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

Monday, 19 April 2010

BBC News

• Rethink urged on Birmingham high-speed rail route plan Parliamentary candidates are urging a rethink on the proposed £17bn national high speed railway route through Warwickshire.
• Thieves delayed North East trains for '196 hours' Cable thieves have caused 196 hours of delays to North East rail services and cost the industry more than £160,000 in compensation in the past year.
• Architect appointed to design King's Cross square A London-based architects' firm has won an international contest to design a new £6m square at King's Cross.
• Airport still closed due to ashThe closure of Birmingham International Airport continues as a UK flight ban is extended to at least 1900 BST on Monday.
• Airport stays shut until MondayThe volcanic ash cloud from Iceland will keep Cardiff airport closed until 1900 BST on Monday, as BA successfully lands a test flight.
• UK planning flight chaos responseThe UK's emergency committee is to discuss the flight chaos, amid suggestions the navy could sail people back from European ports.
• Ban extended on region's airportsThe ban on flights at airports in the North West is extended until at least 0100 BST on Monday due volcanic ash.
• Further ban on Scots air travelAll airports in Scotland will remain closed until at least 1900 BST on Monday as the volcano ash cloud continues to paralyse the skies.
• Museum makes £1.8m funding pushThe closure of Glasgow's Museum of Transport is marked by the launch of a public appeal to raise £1.8m towards its home.
• Cost of airline chaos intensifiesThe financial cost to business of the disruption caused by the Icelandic volcano ash cloud has intensified.
• Airlines urge flight ban reviewEurope's airlines and airports question the extent of flight restrictions imposed because of volcanic ash from Iceland.

Financial Times

• Airlines press for end to no-fly bansEuropean authorities were facing growing pressure to lift airspace restrictions keeping much of the continent a no-fly zone after airlines said they had carried out test flights that landed safely
• Crisis forces air-freight logistics rethinkBusinesses that rely on just-in-time air freight across Europe are examining different mixes of air, ship and road transport as they seek to minimise the commercial damage from the flight ban
• Deutsche Bahn moves to seal Arriva takeoverEurope's biggest train operator, Deutsche Bahn was close to finalising talks to take over Arriva, the British company

The Guardian

• Dorset buys travel information system Dorset CC is looking to spend up to £6m on a real time passenger information system for bus and rail users
• German bid for Arriva in closing stages Deutsche Bahn group could seal £1.6bn deal this week
• Volcano crisis: 'We need to bring people home'Government plan to bring back 200,000 stranded Britons will involve Navy if crisis worsensThe government tonight launched an unprecedented plan to bring home an estimated 200,000 people stranded abroad by the volcanic ash cloud “ including possible deployment of the Royal Navy “ as European airlines staged a series of successful test flights and urged governments to reassess flying restrictions.In a move rarely seen during a general election, Gordon Brown recalled senior cabinet members from the campaign trail to tackle the aviation crisis. On the steps of Downing Street the business secretary...

The Herald

• Scots businesses survey the fallout from Icelandic volcanoBusinesses throughout Scotland are this weekend scrambling to assemble contingency plans to ensure business continuity, as the full impact of the airport clampdown caused by ash from the Icelandic volcano threatens to last for weeks.

The Telegraph

• Harry Potter railway named best in the world A Scottish railway has been ranked alongside the Trans-Siberian Express and Silk Road as one of the world's most awe-inspiring journeys.

Times Online

• Airlines search for safe paths through ash as travel pressure mountsAirlines are searching for safe flight paths through the cloud of volcanic ash that has grounded most aircraft for the past four days.
• Europe counts saved carbon emissions as flights stay groundedThe grounding of 63,000 flights over the past four days has saved 1.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, more than the annual emissions of many developing countries.
• Deutsche Bahn poised to bid £1.6bn for ArrivaA German takeover of one of Britain™s biggest rail and bus operators has moved a step closer, with Deutsche Bahn poised to offer about £1.6 billion for Arriva.
• ˜I™m not about to buy small businesses “ but big ones, that™s another matter'It may be a stereotype but it seems pretty unusual for a Scotsman to want to splash the cash. It™s certainly unusual for Brian Souter.

Daily Express

• Deutsche Bahn may bid £1.6bn for ArrivaTHE CITY is braced for German transport giant Deutsche Bahn to launch a £1.6billion takeover bid for Britain's Arriva.

Birmingham Mail

• Volcanic ash alert: What airlines are doing for Birmingham Airport passengers A list of airlines operating from Birmingham Airport and details on possible refunds for those on flights affected by the volcanic ash pollution
• Week of Birmingham Airport chaos looms as flight ban extended again THOUSANDS of British passengers were last night still stranded overseas as the ash cloud from Iceland’s erupting volcano continued to ground all flights across most of Europe.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Flights misery goes on for stranded passengers Passengers who were due to travel through Leeds-Bradford International Airport endured a weekend of misery as the Icelandic volcanic ash crisis intensified and the Government considered using the Royal Navy to get people home from abroad.
• Rail cable thieves costing operators £700,000 a year Rail passengers across the district have been hit hard by a catalogue of cancellations and delays caused by thieves ripping up railway cable to sell as scrap metal.

Manchester Evening News

• Passenger frustration as airport opens, then shuts Several hundred passengers had their hopes of flying from Manchester Airport dashed today as the brief œwindow of opportunity to depart was swiftly closed.

Metro

• Passenger airlines fly test flights over Europe despite volcanic ash cloudSeveral major airlines have safely flown test flights without passengers over Europe “ despite official warnings about the dangers of volcanic ash.

Wales Online

• Airline pushes to resume passenger flights after tests KLM, the Dutch subsidiary of Air France, today said it has flown a plane through the cloud of volcanic ash covering Europe without suffering any damage.

Blackpool Gazette

• Ban extended at Blackpool AirportMORE misery has been heaped on holidaymakers as the flight lockdown is extended.

Other Regional Press

• Ships to rescue stranded travellersAs travel disruption continues boats in Dover have been offering to help families stuck in Calais.

International Herald Tribune

• Airlines Press Europe to Ease Ban on FlightsAs Europe grounded most airline flights for a fourth day, desperate airlines ran test flights and pressed aviation authorities to loosen the flight ban.

Washington Post

• Hydrogen still in the eco-car race BERLIN -- Hydrogen, one of Earth's most abundant elements, once was seen as green energy's answer to the petroleum-driven car: easy to produce, available everywhere and nonpolluting when burned.
• Five top U.S. airlines agree not to charge for carry-on bags ATLANTA -- Five major U.S. airlines agreed Sunday not to follow the lead of a small Florida carrier that plans to charge for carry-on bags. Their commitment comes just in time to cool traveler outrage before the peak summer flying season, but it is doubtful that it marks a change in strategy.
• Brighter skies haven't yet helped airline profits ATLANTA -- Fares are higher, demand is up and the airlines have established a steady revenue stream from add-on fees for baggage, pillows and food.

Other News Sources

• Brits should ask for more HE IRISH saying tells us “never run after a bus or a man – there will always be another one”. It doesn’t ring true in this instance: as far as Deutsche Bahn (DB) is concerned, Arriva is one of a kind. With the European public transport market set for massive liberalisation over the next decade, thanks to an EU directive, its German monopoly is under threat. Arriva’s pan-European reach, with a presence in 12 countries, would help soften the blow of losing business at home.
• Expanding to meet modern needsNTERNATIONAL: The recent accession of Russia is a major development for the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail, according to Secretary General Stefan Schimming, even through only a limited number of RZD routes are initially covered by the convention establishing a uniform system of regulations for cross-border traffic.
• £70 million set for North Cotswold lineNetwork Rail forging ahead to start work on a £70 million scheme to improve the North Cotswold line
• Campaign to re-open Blackburn road MORE than 600 people have launched a campaign to re-open a road in Blackburn.
• Disruption to UK airports today (Monday). Due to the continuing disruption at UK airports, road users who are planning to fly today are advised to first check with their departure airport or airline, before travelling on motorways or major
• Wincanton wins £4m contract extension with B&QWincanton has won a one-year contract extension worth £4m to deliver goods in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland for DIY retailer B&Q.
• Sisson & French bought by William FergusonIlkeston, Derbyshire haulage firm Sisson & French is adjusting to life under new ownership following its acquisition by Northern Irish businessman William Ferguson.