable' solutions Any new Conservative government would give the priority to those schemes that demonstrate a sustainable agenda, according to shadow transport minister Theresa Villiers today.

Other Subscription Services

• Feederlink to launch weekly box serviceFEEDERLINK will tomorrow begin a new weekly container service connecting the Port of Tyne to Southampton.