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

Sunday, 27 June 2010

BBC News

• Luxury car stolen at knifepointA £125,000 Bentley car is stolen at knifepoint from a businessman in the West Midlands.
• Cooler trips promised on trainsMany passengers will have a

The Herald

• Audit watchdogs to pursue Transport Scotland over £250m trams paymentThe convener and vice- ­convener of the Scottish Parliament™s Public Audit Committee are urging the Auditor General to authorise an investigation into Transport ­Scotland™s financial oversight of the Edinburgh tram project.

The Observer

• General Motors plans return to stock marketGeneral Motors is gearing up for one of the biggest stock market flotations in US corporate history barely a year after emerging from bankruptcy. It hopes to raise $10bn to $15bn (£6bn to £10bn) and start to pay back government bailout money, giving a political boost to President Obama in time for November's congressional elections.

Times Online

• Bust air firm bought for £7Directors of an aviation business that went bust owing HBOS £113m were able to buy it back from the administrators for an initial payment of just £7. The deal enabled the directors of Corporate Jet Services (CJS), a mini-conglomerate which included a regional airline, business aircraft, luxury motorboats and aviation maintenance firms, to avoid millions of pounds of liabilities to unsecured creditors, including HM Revenue & Customs. HBOS wrote off £60m of CJS’s £81m overdraft in 2008.
• Ministers wants 20mph limitMinisters are proposing a 20mph speed limit on urban roads to reduce deaths and reclaim the streets for cyclists and pedestrians. The reduction from 30mph would apply to all town centre and residential streets except busy through roads, which will remain at the existing limit. It would be reinforced by signs rather than extra speed cameras and humps.

Bolton News

• Mayor gets on his bike for pedal power week BOLTON™S first citizen has been encouraging people to use pedal power as part of Bolton Bike Week.
• Bus station is on its way A new multi-million pound bus interchange for Bolton has passed the first stop.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• U-turn on Wrexham school bus policy A DECISION to rethink Wrexham’s controversial school  transport policy was last night welcomed.

Liverpool Post

• Liverpool Central revamp will go ahead despite government funding cuts A MULTI-MILLION pound revamp of Liverpool Central railway station is on track despite a cut in government funding.

London Evening Standard

• Britons hurt as Thai boats collideForty-two passengers have been injured and two are missing after two boats carrying Thai and foreign tourists collided in the Gulf of Thailand on the way to a popular island beach party, police said.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• North-east stunt one of a long list by Plane Stupid Last year™s protest at Aberdeen Airport was the latest in a long line of high-profile stunts carried out by Plane Stupid activists.
• Airport climate protesters defiant after guilty verdict Nine climate-change protesters were convicted yesterday of disrupting a busy airport “ then left court insisting they were not criminals.
• Trials stars arrive in LochaberSixty top motorcycle trials riders from 15 countries have begun arriving at Fort William for a world championship event, being held in Scotland for the first time since 1992.

The York Press

• Morris Minor rally at Harewood House HUNDREDS of Morris Minors descended on Harewood House, near Harrogate, this weekend as the owners™ club for the classic car marque held its rally.
• Scheme for new rail station at Haxby is suspended PLANS for a new railway station in York are set to be stalled because of the uncertainty clouding Government funding.

Carlisle News & Star

• Carlisle bypass work ahead of schedule Engineers have completed work ahead of schedule as part of the construction of Carlisle™s new £176 million bypass.

The Shields Gazette

• Pedalling OAP tackles Coast to Coast ridePEDALLING pensioner Gordon Coxon has got on his bike to tackle one of the country's most gruelling cycle routes.

Other Regional Press

• Marlborough youngsters air fears on transport A survey of young people in the Marlborough area has brought more than 1,800 responses and among the things they say they need is better and cheaper public transport.
• Driver has £30,000 forfeited A GLASWEGIAN who crashed his car in Thelwall has had £30,000 forfeited. Mohammed Sharif was driving on the M6 in Thelwall on November 12 at 4.20am when his Ferrari crashed through the central reservation and hit the embankment. While he spoke to paramedics, police found a carrier bag containing £30,000. He was arrested for money laundering but never charged. At a hearing at Runcorn Magistrates™ Court on June 11 the bench ordered the money to be forfeited as he was unable to give a plausible explanation for having the cash.

Railway Gazette

• RFF control centre openFRANCE: Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau opened RFF™s Integrated Control Centre for the Rhône-Alpes region in Lyon on June 14. The control centre is one of 15 that RFF is planning to build under a €500m programme of signalling upgrades that is expected to involve replacement of up to 1500 signalboxes over the next 20 years.

Other News Sources

• "Hydraulic problem" forces passenger plane back to Gatwick An aircraft had to return to Gatwick after take-off this afternoon because of technical problems.
• Man cut free from car after accidentA DRIVER had to be cut out of his car after a road traffic collision.
• British Airways Launches its Premium SaleBritish Airways has launched its luxury flight and holiday sale with reductions on Club World business class and selected first class fares covering its worldwide network.
• Car-makers agree specifications for connecting EVs to gridEuropean automobile manufacturers have defined joint specifications to connect electrically chargeable vehicles to the mains supply in a safe and user-friendly way.
• Felixstowe hauliers killed off by finance firmFailed container hauliers Don Hunter (Transport) and K&M Haulage (UK) went to the wall in April because the firm they were using for invoice discounting demanded repayment of the funds it had paid the company.
• Big grant helps Watercress Line A HERITAGE railway near Winchester is on track to safeguard its future after securing a £181,000 grant.
• European manufacturers agree on charging structure
• Norfolk DeLorean car up for saleOne of the 20th century's most fabled motor cars, a DeLorean, will be sold at auction as part of this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed.