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

Wednesday, 10 March 2010

BBC News

• Mayor threatens Tube legal action over £4.4bn ruling Mayor of London Boris Johnson is considering legal action after it was ruled Underground maintenance firm Tube Lines' costs should be £4.46bn.
• Lifeline ferry fares set to rise Fares on Scotland's lifeline ferry services are set to increase, while cost-cutting plans on other sailings have been outlined by ministers.
• Concern over plans for Swindon Stagecoach bus depot People living near a bus depot in Swindon have asked for a meeting to discuss proposed changes at the site they say will disturb them at night.
• Drivers 'should have mandatory level crossing tests' The driving test should have compulsory questions on level crossings to cut the number of drivers who take risks on them each year, Network Rail has said.
• Fleetwood's tram festival cancelled A Lancashire tram festival has been cancelled due to a lack of funds.
• Crisis talks over trams projectTalks are to be held over Edinburgh's tram project in a bid to end a stalemate which has halted work on the route.
• Aer Lingus fares and profits fallA day after Irish airline Aer Lingus delayed its full annual results, a trading update shows a fall in profits and fares.
• Mayor city cycle plan published The Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) publish plans to improve cycling in London and launch safety advertisement.
• Avalanche railway line reopenedAvalanche debris that shut the West Highland Line has been cleared and the track reopened for services, Network Rail says.
• Eurotunnel makes profit in 2009Eurotunnel, which manages the Channel Tunnel, makes an annual profit of 1.4m euros despite a

Department for Transport

• New proposals to improve bus travel and tackle anti social behaviourBus travel in England will be safer, more efficient and easier to use under new Government proposals.

Financial Times

• Blow for TFL over bid to reduce tube finance The London mayor’s transport organisation on Wednesday failed in its efforts to reduce the costs of the London Underground public-private partnership after the contract’s arbiter increased the amount the contractor involved can spend.
• HHLA considers cutting capacityWith container volumes down by as much as 33% last year, the Hamburg shipping operator hopes to temporarily close Tollerort, its smallest terminal, in response to falling demand
• Aer Lingus to cut 230 cabin crewThe Irish state carrier says the group will continue with the implementation of its €97m restructuring plan for the four other union groups, all of which agreed to the airline's proposal
• Eurotunnel eyes high-speed operationThe company that operates the Channel Tunnel is working on plans to introduce high-speed freight trains through the sub-sea tunnel, as it pursues a series of initiatives to boost railfreight and passenger traffic

The Guardian

• A65 bus initiative gets green light But Kirkstall councillor is knocked back in bid to have scheme investigated
• Combined threat of British Airways and Network Rail strikes could disrupt travel plans for millions British Airways cabin crew warn walkout is looming, with Easter weekend the likely target for rail workers

The Herald

• Forth strong as offer expected Forth Ports, the Scottish ports-to-property takeover target, yesterday held its ground on the stock exchange after its meteoric, near-26% rise the day before on the back of City anticipation that rival Peel Group and its consortium partners will up its offer.

The Independent

• Biggest railway strike since 1990s loomsThe threat of a national rail strike at Easter came closer yesterday as Network Rail revealed it had drawn up contingency plans to deal with a walk-out by thousands of workers.

The Telegraph

• BAA keeps roof on with mortgages To let: Chocolate box four bed in Essex. Well situated for local airport. Particularly suit hard of hearing.
• Alcohol could be banned on buses Alcohol could be banned on buses in a bid to crack down on anti-social behaviour on public transport, the Government has signalled.

Times Online

• Unite union tables last-minute deal to avert crippling BA cabin crew strikeBritish Airways is today to respond to a last-minute offer by the Unite union that could prevent a cabin crew strike, according to sources close to the talks .
• ˜Gribble™ marine pest may be key to biofuel breakthrough, say scientistsA marine pest could be the key to a biofuel breakthrough, say scientists. Gribble, which resemble pink woodlice, plagued seafarers for centuries by boring through the planks of ships and destroying wooden piers.
• Korea unveils the ’future of transport’ — the Online Electric Vehicle Its inventors believe that this is the future of urban transport — but it was hard not to be underwhelmed as the test vehicle trundled around a circuit on the edge of the South Korean capital.
• Aer Lingus losses balloon as fares nosediveAer Lingus, Ireland™s former flag-carrier airline, warned this morning that operating losses had quadrupled during 2009.
• Eurotunnel profits wiped out by tunnel fireEurotunnel profits over the last 12 months were almost wiped out by the impact of the fire that occurred in September 2008 according to new figures released today.
• Deutsche Bahn may run London to Frankfurt serviceDeutsche Bahn could start high-speed train services from London to Frankfurt by December 2012, Eurotunnel has announced.

Reuters News

• Regulator rules Tube Lines can charge more Rail contractor Tube Lines can charge 4.46 billion pounds for its services over the next 7-1/2 years, the statutory Arbiter for the London Underground Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Agreements ruled.
• Govt to set out high-speed rail network plan The government will this week set out proposals to develop a high-speed rail network to bring the country into line with other European nations including France and Spain.

Daily Express

• Eurotunnel sees lightPROFITS at Eurotunnel slumped after chaos caused by a fire, the recession and the cold snap but the Channel Tunnel operator said it was on track to benefit from an economic upturn.
• Aer Lingus nosedives £74m into the redLOSSES at Aer Lingus quadrupled in 2009 as the Irish carrier struggled with the airline industry's worst-ever year, although it did better than the City expected.

Mail Online

• Labour's latest public menace: Mothers with baby buggies on the bus

Network Rail

• MARSH SPECIES TO BENEFIT FROM RAIL CONSERVATION SCHEME

Journal Live

• Lorries banned from overtaking on busy stretches of A1 LORRIES are to be permanently banned from overtaking during the daytime on two stretches of a busy North East motorway.

Liverpool Post

• Scrappage scheme leads to greener cars NEW cars got greener last year thanks to the Government’s “cash for bangers” vehicle scrappage scheme, it is revealed today.
• Government pledge to win Ampera electric car for Ellesmere Port plant BUSINESS Minister Ian Lucas has pledged the Government will do all in its power to secure production of Vauxhall’s electric vehicle for the Ellesmere Port car plant.
• Manchester tram cash gives Liverpool's Merseytram boost A HUGE cash injection for Manchester’s tram network should be seized upon to lever funding for the Liverpool region's own light rail ambitions, Mersey politicians said last night.

London Evening Standard

• Cyclists could be allowed to pass through red lights in bid to cut road deathsCyclists in London could soon be allowed to go through red traffic lights under plans by Boris Johnson to improve safety on the roads
• BA strike deal 'touch and go'Hopes of a deal to avert a strike by thousands of British Airways cabin crew are hanging in the balance after a deadline to reach an agreement was extended.

Northern Echo

• Truckers will be banned from overtaking on A1(M) in County Durham LORRIES are to be permanently banned from overtaking during the daytime on two stretches of a busy motorway.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Plans to close station footbridge RAIL passengers are set to be stopped from using a footbridge over the tracks as part of preparations for a £67m revamp of Nottingham station.
• High speed rail link for East Midlands THE Transport Secretary will tomorrow approve a new high-speed rail network running through the East Midlands.

Sheffield Star

• Congestion charge scheme 'quietly dropped'MINISTERS have abandoned their bid to tempt South Yorkshire's councils into adopting road pricing as they axe a huge £2 billion fund for public transport projects.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds: '40 years' before city gets high speed railLeeds will be included in plans for a high speed rail network “ but it could be decades before the 200mph trains arrive.

Other Regional Press

• Go-ahead for A65 bus schemeScheme will result in improved reliability and quicker journey times.
• Eurotunnel's profits plummetA tunnel fire and the severe winter weather have hit Eurotunnel's profits.
• Success of Boxing Day buses TRANSPORT chiefs have hailed a scheme to bring back buses on Boxing Day as a success.
• Boost to Brighouse bus station on its way BUS passengers are getting more seats at a town’s bus station.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Say no to ticket office cuts9 March: South West Trains is planning to cut ticket office opening hours at 24 stations across London and the South East. Help us stop them. read more

Aviation Industry

• London Gatwick Airport February 2010 traffic performance summaryStrong year on year growth in passenger numbers at London Gatwick Airport...
• Continental CEO will cancel flights before finesContinental Airlines plans to cancel flights rather than risk stiff fines under new federal rules designed to punish carriers for delaying passengers.
• Aer Lingus announces multi-million euro losses for 2009Aer Lingus has announced an operating loss of €81m last year, while ticket prices fell 16.8% compared to 2009. read more

Other News Sources

• High speed trains row THE LOSS of fast-train services at Nuneaton station is being blamed on the government’s Department for Transport. Conservative candidate Marcus Jones, who hopes to win the Nuneaton seat in the forthcoming General Election, says the department forced Virgin Trains to stop making calls to the local station.
• Local Government lobbies government on high speed rail Local Authority Leaders in Yorkshire and Humber have set out the case for high speed rail to serve Yorkshire and Humber in a letter to the Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis.
• LM: London Midland and the illegal Penalty Fares. The DfT responds.We recently reported that London Midland was issuing Penalty Fares against the Penalty Fare rules, thus making them illegal.
• Runway inquiry could be hit by two-year delay A PUBLIC inquiry into a new runway at Stansted Airport could be delayed by up to two years. The inquiry was due to start last April, but has been postponed until after the general election
• Plans for two new stations in Coventry prepared A business case aimed at improving rail services between Nuneaton and Coventry is being prepared for the Department for Transport (DfT).
• Extra train carriages for East Lancashire EXTRA carriages are to be added to trains between East Lancashire and Manchester in a major boost for rail commuters.
• Alcohol may be banned on all busesPlans to ban the consumption of alcohol on all bus services are announced by the transport minister Sadiq Khan
• School transport boost for Norfolk pupilsTeenagers living in the most isolated parts of Norfolk have been given an education boost after the government handed more cash to the county to help them travel to study the new 14-19 diplomas.
• Airport expansion faces more delayFURIOUS campaigners opposing the expansion of Stansted Airport have called on operators BAA to withdraw controversial plans for a second runway.