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Tuesday, 28 August 2012

BBC News

• Justine Greening dilemma on West Coast mainline bid - Today ProgrammeThe managing editor of the industry newspaper RailNews claimed he would "not want to be Justine Greening today" as the transport secretary faced Virgin Trains' bid to derail the West Coast mainline franchise signing by its rival First Group.
• Justine Greening on Heathrow Airport third runway - Today ProgrammeTransport Secretary Justine Greening claimed there was "cross-party consensus" that a third runway at Heathrow was not the right thing for Britain.
• West Coast Main Line deal will go ahead, Greening says Transport Secretary Justine Greening has told the BBC there will not be a delay in signing a new West Coast Main Line contract with FirstGroup.
• Labour calls for West Coast Mainline franchise review - video Maria Eagle MPLabour has called for a delay in signing a new West Coast Mainline contract until Parliament returns next week.
• Heathrow third runway: Tory MP Yeo urges Cameron to act A Tory MP has urged Prime Minister David Cameron to decide whether he is a "man or a mouse" over the issue of a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
• Tory rethink urged on runway planMore calls are made within the Conservative party for its leadership to rethink the policy opposing a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
• Hertz agrees Dollar Thrifty dealCar hire company Hertz agrees a deal to buy rival Dollar Thrifty for $2.3bn, ending the long-running takeover battle for the US firm.
• Labour calls for delay over West Coast Mainline franchise - videoLabour is urging ministers to delay signing a new West Coast Mainline contract until Parliament returns.

Financial Times

• Electric cars to race in Formula ENew global series will stage events around city-centre landmarks in an effort to promote more sustainable forms of energy to the industry
• Government is adamant on rail franchiseTransport department says it will hand West Coast mainline to FirstGroup at midnight Tuesday despite calls by Sir Richard Branson for PM to intervene
• Labour intervenes in West Coast rail rowMinisters have rebuffed an offer by Sir Richard Branson to run the franchise without making a profit if it gives the government time to review its decision to hand the franchise to rival FirstGroup
• HK Airlines ambitions hit turbulenceStruggles of six-year-old privately held Hong Kong Airlines illustrate the difficulty of breaking flag carrier Cathay Pacific™s hold on the market
• Qantas “ no dreamtime legendConsidering its dominant, partially protected and oligopolistic position, the Aussie airline™s value destruction has left investors shaken
• Northants enjoys key role as logistics hubAn area once known for shoe making has reinvented itself as the centre of the UK™s distribution infrastructure, with the sector employing close to one in 10 of those in work in the county
• Hertz / Dollar Thrifty “ drive carefullyInvestors have been upsold but seem happy enough about it even though further consolidation is unlikely to drive outperformance
• Ryanair courts competition in Aer Lingus bidThe low-cost carrier is seeking approval for its proposed takeover of the Irish flag carrier by asking six airlines to operate alternative services
• Partnerlink expands with European partnersIndustrial collaboration between 18 family-owned UK transport companies to expand by taking French, German, Dutch and Italian partners

The Guardian

• Bentley takes aim at armoured car marketCarmaker exploring ways to tap into growing demand for secure vehicles in Latin America, the Middle East and RussiaBentley is considering launching an armour-plated car range as customers in Latin America, the Middle East and Russia seek to travel in bulletproof comfort.The Crewe-based car manufacturer is exploring ways to tap into a growing market for secure vehicles in emerging economies where the threat of kidnap and assassination is constant.Jan-Henrik Lafrentz, Bentley's finance chief, said there was demand in Latin America in particular. He said:
• Hertz buys car rental rival Dollar Thrifty for $2.3bnLong-discussed deal is expected to be the last consolidation in car rental sector that US regulators will allowThe car rental company Hertz has bought its rival Dollar Thrifty for $2.3bn (£1.5bn) after a takeover battle.Hertz will pay $87.50 a share, more than double the price it first offered two years ago. Hertz's boss, Mark Frissora, has spent the last five years trying to buy Thrifty, in what is expected to be the last car rental company consolidation that US regulators will allow.Three companies “ Hertz, Avis and Enterprise Holdings, owner of the Alamo, National and Enterprise brands “ no...
• East coast mainline should remain in public hands, says Labour frontbencherShadow transport secretary Maria Eagle said mainly privatised rail network would benefit from 'public sector comparator'Britain's east coast mainline, which runs trains from London to Edinburgh, should remain in public hands, the shadow transport secretary, Maria Eagle, has said.
• FirstGroup warns against rail franchise delay in Branson rowDepartment for Transport set to sign £5.5bn west coast rail contract, as Virgin Trains considers last-ditch legal actionSir Richard Branson's hopes of clinging on to the west coast rail franchise are fading as the government prepares to formally strip Virgin Trains of the London-Glasgow route.The Department for Transport has rejected Branson's offer to run the franchise for free if it delays its decision to award the 14-year contract to FirstGroup. It is expected to sign the new £5.5bn deal as soon as Wednesday morning, although Virgin was still considering last-ditch legal action.FirstGroup's...
• A third runway, Boris Island, better rail? Please, just decide Prevarication over aviation policy breeds a dangerous mistrust. The cabinet must take a firm decision, and act on it
• A third runway, Boris Island, better rail? Please, just decide Prevarication over aviation policy breeds a dangerous mistrust. The cabinet must take a firm decision, and act on it

The Herald

• Wigan is worst for car usageLondon is the UK's least car-dependent city but those relying on public transport should give Wigan a wide berth.
• PM urged to reconsider Heathrow expansion bidCALLS for the UK Government to consider a third runway for Britain's only hub airport at Heathrow and avoid a

The Independent

• 'Are you a man or a mouse?': Top Tory Tim Yeo goads Cameron over Heathrow expansion Senior Conservative Tim Yeo has goaded David Cameron over the expansion of Heathrow airport, urging him to decide if he is “a man or a mouse”.
• Virgin plans legal fight for West Coast train line Lawyers for Virgin Trains were yesterday preparing to launch a last-minute legal challenge to stop the Government signing a contract which will strip them of their right to run the West Coast Mainline service.

The Telegraph

• A third runway must be cleared for take-off - Tim Yeo MPI backed Cameron on Heathrow to save the environment – but the facts have changed
• A drastic rebuilding of Heathrow can cut through this airport impasse SIR – The Heathrow controversy seems a recurrent nightmare, the only solution to which is a drastic reappraisal of what already exists.
• Sir Richard Branson urges David Cameron to intervene in West Coast rail deal Sir Richard Branson has urged David Cameron to "get some sense" into the Department for Transport's decision to hand the West Coast rail franchise to FirstGroup, as he vowed to fight it "until there's no longer a fight to be had".
• Ryanair 'asks rivals to run services on Aer Lingus routes' Ireland's Ryanair has asked at least six airlines to operate alternative services on some Aer Lingus routes, as it seeks regulatory approval for a $850m takeover of its domestic rival, according to reports.
• It’s time to let Britain’s ambition take flight Telegraph View: The economic case for a third runway at Heathrow is overwhelming
• Branson attacked over Virgin's West Coast performanceSir Richard Branson's came under a scathing attack last night over his stewardship of the West Coast main line as he faced further rebuffs in his efforts to hang on to the franchise.
• Heathrow expansion: Cameron must decide whether he is man or mouse David Cameron must decide whether he is “man or mouse” and drop his objection to building a third runway at Heathrow airport, one of the most high-profile environmentalists in the Conservative Party warns.
• Labour MP calls for Parliamentary debate on rail bidMaria Eagle, Shadow Transport Minister, has said it is "quite wrong" for Government to avoid scrutiny by pushing through with FirstGroup's winning rail bid whilst Parliament is still in recess.

Reuters News

• Branson's last-ditch plea on rail deal goes unheededLONDON (Reuters) - Department for Transport (DfT) said there would be no delay in handing the west coast rail franchise to FirstGroup, despite losing bidder Richard Branson calling on the prime minister to back a last-minute review of the process.

Mail Online

• PM 'must back third runway at Heathrow': Yeo in U-turn over controversial expansion planTim Yeo, a former vociferous opponent of the scheme, said he had changed his mind after realising the UK was 'falling behind' in aviation capacity.
• Drama at Heathrow as United Airlines flight to Chicago returns to airport after 'engine surge'The Chicago-bound flight is the latest emergency landing by a United Airline flight after two had to return to the tarmac in at a New Jersey airport last weekend.

The Mirror

• Virgin on a disaster: Ministers urged to delay £5.5bn West Coast Main Line deal for a reviewFirstGroup™s controversial £5.5billion bid to take over the route from Virgin is set to be signed off by ministers today

Birmingham Post

• Branson offers up Virgin Trains to run West Coast Main Line for freeSir Richard Branson has offered to run the West Coast Main Line for free to allow Parliament time to scrutinise an

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Richard Branson offers to run West Coast Main Line for freeSIR Richard Branson has offered to run the West Coast Main Line for free to allow Parliament time to scrutinise an “outrageous” decision to award the franchise to rival FirstGroup.

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph published Derby train-maker Bombardier is urged to return to talks as days...A UNION leader who has organised a strike among Bombardier workers has urged bosses to reopen negotiations over pay in order to...

Liverpool Post

• £1m annual losses for Mersey FerriesTHE famous Mersey Ferries are notching up an annual £1m loss, a transport report revealed.

London Evening Standard

• PM urged to intervene in rail dealPrime Minister David Cameron must intervene in the row over the new West Coast Mainline contract to "get some sense" into the Department for Transport over the controversial deal, Sir Richard Branson has urged.
• Top Tory goads Cameron on HeathrowSenior Conservative Tim Yeo has goaded David Cameron over the expansion of Heathrow airport, urging him to decide if he is "a man or a mouse".

Manchester Evening News

• Virgin Trains boss Richard Branson offers to run West Coast line for free Sir Richard Branson has offered to run the West Coast Main Line for free to allow Parliament time to scrutinise an ˜outrageous™ decision to award the franchise to rival FirstGroup.

Metro

• Sir Richard Branson calls on PM to intervene in row over West Coast lineSir Richard Branson has urged prime minister David Cameron to get involved with the current row over the running of the West Coast Main Line rail franchise.Virgin Trains is desperately trying to regain the contract which it has lost to FirstGroup, having run the London to Glasgow route since 1997. Richard Branson wants the prime minister to get involved (PA). Sir Richard™s company has even offered to run the line on a not-for-profit basis in the short-term in order to allow more time for the FirstGroup deal to be scrutinised.Ahead of the contract being signed tomorrow, Sir Richard told BBC Rad...
• Police admit gaps in number plate recognition camera coverageA surveillance system which enables the police to track the daily journeys of millions of motorists has gaps in its coverage, police chiefs have admitted.The network of more than 5,000 roadside cameras has been put in place over ten years and police say it is one of their most valuable tools, reports the Guardian. The camera network is patchy (PA). With this in mind the police chief who is in charge of coordinating the cameras has said that coverage is patchy in some parts of the country.The admission was made as the police won a freedom of information tribunal allowing them to keep the locati...
• Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly, according to new studyStarting a holiday at the weekend seems like the logical choice but it no longer makes financial sense. Costly flight? Next time try to leave home on a Tuesday (Picture: PA) The cheapest day to leave Britain by air is now Tuesday, according to a Which? report. Travellers can make big savings by opting for mid-week outbound flights with Britain™s three biggest airlines, its study shows. Services with easyJet from Gatwick to Alicante on Tuesday were about 35 per cent “ or £28 “ cheaper than those on a Friday, the consumer group found. Choosing different times of the day to fly can also save c...
• Minister rejects Richard Branson's offer to operate trains without profitSir Richard Branson™s offer to run his trains for nothing if the Transport Secretary delays stripping his company of its rail franchise has been rejected. Outbid: Sir Richard Branson (Picture: EPA) The Virgin boss pledged to keep services going temporarily on a not-for-profit basis if he succeeds in forcing a delay in the handover of the West Coast Mainline to FirstGroup in January.But the Department of Transport said: ˜The winning bidder was decided by a fair and established process and no  reason has been advanced to convince DfT not to sign the agreement.™ Mr Branson said David Cameron nee...

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post commented Long Eaton residents take advantage of bike safety offerPOLICE in Long Eaton were pleased by the number of people who turned out to get their bicycles marked in a bid to deter thieves.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Call to delay new WestCoast Mainline rail dealCalls were made today for the Government to delay signing the new £10 billion West Coast Mainline contract until MPs have a chance to fully scrutinise the deal.

Blackpool Gazette

• Branson™s offer in rail deal battleTYCOON Sir Richard Branson has offered his company’s services free of charge as the battle over a major rail network intensifies.

Crewe Chronicle

• UK & World News: Top Tory goads Cameron on HeathrowSenior Conservative Tim Yeo has goaded David Cameron over the expansion of Heathrow airport, urging him to decide if he is

Other Regional Press

• Call for delay on rail franchise decision on West Coast Main Line through NorthamptonA Parliamentary select committee chairman has asked the Government to delay signing off the deal which will see Sir Richard Branson’s train company lose its West Coast Main Line rail franchise, which runs through Northampton.
• UK & World News: PM urged to intervene in rail dealPrime Minister David Cameron must intervene in the row over the new West Coast Mainline contract to
• UK & World News: Top Tory goads Cameron on HeathrowSenior Conservative Tim Yeo has goaded David Cameron over the expansion of Heathrow airport, urging him to decide if he is
• Calls for delay on rail bidA campaign is growing to halt handing the multi-billion pound contract to run a key rail route through Lancashire.

London TravelWatch

• London TravelWatch response to combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise seeks a wide range of improvements for passengers in and around LondonLondon TravelWatch has responded to the Department for Transport's (DfT) consultation on the combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) franchise, due to start in September 2013. Top priorities for the passenger watchdog include more services, increased capacity and improved station standards.

Railnews

• DfT still set to confirm West Coast franchise The Department for Transport is showing no sign of reconsidering its decision to award the Intercity West Coast contract to FirstGroup, as the countdown to the final signatures continues. The controversial £5.5 billion franchise can be signed-off after midnight tonight, which is when a 14-day 'cooling off' period expires.

Other News Sources

• Heathrow third runway calls pose party headaches Revived calls for a third runway at Heathrow are posing challenges for both the Conservative and Labour parties' leaderships.
• West coast mainline: Branson begs for stay of execution Desperate last-minute manoeuvres from Virgin boss Richard Branson and opposition MPs do not appear to be making an impact ahead of tomorrow's west coast mainline franchise transferral.