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

Monday, 19 October 2009

BBC News

• Rail line 'should remain public' [video]Unions are being urged to back a motion to keep a rail franchise in public hands which was taken over by the government after the operator, National Express, made big losses.
• Gatwick extension faces objection Campaigners against the expansion of Gatwick airport are objecting to plans to extend its North Terminal and build a multi-storey car park.
• New 20mph zone planned for road A 20mph zone could be introduced on a road in Middlesbrough in a bid to improve road safety.
• Peers 'should appear in Commons' Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has said he wants to be able to answer MPs' questions in the House of Commons.
• New move for Thames Estuary airport [video]An airport able to operate 24 hours-a-day all-year round, could be built in the Thames Estuary between Kent and Essex, the BBC has learned after seeing an unpublished report.
• Airport stops scans on childrenAn airport suspends the use of
• BA boss questions flying motivesThe boss of British Airways, Willie Walsh, tells the BBC that people do not fly because they like the idea of flying.
• BAA begins airports sale appealA hearing begins on Monday to hear airport operator BAA dispute an order forcing it to sell three airports.

Financial Times

• Train operators call for electrified linesThere are big opportunities to improve train performance and cut pollution through a 10-year programme of small rail electrification projects, the organisation representing train operators will say on Monday
• Stagecoach signals fresh interest in Nat ExpressNational Express said it remained open to a tie-up with Stagecoach, its bus and train operator rival, in spite of pushing ahead with plans for an emergency rights...
• Møller-Maersk unit in Indian ports pushAPM Terminals, the ports arm of Denmark's AP Møller-Maersk Group, has taken advantage of a buoyant Indian economy to develop its container and bulk cargo business in the country over the past year
• NatEx and Stagecoach in Takeover Panel clashA war of words broke out between National Express and Stagecoach as doubt grew about the struggling transport group's future

The Guardian

• Network Rail faces claim staff paid off over discrimination The government's equality watchdog has begun an inquiry into Network Rail after claims the train infrastructure operator spent millions of pounds of public money paying off senior staff forced out by discrimination and management bullying.
• Stagecoach makes £1.7bn merger offer for rival National Express Beleaguered transport group returns to fundraising after collapse of takeover talks Stagecoach has approached its beleaguered transport rival National Express about a merger, after a £765m bid for the rail and bus group fell through last week.

The Herald

• Transport group Stagecoach in National Express merger link Perth-based bus and rail group Stagecoach last night declined to quash reports that it had approached National Express with a merger offer.

The Independent

• Stagecoach looks for National Express deal Transport group Stagecoach has approached National Express, the indebted bus and train operator, over plans for a friendly merger.

The Scotsman

• Bid to link up electric rail routesElectrifying up to 400 miles of "missing link" railway lines would provide a massive boost in passenger numbers as well as benefiting the climate, train firms have sai

The Telegraph

• No 'naked' X-rays of children, rule airports Bosses at Manchester Airport had a rethink on allowing under-18s to undergo the check after child protection experts warned that their security workers risked breaking the law by creating indecent images of juveniles.

Times Online

• Act now if you don’t want the lights to go out According to BP’s projections, we will need about 45 per cent more energy in 2030 than we consume today. That will require industry to invest some $25 to $30 trillion — more than $1 trillion (£600 billion) a year for 20 years.
• National Express gets all-shares Stagecoach offerNational Express on Sunday night confirmed that it had received another takeover approach from Stagecoach despite its rival walking away from a bid last month.
• Heathrow counts cost of disappearing business passengersThe number of business passengers using Heathrow, the world™s busiest international airport, fell by 5 per cent last year, according to the annual survey of passengers by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The numbers dropped by 1.2 million to 22.8 million, just over a third of the total number of all passengers.

Press Association

• Bid to link up electric rail routes Electrifying up to 400 miles of "missing link" railway lines would provide a massive boost in passenger numbers as well as benefiting the climate, train firms have said.

Reuters News

• Stagecoach wants Nat Express mergerLONDON (Reuters) - Bus and rail group Stagecoach confirmed on Sunday it had approached rival National Express about a possible merger.

Mail Online

• Reinventing the wheel: New technology could banish stabilisers - and help children cycle in just one hourThe sight of an anxious parent running close behind a child on a wobbling bicycle as they learn to ride it may soon be a thing of the past.

The Mirror

• BAA begins 'sell airports' appealAn appeal by airport operator BAA against a decision by competition chiefs to make it sell three of its airports is due to begin in London.

Journal Live

• North East makes the case for new rail line A DOSSIER for high speed rail has been handed to transport ministers amid warnings a generation of new jobs could be lost if the Government overlooks the case for a line through Newcastle.

The York Press

• Rail union leaders have called for a clear timetable for the renationalisation of the York-based East Coast Mainline after a takeover bid for route operators National Express collapsed A consortium led by the company™s biggest shareholder, Spain™s Cosmen family, withdrew its £765 million offer for the struggling transport group yesterday.

Other News Sources

• Transport Secretary rubbishes Boris Island plans Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has described plans for a new airport in the Thames Estuary as "not in any way credible".
• Businesses looking for transport boost BUSINESSES on a Burton industrial estate have urged council bosses to provide them with better public transport links.
• Bus and van drivers need better protection against long hours workingThe rules governing the working hours of bus, coach and van drivers are so out of date that many drivers have fewer breaks than office workers, the TUC warns today (Friday).
• New EU operating standard to be signed offSenior road transport figures have welcomed a new EU regulation that will introduce stricter standards across Europe for people wanting to operate a road haulage business.