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

Wednesday, 07 October 2009

BBC News

• Bullet train service is extended High-speed rail "preview" services between Kent and London have been extended further to include weekends, it has been announced.
• Road incidents 'lowest on record' The number of deaths and injuries on Cornwall's roads has fallen to its lowest level since records began, Cornwall Council says.
• More cash for scooter loan scheme A scheme which provides scooters for successful jobseekers in Wirral who cannot get to work by public transport has received fresh funding.
• Rail link cost rise 'inaccurate' The leader of Glasgow City Council has accused ministers of providing misleading information about the cost of the city's airport rail link.
• Emergency meeting for BA unionsUnions are planning an emergency meeting after British Airways said it would cut 1,700 jobs and freeze pay.

Financial Times

• New age of train offers route out of recessionIt is no surprise that high-speed passenger rail lines “ labour-intensive to build, able to boost the economies of the places they serve and to lure passengers out of cars and aircraft “ are featuring in many governments' stimulus packages
• Strike risk as BA goes ahead with job cuts Flagship carrier is to cut the equivalent of 1,700 cabin crew jobs and hire future recruits on lower salaries as well as planning a two-year pay freeze
• EasyJet passenger numbers riseThe UK's leading low-cost airline had just more than 4.4m passengers last month “ an increase of 5.3 per cent over the same month last year

The Herald

• ’Misleading’ ministers blamed for scrapping of rail link The leader of Scotland’s largest local authority has accused SNP ministers of using inaccurate and misleading figures to justify the cancellation of a multi-million-pound transport project.

The Scotsman

• BA staff 'consider strike action'The threat of strike action by British Airways workers is looming after the airline announced plans to cut 1,700 cabin crew jobs and freeze pay.

The Telegraph

• Tories to scrap Heathrow expansion plan A commitment to scrap plans for a third runway at Heathrow will be included in the Conservatives’ general election manifesto.
• Conservatives pledge to block new speed cameras New speed cameras will be blocked by David Cameron under plans to win over the motorist to be announced by the Conservatives.
• Fears rise of BA dispute as airline announces 1700 job cutsPlans to cut 1700 cabin crew jobs and impose a twoyear pay freeze could trigger industrial action from trade unions.

Reuters News

• BA to cut 1,700 cabin crew positionsLONDON (Reuters) - British Airways said on Tuesday it would cut the equivalent of 1,700 staff in the United Kingdom and was planning a two-year freeze on basic pay for cabin crew.

Daily Express

• Tickets lift-off boosts easyJet NO-FRILLS airline easyJet boosted hopes that demand for budget air travel was recovering from the slump yesterday with a 5.3 per cent rise in passenger numbers last month.

The Mirror

• Rail passengers face Christmas rip-off - exclusive Millions of passengers will be out of pocket as train fares soar fourfold this Christmas. Families travelling to meet loved ones will be hit by rip-off charges as only one in 20 tickets is available at a cheap advance rate.

Network Rail

• RAIL SERVICES IN SOUTH WALES BACK TO NORMALTrain services between Bristol “ Newport and Gloucester “ Newport are now back to normal. 
• MIDNIGHT LIFT-OFF TAKES NEWPORT STATION TO NEW HEIGHTSAs the year-long countdown for the Ryder Cup begins, work to build the new eco-friendly station at Newport is also gathering pace. 
• PASSENGERS TO BENEFIT FROM £21M GREEN REVOLUTION ON THE BOSTON TO SKEGNESS LINE

Belfast Telegraph

• Scrappage scheme drives car sales higher by 11%Sales of new cars in Britain increased by more than 11% last month, providing fresh evidence of the motor industry's recovery from recession.Related StoriesUS stocks surgeMandelson urges world governments to maintain stimulus measuresSterling weakness to attract shoppers from SouthNo signs of growth in industrial productionMortgage rates cut as lenders fight for business

Birmingham Post

• Cameron hints cities will get green light on transport schemes Britain’s big cities could receive the green light to press ahead with long-awaited transport schemes under a Conservative government, Tory leader David Cameron has pledged.
• Birmingham Airport welcomes Conservative plan to scrap Heathrow's third runwayThe chief executive of Birmingham Airport said the terminal could act as an alternative to Heathrow’s third runway.

Liverpool Echo

• Southampton cruise boss admits Liverpool is better destinationTHE boss of Southampton docks has conceded that rival port Liverpool is streets ahead as a cruise ship embarkation point.

London Evening Standard

• Adonis attacks ’muddle and mystery’ of Conservative speed camera policyTransport Secretary Lord Adonis accuses the Tories of being in a 'total muddle' over the party’s speed camera policy
• Tories pledge to axe Heathrow third runwayTory party conference: Tories will include a commitment to scrap plans for a third runway at Heathrow in their general election manifesto
• British Airways to slash 1,700 cabin crew jobs

Nottingham Evening Post

• Beeston meeting to "fill blanks" on tram plan A MEETING has been called to "fill in the blanks" over the proposed tram extension to Beeston and Chilwell.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• An express way to book travel tickets National Express East Coast has launched a package of improvements to its website, aimed at making booking tickets easier.
• Wakefield bus station delinquents are haltedCrime has been slashed at Wakefield bus station.

Northants Evening Telegraph

• Stagecoach boss surprised over strike voteStagecoach boss Tony Cox has said he cannot believe the decision by bus drivers to reject a pay offer and go on strike tomorrow.

Other News Sources

• Traffic chief tours hotspots A WISH list of improvements to make Seaford's roads safer were highlighted on Monday following a visit to the town by Rupert Clubb.
• London-Paris cycle route to be ready in 2012… if the money doesn't run out first A cycle route linking capital cities London and Paris will be completed in 2012 for the Olympics, French and British local authorities have said. The ’Green Avenue’ - or ’Avenue Verte’ as it will be known in French - is expected to extend over 218 miles, and will draw on several cycling routes in South England.
• Cash wrangle blamed for Rugeley to Birmingham train cuts TRANSPORT bosses are embroiled in a wrangle over the future of rail services running from Rugeley to Birmingham.
• Devon performs well in transport survey Devon came third out of 24 county councils who took part in the National Highways and Transport Public Satisfaction Survey (NHT Survey).
• Sandwell Council wants local opinions on public transport RESIDENTS in Blackheath, Rowley Regis, Oldbury and Cradley Heath are being asked for their views on public transport in Sandwell.
• Dentressangle to run distribution operation for Headland FoodsNorbert Dentressangle (ND) has signed an agreement to run a frozen storage and distribution operation for Headland Foods.
• Notts tram on track after County Council pull-outNottingham™s tram network will not suffer from the County Council pulling out of the scheme, the City Council has said.
• Tories to Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers today declared that a Conservative government would not fund any new fixed speed cameras as part of a radical plan to improve road safety.
• British Airways to cut 1700 jobs British Airways is axing 1700 cabin crew jobs and freezing pay as it aims to slash costs in the economic downturn.Related StoriesCameron to reform welfare systemHSBC boss fears second slumpSigns of recovery in financial sectorTories to announce plans to fix 'broken society'UK wastes millions by throwing away rubbish