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

Tuesday, 23 December 2008

BBC News

• Oil falls on slowing demand signsOil prices fall on negative corporate reports and signs the global energy demand is deteriorating further.
• BAA boss on challenges ahead [Audio]BAA's chief executive has spoken to the BBC about giving up its monopoly on London's airports, the economy and the environmental impact of air travel.

Department for Transport

• Invitation to tender issued for 200 new diesel train carriagesGovernment plans to improve journeys for rail passengers on some of the nation's busiest routes took a major step forward today as train manufacturers were invited to bid for a £300M project to build 200 new carriages Transport Minister Andrew Adonis announced.

Financial Times

• Newcomers on rail shortlistThree companies that have never supplied Britain's railways are among four trainmakers shortlisted to supply 200 new carriages under the government's economic stimulus plan.
• Chairman of Aer Lingus hits out at RyanairAer Lingus has hit back at its rival Ryanair's €1.40-a-share hostile bid, saying it was "a rip-off". Aer Lingus said it would make a small pre-tax profit in 2008 and 2009 and insisted it had a "vibrant independent future".

The Guardian

• Urgent talks continue on aid for carmakersEfforts to put together a support package for Britain's ailing motor industry are continuing before what will be an extended Christmas break for most UK car workers.Many of the UK's car plants have closed or are about to close for the holidays, but the government remains under pressure to act quickly.The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is seeking a further meeting with ministers to press the case for assistance.
• Boris and the C-chargeMy podcast called Boris's London has just gone live at Comment Is Free. There's an interview with the mayor at the end in which I ask him to reveal his true feelings about the WEZ. Did he favour "Option 3"?

The Telegraph

• Food on budget airline flights 'costs half as much as ticket'Passengers flying with lowcost airlines can pay almost half as much for food and drink as they do for the flight a leading watchdog has warned.
• Police force spends £23000 to repair damage as officers put wrong fuel in carsPolice officers and civilian staff who put the wrong fuel in their cars cost a force £23000 to repair damage in the past three years.
• Passengers win right to compensation when flights cancelled for technical faults.Airline passengers are entitled to compensation when a plane is cancelled because of a technical fault a court has ruled.

Times Online

• Electric shock: green Prius fails to pay its way Apple has the iPod. Nintendo has the Wii. This year’s must-have item was supposed to have been Toyota’s Prius: the hybrid petrol and electric car bristling with gadgetry and sophistication, and built for a world of $120-a-barrel crude oil.$
• Ryanair accused of cash raid on Aer Lingus Aer Lingus, the Irish flag carrier, has rejected a €750 million bid by Ryanair claiming that the budget airline is attempting to raid its cash reserves.
• Need to know: Barclays settlement ... BA new fleet ... Palm boost View video and Need to Know interactive heatmap
• Fears for 40,000 jobs in British car trade as Toyota goes into red Graphic: British carmakers hit the brakes

Journal Live

• Big welcome for Carlisle Airport makeoverREGENERATION organisations last night welcomed approval of plans to develop Carlisle Airport.
• Durham MP backs Brancepeth speed limit fightSPEED campaigners fighting to slow cars through their village have been backed by their MP. Ellen Hendry, 81, was killed by a Suzuki jeep as she tried to cross the A690 which runs through Brancepeth, between Durham and Crook, on November 13.

Liverpool Echo

• Free buses for hospitals on Christmas dayBUSES will be free for hospital staff and visitors on Christmas Day.

London Evening Standard

• Lessons in cycle safety for lorry and bus driversLorry and bus drivers working for a London council are to receive training in cycling road safety in a bid to prevent road deaths
• 41 more stations to be staffed at night in rail safety driveForty-one more stations in London will be manned until the last service at night from next year after ministers ordered safety improvements
• Toyota set to slam into red for first time in 70 yearsToyota, the world's most successful car company succumbed to the global financial crisis as it said it is to post its first loss since before the Second World War
• BA returns to fray at City Airport with 11 jetsBritish Airways takes the dogfight over East London to new levels after announcing the £240 million acquisition of 11 new state-of-the-art jets for City Airport

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Touch of nostalgia on Santa Special for steam fansPASSENGERS on an Angus railway were transported back to the 1950s for a special Christmas treat.

Other News Sources

• Toyota in red for first time in 70 yearsToyota, the world's most successful car company, succumbed to the financial crisis as it said it will post its first loss since before the Second World War
• Wincanton confirms 188 redundanciesWincanton has confirmed that 188 employees will be made redundant after Christmas owing to the collapse of retail giant Woolworths.
• Automatic 10-tonner 'ideal' for urban deliveriesSouth Wales haulier Chris Bird finds his new 10-tonne GVW Atego both fuel efficient and ideally suited to urban deliveries. The 1024L rigid has a Specbody Products box body and is powered by a Euro 5 engine mated to an Autotrans automated transmission. It works on contract delivering upmarket toiletries to the 37 nationwide stores of retailer Crabtree Evelyn who has a national distribution centre in South Wales. Nearly half of those outlets are in London and the new Atego works in the capital every second day. œIt™s always fully freighted on the way out but returns upwards of 16mpg which, gi...
• Public sector to use £70 million committed spend to secure better deals with airlines OGCbuying.solutions has announced today that, for the first time, it is to contract directly with airlines to secure improved deals on ticket prices.
• Failed TIF bid cost AGMA more than £20mThe cost of preparing the failed bid to the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) was more than £20m, according to figures released by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA).
• VLM create new Manchester flightsVLM Airlines will begin flights between Manchester and Eindhoven next month. The service will start on January 12, 2009 and operate every weekday, with flights at the beginning and end of every day targeted at business and leisure travellers.