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

Saturday, 21 April 2012

BBC News

• Anglesey railway track clear-up brings Gaerwen-Amlwch reopening closer A clear-up of disused tracks on Anglesey will bring plans by railway enthusiasts to open a line between Gaerwen and Amlwch a step closer.
• BA-owner completes BMI takeoverThe owner of British Airways and Iberia, IAG, has completed its takeover of BMI from Lufthansa.

Financial Times

• IAG secures discount to complete BMI dealOwner of BA will get a ˜significant™ reduction on £172.5m price tag agreed for taking on unwanted BMIbaby and BMI Regional divisions from Lufthansa
• American Airlines unions back mergerIts three largest employee bodies claim tie-up between the bankrupt carrier and US Airways would save 6,200 extra jobs and create stronger company
• Minicab chief taken to court in bus lane rowThe transport body aims to force John Griffin, chairman and founder of Addison Lee, to withdraw his instructions to his 3,500 drivers to use the lanes

The Herald

• Consortium nears BMI Regional airline dealHOPES have been raised that the Aberdeen-based regional arm of airline BMI may be sold to a consortium of local businessmen, securing nearly 400 jobs, after its new owner said it was not part of the company's long-term plans.

The Scotsman

• Rivals challenge SNP over getting aboard public bus firm plan THE Scottish Government is under pressure to clarify what support it would give to plans by East Lothian Council to set up its own bus company.
• Railway signal staff to strike over rostersRAILWAY signal staff are to stage two 24-hour strikes in a row over rosters, their union announced yesterday.

Daily Express

• IAG delivers on BMI amid Virgin outcryTHE owner of British Airways has completed a £172.5million deal to buy loss-making airline BMI but uncertainty surrounds budget carrier bmibaby.
• Eurostar on fast track to success after a slow startBEING a seasoned traveller, Eurostar chief Nicolas Petrovic knows the importance of a trouble-free journey.

The Mirror

• Riding a storm: Taxi boss says cyclists should expect to get hurt on roadsJohn Griffin, a £250,000 Tory donor, suggested drivers should not be held responsible if they crashed into inexperienced cyclists

Network Rail

• NETWORK RAIL TO RUN 100% OF TRAINS DESPITE STRIKE

Birmingham Mail

• Armed Forces personnel taught how to operate tankers at major Midland fuel depotMEMBERS of the Armed Forces are being shown how to operate lorries at a key Midland fuel depot amid fears of a strike by tanker drivers.
• Olympic rings take their place on Birmingham Airport's new control towerThe finishing touches are being put to giant Olympic rings on the side of Birmingham Airport’s new control tower to celebrate the London 2012 games.

Manchester Evening News

• Boeing 787 Dreamliner set for regular flights to Mexico and Florida from Manchester airport One of the world™s most luxurious aircraft will fly from Manchester Airport permanently from next May, the M.E.N. can reveal. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner will land in the city for the first time on Monday night with up to 10,000 plane-spotters expected to flock to the airport to catch a glimpse of it.
• Only 98 days (and 200 miles) away: Motorway signs in Manchester warn drivers to plan journeys for London OlympicsMotorists in Greater Manchester were given a roadside warning by the Highways Agency to plan their journeys for the 2012 Olympics - despite the fact that there are still 98 days to go and the games are mainly being held in London.

Metro

• Evacuated Tube Transport 'to enable round the world travel in just 6 hours' Lengthy train journeys and long-haul flights could be a thing of the past if the futuristic Evacuated Tube Transport (ETT) system of transport takes off.
• Air passengers will have data stored by US authorities for 15 yearsPersonal details on transatlantic airline passengers will be held by US authorities for up to 15 years after the European Parliament voted to pass a controversial bill. Air passengers now face having their data stored for up to 15 years by the US authorities (Picture: EPA) Information such as a traveller™s name, address, credit card and phone numbers, can be passed on to the department for homeland security. And sensitive details, such as ethnic origin, religious meal, health, politics or sex life, could also be included. Supporters claim the information on the Passenger Name Record will hel...
• Addison Lee taxi boss angers London's cyclistsJohn Griffin, the chairman of taxi firm Addison Lee, has angered cycling campaigners by claiming that an upsurge in bike riders on London's roads will lead to more accidents.The comments, made in an article for his company's magazine Add Lib, prompted the London Cycling Campaign to accuse him of trying to spread 'anti-cyclist sentiment'. John Griffin has called for cyclists to undergo mandatory training (PA) Mr Griffin used his piece to complain about Green Party candidates being 'up in arms' about what they viewed as the 'murder of cyclists' on London's roads.He went on to complain about the...

Sheffield Star

• Free bike courses for pupilsCHILDREN across Sheffield are being urged to take up free cycle training with their schools as part of a drive to boost bike safety.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Takeover bid for BMI RegionalNorth-east aviation entrepreneurs are in talks with British Airways to take over BMI™s regional division and secure 300 Aberdeen jobs.

Wales Online

• Hain says direct rail link with Heathrow is ’vital’ for Wales SHADOW Welsh Secretary Peter Hain has warned that a direct rail link between the Great Western line and Heathrow is “vital”.
• Expansion plans from Cardiff-based Transport Broker Group backed by Business Minister Edwina Hart A CARDIFF-based online limousine broker has its sights on expansion into North America.

Other Regional Press

• Loss of buses is hitting teens™ livesTWO teenagers told a council chamber about the negative effects the loss of evening bus services have had on their peers.
• Mayor Dave Hodgson™s monthly column: On the road to the future of our bus servicesLAST week’s edition of the Times & Citizen reported the exciting news of a major boost for public transport here in Bedford Borough, in the form of the introduction of an Oyster-style smart card for use on all local buses.

Bus and Coach.com

• RATP buys Epsom CoachesOne of the best-known London area coach operators, Epsom Coaches, has been purchased by French group RATP Dev UK.
• McGill™s referred to competition bodyThe OFT has referred the acquisition by McGill's Bus Services of the Arriva Scotland West business to the Competition Commission.
• Stagecoach's European œshake-upStagecoach has extended its megabus.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Fifty years after Beeching, its time to put the cuts into reverse20 April: Fifty years ago this week, work started on a census of passengers on Britain's railways. This was the first step in what became the "Beeching axe" with massive cuts to the rail network. 50 years on, more and more people want to travel by rail. We think it's time to put the cuts into reverse. read more

Other News Sources

• Kulveer Ranger on false allegations regarding cycle safety 20 April, 2012 Statement from Kulveer Ranger, Director of Environment & Digital London, on false allegations regarding cycle safety It has been alleged at mayoral election hustings and reported in the media that I was personally responsible for ordering TfL to prioritise vehicle traffic flow over cycle safety in the redesign of Bow Roundabout last year. 360-house-thumb.jpg Yes read more
• Gatwick emergency was due to 'alarms being triggered in-flight' A Virgin Atlantic incident earlier this week, in which 15 passengers had to be treated in hospital after an emergency landing evacuation, was due to
• Free wi-fi aims to boost enhanced bus offerTransport for South Hampshire (TfSH) is installing free wi-fi Internet on 500 buses as part of a range of improvements to local services being introduced after it was awarded £4.5m through the Better Bus Area fund.