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

Wednesday, 28 April 2010

BBC News

• Railway bridge linking Scotland and England celebrated The role of a 160-year-old rail bridge linking Scotland and England is set to be recognised.
• Scottish ash chaos committee on 'stand-by' The Scottish Government Resilience Room (SGORR) has moved to "stand-by" mode after the flights disruption caused by the volcanic ash cloud subsided.
• Tube upgrade cost rethink urgedLondon Underground is asked to reconsider how much it can afford to pay Tube Lines for upgrade work.
• Warning over ash passenger rightsA European commissioner has said "maximum pressure" would be put on airlines to pay passengers hit by the volcano ash disruption.
• Ford profits hit a six-year highCar giant Ford reports profits of $2.1bn for the first three months of the year, its best quarterly result for six years.
• Reject BA offer, Unite urges crewThe union representing BA cabin crew says it will recommend that its members reject the latest offer from the airline.

Financial Times

• New strike ballot for BA crewsBritish Airways' cabin crew are to be balloted on further strikes after being urged to reject proposals aimed at resolving the long dispute over pay and staffing...
• London Underground talks break downUpgrade work on some of London's busiest underground lines could be scaled back after negotiations over the future financing of work on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly Lines reach deadlock
• 'Door not closed' on US Airways consolidationUS Airways still sees opportunities to participate in consolidation in the industry despite walking away from merger discussions with United Airlines

The Guardian

• Volcanic ash cloud cost European business up to €2.5bn, says EU Transport chief vows to push airlines to refund passengers stranded after Iceland volcano as plans for single airspace are fast-tracked
• What has happened to the UK's environment and transport policy? Guardian head of environment introduces our environment and transport factfile - and the full dataset behind it

The Independent

• Volcano crisis cost airlines more than £2bn European states can bail out airlines struggling to bounce back from the no-fly zone earlier this month, Brussels said yesterday, as it warned the shutdown could cost more than £2bn. Relaxing strict rules banning state subsidies, European Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas indicated governments would be allowed to carry out a range of measures such as temporarily lifting rules on night flights, deferring air traffic control fees and providing soft loans.
• New £1bn rail route opened The first section of a new £1 billion rail route, which will feature a fleet of new air-conditioned trains, was officially opened today.

The Telegraph

• Airlines under EU pressure to pay compensation to stranded passengers Airlines will come under "maximum pressure" to pay compensation to passengers who were stranded by the volcanic ash, the EU transport commissioner has said.
• BA faces new strike threat British Airways is facing the threat of a fresh cabin crew walkout after the Unite trade union leadership rejected the airline's latest peace offer.

Times Online

• Electioneering row as Boris Johnson opens East London Line at ceremonyIn a swirl of bravura and ruffled blond hair, the Mayor of London opened the first significant rail line in London for more than a decade today and plunged headlong into a fierce row over what opponents see as inappropriate electioneering.
• British Airways union raise prospect of fresh strikesBritish Airways faces a third round of cabin crew strikes after the Unite union announced yesterday that it was advising members to reject a peace offer from the company in an online ballot.
• Sir Richard Branson ˜ordered™ secret fare increase talks, court hearsSir Richard Branson, the founder and president of Virgin Atlantic, ordered secret talks with arch rival British Airways about co-ordinating fare increases on long distance flights, a court heard yesterday.

Reuters News

• Unite recommends members reject BA offerLONDON (Reuters) - The Unite union strongly recommended its members reject the latest offer from British Airways in a dispute over pay and working conditions, but said on Tuesday it would not announce any further strike dates.

Mail Online

• Virgin boss Richard Branson 'colluded with BA counterpart to fix higher fares'Senior BA and Virgin executives secretly fixed the cost of fuel surcharges at a cricket match between at Sir Richard's Oxfordshire home, a court heard.

Network Rail

• 500+ JOB HOPEFULS SEEK RAIL CAREER

Edinburgh Evening News

• Tram tax shortfall leaves bosses hunting for 'plan B'TRAM bosses are under pressure to find a "plan B" for financing the project after new figures showed just £4.5 million had been raised through a controversial tram tax

Journal Live

• It's full steam ahead for rail enthusiasts ENTHUSIASTS in the North East who built the first new mainline steam locomotive to be built in Britain for almost 50 years may repeat the feat.
• Vital Blyth transport service gets its own lifeline A CHERISHED transport service – described as a lifeline for disabled and elderly people in a Northumberland town – has been given a reprieve from the threat of closure.

London Evening Standard

• Britons accuse airlines of dirty tricks after eighth night at Bangkok airportons stranded in Bangkok since the Icelandic volcano erupted today accused airlines of telling lies to avoid their responsibilities. As some Britons slept for the eighth night at Suvarnabhumi airport, with only a trickle finding seats back to London, the airlines were accused of: Smuggling VIPs on to flights through “staff” check-in desks to avoid angry confrontations.
• Tube bosses face ultimatum over Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee lines upgradesMajor upgrades of the Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee lines are under threat after a key official told London Underground to cut back on work or stump up the extra cash.
• East London line’s opening puts Hackney on rail mapMillions of Londoners will be able to cross the river by rail from Hackney to New Cross when the revamped East London line reopens today.
• Bosses 'fixed costs of fuel surcharges at BA cricket match'Sir Richard Branson told a senior Virgin Atlantic executive to 'sound out his contact' at British Airways over potential changes to fuel surcharges, a court hears
• Tube driver gives rebuke over sunglasses
• Battle over third runway set to decide the fate of 10 seatsBattle over Heathrow's third runway moved to the centre of the general election campaign today as voters were urged to decide its fate on May 6
• Cabin crew urged to reject BA offerBritish Airways cabin crew are to be urged to reject an offer aimed at ending their long-running dispute over jobs and working practices after talks ended without agreement.

Metro

• Cabin crew urged to reject BA offerBritish Airways cabin crew are to be urged to reject an offer aimed at ending their long-running dispute over jobs and working practices after talks ended without agreement.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Transport review urged as bus drivers shun £2m Peterhead hub Fresh calls have been made to review a controversial £2million transport hub in a north-east town over fears it is being shunned by bus drivers.

Burnley Express

• Bike to School Week - police advicePOLICE are offering cycle security and safety tips as part of this week's national Bike to School Week.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Train companies hear our thoughts on fares27 April: We've just told the train companies what we think they should do about fares. read more

Aviation Industry

• Thomas Cook increases number of based aircraft at Glasgow AirportThomas Cook has confirmed it will base an additional aircraft at Glasgow Airport for summer 2010

Other News Sources

• Stagecoach to beat earnings expectations Public transport group Stagecoach expects full-year earnings per share of at least 17.5p, ahead of market expectations.
• Passengers call for Oyster cards at Waltham Cross PASSENGERS are calling on rail operators to introduce Oyster cards at their station to save money when travelling into central London.
• East London overground offers housing boost both sides of riverThe new East London rail route will provide a major housing market boost that transcends the age-old north/south divide in the capital.
• Streatham travel buddy uses own experience to help others A Streatham man with learning disabilities has been awarded for his work as a travel buddy, helping take a disadvantaged Tulse Hill woman on public transport.
• RMT condemns 'death trap' proposals for tube train operation as part of Tory Mayor Boris Johnson's cuts plansTUBE UNION RMT today slammed proposed changes to London Underground train operations that the union has warned would turn station platforms into 'death traps.'
• Aircraft handling firm sees profits riseA Whythenshawe-based company which cleans, de-ices and refurbishes aircraft has seen sales and profits rise despite the slump in the aviation sector.

News from Europe

• Green transport losing share to polluters: EU studyEurope's greenest modes of transport are falling behind the biggest polluters, which is contributing to a steep rise in climate-warming emissions, the European Environment Agency said on Tuesday.