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

Monday, 21 December 2009

BBC News

• Eurostar launches train breakdowns inquiry Eurostar has launched a review into train breakdowns which have stranded and delayed thousands of passengers.
• BAA wins appeal on airports sale BAA has won its appeal against an order to sell three of the seven UK airports it runs on the grounds that the ruling panel was affected by "apparent bias".
• Youths attacking buses targeted Plainclothes police will travel on a specially-adapted bus to catch youths throwing stones in Nottingham over the Christmas period.
• New Sunday services for rail line Sunday services are to be introduced on the only Greater Manchester railway line currently without them.
• Cold snap wreaks havoc across Europe Snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures have killed at least 19 people across Europe as well as severely disrupting air, rail and road transport.
• Eurostar suspends services againEurostar says there will be no services for a third day on Monday while further tests are carried out on its fleet of trains.
• Modified Eurostar trains in testsEurostar trains modified overnight are to be tested as Channel Tunnel services are suspended for a third day.
• Globespan collapse inquiry callA comprehensive investigation is needed into the collapse of the Flyglobespan airline, the finance secretary says.
• Spyker submits new Saab bid to GMDutch luxury car maker Spyker submits a new offer to General Motors for its soon-to-be-closed Swedish car brand Saab.

Financial Times

• Thousands face transport misery over Christmas Tens of thousands of people are likely to see their Christmas and New Year travel plans disrupted by the unexpectedly cold weather and its effects on road, rail, sea and air travel.
• Eurostar suspension adds to transport woesThe cross-Channel Eurostar train service faces at least another day's suspension after tests on Sunday concluded the operator's trains needed extra winter-proofing to avoid a repetition of train failures that left thousands stranded

The Guardian

• Spyker improves offer to buy Saab¢ Dutch sports carmaker says it has submitted a fresh proposal¢ Saab has failed to turn a profit since 2001The ailing Swedish carmaker Saab could get an eleventh hour stay of execution following a flurry of last-ditch inquiries about the business to its owner, General Motors, including a renewed offer from Spyker Cars, a Dutch sports carmaker.GM “ which on Friday sparked dismay in Scandinavia by announcing it was shutting down Saab “ said todaythat it had received expressions of interest from
• Eurostar suspended as snow hits UKElderly travellers and families rerouted on to Dover ferries but roads to ports clear after 12-hour jamsAfter three days of travel misery on Channel rail services, empty test trains gingerly started running as Eurostar engineers worked to solve the puzzle of multiple breakdowns between London and Paris.However, as thousands of travellers counted the cost of ruined trips, Eurostar confirmed tonight that it will not run any passenger services tomorrow.Passengers were still being turned away at St Pancras, but the company arranged for 500 elderly travellers and families with children to use ferri...

The Herald

• Salmond calls for UK government probe into collapse of Globespan Alex Salmond last night called for an urgent investigation into the collapse of the Globespan travel group which ruined the Christmas holidays of thousands of passengers and cost 550 jobs.
• Let’s close this travel insurance loophole The 3600 flight-only passengers who booked with their winter holiday to the sun direct with Flyglobespan and now have to find and pay for flights home following the company’s collapse are the latest unfortunate travellers to fall through a travel insurance loophole.

The Independent

• Tribunal ruling on BAA break-up BAA will find out this morning whether it is to be forced to sell off Stansted and one of its Scottish airports in line with a contested Competition Commission ruling.
• Eurostar troubles baffle the rail experts After 15 years of comparatively trouble-free operations, high-speed train company Eurostar is now facing huge challenges.
• Thousands stranded as Eurostar service is suspended Thousands of would-be travellers remained stranded last night as Eurostar services from London to Paris were suspended indefinitely after six trains broke down in the Channel Tunnel.

The Scotsman

• Travel nightmare follows snowfallThe Christmas getaway nightmare is continuing as Eurostar passenger trains were suspended for a third day.

The Telegraph

• Christmas getaway: Eurostar cancels services for third day All passenger trains suspended on Channel Tunnel, leaving 55,000 people still waiting to travel or having to make other arrangements.

Times Online

• Eurostar passengers not the only ones as freezing weather causes holiday chaosEurostar passengers were not alone in their misery yesterday as biting temperatures continued to sweep across Britain, freezing much of the country™s transport network.
• Thousands face tunnel chaos as bad weather halts EurostarThe Christmas travel plans of more than 100,000 people are in disarray after Eurostar cancelled services again today and admitted that it did not know when trains would start running again.
• Decision day for BAA on sale of two airportsBAA will discover today whether it will be forced into a firesale of Stansted and one of its Scottish airports.
• Spyker in 11th-hour offer to buy Saab from GMSpyker, the Netherlands sportscar maker, has renewed its offer for Saab, giving the Swedish carmaker the prospect of an 11th-hour reprieve.
• Search for Flyglobespan millions at credit houseThe administrators of Flyglobespan, the bankrupt Scottish airline, will meet E-Clear, its credit card payment processor, this morning to demand payment of tens of millions of pounds.

Reuters News

• Eurostar suspension extended, fleet to be modifiedLONDON (Reuters) - Weekend suspensions to Eurostar rail services caused by acute weather conditions will continue through Monday while trains are modified to cope with more snow expected in northern France, the operating company said.

Derby Telegraph

• £3m shake-up at Derby's railway station COMMUTERS are set to get vastly improved access to Derby's railway station with a revamped car park, new taxi rank and bus terminus, costing £3m.

London Evening Standard

• Travel nightmare follows snowfallThe Christmas getaway nightmare is continuing as Eurostar passenger trains were suspended for a third day.

Manchester Evening News

• Airport and roads hit by heavy snowPASSENGERS faced delays at Manchester airport after snow brought chaos to the region. Several flights have been cancelled and at least one flight from Qatar has had to be diverted to Birmingham because of the weather.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Travel nightmare as Eurostar cancels more trains The Christmas getaway nightmare continued today as Eurostar passenger trains were suspended for a third day.

Washington Post

• Spyker Cars renews bid to buy Saab from GM STOCKHOLM -- In a final attempt to rescue Saab Automobile AB, Dutch auto maker Spyker Cars on Sunday submitted a new offer to buy the Swedish brand from General Motors Co.

Other News Sources

• High speed rail link could be built across River Severn A HIGH speed rail link across the River Severn is being backed by the region’s network operator.
• £311m French rail deal keeps Corus on track THE Scunthorpe Corus steelworks is to enjoy the lion's share of a giant £311-million contract to supply rail track to the French, it has been announced.
• 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 StoriesMan admits child body needles injuriesThousands trapped in Eurostar tunnel breakdownBus thief jailed for 30-mile rampageUS hammered by heavy snow stormsMaoist supporters riot in Nepal
• Hong Kong airport posts 0.4% dip in passenger trafficHong Kong airport posted a 16.4% growth in cargo traffic in November, but passenger numbers fell 0.4%.Total passenger numbers dropped 0.4% to 3.8...
• Eurostar is forced to bus passengersEurostar has to bus passengers from London to Paris as they admit they have no idea when they can restart train services. Keme Nzerem reports.