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

Wednesday, 10 November 2010

BBC News

• Borders to Edinburgh railway 'on track' despite dropout Transport Scotland has said plans to reopen a rail link between the Borders and Edinburgh are "on track" despite a member of one bid group withdrawing.
• Crossing tolls rise 20p for carsCar drivers will pay 20p more to use the two Severn crossings from next year, with the toll rising to £5.70.
• Green machines in 60 mile road raceMore than 60 ultra-modern cars, representing the latest in automotive technology, have taken part in the inaugural eco-car race from Brighton to London.
• Rail bosses defend their recordThe chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies says sixty per cent more people are using the network than they were 15 years ago.
• Kirkwall named best cruise portKirkwall is named the UK's best cruise ship port of call at the annual industry awards.
• A9 carriageway extension beginsWork to extend a section of dual carriageway on the A9 at Crubenmore in the Highlands gets under way.
• Watchdog to review tram projectSpending watchdog Audit Scotland is to review Edinburgh's controversial trams project, it emerges.
• Airlines fined over cargo cartelThe European Commission fines 11 airlines, including BA and Air France-KLM almost 800m euros (£690m) for fixing the price of air cargo.
• Setback in bid to end BA disputeThere has been a setback in attempts to end the bitter dispute between British airways and their cabin crew over staffing levels on flights.
• Singapore Airlines in A380 changeSingapore Airlines says it is changing engines on three of its A380 planes, after a similar engine on a Qantas A380 exploded during flight last week.

Financial Times

• Skymark clears air for Japan's budget airlinesSuperjet order is part of a wave of new competition in the sector “ a wave that has been led by low-cost carriers, both domestic and foreign
• Global airlines hit with $1bn cartel finesAirlines faced with the largest fines are Air France (€182.9m), KLM (€127.2m) and BA (€104m)

The Guardian

• Leeds transport chief renews plea to ease rail overcrowding * Leeds City Region has seen growth in rail users of 34% - the highest in the country * Almost half of Leeds' trains will be carrying standing passengers at rush hour tonight

The Herald

• Bus firm U-turn costs the public purse £150,000Taxpayers will have to pick up the tab for replacing bus services due to be axed by First Group after it succeeded in overturning a promise to protect them.

The Independent

• Biofuel plan will cause rise in carbon emissions Britain's promise to more than double its use of biofuels by 2020 is

The Scotsman

• German company pulls out of trams court case THE German firm at the centre of Edinburgh's bitter tram dispute has backed down days after threatening legal action against former trams chairman David Mackay for calling it a "delinquent" contractor.
• Doubts over Borders rail line as firm quitsFEARS were raised last night that the cost of one the biggest construction projects in Scotland could rise after an American rail company pulled out of the race for the contract.

The Telegraph

• Trains to be fitted with passenger counters A requirement to fit the devices will be included in future contracts with train operating companies. Yesterday the all party Public Accounts Committee, in a report which warned of worsening overcrowding accused the Department for Transport of having no idea how many people were travelling on individual trains.
• British Airways fined €104m for role in air cargo cartel The UK flag-carrier was one of 11 airlines fined a total of €799m for rigging fuel and security surcharges over six years, spanning December 1999 to February 14. The EC decision leaves the carriers exposed to class-action damages claims from customers representing €6bn of cargo traffic.

Daily Record

• A9 upgrade will go ahead, insists transport minister SCOTLAND'S main road to the north will be made dual carriageway, Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has insisted.
• Controversial Edinburgh trams project faces public spending watchdog probe EDINBURGH'S controversial trams project is to face scrutiny from a public spending watchdog, it has emerged.

Mail Online

• Passengers to endure years of cattle-truck trains, warn MPsMPs say available space on trains could fall by up to a third, forcing rush-hour commuters to endure even worse levels of overcrowding.
• BA fined £90m for cargo route price fixingThe European Commission said BA and other carriers coordinated their action on fuel surcharges over a period of six years.

ATOC

• Sustained and targeted investment vital to reduce overcrowdingIn response to a Public Accounts Committee report, ‘’Increasing Passenger Rail Capacity’’, a spokesperson for the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) said: “...

Network Rail

• WEST HAMPSTEAD THAMESLINK: CONSTRUCTION STARTS ON NEW STATION BUILDING

Birmingham Mail

• Overcrowding on Birmingham trains will get worse, say MPs CRAMPED Birmingham commuters on the city’s busiest lines face even worse overcrowding, a report by MPs today warned.

Bristol Live

• Severn crossing tolls to rise againTHE toll to cross the Severn bridges in a car will rise 20p next year, it has been confirmed. MPs heard the cost of driving into Wales will go up to £5.70 in January. The inflation-linked toll for vans will rise 60p to £10.90 and lorries will be charged £17.20, an 80p rise. Transport Minister Mike Penning revealed the new prices in evidence to the Commons' Welsh Affairs Committee. A permanent system allowing drivers to pay the tolls by debit and credit card without entering a PIN is due to be available in the New Year. A temporary system was put in place before last month's Ryder Cup. Mr Penni...

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Ribbon cut on new-look Flintshire railway station A RAILWAY station which had fallen into disrepair has been officially opened after a £1 million revamp.
• Airbus A380 plane aborts landing due to strong gust of wind at Manchester THE world’s biggest passenger airplane had to abort a landing after being hit by a strong gust of wind.

Journal Live

• Nissan warns Government as grant is axed CAR giant Nissan has challenged coalition ministers to show they are serious about the North East's economy after they axed a key fund that has brought thousands of jobs to the region.

London Evening Standard

• Tube staff ’must face tougher security checks’Boris Johnson under pressure to order 'urgent' improvements to security checks on Tube staff after it emerges that bosses were not aware a driver was accused of terror offences
• BA fined over cargo price fixingThe European Commission has imposed a 104 million euro (£90 million) fine on British Airways for its part in cargo route price fixing involving a number of airlines.

Metro

• BA fined £90m for cargo route price fixingBritish Airways has been slapped with a fine of 104million euros (£90million) by the European Commission over its involvement in cargo route price fixing.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Notorious bends on A92 may be removedNOTORIOUS bends on an Angus road where several people have died in accidents may be removed to improve safety.

The York Press

• Eco-town project traffic fears A PROPOSED eco-town project in York would bring more traffic gridlock without vital cash for new Park&Ride sites, according to a new report.

Wales Online

• Severn bridges tolls to rise by 20p Tolls on the Severn bridges will rise by 20p for cars from January, the Government confirmed today – and credit card payment is finally up and running.

The Shields Gazette

• 'Bus lane's not fine with me' says taxi driverA TAXI driver is warning other motorists to be careful where they drive through South Shields town centre.

Other Regional Press

• Longer franchises & fairer spending among answers to rail overcrowdingMetro Chairman responds to Public Acounts Committee report.
• Rail inquiry to hear concerns over noise NORTH Oxford residents will have their first chance to voice their objections to a planned Rail link from Oxford to London via Bicester today.
• HS2 plan will cost every household £1,000, says campaigners THE high-speed rail line from London to Birmingham could cost every household in the UK £1,000, claim Coventry and Warwickshire campaigners.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Don™t make passengers pay more for a worse serviceNovember 9: The news that the Government is set to miss all of its targets to tackle overcrowding by a wide margin will further enrage put-upon commuters. read more

Aviation Industry

• CAA safety expert given top industry award for volcanic ash workPadhraic Kelleher, Head of Airworthiness at the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), has been presented with a major safety award for his role in the volcanic ash crisis of April and May 2010. The International Federation of Airworthiness (IFA) presented the Whittle Award for 2010 to Padhraic at a volcanic ash conference at the Royal Aeronautical Society in Central London on 9 November.
• London City Airport for SALE in 2011Amidst the turmoil surrounding the sale of London Gatwick Airport last year and the Oct-2010 Court of Appeal ruling that confirms the sale of Stansted Airport, it is often overlooked that Greater London and the southeast of England is home to at least seven commercial airports serving the catchment area. One of them,London City Airport – LCY - (the only one actually within London) has been arguably the most successful in recent years in terms of passenger traffic growth

Other News Sources

• Losses widen for Parry People Movers BLACK Country based light transit firm Parry People Movers, which operates passenger services on the Stourbridge Town branch line, has seen its interim losses widen to £89,266 in the six months to June 30. The figure compares to a loss of £43,404 in the same period last year.
• Rail over-crowding to be 'ever more intolerable'Train companies are set to miss their targets for providing passenger spaces, leading to yet more over-crowding, an influential committee of MPs has found.
• Rolls-Royce wins $1.2 billion order from China Eastern Airlines and agrees environmental partnershipRolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has won an order worth $1.2bn, at list prices, from China Eastern Airlines for Trent 700 engines to power 16 Airbus A330 aircraft. The order...