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

Tuesday, 05 April 2011

BBC News

• Micham Eastfields level crossing targeted by police A south London level crossing which more than 100 people have been caught misusing has been targeted by police.
• 'No change' needed to Jersey speed limits A panel of Jersey politicians said there was no evidence a change in the island's speed limits was needed.
• Southampton to Midlands £70m rail route revamp complete A £70m upgrade of the rail route between Southampton docks and the Midlands has been completed after two years of work, £10m under budget.
• London vans emissions discountsLondon Mayor Boris Johnson announces discounts to van and minibus drivers who buy new, cleaner vehicles.

Financial Times

• US regulators to require checks on Boeing 737sUS safety regulators are set to issue an emergency safety directive for some models one of the world's most common commercial jets in response to the dramatic forced landing of a Boeing 737-300 jet flown by Southwest Airlines
• American and Expedia end feud over ticket feesAmerican Airlines and Expedia reached a détente in their long-running feud over distribution fees and technology, agreeing to a deal
• National Express lobbies investors and analysts Transport group embarks on a fresh charm offensive of City shareholders and analysts as the transport group comes under pressure from a US activist investor
• German trains closer to crossing the ChannelRegulator to consider safety rule changes proposed by Eurotunnel that would allow the latest design of German-built high-speed passenger train to use the tunnel

The Guardian

• National Express boss accuses US investor of flouting governance rules John Devaney urges shareholders to reject election of non-execs who could lead National Express out of Britain

The Independent

• Row after minister's 'cheap holidays' remark Ministers were accused of double standards today after policy chief Oliver Letwin apparently said the Government did not want more ordinary people taking cheap holidays abroad.

The Scotsman

• Train to overtake plane for inter-city travel AIR travel between UK cities is falling in popularity while the numbers journeying by train is soaring, according to new figures out today.
• National Express shareholders urged to defy US hedge fund over directors National Express chairman John Devaney has hit back at the American hedge fund intent on engineering a sell-off of the British transport firm, urging shareholders to vote down its attempt to install three directors.

The Telegraph

• Improving roads could save lives and money, report claims Improving roads could save 6,000 lives and billions of pounds over the next decade, according to a report published today.
• Boeing 737: the aircraft favoured by low-cost airlines across the globe The Boeing 737 has been caught up in a safety scare in America, leading to the company recommending that airlines across the world check older models of 737 planes for fatigue cracks.
• High-speed rail: more doubt over the economic case [blog]In all the arguments about High Speed Two, the Government’s sexy new supertrain from London to Birmingham, it’s often forgotten that we already have a High Speed One – the domestic service along the Eurostar high-speed line from London to Kent.
• Blow to Elliott Advisors as Cosmens appear to back National Express board National Express's board has unanimously told shareholders to reject an attempt by Elliott Advisors to shake up the board in a move that appears to deal a blow to the aggressive hedge fund.

Reuters News

• BA awards airport lounge WiFi contract Spectrum Interactive has announced that it is to provide public WiFi services at some of the biggest and busiest airline lounges across the UK, through a new contract with one of the world’s leading premium airlines, British Airways.

Daily Express

• National Express tells Elliott where to get offA ROW has broken out at bus and train group National Express after it rebuffed a rebel investor's demand for a shake-up of growth strategy.

Network Rail

• COMPLETED RAIL FREIGHT UPGRADE BOOST FOR BRITAIN (With new images)
• RAIL WORK MAKES ROOM FOR BIODIVERSITY IN COTSWOLD
• NETWORK RAIL AWARDS RAILWAY HERITAGE TRUST FUNDING TO 2019

Belfast Telegraph

• Bombardier 'turns corner' as jet orders starting to take offBombardier Aerospace has "turned the corner" with a pick-up in business jet orders in the fourth quarter of last year, according to its parent firm's latest results. The owner of Shorts, which employs 5,120 people in east Belfast, said revenues for the year to January 31 were $8.6bn (£5.3bn), compared to $9.4bn (£5.8bn) the year earlier.

London Evening Standard

• Checks ordered as Tube sets off with open doorsSafety checks on the entire 80-strong fleet of Piccadilly line trains have been carried out after a crowded train moved off with some doors still open
• Boris Johnson lands discount deal for green vansBoris Johnson has negotiated discounts of up to £3,500 on the price of new vans and minibuses to get drivers to trade in older, more polluting vehicles

The York Press

• Transport hopes [letter]IT IS clear the A1079 needs a major overhaul. I agree with several of your readers that it was not built for the traffic it receives.

Wales Online

• WAG’s body for transport users ’has a horrible whiff’ AN OFFICIAL body set up for train and bus users could be more like a government cheerleader than a watchdog, say critics.

Carlisle News & Star

• CUMBRIAN COUNCILLOR MAKES PLEDGE OVER GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT CASH A senior councillor has pledged that a £288,000 Government grant to boost community transport in Cumbria will be “put to good use”.

Other Regional Press

• Historic Blackfriars Railway Bridge shields dismantled for Thameslink works The two historic London, Chatham & Dover Railway crests at the southern end of the former Blackfriars Railway Bridge were dismantled last month as work continues on the construction of a new cross-river station as part of the Thameslink Programme.

Campaign for Better Transport

• When is a consultation not a consultation? When it's the Heysham M64 April: The controversial Heysham M6 Link is set to be the first road scheme to go before the Infrastructure Planning Commission read more

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• The Hub - Cycling Knowledge for Professionals Welcome to The Hub; new home for Cycling England's online resources. These pages are now hosted by The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport - CILT(UK) - as a free service to interested professionals.
• Cycle tracks 'reduce injuries to bike users' Using a cycle track rather than riding bikes on the road is safer for individuals and results in fewer crashes.
• High-speed rail 'will provide big rise in commuter services' The transport secretary has declared the HS2 plans for the UK's rail network will result in a sharp increase in the number of commuter trains in operation.

Aviation Industry

• Turkish Airlines orders 15 new aircraftThe Turkish national carrier has placed an order with aircraft manufacturer Boeing for 15 737 aircraft worth $1.2 billion
• Bmi launches codeshare with Oman AirOman Air has started codesharing on Bmi™s domestic routes from London Heathrow.
• Heathrow not the only option, says Flybe chiefA senior figure at Flybe has reassured Glasgow passengers worried about changing at Heathrow that there are other options

Green Miscellany

• Cyclists get catalytic converters for their nostrils Cyclists who want to protect themselves from dust, pollen and diesel particulates in traffic but would rather not wear a cumbersome face mask have the option of wearing tiny screens that attach to the rim of each nostril. read more

Other News Sources

• Rail link for supersized containers opens in Southampton AN upgraded freight rail link to transport supersized containers between Southampton and the West Midlands is officially opened today.
• Government tries to dodge EU fine with £5m for London clean air fund Plans to tackle London's abysmal air quality have been given a double boost after the government pledged an extra £5m to help cut pollution, and the Mayor announced a package of vehicle discounts to help firms comply with new emissions standards.

News from Europe

• Deutsche Bahn Revenue, Profit Surged in 2010 Strong freight, global logistics recovery drives double-digit gains Germany's Deutsche Bahn, Europe's biggest rail operator, posted double digit revenue and earnings growth in 2010 as its freight and global logistics units recovered strongly from the deep economic slump in 2009.