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

Sunday, 18 September 2011

BBC News

• Heathrow Airport 'pods' launched at Terminal 5 car park Automatic pods transporting passengers using Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5 in west London have been officially launched following a year-long trial.
• Tram repair works get under wayEdinburgh's Princes Street shuts to all traffic for 10 months of repairs on the city's controversial tram route.

The Guardian

• New jobs in Bombardier's sights Southern rail franchise opens bidding for 130 new train carriages

The Observer

• Backbench MPs join opposition to £32bn high-speed rail link HS2 opponents have fought threat to areas of outstanding natural beauty, but now they say the economic case is flawed too

The Telegraph

• The aviation hole in George Osborne's growth plan George Osborne made a big play for growth on Friday. Speaking at The Telegraph Festival of Business in Manchester he said that his was a Government ready to back British business and ensure that the UK economy would soon bounce back.
• Coalition aviation policy leaves UK trade grounded, says report The Government's aviation policy will face a fresh attack this week when a new report reveals that Heathrow is falling further behind its European competitors in the battle for lucrative routes to emerging market economies.
• Cable thefts that cause rail chaos could be inside jobs, say police Police suspect cable thefts which have caused chaos on the railways could be “inside jobs” by criminal gangs.
• Personal transport pods unveiled at Heathrow Airport [with video]Heathrow Airport has begun to transport passengers in computer controlled, driverless, car-sized personal 'pods'.
• Jaguar confirms £400m plant in the Midlands Jaguar Land Rover is poised to deliver a major boost to the Government's plans to boost growth by confirming this week that it will build a £400m engine plant in the Midlands that will potentially create up to 2,000 jobs.
• It pays to have a one-hour commute to London, says Halifax study Commuting to London is cheaper than living and working in the city, according to research showing that those who live in the suburbs pay substantially less for their home, which then offsets their travel costs.

Press Association

• BAA to fight on in airport sell-off Airports operator BAA has vowed to fight on in its battle against a ruling that it must sell Stansted and either Edinburgh or Glasgow airports.

Daily Express

• BMI IN DANGER OF ’BECOMING BOMBARDIER’ GOVERNMENT intervention is needed to protect jobs at British Midland (bmi) and to prevent it becoming “another Bombardier”, according to the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa).

Journal Live

• Metro expansion plans revealed to expand system THE Metro could be expanded to new parts of the region after transport bosses unveiled a decade worth of expansion plans.

London Evening Standard

• Wake up... we need Boris Island, ministers are toldOne of Boris Johnson's top advisers today launched a stinging attack on the Government in a bid to force them to "wake up" to the need for new airport near London.
• Passengers in stranded Tube train feared terrorist attack Passengers caught up in Jubilee line chaos near Bond Street told today how they feared there had been a Tube terrorist attack.

The York Press

• York Station wins awards YORK station has scooped two top awards at the prestigious National Rail Awards 2011.

Other Regional Press

• Devon and Cornwall to win control of transport spendingMuch-delayed plans to create a second major highway into the Westcountry could be revived after an overhaul of transport spending.
• Kirklees taxis to carry commercial advertising CABBIES in Huddersfield could be earning extra money.
• Station ticket office to reduce opening hours?A BUSY railway station could have its ticket office opening hours reduced if the government follows advice to close nearly 700 ticket offices across the country.

Aviation Industry

• Aviation industry won’t take no for an answer on Heathrow expansionThe government has made it quite clear that it will not support a third runway at Heathrow. Despite this, British Airways recently asked Hillingdon council to block development, except airport-related development, around the airport  to leave room for expansion. The council refused. BAA, the airport operator, is holding onto the houses that it purchased when it was expecting to build [...]
• Simulator instructors at American approve contractAmerican Airlines said Friday that ground school and simulator pilot instructors ratified a new contract, while another small group of employees rejected a proposed deal.
• British Airways on Tourism IndustryBritish Airways CEO Keith Williams discussed his worldview of the tourism industry at the Caribbean Tourism Organization Conference held on September 16, 2011.
• Direct Flights to Cuba Kick Off With a PartyThe atmosphere was lively at the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood-International Airport Saturday morning as eager passengers celebrated the return of direct flights from South Florida to Cuba.
• Delta to cut 2012 flying by 2-3 percentDelta Air Lines Inc. announced more flying cuts for this year and 2012, aiming to fly only the routes where it can make money with high fuel prices.

Green Miscellany

• Both electric and petrol cars get louder Even though car manufacturers spend millions on the development of technology to make petrol engines quieter and electric vehicles that are near silent, both types of vehicle look set to get louder in the near future. read more

Other News Sources

• HS2 protesters attend final select committee THE final session of the Transport Select Committee on high speed rail took place in London on Tuesday with opponents still declaring that the business case had not been made.
• MP pleased HS2 will be debated in the House of Commons An MP has welcomed the news that Parliament will discuss HS2 after a date was confirmed for a debate on the issue.
• Air Canada Receives Strike Notice from CUPE - Airline revises ticketing policy so customers can change bookings free of chargeAir Canada has received a strike notice from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the airline's 6,800 flight attendants, confirming the union's intention to begin a...
• David Arendt to leave Cargolux to take up new challenge at Luxembourg airportCargolux announced today that David Arendt has resigned as the Company's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He will leave the Company before the end of the year. Until that...