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

Saturday, 09 June 2012

BBC News

• Tram line to Oldham set to openTrams are to start running to and from Oldham next week, if final tests on the new Metrolink line are successful.
• WWI warship set to leave BelfastThe National Museum of the Royal Navy are planning to move the HMS Caroline from Belfast to Portsmouth.
• Two killed in RockNess bus crashA van driver and passenger are killed in a crash with a bus taking people from Edinburgh to the RockNess festival near Inverness.
• New car sales accelerate in MayNew car sales in the UK rose 7.9% in May, the industry body says, the largest increase for almost two years.

Financial Times

• Qantas battles with economic headwindsA tough week for the Australian carrier in which it issued a dire trading statement has highlighted the task its chief executive is facing
• Investor group warns on IAG pay packagesAssociation of British Insurers issues an ˜amber top™ on airline group˜s remuneration report over changes to bonus and long-term incentive schemes
• £80,000 transport bonuses riding on OlympicsTfL chiefs are set to reap big sums if the system works smoothly during the games, while bus drivers vote on strike action over a £500 claim

The Scotsman

• Tireless campaigner wins fight with Transport Scotland over lay-bysLay-by signs telling drivers “no overnight parking” have been deemed illegal.

The Telegraph

• Cutting missile system leaves warships at riskThe Royal Navy's warships will be vulnerable to enemy attack after a key project that allows ships to fire each other's weapons was dropped.

Reuters News

• UK sees biggest annual car sales rise in two yearsLONDON (Reuters) - A jump in private demand drove a 7.9 percent rise in British new car sales in May compared to a year ago, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said on Friday, in a sign that consumers are regaining confidence.

Daily Express

• Rolls-Royce in United buyoutROLLS-ROYCE is set to take full control of its joint venture engine controls business after buying out American partner Goodrich.
• New car sales race on to defy eurozone woesBRITAIN'S new car market accelerated at its fastest rate for nearly two years last month driven by buoyant demand from private motorists.

Daily Record

• Scots pensioner takes Britain's oldest sports car on 620-mile journey after 14-year renovation projectA PENSIONER proved he has drive – by devoting 14 years of his life to renovating Britain’s oldest sports car.

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph published 'Request for railway station cash is still being considered'Article

Edinburgh Evening News

• Cycle body prompts helmet rowA LEADING Edinburgh cycling group has sparked controversy by saying cyclists should not be forced to wear helmets – and has even pledged to refuse to publicise events which make them compulsory.
• Tram staff use Princes Street as private car parkPARKING for free slap bang in the middle of Edinburgh city centre sounds like an impossible dream. Unless, that is, you happen to be working on the tram project.

Metro

• Tropical storm Mawar scuttles British ocean rowing dreamsTropical storm Mawar has forced two British sailors to abandon their attempts to row across the Pacific Ocean. Sarah Outen pictured in April earlier this year (Picture: AFP/Getty) Sarah Outen and Charlie Martell, who were separately crossing from Japan to America, made mayday distress calls when the tropical storm swept in early yesterday.They had to wait many hours for Japanese coastguards to pick them up and Ms Outen wrapped herself in her boat's union flag because her sleeping bag was soaking wet.Ms Outen, 26, from Rutland, who is doing a round-the-world bike and boat expedition, sent a dis...

Sheffield Star

• Traffic alert: Summer of road chaos begins in DoncasterDRIVERS have been urged to be patient with major disruption expected as work starts on one of Doncaster’s biggest roads schemes.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Bike course braces for influxFort William will play host to around 20,000 visitors this weekend as well as the elite of the mountain biking fraternity.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Complaints over Leeds rail ticket queuesRail passengers say a shortage of ticket machines is forcing them to play a frustrating waiting game.

Other Regional Press

• M61 reopens after day of chaosA motorway closed following the discovery of a body has finally re-opened after almost 15 hours.
• Bike fun pedallersThe people of Preston are gearing up to get on their bikes for a mass cycling event.
• Fog grounds 90 flights at Aberdeen Airport AIR travellers were today getting on their way after being stranded in Aberdeen by fog.
• Charles Dickens' relative hits out at airport plansHe says an airport in the Thames Estuary would destroy the area made famous by his great-great grandfather.

Railnews

• More prosecuted for level crossing misuse More than 2,400 people have been caught and charged with breaking the law at level crossings by three Network Rail/BTP enforcement vans in London, the south east of England and Scotland.
• Call for more local control of rail in north Transport authorities in the north of England are calling upon the Government to allow local rail services to be managed 'by the north, for the north', and also to merge the present Northern and TransPennine Express franchises when these come up for renewal in 2014.
• Network Rail debt grows as railway expands Network Rail's debt has increased to more than £27 billion, but although the company's group finance director has admitted that it is 'certainly a big sum', profit after tax also rose last year, from £313 million to £754 million. Revenue just topped £6 billion, most of it coming from state subsidies and track access charges paid by franchised passenger operators.
• Further strike threat at Tyne & Wear Metro A strike by RMT members on the Tyne & Wear Metro on Thursday 7 June is set to be followed by another on 21 June, unless a dispute over pay is resolved in the meantime.
• Baker critical of rail fares 'lottery' A transport minister has criticised the 'lottery' of rail fare tariffs, even though ATOC has said it has tried to make the structure more straightforward. A new survey has revealed that many passengers are puzzled about the rules for peak hour travel and Advance ticket restrictions.
• Virgin demands better West Coast performance Virgin Trains has told Network Rail that it must improve performance on the West Coast Main Line, after another period of lack-lustre punctuality on the route. Talks are underway between the two parties, but now Virgin has taken the unusual step of making its grievances public.

Aviation Industry

• Ministers propose revisions to EU airport noise regulationsThe European Commission (EC) is recommending the adoption of ICAO’s so-called "balanced approach" to replace existing regulation on noise management at the region’s airports. At Thursday’s Council of EU Transport Ministers, the EC recommended that the ICAO standards and EU best practice in noise management become European law in order to even out disparities between states and ensure that certain processes are adhered to where measures are taken to mitigate air traffic noise. 

Other News Sources

• EU politicians showing interest in air qualityA number of politicians from the red/green alliance of the European Parliament visited Copenhagen Airport last Thursday to learn about CPH's pioneering work to improve air quality at the airport....
• HS2 awards four new contracts for land surveysMouchel, Mott McDonald and Terraquest have been awarded HS2™s final professional services contracts worth more than £3 million combined.
• Five in hunt for £75m Crossrail power dealCrossrail has confirmed a shortlist of five for its non-traction high voltage power supply contract which could be worth up to £75 million
• UN bike ride highlights importance of sustainable transportUnited Nations officials, diplomats and members of civil society organizations today took part in a bike ride in New York City to highlight the benefits of bicycling as a sustainable urban transportat