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

Tuesday, 01 November 2011

BBC News

• Calendar celebrating roundaboutsUnusual road landmarks captured for calendar
• Man killed after train collisionA man is killed in a collision with a train in north Wales, say British Transport Police.
• Should shipwrecks be left alone?It is 10 years since a deal to protect the world's thousands of shipwrecks, but the UK and several other major maritime powers are yet to ratify it. Should this underwater heritage be protected or is it acceptable to plunder?
• Biking festival 'worth £500,000'EventScotland estimates the economic impact of a week-long bike festival in the Borders as being more than £500,000.
• Driver admits death accident roleA driver admits causing the death of a teenager in a car crash in Aberdeenshire after speeding at more than 80mph.
• Man dies after being hit by busAn 84-year-old man, from Windygates in Fife, dies after being knocked down at a bus station in Glenrothes.
• VIDEO: Will MPs discuss Fair Fuel petition?Motoring journalist Quentin Willson, part of the Fair Fuel UK Campaign, said the government has badly handled the e-petition calling for lower petrol pump prices.
• Easyjet launches Manchester routeLow-cost airline Easyjet launches its new route from Belfast International Airport to Manchester.
• Titanic plan sells for £30,000A plan of the Titanic used in the inquiry into the sinking of the ship in 1912 sells at auction for £30,000.
• Todmorden Curve given green lightA rail link in the North West could be restored after being allocated £8.8m by the Government.
• Is this the end for Tube drivers?Driverless trains are on the agenda for Transport for London's board on Wednesday
• Heathrow part of HS2 alternativeShadow transport secretary Maria Eagle is to announce proposals for an alternative route for the HS2 rail link that takes in Heathrow Airport.
• Labour scraps third runway plansAnother runway at Heathrow airport is
• Heathrow runway use trial beginsA four-month trial that will make it easier for Heathrow Airport's two runways to be used simultaneously begins.
• New Dutch route takes to the skyEasyjet launches its latest route from Glasgow to Amsterdam's Schipol Airport
• ScotRail sets out winter packageRail firms say they will focus efforts on keeping the most used routes running if severe weather hits this winter.
• VIDEO: Lotus delight over £10.4m grantHundreds of new jobs will be created at Lotus Cars after the company was given £10.4m by the government.
• VIDEO: Qantas row sign of struggle to competeThe BBC's Aaron Heslehurst on Qantas airline's dispute with unions, and the change in leadership at the European Central Bank.
• SIA unveils new low-cost airlineSingapore airlines unveils a new budget carrier in a bid to cater to growing demand for low-cost flying in the region.

Financial Times

• Qantas: hopping mad CEO should be commended for his dramatic weekend gamble to force government action to halt strikes and get the airline flying again
• Labour drops support for third Heathrow runwayIndustry dismayed as the political consensus strengthens against the project, and calls for a long-term strategy to increase aviation capacity
• Air France cabin crew unions abort strikeNews that two cabin crew unions have decided against a five-day strike will be welcomed by the airline as its management argued it was not widely supported
• Nol loss confirms gloomy container ship trendSingapore's Neptune Orient Lines reports a loss of US$91m for the third quarter on rates per container down19 per cent year-on-year
• Alstom in spat with Siemens over China leaks Head of French engineering group claims German group may have inadvertently allowed key technical know-how to leak out to Chinese companies

The Guardian

• China takes next step in space station planChina has launched an unmanned spaceship in the latest step towards creating its own manned space station by 2020
• Qantas plans fare cuts to woo back customersAustralian airline is set to reduce prices and offer grounded passengers special promotional deals to restore confidenceQantas will reportedly cut fares in an effort to win back customers after the airline dramatically grounded its global fleet amid a dispute with striking staff.The Australian carrier is set to reduce prices and offer grounded passengers special promotional deals to restore customer confidence in the leadup to Christmas, the Australian Financial Review reports. It will also introduce a temporary move to double the rate of frequent flyer points earned.Qantas planes returned to ...

The Herald

• New plan to avoid repeat of winter railway chaosSCOTRAIL trains will be treated to power showers and be wrapped in 82-yard polythene bags this winter as part of a £2 million resilience plan to ensure the rail network keeps going in the event of extremely cold weather.

The Telegraph

• Labour drops backing for Heathrow third runwayHeathrow's lingering hopes of building a third runway have been dashed after the Labour withdrew its support for the project.

Mail Online

• Caroline Meeking 'kills husband Alan by pulling car handbrake at 60mph during row'Caroline Meeking (pictured), 45, allegedly locked the rear wheels of the Ford Escort after husband Alan, 49, who was driving, called her a ‘slut’ and told her he was leaving her.

The Mirror

• Wife 'killed her husband by pulling handbrake at 60mph'A WIFE wept in the dock yesterday as she was accused of killing her husband by pulling the handbrake of their car during a drunken row.

Birmingham Mail

• Erdington cyclist three-times over the drink drive limit when struck by two carsA CYCLIST from Erdington died after he went through a give-way sign and was in collision with two cars.

Bristol Live

• Bristol Evening Post commented Major blow for rail link funding in PortisheadArticle

Liverpool Post

• Liverpool-bound Virgin Train passengers told to sit on floor for safetyPASSENGERS on board a busy long- distance Virgin Trains service heading for Liverpool were shocked to be told they should sit on the floor for their own safety.

Metro

• Zebra crossing marks 60 years on UK roads but it could be facing extinctionBritain's zebra crossings are 60 years old today but, like the animal itself, are under severe threat.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• On track to keep trains running this winterTrains will get hot showers in defrosting polytunnels as part of a £2million plan to keep the rail network running in the Highlands throughout the winter.

Burnley Express

• New Manchester to Burnley fast rail link go-aheadALMOST £9m. of Government money is coming to Burnley.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Cyclist™s non-stop ride for the LegionA CYCLIST is preparing to cycle 243 miles non-stop from Leeds in Kent to Leeds, in Yorkshire, via Peterborough, to support the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

Sunderland Echo

• Could King Coal transform Sunderland fortunes once again?SUNDERLAND’S port will boom with coal exports if proposals to tap in to fossil fuels off the coast once more go ahead, a committee has heard.

Other Regional Press

• Cruise campaigners in warning to Government CRUISE war campaigners have warned the Government it would contravene its new ports policy if it let Liverpool grab a slice of Southampton™s lucrative cruise trade using taxpayers™ cash.
• Lorry stuck under railway bridge A LORRY was stuck under a railway bridge in Southampton this morning after the driver apparently misjudged the height of his vehicle.
• Banned drunk driver crashed into police car and injured two officersA BANNED driver injured two officers when he crashed a stolen car into a police vehicle, while twice over the drink drive limit.
• Parking plan boost for town shopsHUNDREDS of new parking spaces could be created to ease congestion and help struggling businesses in Greenock town centre.
• Two new routes for city™s airportGLASGOW Airport is flying high with a double destination boost.
• £1bn rail plan will slow town™s trainsRAIL journeys between Glasgow and Cumbernauld will take longer following a £1billion rail investment programme to allow in faster rail links with Edinburgh.
• Hunt launched for Aberdeen car winnerAN ABERDEEN woman has become the subject of a wanted poster “ so she can be handed a new car.
• Labour party opposes current route for HS2THE LABOUR party has come out against the government’s current favoured route for the controversial HS2 line set to cut through Warwickshire.

International Herald Tribune

• Airlines Are Trying to Cut Boarding Times on PlanesBoarding times at airports have doubled since the 1970s, prompting airlines to try all kinds of elaborate tricks to get passengers in speedily and leave the gate on time.

Global Rail News

• Metro continues to prepare for Bus Quality ContractsUp to 98% of county™s bus services being detrimentally affected by lack of real competition.
• Watchdog welcomes extra Overground trainsThe announcement of additional services on four out of the five London Overground rail routes has been welcomed by the capital™s statutory passenger watchdog. Sharon Grant, ...
• Bombardier honoured by Switzerland for investment in product developmentRail technology leader Bombardier has received the ‘Tell Award’ for the most significant technology project in Switzerland in recognition of its product development for Bombardier TWINDEXX ...
• East Coast employee scoops top national rail awardAn East Coast customer service assistant who tried in vain to save the life of a seriously ill passenger at York station has been named as ...

Aviation Industry

• Air China conducts first biofuel test flight in ChinaAir China (CA) conducted the latest biofuel demonstration flight Friday, operating a Boeing 747-400 with Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines partially powered by jatropha-based fuel.
• Qantas CEO welcomes government interventionFlights slowly return to normal after weekend of disruption due ot industrial dispute

Other News Sources

• New response service introduced on M80 ahead of winter Motorists on the M80 will have additional support this winter, following the introduction of an additional Trunk Road Incident Support Service (TRISS) on the route. The innovative Transport Scotland service comprises a support vehicle and a two-man crew, which will patrol the trunk road to identify and deal with incidents on the scene, reducing the need for police attendance at incidents and ensuring traffic is kept moving. read more
• Deep Transport O-licence revoked over missing 1,824 kmsWednesbury-based Deep Transport has had its O-licence revoked after a VOSA investigation uncovered 1,824 missing kilometres from tachograph charts during a two month period last year.
• Leaded petrol phased out by 2013The United Nations Environmental Programme has announced that leaded petrol will cease to be available in the world by 2013. Updated on 01/11/2011 08:41:55. © RAC breakdown cover and car insurance.
• Latest CC report casts shadow over quality partnerships as well as franchising, claims pteg31 October 2011
• Bids invited for £110M New Wear CrossingFirms are being invited to pre-qualify for the £110M for the New Wear Crossing along with associated highway works in Sunderland today.
• UK to allow armed guards on cargo shipsProtection against 'the stain' of piracy in high-risk waters is needed, says Cameron
• DSV Road Ltd invests in driver-performance monitoring technologyDSV Road Ltd has invested in technology that will enable the global transport and logistics operator to reduce fuel consumption, extend equipment life and cut carbon emissions. A long-term customer of Navman Wireless, DSV has expanded vehicle tracking across its fleet of 250 HGVs. The technology has been enhanced with Navman Wireless™ CANbus Engine Management System, which will enable DSV to identify over-revving, excessive acceleration, harsh breaking and other key indicators of less than optimal driver performance. The Operator is in the process of updating their telematics and has made a si...
• British sensing technology keeps trucks roadworthyAs HGV manufacturers around the world step-up to meet Euro VI legislation, which comes into effect in 2013, one British company is helping in the battle to reduce Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) and particulate emissions with a neat piece of sensing technology. Gentech Sensors has launched a range of specialist SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) sensors specially designed to measure the presence, level, temperature of AdBlue®. Efficient measurement and management of AdBlue® not only increases engine performance but helps manufacturers avoid high penalties, ultimately keeping trucks on the road. And From...
• Turnover up £10m at Europa WorldwideEuropa Worldwide Logistics says it is on target for 12% growth in 2011, coming off the back of a £10m increase in turnover in 2010.
• Tanker lives shortening?TANKER owners have been advised to consider scrapping older double-hull VLCCs and Suezmaxes to ease the overhang in those segments.
• Older bulker buys riseRECOVERY in bulker rates, unforeseen months ago, has encouraged secondhand purchases in the sector, brokers told Fairplay today.
• EU Energy: Commission sets out new safety standards for offshore oil and gas operationsThe likelihood of a major offshore accident in European waters remains unacceptably high. With a stringent safety regime it is possible to bring the risk of such an accident down to the absolute minimum. Damage done to the environment and coastal economies can be significantly reduced if an effective emergency response plan is put in place beforehand.
• EU Energy: Belgium Becomes Latest European Country To Scrap Nuclear PowerBelgium could be the fourth European country to switch off nuclear power following Germany, Switzerland and Italy in the wake of the Fukushima disaster in Japan earlier this year.  Six Belgian political parties working on the formation of a new coalition government have agreed to scrap nuclear power conditionally.
• 'File a Flight Plan Day' - pilots get a pre-flight breifingFull details of how to participate in the 12 November 'File a Flight Plan Day' have been released on a podcast by the Airspace & Safety Initiative (ASI). The event, designed to familiarise pilots with the flight planning processes ahead of the London 2012 Olympics, will allow participants to file a dummy flight plan between 10:00 and 15:00 on Saturday 12 November.
• Travel for Work Partnership annual report is publishedThe Cambridgeshire Travel for Work Partnership Report for 2010-11 is published online.01/11/11
• IATA: September Passenger Traffic Rises But Freight DeclinesThe International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced traffic results for September showing diverging trends for cargo and passenger traffic. Passenger traffic was 5.6% higher than the...

Other Subscription Services

• GL and DSME point way to giant gas-fuelled boxshipsJoint design project proposes 14,000 teu vessel
• Calls to ban ransom payments are misguidedBanning ransoms would outlaw the only method a shipowner has to remove his crew from harm™s way and rescue his vessel