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

Tuesday, 27 April 2010

BBC News

• East London Line officially opened by Boris Johnson The new East London Line has been opened to the public, forming part of the London Overground network.
• Warwickshire high-speed rail line 'huge' waste of money An independent candidate in the general election has expressed his opposition to a proposed high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham.
• David Cameron urged to include Sheffield in rail plan A student has called on David Cameron to include Sheffield under plans for a high-speed rail network.
• The EU's role in volcanic ash chaos [video]With the impact of the volcanic ash cloud starting to recede, the Record Europe investigates what role the EU's institutions played in dealing with the crisis.
• IPCC probes claim officers 'deliberately drove at man' British Transport Police officers are being investigated over a claim they deliberately drove at and injured a man as they tried to stop him running away.
• BA price-fixing trial under wayThe trial of three ex-British Airways executives and one current employee on price-fixing charges begins.

Financial Times

• Rival adds to the pressure on JALAll Nippon Airways has embarked on an unusually vocal lobbying campaign intended to force Japan Airlines, its bankrupt larger rival, to shrink its operations
• Hertz to acquire rival Dollar ThriftyThe biggest US car rental company is to acquire its smaller rival in a $1.2bn cash and stock deal that will expand its footprint as business travel picks up
• Airline executives 'colluded' on prices, court told Southwark Crown Court told BA staff 'colluded' with Virgin as part of a price-fixing conspiracy that led to millions of passengers being overcharged for transatlantic flights

The Guardian

• Hertfordshire pays £5.1m for bus location system Hertfordshire CC has awarded a contract for an automatic vehicle location and real time passenger information system, including smartcard tickets
• Students unite in campaign for better bus service Students from three major higher education establishments in Leeds are joining together for a major campaign to fight for better public transport.
• US bid for Chloride fuels foreign takeover row The political row over foreign ownership of British firms threatened to escalate tonight after it emerged that Chloride, which provides back-up power supply systems for customers including London Underground and Heathrow Airport, had received a hostile takeover bid from an American rival.
• Amtrak trials first cow-powered trainBiodiesel made from beef byproducts fuels rail operator's first green train, cutting carbon emissions and improving air quality. From BusinessGreen, part of the Guardian Environment NetworkUS rail operator Amtrak may have given the term

The Herald

• Bypass could face two-year delay Construction of a 28-mile bypass around Aberdeen could be delayed by two years by a legal challenge, its backers have admitted.
• Free bus pass ’no use to rural passengers’ Rural bus passengers have been unfairly excluded from the Scottish Government’s flagship concessionary travel scheme and would gain more from having their car use subsidised, a leading transport expert has claimed.
• Flight chaos to last until FridayBritish Airways was putting on extra flights to help repatriate stranded passengers as travel officials warn it could take until the end of the week before everyone is home.

Times Online

• BA executives ˜agreed fuel price-fixing deal with Virgin Atlantic™Four British Airways executives fixed the price of fuel surcharges in a secret deal with Virgin Atlantic, a court was told today.

Mail Online

• Four BA executives 'conspired with Virgin to rig higher ticket prices'Senior executives at the two airlines - including Iain Burns - were said to have hammered out the deals during secret telephone calls, telling each other: 'This is a conversation we aren't going to have.'

Bristol Live

• Airport taxi firm agrees fresh deal BRISTOL Airport has announced it has agreed a new five-year deal with its official on-site taxi firm, Checker Cars. And as part of the deal the firm has agreed that its drivers will steer clear of the village of Barrow Gurney whenever possible.

Derby Telegraph

• Road repairs are big issue but what can politicians do to get people out of cars? THE state of the roads is the single biggest transport issue for voters ahead of the general and local elections.
• A snapshot of the main policies on transport Conservatives: Building a high-speed rail link connecting London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds with the continent.
• Cyclists to discuss hopes for future THE future of cycling in Derby will be discussed at a seminar.
• Drivers 'ignoring' speed alert sign A FLASHING speed warning sign designed to slow motorists down in Oakwood has been branded "a complete waste of time".
• Derby railway station link given seal of approval CHANGES to a street linking Derby's railway station to the city centre have been given the thumbs-up by residents and train passengers. The first phase of the city's Castleward Boulevard project has been completed, with the resurfacing of Wellington Street and Midland Place to the junction of Calvert Street.

London Evening Standard

• Tube 'death trap' warning by unionsLondon Tube stations could be turned into "death traps" under proposed changes to train operations and staffing cuts, union leaders warned today.
• New £1 billion East London rail route opens The first section of a new £1 billion rail route, which will feature a fleet of new air-conditioned trains, was officially opened today.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Disabled people call for crossing improvements A RAILWAY crossing is to be make safer after two years of campaigning by elderly and disabled people.
• Build bridges for cleaner air [letter]ON March 20 Nottingham City Council stated the problem with air quality in the city was due to queuing and congested traffic. No surprise to commuters then!

The News (Portsmouth)

• Hancock: We need to look again at the seafront cycling laneA general election contender has admitted a controversial new cycle lane needs to be looked at again.

Blackpool Gazette

• Lorry ban bid to solve gridlockTRUCKERS could be banned from using two roads in radical proposals to stop congestion through a Wyre town.

Bucks Free Press

• Council's Walk to Work Week starts today WORKERS are being urged to leave their cars at home and walk to work this week.

Northants Evening Telegraph

• Parties 'fail to address transport issues'Motorists and rail users in North Northamptonshire are not optimistic that the area's transport network will improve, whoever wins next month's General Election.

Other Regional Press

• Rail times changing, but county town still out in the coldChanges are coming to train services in Kent with the May 23 timetable switch - but many will be disappointed that the changes do not go far enough.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Cut road building schemes, not maintenance26 April: With major cuts in transport spending on the horizon, the next Government must resist the urge to slash spending on road maintenance while there are unaffordable road schemes we could do without. read more
• Wiltshire Council: don't cut the TaxiBuzz26 April: Later today, bus campaigners are hitting the streets in Devizes to stop the council from cutting a service that people need. read more

Aviation Industry

• Aberdeen airport launches noise insulation consultation schemeAberdeen Airport has kicked off a noise insulation consultation scheme - as part of a commitment to operating the airport in a responsible and sustainable way...
• FAA wants no pilot distractionsFederal aviation regulators are prodding airlines today to take concrete steps that would ensure their pilots are not distracted by laptops, cellphones and extraneous conversations.
• Ex-BA chiefs face court on price-fix chargesTwo former British Airways executives and the firm's sales and marketing director, all from the South East, will go on trial over price fixing allegations.
• Airlines: First it was the baggage fees. Whata s next? Pay toilets?Airlines: First it was the baggage fees. What's next? Pay toilets? Airline surcharges, such as baggage fees, are expanding because they bring in big money.
• For Southwest Airlines, "bags fly free" is paying offTwo years ago, Gary Kelly drew a competitive line in the sand when he decided not to charge passengers a fee for checked luggage.

Other News Sources

• Election 2010: Main parties face key questions on transport policy The Campaign for Better Transport compiled questions it wants each party to answer, and New Transit put them to the each party’s transport spokesman. Below are their responses
• Tube upgrades must be scaled back, says arbiter Chris Bolt delays final funding decision to allow London Underground to reduce scope of works or prove it can afford full cost
• County extends cycle training AROUND 5,000 schoolchildren across Devon are to receive Bikeability cycle training from Devon County Council over the next year.The county council has received £180,000 of Department of Transport funding to provide the Bikeability Level Two on-road training.
• Lambeth Council and Southern in fresh talks over "hideous" Streatham rail depot Residents locked in a legal battle with a train company over a “hideous” rail depot built behind their homes have celebrated a major breakthrough in the fight to get it removed.
• 6% Metrolink Fare Hike OK'dBoard limits service cuts and agrees to drop only four trains instead of a dozen.
• Leave your car at home for workWorkers in Lancashire are being encouraged to lace up their walking boots and leave their cars at home.
• Would-be MP welcomes new action plans to combat noise pollution PRESSURE is being stepped up to force action over noise pollution from Hampshire™s roads and railways.
• BA execs 'rigged' ticket prices, court told FOUR British Airways executives conspired with Virgin Atlantic bosses to “rig” ticket prices, a court has heard.
• bmi regional 'most punctual airline from UK airports'bmi regional was the most punctual airline operating in the UK from hubs such as Birmingham Airport and Manchester Airport in 2009, it has been revealed.Statistics published by the Civil Aviation Authority show that 93 per cent of bmi regional's flights left on time, with the average delay on the remaining services standing at just under five minutes.The average number of punctual flights across all scheduled airlines was 80 per cent and the average delay was just over 12 minutes.It is the fifth year in a row that bmi regional, which operates from East Midlands Airport and LeedsBradford Airpo...
• Luton Airport predicts busy summerHolidaymakers flying from Luton Airport may want to reserve their airport hotel and parking now, as the hub has predicted that it will have a busy summer. The airport said that during the school holidays destinations in the sun were set to be popular, while many passengers were also choosing to go on city breaks to destinations like Barcelona, Madrid, Paris and Prague.As with many travel hubs in the UK, Luton Airport said that resorts outside of the eurozone, such as Dalaman and Bodrum in Turkey and Sharm el Sheik in Egypt were popular.Simon Harley, the facility's airline development manager, ...
• Council signs electric car agreementTwo car firms have signed a deal with a Milton Keynes Council to encourage people to buy their electric vehicles and develop a network of battery-charging points
• Forth Ports to seek deadline on Peel consortium's bidForth Ports (LSE: FPT) is expected to ask the Takeover Panel to issue a