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

Thursday, 21 January 2010

BBC News

• Brown unveils new measures to track terrorist suspects Fresh measures to track terror suspects and strengthen airport security after the attempted Christmas Day bomb plot have been announced by Gordon Brown.
• Edinburgh airport urged to reconsider security staffing Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the operators of Edinburgh airport must take security seriously.
• Normal services 'by week's end' Network Rail hopes normal rail services can resume between Inverness and Aviemore by the end of the week.
• Eurostar sales up in 2009 despite travel chaos Ticket sales and passenger numbers rose at Eurostar in 2009, despite the breakdown of trains in December that left thousands of passengers stranded.
• People's views sought on transport in Warwickshire People in Warwickshire are being urged to play a part in planning the future of transport in the county.
• Emergency work to repair potholes Repairs are to be carried out on roads in West Yorkshire which have been damaged by potholes caused by the recent cold weather.
• Heseltine backs Heathrow expansion report Conservative leader David Cameron's decision to oppose the expansion of Heathrow airport has been questioned in a report backed by Lord Heseltine.
• Funds sought for Ilkeston railway station The search for funding for a planned £6m railway station in Derbyshire is due to begin.
• Port plan 'should not be delayed' The government has promised to do all it can to "fast-track" a decision on a proposed inland port that would create up to 5,500 jobs in South Yorkshire.
• London council 'misleading' over 'illegal parking plan' A council has been accused of a "potentially illegal" attempt to use parking charge rises to raise revenue after BBC London obtained a document described as a "smoking gun".
• Union warns of more air stoppagesUp to 20,000 passengers have faced disruption at three Irish airports, as air traffic controllers stage a four-hour strike.

Department for Transport

• EDINBURGH - LONDON IN UNDER 4 HRS BETTER STATIONS, BETTER CATERINGPassengers using the busy East Coast Main Line (ECML) are set to benefit from faster and more frequent journeys as well as better stations and catering, Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis announced today after he set out what the Government will expect of future bidders to run the line, alongside an improved new proposed timetable for the route
• Better services planned for Essex Thameside rail users Passengers on the Essex Thameside rail franchise, which operates services from London Fenchurch Street to Southend Central and Shoeburyness, are set to benefit from longer trains, improved station facilities, better security and other service improvements under plans unveiled today by Transport Minister Paul Clark
• Better services planned for Greater Anglia rail users Passengers on the Greater Anglia rail franchise, which operates services from London to Norwich, Ipswich and Cambridge, are set to benefit from longer trains, enhancements at stations, more security and other service improvements under plans unveiled by Rail Minister Chris Mole today.

Financial Times

• BA staff will not strike over EasterBritish Airways cabin staff have ruled out taking strike action over Easter even if a ballot next week endorses a walkout, as is widely expected. Unite, the trade...
• Bidders line up for Poland's LOT Polish government has received expressions of interest from three bidders interested in taking over the troubled state-owned flag-carrier
• Adonis warns Thameslink rail operatorThe train operator responsible for running the chaotic Thameslink service could be stripped of its franchise if it fails to restore the full timetable by the end of the week, according to Lord Adonis, transport secretary
• Eurotunnel blames 2008 blaze for revenue fallEurotunnel reported a sharp drop of 18.9 per cent in its traffic and revenue figures as a result of a fire that broke out in the tunnel between England and France in 2008
• JAL rescuers forced to write off contributions Trading partners of Japan Airlines that helped provide Y152bn of desperately needed capital to the company in 2008 will be forced to write off their contributions
• CSX boss warns on US rail legislationMichael Ward, chief executive of the sector's third-largest company, says that investment in US freight railways will fall if proposed federal legislation is passed in its present form

The Guardian

• 'No-fly list' to stop terror suspectsGordon Brown also confirms direct flights to Yemen will be suspended and UK airports will start using body scanners next weekAn American-style
• Privacy and security can be reconciled There are better ways than body scanners and group-related profiling to improve security at airports
• British Airways cabin crew rule out Easter strike • 'Families can plan their travel in confidence,' says Unite official • Union still seeks to ballot for strike after updating member lists

The Herald

• Train punctuality hit by bad weatherThe bad weather either side of Christmas caused a drop in train punctuality.

The Independent

• Ban on flights from Yemen to UKDirect flights from the Yemen to Britain will be banned as a key part of new anti-terrorist measures following the failed attempt to blow up a transatlantic airliner, Gordon Brown announced yesterday.

The Telegraph

• Great Portland in Crossrail row Great Portland Estates is taking on Transport for London in a £25m row over the development of a Crossrail station.

Times Online

• BA cabin crew rule out Easter strike actionBritish Airways (BA) cabin crew today ruled out striking over Easter in their dispute with the airline over jobs and working conditions in a move to quash a public backlash against workers.
• London landlords fight valuations for Crossrail compulsory salesThe Mayor of London has clashed with one of the city™s biggest landlords over the price paid for a building earmarked for redevelopment as part of the Crossrail scheme.
• Figures help Eurostar over its embarrassmentIt was the Christmas public relations disaster that was blamed on the wrong type of snow. Almost 2,000 people were trapped in the Channel Tunnel overnight when œfluffy snow and freezing temperatures caused five Eurostar trains to break down.

Press Association

• Big freeze hits train punctuality The bad weather either side of Christmas caused a drop in train punctuality, official figures have revealed.

Reuters News

• FirstGroup warned over London rail service - report British transport operator FirstGroup could be fined or stripped of a key London rail franchise if it fails to improve the service, Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis told the Financial Times on Thursday.
• FirstGroup warned over London rail service - reportLONDON (Reuters) - British transport operator FirstGroup could be fined or stripped of a key London rail franchise if it fails to improve the service, Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis told the Financial Times on Thursday.

Daily Express

• EUROPE PLOTS GREEN BLITZ ON BRITISH ROADS BRUSSELS bureaucrats want to slap draconian European Union driving laws on Britain’s roads in a new “green” campaign on motorists, it emerged last night.

Network Rail

• MORE JOBS FOR THE GIRLS, SAYS RAIL CHIEF Sexist and outdated public perceptions about job opportunities for women in the rail industry are a damaging barrier to building a bigger and better railway Britain needs, according to Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher.
• EIGHT OUT OF TEN TRAINS ARRIVE ON TIME DESPITE EXTREME WEATHER Despite the severe weather over the past month, eight out of 10 trains still ran to time and almost 92%, or 19,000 each weekday, of scheduled services ran.

Birmingham Mail

• Smartcard a step closer on Midlands transportSMARTCARDS could be in place on all rail and bus routes in the Midlands by the autumn, according to transport bosses.

Birmingham Post

• Smartcards lined up for West Midlands transport networkSmartcards could be in place on all rail and bus routes in the Midlands by the autumn, according to transport bosses.

Bolton News

• Have say on new interchange A CONSULTATION on a new £48million transport interchange for Bolton will be open until March 5.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Council bids to get car-share running Bradford Council is in talks to create a car-share scheme across the district to help reduce congestion and support the economy.
• Minibus boost for disabled action group Disabled people are to receive a dedicated community transport service, thanks to a cash windfall.

Journal Live

• Businesses urged to pave way for electric cars in North EastBUSINESSES have been urged to help pave the way for the introduction of electric vehicles across the North East.

Liverpool Post

• Vauxhall boss urges staff at Ellesmere Port to make company a winner againTHE European president of Vauxhall parent company General Motors (GM) has told staff they can help the company become a

Nottingham Evening Post

• Beeston's big boost in new rail timetable RAIL passengers in Beeston could be the biggest winners in a proposed timetable shake-up in May.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Cairngorms bus service grinds to halt A bus service connecting communities throughout the Cairngorms National Park is to be cancelled because of poor passenger numbers and high costs.
• Complaints force rethink over hospital bus routeTransport giant First has bowed to public pressure over controversial Aberdeen bus route changes and agreed to offer a new service to the city™s main hospital.
• Hunt begins for £35m owed to failed Scots airlineThe hunt is on for £35million said to be owed to failed Scottish airline Flyglobespan after credit card processing group E-Clear went into administration yesterday.

Wales Online

• New direct bus services hailed as improvementNEW direct bus services from Penarth to Culverhouse Cross, and an improved hourly frequency service to Cardiff Bay, have been welcomed.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• More drivers going for 4x4s after snowThe wintry weather has led to a surge in the number of drivers wanting off-road 4x4 vehicles, it was revealed today.

Bucks Free Press

• We won't borrow to fix roads, council boss says A COUNCIL boss today refused to borrow cash to fix Buckinghamshire™s ailing road network.

Chester Standard

• Dangerous potholes cause alarm in ChesterDANGEROUS potholes have pitted a busy road in Chester causing alarm among local residents.

Other Regional Press

• Highways improvements for KirkleesCOUNCILLORS were updated at the Cabinet meeting on changes to this year’s road budget.
• Extra cash for increased Kirklees pothole squadsCOUNCILLORS have come up with extra cash to tackle the massive number of potholes on Huddersfield roads.
• New plan to shape transport across WarwickshireA NEW plan is being drawn up to shape transport across Warwickshire over the next 15 years.

Campaign for Better Transport

• How to improve your bus network20 January: If you've ever thought that buses in your area could be better, now is the time to make it happen. read more

Other News Sources

• East Coast rail services a victim of the weather EAST Coast rail was hardest hit by the recent severe cold weather of all of the region's train operators with about a third of its services failing to run on time, new figures show.
• East Coast rail services a victim of the weather EAST Coast rail was hardest hit by the recent severe cold weather of all of the region's train operators with about a third of its services failing to run on time, new figures show.
• Rail punctuality tumbles THE freezing weather over Christmas and the New year sent train punctuality tumbling, official figures revealed today.
• Most National Express East Anglia (NXEA) Trains Ran On Time Despite The Severe Weather NEARLY eight out of 10 National Express East Anglia (NXEA) trains ran to time, despite the severe weather over the past month.
• Repairs to potholes could cost millionsSUFFOLK's transport chief has promised potholes in the county's roads will be repaired this winter - even though experts have warned the work could cost millions.
• Environmental consultant acquires green car websiteEnvironmental consultancy RSK Group has acquired the Crewe-based website Green-Car-Guide.Com for an undisclosed sum.