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

Friday, 26 March 2010

BBC News

• Heathrow third runway opponents win court challenge Campaigners have won a High Court battle over plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. Councils, residents and green groups had said the government's approval of the runway was flawed by "conspicuously unfair" public consultations.
• Plans to extend the Tyne and Wear Metro are considered The Tyne and Wear Metro network could be extended to Washington for the first time under plans being unveiled.
• North-south Wales airline enters administration Planes flying the north to south Wales air route have been grounded. Highland Airways that operated the service has entered administration with Thursday morning's flight cancelled and no further bookings being taken.
• Driving rules tightened for failed asylum seekers Failed asylum seekers given temporary leave to remain in the UK will no longer be able to apply for driving licences, under new government rules.
• Road work backlog in Northamptonshire will cost £120m The cost of repairing roads in Northamptonshire hit by severe winter weather and completing a backlog of work is set to top £120m.
• Train strikes: Your rights explained The first rail strike in 16 years is in sight for April 6-9, the week following the Easter weekend, after leaders of the Rail Maritime and Transport union and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association called for their members to withdraw their labour.
• PM urges more rail strike talks Gordon Brown calls for more dialogue between Network Rail and unions to prevent the first national strike for 16 years.
• Tube work delays 'unacceptable'The government's part-privatisation of the Underground was
• Airline goes into administrationScottish airline Highlands Airways has been placed in administration following financial problems, it is announced.
• EU-US airline deal on ownershipThe latest Open Skies talks on EU-US aviation paves the way for the lifting of restrictions on foreign ownership of US and EU airlines.
• BA's Walsh 'wants to break union'Ninety-five employment relations experts write a letter accusing British Airways boss Willie Walsh of union-busting.
• Rail unions announce strike datesRail workers will take strike action for four days from 6 April in a dispute over jobs and working practices.

Department for Transport

• £30 Million boost for low carbon transportLow carbon buses and fuel generated from everyday waste are at the centre of a £30 million Government fund to help reduce emissions from transport.
• New Chief Executive for Maritime and Coastguard AgencyThe Department for Transport has announced the appointment of Sir Alan Massey as the new Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. He will succeed Peter Cardy who leaves his post as Chief Executive of the Agency in April.
• £15M to kickstart bus servicesBus services across England are set for a major boost after Transport Minister Sadiq Khan announced £15m of Kickstart grants.

Financial Times

• Open skies deal leaves US rules intactThe US rebuffed European efforts to loosen contentious foreign ownership rules protecting US airlines that have been a sticking point in transatlantic aviation negotiations for years
• Highland Airways falls into administrationThe airline, which services some of Scotland's most remote islands, ceased operations on Wednesday evening after its directors requested the appointment of administrators
• Rail unions announce four days of strikesThe UK looks likely to face its first national rail strike since the system's privatisation after two rail trade unions announced plans for four days of strikes starting two days after Easter.
• Aggressive operator went off the railsJarvis, the rail and maintenance group which went into administration, laid the foundations of its problems more than a decade ago when it undertook what turned out to be an over-ambitious expansion

The Guardian

• British Airways strike letter: 'Macho Walsh wants to break the union' [letter]Leading industrial relations academics sent this letter to the Guardian condemning BA's tactics
• British Airways 'trying to break Unite union' in cabin crew dispute Joint letter to Guardian from 95 leading academics says BA's radical agenda could erode workers' rights across UK
• Rail workers to strike for four daysUnion officials in dispute over jobs and changes to working practices say network will 'effectively be closed down'Millions of commuters face travel chaos after Easter as rail workers announced the first national rail walkout in 16 years, with a four-day strike.The AA warned that the industrial action by the RMT and TSSA unions from 6 April would cause major congestion on the roads in and around London and the south-east and advised people going away for the Easter bank holiday to change their travel plans if possible.Following the lead of Unite cabin crew, locked in a dispute with British Air...

The Herald

• Scottish ministers made no rail line proposal Scottish ministers failed to put forward proposals for building a high-speed rail that extended to Scotland, despite publicly talking up the benefits of the multibillion-pound project.
• Strike fear casts cloud over brightening Labour mood The prospect of a national rail strike and the accompanying travel misery for millions has cast a cloud over the brightening mood of Labour chiefs, buoyed by narrowing polls and preparing for a pre-election rally in Glasgow tomorrow.
• Union’s sabre-rattling drowns out cries for efficiency savings The last time Britain’s railways faced industrial action on the scale now proposed, it was against a very different backdrop.
• National rail strike blow to Brown’s poll hopes Gordon Brown is under mounting pressure after rail unions added their weight to a growing wave of industrial action by calling the first national rail strike for 16 years.
• Forth Ports chief opens door for a buy-out bidHammond to meet consortium hoping to take over company
• 2,000 jobs at risk after railways maintenance group Jarvis failsTrouble-hit rail maintenance firm Jarvis finally hit the buffers yesterday as it called in administrators and suspended its shares, threatening some 2,000 jobs.

The Telegraph

• Transport Secretary Lord Adonis: a man on a mission His days in office may be numbered, but with an ambitious vision for high-speed rail to push through and trouble at BA on his hands, Lord Adonis has no intention of slowing down. Robert Chesshyre finds out what drives the Secretary of State for Transport.
• Heathrow Airport third runway plans are 'untenable', says judge Plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport are "untenable", a judge has ruled, in a serious blow to the Government's proposals to expand the airport.
• Four-day rail strike after Easter weekend to bring chaos Millions of train passengers face chaos after unions called the first national rail strike in 16 years, scheduled to start on the Tuesday after the Easter bank holiday weekend.

Times Online

• Passengers 'will not lose out financially' on rail tickets during strikeRail passengers booked to travel between April 6 and 9 will be able to change tickets to another date free of charge or get a refund, train operators said last night.
• Rail strikes threaten chaos after Easter breakMillions of passengers will be hit by the first national rail strike for 16 years when workers begin a four-day walkout immediately after Easter.
• Fraud detectives step up searches in Alstom bribery inquiryThe Serious Fraud Office has stepped up an investigation into suspected bribery by Alstom, the French transport and infrastructure group, extending searches at two locations yesterday.

Mail Online

• Shamed 'cash-for-lobbying' MP Patricia Hewitt 'set to join Eurotunnel'

The Sun

• 4-day strike will cripple railways MILLIONS face travel chaos after unions vow to 'close' railways with a FOUR-DAY strike

Birmingham Mail

• Privacy row erupts over Birmingham Airport scanners A NEW privacy row has broken out over controversial full body scanners – due to be installed at Birmingham Airport – after a worker at Heathrow was quizzed by police for ogling a woman colleague.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Anglesey to Cardiff airline operator in administration THE CASH strapped operator of a Wales airlink went into administration on Thursday.

London Evening Standard

• Campaigners win rethink over Heathrow third runway High Court judge today ordered the Government to rethink its plans for a third runway at Heathrow. The ruling by Lord Justice Carnwath was hailed as a triumph by the councils, residents and green campaigners who had bitterly opposed the plans.
• 'Close London to cars for hour a day'
• Four-day strike for rail workersRail workers are to take four days of strike action immediately after Easter in a bitter row over jobs and working practices, threatening the worst disruption for 16 years.
• Tube disruption 'unacceptable': MPsTube passengers are enduring
• BA axes strikers' travel perksBritish Airways is braced for further walkouts as union leaders pledged to fight a decision to strip travel perks from thousands of cabin crew who went on strike.

Northern Echo

• New route announced for airport ONE of an airport's long-standing airlines is set to launch a new service from next week.

Sheffield Star

• Working together is the way forward, says First chiefThe county's biggest operator believes a voluntary partnership between bus firms and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive should be the way forward.
• Bus reregulation plans are not discountedQUALITY Contracts are still being considered for the future of buses in Sheffield despite the announcements from First and Stagecoach.
• Battle lines drawn over who will run Sheffield busesTRANSPORT bosses have been warned they face a long legal battle if they try to take Sheffield bus services out of private hands.

Sheffield Telegraph

• New drive to keep transport on trackBUS and tram operator Stagecoach this week unveiled its plans for getting more passengers on public transport in Sheffield.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• City set for new door-to-door bus serviceA NEW transport service will begin in Aberdeen next week.
• North-east airport faces long wait for body scannersNorth and north-east airports appeared last night to be a long way down the list for the introduction of body scanners needed to detect explosives carried by suicide bombers.
• Campaigner to meet transport bossesA ROAD-SAFETY campaigner fighting for a flyover at a notorious north-east road junction is holding talks with transport officials next month.

The York Press

• York-based Jarvis goes into administrationThousands of jobs are at risk after York-based rail giant Jarvis called in the administrators.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Tories keep their options open over Leeds trolleybusTHE Tories have refused to commit to delivering the £250m Leeds trolleybus plan should David Cameron win the forthcoming election.

Bucks Free Press

• Oxford rail link to go ahead despite company administration WORK on a rail project which would link High Wycombe and Oxford will not be affected despite the company behind the scheme going into administration, it was announced today.

Doncaster Free Press

• It's time for a bus fare dealBUS fares in Doncaster are set to be slashed across the borough as part of radical proposals to improve services.

Other Regional Press

• Rail firm says Bicester line upgrade on track An engineering company has insisted work to improve the Oxford to Bicester railway line will not be affected by a sub-contractor going into administration.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Kent passengers join our campaign25 March: Passengers in Kent suffer more than anywhere else because the Government allows Southeastern to put up regulated fares 3% above inflation every year. read more

Aviation Industry

• EU, US strike provisional second-stage agreementThe EU and US yesterday reached a provisional agreement on a second-stage open skies accord, building on the original air services agreement that entered effect in March 2008 and setting a strict timetable and framework for approving the final second-stage agreement.

Green Miscellany

• Bio-rubber will mean greener car tyres Tyre manufacturer Goodyear hopes to dramatically reduce the 26 litres of oil it takes to make the average car tyre by using a new plant-derived substance called BioIsoprene, which can be made from renewable sources such as sugar cane.read more

Other News Sources

• National Express runs 'keep Britain moving' campaign amid transport strikes LONDON - Coach operator National Express has launched a press ad targeting consumers worried by the industrial action coming up at British Airways and Network Rail.
• Boris calls for end to 'flawed' Public-Private Tube upgrade contracts BORIS Johnson is calling on the Government to end Public-Private 'partnership' contracts for modernising the London Underground.
• Report: Give PPP Arbiter stronger powers on London UndergroundTransport Committee report gives update on London Underground and public-private partnership
• Adonis criticised for preferring rail to roadTransport groups this week hit out at what they called a government œbias towards investment in rail over roads.
• Fraud police free Alstom managersThree senior Alstom managers being questioned by investigators in a corruption and bribery case have been released on police bail but have not been charged.
• Massive disruption looms as rail union announces post-Easter strikesRail union RMT has today announced that strikes among Network Rail signallers and maintenance staff will now go ahead between Tuesday 6 April and Friday 9 April.
• Airlines cannot afford to ignore in-flight connectivity: Emirates' BrannellyAirlines that do not bring in-flight connectivity on board their aircraft in the coming years will put themselves at a hefty competitive disadvantage even...
• Leeds Bradford Airport receives 17 RyanAir routesRyanAir has expanded its presence in the UK with the creation of a new base at LeedsBradford Airport.The low-cost airline has placed two aircraft at the Yorkshire travel hub which will serve 17 different routes. It is thought that this will take the total number of passengers at the airport to one million each year, driving up demand for airport parking and hotels.Holidaymakers are also being given the chance to book one of a million flights across the European network for €5 (£4.47). The offer is available on the RyanAir website until March 29th and covers services in late April and...
• Euroseas seals joint ventureMIXED fleet operator Euroseas today announced the formation of Euromar, a joint venture that will seek distressed asset plays.
• Council budgets hit by road damageThe severe winter weather left a huge hole in local council road maintenance budgets, according to a survey
• 'Open skies' talks hailed as a successTalks aimed at deepening transatlantic airline market, but no resolution on ownership rights.
• London Assembly Investigation into City Airport Expansion An investigation into expansion of London City Airport has been launched.
• Commons Committee Says 'UK Should Be Ashamed of Its Poor Air Quality' Report concludes Government has failed to get to grips with air quality
• Balfour Beatty wins £407m Hong Kong rail contractBalfour Beatty™s Hong Kong joint venture Gammon Construction has won a £407 million rail contract with the MTR Corporation.
• Jarvis admistration will not affect £190m Chiltern Railways upgradeBam Nuttall has said that the delivery of its £190 million line upgrade for Chiltern Railways will not be affected by subcontractor Jarvis entering administration.
• Four day rail strike planned for after EasterRail workers are to take four days of strike action from 6 April, the day after Easter, RMT leader Bob Crow announced today.

News from Europe

• EU, US move to allow foreign ownership of airlinesBRUSSELS — The European Union and the United States on Thursday took a "major step forward" in aviation liberalisation, paving the way for foreign ownership of their airlines after lengthy talks, Brussels said.