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

Wednesday, 03 February 2010

BBC News

• Plan to cut motorway speed limit for lorries and busesLorries and buses face lower motorway speed limits and an outside lane ban under Department for Transport plans.
• Never mind the bollards - but do have a look at the artwork insideSecret artworks can be found hidden inside metal bollards in central Cardiff.
• Forth bridge 'still on schedule'The new Forth crossing will be delivered on time and on budget, the government agency Transport Scotland reiterates.
• Mayor 'furious' at Tube closuresLondon Mayor Boris Johnson is said to be
• Boeing predicts recovery in 2010Aerospace giant Boeing expects a global economic recovery this year to result in renewed demand for aircraft in 2012.
• Singapore Airlines makes profitSingapore Airlines returns to profit in the last three months of 2009, prompting hopes of a recovery in the travel sector.
• South Korea to buy Gatwick stakeSouth Korea's state pension fund says it plans to buy a 12% stake in the newly-independent Gatwick airport.
• Union renews legal battle with BAThe Unite union goes to the High Court to try to get last year's British Airways' cabin crew changes overturned.

Financial Times

• Eurostar rivals eye service to London European high-speed trains, including Germany's ICE, could soon be serving London under safety rule changes being considered by the Channel tunnel's regulator
• Panama Canal vows to stick with toll increasesThe administrator of the Panama Canal has vowed to press ahead with a programme of steep toll increases despite complaints that they are aggravating the shipping market crisis
• Russian state airlines to merge with AeroflotVladimir Putin has approved a plan to merge six small aviation companies into its flagship state airline Aeroflot, in an attempt to consolidate the country's troubled sector

The Guardian

• Boris Johnson calls for Tube Lines fee reduction• Mayor of London wants government to press Tube Lines for cut • Johnson says dropping management fee would save £400,000
• Full-body scanners already in use at Heathrow airport, says BAAStaff have been trained to spot passengers acting suspiciously and refer them to police or security guards

The Herald

• Lorry speed limit loophole to be shutA loophole which allows older lorries and coaches to drive up to 14mph faster on motorways than new vehicles fitted with speed limiters will be closed under new Government proposals.

The Telegraph

• First Capital Connect carpeted by Transport Secretary Senior executives at the troubled train operator First Capital Connect have been carpeted by Lord Adonis, the Transport Secretary.

Department for Transport

• Simplification of speed limit rules for buses, coaches and heavy goods vehiclesProposals to simplify motorway speed limits for buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) were published today by the Department for Transport. 

Daily Express

• BP fuels cost cuts after profits crashBP yesterday pledged to step up the drive on costs after revealing a 45 per cent drop in profits to $14billion (£8.8billion) for the year to December.

Journal Live

• New transport scheme could see new Belford rail stationA NORTHUMBERLAND village could finally get a much-needed rail link.
• Former Transport Minister Derek Twigg joins Air Passenger Duty battleA FORMER Transport Minister has joined the battle against increases in a damaging tax on flying.

Liverpool Post

• John Lennon Airport on body scan ‘collision course’LIVERPOOL’S John Lennon Airport is on a collision course with the Government over controversial body scanners that produce a naked image of passengers.

Wales Online

• Colour-coded map aims to ease Cardiff bus-box confusionA MAJOR information campaign has been launched to help long-suffering bus passengers understand a new system branded “a shambles” by critics.

Other News Sources

• First Capital Connect Accused of Skewing Performance FiguresFIRST Capital Connect (FCC) has denied claims from commuters that it is skewing its punctuality performance results.
• First Capital Connect's PR hits the buffersFIRST Capital Connect knows its recent service has been way below the standard expected and deserved by commuters
• County council dips into reserves for £6.3million roads boostHERTFORDSHIRE: Hertfordshire County Council has announced £6.3 million in extra funding for road repairs and improvements “ despite freezing its council tax demand.
• RMT Parliamentary Group launch new drive for First Capital Connect to be stripped of Thameslink franchise - Commons debate tomorrowLUTON NORTH MP Kelvin Hopkins, a member of transport union RMT's Parliamentary Group, today tabled an Early Day Motion demanding that First Capital Connect be stripped of their Thameslink franchise with the service taken in-house and 'run as a publicly-owned and accountable public service for the benefit of passengers, taxpayers and railway employees.'
• ARA Successful to Secure Additional Cash for Clunkers Processing Time for Automotive RecyclersNHTSA Approves 90 Day Crushing Extension -- a Win-Win for Consumers
• Conservatives vow to build Crossrail and Shadow chancellor George Osborne has today pledged that his party will build London™s £15.9bn Crossrail scheme and start work on a north-south high speed rail line should they win the next General Election.
• ‘Crackpot’ Manchester Road bus lane costing £1m gets go-ahead
• New HGV speed limit proposalsProposals to simplify motorway speed limits for buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) have been published by the Department for Transport. The changes are needed because of differences that have arisen between new vehicles, which are fitted with speed limiters, and older vehicles which are not.  This means that while newer HGVs are limited [...]
• Garl line is ˜nationally important™The boss of Glasgow Airport has reiterated her opposition to the scrapping of a rail link with the city.
• Budget D-Day: now or never to save rail linkScotland™s business leaders have issued a last-chance warning to the Scottish Government to save the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.
• DIY electric car promises bespoke bodywork as easy as iPhone app A new electric vehicle that is to be sold without bodywork, seats or even a steering wheel promises motorists a choice of design and performance as diverse and easily available as an iPhone application.read more
• Scheme of the Month - Walk on Cycle Map, Peterborough In April 2004, Peterborough was selected by the Department for Transport as a Sustainable Travel Demonstration Town (STDT). The aim of the STDT programme was to showcase the role of ˜smarter choices™ measures in reducing car use. This programme was branded Travelchoice. Travelchoice uses imaginative and innovative ideas such as events, competitions and exhibitions to highlight [...]
• Ryanair narrows losses, rai...Comment about