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

Friday, 04 December 2009

BBC News

• Train firm tackles fare evasion East Midlands Trains is introducing a fresh crackdown on passengers evading fares with a new penalty system. Those travelling without a valid ticket will have to pay £20, or twice the full single fare, to the next station, whichever is the greater amount.
• New bid in Japan Airlines tussleAmerican Airlines offers investment in the struggling Japan Airlines, saying the bid is

Financial Times

• Emissions boost for some airlinesAirlines operating flights over long distances or with many business class customers may be able to benefit from inclusion in the European Union's emissions trading...

The Telegraph

• Why must our drink drive limit be 'in line with Europe'? There are few more irritating phrases in the English language than “bring into line with Europe”, which always follows some change in the rules designed to make our lives slightly less fun. I’ve never heard them saying they’re going to reduce the price of wine, cigarettes, petrol or train fares “to bring us into line with Europe”, or to do something useful like introduce mixer taps (can someone explain why Britain, alone in the world, continues to use separate hot and cold taps?).
• Rail industry demands driving ban for motorists who jump level crossings Motorists who jump level crossings should be banned from driving, the rail regulator has said.

Times Online

• Drivers face lower drink-drive limit A review of road safety announced yesterday could reduce the drink-drive limit to the equivalent of one pint of beer and introduce a new drug-drive limit.
• Copenhagen targets not tough enough, says Al GoreEven if a deal is reached at the UN climate change talks in Copenhagen next week it will only be the first step towards the far more radical cuts that are needed in global carbon emissions, Al Gore, the former US Vice-President, told The Times last night.
• Crash, bang, wallop, what a picture . . .Next time you prang your car, do not be surprised if the driver or cyclist you have unfortunately hit takes out an iPhone and starts taking pictures of the scene.

Daily Express

• Ryanair outsells BA THE contrasting fortunes of British Airways and the budget airline Ryanair were highlighted in the latest traffic figures released yesterday.

The Mirror

• Tories exposed: Enviromental cost of 'Green' David Cameron's private jet flightsTory leader makes impassioned plea for us all to cut carbon emissions ..then flies Glasgow to Gatwick creating 100 times pollution of doing journey by train

ATOC

• TRAIN COMPANIES RESPOND TO OFFICE OF RAIL REGULATION DECISIONThe Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) today welcomed a decision by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) that found it had not infringed competition rules in its licensing of a travel information service.
• 700,000 PHOTOS OF STATIONS TAKEN FOR NEW WEB GUIDE TO MAKE TRAIN TRAVEL EASIERElderly and disabled people with mobility problems, parents with young children and passengers with heavy luggage will find it much easier to get around the rail network from today, with the launch of a new interactive web guide to stations in Britain, called ˜Stations Made Eas

Journal Live

• Air tax will damage economy, warns MPNORTH East Doug Henderson has urged the Government to re-think hikes on aviation taxes over fears they will devastate the region’s economy.

London Evening Standard

• All change for Crossrail at PaddingtonThis is the first image of the new Crossrail station at Paddington

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Resort railway ˜secrecy™ under fireA legal agreement that prevents public financial watchdogs from getting the full picture of how much money was spent on a controversial mountain railway was criticised by MSPs yesterday.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds MP's war of words over flight 'ban'Budget airline Flybe has accused a Leeds MP of putting tens of thousands of jobs at risk after he launched a campaign for a ban on domestic flights.
• Leeds bus strike suspendedA bus strike in Leeds has been called off following last-ditch talks between company bosses and union leaders.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Minister's hopes for line hit by drivers shortageTransport Secretary Lord Adonis said that he hoped there would be an "early resumption" to a full service on an East Anglian rail line hit by a drivers' shortage.

New Scientist

• Radiator roads too hot for ice to handleRoads made from concrete with a nanofibre layer that heats up when fed with electricity could stay ice-free without the corrosive effects of salt

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Agency collaboration 'to enhance English roads'Roads and motorways in England are set to benefit from a new collaboration between the Highways Agency and the Environment Agency.Under the terms of a new agreement between the organisations, they will work together to enhance the sustainability of the network through activities such as reducing road construction and maintenance waste, lowering the risk of flooding and establishing new drainage systems.The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Highways Agency chief executive Graham Dalton and Environment Agency head Paul Leinster in London and develops a 2006 pact outlining working r...

Railnews

• News: ATOC launches 'world first' guide to stations, with the help of 700,000 photographs A new online guide to National Rail has been launched by ATOC to help passengers, especially those with disabilities, to find their way round more than 2500 stations. The innovation, including interactive maps and 700,000 photographs, is said to be a world first.
• News: Strike ballots spread, as London Midland dispute shows no sign of resolution Staff at London Midland are being balloted for industrial action in two separate disputes over pay and Sunday working. Staff at both Southern and First Capital Connect are also being urged to vote for strikes in support of pay claims there. Disruption is now at the end of its third week at FCC, while the Southern dispute threatens all the company's services on 28 December.

Other News Sources

• Great Western Route Utilisation Strategy London TravelWatch has submitted its response to Network Rail’s Great Western Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS). Our comments on the RUS focus on capacity prior to 2017, particularly on Thames Valley services. These services currently suffer capacity issues at peak periods, even taking the current economic downturn into account.
• Passengers should not miss out, says watchdog London TravelWatch has urged the Government to sign up to the European Union’s Rail Passengers’ Rights and Obligations Regulations,, which comes into force across Europe today. Sharon Grant, Chair, London TravelWatch said: “Rail delays cost the British economy as much as £2.5 billion per year, and yet passengers receive less than £10 million in compensation and refunds. Rail passengers, unlike other consumers, are also subject to very stringent rules when trying to transfer tickets or cancel trips. This is unfair, and we will press the Government to ensure they do not continue to opt out of this very important regulation.”
• Aer Lingus to make "compulsory redundancies"Routes to be cut after union talks failread more
• BA traffic drops 4.3% in November British Airways today (December 3) reported a 4.3% drop in traffic for November compared with the same month last year. But the carrier said that premium traffic in the month fell just 1.7% compared with last year. BA said that in the premium cabins, "the trend highlighted at the half-year results continued in November with Club World traffic up 1.5% and Club Europe down 20% on last year".
• Shearings to spend £10m on new coach fleetWigan-based Shearings Group has placed a £10m order for 45 new Setra coaches to meet an increasing demand for its coach holidays, the firm said.
• One in six managers see climate change as priority Most managers recognise climate change as an important issue for business but fail to do anything about it.
• Driver's fine rises to £650 after non-paymentA Peterborough-based trucker must pay £653 for avoiding a VOSA-issued Graduated Fixed Penalty (GFP) and failing to surrender his licence.
• CAA warns agents over 'illegal packages' following Custom Flights failureThe Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has warned it may not refund customers who booked their flight as part of an non-ATOL protected dynamic package in the event of a supplier failure