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

Friday, 07 September 2012

BBC News

• Legal bid over 'noisy' trainsResidents near a busy railway track consider legal action in an effort to stop noise and vibration problems caused by passing trains.
• Virgin to discuss flight plansThe chief executive of Virgin Atlantic meets politicians in Edinburgh to discuss plans to introduce flights from Scotland to London Heathrow.
• Lufthansa cancels 1,200 flightsLufthansa cancels hundreds of flights this weekend as cabin staff begin a nationwide strike affecting six major German airports.

Department for Transport

• Written Statement - Aviation - Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MPThe Secretary of State for Transport (Patrick McLoughlin): International connectivity is vital to support economic growth. This Government has made clear that its priority is returning this country to sustainable economic growth and our aviation networks and infrastructure have an important role to play.

Financial Times

• Aviation policy: Ill health of national carrier causes concernViable air links are crucial for an island economy, writes John Reed
• Qantas agrees alliance with EmiratesAustralian carrier™s shares surge on long-anticipated deal, a key step in its efforts to shore up its lossmaking international business
• Heathrow expansion decision shelvedMove infuriates Boris Johnson, who says creation of an inquiry into airport capacity is ˜a fudge that will cost business dear™
• Go-Ahead slowed by rail lossesHigher premium payments for the right to run the Southern rail franchise contributes to UK bus and train operator reporting flat profits for 2012 financial year
• JAL to take off again with $8.5bn listingJapanese airline returns to a public listing in one of the fastest recovery stories in Japanese corporate history, with a Y663bn IPO
• Lufthansa crews escalate strike actionUnion to broaden action over pay and working conditions causing the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights on Friday, costing the airline up to €29m
• Qantas has high hopes for Emirates tie-upAustralian carrier seeks to restore global operations to profit after striking code-share partnership with fast-growing Gulf airline
• IAG in talks with Qatar Airways over AsiaThe two carriers discuss the possibility of forming a partnership as British Airways and Qantas confirm that they are ending their ˜Kangaroo™ venture

The Guardian

• Heathrow third runway – timelime of events Coalition policy rules out expansion in this parliament but the Treasury has indicated it is open to the idea in the long term. The issue splits the government and backbenches alike
• If the new runway can't be at Heathrow airport, what are the alternatives? From 'Boris Island' to Birmingham, how political consensus on the issue of expanding flight capacity could be reached
• Heathrow's third runway: noise grows, but will it happen? Environmentalists and those living under the flight path are ready to fight if the Conservatives resurrect expansion plans
• Heathrow's thiurd runway: noise grows, but will it happen?Somehow, the noise never seems that bad from the actual airport. It certainly doesn't sound bad from Westminster. But in Hounslow, the London borough under the flight path for Heathrow's two runways, the planes loom unfeasibly large as they come in to land, with the background engine noise building up every ninety seconds or so to a conversation-defying eruption.

The Independent

• May says border forces will need 'several years' to get up to standardIt will take several years to get the organisations guarding Britain™s frontiers up to a high standard, the Home Secretary warned MPs today.Related StoriesBill for MPs' expenses nearly £90 million last yearFuture Labour Government could encourage introduction of living wageCaroline Spelman 'too old' claim denied by Downing StreetOsborne: independent Scots could lose poundMPs' expenses are close to the level from before major scandal

The Scotsman

• Alex Salmond allays fears over split up of CalMac west coast route ALEX Salmond today moved to allay fears over the future of CalMac by appearing to rule out its west coast ferry route network being split up.

The Telegraph

• Nick Clegg softens approach to extra runways The political in-fighting over airport expansion has spread to the Liberal Democrats after Nick Clegg softened his opposition to extra runways in the South East.
• Motorists face EU ban for modifying cars Motorists who modify their cars could fail their MoT test under EU proposals.
• Go-Ahead warns it may need taxpayer support for Southern rail services Train and bus group Go-Ahead has admitted it may have to seek taxpayer aid for its Southern rail franchise next year in the latest blow to the Government’s transport policy.

Reuters News

• Britain raises 32 million euros in EU carbon permit saleLONDON (Reuters) - Britain raised 32.4 million euros (25.6 million pounds) on Thursday by auctioning European Union spot carbon permits but bidding interest was at its lowest since the auctions began, data from the UK Debt Management Office showed.

Mail Online

• A memo for the new Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Sir Ged Busslaine... I am lucky enough to have acquired a copy of a memo prepared for the new Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Sir Ged Busslaine.
• Jaguar Land Rover unveils new 'super-green' hybrid at star-studded gala - as car maker announces £370m investment in British factoryJaguar Land Rover has announced a £370million investment to kick start production of the new Range Rover.

ATOC

• Paralympic National Rail travel bulletin: Thursday 6 SeptemberOn the eighth day of the Paralympics, train companies are today providing 4,112, 523 seats by running extra and longer trains....

Belfast Telegraph

• easyJet set to abandon seats free-for-all after trial success The days of rushing across the airport tarmac to get the seat you want will soon be over for passengers of easyJet after it announced it will allocate each passenger a specific seat. Related StoriesNew trading room offers students a taste of Wall StreetBattersea gets £8bn overhaulIrn-Bru and Britvic begin talks over £1.4bn mergerSweet success planned for pastry firm after £150k investmentJobs boost as sports chain opens store

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Sky high fuel prices crippling North Wales economySKY high fuel prices at the pump will be probed by a fair trade watchdog, amid anger that they’re squeezing the North Wales rural economy.

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph commented Electric pool cars part of council drive to go greenELECTRIC pool cars are to be used by Derby City Council as part of its move towards reducing its carbon footprint.

London Evening Standard

• Planes may fly in bird-like formations and automatically select most eco-friendly routes from 2050Passenger aircraft flying in formation like birds could be a feature of aviation in the second half of this century, it was revealed today.

Manchester Evening News

• Passengers' anger as flight from Manchester to Washington cancelled after 28-hour delayPassengers waited for more than 28 hours for a flight from Manchester Airport to Washington “ only for it to be cancelled. United Airlines customers due to fly at noon on Tuesday had to find hotels or sleep in the terminal after their plane developed an engine problem.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post commented Fleet of electric buses creates a buzz in cityArticle

The York Press

• Probe into National Railway Museum allegations THE National Railway Museum has launched an internal investigation into allegations about the awarding of contracts for work on train engines.
• Piece of rail heritage restored at National Railway Museum A VINTAGE sign has been restored at one of York™s biggest tourist attractions.
• Rail workers to strike in pay dispute CLEANERS on the East Coast mainline and London Midland services are to strike on Monday to fight for more pay.

Bucks Free Press

• Gillan to keep fighting HS2 DEFIANT Cheryl Gillan said she will continue to fight HS2 from the back benches after losing her cabinet post this week.

Other Regional Press

• Merseytravel chairman backs campaign to bring new rail station to Skelmersdale MERSEYTRAVEL’S chairman has joined the fight to secure a new rail station for Skelmersdale.
• Outgoing Transport Secretary Justine Greening was 'good for region'NORTH East Lincolnshire MPs have praised outgoing Transport Secretary Justine Greening for the work she did on the review that led to the lowering of the Humber Bridge tolls.
• Tram™s green plan is blowing the windPreston’s new tram network will run using wind power to transport thousands of passengers around the city.
• Bus chiefs to discuss plans to pedestrianise Aberdeen city centre BUS companies today gave a cautious welcome to plans to pedestrianise Aberdeen™s city centre ahead of meeting council leaders.
• Bus firm to take over scrapped Aberdeen route AN EVENING bus service is to be saved as part of new drive from Stagecoach Bluebird.

Global Rail News

• HLOS will allow freight to develop electric strategyThe Government’s £9 billion railway investment programme is the “tipping point” that will allow freight companies to focus on electric strategies, according to Rail Freight Group (RFG) policy manager Maggie Simpson. Speaking at the Rail 2020 inquiry on Monday, Simpson said that the HLOS package, which includes plans to fully electrify the Midland Main Line [...]
• Act fast to vote for your RailStaff Awards 2012 favouriteLook at the date when you read this and check to see if you still have time to vote in the RailStaff Awards 2012. Voting finishes up on September 13. This summer all of us have marvelled at the displays of heroism and bravery we have seen on our screens and at the Olympic venues [...]
• Signalling initiatives from PlymouthBombardier is a name now well established in the rail industry, but that was not always the case. Joseph Bombardier started the company in Canada to make snow mobiles during the 1930s, and this was the mainstream business for many years. The company entered the rail sector during the 1970s, with its first major contract [...]
• West Coast bidders to speak at Commons committee hearingVirgin founder Richard Branson and First Group boss Tim O’Toole will go head to head on Monday when they are called before MPs to field questions about the ongoing West Coast saga. Earlier this week in a written statement, former transport minister Theresa Villiers confirmed that the Government had delayed signing of a new contract [...]

Railnews

• New Transport team must hit ground running The new transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin has moved into his Marsham Street office to find a bulging 'in' tray. He was named by the Prime Minister as the replacement for Justine Greening earlier this week. Critical matters needing his urgent attention include the West Coast controversy, in which a decision made by his Department now faces scrutiny by the Commons Transport Committee and also, potentially, by the High Court.

Aviation Industry

• British Airways, Qantas to end JSA after Emirates hook-upBritish Airways (BA) and Qantas (QF) will terminate their long-running revenue-sharing agreement on UK-Australia routes following the Australian flag-carrier™s decision to embark on a new global partnership arrangement with Emirates Airline (EK).
• Lufthansa cancels 1,200 flights for Friday as strike escalatesLufthansa (LH) has canceled about 1,200 out of 1,800 flights for Friday as its flight attendants”represented by the UFO union”prepare to launch a third day of strikes in an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.
• Comment: Cameron™s absurd position on aviationThe government is paying the price for rash election promises on airport policy

Other News Sources

• Transport Minister launches eco-friendly buses Minister for Transport, Norman Baker MP, has launched Nottingham's new Centrelink electric buses.
• Extra evening bus services for Winchester suburbs CITY councillors look set to break their budget in a bid to secure late evening bus services for four Winchester suburbs.