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

Sunday, 11 January 2009

BBC News

• Support for bridge borrowing bidThe Scottish Government lists bodies supporting full borrowing powers, as the Forth bridge funding row continues.

The Herald

• SPT offers redundancy to all staff amid £3.5m crisisAll staff at Scotland's biggest transport partnership have been offered voluntary redundancy terms as the organisation tackles a massively increased budget deficit caused by rising costs and reduced income.

The Independent

• Heathrow's third runway to fall foul of EU rules Heathrow's controversial third runway – due to be given the green light by ministers this week – is unlikely ever to be built because it will fall foul of new European pollution laws, environmentalists and senior government advisers believe.

The Observer

• Credit crunch puts train and bus services at riskRail and bus services in the UK are under threat from the credit crunch as the bosses of Britain's largest transport groups prepare to ask for unprecedented government help in a meeting with the transport secretary, Geoff Hoon.Routine talks with the bosses of National Express, Stagecoach, First Group, Arriva and Go-Ahead on 20 January have assumed urgency because of the weakening economy and signs of waning performances at rail franchises.It is understood that the chief executives will seek assurances from Hoon that he is open to renegotiating their franchises, which could include a reduction ...
• 'Bullying' BAA tries to scare off Heathrow protestersPoliticians are accusing BAA, Britain's largest airport operator, of

The Telegraph

• State help for car makers 'within days' Britain's beleaguered car industry is in line for state help with ministers poised this week to announce a scheme to allow companies to
• Real battle begins over third runway at HeathrowThe decision to approve a third runway at Heathrow is just days away but the battle over the future of the world's busiest international passenger airport is only now beginning in earnest.

Times Online

• World’s first flying car prepares for take-offIs it a car? Is it a plane? Actually it’s both. The first flying automobile, equally at home in the sky or on the road, is scheduled to take to the air next month.
• Virgin pilot Steve Ridgway flies into stormSteve Ridgway is slashing prices, postponing plane orders and talking with Lufthansa about an alliance. Happy Birthday, Virgin Atlantic
• Mayor to lead legal fight on Heathrow expansionBORIS JOHNSON, the mayor of London, is to lead a legal challenge against the government if, as expected, Gordon Brown grants the go-ahead to an expansion of Heathrow.
• Be bold, not foolhardy, over Heathrow's runwayIt looks as if the die is cast. A third runway at Heathrow is about to be backed by the government despite 70,000 public submissions against the expansion of London’s badly sited and oversized airport. Investigations by this newspaper have revealed that objections to the third runway have their basis in genuine concerns among experts about the impact on the environment and quality of life.
• Heathrow Airport rail bid to raise £10m RADICAL plans for a high-speed rail link from London to the north via Heathrow have taken a step forward with the formation of a development company to start work on the project.

Daily Express

• PM 'SET TO APPROVE HEATHROW RUNWAY'Gordon Brown is ready to give the go-ahead to a third runway at Heathrow Airport, according to reports.

Daily Record

• Strathclyde Partnership for Transport to offer staff voluntary redundancyTRANSPORT workers are being offered voluntary redundancy, it emerged last night.
• Exclusive: BBC spark new row after warning of level crossing dangers... from the middle of level crossingA BBC Scotland reporter filmed a warning about the dangers of level crossings while standing on the tracks.

Belfast Telegraph

• Oil giant Exxon calls for green taxes The boss of ExxonMobil, the world's largest oil company, has called for a carbon tax to tackle global warming, marking a volte-face by the firm once described by Greenpeace as Climate Criminal No 1.

Manchester Evening News

• New home ready for ConcordeENGINEERS are making final preparations to move Concorde into its new home. The supersonic aircraft was British Airways' flagship jet, carrying the Queen, pop stars and international VIPs during 30 years of service.

Metro

• Carbon footprint imbalance revealedThe average Briton has already caused more carbon emissions in 2009 than a person in the poorest countries will create all year, anti-poverty campaigners have claimed.

The York Press

• Application for controversial station barriers submitted MORE than 120 people have voiced opposition to controversial plans to install automatic barriers at York Railway Station.
• York hospital car park scheme shelved PLANS for a £5million multi-storey car park at York Hospital have been shelved indefinitely.

C.N.N.

• Somali pirates free tanker after ransomPirates holding a Saudi-owned oil supertanker off the coast of Somalia have set the vessel free after receiving a ransom payment, a piracy monitor in neighboring Kenya and the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet said Saturday.

Washington Post

• Detroit auto show strips out glitz in rough times DETROIT -- The streets of downtown Detroit will be free of cattle this year, and there won't be any Jeeps flying through the windows of the convention center.

Other News Sources

• Virgin Nigeria suspends long-haul operations Virgin Nigeria is suspending its long-haul services to the UK and South Africa, pending a review of the operations. The Lagos-based carrier will stop...
• Wheels come off caravan industryHull was the birthplace of the caravan industry 60 years ago, but now the downturn is threatening the city's livelihood. Jane Deith reports.