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

Tuesday, 16 February 2010

BBC News

• £6m of works announced for road A package of works totalling £6m has been announced by the Scottish government for sections of the A9 in Perthshire and the Highlands.
• York congestion charge considered Road charges could be introduced to tackle congestion on the medieval streets of York under measures being considered to tackle congestion.
• Crash affects Eurostar servicesEurostar services between the UK and Brussels are suspended for a second day following a crash between two Belgian commuter trains.
• Body scanners 'may be unlawful'The use of airport body scanners may break discrimination law as well as breach privacy rights, the equality watchdog says.
• Cameras for dangerous roadA section of road, dubbed the most dangerous in Britain, is to be monitored with average speed cameras.
• 'Expenses row' SPT chief resignsThe chairman of Scotland's largest transport authority, SPT, resigns following questions over expenses.
• BA in deal for jet biofuel plantBritish Airways strikes a deal to build in the UK the first plant in Europe to produce jet fuel from waste matter.
• Bus firm wins 2012 Olympics orderAberdeen-based FirstGroup wins a major contract to run bus services for spectators at the London 2012 Olympics.

Department for Transport

• Keith Conradi selected as next Chief Inspector of Air AccidentsTransport Secretary, Andrew Adonis, has approved the selection of Keith Conradi to be the next Chief Inspector of Air Accidents, the head of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).  He will take up the post later this year, when the current Chief Inspector, David King, retires after more than thirty years with the AAIB, the last five years as Chief Inspector.

Financial Times

• A system already out of favourThe Edinburgh tram project, which will link the airport west of the city to Leith on its eastern waterfront, is the only new tram system under construction in the UK...
• Defence fills the aviation procurement gap With the civilian industry mired in gloom, it is the defence contractors who put the sparkle into Asia's largest show in Singapore this month as they chased up to $100bn in procurement contracts from India
• At least 18 dead in Belgium train crashA train crash outside Brussels has left at least 18 people dead, officials have confirmed, and led to the suspension of rail services into and out of the Belgian capital, including Eurostar trains from London
• Household waste to fuel BA's ambitionsThe UK flag carrier is teaming up with Solena to build what it said would be Europe's first sustainable jet fuel plant
• United remains keen on consolidationThe head of the Chicago-based airline has hinted at the benefits of renewing merger talks, saying the market had judged in favour of the Delta-Northwest deal

The Guardian

• Manchester reconsiders its stance on bikes on trams Pro-biking campaign groups iron out the differences between themselves and Manchester's transport authority over the thorny issue of travelling with bikes
• BA yet to gain official approval for biojet fuel from food scraps East London factory could create up to 1,200 jobs and produce 16m gallons of green fuel a year

The Herald

• Inquiry demanded into travel expenses of senior SPT chiefs An investigation into what has been going on at Scotland’s biggest public transport organisation has been demanded by the SNP. Graeme Hendry, a Nationalist councillor in Glasgow, says there are “real questions” to be answered about the management of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.
• Ticket office staff call off strikeA series of planned strikes by booking office staff at some of the country™s busiest railway stations was suspended today to allow peace talks to go ahead.
• New row over airport scannersThe use of body scanners at UK airports may be unlawful, it was claimed yesterday.
• Scottish transport firm wins contract for London OlympicsFirstgroup, the Scottish bus and rail giant, yesterday revealed that it had won the contract to transport spectators around the 2012 London Olympic Games, after beating 78 competitors, including Scottish arch-rival Stagecoach, to clinch the deal.
• Airlines™ tie-up is approved in the USShares in British Airways took off in London trading yesterday after the UK flag carrier won US antitrust approval for an alliance with American Airlines that will lift earnings from the world™s most lucrative travel market.

The Scotsman

• Airport scanners may be unlawfulThe use of body scanners at UK airports may be unlawful, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has warned.

Times Online

• FirstGroup wins 2012 Olympic transport contract FirstGroup will transport spectators to the London 2012 games, which has been dubbed the public transport games by organisers.
• Union leaders hold firm in booking office dispute Millions of passengers on Virgin Trains could face further disruption in the spring as union leaders refuse to back down in a dispute over new booking office working arrangements.

Reuters News

• British Airway's biofuel awaiting approval - reportLONDON (Reuters) - The biofuel made from municipal waste that will account for a small proportion of British Airway's jet fuel from 2014, has yet to pass regulatory approval in Britain, according to the Guardian.
• Airport scanners may violate laws - rights groupLONDON (Reuters) - The use of full-body scanners at British airports may breach human rights laws, the country's equality commission said on Tuesday, potentially undermining the latest weapon against terrorism.

Daily Express

• BA fortunes fly now US backs tie-up SHARES in British Airways took off nearly 3 per cent yesterday as the City welcomed provisional clearance of a tie-up with American Airlines to boost earnings from the lucrative transatlantic market.

Mail Online

• British Airways and American Airlines deal 'will lead to lower fares'

ATOC

• TRAIN COMPANIES WELCOME INFLUENTIAL COMMONS REPORT ON RAIL INVESTMENTATOC Chief Executive Michael Roberts welcomes an influential report from the Transport Select Committee on priorities for rail investment.œAll parties are facing tough choices on transport budgets. But it is vital Britain continues to invest in a better railway, and we welcome the support for this given by MPs from both sides of the Commons, said Mr Roberts.

Birmingham Post

• West Midlands transport needs ignored in favour of London, claims inquiry A high-powered inquiry has slammed the Government for pouring money into London’s transport network and ignoring the needs of the West Midlands and North of England.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Tram and train interchange cost doubles to £40 millionTHE final bill for a transport interchange at Gogar which would link Edinburgh-Fife trains with the Capital's tram project has doubled to £40 million, it was reported toda

Liverpool Post

• Mersey ferries contribute £34million to the tourism tradeTHE famed Mersey ferries contribute more than £34m a year to the region’s tourism trade, a report has revealed.

Manchester Evening News

• Bikes on trams review is welcomed by campaigners Cyclists have welcomed a move by transport bosses to set up a review into whether bikes can be taken onto Metrolink trams.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Rail electrification should be 'top priority' say MPs A GROUP of MPs have said the electrification of rail lines running between Nottingham and London should be a top transport spending priority.
• Rural watchdog calls for biomethane fuel switch A RURAL watchdog in the East Midlands claims more efforts are needed to switch more vehicles on to biomethane fuel to cut road pollution.

Sheffield Star

• TOP PRIORITY: Electrify Sheffield to London rail link, say MPsMINISTER should make the upgrade of the Sheffield to London rail link a "top priority", an influential committee of MPs said today.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Transport chairman resigns after expenses complaintTHE chairman of Scotland™s largest transport partnership has resigned, it has been confirmed.

The York Press

• Free bus passes spark cash row at York councilA staff perk that allows council employees free travel on First buses should be scrapped, opposition councillors say.

Yorkshire Post

• Congestion charge considered as gridlock threatens historic city TRANSPORT experts behind London's congestion charge are being consulted about enforcing controversial road tolls in York that could cost as much as £244m to introduce.

Other Regional Press

• Putting a (bus) stop to vandal attacks ONE of the city™s most targeted bus shelters has been made ˜vandal resistant™ with technology being trialed for the first time in the city.
• Tram plan mooted for Oxford A MODERN tram system linking places like Witney, Abingdon and Kidlington to Oxford could help cut carbon emissions, the city council says.
• First TransPennine Express wins environmental awardTRAIN drivers on a busy route through Huddersfield have won an award for staying on track with the environment.
• Expenses row transport chief quitsThe boss of one of Scotland™s biggest transport organisations is to quit after being caught up in an expenses row.

Aviation Industry

• Sir Richard Branson 'furious' as British Airways and American Airlines win right to team upCheaper fares on transatlantic flights were promised after British Airways won the right to form a partnership with American Airlines.
• Cityjet swaps business class for premium economyShort-haul carrier Cityjet has launched premium economy cabin called CityPlus, scrapping its business class offering and increasing the number of seats sold per row. read more

Other News Sources

• Station link work starts WORK started today on a £70,000 project to provide a direct pedestrian and cycle link into Great Yarmouth Railway Station.
• Summit over railway station parking problems ​Frustrated residents will hold a summit with council officers in Cheltenham tomorrow to try to sort out parking problems in their streets.
• Merseytravel invests £90k into Waterloo station upgradeTransport authority Merseytravel has invested £90,000 into the refurbishment of Waterloo train station in Liverpool.
• Watford Rail Users' Group to hold public meeting at Town HallMembers of the Watford Rail Users’ group will have a chance to air their grievances at a public meeting next month.
• LM: London Midland and the illegal Penalty FaresLondon Midland, the train company which runs services out of London Euston to the West Midlands area, has been illegally issuing Penalty Fares on it’s network.
• Contactless smart card system 'to be rolled out in the midlands'A contactless smart card system, which will allow public transport users to pay for their travel using swipe and go technology, is set to be rolled out in the midlands over the next three to four months, it has been reported.
• Pupils promote rail safety at London Midland’s Kidderminster stationLondon Midland has been working with pupils from schools in Wyre Forest to promote safe behaviour on the railways. Wyre Forest District Council and London Midland challenged young artists from secondary schools to create images around rail safety
• ORR approves East Coast Main Line access applicationsThe Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has approved track access applications from East Coast, Grand Central and Hull Trains. This will allow the train operators to run additional and/or amended passenger services along the East Coast Main Line.
• Missed opportunity to give rail access to the Durham Heritage Coast CAMPAIGNERS are calling for the hidden treasures of a coastline which has undergone a multi-million-pound makeover to be opened up to tourists by railway.
• Plan for trams in Glasgow is backed Campiagners for better public transport have backed recommendations to bring trams back to Glasgow.
• No change in child bus fare Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) has agreed its budget for the next financial year, and the cost of concessionary travel for children will stay at 80p.
• No change in child bus fare Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) has agreed its budget for the next financial year, and the cost of concessionary travel for children will stay at 80p.
• Low-carbon cars for MidlandsBusiness secretary Lord Mandelson has announced the creation of a ˜Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA) for Advanced Automotive Engineering in the Midlands™.
• Testing biofuels™ effect on enginesRicardo today announced the formation of a consortium that aims to evaluate the impact of biofuels on current and future light-duty engine technologies.
• Safer helmets for motorcyclistsA next-generation motorcycle helmet has been launched that is claimed to reduce rotational head injury impact by 50 per cent and the subsequent possibility of brain damage by 67.5 per cent.
• Bendy buses heading to Brighton Bendy buses are coming to Brighton thanks to London Mayor Boris Johnson.
• Transport bid could save millionsTHE planned Low Emissions Zone could save taxpayers millions, transport experts claim.
• Crisis, what crisis? By Christian WolmarCHRISTIAN WOLMAR | While most services face a funding standstill, rail investment chugs off in the opposite direction, and even a change in government is unlikely to derail it
• MPs issue stark warning against transport cutsInvestment in transport infrastructure must focus on the long-term needs of society and the economy and not the immediate demand for public spending cuts, MPs said today.
• MPs set out priorities for railway investmentTransport Committee says wider network electrification and capacity problems should be addressed
• Tunnel dig set to bring road chaos for two yearsPreston is braced for two years of traffic chaos as roadworks to dig a major pipeline begin.
• At least 18 die in Belgian train crash Passengers have spent hours trapped inside wrecked carriages, after two commuter trains collided head-on in Belgium.Related StoriesFather in court charged with attempted murderRiver crash girl diesBritish troops try to win Afghan hearts and mindsCars collide in two separate pile-ups in KansasIreland hooker cited for 'kick' in Paris
• Airport body scanners 'may be unlawful' Body scanners used in two airports in Britain might be breaking the law, according to the Equality and Human Rights Commission.Related StoriesBomb kills tourists in IndiaFive men jailed for Australian terror attack plansBA signs UK biofuel plant deal
• Boat operators back canal proposalsCommercial boat operators welcome Leeds City Council™s proposals to safeguard canal wharves for freight and waterside land for industrial use
• Digital spring clean for city streetsA new website allows citizens in London to report environmental problems directly to their council
• MPs condemn failure to invest in local railToo little is being done to connect growing communities by rail, say MPs who want ministers to back more local lines
• BA announces Europe's first bio-jet fuel plant British Airways is to build Europe's first plant capable of turning waste into jet fuel.
• Anger over one-way proposalBUSINESS leaders and residents have labelled a new one-way road proposal in a west Suffolk town as a waste of tax-payers money on a œpointless scheme.
• BAA asked to clarify airport plansTHE Government Minister responsible for dealing with proposals for a second runway at Stansted Airport has asked its operator to clarify whether it still wants to continue with its expansion plans.

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