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

Wednesday, 02 May 2012

BBC News

• Arriva petitioned after cutting bus service in Pencarreg, Carmarthenshire Residents in a Carmarthenshire village have handed over a petition against the cutting of their bus service.
• Boris Johnson: London transport fare cuts 'will harm investment' [video]The Conservative London mayoral candidate Boris Johnson has said a promise to cut Tube and bus fares was "not achievable" without jeopardising vital investment.
• Confidence grows in electric carsResults from a trial into the use of electric cars show driver confidence grew over time
• Villagers protest over bus cutsResidents in a Carmarthenshire village hand over a petition against the cutting of their bus service.
• Landslip railway line reopenedServices return to normal on the railway line between Inverness and Aviemore which was closed after heavy rain caused a landslip.
• Warm reception for GreeningThe Transport Secretary, Justine Greening, acknowledges the problem with air capacity in the South East and says that the government plans to address the issue quickly.
• Cycle safety goes up the political agendaJust how far has cycle safety risen up the news agenda in London?
• PM pledges Heathrow queues actionDavid Cameron tells ministers they must admit there is a problem with long immigration queues at Heathrow, as plans for extra staffing are announced.

Financial Times

• Airline levy could ease UK border chaosBAA is studying a proposal that carriers fund extra Border Force staff through higher landing fees as the government seeks to contain row over Heathrow
• Etihad takes 3% stake in Aer LingusAirlines enter talks on code-sharing deal as Middle Eastern carrier eyes partnership with one of the biggest holders of landing slots at Heathrow
• Little to cheer for China™s frequent fliersInvestment in airports has been surprisingly inadequate considering the country™s strong rate of growth, and flights have become less punctual
• Memo: low-cost fix to Heathrow messHere is the no-frills solution to the immigration and PR nightmare that is unfolding at the UK™s biggest airport. By John McDermott
• Airlines oppose paying for border staffGovernment accused of failing to get to grips with ˜crisis after airlines express hostility to plan to raise landing charges
• Heavy metal stars bid to take wingBruce Dickinson plans to open an aviation centre in South Wales that could bring 800 jobs to the region
• National Express enjoys steady tradingBus passenger volumes flat but revenues rise 4% as investment in new vehicles, selective route expansion and frequency allow price rises

The Herald

• Coalition attacked over airport delaysThe Coalition Government came under fire yesterday as it blamed recent heavy rain in part for long queues at the UK's busiest airports

The Independent

• Discount cut hits National Express The Government's decision to axe pensioners' discounted, long-distance coach travel is costing National Express £15m this year.
• Union issues warning over Heathrow queues planGovernment plans to bring in 80 extra staff to tackle unacceptable delays at Heathrow Airport are like
• Heathrow given 80 staff “ but 900 were cut across UK Nearly 900 Border Force posts, equivalent to 10 per cent of staff, have been scrapped over the past two years in the Government's austerity drive.

The Telegraph

• National Express reports drop in over 60s coach travel Pensioners are making fewer long distance coach journeys as a result of the government’s decision to scrap subsidies for the over 60s, according to National Express.
• Heathrow chaos: government flounders as queues growAs lengthy queues contine to grow at the Heathrow border, The Telegraph's Transport Editor David Millward explains how new passport scanners and fewer staff have left the government floundering.
• Extra staff to be deployed to tackle Heathrow immigration crisisExtra border staff are to be deployed to tackle the immigration crisis after the Home Secretary was hauled in by the Prime Minister to explain the 'unacceptable queues' at Heathrow Airport.
• London 2012: a passport to mayhemBorder control queues at our airports reflect a chaotic security policy, says Philip Johnston.

Mail Online

• Heathrow queues: Passengers face paying for passport checks to end airport delay chaosThe plan for airlines to pay higher landing fees emerged as ministers faced further criticism of their handling of the chaos at Britain’s biggest airport.
• Could a black box cut your car insurance? Transport Secretary urges drivers to have one fitted to reduce sky-high premiumsBlack boxes should be fitted to cars to cut huge insurance premiums for young drivers and women, the Transport Secretary Justine Greening has said.

The Mirror

• Heathrow hell: Extra staff drafted in as passport queues stretch to 'two and a half hours' The Government had blamed the queues on rain, and said the length of delays had been œwildly exaggerated

ATOC

• National Rail Enquiries launches free smartphone app National Rail Enquiries has launched its own free smartphone app for iPhone and Android operating systems,...

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Anger at driver™s bus stop brush-off A Bradford councillor has criticised a bus company after he says a bus driver drove straight past him while he waited at a stop, ironically, when he on his way home from a transport authority meeting.

Journal Live

• Hexham being failed by Northern Rail says MP Guy OppermanTHE Transport Secretary has been told that Northern Rail is failing the people of Northumberland.

London Evening Standard

• Axed pensioners’ discount costs National Express The Government’s decision to axe the right of pensioners to discounted, long-distance coach travel is costing National Express £15 million this year.

Manchester Evening News

• National Express battles £15m subsidy hit National Express has admitted it is making slow progress in mitigating the loss of a £15m a year subsidy on senior citizen coach tickets.
• Metrolink trams testing on long-awaited Oldham line Regular tests are being carried out on the Oldham Metrolink line “ in the hope it will hit its target to open in spring. The long-awaited line has been delayed due to problems with a new computer control system.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Railway line back on trackA Highland railway line closed by a landslip at the end of last week will reopen today, 24 hours earlier than expected.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Transdev: Environmentally-friendly buses given Harrogate Harlow Carr launchTRANSPORT firm Transdev picked a blooming great location for the launch of a fleet of new buses.

Other Regional Press

• UK & World News: Minister: Heathrow queues too longPassengers at Heathrow Airport are being made to wait for too long to get into the UK and the Border Force needs to change the way it operates, the Immigration Minister has said.
• UK & World News: Warning over Heathrow queues planGovernment plans to bring in 80 extra staff to tackle unacceptable delays at Heathrow Airport are like

Railnews

• Infrarail opens its doors today The largest rail industry exhibition in Britain this year opens its doors in Birmingham today. Infrarail will run until Thursday, showcasing the products and services of key railway suppliers from at home and abroad.
• Infrarail update: Waterman to highlight training needs Pete Waterman – pop music mogul turned railway engineer, and energetic campaigner for young people to take up apprenticeships for life-long railway engineering careers – will be highlighting the rail industry’s future skills and training challenges at Infrarail in Birmingham.

Aviation Industry

• Airlines ready to pay to end Heathrow delays: IAGLONDON: Airlines using London Heathrow airport would be prepared to pay higher landing fees to cut long queues at the British hub which have reached 'crisis' levels, according to the chief executive of British Airways owner IAG .
• Etihad takes stake in Aer LingusAbu Dhabi airline buys 2.99% shareholding in Irish carrier
• Arik Air launches chauffeur service Nigerian carrier offering private transfers for UK business class passengers

Other News Sources

• Poor transport links are stifling the Welsh economy, experts warn A dramatic fall in the number of vehicles using the second Severn Crossing has focused a great amount of public attention on the cost of crossing at the tolls as well as the congestion which is often found at the bridge.
• RMT General Secretary Bob Crow calls for united resistance on May DayRMT General Secretary Bob Crow said;
• Bombardier Extends Smart Parts Agreement with European Q400 Aircraft Operator LuxairBombardier Aerospace inaugurated its first All-Series Operators Conference General Session by announcing that it has signed a comprehensive, five-year agreement with Luxair Airline to extend...