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

Saturday, 12 February 2011

BBC News

• Cork Airport resumes its servicesCork Airport is expected to resume full service from Saturday, following the clearance of the wreckage of the Metroliner Turboprop plane which crashed, killing six people.
• Glasgow Airport returns to growthGlasgow Airport sees passenger numbers rise for the first time since August 2007, the latest figures show.

Financial Times

• Passenger add-ons fuel Flybe‰across‰cold‰snap The low-cost airline says a rise in income from add-on fees such as baggage, food and priority booking has driven revenues in the three months to December
• EU launches Lufthansa code-share probeCompetition officials have opened an inquiry into code-sharing deals between the German group and Turkish Airlines and between Brussels Airlines and TAP Portugal

The Herald

• Scotland™s biggest airports report growthSCOTLAND™S three biggest airports saw signs of growth last month after an aviation crisis that has wiped out more than three million passenger journeys in as many years.
• Fears for Paolozzi mosaic after £1bn Tube revampTHE future of one of the most significant works by the great Scottish artist Sir Eduardo Paolozzi is at risk from a £1 bil-lion overhaul of its home, one of London™s busiest Tube stations.

The Independent

• Video: Taxis fight back against clampers Cabbies have blocked in a clamping firm after they immobolised one of their colleague's car.
• Minor British Institutions: Motorway service stations British motorway service stations have names “ Cullompton, Birchanger Green, Charnock Richard “ full of the wistful harking back that takes up a lot of our time and tablemats.
• For sale, one careful owner (and 720,000 miles on the clock)Love affairs come and go, but few can have endured with such lingering and obvious affection as that between Stuart Jenkinson and his motorbike Vinnylonglegs.

The Scotsman

• Network Rail accused of 'cover-up'The families of two girls killed at a railway level crossing more than five years ago have called for a fresh inquiry after the discovery of a document stating that their death....

The Telegraph

• Tory MP attacks opponents of high-speed rail scheme A Tory MP has sparked anger by describing opponents of the HS2 high-speed rail scheme a "ragtag alliance of luddites and nimbys".
• BMX rider who broke 20 bones ordered to pay for closure of road A BMX bicycle rider who broke 20 bones after colliding with a car has been handed a £240 bill to cover the cost of closing the road after the accident.

Daily Express

• Stelios Haji-Ioannou fuels row over easyJet boss's £1m payEASYJET founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou yesterday re-ignited his row with the airline's former chief executive by promising to vote against executive pay at next week's annual meeting.
• Rolls-Royce chief Sir John Rose leaves on a highTHE outgoing boss of jet engine maker Rolls-Royce unveiled higher annual profits yesterday despite a £56million hit from an engine blowout on an Airbus superjumbo.

Daily Record

• The most expensive road in Scotland Tiny access lane at Central Station is going under the hammer for £275,000

Mail Online

• Drivers endure 1m hours of delays on M25On one stretch of London’s orbital motorway, roadworks have caused 118 years of hold-ups in only 12 months, according to official figures.

The Sun

• Bus spotter blog picks up hundreds of followers Norfolk bus nut Gerard Fletcher has fans queuing to catch his blog - about the X1 service
• Million-pound film cars for sale CARS featured in some of Hollywood's biggest films are about to go on sale

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Conwy Valley rail line shut for another week after flooding RAIL commuters are facing another week of misery after Arriva Trains Wales confirmed the Conwy Valley line will remain shut for at least another week while vital repairs are carried out.
• A55 was free from roadworks for just 51 days last year TRANSPORT chiefs have revealed the A55 was free from roadworks for just 51 days last year.

London Evening Standard

• Pilot survives balloon crash but dies in fallA Briton fell to his death after escaping unscathed from his hot air balloon which crash landed in the Alps

Manchester Evening News

• Transport bosses vote for pensioners to lose early morning bus concessionsPensioners will lose their early morning bus concessions after transport bosses voted to make them pay the full price. Leaders of the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority say the move will help save school buses and other subsidised services from the axe.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Co-pilot killed in Cork plane crash from Sunderland THE parents of the co-pilot killed in the Cork plane crash have paid tribute to their son. Andrew Cantle, 27, and Spanish colleague Jordi Lopez, 31, were making a third attempt to bring down the turboprop aircraft in thick fog after a flight from Belfast to Cork.

Northern Echo

• Council agrees transport plan COUNCILLORS have formally passed a transport plan for Darlington.

Wales Online

• Audit chief took chauffeur-driven car to meeting on saving money A FORMER top official at the Wales Audit Office got the body to pay £464 for a chauffeur- driven Mercedes – to take him to a conference on how to save public money.

Other Regional Press

• Rush hour road hell goes onTHERE is no end in sight to motorists’ misery after Wigan Council admitted exhausting all options to improve congestion along a notorious commuter route.
• Trio jailed for bus attacks THREE men have been jailed for a vicious and unprovoked attack on a group of teenage boys on a night bus.
• Village marina plan set to failPlans for a multi-million pound marina look set to be turned down over road safety fears. The 240-berth scheme at North Kilworth on the Grand Union Canal is being proposed by Kilworth Developments and is supported by British Waterways, which runs the national canal network. The project has been opposed by two parish councils – North Kilworth and Husbands Bosworth – over road safety and over-development fears. Lutterworth Town Council, supported the scheme as it would generate tourism. However, highways experts agreed that the scheme would
• Sponsors sought for 14 drab roundaboutsDRAB roundabouts across Cheltenham could be spruced up with the help of community-spirited businesses. Sponsors are being sought to pay for 14 junctions to be brightened up with floral displays in an effort to make the town look more attractive. The move will enable cash-strapped borough council bosses to plant new flowers without the cost falling on the taxpayer. Cheltenham Borough Council environmental maintenance manager John Rees said:
• Cyclists start Cardiff journey TWENTY One cyclists left The Halliwell Jones Stadium this morning, embarking on their 170 mile journey to The Millenium Stadium in Cardiff!
• Learner driver caught drink driving after night outA TEENAGER took a road trip with a pal after a night out “ and was caught driving while more than three times the legal alcohol limit.

Global Rail News

• Amtrak reports ridership growthAmtrak has reported that January is the 15th straight month of ridership growth for the company and also the best January on record with 2,126,429 passengers. This strong performance is part of a long-term trend that has seen America™s railroads set annual ridership records in seven of the last eight fiscal years, including more than 28.7 million passengers in FY 2010. œThe steady rise in ridership demonstrates a growing demand and the ongoing need for ...
• GoSkills: Transport apprentices will fastrack to management rolesAt the close of apprenticeship week (7-11 February), GoSkills, the Sector Skills Council for Passenger Transport claims the career development potential for transport apprentices has never been greater. Interim Chief Executive for GoSkills, Neil Stokell says: œThe government™s backing for apprenticeships is firmer than ever and transport employers are placing greater value on the schemes as a means of boosting customer service and providing a pool of people who are ripe for management. A good ...

Railnews

• News: Station use declines, but Waterloo is still on top New figures showing the number of people who use British stations have reflected a modest decline in travel as a result of the economic downturn, particularly in the south east. The station statistics are older than the general passenger figures, which have started to rise again in the last twelve months.

Other News Sources

• FirstGroup maintains profits in West Yorkshire, but business shrinksBus operating company First West Yorkshire saw profits slip during the 52 weeks ended 27 March 2010, according to its annual accounts. Income growth failed to keep place with inflation and rising operating costs, so shrinking the overall size of … Continue reading →
• Wincanton dispute with Uniq settled with £2.25m paymentWincanton will be paid a final instalment of £2.25m by food group Uniq to settle a long-running logistics dispute.
• CV Show 2011: LEZ advice availablePhases 3 and 4 of the London Low Emission Zone start on 3 January 2012 and Eminox is inviting operators to an LEZ surgery at the CV Show 2011.
• HA accused of wasting £1bn on M25 projectsThe Highways Agency (HA) has been accused of wasting £1bn of taxpayers' money by MPs who said it mishandled a project to widen two stretches of the M25.
• RMT steps up fight to save hundreds of jobs at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary - the Royal Navy life lineMARITIME UNION RMT today announced that it is stepping up the national political and public fight against cuts plans at the Royal Navy's supplies lifeline - the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) - as a consequence of the ConDem Government's Strategic Defence and Security Review. RMT is piling pressure on MP's warning that hundreds of jobs, and three vessels out of the current sixteen servicing the naval fleet, remain under threat.
• Prestwick Airport to receive Malta service from RyanairPrestwick Airport is to receive a new service to Malta this summer operated by low-cost carrier Ryanair.From April 14th, the service will run twice weekly from the Scottish travel hub to the Mediterranean island, with tickets starting from £32.00 one way, inclusive of taxes. Seats for the new route went on sale on February 10th and those booked on the flight are entitled to free rail travel to Prestwick Airport.Paula Horne, from the travel hub, said: "We are delighted to have another hugely popular sunshine destination from Prestwick."Scots love Malta because of its climat...
• Leeds Bradford Airport-based Jet2.com adds extra flightsHolidaymakers looking to get to Spain and Portugal have been told Leeds Bradford Airport-based firm Jet2.com is adding 70,000 extra seats to its service.This means that 4,000 extra places will be available across its bases each week, enabling people to get to Mediterranean favourites like Alicante, Ibiza, Malaga and Majorca.Philip Meeson, boss of the airline, said: "Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow will see the largest growth in capacity as the airline responds to demand in the north with more flights going on sale immediately."Furthermore, staff at Leeds Bradford Airport hav...
• Green Claims Guide overlooks TyresDefra's updated green claims guidance is welcomed; however EPUK are surprised it fails to reference to the EU tyre labelling regulation.

Other Subscription Services

• Budget passed as Swinney dips into tram underspendMembers of the Scottish Parliament have passed the 2011-12 Budget Bill, confirming that funding will be provided for major transport infrastructure projects 7234.MSPs voted 79-48 in...