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

Tuesday, 22 December 2009

BBC News

• Bad weather affects Nottingham city bus services Several bus routes have had to be changed in Nottingham city centre because of icy conditions.
• Bus fares will increase in 2010 Bus fares in Jersey will increase for the first time in more than five years, Jersey's transport minister has said.
• Fears stops on east coast rail link could be scrapped Plans which could see Motherwell and Glasgow removed from the east coast rail link have been condemned by the leader of North Lanarkshire Council.
• Funding secured to cut road use A scheme to advise small and medium-sized firms on cutting road transport use in Suffolk and Hertfordshire has won an £830,000 European Union grant.
• Cold snap wreaks havoc across Europe Snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures have killed at least 30 people across Europe as well as severely disrupting air, rail and road transport.
• RMT meets minister to discuss Airdrie-Bathgate link Union leaders are to meet Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson in the new year to discuss staffing on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail link.
• Who is to blame for Eurostar chaos? The malfunctions that caused six Eurostar trains to break down could be down to bad luck, says transport commentator Christian Wolmar, but the company's response has been woeful.
• MP calls for Eurostar review to report to shareholders [video]Eurostar has launched an immediate review into train breakdowns over the weekend which have stranded and delayed many passengers.
• Eurotunnel car services disruptedEurotunnel closes its car shuttle to new arrivals, but Eurostar hopes to resume a limited service on Tuesday.
• Ford offers packages to cut staffCarmaker Ford offers incentive packages to all of its 41,000 US hourly workers in a bid to reduce its factory workforce.

Financial Times

• Break-up turmoil as BAA wins bias rulingAirports operator has won its appeal against the Competition Commission but it is not yet clear whether the judgment means the company will have to sell airports in London and Scotland
• National Express sticks to full-year targetThe transport group says its UK coach business has regained momentum and that it will act over 'disappointing' cost control at its North American school bus arm
• Ferrovial to ramp up bond issuanceNew cheif financial officer confirms plans to refinance much of group's €22.3bn in net consolidated debt to replace shorter-term bank lending
• Anger mounts towards EurostarBritish and French ministers demand investigation after travel chaos strands tens of thousands of people on both sides of the Channel
• Eurostar launches independent inquiry Cross-Channel train operators seeks reasons behind problems that led to disruption of its service as it announces a third day of cancellations

The Guardian

• The snow falls – and trains, roads and airlines suddenly freeze A limited Eurostar service will finally resume today after snow caused the cross-channel shutdown, but only one in five of the passengers caught up in days of chaos will be able to travel.
• Gatwick airport passengers besiege staff as snow wrecks getaway hopes The woman who was wearing a Santa hat and towing a large red suitcase began screaming in the middle of the South terminal at Gatwick airport, her festive goodwill exhausted.
• BAA airports sell-off under threatTribunal finds 'apparent bias' in investigation that ruled airport operator must sell Gatwick and StanstedThe break-up of BAA could be overturned after an official ruling this morning that there was
• Spyker's Saab offer has 'slim' chance¢ Swedish minister warns that Dutch carmaker's offer is unlikely to succeed¢ GM said to be wary of sharing Saab technology with Spyker shareholdersSweden's government has warned there is only a
• Road, rail and air chaos as UK grinds to a haltTravellers warned that winter snap could cause major disruption to their festive getawayBritons were last night steeling themselves for one of the most fraught Christmas getaways in years, as bad weather and snow closed major airports, paralysed roads and disrupted train services.As the UK again found itself struggling to cope with a winter snap, transport operators warned that the backlog caused by cancellations of flights and train services could threaten the travel plans of many more people in the coming days.Already, anyone holding a Eurostar ticket to travel to France today will not be ab...

The Herald

• £30,000 golden goodbye for agency chief The head of a Government agency who was heavily criticised by MSPs was paid an extra £30,000 for leaving his job early. Dr Malcolm Reed was given six months’ salary in lieu of notice when he retired from his £125,000-a-year job as chief executive of Transport Scotland.
• Councils splash out to correct spelling errors on road signs Scottish councils have forked out hundreds of pounds correcting spelling errors on street signs after mistakes by their employees.
• Future of airports uncertain after BAA victoryThe future of Scotland™s two main airports remains unclear despite a victory for BAA over a Competition Commission ruling that it must sell either Glasgow or Edinburgh.
• Go-ahead for bypass despite green protestsControversial plans for a £400 million bypass have been given the go-ahead despite opposition from environmental campaigners and local residents.
• Light at end of tunnel as Eurostar hopes to run trains todayThousands of people endured more travel misery with no Channel Tunnel high-speed Eurostar trains operating, although the company™s beleaguered boss, Richard Brown, said he hoped to run some services today.
• Driving ambition behind transport companyMembers of the Scottish Parliament received news last week that will be welcomed by the country™s hard-pressed firms in the form of an assurance that the time taken to approve planning applications had œimproved dramatically.
• Beleaguered National Express sees trading stabilise as bus and coach revenues on riseTroubled transport operator National Express yesterday reported that its trading has stabilised in the final quarter of its financial year.

The Independent

• Don't blame us “ it was the wrong kind of snow Thousands of passengers on both sides of the Channel were scrambling to get home in time for Christmas last night after Eurostar blamed the closure of their train network on the wrong type of snow.

The Telegraph

• Tube power maintenance workers walk out Electrical maintenance workers on London Underground are to strike for four days from Tuesday in a dispute over pay.
• Transport chaos: blizzards bring Britain to standstill with more snow on the way Heavy snow has brought swaths of Britain to a standstill as forecasters gave warning of further travel misery.

Times Online

• Tens of thousands stranded as Eurostar resumes partial serviceTens of thousands of passengers will be unable to make planned journeys on Eurostar over Christmas despite the partial resumption today of services through the Channel Tunnel.
• National Express school buses remain stalledNational Express, the bus and train operator, told its buffeted investors that it remained on track to meet profit forecasts which were cut after an October warning over rising debt charges and problems at its US school bus business.
• Spyker extends deadline for Saab offerSpyker, the Dutch carmaker, has given General Motors (GM), the American company, more time to consider its latest offer for Saab, GM™s Swedish subsidiary.
• Future of BAA™s portfolio unclear after successful tribunal appealPlans to overhaul the ownership of Britain™s airports were thrown into confusion yesterday after BAA won an appeal against the break-up of its monopolies in London and Scotland.
• Fare warning over BA's deal with American AirlinesTransatlantic airfares could rise as much as 15 per cent if British Airways is allowed to proceed with its tie-up with American Airlines, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) has warned.

Daily Record

• BAA won't be forced to sell off either Glasgow or Edinburgh airport after winning appealAIRPORT operator BAA today won part of its appeal against a Competition Commission (CC) ruling that it must sell three of its airports.
• Anger as Transport Scotland chief receives extra £30K to leave post earlyA TOP public servant was paid an additional £30,000 to leave his post early, it was disclosed today.

Mail Online

• Why can't we cope in snow? Cars trapped, flights grounded, ruined holidays... yes, winter's caught UK off-guard (again)

The Mirror

• Eurostar passengers to get movingThe first stranded Eurostar passengers are hoping to finally get moving after three days of cancellations.

ATOC

• ONE CHEAP TRAIN TICKET SOLD EVERY SECOND IN RUN-UP TO XMAS “ NEW FIGURES SHOWThere has been a surge in people booking cheap advance tickets in the run-up to the Xmas break

Bolton News

• Mother from Bolton confronts Manchester Airport chief exec over delays AN ANGRY Bolton mum trying to join her son in the Philippines for Christmas has confronted Manchester Airport™s chief executive over the disruption caused by cancelled flights.

Derby Telegraph

• Derby's station to be proud of on track to get even better NOT so long ago, Derby's railway station was nothing short of an embarrassment. Dark, dilapidated and cramped, it made train travel a pretty grim experience.

London Evening Standard

• BAA wins appeal over airports salesThe immediate future of UK airport ownership has been thrown into disarray after BAA won a partial victory against the Competition Commission's (CC) ruling forcing it to sell three airports.
• Eurostar boss 'very, very sorry'Eurostar has apologised to passengers and announced it is hoping to run services again on Tuesday after a three-day shutdown.
• Eurostar passengers to get movingThe first stranded Eurostar passengers are hoping to finally get moving after three days of cancellations.
• More travel chaos as snow freezesThe Christmas travel nightmare was grinding on with more snow and ice causing havoc on the roads and further disruption for rail and air services.

Metro

• BAA wins appeal against ruling to sell three airportsBAA has successfully appealed against an order to sell two London airports, and one in Scotland, because the ruling panel was affected by ˜apparent bias™.
• Snow that was ˜too fluffy™ broke Eurostar trainsIt™s been revealed that the wrong type of snow caused the five hi-tech Eurostar trains to break down in the Channel Tunnel on Friday.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Festive service changes on public transport THERE will be changes to public transport services over Christmas and the New Year.
• Buy your own electronic speed signs ELECTRONIC speed signs which warn motorists they are travelling too fast can now be paid for privately in Notts.

The York Press

• Hull City Council backs plan to reopen East Yorkshire rail link CAMPAIGNERS fighting to re-open a rail link through East Yorkshire are celebrating a major boost to their crusade, and say they are now determined to achieve their dream.

Wales Online

• Eurostar boss 'very, very sorry'Eurostar apologised to passengers today and announced it was hoping to run services again tomorrow after a three day shutdown.

Bucks Free Press

• High Wycombe to Uxbridge bus route cut DIRECT bus services from High Wycombe to Uxbridge are to be scrapped in the new year.

West Sussex Gazette

• Airline says check flight before leaving homeA MAJOR airline has appealed for anyone planning to fly from Gatwick between now and Christmas to check before leaving home to see if their flight is operating.

International Herald Tribune

• Eurostar Chief Vows to Resume Partial ServiceAfter a rebuke from President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, the operator of Eurostar trains said that partial service would resume by Tuesday.

Washington Post

• Gov't imposes 3-hour limit on tarmac strandings WASHINGTON -- Stinky toilets, crying babies, airless cabins - the Obama administration said Monday passengers don't have to take it any more. It ordered airlines to let people get off planes delayed on the ground after three hours.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• UK festive roadworks plans announcedPlans to suspend or complete many roadworks projects ahead of high levels of traffic expected over Christmas and the new year have been published.According to the Highways Agency, it intends to ensure that two-thirds of projects on motorways and major A roads are not in place over the festive period.With 35 sets of roadworks already finished, a further 44 will be suspended from December 24th at 06:00 GMT and the Highways Agency claims that the move will help to reduce congestion and improve the reliability of journeys.The Highways Agency's research has found that December 27th tends to be the ...

Aviation Industry

• BAA statement on the Competition Appeal TribunalWe are pleased that the Competition Appeal Tribunal upheld our appeal on the grounds of apparent bias. Further discussions should now take place with the Competition Commission, as the CAT suggests, to determine the appropriate response to this judgement

Other News Sources

• Winter storm snarls transport in SpainMadrid, Dec 22 (EFE) The wave of cold weather in Spain and the heavy snowfall Monday in Madrid caused numerous flights to be cancelled and traffic jams on some roads in the Spanish capital.
• BAA can keep Stansted after appeal victoryAirport operator BAA will not have sell two more airports, including Stansted, following an appeal victory over the Competition Commission
• Travel misery reflects 'grim life under Labour'The shadow transport secretary has laid the blame for transport disruptions this Christmas at the government's door.
• Lambeth Council wins award for safety initiativeA London council has won an award for its innovative scheme to reduce injuries to cyclists caused by lorries.
• Supporters Win More Time To Save Trimley StationLocal campaigners have managed to get extra time from Network Rail to secure the future of the historic Trimley St Mary railway station building.
• Anti-piracy training for SomaliaSomali authorities are close to forging an agreement to have its coastguard officers undergo anti-piracy training with the Philippine Coast Guard.
• Eurostar services to resumeEurostar is to resume "limited" rail services through the Channel Tunnel, but it has warned potential passengers not to try travelling unless they have to.