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

Tuesday, 20 October 2009

BBC News

• Mayor faces Tube fare questions Mayor Boris Johnson will face questions later about his transport plans from Labour London Assembly members.
• Passengers' petition rescues bus A daily morning bus service linking two counties has been saved after 500 people signed a passenger's petition.
• Passengers' petition rescues bus A daily morning bus service linking two counties has been saved after 500 people signed a passenger's petition.
• Track collapse hits train numbers The number of passengers travelling on the Enterprise train service between Belfast and Dublin is down 60% since part of the track collapsed in August.
• Metric road signs 'common sense' [audio]The Department for Transport has started consulting into whether dual metric and imperial signage should now be used in the UK to mirror signs on European roads. Robin Paice of the UK Metric Association and Derek Clarke, UKIP MEP for the East Midlands, discuss whether using metric signage will decrease the risk of accidents on Britain's roads.
• More carriages to ease congestion Extra carriages have been added to some trains into Manchester from Monday after problems with overcrowding.
• More carriages to ease congestion Extra carriages have been added to some trains into Manchester from Monday after problems with overcrowding.
• Work starts on £176m city bypass Work is set to start on a £176m bypass scheme to ease congestion in Carlisle.
• Rail line leaf delays 'slashed' The number of severe train delays due to leaves on the line has been "slashed", according to Network Rail.
• Study backs Thames island airport There are no "insoluble" issues to prevent an airport being built in the Thames estuary, a report has concluded.
• Troubled tram project faltering Long-running plans to build a tram network in Merseyside may never be resurrected due to a lack of funding.
• Bus ban after city safety review Buses are to be banned from part of Belfast city centre as part of a review of traffic safety, the Department of Regional Development has said.
• Millionth passenger for rail link A rail service linking Ebbw Vale with Cardiff is celebrating carrying its millionth passenger less than two years after it opened.
• 'Quick test' for airport liquidsScientists say they have come up with a quick technique for detecting liquids that could be used as explosives.
• Drivers 'losing out' to railwaysMotorists are getting a
• Rival renews National Express bidStagecoach makes a fresh offer to buy rival National Express, despite withdrawing a bid in September.
• BA chief in 'frank' union talksBritish Airways chief executive Willie Walsh holds

Financial Times

• National Express 2If National Express is the frustrated dinner party host, Stagecoach is the guest who just won't leave
• Result of cargo cartel probe faces delayA long-awaited investigation by Brussels into suspected price-fixing among air freight groups is unlikely to reach a final decision before the European Commission enters caretaker mode
• Tokyo to speed up JAL restructuringShares in Japan Airlines rallied sharply after it emerged that the government would push for quick adoption of a recovery plan for the ailing carrier
• Stagecoach and Express in Panel clashA war of words broke out between National Express and Stagecoach as doubt grew about the struggling transport group's future
• Stagecoach's move revives National ExpressThe debt-laden bus and rail operator is considering proposals from Stagecoach that would see the company take up to 40 per cent of a merged group, estimated to be worth £1.7bn
• BAA attacks commission inquiry BAA launched a dramatic attack on the Competition Commission, claiming that an inquiry forcing the sale of three of the operator's airports suffered from an 'intolerable conflict of interest'

The Guardian

• Stagecoach makes £1.7bn merger offer for rival National Express 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.
• Boris Johnson appoints Sir David King to examine Thames estuary airport plan Report concludes there are no 'overwhelming constraints' holding the project back
• Airport sell-off ruling was biased, BAA tells appeal tribunal The Competition Commission's ruling demanding BAA break up its airports monopoly was "riven" with the appearance of bias, an appeal hearing was told yesterday.

Times Online

• 'Strip search' scanner suspended for children at Manchester AirportChildren will be not be subjected to a new X-ray body scanner which produces œnaked images of flight passengers, airport officials said today.
• Breakdown in union talks leaves BA braced for festive strike actionChristmas travel misery seemed inevitable last night as talks between British Airways and unions representing its cabin crew broke down.

Press Association

• High earners shun major UK airports Higher earners are shunning major UK airports, a survey by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has revealed.

Daily Express

• BAA in ’bias' appealA Competition Commission inquiry which ruled that Heathrow-operator BAA must sell three of its airports was
• Row as Stagecoach makes move on rivalA ROW has erupted over a £1.6billion all-share merger proposal from bus and train group Stagecoach for rival National Express whose shares soared on the news yesterday.

Mail Online

• Birmingham Airport could be viable alternative to Heathrow third runway Birmingham Airport has put itself forward as a viable alternative to the construction of the controversial third runway at Heathrow.
• Road signs could also show metric to stop foreign lorry drivers wrecking bridges
• 'Forget luxury, people fly because they have to,' says British Airways boss

ATOC

• Electrify more train lines between cities to cut carbon and congestionATOC today sets out proposals for the electrification of ten lines to help cut the industry's carbon emissions and reduce congestion on some of the busiest parts of the railway network.

Birmingham Post

• Birmingham International Airport can double capacity without cost - KehoeBirmingham International Airport chief executive Paul Kehoe has stepped up his campaign to lure passengers and flights from Heathrow by pointing out that BIA could handle twice as many passengers a year immediately without engaging in any costly reconstruction work.

Derby Telegraph

• Plan to upgrade bus and taxi interchange at station submitted PLANS for the first phase of the multi-million-pound regeneration of Derby's railway station have been submitted. If approved, they will see the area in front of the Midland Road station redesigned for better access and movement of buses and taxis.

Journal Live

• North East told to stop moaning about airport taxA CABINET minister has said holidaymakers in the region have no right to moan about new airport taxes because the taxes fund “huge” Government spending in the North East.

Liverpool Echo

• Liverpool's Merseytram “virtually killed off” by governmentMERSEYSIDE’S plans for a tram system were “virtually killed off” by the government, a month after the scheme was formally revived.

London Evening Standard

• David Cameron must decide on 'Boris island'Tory leader David Cameron was under pressure to declare whether he would support Thames Estuary airport after a report commissioned by Mayor Boris Johnson said constructing it was 'technically feasible'
• Switch in Heathrow take-offs 'will cause more aircraft noise'Residents living near Heathrow face longer periods of noise disruption under plans to change landing and take-off arrangements

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds/Bradford Airport is tops for its timingsLEEDS Bradford Airport is the most punctual in Britain.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Electric rail line scheme proposedTrain operators want 400 miles of UK railway line updated so it can be used by electric trains, including Ipswich to Felixstowe.

Railnews

• News: Stagecoach makes new overtures to National Express Stagecoach Group has made a new approach to National Express, once again raising the possibility that c2c and East Anglia could be poised to change hands. There was uncertainty on Friday after the Spanish Cosmen family withdrew from negotiations to take over the troubled NX Group.
• News: ATOC calls for infill electrification ATOC is calling for a series of infill electrification schemes, which would provide better connections between major British cities and also close some ’missing links’. The plans involve up to 640km of route – about 4% of the National Rail network.

Other News Sources

• New airport can be built in the Thames EstuaryA NEW airport on a man-made island in the Thames Estuary could technically be built, a new report has found. Civil engineer Doug Oakervee has drawn up a report which has concluded there are no obstacles to a £40billion airport being built between south Essex and north Kent.
• BAA attacks Competition Commission over Manchester Airport advisor's role BAA accused the Competition Commission of “bias” at an appeal hearing over its decision to force the firm to sell three airports yesterday, stating that one of the people sat on the board which took the decision was too closely linked to Manchester Airport's bid to buy Gatwick airport.
• Will Heathrow-on-Sea spoil East Coast boating?AIRPORT: The weekend press was full of reports about the Mayor of London’s plans to build an airport in the Thames Estuary to replace the proposed expansion of Heathrow.
• Find out more about work on Droylsden's new tram line Work to prepare for the arrival of Metrolink in Droylsden is continuing apace - with construction of the new tram line down Ashton New Road due to start later this month. GMPTE is overseeing a £600m expansion of the Metrolink network which will take trams from East Manchester to Droylsden by spring 2012. People will be able to find out more about the project at a series of drop-in events next week.
• Millionaire may put wheels in motion for tram A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE leisure boss has said he would consider investing in a tram for Tunbridge Wells. News a tram was being investigated by Kent County Council as a solution to the north-south divide has been met with lively interest by Courier readers.
• Cycle lane on A23 into Brighton hits snag Plans for new cycle lanes on a major road in Brighton have hit a snag – because they could clash with future plans for a park and ride scheme. Brighton and Hove City Council is currently consulting on proposals for 1.5m wide cycle lanes on either side of theA23 London Road at Patcham, connecting to an existing route on the London Road south of Carden Avenue.
• New cycle route opens in Colchester A new cycle route in Colchester which cost £250,000 has been launched. The newly improved High Woods cycle route passes Colchester General Hospital, the country park and north Colchester’s business parks and it was developed as part of Colchester’s Cycling Town status.
• Metronet troubleshooter joins Crossrail managerFormer Metronet CEO Andie Harper has joined AECOM as director of programme management for transport and infrastructure
• Airport inquiry member had 'conflict of interest' It is claimed a member of an inquiry which ruled BAA must sell three of its airports had a
• Those elusive rail dealsWhile the age of indifference by rail companies to business travellers may be over, the relationship between train operators and corporates still does not always run smoothly The enthusiasm for UK companies to book rail has increased enormously in the last few years. While environmental considerations have played a part, there are other major factors which have come into play.