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

Tuesday, 01 February 2011

BBC News

• Wootton Bassett train station could be reopened A proposed Swindon to Salisbury railway route could see Wootton Bassett train station reopened.
• Legal bid to halt train strikeArriva Trains Wales launches legal proceedings in a bid to avert a rail strike on the day of the opening Six Nations match between Wales and England in Cardiff.
• Railway land delay fear dismissedTransport Scotland says an extended land purchase deadline will not delay a rail link between Edinburgh and the Borders.
• Transport Museum 'loses part of tram'The body which runs Glasgow's museums mislays items donated to the city's transport collection.
• MLAs support cycling helmets billNorthern Ireland Assembly members have voted in favour of a bill to make the wearing of cycle helmets compulsory.
• Routemaster 'bad for wheelchairs'A disability charity claims London's new Routemaster bus is
• BMI drops Glasgow to London routeThe airline BMI is to suspend daily flights between Glasgow and Heathrow from the end of March.
• Holographic announcers at airportLondon Luton Airport has become the first airport in the world to introduce holographic announcers.
• Interest payments hurt ChryslerUS carmaker Chrysler reports a $199m net loss for the fourth quarter due to high interest payments on bail-out funds.
• Honda profits hit by strong yenJapan's Honda reports a 40% fall in third-quarter profits after the strong yen hits sales, but raises its full-year forecast.
• Ryanair hit by bad winter weatherRyanair reports a loss of 10m euros for the last three months of 2010, after strikes and severe weather grounded planes.

Financial Times

• Shipping industry fears impact on Suez CanalThe world's shipping industry is watching the situation in Egypt especially carefully because of the potential for the country's unrest to disrupt traffic on the Suez Canal
• Ryanair suffers €10m third-quarter lossThe budget airline blames higher fuel costs, industrial action by air traffic controllers and snow-related airport closures for a third-quarter loss of more than €10m
• WTO rules Boeing had illegal subsidiesThe company's flagship 787 Dreamliner has benefited from illegal US government subsidies that have distorted market competition, according to the World Trade Organisation
• UK coalition under fire as BMI axes Glasgow routeUK business leaders have attacked the governing coalition's policy on airport expansion after British Midland International announced it would suspend its seven daily flights between Glasgow and London Heathrow

The Guardian

• US embassy cables: UK 'needs something to show from Open Skies negotiations' Summary: The British government reiterated its view that the U.S. must lift some restrictions on foreign ownership of U.S. carriers in the U.S.-EU second stage air transport negotiations.
• London week ahead: Tube staff, trouble, strifeLondon Underground has announced that new ticket office opening hours, which were a central issue behind last year's Tube strikes, will be introduced from next Sunday, 6 February even though the dispute over staffing levels is unresolved with, as their press release puts it, "staff previously behind ticket office windows deployed to areas of stations where passengers most value their help and reassurance." The release adds:

The Independent

• Police called over Bob Crow phone hacking claims Police have been asked to investigate suspicions that the phone of rail union leader Bob Crow has been hacked into by journalists, it was revealed today.

Press Association

• Union leader in phone hacking fears Police have been asked to investigate suspicions that the phone of rail union leader Bob Crow has been hacked into by journalists.

Reuters News

• London Oxford Airport announces new Managing Director London Oxford Airport has today announced the appointment of Chris Orphanou as Managing Director.
• Ex-British Airways IT expert admits terror chargesLONDON (Reuters) - A former British Airways computer expert pleaded guilty on Monday to offering himself for terrorist training or insurgent operations abroad and encouraging others to do the same.

Mail Online

• British scientists 'invent artificial petrol' that could cost just 90p per GALLON (and there's no carbon) Hydrogen-based fuel produces no greenhouse gases so could help nations slash their carbon footprint It is due to be available at the pumps in three to five years

ATOC

• Growth of 6.9% in 2010 takes demand for rail travel to new high levelsThe number of people travelling by train rose to record new levels in 2010 as the rail industry bounced back strongly from recession,...

Belfast Telegraph

• New deal sparks BP dividends squabbleTensions are set to increase between BP and its partner in the TNK-BP joint venture, as the Russian billionaires meet today over whether to block around $1bn in dividend payments owed to the UK-listed oil giant.Related StoriesEntrepreneurs honoured at awards night showcaseBank chief has been 'leant on' says BallsIrish airline Ryanair posts loss of £8.5 millionRyanair posts loss of £8.5 millionUK's offshore tax dodgers run out of time
• Ryanair posts loss of £8.5 million No frills airline Ryanair has posted a loss for the final three months of 2010. Related StoriesEntrepreneurs honoured at awards night showcaseNew deal sparks BP dividends squabbleBank chief has been 'leant on' says BallsIrish airline Ryanair posts loss of £8.5 millionUK's offshore tax dodgers run out of time

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham Airport crackdown on bogus students SCORES of bogus students have been stopped from entering the country via Birmingham airport in a crackdown by UK Border Agency officers.
• London Midland trains cancelled as drivers refuse to work extra hours Trains have been cancelled across the Midlands after drivers refused to work rest days in an ongoing dispute with rail bosses.

Bristol Live

• Traffic fears as rail bridge set to reopenFAMILIES fear heavy traffic will return to their South Gloucestershire village with the re-opening of a railway bridge. The bridge at the disused Badminton station, located in neighbouring Acton Turville, had been subject to a three-tonne weight limit because it was too weak for some vehicles. It also had its width reduced to deter the drivers of larger vehicles from using it to travel between Acton Turville and Badminton. But some drivers ignored the restriction and it was decided to strengthen the structure so it could cope with a weight of 40 tonnes. The bridge was closed for the scheme to ...

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Row over design plans for multi-million Holyhead cruise ship berth DESIGN plans for a multi-million pound cruise ship berth to boost tourism have still not been unveiled – two years after the work was commissioned.

Derby Telegraph

• Bus station markings for orderly queues cost £6kMARKINGS put down at Derby's new bus station to encourage people to queue in an orderly way cost the city council £6,550. The council first put down lines on the bus station concourse in November and further lines were added in January after staff noticed that people were choosing to queue behind the last seat in each bay, with lines then stretching out across the width of the station. A spokesman for the council said the markings were put down in an attempt to solve that problem after complaints that the queues were making it difficult for others to move along the concourse. He said:

London Evening Standard

• £1m bill for 'fake passengers' to tell Tube chiefs about serviceTUBE bosses today came under fire for spending more than £1million hiring "fake" passengers to monitor the service.
• Two sacked Tube drivers still on full £45,000 payTwo sacked Tube drivers are still being paid their £45,000 salaries as the row continues over their future

Manchester Evening News

• Revealed: The 3,300 crimes on region’s railways More than 3,300 criminal offences were committed last year at railway stations in Greater Manchester, we can reveal today. The five worst stations for crime were Manchester Piccadilly with 1183 offences, Manchester Victoria with 525, Bolton with 137, Wigan North Western with 116 and Stockport with 114.
• Manchester Airport jet forced to divert after birds hit both engines The bmibaby flight, heading from Knock in Ireland,was forced to touch down in Shannon, after suffering ˜multiple™ bird strikes on take-off. Now, an official air accident report has revealed the full terror of the incident “ with BOTH engines of the Boeing 737 hit.
• Manchester Airport bosses in New Year Chinese lantern warning Airport bosses have issued a fresh warning about the danger of Chinese lanterns to aircraft “ ahead of Chinese New Year. More than 60 lantern remnants were found on the runways at Manchester over the festive period “ with just one piece of metal enough to bring down a plane.

Metro

• Commuters baffled as Southeastern train is diverted through train wash Rush-hour commuters were left dumbfounded when their Southeastern train service was diverted... through a giant train wash.
• Bob Crow phone hacking claims to be probedRail Maritime and Transport union leader Bob Crow has called for the Metropolitan Police to investigate claims he has been the victim of phone hacking by News of the World journalists for the last 11 years.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Railway station revamp is architect's 'futuristic' dream come trueWHEN former architect Bob Reynolds saw the new plans for the £60 million revamp of Nottingham railway station he had a sudden sense of deja vu. He quickly dug out an old maroon folder from the loft and dusted it down to look at the thesis he submitted for his final year coursework at the Leicester School of Architecture in 1969. In his sketches and notes Mr Reynolds had described a

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Inverness residents reject plans to build link road across the cityAbout 200 people gave a resounding œno to Highland Council plans to build a link road across Inverness after a heated debate at a public meeting held in the city.

Yorkshire Post

• Tunnel vision knocks walkers off track WALKERS and cyclists who use a popular Peak District trail have been warned that part of the route will be closed for about six weeks as part of a project to reopen four disused railway tunnels.
• Transport top priority for city residents The need for better public transport in Leeds is a priority for people in the city, a new study has found. Transport, jobs, the environment, good community relations, safety and culture were voted as the key issues for the long-term future of the city.
• Public transport: Rural area faces £5m shortfall in funding for bus travel A COUNCIL has been left with a £5m funding black hole after the Government failed to act on pleas for extra money to finance free bus travel for the elderly.

Blackpool Gazette

• New 20mph limit will help save livesPLANS to slash speed limits on roads across Lancashire have been hailed as a life-saving move.

Lancashire Telegraph

• Nelson transport interchange gets safety honour A SAFE environment has been created for passengers at Nelson’s new transport interchange, say security chiefs.

Other Regional Press

• Bus fuel calculator ARRIVA Midlands is reacting to soaring fuel prices by helping people in Hinckley work out how much money they could save on their journeys.
• New rail chief pledges safety focus The new chief executive of Network Rail is starting work, pledging to concentrate on safety as well as getting better value for money.
• First Capital Connect investing in new station cycle racks The new shelters are being built at 14 stations, including Knebworth, Hatfield, Welham Green, and Brookmans Park.
• Arriva launch legal bid to stop rail strike ARRIVA Trains Wales launched legal action today in a bid to halt the train drivers strike on Friday.
• Railway police take up station A NEW police team at Oxford station starts work today to cut crime on the county™s railway network.
• Thousands of pupils face transport costs axeFree transport for thousands of children who attend Kent™s grammar and church schools is set to be scrapped.
• Roads chief loses jobA cabinet reshuffle at County Hall has seen the politician in charge of Kent™s roads lose his job.
• Sky-high Boris Island costs take offThe cost of Boris Johnson's proposed floating airport in the Thames Estuary could be £70 billion - more than double previous estimates.
• All aboard! Direct trains to London from Mirfield planned A DIRECT rail link to London could be coming to Mirfield within 12 months.
• Euro MP to attend HS2 convention THE MEP for the West Midlands will attend a national convention in Warwickshire fighting the planned high speed rail line.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Look on the M6 Toll, ye mighty, and despair31 January: It's rumoured that the Government will give the go ahead to a tolled bridge over the Mersey this week. They should consider the M6 Toll before doing so. read more

Freight on Rail

• Government plan to allow longer lorries could let in Euro mega trucks Responding to the coalition Government’sproposal to allow an increase in the length of HGVs of up to almost 7 feet (2.05 metres).

Aviation Industry

• Air China plans transpacific biofuel test flight in 2011 Air China said Sunday it plans to operate a transpacific demonstration flight partially powered by biofuel in the second half of this year. CA is expected to use a Boeing 747 powered by Pratt & Whitney engines on the test flight, and the aircraft manufacturer has agreed to partner with the Beijing-based carrier to provide technical support.
• Ryanair cites snow, strikes for €10.3 million third-quarter net lossRyanair posted a net loss of €10.3 million ($14 million) for its fiscal third quarter ended Dec. 31, slightly reduced from the €10.9 million deficit in the prior-year period despite a 6% year-on-year increase in passengers to 17 million, a 15% rise in the average fare to €34 and a 22% hike in revenue to €746.3 million.
• Bmi confirms demise of London-Glasgow routeBritish Midland International (Bmi) will suspend its seven daily flights from March 27

Other News Sources

• Leeds LEP board members named LEEDS-BRADFORD International Airport chief executive John Parkin and Leeds Chamber of Commerce president Gary Lumby are among the first board members of the Leeds City Region local enterprise partnership.
• London Tramlink seeks bids for additional trams UK: Transport for London subsidiary Tramtrack Croydon Ltd is seeking bids for the lease of 10 new or second-hand trams to increase capacity on the light rail network in south London from the end of summer 2011.
• Rail 661: HS2 is an uncertain bet [Christian Wolmar]Futurology is a dodgy business, but there is no better time than the beginning of a New Year to try a bit of crystal ball gazing on a rather longer time scale than Mystic Wolmar’s usual efforts. The announcement of the route for High Speed 2 raises the question of what the railway might look like in 20 or 30 years time and clearly the answer depends very much on whether the line is built or not.
• New Tube ticket office times to support London travel People who use the Tube to travel within London have been informed that staff at stations will now be used in a more effective manner.
• BMI cancels Glasgow to Heathrow serviceGlasgow staff are also facing job losses after the airline blamed a rise in BAA's domestic passenger fees for its decision.
• BA revamps SME loyalty programmeBritish Airways is looking to bolster income from business travellers by relaunching the loyalty programme it offers small and medium companies.
• Busy Hereford junction to be upgradedImprovements on the A4013 Roman Road and A4110 Canon Pyon Road
• Fire closes Hereford Railway Station Hereford Railway Station is closed following a train fire.
• EU Energy Commissioner Calls For 70 Billion Euro Investment In Renewable Energy To Meet EU 2020 TargetsEU member states need to double their investment to 70 Billion Euros in renewable energy each year, EU Energy commissioner Günther Oettinger said earlier today.
• Ryanair chooses signagelive digital signage platform to keep workforce informed across EuropeLow fares airline Ryanair is installing signagelive-powered digital displays at all of its bases across Europe to steadily communicate company information to more than 8,000 employees. 31/01/11
• 19p a litre 'petrol' in development A British company has invented artificial petrol that emits no greenhouse gases and could cost as little as 19p per litre at the pumps.

Other Subscription Services

• Weather prompts MPs to review winter service... againThe transport select committee will conduct another review of winter services, following the chaos caused by a third successive year of severe weather, LocalGov.co.uk sister title Surveyor can reveal.
• Council leaders fear for bus servicesCouncil leaders have warned that bus services across the country will 'disappear' as a result of the Government's spending cuts.