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

Monday, 03 December 2012

BBC News

• Singapore Airlines in talks on Virgin Atlantic sale Singapore Airlines says it is in talks to sell its 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic. News agencies, including Reuters and Bloomberg, reported that Delta Air Lines was the interested party according to unnamed sources.
• Public transport challenge for TV team When the BBC Inside Out team were making a film about the future of transport, they set themselves a challenge.
• Rail users reminded of drinks banBritish Transport Police and Scotrail remind festive revellers of the ban now in force on drinking alcohol on trains.
• Delayed upgrade millions spentA new road designed to shorten journey times between Londonderry and Belfast has cost the taxpayer more than £4m yet officials still do not know when construction work will begin.
• Flyover collapse risk 'was known'Hammersmith Flyover remained open for weeks after a report warning of a small risk it could collapse, the BBC learns.
• Horse-drawn gritter photo emergesA rare photograph of a horse-drawn road gritting cart used in London nearly a century ago emerges.

Financial Times

• HS2 opponents drive attempts to sink planChallengers of the UK™s high speed rail link from London to the north look to ask a judge to rule the government™s consultation process was flawed
• Delta in talks to buy Virgin stakeEconomic outlook and the lure of Virgin™s Heathrow slots prompt US airline to again target Singapore Airlines™ holding, says a person close to deal

The Guardian

• Crossrail project dragged into blacklist scandal Senior manager on London rail project routinely used Consulting Association's secret list of trade union members at previous job
• Delta bids for Singapore Airlines' 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic Delta bid prompts speculation that Richard Branson might give up control of Virgin Atlantic, the firm he launched in 1984

The Herald

• Women fuel rise in drivingCAR use is increasing more rapidly in Scotland than the rest of the UK, fuelled by an increase in female drivers.
• One-third fall in bus stops near homesThe number of households within easy reach of a regular bus service has fallen by more than one-third in three years, according to new research.
• High-speed rail challengeGroups fighting the Government's HS2 high-speed rail scheme will try to derail the £34 billion project with court challenges starting today.

The Independent

• HS2 'is likely to lower the value of up to 170,000 homes'The value of more than 40,000 homes – and possibly as many as 170,000 – could be hit by the proposed new HS2 rail line, yet ministers are proposing to compensate fewer than 2,000 owners, campaigners have warned.

The Telegraph

• Number of women drivers soarWomen motorists are set to outnumber their male counterparts on the road, it has emerged.

Daily Express

• Sir Richard Branson on track to take franchiseVIRGIN Rail is poised to sign a contract to run the West Coast Mainline (WCM) franchise on an interim basis.

The Mirror

• Track and ruin: Staff cuts disaster fear as 125mph rail line breaksBob Crow, general secretary of the RMT rail union, even claimed the axing of workers could result in another Hatfield disaster

London Evening Standard

• Branson may lose control of airlineSir Richard Branson reportedly faces relinquishing control of airline Virgin Atlantic for the first time as America's largest airline made a secret takeover approach.
• Global pollution 'at all-time high'Global carbon dioxide emissions are set to rise again in 2012 to new record highs, scientists have warned as United Nations talks on tackling climate change continue.
• AA calling for fuel duty freezeRoad fuel duty taxes are still pouring into the Treasury despite high petrol prices, according to AA figures.

Yorkshire Post

• Protesters ready for court fight against fast trains planGroups opposing the Government’s HS2 high-speed rail scheme will seek to derail the £34bn project through court challenges starting today.

Blackpool Gazette

• Morning dangers of drinking to excessDRUNK drivers have killed almost 300 people in the UK this year – and police are urging motorists not to become one of the statistics this Christmas.

Bucks Free Press

• Readers outraged over 'shameful' Marlow Lock railings MARLOW Free Press readers have expressed their anger and dismay at the new safety railings at Marlow Lock. var options = {ballot_id: '5530'}; panelHandler.loadPanel('ballot', 'ballot_16928579185530', options);

Other Regional Press

• Bus firm™s probe into ˜foul mouthed™ driverA BUS company has launched an investigation following claims a bus driver verbally abused a passenger who asked about delays.

Other News Sources

• Headteacher in plea to improve road safety near Hampshire school and 'save lives' A HAMPSHIRE headteacher made a heartfelt plea to county chiefs to improve road safety near her school - and save lives.
• MPs call for total abolition of APD in Northern Ireland Air Passenger Duty of £13 on short-haul flights to and from Northern Ireland should be abolished, according to MPs.