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

Monday, 02 August 2010

BBC News

• China's New Industrial Revolution In its race to provide future growth, the speed at which China is adopting new technologies is breathtaking. Take one example: high speed rail.
• London C-charge zone extension consultation ends The public consultation into plans to scrap the western extension of the congestion charge area ends on Monday.
• Increase in Guernsey bus fares sparks controversy Concerns about the increase in bus fares in Guernsey have been "blown out of proportion" according to States deputy Janine Le Sauvage.
• Bike hire fee lifted after glitchCyclists who used London's bike hire scheme on its first day will not be billed because of technical problems.
• Fresh talks to solve BA disputeBritish Airways and the Unite union will hold further talks on Monday to try to prevent additional strikes.

Financial Times

• Rivals poach customers after months of strikesWhile all airlines were affected by the ash airspace closures, none had to deal with the protracted strikes by BA's flight crew that some competitors claim have led to a big shift in business away from the airline
• Greek airline merger faces in-depth EU probeAn attempt by Aegean Airlines, the listed Greek carrier, to acquire troubled state-owned Olympic Airlines will be subject to a full probe by European antitrust authorities, potentially delaying any deal until the end of the year

The Guardian

• High-speed rail line threatens quiet life of historic Ladbroke's villagers Scenic Ladbroke is set to become a flashpoint over plans for HS2, the 200km high-speed link between London and the Midlands
• Lorry drivers have no more excuses when it comes to cycling blind spots A new campaign calls for transport firms to send their HGV drivers on cycle-awareness courses and fit their vehicles with cameras

The Herald

• Time to get a grip on transport spending Despite the current focus on public spending cuts, wasted expenditure remains the great unmentionable of devolved Scottish officialdom and even Crawford Beveridge’s admirably plain-speaking Independent Budget Review (IBR) dares not attempt to quantify how much public money is being squandered.
• Mystery as world’s biggest bridge builder abandons Forth Crossing project Transport Scotland (TS) has said that the new Forth Bridge project “remains on track” despite the surprise withdrawal of Vinci Construction from the consortium most likely to undertake Scotland’s largest- ever civil engineering project.
• Tram company seeks storage amid delaysTransport Initiatives Edinburgh (TiE), the company responsible for delivering the capital™s troubled tram project, is seeking temporary accommodation for its completed tram vehicles, to be delivered by the Spanish manufacturer CAF, from September.

The Scotsman

• Talks hope in BA cabin crew disputeCrucial talks aimed at averting fresh strikes by British Airways cabin crew are due to be held, with little sign of a breakthrough to the long-running dispute.

The Telegraph

• Boris Johnson bike scheme to refund users after glitches A cycle hire scheme championed by London mayor Boris Johnson is having to refund thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money after it was hit by glitches.

Press Association

• Unions planning national protests Unions will be urged to organise national days of protest and co-ordinated industrial action against the Government's public spending cuts during the TUC's annual conference next month.

The Mirror

• Talks hope in BA cabin crew dispute Crucial talks aimed at averting fresh strikes by British Airways cabin crew are due to be held, with little sign of a breakthrough to the long-running dispute.

Birmingham Mail

• Plans for improvements to Sutton Coldfield railway station revealed NETWORK Rail has submitted plans to make Sutton Coldfield Railway Station more accessible.
• Birmingham Airport named best in the UK Air passengers rate Birmingham the best UK airport and Luton the worst, according to a poll today.

Journal Live

• Pensioners’ passes face axe in Metro cuts METRO passes for pensioners are likely to be scrapped as transport bosses prepare for multi-million pound funding cuts.

London Evening Standard

• Talks hope in BA cabin crew disputeCrucial talks aimed at averting fresh strikes by British Airways cabin crew are due to be held, with little sign of a breakthrough to the long-running dispute.

Manchester Evening News

• Airport chiefs pull plug on sex advice text alerts An advertising campaign at Manchester Airport which involved text messages being sent to holidaymakers urging them to get tested for sexual diseases has been scrapped after it was labelled offensive.

Wales Online

• Call to fly the flag on Wales’ trains THERE are calls today for a national transport brand as the Assembly Government unveils a £7.5m refurbishment plan on some of Wales’ longest routes.

Other News Sources

• China to invest 120 billion dollars in high-speed rail China said Wednesday it will spend about 120 billion dollars to nearly double the country's high-speed rail network by 2012, as part of an ambitious programme to expand the national train system.
• CUMBRIAN RAIL USER ANGRY AT VIRGIN TRAINS' PRICING 'POLICY'Rail fares from Cumbria have come under fire once again after a passenger discovered it would cost him less to travel from Glasgow to London than if he was to leave from Carlisle.
• Consultation on bus route changes ends next month HAVE your say on plans to replace bendy buses with double deckers on a major route into Enfield Town.