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

Sunday, 20 December 2009

BBC News

• Man killed in harbour car plungeA man dies when the car he is in is driven off the end of a harbour in Cornwall.
• Globespan collapse inquiry callA comprehensive investigation is needed into the collapse of the Flyglobespan airline, the finance secretary says.
• Eurostar suspended amid cold snapEurostar passenger trains remain suspended, after wintry weather trapped thousands in the Channel Tunnel for up to 16 hours.
• Climate deal is 'important start'The energy and climate change minister says an agreement at the Copenhagen summit is

The Herald

• Stranded travellers return as probe begins into £34m owedHolidaymakers hit by the collapse of the airline Flyglobespan were returning home yesterday as a probe began into what happened to some £34 million the firm was due.
• Copenhagen: The deal explainedThe UN climate talks in the Danish capital have ended with a Copenhagen Accord.
• Copenhagen climate deal ˜a disaster for the planet™The failure of world leaders to agree targets to cut climate pollution at the Copenhagen summit will lead to a global catastrophe and threaten the lives of hundreds of millions of people, leading scientists are warning.
• A new record...for chaosInternational summits are typically chaotic, but Copenhagen has surpassed all records.
• The climate comedownFor the last two weeks, three tall, thin, cloaked statues have stood, their carved faces staring towards the Bella conference centre in Copenhagen in a silent plea.
• Chunnel travellers blast Eurostar over nightmare journeyChannel Tunnel operator Eurostar has launched an inquiry into failures that left thousands of passengers stranded overnight on Friday when four trains broke down due to sub-zero temperatures.

The Independent

• Thousands stranded in Eurostar chaos The long and dismal history of British customer service reached a new nadir yesterday. Four trains broke down in the Channel Tunnel, leaving about 2,000 Eurostar passengers trapped overnight without power, air conditioning, food, water or “ crucially “ information. They were, both literally and figuratively, kept in the dark.

The Observer

• China blamed as anger mounts over climate deal¢ Beijing accused over emissions cuts¢ Campaigners say accord 'a disaster'An outbreak of bitter recrimination has erupted among politicians and delegates following the drawing up of the Copenhagen accord for tackling climate change.The deal, finally hammered out early yesterday, had been expected to commit countries to deep cuts in carbon emissions. In the end, it fell short of this goal after China fought hard against strong US pressure to submit to a regime of international monitoring.The Chinese prime minister, Wen Jiabao, walked out of the conference at one point, and sent a lowly protocol...

The Telegraph

• Claims supermodel Claudia Schiffer 'given special treatment' on stranded Eurostar trains Passengers on one of the Eurostar trains stranded in the Channel Tunnel claimed that the supermodel Claudia Schiffer was given special treatment during the journey.
• Eurostar facing questions over Channel Tunnel ordeal Eurostar is facing serious questions as to why its trains ground to a halt inside the Channel Tunnel, trapping two thousand passengers for hours and throwing the travel plans of thousands more into chaos.

Times Online

• The great BA tug of war Despite foiling a 12-day strike, management at the airline still faces a long struggle with staff over cost cuts
• Stand-off over BA pensions Britich Airways is set for a showdown with the pensions regulator over the exact size of the deficit in its defined-benefit retirement schemes.
• Another travel firm goes bust A holiday company with close links to E-Clear, the card-payments group accused of hastening the demise of Globespan, the Scottish airline, collapsed late on Friday, leaving 4,000 people to rearrange their travel plans.
• Eurostar halts trains after snow chaosEurostar said last night that all today™s services would be cancelled because of difficulties caused by the cold weather.
• Cycle Doc Q. I noticed a bicycle with indicator lights the other day. Are they a good idea and where can I get some?
• Cycle Girl: Dead men walking Pedestrians and I agree on one thing: we both want them to die. I want them to die because they are always stepping out in front of my bike. They want to die because why otherwise would they step out in front of my bike?
• Copenhagen fails to encourage businessBusiness has given the thumbs-down to the outcome of the Copenhagen summit, saying political leaders fluffed a chance to get billions of pounds of investment flowing into green technology.

Reuters News

• Passengers suffer on trains stuck in Channel TunnelLONDON (Reuters) - About 2,500 passengers were trapped overnight from Friday to Saturday in the undersea Channel Tunnel between France and Britain after trains broke down because of freezing weather, rail operator Eurostar said.

The Mirror

• Eurostar passengers told not to breathe so hard as they ran out of airTerror in the Channel tunnel as 2,000 passengers are stuck on five broken down trains

The Sun

• Fury at Eurostar 'nightmare' THOUSANDS of Brits back in the UK after spending night trapped on the Eurostar

Journal Live

• Incentives planned for electric carsDRIVERS of electric cars should have the legal right to use North East bus lanes by the end of next year under plans unveiled yesterday by transport leaders.

London Evening Standard

• Eurostar in probe vow over debacleEurostar has promised
• Inquiry after Eurostar breakdownsEurostar has apologised to passengers and promised
• Eurostar cancels service amid chaosEurostar has announced it is cancelling all its services for Sunday as the company strives to avoid a repeat of the chaos that saw thousands of passengers trapped in the Channel Tunnel for hours.
• Eurostar cancels services amid chaosEurostar trains have been cancelled while the rail company tries to get to the bottom of problems which left thousands of passengers trapped in the Channel Tunnel for hours.

Manchester Evening News

• Manchester air traffic control to closeMANCHESTER Airport™s air traffic control centre is to close “ with 180 staff forced to move to Scotland. The centre will close for the final time in the early hours of January 23, with only skeleton staff remaining in the control tower. This means all air operations “ apart from take-offs and landings “ will be controlled from a new £170m centre in Prestwick, Ayrshire “ more than 250 miles away.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Stranded tourists waiting to return homeTOON traveller Iain Purdie has been left stranded in Tenerife after his holiday airline went bust.
• Newcastle United fans on their bikes for charityIT’S the most distant destination for Newcastle United fans – and these four Toon fanatics have pledged to cycle every mile.

The York Press

• Panto fans fury as bus fails to show PANTO lovers failed see Berwick Kaler™s latest blockbuster were ruined after their bus into York failed to turn up.
• North Yorks Police urge "don't travel", as snowfall continuesPolice have issued a fresh weather warning and advised people not to travel on the roads.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Airline under attack over cancelled flightA low-cost airline came under attack today after leaving passengers sitting on a UK-bound plane in Prague for more than three hours before cancelling the flight

C.N.N.

• Eurostar cancels weekend service after weather chokes off Channel TunnelEurostar canceled all service this weekend after severe wintry weather in northern France caused the breakdown

Washington Post

• Powerful new Ford Taurus SHO symbolizes Ford's resurrection Conventional wisdom congratulates Ford for forgoing last year's feast of federal bailouts, as if Ford's absence from that table of taxpayers' money signaled extraordinary competence and virtue in a time of corporate recklessness and greed.

Railnews

• News: Eurostar suspended indefinitely, after another train fails Eurostar has changed its mind about running services on Sunday following the failure of another train on Saturday, as bitter weather continues to affect both Kent and northern France. The company, which is paying compensation to at least 2000 passengers, will be running test trains instead today.

Other News Sources

• Eurostar cancels service amid chaosEurostar has announced it is cancelling all its services for Sunday as the company strives to avoid a repeat of the chaos that saw thousands of passengers trapped in the Channel Tunnel for hours.
• Eurostar trains remain cancelled Eurostar trains are cancelled as the company tries to resolve problems that left thousands of passengers trapped in the Channel Tunnel.Related StoriesMore snow predicted as cold snap continuesMan admits child body needles injuriesThousands trapped in Eurostar tunnel breakdownBus thief jailed for 30-mile rampageUS hammered by heavy snow storms
• Eurostar cancels services amid snowEurostar cancels services amid snow
• Thousands trapped on Eurostar trainsEurostar passengers recount their nightmare journey after 12 hours trapped in the Channel Tunnel. Keme Nzerem reports.
• Copenhagen: weak welcome for weak deal?The UN says the Copenhagen accord is only the beginning. But does no binding deal spell disaster for the planet? Julian Rush reports from Copenhagen.