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

Wednesday, 11 August 2010

BBC News

• Further delay to Jubilee Line upgrade The delayed upgrade of the Jubilee Line is unlikely to be completed by the end of the year, London Underground (LU) has said.
• Tickets and toilets 'top list of rail gripes' Ticket prices and toilets top the list of rail passenger gripes, according to a survey of more than 3,000 travellers.
• In pictures: 30 years of the Tyne and Wear Metro
• Ferry's woes a boost to airlineProblems with a ferry has helped a Scottish airline record July as its busiest ever month for its Glasgow to Barra service.
• Airport boss backs drop-off fee New Edinburgh airport boss Kevin Brown backs the controversial £1 drop-off charge, which will be enforced from October.
• Airport public inquiry delayedA public inquiry into the proposed runway extension at George Best Belfast City Airport is to be delayed in a dispute over a noise pollution report submitted by the airport.
• Anger at looming fuel price risesCampaigners and politicians warn that predicted increases in petrol costs will damage Scotland's economy.
• Drop in Scots airport passengersTwo of Scotland's biggest airports recorded drops in passenger numbers last month.
• Spain's electric cars off targetSpain's plans to have 2,000 electric cars on the road have been dealt a blow as figures show just 16 have been sold so far.

The Guardian

• Heathrow sets new passenger record BAA – which as well as Heathrow also owns Stansted, Glasgow and Edinburgh – said the total number of travellers going through its airports increased by 0.3% in July to 10.9 million people
• Eco-friendly pitstop gets green lightEco-friendly area in natural beauty spot to feature electric charging points, ban on fast food giants and locally sourced produceWith a grass roof on the petrol station and a vegetable patch beside the coach park, the concept for Britain's greenest motorway services may seem beset by contradictions. But planners have approved designs for the £35m Gloucester Gateway project which aims to reinvent the motorway pitstop for the carbon-conscious generation.The new services, nestling on the edge of the Cotswolds between junctions 11a and 12 on the M5, will sell fuel to thousands of cars a week whil...

The Herald

• Edinburgh flying past GlasgowNearly 200,000 more passengers are flying every month from Edinburgh compared to Glasgow, only three years after it took over as Scotland™s favourite airport, new figures show.
• Rail fares are main concern for travellersRail passengers have identified Britain™s soaring train fares as their biggest area of concern, suggesting that Government plans to push through even steeper price increases will face stiff opposition.
• Firms urged to sign up for green scheme initiativeThousands of businesses and organisations have been warned that they need to register to take part in a scheme to encourage them to cut emissions by saving energy.

The Independent

• Record month for Heathrow but other UK airports falter Heathrow airport had its busiest ever month for passengers in July, but airports outside London suffered flat or falling traffic.
• Ticket prices and toilets a 'major concern' for rail passengers Ticket prices and toilet provisions are the biggest concern of rail travellers, a major survey showed today.

The Telegraph

• Speed cameras set to be switched off across country, council chief predicts Speed cameras across the country are set to be switched off as the Coalition's spending cuts bite, one of local government's most influential figures has predicted.
• Air fares soar as airlines climb out of recession Already reeling from a wave of rises in aviation taxes, holidaymakers are also facing sharp increases in the cost of the plane ticket itself.

Daily Express

• Heathrow flyers lift BAA figuresA record number of people flew through Heathrow last month as traffic on routes to Europe rose sharply.

Bolton News

• Welcome for new railway carriagesTRANSPORT chiefs in Bolton have welcomed the addition of five new carriages on the busiest train route through the town — and vowed to push the government for more.
• Community bus to health centre given the axe A COMMUNITY transport service which gives people cheap access to a Bolton health centre is to be axed because it is not œcommercially viable, health bosses say.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Inquiry into problems faced by disabled travellers in Wales AMs are to investigate how disabled people cope when travelling on public transport in Wales.
• Passengers warned they could lose Wrexham-London rail link PASSENGERS are being warned to “use or lose” a direct train link from North Wales to London.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Tram bosses defend 'scandalous' expensesTRAM bosses have denied they are "under huge pressure" after details emerged about thousands of pounds being spent on a series of away days and team building exercises

London Evening Standard

• Heathrow sets new record with 6.7m passengersHeathrow Airport had its busiest-ever month in July 2010

Manchester Evening News

• Manchester Airport ticked off for charging motorist £2 when car park was full Manchester Airport bosses have been ticked off for making people pay to ˜park™ “ even when the car park is full. Trading standards officers took action after a complaint from a driver who said he spent 20 minutes searching in vain for a space.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• New diesel Quaylink buses still eco-friendly NEW non-electric buses will run on a flagship Tyneside service from today. The electric hybrid Quaylink buses are being replaced by diesel engine vehicles after the service changed hands.

Other Regional Press

• Transport cash grant will boost town™s businessesA charity which helps shoppers who find it difficult to get about has been given a funding boost.

Aviation Industry

• July traffic figures “ BAA's airportsThe number of people travelling through BAA's UK airports increased by 0.3% to 10.9 million in July...

Other News Sources

• The case for driverless trains on the tube Richard Tracey AM advocates Driverless Underground Trains
• Port bosses lend support to A14 campaign The campaign to revamp the A14 has been given a major boost – by bosses of the East coast ports.
• BDP to redesign Manchester's Victoria stationNetwork Rail has appointed BDP as chief architects for the refurbishment of Manchester™s Victoria railway station.
• Bibby Distribution acquires major contractsBibby Distribution has bought a significant part of the English operations of haulage company MRS Distribution from the receivers. Under the terms of the deal, Bibby Distribution has taken over contracts with packaging manufacturer, Board 24 and industrial packaging firm Greif UK. It is expected to use up to 200 vehicular assets to service the [...]
• MP backs fight for better deal for blin bus passengers WINCHESTER MP Steve Brine has thrown his weight behind a campaign to help blind and partially sighted people on buses.
• News from Caroline Pidgeon: Jubilee Line fiasco must now lead to new policy on tube upgrades 10 August, 2010 Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on today™s apology by London Underground for the years of suffering faced by passengers on the Jubilee Line and the announcement that there will still be 15 weekends of full or partial closures before Christmas said: This is grim news for all the Jubilee  Line passengers who have suffered so much disruption over months and years. There is no light at the end of the tunnel just more and more closures. ...
• Green machine debuts in Emerald Isle A car dubbed the world's first affordable mass produced electric vehicle made its European debut in Ireland this month.