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

Friday, 04 June 2010

BBC News

• New deepwater quay opens at Warrenpoint harbour A new deepwater quay is to be opened at Warrenpoint harbour later, the latest stage in a £21m development.
• EU 'half way to 2020 emissions target' The EU is more than halfway to its target of cutting emissions by 20% from 1990 levels by 2020, a report shows.
• UK receives 'final warning' over air pollution The European Commission has threatened to take the UK to the European Court of Justice over air quality breaches.
• Easyjet to trial volcanic ash detection system Easyjet has unveiled a system that it says will allow airlines to safely fly around ash clouds.
• Dynamo power to recharge handsets Mobile phones can now be recharged while riding a bike. Phone firm Nokia has released a charging kit that uses a dynamo powered by a bicycle's wheels
• Traffic concern over houses plan in Oxfordshire Residents have warned that access into the Barton area of Oxford must be improved if plans to build 1,000 new homes on the estate get the go-ahead.
• Work starts on £63m A13 road project in Essex Work is due to start this month on a £63m road project to make travel to an Olympic mountain biking event quicker.
• UK train carriage review orderedAn "urgent reappraisal" of the government's train carriage procurement programme has been ordered by Transport Secretary Philip Hammond.
• New £2m 'access plan' for airportA £2m plan to improve access, ease congestion and reduce vehicle emissions at Glasgow Airport is under way.
• BA 'worst for baggage problems'UK air travellers experience the most baggage problems when flying with British Airways, a survey claims.

Financial Times

• BA losses fail to put off investorsThe price of the cabin crew strikes at British Airways was laid bare on Thursday as the airline revealed that last month's walkouts have been costing it £7m a day and saw passenger numbers tumble sharply
• Network Rail set to face severe cutsThe company that runs Britain's rail network is discussing hundreds of millions of pounds' worth of spending cuts with ministers

The Guardian

• UK given final warning over London air quality The UK has been issued a written warning by Europe to clean London's air or face fines of up to £300m
• New-style black cab sales rise Eco City, maker of the six-seater Mercedes Vito, has taken a 24% share of the London taxi market in two years
• Spending cuts hit £1bn programme for 1,300 new rail carriages The government stepped up its financial crackdown on the rail industry yesterday after the transport secretary ordered a review of a £1bn programme to buy 1,300 train carriages in the wake of a sceptical National Audit Office report.

The Herald

• One in four BA flyers suffers luggage woes worst for delayed and lost luggageBritish Airways passengers suffer the worst baggage problems among airline travellers, according to a new survey.
• Passenger numbers fall at BA as strikes take tollBritish Airways has reported an 11.5% drop in passenger traffic during May as a series of strikes by cabin crew disrupted operations, but the UK flag carrier also said that trading conditions are continuing to improve.
• Profit slowdown for Network RailRail infrastructure company Network Rail (NR) has announced a much-reduced annual profit and an increase in net debt to £23.8 billion.

The Scotsman

• BA 'worst airline for baggage woes'UK passengers flying with major carriers have the biggest baggage problems when travelling with British Airways, according to a survey.
• Train carriage procurement reviewedTransport Secretary Philip Hammond has ordered "an urgent reappraisal" of the Government's entire train carriage procurement programme.

The Telegraph

• BA strikes cost airline £98m The wave of cabin crew strikes at British Airways saw a 14pc reduction in the number of passengers carried by the airline, according to the group's latest traffic statistics.

Times Online

• Delay electric trains, says Network RailNetwork Rail has singled out electrification of railway lines as a major area of investment that could be cut back as public sector spending is squeezed.
• British Airways loses 400,000 passengers in May as new strike beginsNearly 400,000 people abandoned British Airways last month as strikes by cabin crew forced the airline to cancel hundreds of flights.

Reuters News

• BA's passenger numbers fall in MayLONDON (Reuters) - Air France-KLM and Ryanair carried more passengers last month, helped by an improving economic environment, though British Airways' traffic fell, hit by the impact of ongoing cabin crew strikes.

Mail Online

• Network Rail bosses to share bonus bonanza Network Rail looks likely to defy Transport Secretary Philip Hammond by paying out huge bonuses to staff and senior management.

The Mirror

• Train carriage procurement reviewed Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has ordered
• BA 'worst airline for baggage woes' UK passengers flying with major carriers have the biggest baggage problems when travelling with British Airways, according to a survey.

Network Rail

• HELPING BRITAIN PROSPER: NETWORK RAIL CONTROLS COSTS AS IT UNVEILS FULL YEAR RESULTS

Birmingham Post

• South Birmingham rail link plan delayed until 2014 at least Railway developers face a backlash from campaigners and residents after plans to re-open a Birmingham train line were delayed further.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Wrexham council’s roundabout sponsor scheme A NORTH Wales council are looking at sponsorship for key roundabouts in the county.

Journal Live

• Electric cars ordered for NHS staff in green initiative A NORTH East health trust is putting its staff in the driving seat as it races to become more environmentally-friendly.

London Evening Standard

• Strikes hit BA passenger numbersThe impact of the British Airways cabin crew strikes has been revealed as the airline announced a 14.2% dip in passenger numbers in May 2010.
• Train carriage procurement reviewedTransport Secretary Philip Hammond has ordered
• BA 'worst airline for baggage woes'UK passengers flying with major carriers have the biggest baggage problems when travelling with British Airways, according to a survey.

Yorkshire Post

• £1.2bn spent on railways failing to cut overcrowding on trains PLANS to increase rail capacity are failing to deliver the proposed number of extra passenger seats and put value for money at risk, according to a new watchdog report.

Other Regional Press

• Sunday night bus services slashed BUS services on Sunday evenings will be scrapped as part of £30 million budget cuts.
• Capital rail link wi-fi service a step closerPassengers on Scotland™s busiest rail line should soon be able to access free wi-fi.
• Glasgow Airport set for £200m revampPlans to make Glasgow Airport Scotland™s œgateway to the world have been unveiled.
• Cameras replace road humps on Atherstone road CONTROVERSIAL speed humps are being ripped up on a main road in North Warwickshire – to be replaced with a new “camera clocking” system.

Aviation Industry

• Scotland™s gateway to the world invests £2 million to improve accessA £2 million plan to improve access, ease congestion and reduce vehicle emissions is underway at Glasgow Airport...
• United Airlines plans fuel-saving flightUnited Airlines plans to demonstrate new fuel-saving methods on two flights between the U.S. and Europe on Saturday.
• IATA: Europe 'weakest performer' in air transport rebound IATA said there was "significant improvement in all regions at the operating level" for the international airline industry in the first quarter and beyond, with one notable exception: Europe.

Green Miscellany

• Bicycle bling: The Porsche GT3 full-size pedal car It™s the knotty problem wrestled with by cyclists everywhere: You like the idea of a £140,000 Porsche GT3 RS, but worry ownership would mean less time on the bike.read more
• The stealthy electric bicycle used secretly by pro riders Reports in French newspapers this week claim that professional riders have competed in high-profile races using a bicycle secretly equipped with an electric motor and batteries.read more
• Giant two-wheeled SUV: The penny farthing bicycle built with tractor tyres It™s big, difficult to manoeuvre and at £500 for a tyre change, expensive to maintain, but what is good for the urban SUV driver must be good for the cyclist wanting a giant penny farthing with which to make an impression in the city.read more

Other News Sources

• Surge in over 60s on trains as baby boomers embrace active retirementFigures produced by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) show that journeys using the Senior Railcard have leapt by 42% since 2004. Over 60s have made almost 20m journeys over the last year with the Senior Railcard – equivalent to more than 50,000 a day.
• Train companies respond to NAO report 'Increasing Rail Capacity'In response to the National Audit Office report ’Increasing Passenger Rail Capacity’, a spokesperson for the Association of Train Operating Companies said: “Reform of the industry that gives private sector train companies a greater role in the railways would be the best way to ensure value for money and help to bring about cost effective ways to deal with overcrowding.
• Have your say on hi-tech pod transport system ​People in Bath are being invited to have their say on a futuristic transport system that would see pods on tracks above the ground criss-crossing cities.
• Regional corridor linkages key for development Awell-balanced transport system using more than one mode of transport on corridors will ensure the competitiveness and efficiency of transport in the Southern and Eastern Africa region, says infrastructure specialist Aurecon GM for Africa and the Middle East Dr Paul Lombard.
• Access road approval supports Bristol stadium World Cup goalCouncillors have approved plans for an access road that paves the way for Bristol City Football Club's stadium to hold World Cup matches.
• Deadline extended on high-speed routeThe government is to extend a consultation on compensation for property owners along the route of the proposed London to Birmingham high-speed rail link.
• Labour-approved projects reviewedThe new coalition government has pledged to review a series of major transport and regeneration projects that were green lit during a œreckless spending spree by the outgoing Labour government.
• Strikes hit BA passenger numbersThe impact of the British Airways cabin crew strikes has been revealed as the airline announced a 14.2% dip in passenger numbers in May 2010.
• Train carriage procurement reviewedTransport Secretary Philip Hammond has ordered
• BA 'worst airline for baggage woes'UK passengers flying with major carriers have the biggest baggage problems when travelling with British Airways, according to a survey.
• It's time for a rethink on airport interiorsAirports are stressful places, but is retail therapy the only way for travellers to relax? Adam White makes a plea for some healthier alternatives
• DB Schenker extends rail links to ItalyDB Schenker has launched a weekly rail freight service between Hams Hall and Padova in north-east Italy
• Matthew Kibble Transport switches to Pallet-TrackMatthew Kibble Transport is joining pallet network Pallet-Track, ending a five-year partnership with network Fortec.
• Brian Yeardley hands over the reinsHaulier Brian Yeardley is hanging up his boots more than three decades after he set up his international business with his wife Sandra.
• New MP backs road safety campaign in Waltham Chase NEWLY elected politicians are backing a safety campaign at a school in the Meon Valley.
• Birmingham Council launches CO2 bidBirmingham City Council has launched a free service offering tips on reducing carbon emissions
• Crossrail: The benefits for LondonNick Raynsford MP writes for ePolitix.com ahead of his adjournment debate on Crossrail and its' importance to South East London.
• Piccadilly line works could be delayedContractors face continued uncertainty about the work available on the London Underground network as an upgrade of the Piccadilly line looks set to be put back by delays on the Northern line works.
• Network Rail spending cut by £820m as profits fallNetwork Rail™s capital expenditure fell by £823 million over the last year as it saw its profits fall by 75 per cent, net debt rise by £1.5 billion, and its costs increase by £100m.
• Train carriage procurement reviewedTrain carriage procurement reviewed

News from Europe

• European Commission Calls Ireland To Task Over Port State Control The European Commission has sent today issued a formal directive to the Irish authorities for failing to properly implement the EU directive on port state control.
• INTERNET TOOL TO HELP YOU COMPARE TRANSPORT EMISSIONSAn emissions computer developed by a consortium consisting of the UIC, DB and six other European rail transport groups is now able to calculate and compare transport emissions worldwide, and is available free on the internet.
• EESC ponders the future shape of railway stationsA few weeks after volcanic ash grounded flights across Europe leaving passengers stranded, exposing Europe's dependency on air traffic and prompting calls for a better EU rail system, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) continues to plan for the future of rail.
• Cash-strapped Greece to sell off state ownership in railways, utilities to plug debt gap ATHENS, Greece — Greece's cash-strapped government will sell off stakes in a string of state-owned companies — including a rail operator, two water companies, the Post Office and several casinos — to pay off debt, officials said Wednesday.
• Aviation boss predicts 2-year recovery, slams EU over ash crisis Berlin - International Air Transport Association (IATA) chief Giovanni Bisignani predicted on Thursday that the airline industry would recover within two years from the effects of the economic crisis.