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

Sunday, 15 November 2009

BBC News

• Mother's drink-drive death pleaA woman warns against getting into a car with a drink-driver after her son was killed when his friend crashed when over the limit.
• All change?A rail franchise is nationalised - but will we notice?

Financial Times

• A commuter writesFirstGroup is investing in drivers on its severely disrupted cross-London First Capital Connect rail service . FCC's reliance on drivers working overtime is a legacy...
• BA pension trustees are flying into a stormy debateWillie Walsh has handed British Airways' pension trustees and the Pensions Regulator a superjumbo-sized dilemma: agree a solution to BA's pension deficit that is...

The Independent

• How will the deal really affect the operations of our national airline? The company letterhead will show an address in Spain “ but in reality the whole outfit will be run from London, and you'll be the dominant player. It's a takeover rather than a merger, isn't it?

The Observer

• Rail upgrades facing £750m cutsThameslink and Crossrail services through the capital could be hit by Treasury crackdown on infrastructure projectsThe £5.5bn Thameslink programme to upgrade one of Britain's busiest rail routes is facing £750m worth of cutbacks in a Treasury crackdown on costly infrastructure projects.Senior Treasury mandarins have carried out a

Times Online

• More routes but less classThe merger of British Airways and Iberia will expand the networks of both airlines and enhance their revenue-raising opportunities.
• BA to roll out shares strategyBritish Airways is to open talks with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) over the creation of a stand-alone group that will own the majority of the shares in the airline.

The Mirror

• Rail ticket prices hikeMillions of passengers face a Christmas fares "rip-off" after Virgin Trains hiked its advance tickets by EIGHT TIMES their originally advertised price.

Journal Live

• Lord Adonis will look at East Coast line faresFares on East Coast rail services could fall in future with Transport Secretary Lord Adonis demanding passengers get “value for money”.

Liverpool Echo

• MPs tell minister that bridge crossing underlines need for second Mersey crossingTransport Secretary Lord Adonis has been told that this week’s chaos on the Silver Jubilee bridge underlines the vital need for the second Mersey crossing.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Probe after laser aimed at an easyJet flightA laser was shone into the eyes of crew onboard a airplane, potentially endangering the lives of more than 150 passengers.
• East Coast rail workers in station protestA protest was due to take place in Newcastle today following the nationalisation of the East Coast Main Line.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Government urged to improve east coast rail line The UK Government was last night urged to re-view the need for improvements to the east coast mainline rail track to woo passengers off planes between London and northern Scotland.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Work planned on key roadWork begins on Monday on a £1.2m project which aims to make a stretch of one of Norfolk's busiest roads safer.
• Rail route in public controlThe East Coast Main Line, which runs services through Cambridgeshire, has come under public control.

Washington Post

• Dutch drivers to pay tax on road time, not on car AMSTERDAM -- The Dutch government plans to bring the polluter-pays principle into the home garage.
• A hybrid that's more about style than the environment

Railnews

• News: New East Coast more than a 'care and maintenance job' The government took over the operation of the East Coast Main Line intercity service at midnight, bringing the National Express franchise to a close after less than two years. The Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis was being joined by Directly Operated Railways Chairman Elaine Holt for a tour of the route today.
• News: Passengers quizzed about their priorities, as East Coast returns to public ownership The East Coast Main Line intercity service is now being run by the state for the first time since 1996, but the Transport Secretary has been told that his plans to re-franchise the route within two years are too hasty.

Aviation Industry

• Spain emerges as top dog in BA dealSpain looks set to gain the upper hand in the merger of British Airways and Iberia despite the fact that the UK carrier has ended the 16 months of negotiations with a 55% share of the new holding company.

Other News Sources

• Dubai 09: Bombardier studying potential new ultra-long-range business jetBombardier has confirmed it is looking at developing a new ultra-long-range business jet that would compete against the Gulfstream G650. The manufacturer...
• PLM Transport spends £485k on new VolvosPLM Transport has renewed part of its 25-strong fleet with the purchase of eight new Volvo trucks worth £485,000.
• Stobart supports Runcorn-Widnes toll planStobart Group says it is