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

Wednesday, 21 July 2010

BBC News

• Half-hourly train services axedHalf-hourly off-peak train services on the Chase Line between Walsall and Staffordshire will be axed, a transport body announces.
• Rail ticket machines 'confusing'Rail firms are being asked to simplify ticket machines after a study found passengers avoiding them because they were confusing to use.
• Heritage status row over bridgeThe owners of the Forth Rail Bridge are not backing the move for it to be awarded World Heritage site status.
• Tube budget 'must be protected'The Tube network is likely to
• Flybe announces £850m plane orderEuropean airline Flybe announces an £850m ($1.3bn) order for 35 new Embraer planes as part of its expansion plans.
• BA crew reject latest pay offerThe union representing British Airways cabin crew calls for fresh talks after staff reject the airline's latest pay offer.

Department for Transport

• Further Consultation on Dover Privatisation Plans Proposals for the privatisation of the Port of Dover are set for further public scrutiny after Shipping Minister Mike Penning asked Dover Harbour Board to publish additional information about their plans.
• Improving Britain's Airports Proposals designed to improve Britain's major airports were unveiled by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond today. The package of measures is designed to put passengers at the heart of how airports are run, encourage competition between airports and promote investment which will make Britain's major airports better, not bigger.

Financial Times

• United Airlines' profits surpass expectationsThird-biggest US carrier by revenues reports second-quarter profits that beat expectations as it took advantage of a sharp rebound in passenger and cargo traffic
• Passenger rebound boosts United AirlinesUnited Airlines, the third biggest US carrier, recorded second-quarter profits that beat expectations as it benefited from a sharp rebound in passenger and cargo traffic, filling its planes and raising ticket prices.
• Volcano sparks Ryanair fares alertDisruptions caused by the volcanic explosion in Iceland earlier this year and rising fuel costs led to a 24% fall in first-quarter profits

The Herald

• Services disrupted one month after ferry breakdownA month after one of the most serious breakdowns ever suffered by one of its ferries, Caledonian
• Air travellers face strike chaosCustomers travelling with British Airways face the threat of renewed disruption after cabin crews rejected the airline™s latest pay offer.
• Ash crisis sees Ryanair profits fall 24%Ryanair has reported a 24% fall in net profits for the first three months of its financial year because of flight disruptions caused by the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland and the carrier is still counting the cost of compensation to passengers.

The Scotsman

• Transport crime costs £1.5bn a yearCrime on public transport is costing society £1.5 billion a year, Government figures have showed.
• BA gets go-ahead for joint flightsBritish Airways and two other airlines have received approval to operate a joint business on transatlantic flights.
• Train ticket machines 'bewildering'Rail firms have been urged to overhaul ticket machines after a new study found passengers were paying more than they should to travel because of the "bewildering jargon

The Telegraph

• Passengers baffled by ticket machines Queues at railway stations are being swelled by passengers who are being confused by ticket machines, consumer research has found.
• EU proposes 'black boxes' for buses and taxis Buses, taxis and lorries could be fitted with aircraft style "black boxes" under European Commission proposals to boost road safety.
• BA cabin crew reject latest pay offer British Airways crew vote two-to-one against offer, but the airline says the union has "lost the moral authority".

Daily Express

• Ryanair's airline fares rise after ash cloud hits profitsRYANAIR said it was hiking summer ticket prices yesterday as it took a e50million (£42 million) hit from the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud.

Mail Online

• 'Blackmail' fury for Network RailNetwork Rail is likely to come under attack at its annual meeting today for resorting to 'emotional blackmail' to ensure bosses' six-figure bonuses are approved.

The Mirror

• Fatcat rail chief Rick Haythornthwaite backs bonuses for other fatcat rail chiefsA rail chief on £250,000-a-year for a two-day week is backing bonuses... for other rail chiefs. Network Rail chairman Rick Haythornthwaite claims critics of the perks are "ill-informed". And today he will tell the annual meeting of the not-for-profit firm which runs Britain's rail infrastructure that the huge bonuses on top of generous salaries have been earned.
• BA gets go-ahead for joint flights British Airways and two other airlines have received approval to operate a joint business on transatlantic flights.

Network Rail

• BETTER RAIL SERVICES FOR SCARBOROUGH
• WORK STARTS ON NEW WHITSTABLE STATION CAR PARK
• NETWORK RAIL ANNOUNCES KEY NATIONAL CENTRE CONTRACT

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Rail plans form Ilkley go on display at fair An Ilkley bookseller is exhibiting original 1861 plans for railway lines to connect Ilkley to the national rail network “ plans which changed life in Wharfedale forever.

Liverpool Post

• Flybe aircraft deal could lead to expansion at Liverpool John Lennon airport FLYBE could make a serious return to Liverpool JLA after today announcing the purchase of 35 new Embraer aircraft and options on a further 105 more.

London Evening Standard

• Transport unions attack rail cuts and big bonusesTransport union leaders attending today's annual meeting of Network Rail (NR) warned that they would oppose train service cuts and big bonuses for NR bosses.
• Oona King's £55m drive to cut bus faresMayoral hopeful Oona King today pledged to reinstate the Western C-charge zone and divert the £55 million income to lowering bus fares
• Bid to break BA deadlocked rowBritish Airways has been urged to hold fresh talks to break its deadlocked row with cabin crew after they rejected a
• Transport crime costs £1.5bn a yearCrime on public transport is costing society £1.5 billion a year, Government figures have showed.
• BA gets go-ahead for joint flightsBritish Airways and two other airlines have received approval to operate a joint business on transatlantic flights.

Metro

• Public is ’put off transport by crime fear’ Fear of crime is putting people off using public transport and will lead to services being axed, it was claimed on Tuesday.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• It™s full steam ahead for 19th-century trikeA STEAM tricycle built by a local postman in 1895 will be among an array of historic vehicles taking to the Grampian Transport Museum circuit this month in the first Alford Cavalcade attraction since 2002.
• Future looks bright for north-east after flights dealMonths of negotiations paid off yesterday as Aberdeen Airport announced a deal with holiday firm Barrhead Travel for new flights to Malaga and Palma.

Other Regional Press

• Bus pass snag leaves OAPs standing at stopPensioners using public transport face delays before they can reuse their concessionary travel cards due to a built-in fraud prevention measure.
• Buses ˜may tip over in crater™A burst water main has caused so much damage to a city centre street that buses are in danger of toppling over.

Aviation Industry

• Superjumbos cleared to land at StanstedStansted Airport's ambition to raise its global profile has received a major boost after gaining approval to handle the world's largest airliners...
• BA gets go-ahead for joint flightsBritish Airways and two other airlines have received approval to operate a joint business on transatlantic flights.

Green Miscellany

• London gets first two Cycle Superhighways London’s first distinctive blue cycle lane ˜Superhighways™ opened this week from Merton to the City, and Barking to Tower Gateway. read more

Other News Sources

• Bicycle numbers set to hit new highs on Eurostar The number of bicycles taken on Eurostar looks set to reach new highs, the operator has told BikeBiz.
• Train firm is 'really sorry' for banning wheelchair A TRAIN operating company has apologised to a disabled passenger from Teignmouth after he was banned from taking his wheelchair on one of its services.
• Bam Construction has been awarded the contract to build Network Rail's £120m national HQBam Construction has been awarded the contract to build Network Rail's £120m national headquarters in Milton Keynes. Construction of the 400,000 sq ft development will start next month. The new National Centre will boast strong environmental credentials, and has been awarded a BREEAM Excellent design stage rating.
• Tube bosses back RMT fears over safety by admitting that cuts mean services are running on infrastructure dating back to 1920'sAFTER MONTHS of accusing tube union RMT of scaremongering over the safety impact of cuts on London Underground, tube bosses this morning put their hands up and admitted that the cuts mean that services are running on dangerous and rotten infrastructure dating back to the 1920's with worse to come in terms of the risks to millions of passengers as the Government lines up further attacks on the TFL budget and the tube upgrade programme.
• 8,000-mile test for driverless carTwo driverless vehicles have begun an 8,000-mile trip to test the endurance of the technology. Updated on 20/07/2010 13:42:37. © RAC breakdown cover and car insurance.
• Honda to launch eco-friendly carsJoining the race to produce eco-friendly vehicles, Honda has announced plans to launch an electric car and a plug-in hybrid in 2012. Updated on 20/07/2010 11:33:17. © RAC breakdown cover and car insurance.
• Driverless electric vans begin 8,000-mile Silk Road testEngineers today began the longest-ever test trip of driverless vehicles from Italy to China along the Silk Road, to examine the limits of future automotive technology.
• Ministers fear funding cuts will see the UK lag on green tech A high-powered panel of MPs believes the UK should ring fence funding for low carbon technologies to create a green future.