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

Sunday, 20 June 2010

BBC News

• Call to ditch capital tram schemeIndependent MSP Margo Macdonald says it is time to consider scrapping Edinburgh's over-budget trams programme.
• Rally driver 'seriously injured'There are reports of a driver being seriously injured in an accident at the Donegal International Rally on Saturday.
• Conservative MP struck by trainA Suffolk MP is recovering from his injuries after being hit by a train at a railway station in London.

Financial Times

• The big nameThe eagerly awaited appearance of Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou in the witness box this week saw the brand dispute between EasyJet and the airline's founder come to a head...
• Calpers buys 12.7% stake in GatwickThe acquisition of a £106m stake in the UK airport is believed to be the first big direct investment under an infrastructure programme that the US state pension fund launched several years ago

The Independent

• Tory MP in apparent suicide attempt on rail line A Conservative MP was recovering in hospital last night after an apparent suicide attempt at a busy railway station.

The Observer

• High Speed Rail Network up for sale as part of austerity driveThe government drive to slash the fiscal deficit could reignite the debate over foreign control of major UK infrastructure as ministers start the sale of the £1.5bn High Speed One rail link this week – with France's Groupe Eurotunnel and Australia's Macquarie bank among those tipped to bid.

Birmingham Mail

• Aston bus driver who knocked down and killed Weoley Castle granddad spared jailed A BUS driver who knocked down and killed a Birmingham grandfather while he cycled home from a night shift for the Royal Mail has been the victim of a hate campaign.

Bolton News

• Conquering your fears of the road A HYPNOTHERAPIST is offering nervous Bolton motorists a novel way of conquering their fear of driving.

Journal Live

• Drunk man drove car into path of aircraft AN AIR traffic controller told last night how he prevented a “potential catastrophe” when drunken Matthew Wright drove onto a runway as an aircraft and parachutists were trying to land.

Liverpool Post

• Motorcyclist and pedestrian seriously injured in Warrington car crashes A MOTORCYCLIST was seriously injured in a crash with a car.

Northern Echo

• Steam locomotive back on rails after restoration A HISTORIC steam locomotive has returned to the rails following a four-year restoration project.

The York Press

• Pedal power on Knavesmire YORK Cycle Show is taking place on Knavesmire this weekend.

Other Regional Press

• Getting on their bikes for Gibraltar! A TEAM of 11 cyclists from Castle Cary will later this summer be setting off on a 1,600-mile journey to the rock of Gibraltar to raise money for the Help for Heroes and the Anthony Nolan Trust charities.
• Dave™s cleared for job take off AN airport boss is about to see his career soar to new heights when he takes over as managing director of Southampton Airport.
• Still no date for Newport to Ebbw Vale train link ASSEMBLY commitment to a timescale for the establishment of an Ebbw Valley rail link into Newport remains elusive.
• Scheme improves 154 miles of Newport roads MORE than 154 miles of road improvement works were completed in Newport last year as part of a £21 million repair scheme.

Railway Gazette

• Skoda Class 380 in service CZECH REPUBLIC: Skoda Transportation's Type 109E triple-voltage 200 km/h locomotives have begun trial operations, starting with No 380.007 which hauled a 100 km/h CD Cargo freight train from Plzen to Beroun on May 27. Initial 160 km/h passenger operations are expected to begin on routes from Praha to Brno and Ústí nad Labem in August. Regular passenger services will begin in December, two years later than originally planned partly as a result of design changes needed to meet stricter TSI crashworthiness standards. Skoda has now completed 17 of the 20 locomotives for CD; two more are on orde...

Other News Sources

• Double blow for troubled British AirwaysBeleaguered British Airways was last night facing a double financial blow, with fears of fresh cabin crew strikes as well as a shake-up of aviation taxes
• Lavelle Transport refused international O-licenceMotherwell, North Lanarkshire-based Lavelle Transport has been refused an international O-licence on the grounds of a lack of good repute.
• Warning to drivers on race weekendMotorists travelling around the county this weekend were reminded there will be diversions in place on certain roads to help traffic heading to the British MotoGP at Silversto
• Electric vehicle to undertake record tripA Vauxhall Ampera is to undertake the longest ever single road trip for an electric vehicle in the UK.
• Yarmouth outer harbour celebrates significant firstGreat Yarmouth's £50m outer harbour was celebrating a significant first yesterday with the arrival of a cruise ship from Hamburg in Germany. The gleaming Hapag Lloyd vessel, Columbus, complete with a heated open-air swimming pool surrounded by palm trees, slipped into port on Thursday evening as residents looked on admiringly from Gorleston pier.
• Top Norfolk traffic police officer caused death crashA top Norfolk traffic policeman, who has investigated hundreds of fatal crashes in the county, was himself involved in a road tragedy when he caused the death of an experienced motorcyclist after a momentary lapse of judgement behind the wheel, a court heard.