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

Thursday, 06 September 2012

BBC News

• Belfast International Airport passengers to be randomly body scanned Non-invasive body scanning for some passengers travelling from Belfast International Airport will begin later this week.
• Zac Goldsmith on government's stance on Heathrow third runway [Today Programme]The departure of Justine Greening as transport secretary in yesterday's government reshuffle is being seen as opening the way for a change of policy as she is a dedicated opponent of expansion at Heathrow Airport.
• Railway incident escape revealedMore than 100 people escaped injury when a train ran over a section of damaged railway in County Antrim, it has just been revealed.
• Cameron launches airports reviewThe government is to look at ways to expand the UK's airport capacity, amid suggestions the prime minister will perform a U-turn over a third runway at Heathrow.
• Petrol price review is launchedThe UK petrol and diesel sector is being put under the microscope by the fair trading watchdog amid rising prices at the pumps.
• Ford to unveil several new modelsCarmaker Ford is launching a string of new models later, including the latest versions of its best-sellers Fiesta, Mondeo and Kuga.
• Qantas and Emirates form allianceQantas Airways agrees to form an 10-year alliance with Emirates as it looks to turn around its loss-making international operations.
• Lufthansa cancels Friday flightsLufthansa cancels hundreds of flights on Friday as cabin staff stage another strike at Germany's three busiest airports.
• Honda invests £267m in UK plantJapanese car maker Honda is to invest £267m at its UK plant at Swindon as part of a plan to nearly double production.

Financial Times

• Heathrow expansion decision shelvedMove infuriates Boris Johnson, who says creation of an inquiry into airport capacity is ˜a fudge that will cost business dear™
• EasyJet to roll out allocated seatingSummer experiment on six routes will replace speedy boarding option across fleet after doubts over costs and flight punctuality prove unfounded
• Emirates set to unveil Qantas partnershipCode-share agreement with Gulf carrier would prompt the Australian airline to dissolve its 16-year joint venture with British Airways
• Heathrow expansion decision shelvedMove infuriates Boris Johnson, who says creation of an inquiry into airport capacity is ˜a fudge that will cost business dear™
• Aeroflot profits fall 98% after consolidationThe sharp drop from $376.8m a year ago could be partly explained by the impact of consolidating four airlines it took over from Russian Technologies
• Network Rail faces threat of £50m fineThe Office of Rail Regulation has told the network owner repeatedly it is falling well short of its 92% punctuality target for intercity services.
• Qantas agrees to alliance with EmiratesAustralian carrier™s shares surge on long-anticipated deal, a key step in its efforts to shore up its lossmaking international business

The Guardian

• Battle over third runway at Heathrow as government prepares U-turnOsborne and Johnson at odds as government prepares to reverse opposition to expansion at London airportGeorge Osborne and Boris Johnson, the two frontrunners to succeed David Cameron, intensified their battle on Wednesday as the government prepared the way for a U-turn over a third runway at Heathrow.Sir Howard Davies, the former director general of the CBI, has been appointed by the government to chair a commission that will allow the Tories to ditch their opposition to a third runway if it rules in favour of expansion at Heathrow.Osborne, who has been the driving force behind the Tories' cha...
• Qantas and Emirates forge alliance on European routesAustralian airline's hub will move from Singapore to Dubai and British Airways deal will end as part of fight to turn around lossesAustralia's struggling Qantas Airways has agreed to a 10-year alliance with Dubai's Emirates, a key step in the carrier's efforts to shore up its loss-making international business. Qantas will replace Singapore with Dubai as its hub for European flights from March 2013 and co-ordinate pricing, sales and schedules with Emirates under the partnership. The Australian airline will end its existing relationship with British Airways at the same time as a result of the n...

The Herald

• Branson to put rail argument to MPsSIR Richard Branson has been invited to put his case for retaining Virgin Trains' West Coast Main Line franchise to MPs.
• Hunt for railway vandalsTEENAGERS who smashed a carriage window on a steam train filled with tourists and young families were being hunted by police last night.
• easyJet to introduce allocated seating systemBUDGET airline easyJet is ending its tradition of passengers having to queue and jostle for a seat on its planes by bringing in allocated seating later this year.

The Independent

• David Cameron signals move on airport capacityA cross-party commission will be set up to try to find consensus on the deeply divisive issue of airport capacity in the south east of England, the Prime Minister signalled today.
• Network Rail faces punctuality fineRail infrastructure company Network Rail (NR) is facing a possible œsubstantial fine over long-distance train punctuality.
• 100 suitcases drenched in raw sewage after pipe bursts at Heathrow Terminal 5 British Airways passengers are kicking up a stink after a pipe burst at Heathrow Terminal 5, drenching 100 suitcases in raw sewage.
• Lib Dems furious over Cameron's new wave of 'anti-green' Tories A new Coalition fault line opened last night as the Liberal Democrats reacted with dismay to the appointment of

The Scotsman

• Network Rail facing huge fines over late trains NETWORK Rail faces multi-million pound fines from the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for not improving punctuality fast enough for cross-Border Virgin Trains and CrossCountry passengers on the west coast main line.
• Cabinet reshuffle: David Cameron won’t approve third Heathrow runway plansTHE HEATHROW airport row escalated further today, as London Mayor Boris Johnson called on the Prime Minister to rule out a third runway beyond the next general election.
• MPs to hear Branson case for West Coast bid Sir Richard Branson has been invited to put his case for retaining Virgin Trains’ West Coast main line franchise to MPs.
• Airbus blue-sky thinking promises green aircraftAIRCRAFT of the future could be catapulted into the air, flock like birds and glide in to land to save millions of tonnes of fuel.

The Telegraph

• New transport minister Simon Burns opposed to 'environmental vandalism' of Heathrow third runway Boris Johnson is on the warpath over David Cameron's removal of Justine Greening as Transport Secretary. She was steadfastly supportive of Tory policy, which promised no third runway in this parliament. In the weird way in which these things work in this Government, sticking to the policy on which Cameron gave a guarantee got her demoted.
• Office of Fair Trading investigates UK's £32bn petrol industryConcerns that Britain's motorists are paying over the odds for fuel are being investigated by the competition watchdog.

Press Association

• McLoughlin issues rail fares pledge New Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has promised to tackle "anomalies" in the fares charged by rail operators.

Mail Online

• Boris Johnson: 'Mad' plan for a third Heathrow runway is back on, warns London MayorThe old Etonians are set for a war-of-words after the Mayor of London accused the Prime Minister of backing a covert plan to push through the expansion of Britain's biggest airport.
• Ryanair boss O'Leary in furious rant at 'stupid passengers' who don't print off boarding passesRyanair boss Michael O'Leary spoke out after complaints over the budget airline's rule that travellers must print boarding passes up to two weeks before flying or face a £60 charge at the airport check-in desk.
• Huge boost for British Honda factory as car maker announces £267m investmentThe firm said it was the biggest single investment at its Swindon site in over a decade, supporting the introduction of a new Civic, a new CR-V model and a new 1.6 litre diesel engine.

The Mirror

• Squeak! Mousey David Cameron blasted by Tory rival Boris Johnson over Heathrow "fudgerama"BoJo accused him of œfudge and delay when it came to expanding our airports which would boost trade and create thousands of job

This is Money

• Focus is the number one car: Ford model notches up half a million sales in first half of the yearAccording to industry analysts IHS Automotive, in the first six months of this year Ford sold 489,616 Focus models of one kind or another.
• EasyJet launches paid-for allocated seats across all flightsPassengers will be able to choose to pay £3, £8 or £12 depending on where they want to sit. Anyone who chooses not to pay will be given their seat number when they check in.

Birmingham Post

• Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant resigns as Government Whip to fight HS2LICHFIELD MP Michael Fabricant has branded the current planned route of HS2 as “completely wrong” after resigning as Government Whip.

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph commented Patrick McLoughlin 'excited' by his new journey as Transport...DERBYSHIRE Dales MP Patrick McLoughlin said he was excited and delighted after the Prime Minister made him Transport Secretary...

Journal Live

• New Transport Secretary urged to prioritise Northumberland A1 duallingNEW Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has been urged to put fully dualling the A1 through Northumberland at the top of his priorities.

London Evening Standard

• Is David Cameron about to renege on his promise that there will be no third runway at Heathrow?A cross-party commission will be set up to try to find consensus on the deeply divisive issue of airport capacity in the south east of England, the Prime Minister signalled today.
• Honda reveals £267m UK expansionJapanese car giant Honda has announced a £267 million investment programme at its UK plant, where hundreds of new jobs have been created to boost production.
• Mayor accuses PM of a 'fudge-arama'London Mayor Boris Johnson has accused David Cameron of a "fudge-arama" over Heathrow, as the row over a third runway overshadowed the completion of the Prime Minister's first full-scale ministerial reshuffle.

Manchester Evening News

• New transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin on track to make big decisions for the northNew transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin will have to handle a hat-trick of hot potatoes with the potential to have a huge impact on the north west economy. The 54-year-old is replacing Justine Greening and in doing so returns to a department where he served as junior minister between 1989-1992.
• Virgin Trains boss Richard Branson’s in West Coast Main Line warning Virgin Rail supremo Sir Richard Branson has claimed the well-being of the north west economy is at stake in the row over the West Coast Main Line franchise.

Metro

• Airport commission to be launched but Heathrow third runway ruled outA cross-party commission aimed at reaching a consensus on the divisive issue of airport capacity in the south-east of England will be launched next week, as ministers insisted there would be no third runway at Heathrow before 2015. Heathrow airport is at the centre of a major row over UK infrastructure (Picture: Getty) David Cameron told prime minister's questions the government would honour manifesto pledges of the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats not to expand Heathrow before the end of the current parliament.But he said a decision was needed on improving air access following a ...

Wales Online

• Rhodri Morgan: Wales' economy needs Heathrow's third runwayThe former First Minister says a third runway at Heathrow is crucial to efforts to revive the Welsh economy.

Bucks Free Press

• HS2 campaigners pleased at new Transport Secretary JUSTINE Greening's removal from the post of Transport Secretary has been welcomed by opponents of HS2.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Leiston: Group invite people to ˜sponsor a sleeper™ to help with restoration of Garret Works railway lineLOCOMOTIVE enthusiasts have come up with an unusual way to raise funds for a railway restoration project.
• Update: Line-side fire causes delays for rail passengers in EssexA FIRE at a scrap yard near Clacton is causing problems for train passengers in Essex.

Other Regional Press

• Work starts on long-awaited park and ride facilities at Birkenhead North and Bidston stations WORK has started on new park-and-ride car parks at two Wirral railway stations.
• Cabinet reshuffle means new HS2 queries HS2 campaigners are eagerly awaiting what view new Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin will take on the controversial scheme.
• Station is ˜bad advert for town™Passengers at a Lancashire train station fear they will miss out on a much-needed revamp when the deal to run Lancashire’s most popular rail line is signed.

Global Rail News

• Silver trains see passenger figures soarChiltern Mainline, operated by the company’s distinctive silver trains, celebrated its first anniversary in September. In the 12 months since its launch, Chiltern has seen passenger figures on their Birmingham to London route soar by 45.8 per cent, with a 33.6 per cent increase in journeys between the West Midlands and London. Passengers can now [...]
• CN Rail announces large-scale investment in freight fleetThe Canadian National Railway Company is investing in 2,200 new freight cars to meet traffic growth. As well as the additional freight cars, CN is acquiring 1,300 containers, 200 multi-purpose box cars and 317 multi-level cars. Jean-Jacques Ruest, executive vice-president and chief marketing officer, said: œCN is acquiring new freight cars and containers for a [...]
• Bombardier agrees variation order for Chinese high-speed rail fleetBombardier has been awarded a variation order from the Chinese Ministry of Railways for a new fleet of high-speed trains. The company’s Chinese joint venture, Bombardier Sifang Transportation, has now received an order for 70 eight-car Bombardier Zefiro 380 trains, 46 Zefiro 250 stainless steel trains and 60 Zefiro 250NG trains. An order for 80 [...]

Railnews

• Exclusive: controversial West Coast bids compared The two controversial West Coast bids which could be scrutinised in the High Court this autumn are published side by side in Railnews today. The new print edition for September gives its readers a unique chance to see what the competing offers would achieve, after outgoing rail minister Theresa Villiers told MPs that she could not provide them with any details of the proposals from FirstGroup and Virgin Trains.

Aviation Industry

• Anti-Heathrow lawmaker removed from UK transport positionThe UK government appears to be inching closer to considering expanding London Heathrow Airport (LHR) after an opponent of a third LHR runway was removed from the post of transport secretary.
• London runway argument flares up The UK government is becoming increasingly embroiled in the vexed topic of how to solve London’s shortage of runway capacity.
• Boeing forecasts strong growth in Chinese marketBoeing is forecasting that China will need 5,260 new commercial aircraft, valued at $670 billion over the next 20 years, according to its latest Current Market Outlook.
• Easyjet to offer allocated seating on all flightsSuccessful trial paves the way for roll-out of service across airline's network
• Berlin™s new airport delayed againFurther postponement means airport will not start operating until October 2013

Other News Sources

• Dusseldorf Weeze Closes For 3 Days In November For Runway Maintenance Ryanair today (5 Sept) confirmed that Dusseldorf Weeze Airport will close for 3 days in November (from Mon 12 to Wed 14 Nov) for essential runway maintenance works. Ryanair regrets that it has...