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

Saturday, 20 March 2010

BBC News

• Railway security alert continuingA number of security alerts which earlier caused widespread traffic disruption in Belfast have all ended and been declared hoaxes.
• BA strike hits Scottish flightsFlights to three Scottish airports are hit by cabin crew strike action at British Airways after talks break down.
• RMT signal staff vote for strikesRailway signal workers have voted in favour of strikes in a row over jobs and safety, the RMT union has said.
• BA cabin crew begin strike actionBritish Airways cabin crew begin strike action which will cause severe disruption to flights for the next three days.

Financial Times

• BA stays in the air as cabin crew strikeThousands of British Airways passengers found themselves on Saturday boarding unfamiliar aircraft from carriers including no-frills Ryanair and Air Finland as British Airways mounts a huge operation to cope with its first strike in 13 years
• Southend Airport cleared to extend runwayExtension will create more than 1,000 jobs, creating an alternative to Stansted and City airports in time to carry passengers to the 2012 Olympics
• BA crew in fighting mood before strikeAn estimated 1,000 Unite union members gather at Sandown Park conference centre to vent their anger at British Airways, the media and Labour ahead of the planned strike by cabin crew
• Tung gloomiest yet on shippingThe chairman of Orient Overseas International warns that there will be continued excess supply of ships worldwide that would need to be absorbed over the next three to four years

The Guardian

• BA 'declares war' on union after talks failBritish Airways tonight threatened to suspend co-operation with Britain's largest trade union after last-ditch talks failed to prevent a three-day strike by cabin crew starting tod

The Herald

• Renfrew Ferry service saved as new operator takes helmThe historic Renfrew-Yoker ferry service across the Clyde is to continue with a state-of-the-art vessel run by a new operator.
• Lighthouse™s future secured by council architecture centre planOne of Charles Rennie Mackintosh™s most important buildings, the Lighthouse in Glasgow, will be saved as a centre for architecture and design, it was confirmed yesterday.

The Independent

• Talks bid to avert Easter rail strike Talks aimed at averting strikes by railway signal workers are to be held next week, raising hopes that action can be averted, it was announced tonight.
• Battle of BA begins as last-ditch talks collapse Thirteen months of ill-tempered negotiations ended yesterday afternoon when talks broke down between British Airways and the cabin crew union, Unite. During the next three days, many of BA's cabin crew will strike in a bitter dispute over cost-cutting and working practices. They risk the permanent loss of travel perks, while the airline has vowed to fly two out of three passengers booked to travel. The battle of British Airways has begun.

The Telegraph

• Daredevil biker caught on camera pulling a wheelie at 70mph A daredevil biker, James Stoddard, has been pictured pulling a wheelie at 70 mph on a busy main road not realising an unmarked police motorcycle was recording his every move.

Times Online

• State aid to help carmakers to go green Lord Mandelson will today announce hundreds of millions of pounds in taxpayer-funded loans, guarantees and grants to help Ford and Nissan to develop new low-carbon vehicles.
• Strikes will plague the run-up to the general electionTens of thousands of British Airways passengers whose travel plans this weekend have been thwarted are only the first victims of industrial unrest threatening to disrupt air, rail and road travel this Easter.
• I wish I didn't have to strike, says British Airways stewardessAfter 12½ years as a BA stewardess, Kate is ready to join the stoppage and stand shoulder to shoulder with colleagues at one of several protest areas around Heathrow.
• Travel strikes chaos will put more pressure on the roads, drivers warnedThe strike by British Airways cabin crews will hit thousands of flights, but the number of disappointed passengers may be small compared with the millions of train users who risk being caught up in the first national railways strike for 16 years.
• Strikes will plague the run-up to the general electionTens of thousands of British Airways passengers whose travel plans this weekend have been thwarted are only the first victims of industrial unrest threatening to disrupt air, rail and road travel this Easter.

Reuters News

• Rail workers vote to strike as unrest growsLONDON (Reuters) - Rail signal workers have voted to strike in a row over jobs and changes to working practices, their union said on Friday, raising the threat of a first national rail strike in 16 years.
• British Airways battles cabin crew strikeLONDON (Reuters) - British Airways said it would fly more than 60 percent of passengers with flights booked for this weekend despite a three-day cabin crew strike that risks hurting the Labour government weeks before an election.

The Mirror

• Willie Walsh has made the public face of BA a very sad one indeed British Airways cabin crew begin their three-day strike today.

Birmingham Mail

• Police warning after vandals put concrete blocks on Tamworth railway line Police have condemned vandals after a train travelling at 90mph hit a pile of concrete blocks which had been left on a Tamworth railway line.

Bolton News

• Speed limit review for danger road SAFETY campaigners have called for a change in the law after a youngster was left with permanent learning difficulties in a car smash.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• We'll keep Airbus A400M jobs in North Wales says Ian Lucas A GOVERNMENT minister has pledged to keep a crucial contract to build military aircraft parts in North Wales and stop jobs going to Spain.

Journal Live

• Another junction in history of bus journeys Nexus has launched a consultation on the biggest overhaul of buses in Tyne & Wear since deregulation in the 1980s. AMY HUNT finds out about the situation then and now

London Evening Standard

• PM accused over 'vested interests'David Cameron is set to accuse Gordon Brown of caving in to

Metro

• Rail strike talks plannedTalks aimed at averting strikes by railway signal workers are to be held next week, raising hopes that action can be averted.
• Travel chaos as BA staff walk outThree days of air travel misery have begun after British Airways cabin crew walked out in a dispute over cost-cutting.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Ferries cancelled as high winds batter the northHigh winds battered the north and north-east yesterday, gusting up to 113mph on the summit of Cairn Gorm and tossing caravans into the air on each side of the country.
• Pressure mounts on Treasury to rethink fuel duty break for northLiberal Democrats and the SNP yesterday both ramped up the pressure on the Treasury to give the north a fairer deal on fuel prices, while fearing the worst from next week™s pre-election Budget.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Would-be Leeds rail thief jailed for five monthsA man from Leeds has been jailed for five months after being arrested for trying to steal copper cabling from the railway.

Blackpool Gazette

• Driver jailed after 100mph car chaseA COUPLE out walking in St Annes were lucky not to be killed when a banned driver just missed them as he careered into a wall at the end of a car chase.

Bucks Free Press

• Commons to hear Bucks' plight over train plan THE affect on Buckinghamshire of a planned high speed rail route will be discussed in the House of Commons next week.

Sunderland Echo

• Nissan workers' excellence swung Leaf dealNissan workers' track record of excellence brought the new generation of electric cars to Sunderland.

Other Regional Press

• Chiltern Railways' parent makes bid for rival German state railway firm Deutsche Bahn, the parent company of Chiltern Railways that serves Bicester and Banbury, has made a bid of about £1.2bn for rival bus and trains firm Arriva.

C.N.N.

• BA strike: Advice for passengersNow that a planned cabin crew strike against British Airways is under way for the March 20-22 period and expected again for March 27-30, the airline has confirmed

Washington Post

• Thousands of BA flights canceled as crew on strike LONDON -- British Airways was scrambling to deal with a three-day strike launched by cabin crew Saturday, throwing the plans of tens of thousands of travelers into chaos and risking harm to the Labour government before a tough general election.
• The Navigator: Labor disputes at American Airlines and British Airways put travel plans at risk Amanda Scheerer's honeymoon plans included renting an apartment in Barcelona's historic La Barceloneta district, visiting the Salvador Dalí museum and touring several famous Spanish wineries.
• Strike begins as talks between BA, union collapse LONDON -- A three-day strike by British Airways cabin crew affecting thousands of travelers began Saturday after last-ditch talks between the airline's management and union leaders collapsed.

Transport for London

• London's electric vehicle revolution takes major step forwardTransport for London (TfL) establishes the UK's largest electric vehicle and charge point procurement frameworks worth over £70m to speed up delivery.

Aviation Industry

• BA talks resume as time runs outTalks to avert a damaging strike by British Airways cabin crew are resuming as time runs out on efforts to break a deadlocked row over cost-cutting. The airline's chief executive, Willie Walsh, and the Unite union's joint leader, Tony Woodley, spent Thursday locked in delicate discussions at the TUC headquarters in London.

Other News Sources

• PRESS4TRANSPORT Virtual Press Office launched PRESS4TRANSPORT assists EU funded projects and initiatives communicate their surface transport research results to the media.
• BA strike to go ahead as Unite talks collapseBritish Airways cabin crew are to begin a three-day strike tomorrow after last-minute talks between the airline and the Unite union broke down
• Britain faces national rail strike over EasterRail users face national chaos over the Easter weekend after signallers voted to walk out in a dispute over rosters.
• We need a new railway bridge in GloucesterThat is the plea from disabled protestors fed up with access problems at Gloucester railway station.
• Transport strikes threaten to cripple BritainBA strikes to go ahead. Rail workers vote for industrial action. Is Britain's transport network about to be crippled in the run-up to Easter?
• Thales awarded navy contractThales UK has secured a six-ship, seven-year support contract for the Royal Navy™s Daring-class destroyers™ fully integrated communications system.
• Electric vehicles under investigationAberdeen University™s Centre for Transport Research has been awarded funding by the UK Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) to explore who will buy and use battery-powered or hybrid vehicles.
• Coastguard battle to rescue cargo ship in storm off Cape WrathEmergency vessel from Shetland fighting to tow cargo ship from Barbados to safety in Orkney in 8m seas and storm force winds
• Maersk wants longer docking intervalsA. P. Møller-Mærsk is conducting full-scale tests in...
• Tories confirm backing for lorry road user charging The Conservatives have said they will introduce a lorry road user charging scheme for foreign and British trucks over 12 tonnes.
• Bus decision appeal heardPlans for a £20 million highspeed bus route in Hampshire have been challenged in the Court of Appeal amid fears over construction noise and damage to habitats.
• London boroughs tighten roadwork restrictionsMore London boroughs are joining the London Permit Scheme, which means utilities and organisations needing to carry out roadworks in the borough must first apply to local councils.
• Travel chaos as BA staff walk outThree days of air travel misery have begun after British Airways cabin crew walked out in a dispute over cost-cutting.
• Govt money needed to support low carbon technology, says new report More government intervention is needed to make the UK a global leader in low carbon technology, claims a joint report signed by the heads of the UK's engineering bodies.
• 'Peace talks' after RMT strike vote Signal workers have voted to go on strike, threatening disruption to rail travel over Easter.Related StoriesUS union backs BA workers over strikesRMT claims political backing ahead of crunch talksLast-ditch talks ahead of BA strikeThousands hit as BA strike goes aheadBA strikers to lose travel perks
• Chief executive leaves HDNLBrian Gaunt, Home Delivery Network (HDNL) chief executive, has left the courier company, shortly after it acquired DHL's UK domestic parcels arm.
• Kids to travel free on Heathrow Airport express serviceHolidaymakers may find they have more money to spend at their HeathrowAirport hotel over Easter as kids will be able to travel free on the Heathrow Express.The service, which links the travel hub with London city centre, will be allowing one child to travel for free with a full paying adult between April 1st and 18th.It is estimated that the offer, which applies to children under the age of 15, could save a family £32 on their journey, Travelio.net reports.Trains leave Paddington Station for Heathrow Airport every quarter of an hour and the journey takes around 15 minutes. Free onboard Wi...
• Tories unveil plans for carbon levyDavid Cameron has unveiled Conservative plans to impose a carbon tax on electricity generation, creating a clear incentive for long-tern investment in renewable energy.
• Sky park for Manchester CentralA new public park in the sky, tram interchange and three glass towers sit at the heart of plans to regenerate the area at the back of the Manchester Central exhibitions and conference centre.
• Information Note: CAA response to the DfT's consultation on Regulating Air TransportThe CAA has today published its response to the Department For Transport (DfT)'s Regulating Air Transport consultation, which closed yesterday, March 18 2010. The CAA is supportive of the proposals made by the DfT and believes that setting the CAA new priorities and modernising its statutory framework are a positive move towards developing a strong foundation for the CAA to meet the futures challenges of regulating UK's civil aviation sector.
• Signal workers strike vote threatens rail chaosSignal workers vote to back strike action over job cuts in a move that threatens rail disruption during the Easter holidays.
• Thousands face BA strike disruptionBritish Airways chief executive Willie Walsh tells passengers he is "deeply sorry" as cabin crews prepare to begin a three day strike that is likely to disrupt thousands of passengers.BA strike to go ahead as talks collapse

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