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

Monday, 31 May 2010

BBC News

• Most motorway driver pothole claims fail to win payment Only one in nine drivers who claimed compensation for damage caused by motorway potholes over the past year were successful, the BBC has learned
• Extra £4.8m to repair weather-damaged roads in Norfolk An extra £4.8m has been added to Norfolk's road maintenance programme to fund the cost of repairing the damage caused this winter.
• Thames boaters face Environment Agency pollution drive Boaters using the River Thames in Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire are being targeted in a bid to tackle pollution.
• BA 'runs more flights' in strikeBritish Airways says it operated more services than planned as cabin crew began a second five-day strike.

Financial Times

• Honda calls on Chinese workers to avoid strikesThe Japanese carmaker™s hard line against union activity emerges even as it struggles to resolve the wage dispute at a factory that has also forced the closure of three other plants in China
• Walsh offers fresh BA strike talksWillie Walsh, BA's chief executive, says he is prepared to pursue the means to arrange fresh talks on the cabin crew strike that is set to disrupt hundreds more flights this week and next

The Herald

• SPT shredded paperwork on expenses bills Receipts and documents detailing how senior managers at a transport quango spent thousands of pounds on business trips have been shredded, an investigation has revealed.
• SPT: a journey too far The new chairman of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport has admitted a controversial fact-finding trip to Manchester, which coincided with a Uefa Cup Final, should never have happened.
• Services grounded between Scotland and Heathrow as BA strike takes holdBritish Airways services between Scotland and Heathrow have been grounded by the cabin crew strike, despite the airline™s claims that it operated more than planned on the first day of the latest dispute.

The Independent

• Unite calls for BA talks to take place in publicBritish Airways cabin crew yesterday began five days of industrial action after the Unite union failed to reach agreement with the airline during negotiations last week. Members of the union plan another five-day walk-out from 5 June. These come after seven days of strikes in March.

The Scotsman

• BA facing 'summer of disruption'British Airways will be warned that it could face a "needless summer of disruption" because of the "hard man" stance of its chief executive over the bitter cab

Times Online

• BA promises fewer cancellations as cabin crew start half-term strikeBritish Airways cabin crew began their latest five-day walkout yesterday, over the half-term holidays, after a five-day strike that ended only on Friday and seven days of action in March.
• EasyJet plans to sue over volcano falloutEasyJet is planning to bring a class action lawsuit to win compensation for flight bans imposed by Europe™s air safety authorities in April and May.

The Mirror

• BA facing 'summer of disruption' British Airways will be warned that it could face a

Liverpool Post

• Our transport dreams in tatters GOOD Heavens, but we’re going to be sorry for our profligacy over the past few years. And it’s not going to be very pleasant for anybody when the Government really gets to grips with scrapping, cutting back or delaying all the spending schemes on which so many had placed so many hopes.
• New carriages for overcrowded trains in the North axed by Tories THE Tories were accused of breaking their election promise to tackle train overcrowding – after they suddenly axed an order for 100-plus extra carriages for the North.

Manchester Evening News

• United Utilities boss to be Manchester Airport chief A board director at FTSE 100 giant United Utilities is set to be named as the new chief executive of Manchester Airports Group, the MEN can reveal. Charlie Cornish, who currently holds the title of managing director, business development and international at the Warrington-based water company, is expected to succeed Geoff Muirhead at MAG.

Sheffield Star

• Two First buses break down for second time in daysCOMMUTERS faced traffic misery for the second day this week after two First buses broke down in Sheffield city centre during yesterday evening's rush hour.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• North fuel-price fight gathers paceA campaign for fairer fuel prices in the Highlands and islands is gathering pace.
• Local councils accused of not buying enough ˜green™ carsCouncils are failing to use enough environmentally friendly vehicles, it emerged yesterday.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• PM makes Leeds high speed train pledge David Cameron has insisted his government is committed to bringing 200mph trains to the Leeds.
• Exclusive: Cuts put Leeds project at risk of axeA £23m plan to build two new rail stations in West Yorkshire is at risk of being axed as part of the government's "shock wave" of spending cuts, the YEP can reveal

Other News Sources

• High Speed campaigners meet with Department for Transport CAMPAIGNERS met with transport bosses on Thursday over concerns at the impact a planned high speed rail route will have on Buckinghamshire. Members of the High Speed 2 Action Alliance discussed the controversial plans in an “open, positive and constructive” meeting with the Department of Transpor
• RHA meets with new Transport SecretaryRoad Haulage Association director of policy Jack Semple has met with new transport secretary, Phil Hammond at one of his constituency events, the Runnymede and Weybridge Enterprise Forum.