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

Sunday, 31 October 2010

BBC News

• Dover 'people's port' bid launchA scheme for local people to buy the port of Dover if the government approves its privatisation is officially launched.
• Stricken ship heading to FalmouthA tall ship with 36 teenagers on board which got into difficulty after losing its masts in gale force winds is being towed into Falmouth.
• Ryanair ends Belfast City flightsRyanair's last flights from George Best Belfast City Airport are due to depart, after a row over delays to a proposed runway extension.

The Herald

• Forth Ports sustains ˜upward momentum™ in third quarterForth Ports is continuing to show œupward momentum for the year in which it rebuffed a 1500p a share offer, the Edinburgh-based group said yesterday.
• London firm eyeing Scots car parking marketTHE youngest woman to float a company in the UK is targeting the Scottish car parking sector after hiring an agent to scope out opportunities.
• New FirstGroup boss to break bad news earlyAmerican Tim O™Toole could suffer an early blow to his popularity as new boss of Aberdeen transport giant FirstGroup this week when he is expected to confirm that some rail fares may rise by more than 10% in the New Year.

The Independent

• Bombs reveal major flaws in screening of international freightSecurity experts said last night that the Yemeni bombing plot had taken advantage of known weaknesses in the way international cargo is screened.

The Observer

• Network Rail faces official inquiry into claims of exorbitant payoffsMinisters are demanding an independent inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment and misuse of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money at Network Rail. The transport secretary, Philip Hammond, has told rail and union officials that he wants an inquiry into lingering allegations of financial impropriety and an alleged culture of harassment at the body that runs the rail infrastructure. More than 150 staff at the company have been paid off between 2006 and 2009 after signing secrecy agreements.

The Telegraph

• Passengers force way out of broken down trainThe rush-hour commuter train from London Kings Cross to Cambridge had stopped just outside Foxton station, in Cambridgeshire, following a problem with overhead power cables. The service, with 374 people on board, broke down shortly before 5pm on Friday afternoon.

Airwise News

• HSBC expected to close rail unit salePrivate equity houses 3i Group and Star Capital Partners are expected to buy HSBC's rail unit alongside bank Morgan Stanley. HSBC is expected to confirm next week the sale of its train rolling stock unit to a consortium led by Morgan Stanley, people familiar with the matter said.

Birmingham Mail

• Midland supercar snapped up at auction for £2.6m A MIDLAND supercar has been snapped up at auction for £2.6 million.
• Pay battle looms at National Express A PAY battle is looming at Birmingham-based National Express after the transport giant attacked a five per cent claim for more than 3,700 drivers as “surprising” at a time of public sector wage freezes.
• Two hurt after car hits tree in Erdington as it was fleeing police THIS is the mangled wreckage of a car which ploughed into a tree moments after pursuing police officers called off their chase.

Liverpool Post

• Cheapest petrol prices in Liverpool and Wirral Cheapest unleaded 114.9p/litre at garages including Shell Aigburth Road; Shell Lairds Birkenhead; Green Lane Service Station Birkenhead; Asda Walton; Sainsburys Rice Lane. Cheapest diesel is 118.9p/litre at garages Shell Aigburth Road; Shell Derby Road Bootle; Sainsburys Rice Lane; Asda Walton, Linacre Service Station Bootle

London Evening Standard

• Woman held over cargo plane bombsA huge anti-terror probe into the cargo plane bomb plot has intensified after the arrest of a suspect in Yemen.

Sheffield Star

• Trains hitting target timesSheffield to London rail firm East Midlands Trains has kept its place as Britain's most punctual long-distance operator in latest performance statistics. The company ran 94.3 per cent of services on time between mid-September and mid-October this year, compared to 93.1 per cent during the same period in 2009.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Profits derailed at Scottish train operatorTrain operator First ScotRail saw profits plunge 16.5% to £21.71million during the year to March 31, according to accounts released by Companies House yesterday. The pre-tax surplus was on turnover of £524.62million, including £249.2million of revenue grant, which was down 9% on the previous 12 months.
• Profits derailed at Scottish train operatorTrain operator First ScotRail saw profits plunge 16.5% to £21.71million during the year to March 31, according to accounts released by Companies House yesterday. The pre-tax surplus was on turnover of £524.62million, including £249.2million of revenue grant, which was down 9% on the previous 12 months.
• Roads boss objects to Pittodrie site homes planTransport chiefs have lodged an objection against plans to build 350 houses on the site of Aberdeen Football Club™s Pittodrie Stadium.

The York Press

• First York make speed checks on its bus drivers A BUS company in York has used undercover workers to check its drivers are not speeding.

Other Regional Press

• Pollution survey prompts fresh calls for a Marlborough bypass Pollution and traffic fumes in a busy Marlborough road where scores of children walk to and from school probably exceed nationally accepted safety limits, it has been revealed, and could revive demands for a by-pass for the north-south traffic.
• Councillors' fears over rail link delay WORRIED Valleys councillors voiced their concerns about the length of time it could take to see Ebbw Vale and Newport linked by rail.

Railway Gazette

• Chinese wagons in Europe INTERNATIONAL: A ceremony on September 13 launched the CNR Cargo Wagon joint venture of Polish national freight operator PKP Cargo and China CNR Corp which was agreed on June 29. Market studies are underway with a view to beginning assembly of wagons next year in the Baltic port of Szczecin using components supplied from China. Initial work will be for PKP Cargo, but other European customers are being sought and the scope could increase to include locomotives and passenger stock.

Other News Sources

• Car recycling scheme raises £150,000 A 23-year-old entrepreneur has raised £150,000 for charity through a business recycling old cars.Related StoriesJames Bond's Aston Martin DB5 to be soldNissan recalls two million carsCrikey! Car gives Aussie man fright of his lifeA-listers perform Rocky Horror charity show