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

Thursday, 24 December 2009

BBC News

• Staff shortage hits Northern Rail passengers Rail users in the north west of England can expect to face disruption to their journeys on Sunday due to a shortage of conductors, a train operator has said.
• Fiat takes over Zastava factoryFiat signs a deal to take over the Zastava car factory in Serbia and takes a 67% stake in the company.
• Credit firm denies airline claimsThe boss of the online transactions company linked to the collapse of the Globespan airline defends his company's position.
• Ford agrees Volvo sale to GeelyFord has agreed to sell Swedish carmaker Volvo to China's Geely and expects the deal to be completed early 2010.
• Star Alliance firms seek immunityThe Star Alliance airlines apply for immunity from competition rules on routes between the US and Japan.

Financial Times

• Malaysia Airlines plans to raise M$2.7bn via rights issueMalaysian Airline Systems has unveiled plans to raise M$2.67bn (US$777m) through a rights issue and to buy up to 25 new wide-bodied Airbus aircraft, a move that sent...
• Malaysian Airline unveils rights issueMalaysian Airline System is the third south-east Asian airline to announce capital-raising plans in recent weeks, which it intends to help fund the purchase of up to 25 wide-bodied Airbus aircraft
• Rivals in challenge to SNCF on TGV routes Veolia Environnement, the French group, and Italian train operator, Trenitalia, are in talks that could see three high-speed TGV services launched by 2012

The Guardian

• Motorists bear brunt of cold snapIcy weather has seen estimated 116,000 car breakdowns reported, and has disrupted flights and train services About 4 million motorists are expected to make a dash for their Christmas destinations this morning after another day of icy weather stranded thousands of drivers, forced a Ryanair jet off a runway and cancelled train services.The AA said many avoided taking to the roads yesterday in the hope of improved weather this morning, but the Met Office warned of slippery surfaces in Wales, Yorkshire, the Midlands and east England as the cold snap maintained its icy grip.Many airports are cautio...

The Herald

• Rival airport chief: scrap subsidy for PrestwickGlasgow Airport™s managing director has launched an outspoken attack on the œunfair and anti-­competitive subsidy given to its main rival.

The Independent

• Now it's hell on planes, trains and automobiles A sixth day of sub-zero temperatures and blizzards brought enduring misery to holidaymakers yesterday as the annual Christmas getaway moved into its final and busiest 48 hours.

The Telegraph

• Transport preview of 2010 It would have been nice to suggest that 2010 will be a glorious year for transport but that looks unlikely.

Times Online

• New life for Volvo as Ford accepts $2bn from Chinese$The future of Volvo, the lossmaking Swedish carmaker famed for its sturdy, ultra-safe designs, appeared to have been secured yesterday after Ford, its American parent, confirmed that it was selling the company to Geely, of China.

Reuters News

• Eurostar says Thursday services to be near normalPARIS (Reuters) - Eurostar trains will be running at near full capacity on Thursday after thousands of passengers were stranded by a series of breakdowns and stoppages caused by snow, the cross-Channel rail operator said on Wednesday.

Network Rail

• DISAPPOINTMENT AS RMT BREAKS OFF FROM TALKS WITH FURTHER STRIKE ACTIONNetwork Rail is disappointed that the RMT has chosen to delay attempts at resolving the dispute with further strike action in south Wales.  Train services will be running as normal, despite RMT™s threat to disrupt services.

Belfast Telegraph

• Northern Ireland firm to build 'green' London busesA Northern Ireland company has won the contract to build the

Birmingham Post

• Virgin Trains ticket office staff in the West Midlands to strikeRailway ticket office staff working for Virgin Trains in the West Midlands are to go on strike in the new year after voting in favour of industrial action in a row over cuts, it has been announced.

Liverpool Echo

• Merseytravel donates bicycles to diocese of LiverpoolFIVE bicycles were donated to the Bishop of Liverpool for use within the city diocese.
• Liverpool John Lennon airport closes after fresh snow fallsA DOWNFALL of snow has closed Liverpool John Lennon airport, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.

London Evening Standard

• New 'Routemaster' bus designer named

Nottingham Evening Post

• Pensioners benefit from Green Transport Plan A GREEN transport plan has been introduced at a Mapperley retirement complex. McCarthy and Stone, Britain's largest builder of private retirement apartments, has launched the scheme to help residents at its Parry Court development make the best use of local transport and delivery services.

Wales Online

• More rail strikes planned in South WalesSignal workers are to stage six further days of strike action and ban overtime in a row over new rosters, it was announced today.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Warning for Leeds railway station cyclistsCyclists leaving their bikes at Leeds Railway Station are being told not to leave them at the usual spot as work on a major new 300-bike Cycle Point is scheduled to begin.

Aviation Industry

• Flying home for Christmas “ the get-away is well underwayAberdeen Airport is gearing up for one of it™s busiest days of the year “ as the festive get-away starts

Other News Sources

• Councils defended in bad weather rowThe last five days have seen local authorities grit one million miles of roads, the Local Government Association (LGA) has claimed, after criticism not enough is being done to cope with the current bad weather.
• Government should meet extra Tube upgrade costs not Londoners, warns AssemblyThe Greater London Authority has warned thatthe £400M additional cost of upgrading the Tube upgrades should not be burdened on Londoners.
• Star partners apply for transpacific antitrust immunityRoughly a week after Japan and the US reached a historic open skies agreement, Star Alliance members All Nippon Airways (ANA), Continental Airlines and United...
• Manchester firms picked for revamp of Liverpool airport approachEconomic development company Liverpool Vision has appointed Manchester-based architects BDP and engineering firm Martin Stockley Associates to its strategic regeneration framework to guide the development of Liverpool's International Gateway near the city's airport in Speke.