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

Sunday, 24 May 2015

BBC News

• VIDEO: 'Jetbike' tested on Pendine SandsA jet-powered bike capable of speeds of more than 400mph is being tested at Pendine Sands ahead of world record bid in America in September.
• Jetbike's land speed record attemptA jet-powered bike will attempt to reach speeds of 400mph on a Carmarthenshire beach in a bid to break the British two-wheeled land speed record.
• 'Congestion' issue at Grayson's homeA rise in visitors to Grayson Perry's Essex dream house forces neighbours to put up a home-made road sign.
• China's Amazon railway plan advancesA Chinese scheme to build a railway across South America, crossing the Amazon rain forest, moves a step closer as Peru agrees to study the plan.

The Guardian

• How Joanna Lumley charmed 'dear Boris' to back her garden bridge dreamNew details emerge of key role played by celebrity amid calls for transparency over ‘back to front’ selection of Thomas Heatherwick to design structureA passage two-thirds of the way through Joanna Lumley’s autobiography reveals that the designer Thomas Heatherwick would be “happy to work on the bridgeâ€� – the river Thames crossing that the actor has long dreamed of.Her brief reference in the 2004 book to the designer “of incomparable originalityâ€� is among a series of curious details helping to drive mounting calls for an independent inquiry into how, almost a decade later, Heatherwick secured ...
• David Cameron "warming" to Gatwick expansion planPM keen to boost green record as fears over Heathrow pollution grow, say sourcesDavid Cameron is warming to the idea of backing a second runway at Gatwick amid growing worries within government that expansion of Heathrow would cause excessive pollution and noise and would split the Tory party, according to informed sources.A final report on how best to increase airport capacity in the south-east will be published by Sir Howard Davies, chairman of the Airports Commission, next month or in July, and will contain a firm recommendation on which of the two airports should be developed to handle inc...
• Historic liners sail into Liverpool to help revive the Mersey beatThree vast Cunard ships will assemble to mark the start of seven weeks of cultural events highlighting an exciting era for a port city firmly on the way upAs Liverpool readied itself this weekend for its biggest civic spectacle of recent years, a taxi driver turning into North John Street called out encouragement to another: “The job on at the docks is unbelievable. The queue! Get down there.â€�Tomorrow morning, in a celebration of the city’s ocean-going past – and ahead of seven weeks of cultural events designed to underline the comeback of a great port – one of Cunard’s vast cruise liners, Que...

The Herald

• Service for country's worst rail disaster which claimed lives of Scots soldiers bound for GallipoliAbout 1,000 people, including descendants of those who died, have attended a service to commemorate Britain's worst rail disaster.

The Independent

• Uber tells Government that limiting firm's cars will increase congestion and pollution Any moves by the Government to use this week’s Queen’s Speech to limit the number of cars operated in London by Uber will cause more congestion and pollution, according to the firm’s UK chief.
• SNP fury as HS2 finds 'no business case' for taking fast train service to Scotland The £50bn High Speed Two rail link will not be extended to Scotland, as the team behind the project has found there is “no business caseâ€� for the undertaking.

The Telegraph

• First Great Western forced to apologise for comments over person under a trainAn employee twice told passengers their train was delayed because someone

City AM

• Zagato shows off its new "Monster" supercarThis weekend, Italian coach builder Zagato is presenting its latest supercar to the world.The new Mostro powered by Maserati has been created in celebration of the 100 year anniversary of  Maserati and the famous racing car 450 S Coupe Zagato Monster. Until the 90's, the Monster was the most powerful front-engined race car in the world. It's futuristic shape, with a long nose, cockpit and round tail, represented some of the most advanced aerodynamic concepts at the time. The Mostro looks a lot like the Monster, and is similarly designed for racing first and foremost, wit...

Daily Record

• Superfit cyclists take on ultimate challenge - scaling the equivalent of Mount Everest on bikes RIDERS must complete the 29,029ft trip in a single, non-stop outing - and Scots enthusiasts have been quick to jump on the bandwagon.

Mail Online

• Fury over car park 'cowboys' who fine hospital patients who fail controversial 'guessing game' about when they arrived...and they even slap tickets on ambulances Car parking 'cowboys' have been accused of preying on vulnerable hospital patients and their families with a confusing and controversial payment system.
• Fury of SNP as HS2 team says there's 'no business case' for high speed line to extend to Scotland  The Scottish National Party is reportedly furious at the news that HS2 will not extend to Scotland because those behind the project believe there is 'no business case' for the move.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Air ambulance plans boosted by biggest single donation A BRADFORD-BASED company has given the Yorkshire Air Ambulance its largest ever single donation, getting plans for a new helicopter off to a flying start.

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph commented Better signs needed for Derby railway station drop-off point for...HAVING followed the Telegraph's articles and letters on parking at Derby Midland Station and illegal use of bus lanes, I've no quarrel with the city council imposing fines for motorists using bus lanes (which I think is fully justified) but am less happy about the fines imposed on drivers dropping off passengers at the railway station.As someone accustomed to reaching the station by bus nowadays, I'm well aware bus passengers have it easy accessing the place but was less familiar with the...

London Evening Standard

• 'Offensive and embarrassing': DVLA reveals list of banned licence plates including P15 OFF and UP15 BUM The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, or DVLA, has released a list of banned licence plates it has deemed "likely to cause general offence or embarrassment".
• Bank Holiday travel: Great getaway gets off to a slow start as passengers are hit by station closures and cancellations The great Bank Holiday getaway got off to a chaotic start today as service cancellations and engineering works hit the transport network.
• Brixton arches: Campaigners gather for community action day in opposition to Network Rail evictions Campaigners are hosting a community action day in south London to highlight the plight of traders being pushed out of the area by railway development.
• Gangster who smuggled millions of pounds worth of cocaine disguised as children's presents into London City Airport is jailed A gangster who ran an international drug smuggling operation which disguised £5 million-worth of cocaine as children's presents has been jailed.
• Rail firm apologises over train manager's 'shocking' announcement that 'delays are due to someone who couldn't be bothered to live anymore' Passengers held up by a line fatality last night have spoken of their disgust at a rail worker's announcement over loudspeaker that someone "couldn't be bothered to live anymore".
• Jeremy Clarkson on Eurostar security checks: If I wanted to cause trouble I'd fly a plane into the Shard Jeremy Clarkson has criticised Eurostar's beefed up security checks, saying if he wanted to cause trouble he'd fly a plane into the Shard or blow up his car on the Hammersmith flyover.

Manchester Evening News

• Cow on M62 brings motorway traffic to a haltThe cow didn't appear to have any beef with motorists, but the mi-steak getting out its field brought both carriageways to a stop
• Living the American Dream: Manchester Airport's flights to the US boomingThousands of passengers hop over the pond for holidays and business

The York Press

• Moors ablaze near steam railway line NINE thousand square metres of undergrowth has been on fire alongside the North Yorkshire Moors Railway line near Levisham Station.

This Is Local London Network

• Croydon cycling: Olympic champions including Team Wiggins set to race through town Croydon is set to take centre stage this summer when it hosts two of Britain’s biggest cycling events for the first time, with Olympic champions to race through North End.

Wales Online

• How did this car end up on top of a hedgerow?A car has ended up on top of a hedgerow after it is thought to have clipped a tractor on a road in Carmarthenshire

Doncaster Free Press

• South Yorkshire drivers set to benefit from lifted roadworksDrivers in South Yorkshire are set to benefit as the Highways England lifts as many roadworks as possible from today to help bank holiday travellers over one of the busiest weekends of the year.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Nene Valley Railway hosts Steampunk eventScience fiction and fantasy will descend on Nene Valley Railway this weekend with a free family event organised by Steampunk Stamford.

Sleaford Standard

• Warning as paper driving licence changes take effectMotorists are being warned to be aware of changes taking effect in just over two weeks time as the paper counterpart for the driving licence will no longer be issued by the DVLA.

Other Regional Press

• New bus service to be introduced for jobseekers looking for work at TeesportBus service to run for eight weeks to help workers employed during rise in seasonal work get to Teesport

Other News Sources

• Guided bus route could be solution to Cranleigh traffic problems A plan to take commuters from the centre of Cranleigh to Guildford railway station by bus has been put forward by the local chamber of commerce
• WestJet's #TartanTail takes flightAirline marks upcoming service to Scotland with its own tartanCALGARY, May 22, 2015 /CNW/ - Later this month, WestJet will launch service from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Glasgow, Scotland, on...