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

Wednesday, 22 August 2012

BBC News

• Passenger numbers drop at airportCardiff Airport defends its performance despite a fall in passenger numbers in the first half of 2012.
• Virgin plan for Scottish flightsThe chief executive of Virgin Atlantic says the airline wants to launch two services between Scotland and London next year.
• Osborne 'must freeze fuel tax'Pressure group the Taxpayers' Alliance has launched a campaign to highlight what it calls the
• EU anti-piracy fight 'must go on'The EU should continue to use warships to tackle pirates off the coast of Somalia following a reduction in kidnappings, a Lords committee says.
• Thousands call for Virgin rethinkMore than 25,000 people sign an e-petition calling for the government to keep Virgin Rail services on the West Coast Mainline.

Financial Times

• Qatar move illustrates attraction of BAASovereign fund can invest in the airport operator with a reasonable level of comfort because some airports benefit from relatively benign regulation

The Herald

• Staff ballot on strikes at CalMacCaledonian MacBrayne ferry crews are to be balloted on strike action tomorrow amid fears over the future of staff pension and workplace rights.
• Thousands back rail campaignTHOUSANDS of people have backed an online campaign calling on the UK Government to reverse its decision to bring in FirstGroup to run the lucrative west coast service between Glasgow and London.
• Virgin Atlantic in bid to fly from Scotland to HeathrowVIRGIN Atlantic has announced plans to fly between Scottish airports and London's Heathrow from next year.
• Council in bid to cut school dayCUTS to the school day and new charges for transport are being proposed by a council in a bid to slash its education budget.

The Independent

• Paradise...? (No, Luton is Britain's rudest airport) Luton is the UK's most unfriendly airport, with Edinburgh the most welcoming, according to a survey.Related StoriesBranson reaches for the sky as he bounces back from rail snub
• Branson reaches for the sky as he bounces back from rail snub Virgin's new departure from London to Manchester will be a plane, not a train. A week after Sir Richard Branson railed against losing the franchise on the West Coast mainline to FirstGroup, his long-haul airline has launched another venture into short-haul flying.Related StoriesParadise...? (No, Luton is Britain's rudest airport)

The Scotsman

• Bus boss promises speedier service THE new boss of First Aberdeen bus company has pledged to speed up journey times, as part of a series of initiatives to improve services.
• Bus boss promises speedier service THE new boss of First Aberdeen bus company has pledged to speed up journey times, as part of a series of initiatives to improve services.

Mail Online

• Banned, electric car ad that was miles from reality: Vauxhall commercial forgot to mention model's petrol engineSome things are just too good to be true, including the advertised 350-mile range of electric car Vauxhall Ampera. In fact, the impressive distance can only be achieved with the help of a petrol engine.

The Mirror

• Grumpiest airports revealed: Luton tops UK poll with Paris worst in Europe The airport got the thumbs-down from travellers asked to rate the friendliness of staff in a poll by Skyscanner

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Views sought on 20mph zones Amended plans drawn up for a traffic-calming scheme, including 20mph zones in Shipley , are being publicised.

London Evening Standard

• (The early) rise of the 5am commuter fares forcing workers off of rail network and onto coachesRocketing rail fares are forcing commuters to set off at 5am to get into London by coach to save money, a Tory MP protested today.
• Rising number of drivers caught in bus lanes earns councils £15m A league table of London councils revealing which handed out the most fines to motorists for driving in bus lanes has been topped by Ealing.
• Tube and road congestion warning as Paralympics clash with start of new school termTransport chiefs insist London faces a œhuge challenge from the Paralympics despite the dire congestion feared during the Olympics failing to materialise.
• Battle of the Airlines: Virgin opens new London to Manchester flights route days after losing rail franchiseLondon  commuters are to be offered £95 return flights to the North from Heathrow as Richard Branson launches a new battle for business against British Airways.
• Paralympic lanes to come into forceThe first Games lane for the Paralympics will come into force as competitors start arriving at Heathrow in large numbers.

Manchester Evening News

• Virgin Atlantic to launch daily flights between Manchester and London - days after losing train franchiseAirline Virgin Atlantic has announced plans to run three daily flights between Manchester and London days after losing a train franchise on the same route. The launch, expected to create at least 100 jobs in the region, will be Virgin™s first-ever short haul service in Britain. Virgin, headed by Sir Richard Branson, will start flying to Heathrow in March with return tickets costing just £95.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post commented Monarch takes off as the new East Midlands airlineWHEN British Airways owner IAG pulled the plug on BMIbaby, it was only a matter of minutes before other airline began to step in...

The York Press

• Steve Galloway criticises ftr replacement buses THE double decker buses that replaced York™s controversial ftr superbuses have been criticised by a former council leader.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• New tipple marks Leeds Bradford Airport bar launchBosses at Leeds Bradford Airport were today celebrating the launch of their de luxe Saltaire Bar and Eatery in style – with their own bespoke cocktail.

Yorkshire Post

• Virgin challenges BA with domestic flightsVirgin Atlantic is set to introduce its first domestic service – between Manchester and London.

Carlisle News & Star

• New £7 million fleet ready to keep traffic moving in Cumbria A new fleet of 150 vehicles “ costing more than £7 million “ is taking to the roads.

Other Regional Press

• Boris's plans odds-on for take-offBoris Johnson™s soaring popularity in the wake of the Olympics makes a Thames Estuary airport more likely to happen, according to one bookmaker.

Global Rail News

• Rail engineers tackle the English summerIt is midsummer in the UK, and here are some extracts from the news on the evening of the 28 June 2012: “Major disruption has been caused by unprecedented levels of rainfall causing flooding and landslides which have cut off both main rail lines connecting Scotland and England. The West Coast line has been closed [...]
• Tunnelling students surfaceOver 1,000 new students have now completed their training at the Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy in Ilford, east London. The Academy, which opened last September, is pushing ahead with an expanded curriculum. TUCA will train nearly 3,500 people in essential construction skills during the Crossrail project. It has already set industry standards by creating [...]
• Network Rail sees rise in satisfied suppliersIt takes a confident company to approach all its major suppliers and ask their opinions on the relationship between them. It also takes a fairly strong-minded supplier to tell its major customer what is wrong with that relationship. But that is exactly what Network Rail has asked its most important contractors to do. Supplier perception [...]
• Bombardier unveils new high-speed train designA full-size model of the new Frecciarossa 1000 high-speed train is making its way to InnoTrans after being officially unveiled in Italy. The Frecciarossa 1000, which is being built by Bombardier and AnsaldoBreda, is the newest member of Bombardier™s Zefiro family of high-speed trains, known as the V300Zefiro model. The unveiling took place in Rimini, [...]
• Step forward for Australia™s first high-speed rail lineThe construction of a high-speed rail line along Australia’s East Coast has moved a step closer, with ministers discussing a payment plan to break up the multi-billion dollar project. During a question and answer session at the Canberra Business Council yesterday (August 20) ministers considered rolling out the Melbourne to Brisbane high-speed link in stages [...]
• Rail staff badge up for charityFirst Great Western staff have raised almost £1,000 for good causes by selling badges of their region. Drivers and depot staff from Swansea, Gloucester, Westbury, Fratton and Bristol each had a badge made for their place of work, donating all profits from the sale of the depot insignias to charity. First Great Western regional driver [...]
• Voting opens for RailStaff Awards 2012Voting has now opened for the RailStaff Awards 2012. Who has the X factor? Who will be your next Rail Hero? Only you can decide. With so many deserving people, it will be hard to choose our finalists, but with your help we can ensure a true hero is crowned in every category. So how [...]
• Obama fastracks major rail projectsPresident Obama has promised to speed up the progress of four major rail projects as part of the ‘We Can’t Wait’ campaign. Improvements to the Devils Lake rail line, the Kennebec Bridge Replacement Project, the Columbia River Crossing and the Point Defiance Bypass were all highlighted as key priorities this week. The announcement is one [...]
• Translink sends out graphic warning to rail trespassersTranslink has staged a graphic re-enactment of a track collision to warn pedestrians and motorists about the dangers of trespassing on the railways. There has been a rise in reports of children and young people playing on the railway lines over the summer months, with more than 110 incidents in July and August on the [...]

Railnews

• Pressure grows for fares rise rethink The Chancellor is coming under growing pressure for January's rail fares rises to be cut back, as some Conservative MPs fear for their seats.

Aviation Industry

• Global airports analysis: hubs of activityThe expansion of the UK's major airports may be stuck in a political impasse but new facilities are springing up around the world