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

Thursday, 29 January 2009

BBC News

• Lincoln rail verdict imminent [video]A decision is expected soon on whether six direct trains will run daily between Lincoln and London.
• Rail improvements 'still needed'Passengers on rail services in Wales are more satisfied than the average rail user in the UK, a train users' watchdog survey shows.
• In full: Heathrow rebel MPsA total of 28 Labour MPs rebelled to vote for a Conservative/Lib Dem motion urging the government to "rethink" its plans. They were:
• Tunnel battleThe race to get Eurotunnel back on line after a blaze
• Government wins third runway voteMPs vote to support plans for a new runway at Heathrow, as a second MP quits a government post in protest.
• VT sells £380m shipbuilding stakeA Hampshire-based shipbuilder signals the end of its 150-year link with shipbuilding by announcing plans to sell its naval interests.
• Three-day week for Aston MartinLuxury car maker Aston Martin puts its production line staff on a three-day week as it struggles to cope with the downturn in the car industry.
• Car worker subsidies 'considered'Ministers consider a
• Boeing plans to cut 10,000 jobsBoeing says it will cut 6% of its workforce this year after it made a loss in the final three months of 2008.

Financial Times

• Tories 'look both ways' and lose Heathrow voteThe Conservatives are on the back foot after losing a Commons vote on the proposed third runway and admitting they do not rule out an airport expansion in the south-east
• Iberia profits down 90% as demand fallsNet profits at Iberia Airlines dropped about 90 per cent as high fuel costs and flagging demand easily offset efficiency gains at the Spanish flag

The Guardian

• National Express may abandon rail businessNational Express, once Britain's biggest rail operator, could quit the train business altogether if its £1.4bn east coast franchise places too great a strain on group profits, according to a city commentator.
• The end of the runwayLast night parliament gave the thumbs-up to plans for a third runway at Heathrow. If all the Labour MPs who signed an early day motion opposing the expansion had supported the opposition motion, the vote would have carried. It may not have been a vote on legislation, but none the less, the government's embarrassment and isolation would have been complete. Instead, the cravenness of MPs in the face of the whip prevailed.
• Labour survives vote on Heathrow expansion but 28 MPs join revoltThe government last night narrowly ­survived the first parliamentary test of its decision to expand Heathrow airport, as the opposition's momentum was undermined by an admission from the Conservatives that they did not rule out expanding airports in the south-east.Plans to build a third runway at ­Heathrow have been fiercely opposed by a coalition of environmentalists, opposition politicians, and, at one point, as many as 57 Labour MPs concerned at the electoral consequences for their west London ­constituencies and the effects aviation expansion would have on the government's carbon emission ...

The Herald

• Labour revolt over third Heathrow runwayThe government’s Commons majority was cut to 19 last night as the Conservatives tore into the controversial plans for a third runway at Heathrow, aided by a major Labour revolt.

The Independent

• Tories accused of U-turn on HeathrowGordon Brown has suffered a second resignation from his Government and an embarrassing rebellion among Labour MPs over his decision to approve a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow.
• Heathrow third runway vote passed Gordon Brown suffered a second resignation from his Government and an embarrassing rebellion among Labour MPs last night over his decision to approve a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow Airport. The Government narrowly won a vote on the third runway forced by the Conservative Party, although its majority was cut by two-thirds to just 19 after 28 Labour MPs rebelled.

The Scotsman

• Heathrow rail alternatives unveiledOpponents of a third runway for Heathrow are due to launch a plan to make the airport the centre of a rail network which could reduce demand for flights and take one million c

The Telegraph

• Heathrow third runway vote passedPlans to build a third runway at Heathrow have narrowly survived a Commons vote in the face of a substantial Labour rebellion.

Times Online

• Tories clear the way for more flights from small airportsThe Conservatives said yesterday that they were willing to expand airport capacity in the South East despite the party’s environmental opposition to a third runway at Heathrow.
• Thank you - but we still need more, car chiefs tell Mandelson Car chiefs will press Lord Mandelson today for extra help on top of yesterday’s initiatives, amid warnings that the announcement fell well short of what is needed to get consumers buying again.

Mail Online

• Ministers debate further bailout as £2.3billion rescue for car makers gets a cool reception Ministers are considering a further bailout for the car industry after being warned the £2.3billion rescue may not be enough to save ten of thousands of jobs.
• Labour is rocked by Heathrow vote revolt in Commons Labour is rocked by Heathrow vote revolt in Commons

The Sun

• PM's near-miss over HeathrowGORDON Brown gets MPs to back plans for a third Heathrow runway by just nineteen votes

ATOC

• Record numbers satisfied with rail travelThe latest National Passenger Survey (Autumn 2008) published today by Passenger Focus finds that passengers™ satisfaction with their rail journey has reached the highest level since the survey began in 1999. Overall satisfaction has risen to 83% which is up from 81% for the same time period last year.

Transport Briefing

• Network Rail delays West London Line train extensionThe introduction of a new direct train link between East Croydon and Milton Keynes has been postponed by Network Rail.
• King's Cross square project shortlists six architectsSix teams of architects have been shortlisted to develop their ideas for a new public square in front of King's Cross station in London.
• Autumn start date for Infrastructure Planning CommissionA new planning body that could determine the fate of major transport infrastructure projects will become operational in autumn this year.

Birmingham Post

• Heathrow expansion report sets alarm bells ringing at Birmingham AirportThe Campaign for Better Transport makes little secret of the fact that it doesn’t much like airports as a means of getting around.
• Heathrow expansion could leave Birmingham Airport groundedBirmingham International Airport may be forced to abandon its expansion plans in favour of Heathrow’s third runway if the Government is to meet its climate change targets, according to a new study.
• £11m scheme to improve transport links between Solihull and airportA major scheme to improve public transport between Solihull, Birmingham International Airport and the National Exhibition Centre has won final approval, three years after the Government first promised to fund the project.

Liverpool Echo

• Step on the gas!LIVERPOOL John Lennon airport is testing a revolutionary scheme to convert harmful CO² emissions into car and aviation fuel.
• Save Our Motor Industry - £2.3bn Government lifeline ’not enough’ say car firmsBUSINESS secretary Lord Mandelson was meeting motor industry leaders and unions today to discuss the government’s £2.3bn support package for Britain’s struggling car plants.

London Evening Standard

• Battle lines drawn to keep ticket offices open closurePOLITICIANS and union leaders today urged rail commuters to back the Evening Standard's campaign for safer stations.
• One-way rule to be waived for cyclists in City streetsCYCLISTS will be allowed to ride the wrong way up one-way streets in the City in a new scheme to encourage more people to ride to work in the Square Mile.
• Heathrow rail alternatives unveiledOpponents of a third runway for Heathrow are due to launch a plan to make the airport the centre of a rail network which could reduce demand for flights and take one million cars off the roads.
• Emma's paper flight of fancyCelebrities have sketched designs on paper planes for a protest against the aviation industry
• Passengers welcome move to curb closure of rail ticket officesPassenger groups hailed a victory in the battle to stop the mass closure of ticket offices by rail companies across London and the South-East
• Third runway is a health risk, admits HoonA third runway at Heathrow will damage people's health, Geoff Hoon has admitted
• Boris: fares rises needed to fund TfLBoris Johnson was forced to defend Tube and bus fare rises which could see Londoners pay an extra £300 a year

Metro

• Heathrow plans attacked by MPsThe Tories today tore into the Government's controversial plans for a third runway at Heathrow as ministers braced themselves for a major Labour revolt.

The News (Portsmouth)

• Inconvenienced by train toiletsMore than one-third of train passengers think the standard of toilets on local train services are poor, according to a report published today.
• High-speed bus link is set to be approvedA high-speed bus route on a disused railway track is set to get county approval tomorrow.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• First directors go on the roadRESIDENTS of Aberdeen will be given the opportunity to question the directors of city bus company First in a new customer service scheme.
• Stagecoach may face probe into dossier of complaintsTransport giant Stagecoach is facing an investigation by industry watchdogs after scores of complaints were lodged about one of its busiest bus services in the north-east.
• Police eye up roadside ˜super breath-test™ device A new roadside œsuper breath-test capable of being used in evidence in court could soon be introduced in Scotland.
• Flames soar 50ft as fuel train derails on bridge over roadAn investigation was launched yesterday after a freight train laden with fuel derailed and burst into flames as it crossed a bridge.

Wales Online

• Rail passengers reasonably satisfiedRAIL passengers in Wales say they are reasonably satisfied with the quality of their train services, while station facilities are still in need of improvement, latest research shows.

Northants Evening Telegraph

• Still no start date for Corby rail stationThere is no firm date for the opening of Corby rail station as the operator continues its search for trains.

Sunderland Echo

• Unions warn of threat to car jobsThe Government has been warned that thousands more car workers' jobs, on top of those lost at Nissan in Sunderland, could still be lost unless it gives more help to the mo
• '£2bn deal not enough for Nissan'Bosses from Nissan were meeting with Lord Mandelson today after a £2.3billion financial lifeline was thrown to the car industry.

Washington Post

• American Airlines limiting passengers on some jets DALLAS -- American Airlines is limiting the number of passengers on some planes while it orders additional life rafts needed in case of a water landing like the one made this month on the Hudson River by a US Airways jet.

Aviation Industry

• Derbyshire soldiers on... for now...At the start of the week I received the latest edition of Derbyshire County Council's (DCC) Mid & South Derbyshire Bus & Coach timetable book. It is still priced at 80p and contains all the excellent information that readers have hitherto become accustom.
• SEERA calls for Heathrow impact testTests to establish the climate impact of an expanded Heathrow airport must take place now and not after a third runway is built, according to the South East England Regional Assembly.
• UN to setup new charter on combating pilot fatigueAfter several recent studies that many pilots are flying whilst fatigued, the United Nations’ aviation agency announced that it is working on a new charter to better combat pilot fatigue.
• Ryanair admits defeat on takeover Aer Lingus offer formally withdrawn read more

Other News Sources

• Hoon: Charm? No. Offensive? Yes like Norman Baker, the Lib Dems' slightly eccentric but tirelessly crusading exposer of parliamentary scandals and scourge of the establishment.
• Heathrow vote sparks Commons revoltThe Government's majority has been slashed to 19 as Labour MPs rebelled over a third runway at Heathrow.
• Rebels fail to block runway planThe Government's majority was slashed to just 19 as Labour backbenchers joined the Opposition to oppose plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
• Heathrow rail alternatives unveiledOpponents of a third runway for Heathrow are due to launch a plan to make the airport the centre of a rail network which could reduce demand for flights and take one million cars off the roads.
• XL payouts could exhaust financial protection fundsPayouts to passengers of the failed XL Leisure Group threaten to exhaust the funds underpinning consumer financial protection. The...
• TUC welcomes auto-industry support, but package cannot be 'last word'Responding to Lord Mandelson's statement TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'There is much to welcome in Lord Mandelson's announcement today. He has accepted the case for support and has rightly put emphasis on training and securing a low-carbon future for the automotive sector. This is exactly the kind of sensible government intervention in industrial policy that the TUC has long advocated. But employees in the sector will be worried that not enough is being done to keep them in work during the recession ready for the recovery. This should not be the last word.'
• DfT consultation on the 2012 Olympic gamesThe DfT's consultation on traffic management measures in the run-up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is open and closes on 19 March.
• Government offers support for UK truck industryUK truck manufacturers could receive a boon from the government after the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) unveiled a £2bn lending package for the automotive industry.
• RAC slam successive government's neglect of transportTransport has been sidelined by governments of both parties in the post-war years, with the average transport secretary in his or her post for just 22 months, sabotaging long-term planning says new research from the RAC Foundation.
• Virgin Atlantic to develop global travel communityVirgin Atlantic is preparing a major social media play with the launch of a community site.
• Heathrow vote sparks Commons revolt The Government's majority has been slashed to 19 as Labour MPs rebelled over a third runway at Heathrow.
• Rebels fail to block runway planThe Government's majority was slashed to just 19 as Labour backbenchers joined the Opposition to oppose plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
• Government scrapes home in Heathrow expansion voteLONDON (AFP) — Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government narrowly won a vote on plans for a third runway at London's Heathrow Airport Wednesday, although two ministerial aides quit in disgust over the plan.
• Heathrow rail alternatives unveiledHeathrow rail alternatives unveiled