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

Monday, 11 October 2010

Cogitamus

• Specialist Signing for CogitamusClaire MacAleese, former Special Adviser to the last two Labour Secretaries of State for Transport “ Lord Adonis and Geoff Hoon – will join Cogitamus ...
• Conference Season Rounded-Off with the Conservatives in BirminghamThe 2010 UK political conference season ended this week with the Conservatives in Birmingham. Cogitamus Limited was represented (left to right in this photograph) by Mark ...

BBC News

• Solo flight for Virgin spaceshipVirgin Galactic's suborbital spaceship, Enterprise, makes its first solo test flight, gliding to a runway after being dropped from an altitude of 45,000ft (13,700m).
• RMT agrees Network Rail pay dealA dispute between the RMT and Network Rail that nearly resulted in strike action in April appears set to end after both parties agreed a pay deal.

Financial Times

• EU claims victory in airline emissions wrangle A new global aviation deal will weaken the hand of US airlines to resist inclusion in Europe’s emissions trading system, the European Union’s transport chief has said. “The ETS is valid, and [the Americans] will come under it like everyone else,” said Siim Kallas, the EU transport commissioner, claiming a diplomatic victory in a long-running dispute between the EU and US over how to curb airline greenhouse gas emissions.
• Air Partner wins UK government contractA deal to be the sole provider of flights for the Department for International Development for the next four years could boost the aircraft charter broker, which has been hit by the downturn
• QR National looks to raise A$5bn in IPOQR National, Australia's biggest rail freight operator, hopes to raise as much as A$5bn in an initial public offering that could give it a market value of between A$6.1bn and A$7.3bn

The Guardian

• RMT claims victory over jobs and pay in Network Rail dispute RMT union secures 7% pay rise, £2,000 lump sum and guarantee of no compulsory redundancies at Network Rail
• Consumer Focus watchdog to be axed in 'bonfire of the quangos' Watchdog's responsibilities to be shared between Citizens Advice and local trading standards offices. ... Other government departments could also scrap their own consumer bodies. Passenger Focus, which comes under the Department for Transport, and the Department of Environment's Consumer Council for Water are also thought to be vulnerable
• British Airways boss Willie Walsh attacks air passenger duty Tax on passengers a disgrace that will hit developing nations, says Walsh British Airways boss Willie Walsh has labelled the government's air passenger duty tax (APD) a "disgrace" and said it will have a big impact on the economies of developing countries as well as Britain.
• British Airways and Unite meet at Acas to head off new strike Union and BA boss Willie Walsh discuss proposals to end long-running dispute with airline's cabin crew
• Government will not deviate from cuts plan, says Philip Hammond Transport secretary says spending cuts will be manageable and plays down fears of double-dip recession

The Scotsman

• Forth crossing must go ahead, says BCC REPLACING the Forth road bridge must be one of the priorities in next week's comprehensive spending review (CSR), according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).
• Four year plan for spending cuts will not be derailed says ministerTHE UK Government's package of cuts will "stay on track" for the next four years regardless of short-term shocks to the economy, the Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has warned.

The Telegraph

• Government should invest in large projects to stimulate private sector spending, BCC says The British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) said the Treasury's Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) is likely to affect the private sector's ability to create wealth and jobs by reducing public sector demand. To limit this effect, the BCC said the Government should invest heavily in projects such as Crossrail in London and the Forth Replacement Bridge in Scotland to stimulate private sector spending. Other ideas include investing in the digital network in rural areas.

Mail Online

• Ear scans could ring in changes at airport security ID checksYou've heard of finger printing, passport photos and eye recognition - but airport security checks could see your EARS being scanned to prove your identity.
• 'Tax on the sick' as hospitals increase car park charges by as much as 150 per centHospitals have drastically increased car parking charges since the Government scrapped plans to abolish the controversial fees altogether.

Bolton News

• Passengers given empty promises over rail services RAIL passengers in Bolton have been œlied to
• Motorists warned over number plates MOTORISTS are being urged to have safety screws fitted to their cars™ number plates to prevent them being stolen.

Wales Online

• Welsh Assembly Government accused of failing to implement sustainable travel policies at its new offices THE Welsh Assembly Government has failed to implement its own sustainable travel policies at three new offices, transport experts have claimed.
• Websites fail to highlight public transport links to WAG’s Merthyr office WAG recently spent £22m upgrading the Cardiff-Merthyr railway for half-hourly trains, but its website does not describe how to reach the new Merthyr office by train or bus. That contrasts with detailed directions to the Llandudno Junction office by public transport on WAG’s website.

Bucks Free Press

• 'Apply for HS2 compensation now', landowners urged LANDOWNERS in Buckinghamshire 'significantly affected' by High Speed 2 should apply for compensation now – before their property is devalued – say rural economy experts.

Other News Sources

• Southampton University discovers all ears are unique Southampton University researchers have discovered that each person's ears are unique and have developed an innovative system to scan them.
• Minister outlines vision for railways The Government is committed to ’fairness in rail fare levels’ and believes costs in the rail industry should come down.
• Work set to start on Buckshaw station Work is set to get under way on the new multi-million pound Buckshaw Parkway railway station in Chorley.
• France demands re-think of Eurostar’s train orderFRANCE has demanded a re-think of a £700m order for new trains from Eurostar after the Channel Tunnel train operator gave the deal to German manufacturer Siemens.