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

Saturday, 19 March 2011

BBC News

• Airport reopens after bomb alertEdinburgh airport has reopened after being evacuated due to the discovery of a suspicious package, operator BAA confirms.
• Potters Bar crash charge droppedThe rail maintenance firm Jarvis will not face charges over the 2002 Potters Bar rail crash, in which seven died and 76 were injured.

Department for Transport

• Transport Statistics: Quarterly Bus Statistics: Q4 2010The Department for Transport has today published the following Transport Statistics:

Financial Times

• Hutchison Ports disappoints on IPO debutHutchison Ports Holdings Trust slipped 6.4 per cent on its debut in Singapore as nervous markets undermined confidence after its $5.5bn initial public offering
• Air France faces Rio-Paris crash probeThe move comes a day after investigating magistrate Judge Sylvie Zimmerman told Airbus that it would be investigated over flight 447, in which all 228 passengers and crew died

Reuters News

• BA worker jailed for plane bomb plotLONDON (Reuters) - An Islamist who worked as a British Airways computer expert was jailed for 30 years on Friday for plotting with a radical cleric to blow up a plane bound for the United States.

Birmingham Mail

• Commons committee to probe case for high speed rail link The Government's controversial HS2 high-speed rail scheme, which will initially run from London to Birmingham, is to be the subject of a Parliamentary committee inquiry.

Birmingham Post

• Confusion over high speed rail compensation Almost half of property owners who will be affected by the proposed high speed rail link between London and Birmingham still do not know if they will be eligible for compensation.

Journal Live

• BA terror plotter Rajib Karim jailed for 30 years A TYNESIDE computer expert who worked for British Airways was jailed for 30 years yesterday for plotting to launch a 9/11-style terror attack from the UK.
• Cork plane crash investigation raises concerns SERIOUS concerns have been raised following an investigation into a plane crash that killed a North East pilot.

London Evening Standard

• 30 years for BA terror plotterA British Airways computer expert has been jailed for 30 years for plotting to launch a 9/11-style terror attack from the UK.

The York Press

• York transport plan nears completion A BLUEPRINT for the future of York™s transport network has moved a step closer to being rubber-stamped.

Wales Online

• Tough times dampen any fuel protest plans THE prospect of a fresh wave of fuel protests like those seen in 2000 is highly unlikely because businesses cannot afford to lose trade, haulage bosses said last night.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Airport hits back at being blamed for service axeGATWICK Airport has hit back at an airline’s claims that its rising charges have caused the axing of daily Leeds to London flights.

Yorkshire Post

• Committee of MPs to look into case for high-speed rail networkA MAJOR inquiry is being launched by MPs into the Government’s case for a £32bn high-speed rail network amid a fierce campaign against the plans by protesters along the first phase of the route.

Other Regional Press

• Bus cuts not as bad as first feared FIFTEEN of the 250 bus services subsidised by Somerset County Council are to be withdrawn completely - far less than the 125 services originally feared.
• High speed rail issue splits council councilPLANS to build a controversial high speed rail link through Northamptonshire have split members of the county council.
• Under fire Southeastern gets its contract extendedKent's controversial rail operator has been given the go-ahead to continue running services until 2014 - what's your reaction?
• Under fire Southeastern gets its contract extendedKent's controversial rail operator has been given the go-ahead to continue running services until 2014 - what's your reaction?
• Scots asked to back UK™s high speed rail planScotland has been asked to back UK plans for a high-speed rail network “ that won™t extend north of the Border for at least 20 years.
• New Transport Policy for 16 to 19 year olds approvedCentral Bedfordshire Council's Executive has approved a new policy on the provision of free or subsidised transport for students in further education.
• Community bus lifeline is savedA COMMUNITY bus and lifeline for elderly people was almost at the end of the road but has been saved thanks to generous donations.

Washington Post

• Japan car makers seek parts suppliers after quake TOKYO -- Japan's major automakers are trying to find alternative parts suppliers to replace those knocked out of action by the colossal earthquake last week that has forced most of the country's car production to a halt.
• Some airlines put Japan expansion on hold -- Even as airlines added extra flights to get people out of Tokyo, their long-term plans for expansion there have been thrown into doubt.
• BA worker jailed for 30 years for plane bomb plot LONDON -- A British judge sentenced a former British Airways computer specialist to 30 years in jail Friday for plotting with U.S.-born extremist cleric Anwar al-Awlaki to kill hundreds of people by blowing up a U.S.-bound plane.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• England sees fall in bus passenger activityThe number of bus passenger journeys in England fell by 0.5 per cent during 2009-10 compared with the previous year.Latest statistics for the form of transport also show there was a drop of 0.1 per cent in activity between the third quarter of 2010 and the last three months of the year.In addition to falling passenger journeys, the number of bus vehicle miles completed during the 2009-10 year decreased by 1.2 per cent and bus fares rose over the 12 months to March 2010 by 0.2 per cent in real terms.Finally, the proportion of local bus services operating revenue derived from passenger fare rece...

Global Rail News

• New Southeastern high speed service introduced for MaidstoneSoutheastern today announced the start of a new High Speed service from Maidstone to St Pancras International via Strood on a trial basis. The trial service ...
• DfT: Yorkshire would be ˜big winner™ from high speed railCivic and business leaders from across Yorkshire gathered in Sheffield today to hear how the region could be transformed by high speed rail. Ahead of the ...
• Passenger Focus responds to Southeastern franchise newsTunde Olatunji, Passenger Focus manager, said: œToday™s announcement confirming the two year extension of Southeastern™s franchise will be received with mixed feelings by those passengers who ...
• Gatwick Express recognises easyJet as best performing airlineGatwick Express, the non-stop rail-air link between central London and Gatwick Airport, has today recognised easyJet, the UK™s largest airline, as the best performing airline for ...
• RMT: ˜Dropping of Potters Bar charges a travesty™The dropping of charges against Jarvis in relation to the 2002 Potters Bar crash which killed 7 and injured 70 more is a travesty, Britain™s RMT ...
• Virgin Trains adding extra trains for FA Cup semi finalsVirgin Trains has reported they are urgently working with clubs involved in the FA Cup semi finals over the weekend of 16/17 April 2011 to ensure ...
• MPs to conduct inquiry into the strategic case for HS2The Transport Committee has decided to undertake an inquiry into the strategic case for High Speed Rail. The Committee will focus on the principal arguments for ...

Railnews

• News: Southeastern extension comes with more High Speed The Southeastern franchise has been extended by two years, and will now expire at the end of March 2014. The operator has been under fire after narrowly avoiding the compensation threashold in its last performance statistics, but will now introduce a ’delay repay’ scheme. Rail users in west Kent may also be mollified by the news that High Speed trains will run to Maidstone from May.

Railway Gazette

• World rolling stock market March 2011Australia: In February UGL Rail announced contracts totalling A$225m to supply nine GE Evolution locomotives to Rio Tinto, an additional 25 Oscar EMUs to RailCorp, and 10 C44Aci locomotives and wagon maintenance services to Freightliner. Belarus: BC has placed a 8·1bn ruble order for six 620M single-car DMUs to be built by Belkomunmash under licence from Pesa for delivery from August. Belkomunmash plans to produce similar two and three-car units. Canada: Quebec North Shore & Labrador has ordered a further five winterised EMD SD70ACe locomotives for delivery from August, augmenting seven ...

Transport for London

• TfL's undercover inspectors crack down on fare evasionFare evasion costs Transport for London (TfL) almost £75m a year in public money.

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow airport goes green for charityHeathrow airport staff turned Terminal 1 green on St. Patrick™s Day, March 17, as they launched their 2011 charity of the year campaign for Macmillan Cancer Support...
• Airlines in fundraising efforts for JapanJapan Airlines (JAL) and Finnair are among the airlines asking members of their loyalty programmes to donate miles towards relief work in Japan

Other News Sources

• Dropping of Potters Bar charges a travesty says RMTRailway maintenance must not be hived off to contract culture again
• Boris may bring bikes to streetsA MAJOR Boris Bike-style cycle hire scheme proposal for Reading is stepping up a gear.
• Baker urges Scotland to back high speed railScottish politicians and business leaders have been urged to support the Westminster government™s proposals for a new high speed rail network or risk missing out on influencing the plans for the route.
• Stansted Airport gets new express trainsStansted Airport has marked its 20th anniversary week by getting new express trains.The official launch of the Stansted Express trains was marked by a naming ceremony at Liverpool Street Station in London. The event was attended by MP Philip Hammond, the secretary of state for transport, who unveiled one of the vehicles that will operate between the travel hub and Cambridge from May.People can now catch the trains to the travel hub where they can stay at a Stansted Airport hotel.Nick Barton, the facility's managing director, said: "The replacement of the existing rolling stock gives S...
• Maintaining air links with Japan The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has issued its first assessment of the potential impact of Japan's crisis on global air transport. read more
• Users to pay more for greener transportCommission to set out path to cleaner transport, but Green groups say plans delay action.
• Scotland: Bus EmissionsUrban areas in Glasgow and Edinburgh are to see cleaner buses following awards of over £500,000 of funding from the Scottish Government's Bus Retro-fitting Fund, Keith Brown announced today.
• London cable car approvedLondon Mayor Boris Johnson™s proposed cable car across the Thames yesterday received its final planning approval.
• EASA - CAA Responses to NPAs and CRDsResponses to Consultations on Notices of Proposed Amendments and Comment Response Documents - CAA responses on NPA 2010-14 - Implementing Rules for Flight and Duty Time Limitations and Rest Requirements for Commerical Air Transport (CAT) with Aeroplanes
• New Flights from GlasgowIcelandair have just announced new nonstop flights from Glasgow to Iceland starting 20th September 2011. These flights will replace the current Glasgow “ Reykjavik “ Manchester – Glasgow œtriangle route and connect to Icelandair™s North American destinations. The new flights will operate three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The result will be [...]
• Flybe announces new Manston (Kent) to Belfast City RouteFlybe has today announced a new route between Belfast and Manston. This is the second route that will be operated by Flybe out of Manston airport, providing customers with a direct route to the heart of the Northern Ireland capital. Flybe™s popular service between Manston and Edinburgh is set to continue, however Flybe has taken [...]

Other Subscription Services

• Southeastern extension addresses Maidstone gaps GoVia, the 65/35 joint venture between Go-Ahead and Keolis, has been granted a two year extension of its Southeastern rail franchise by the Department for Transport.The franchise will now run until...
• ORR drops Jarvis Rail Potters Bar prosecution The Office of Rail Regulation has confirmed that it will not proceed with the prosecution of Jarvis Rail Limited over the 2002 Potters Bar derailment.According to the regulator, while there remains...