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

Monday, 15 March 2010

BBC News

• Two visions to attract fast line trains to Nottingham Officials in Nottinghamshire have differed over how they propose to bring a high speed rail link to the area.
• Views wanted on Reading railway station plans A public meeting is to be held over a multi-million pound plan to transform Reading railway station.
• Record fall in UK air passengersUK airports have suffered their biggest decline in passenger numbers since records began at the end of WWII.
• Road speed limit review plannedA review of speed limits on A and B roads in the Highlands is planned to help meet government safety targets.
• BA strike is unjustified - AdonisTransport Secretary Lord Adonis attacks the planned strike by British Airways cabin crew staff, calling it
• Road travel 'needs big overhaul'There needs to be a "radical overhaul" of road travel in the UK to avoid future gridlock, the CBI business organisation has warned.
• BA strike flights to be revealedBritish Airways will announce which flights will be cancelled because of a strike planned for next weekend.

Financial Times

• Adonis urges union to call off BA strikePlanned strikes by British Airways cabin crew threaten the future of the airline and must be called off, Lord Adonis, transport secretary, said in the government's strongest condemnation of the walkout so far
• Shipping line seeks outside investorsThe world's third-largest container shipping line is seeking capital from outside investors to tackle a liquidity crisis

The Guardian

• Brown wades into British Airways strikePM calls Unite chief to discuss deal to halt three-day British Airways strike, following attacks by the Tories over union linksGordon Brown has intervened personally in the British Airways industrial dispute in an attempt to avert a walkout by 12,000 cabin crew next weekend.The prime minister called the joint general secretary of the Unite trade union, Tony Woodley, to discuss potential solutions to the looming three-day walkout, according to sources close to the dispute. Brown's private communications this weekend are believed to have taken a less aggressive tone to the one used todayby the t...

The Herald

• Garl just does not stack up, minister says Building a railway to connect Glasgow Airport to the city would have provided minimal benefit to Scotland’s economy and had virtually no impact on cutting traffic or greenhouse gas emissions, Scotland’s Transport Minister has claimed.
• Reduction of drink drive limit is set for approval Plans to cut the drink-driving limit to one pint of beer or a glass of wine are likely to be approved by the Government.
• High-speed train plan is not on right track for rail chiefs Serious doubts have emerged over the Government’s high-speed rail proposals, with Network Rail among those questioning the
• Speed is not of the essence when it comes to rail travel rather like trains, which is just as well, since I’ve spent an undue proportion of my life on them. When I worked in London, that was about three hours a day. I seldom minded, except of course when there were delays or cancellations – which actually wasn’t all that often. Quite a lot of commuters, I think, particularly those who can get a seat, quite like the hour or so at each end of the day to themselves: it offers a bit of time to work or read, or tackle the crossword or simply stare out of the window. This week, I have to travel between Glasgow and London. Naturally, I shall fly.

The Scotsman

• Tram chiefs 'are deceiving the public' over completion date OFFICIALS in charge of Edinburgh's trams scheme have been accused of deceiving the public after it emerged they were warned months ago that the project was running more than two years behind schedule.
• Runaway transport threatens targets on emissions GREENHOUSE gas emissions from road traffic, air travel, ships and railways have risen to account for more than a quarter of Scotland's total. Transport now accounts for 26 per cent of the country's emissions and climate change gases from this sector are predicted to rise by an average of 0.4 per cent a year until 2022.

The Telegraph

• Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers maps out her vision for Britain's roads, trains and planes All politicians are suckers for statistics. Theresa Villiers, the shadow transport secretary, is no exception. But she has got a neat one here. "Do you know," she interjects with a grin. "That under Labour there have been more transport ministers than miles of new motorway."
• British Airways strike: minister takes on union that bankrolls Labour Lord Adonis has become the first Cabinet Minister to speak out against the trade union behind the British Airways strike, accusing them of "threatening the future" of the airline.

Times Online

• Adonis strategy on drink-driving is the absolute limit The basic deal in Britain between rulers and ruled is that we’ll obey the laws as long as they don’t make any obviously stupid ones. Lord Adonis is about to break the second part of that agreement.
• Little Chef to plug the gap for electric cars Little Chef is bringing power to the motorist. The roadside chain, known for its Olympic breakfasts, will begin testing high-speed electric charging points at 10 branches within weeks, allowing cars such as the Tesla Roadster and Mini E to charge their batteries in as little as an hour. If successful, the trial could lead to a roll-out across all 173 branches.
• Transport Secretary: cabin crew strike could sink BAThe future of British Airways is at risk if threatened strikes by cabin crew go ahead, the Transport Secretary warned yesterday.
• Gatwick staff told to reapply for jobsThe new owner of Gatwick has told 120 staff that they could lose their jobs as the airport looks to continue its shake-up of executives and distance itself from the management practices of the previous owner BAA.

Birmingham Post

• High speed rail link would reinvigorate Birmingham's Eastside Tom Scotney looks at how a new high speed rail terminal could be the kick-start Eastside has been crying out for.

Liverpool Echo

• Three Wirral railway stations modernisedALMOST £500,000 is being spent modernising three railway stations. A new shop and ticket office have already opened at Hooton station, where a new shelter on the Liverpool-bound platform will be fitted in the next few week

Manchester Evening News

• Guarantees wanted on high-speed rail plans Transport chiefs have urged the government to implement plans to bring high-speed rail to Manchester.

Other Regional Press

• Car share club is speeding ahead A CAR-SHARE club which aims to cut the number of vehicles on Oxford™s streets is set to expand.

Other News Sources

• Local trains hit by underfunding A RAIL watchdog has condemned the lack of investment by the Department of Transport in Swindon and the south west trains.
• RIA welcomes industry involvement in high speed plansWelcoming the Government’s announcement on High Speed Rail, Jeremy Candfield, Director General of the Railway Industry Association, said:
• Preston station receives £1m makeoverWork is progressing well on two Network Rail schemes at Preston station worth over £1m that will make the station much more pleasant for passengers using the lifts and subways.
• Railway Station link road approved A ROAD allowing a transport interchange to be established at Morpeth Railway Station has been backed by county councillors.
• Beijing-Shanghai fast rail to open ahead of scheduleBEIJING, March 15 (AFP) - A high-speed railway that will cut the travel time between Beijing and Shanghai to four hours will open a year ahead of schedule in 2011, state media said Monday.

News from Europe

• DB Bahn and the German National Tourist Office launch online campaignGerman national rail company, DB Bahn will launch a digital campaign this week to help promote European train travel to young UK holidaymakers. The campaign which includes a microsite and promotional activity, has been created and developed by leading digital marketing agency, 3Sixty and takes a live music theme.