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

Wednesday, 18 April 2012

BBC News

• Cosford railway station reopening delayed again A row has erupted over the reopening of a Shropshire railway station which has been delayed for a second time.
• Disabled transport journey bidFour young disabled people start a four-day journey across Wales to highlight public transport issues and to mark 40 years of a disability charity.
• Train 'missed stop by two miles'A rail company is to be prosecuted after a passenger train allegedly overshot a station in East Sussex by almost two-and-a-half miles.
• Forth bridge works fast-trackedWork to replace almost 1,000 heavy duty bolt assemblies on the Forth Road Bridge is to be fast-tracked after more cracked parts are found.
• Tube staff set for 72-hour strikeWorkers who maintain and upgrade lines on London Underground are to go on strike for 72 hours from next Tuesday in a dispute over pensions and benefits.
• Court bid over taxis in bus laneTransport for London takes High Court action after a minicab firm told its drivers to begin illegally using bus lanes in the capital.
• Italy leads drop in EU car salesCar sales in Italy were down 26.7% in March compared with a year earlier, leading the falls in European car sales.
• UK low emission car sales soaringUK drivers are increasingly choosing fuel efficient cars with historically low carbon dioxide emissions, according to motor industry body SMMT.

Financial Times

• BMI sale price poised to fallNo agreement has been reached to sell BMIbaby and regional airline as the deal-completion date for IAG™s purchase from Lufthansa looms
• Iberia looks to slash pilots™ payCarrier takes hard line in battle with union over cost cuts and launch of budget carrier to compete with the likes of Ryanair and EasyJet
• US warns over EU stance on airline emissionsEnvoy says plans by the European bloc to charge foreign airlines for their carbon emissions could hold up global climate change talks
• Gatwick sets sights on fresh marketsThe chief executive of the UK™s second largest airport believes it is well placed to transform itself into a hub similar to Heathrow

The Herald

• BMI axes two Scottish routesFLIGHTS from Edinburgh and Glasgow to Leeds Bradford International Airport have been axed by BMI days before the struggling airline is due to be sold.
• Flight tax hurting UK, warn airlinesOVERSEAS tourists have been put off coming to the UK during the Olympics because of punitive air taxes, a coalition of business and aviation leaders has claimed.

The Independent

• Simon Calder: End of the runway for BMI, but will passengers suffer? BMI could be about to vanish. British Midland, as was, has done wonders for UK travellers. But by Friday the Heathrow-based part of its operation is set to become part of IAG and will be subsumed into BA. What will it all mean for passengers – and staff?
• Intensive rail engineering work set to disrupt Diamond Jubilee celebrationsWant to pay your respects to Her Majesty? Catch the rail-replacement bus or get on your bike. Well-wishers heading to London for the Queen™s Diamond Jubilee in early June could find their travel plans scuppered by intensive engineering work across the rail network.Related StoriesSoutheastern faces prosecution after train overshoots station by over two miles400,000 public sector workers set to strike over 'cruel' and 'unfair' pension reformsAutistic teenager who killed himself suffered years of intimidation at the hands of college bulliesCadet died helping colleagueTalks to be held over Tube ac...
• Talks to be held over Tube actionTalks which will be aimed at averting a 72-hour strike by London Underground maintenance workers are to be held tomorrow.Related StoriesIntensive rail engineering work set to disrupt Diamond Jubilee celebrationsSoutheastern faces prosecution after train overshoots station by over two miles400,000 public sector workers set to strike over 'cruel' and 'unfair' pension reformsAutistic teenager who killed himself suffered years of intimidation at the hands of college bulliesCadet died helping colleague

The Scotsman

• Lib Dem election plan: Lets have more trams EDINBURGH’S embattled tram scheme would be extended down Leith Walk and built out to Little France under an election pledge by the city’s ruling Lib Dems revealed today.
• Spanish air tax hike prompts Ryanair to take extra cash from passengers RYANAIR customers are to face extra charges on flights they have already paid for because of planned increases to airport tax by the Spanish government.
• Chris Harvie: The new railway children WITH oil price rises running against the car, it’s time Scotland unlocked its potential to help establish a fresh balance of power that draws on our long history with rail, argues Chris Harvie

The Telegraph

• Foreign airlines shunning UK due to lack of space at Heathrow airport, BAA boss Colin Matthews reveals Foreign airlines are “voting with their feet” and building networks outside of the UK due to the Government’s paralysis on aviation policy, ministers will be warned on Wednesday.

Press Association

• Airlines 'shun UK over Heathrow' World airlines are shunning the UK due to capacity constraints at Heathrow Airport, a survey has found.

Daily Express

• Eurostar's holiday liftCASH-strapped holidaymakers are taking short city breaks rather than long overseas holidays, boosting sales at international train operator Eurostar.

The Mirror

• Taxi for tycoon's unfare cabs deal: Cameron slammed over contract for £250k Tory donor At least six Whitehall departments hold accounts with John Griffin’s Addison Lee firm, which has given £250,000 to the Tories

Liverpool Post

• Network Rail under pressure to cancel FA Cup final weekend engineering workNETWORK Rail is coming under increasing pressure to cancel engineering work on FA Cup final weekend.

Sheffield Star

• Cheap rail fares to see OlympicsSOUTH Yorkshire sports fans planning to attend events at the London Olympics are being urged to book rail tickets in the next few weeks.
• How un-fare: Sheffield OAP angry at bus pass swapA PENSIONER has hit out at an ’anomaly’ which means disabled people in Sheffield lose an automatic right to free travel for their carer once they reach retirement age.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Public™s views sought on future growth of airportBosses at Aberdeen Airport are seeking the views of the public on a blueprint for the future development of the city operation.

Yorkshire Post

• Tax levy hope in fight for transport funding A NEW levy on council tax bills for residents across much of Yorkshire could be combined with up to £25m a year in devolved Whitehall funding to pay for a massive investment programme in the region’s creaking transport networks.
• New cars get greener as carbon emissions tumbleCars are getting greener, according to new figures on emission levels.

Carlisle News & Star

• CARLISLE MP WANTS MONEY INVESTED IN CITY'S TRAIN STATION Carlisle MP John Stevenson will today demand significant investment in Carlisle station as part of the new franchise for the West Coast Main Line.

Other Regional Press

• Forecourt work is back on track A £6.7m project to revamp the forecourt at Didcot Parkway railway station is back on track after a year of delays.
• ˜Aberdeen drivers spend one million hours a year stuck in traffic™ABERDEEN™S worst bottlenecks are costing drivers one million hours a year, transport bosses revealed today.
• Pilot in mid-air jet scareA PILOT on the way to the North-east was forced to make a U-turn amid fears of a collision with a military jet.

Global Rail News

• London Tube workers to strike again for 72 hours in dispute over pensions and benefitsThe RMT today confirmed 72 hours of strike action following a four to one vote in a ballot of Tube Lines staff in support of a dispute over pensions and benefits justice. Following a decision of the union™s executive all RMT members have been instructed to take strike action as follows: to stop work at [...]
• Infrarail special: Lifecycle supportKorec is ‘delighted to be at Infrarail 2012′, the UK rail market is essential to its business and it is proud to exhibit at and support this important event. With an established presence in the rail market, the Korec team will be on hand to talk about the latest innovations in laser scanning, construction & [...]
• Tracking Up at InfrarailArcGen Hilta will be exhibiting, and providing information on, a range of products ideal for the rail industry, including its Network Rail approved SMC TL-90 lighting tower and ArcGen Hilta Weldmaker 165SP2. It will also be showcasing the very best of its lighting portfolio, with the Lumaphore and LED ranges. As one of the UK™s [...]

Railnews

• Underground maintenance staff to strike A long-running dispute over employment rights for Tube Lines staff has triggered a 72-hour strike by some London Underground maintenance workers next week. Three lines will be affected.

The Business Desk

• Rail operator chooses TracsisTRANSPORT software firm Tracsis has secured a "significant contract", the company announced this morning.

Aviation Industry

• JetBlue and Japan Airlines reach deal on code sharing agreementJetBlue Airways Corp. and Japan Airlines said Tuesday that they reached a deal on a codeshare agreement that will make it easier for travellers to book flights between the U.S. East Coast and Japan.
• Easyjet launches virtual card productAirline says deal with Enett will make payment easier for agents and buyers
• EC hits back at Virgin Atlantic over Bmi claimsCommission defends decision to clear Bmi sale and refutes Branson's competition claims

Other News Sources

• Mace cable car reaches construction milestoneThe UK™s first urban cable car - the Emirates Air Line - has reached a major construction milestone under main contractor Mace.
• Eurostar sees 'flat' business travel bookingsStrong leisure sales helps train operator to increase passengers during first quarter