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

Monday, 23 November 2009

BBC News

• Flood-hit areas face travel chaosThousands of people in flood-hit Cumbria are facing travel chaos with 16 bridges out of action and at least 25 roads closed.
• Deutsche Bahn in Qatar rail dealGerman rail operator Deutsche Bahn signs a 17bn euro contract to build rail and underground lines in Qatar and Bahrain.

Financial Times

• Interview: Willie Walsh, chief executive of British AirwaysEdited transcript of interview with Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, and Pilita Clark, Financial Times aerospace correspondent, which took place on November 20 2009
• Prospect of BA and Qantas link-up resurfaces British Airways' planned merger with Spain's Iberia opens the way for BA to reconsider a tie-up with Qantas, according to Willie Walsh, the British carrier's chief executive
• Portsmouth in line for port revampThe UK’s second-busiest ferry port will this week announce plans for a large-scale renovation of its facilities, a sign of continuing good health in parts of the sector in spite of the economic slowdown.

The Guardian

• InterCity dreaming is more than just railway nostalgiaThe east coast line's fortunes have been revived since it passed from National Express to state ownership, raising hopes of a return to network integration last seen in the days of British Rail

The Independent

• Campaign for Heathrow transport hub set to gather paceThe campaign for Heathrow Hub, a proposed transport interchange at the world's second-busiest airport, is set to gather pace next month.
• Labour to promise high-speed rail link in election manifestoA multi-billion pound pledge to build a high-speed rail link is set to be included as a key measure in Labour's manifesto for the next election, The Independent has been told. All the political parti...

The Telegraph

• Flowing air 'could be used to generate electricity for planes and cars'Flowing air could be used to generate electricity for planes and cars researchers have found.

Times Online

• London commuters in a spin as Circle Line becomes a tadpoleLondon commuters on their way home after a few too many drinks have long awoken to find themselves going round in circles on the Underground. Now, in time for the office party season, the Circle Line is to be transformed into a tadpole.
• Gatwick owners look to the starsGATWICK™S new owners have gone into orbit in their hunt for a board for the London airport. They are understood to have hired James van Hoften, a former astronaut who runs the airports business of Bechtel, the American engineering giant.

Reuters News

• No deal ahead of strike - BA's WalshLONDON (Reuters) - British Airways Chief Executive Willie Walsh has warned cabin crew that he will not compromise on cost-cutting measures, ahead of a strike ballot next month.

Network Rail

• FELTHAM LINE TO REOPEN ON MONDAY- Normal train services expected from Monday 23 November

Journal Live

• Government accused of underplaying impact of aviation tax on airportsTHE Government has been accused of hugely underplaying the impact of increased aviation taxes on regional airports.
• Project aims to put a Brake on boy racersA ROAD safety campaign will go direct to students at sixth form colleges in the North East in a bid to educate boy racers about the dangers of drink driving.
• North East leads the charge for green transport CHARGING points for electric cars could be built across Tyneside as a multi-million pound fund is established

London Evening Standard

• Rail union boss to appear on Have I Got News For YouRailway workers' leader Bob Crow is to become the first ever trade union official to appear on TV's Have I Got News For You, it was announced
• One ticket for trains, Tube and buses in Oyster card rail revolution The Oyster card revolution in travel across Greater London will start on 2 January, it was announced today. After years of negotiations and a £40 million investment, commuters will be able to touch in and touch out at Network Rail stations as well as the Tube and bus network.

The News (Portsmouth)

• Trading standards crack down on dodgy car dealersDodgy second-hand car dealers are being warned: 'We've got you clocked.'

The York Press

• York to Harrogate bus scrapped after cuts in funding for concessionary fares A BUS company is scrapping its direct service from York to Harrogate following cuts in funding for concessionary fares.

This Is Local London Network

• Children join MP in third runway protestWALTHAMSTOW MP Neil Gerrard has joined local children in a show of solidarity for a village threatened with demolition by third runway plans at Heathrow.
• Children join MP in third runway protestWALTHAMSTOW MP Neil Gerrard has joined local children in a show of solidarity for a village threatened with demolition by third runway plans at Heathrow.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Cumbria: Communities are left strandedFlood-hit communities were today facing up to the devastation caused by torrential downpours as homes and businesses were cut off by collapsed or damaged bridges and schools c

Yorkshire Post

• Iain Coucher: Yorkshire cannot be left behind as race goes on for high speed rail line WHAT a difference three years makes. The publication of the Government's Eddington report on transport in December 2006 poured cold water over the prospect of high speed rail in Britain. Today the situation is very different. By spring there will be a General Election – an election that will see all three main political parties give manifesto commitments to new, high-speed lines.
• Network Rail backs 200mph route to London THE campaign for a high-speed train service through Yorkshire took a major step forward after Network Rail said it was now backing calls for the region to have its own direct route to London.

International Herald Tribune

• Driven to Distraction: High-Tech Devices Help Drivers Put Down PhoneWhich is safer: technology that disables a cellphone in a moving car, or that makes the conversation completely hands-free?
• Executives Will Testify in Airbus InquiryMore than a dozen current and former executives of the aerospace group EADS and its Airbus subsidiary will testify in a high-profile insider-trading inquiry.

New Scientist

• The race to build a 1000 mph carYou want to be the fastest thing on four wheels. Should you use jets or rockets? Or both?

Aviation Industry

• BA warns cabin crew over strike: reportBritish Airways chief executive Willie Walsh warned his cabin crew Monday that he will not compromise on cost-cutting measures ahead of possible strike action next month.

Other News Sources

• Call to ensure rail stations on track for share of £3billion ROPOSALS to improve South Devon's railway stations are being called for. Network Rail is already refurbishing Torquay station ahead of a massive £3billion redevelopment programme across the country.
• MPs press Minister for early decision on Mersey Gateway THOUSANDS of incensed motorists left queuing as urgent repairs were carried out on the Runcorn Widnes bridge have prompted MPs to press the Government to approve the new crossing as soon as possible.
• MP Urges Commuters To Have Their Say On Rail Station Improvements THE launch of a Network Rail consultation on how to improve our railway stations has been welcomed by North East Herts MP Oliver Heald.
• Bombardier builds its aviation sector Ancient Chinese philosophers emphasized the importance of balance. So does Zhang Jianwei, president and chief country representative of Bombardier China.
• Heathrow™s Terminal 2 closes as work on its £1 billion replacement gets underwayPassengers will check in at Heathrow™s Terminal 2 for the last time on Monday as, after 54 years of service, it is closing to make way for a stunning £1 billion replacement.
• Super-speed rail blueprint Revolutionary plans are being drawn up to develop a high-speed rail network from London to Birmingham, Manchester and Scotland with track capable of carrying trains at a staggering 250mph.
• London Mayor's transport advisor Kulveer Ranger answers your questions London Mayor Boris Johnson recently set out his vision for travel in the capital over the next 20 years. We put your questions to the Mayor's transport advisor Kulveer Ranger
• Crackdown on axing of Leeds bus routes Transport chiefs are to introduce a new contract scheme that would stop sudden changes, bus service withdrawals and unjustified fare increases in Leeds.
• Study urges renewal near stations Rail operator Network Rail should work in closer partnership with developers in an effort to deliver regeneration schemes around big city rail stations, a new report has suggested.
• Network Rail makes the case for wires 'The case for the Midland Main Line is extremely strong said Network Rail Chief Executive Iain Coucher as the infrastructure manager published the final version of its electrification strategy on October 28.
• Commuters invited to Watford rail users' meeting Commuters can have their say on services at the next meeting of the Watford Rail Users' Group.
• Distraction at 37,000 Feet - Lessons for the RoadBad things can happen when you don't pay attention. This has been tragically proven again and again as distracted drivers continue to cause roadside tragedies.
• Johnson set to announce Oyster pay as you go rail deal Boris Johnson is set to confirm that Oyster pay as you go cards will be accepted on National Rail services in London, however critics have branded the expected scheme “complicated”.