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

Saturday, 20 December 2008

BBC News

• Aston Martin designs new Routemaster bus for LondonSports car manufacturer Aston Martin jointly wins a competition to design a new Routemaster bus for London
• Nuisance train users facing finesTransport police officers could be given the power to issue on-the-spot fines to passengers who smoke, drink or cause a nuisance, under government plans.
• Obama urges carmakers to 'reform'The US president-elect welcomes a multi-billion dollar aid package for US carmakers, but says they must make some

Financial Times

• Christmas trains better planned, says operatorAfter severe overruns last year provoked widespread criticism, Network Rail assures that engineering work on some of the UK network's busiest sections over the festive period will be less intense
• Ferrovial may buy out minorities in CintraThe Spanish infrastructure group may take advantage of weak stock markets to buy out minority shareholders in Cintra, its 68 per cent-owned toll road business

The Independent

• Jaguar deal to be agreed within days Jaguar Land Rover could receive emergency state aid within days to protect tens of thousands of jobs at the luxury car-maker.

The Telegraph

• Christmas getaway quiet on the roads as people take the trainThe credit crisis is hitting the Christmas getaway with people opting for train travel instead of driving and flying.
• Unruly rail passengers to be handed £50 onthespot fineRail passengers who smoke drink or cause trouble on a train could soon be handed a £50 onthespot fine.

Times Online

• US carmakers secure $17.4bn bailout from Bush$America's struggling carmakers were today granted a short reprieve after George W. Bush, the country's outgoing President, pledged to provide the industry with a $17.4 billion ($£11.6 billion) bailout.
• Oil prices swing as traders fear that Opec will tighten tap of productionOil prices were rocked in a price roller-coaster yesterday, initially promising cheaper fuel for motorists only to snatch away the prize as conviction grew among traders that Opec will carry out its promise to slash production.
• Gordon Brown ignores CBI's call for help for British car manufacturersGordon Brown ignored renewed calls from business leaders to save the car industry yesterday, just as America’s ailing automotive giants were offered a $17.4 billion ($£11.6 billion) bailout.

Reuters News

• Government says will do all it can to help carmakersLONDON (Reuters) - The government wants to help the car industry through the economic downturn but the main responsibility lies with the carmakers' owners, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Friday.

Belfast Telegraph

• Proposed BA merger with Qantas stalls British Airways and Qantas said they have failed to reach agreement on a potential merger.
• Indian owned Jaguar could get British state aid within days Jaguar Land Rover could receive emergency state aid within days to protect tens of thousands of jobs at the luxury car-maker.

Birmingham Post

• Black Country needs better rail links to prosper, claims leading campaignerThe Black Country must have better rail links if it is to enjoy increased employment opportunities, a leading transport campaigner has claimed.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• MP backs direct Aberystwyth - London rail link movesA direct London service from Aberystwyth would be a big boost for Ceredigion, claims an MP.

Metro

• Fuel prices cut back to 2006 levelsAggressive price-cutting on petrol station forecourts means drivers are now paying similar fuel prices to 2006, says the AA.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Newcastle Airport signs deal with tour operatorMore than 70,000 more sunseekers will fly out of the region next year after a multi-million-pound contract was signed with a major tour operator.

The News (Portsmouth)

• Poorer weather brings surge in road accidentsTHE number of road accidents in the area has rocketed because of icy conditions.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Fears Salmond has ˜reneged™ on A90Business leaders in the north-east fear First Minister Alex Salmond has œreneged on his pre-election promise to improve transport links between two of the north-east™s biggest towns.

This Is Local London Network

• New Routemaster to hit streets in 2011A new version of the iconic Routemaster bus could be back on the streets of London by 2011, according to Transport for London.

International Herald Tribune

• As Toyota prepares forecasts, reports surface of lossesThe world's biggest automaker, is likely to report its first annual operating loss in 71 years, Japanese media reported Friday.

Washington Post

• Bush orders emergency bailout of the auto industryCiting imminent danger to the national economy, President Bush ordered an emergency bailout of the U.S. auto industry Friday, offering $17.4 billion in rescue loans and demanding tough concessions from the deeply troubled carmakers and their workers.
• Ford Still Must Negotiate Rough Road Ahead Ford Motor may have passed on the $17.4 billion auto bailout plan, but analysts say the automaker is still fighting for its survival along with every other company in the American auto industry.

Railnews

• News: Train derailed after hitting runaway car on West Coast route

Aviation Industry

• EU court: Ryanair won't have to pay back subsidyBudget airline Ryanair may no longer have to pay back a euro4.5 million ($6.16 million) subsidy to the Belgian state after a court ruled Thursday against an EU order to refund the sum.

Other News Sources

• Railway Specialists Mark Two-year Maintenance DealA two-year framework agreement between the global rail leaders Bombardier Transportation and rail systems supplier Rowe Hankins has been signed. This formalises co-operation on maintenance, refurbishment and renewal of critical train safety and operational systems in the UK.
• Strike chaos in Hungary’s main international airportCivil aviation workers based at Hungary’s main airport are on strike after their employers terminated their collective agreement.
• Hilary Benn to Address Local Environmental Quality ConferenceEnvironment Minister supports protection of local environment around Heathrow.
• Europcar and easyJet offset the carbon footprint (press release) Partners compensate for emissions of all rentals booked between December 19, 2008 and January 8, 2009   read more
• Eurostar announces reduced seasonal timetableEurostar will operate a reduced service over the new year due to engineering works taking place in the Channel Tunnel.
• Chaos at US airports as winter storms strikeAirports were shut down and several hundred flights were cancelled Friday as winter storms swept across the Midwest and northeastern US.
• Crossrail invites project representative tendersA shortlist of firms has been invited to tender to become Crossrail's project representative, transport minister Andrew Adonis announced today.