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

Sunday, 22 August 2010

BBC News

• Service to be held to mark 1985 Manchester air disaster A memorial service will take place later to mark the 25th anniversary of the Manchester air disaster.
• Playing football on a motorbikeA somewhat unusual football team is getting ready for its first full international game over the Bank Holiday weekend.
• Trams suspended over weekendTram services on the Altrincham and Eccles Metrolink lines are disrupted over the weekend for engineering work.
• Car crash scams at record level"Crash for cash" scams, where people stage motor accidents to claim on the insurance of other drivers, have reached an all-time high, the BBC has learned.

The Independent

• Surge in car crash scams The number of

The Telegraph

• British Airways changes 'discriminatory' seating policy for men British Airways has changed its seating policy after a businessman complained of being treated like a "child molester" when sitting next to a boy he did not know.
• Number of travellers' caravans leapt under Labour The number of travellers living in caravans rose sharply during Labour's 13 years in power, Government figures have shown.

Mail Online

• First BA...now Virgin faces pilots walkoutSources at the British Airline Pilots’ Association claim Virgin is heading for a showdown after trying to reduce members' annual entitlement of 120 days off by 14 days.
• Shock for traffic row driver held by airport gun policeA man was ordered off a flight and arrested by four armed police at Heathrow over a traffic dispute seven months earlier.
• Cycle guide spells troubleAn embarrassed council has apologised after spelling its own name wrong on 7,000 leaflets it distributed to promote cycling.
• Two years ago Phil Wyatt wept on TV when XL Airways collapsed. Now it's happened all over againTravel tycoons Phil Wyatt and Paul Moss are at the heart of the demise of Kiss, which has left thousands of passengers stranded and tens of thousands with holidays cancelled.

The Mirror

• PILOT FIRED FOR FACEBOOK RANT A british Airways pilot who branded passengers

London Evening Standard

• Surge in staged car crash scamsThe number of

Manchester Evening News

• Public transport leader: Why I simply can’t get by without a car A member of the region™s public transport authority says it is ˜totally impractical™ for him to use buses and trains to get to meetings. Since February Coun Dylan Butt has claimed just over £100 for car travel and parking to attend the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority.
• Video: Airport all set for 517-seater A380 superjet after £10m upgrade Runways have been strengthened, signs moved back and a huge fire engine has been bought to allow the world's biggest passenger plane to land at Manchester. And now the Airport has been given final permission for the Airbus A380 to start flying from its airfield next month.
• Families to remember jet victims 25 years on Families and friends of the victims of the Manchester air disaster are due to gather at the airport to mark the 25th anniversary of the tragedy. Fifty-five people died when a British Airtours Boeing 737 was heading down the runway with holidaymakers bound for Corfu on August 22, 1985.
• Police call back-up to collar 84-year-old for cycling on the pavement An 84-year-old great- grandfather was chased into a bank by police community support officers “ who claimed they saw him cycling on a pavement. War hero James Gresty was followed into the Sale branch of the Halifax by two PCSOs, who called for back-up from police officers in a van when he refused to step outside.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Residents and traders baffled as resurfaced road set to be dug up A road in Stonehaven town centre is to be dug up for essential gas work “ just weeks after it was resurfaced.
• Parents who lost son in horror crash give warningParents who lost their son in a horrific road accident are leading a leaflet campaign in Inverness warning teenagers that dangerous driving can end in tragedy.
• Ferry ˜near miss™ investigated The Marine Accident Investigation Branch are to get a report on an accident involving a council-run ferry in which a father and son could have been killed or seriously injured.
• Road job led to firm™s collapseReceivers for a collapsed Highland building firm confirmed yesterday that payment difficulty with a central belt road contract had led to insurmountable cashflow problems.

The York Press

• Hopes dashed for rail jobs in Selby HOPES that a multi-national company would set up a manufacturing plant for trains in Selby district have been dashed.

Sunderland Echo

• Yobs stone man's carYobs are putting lives at risk by hurling rocks at motorists on a busy Sunderland road.

Other Regional Press

• Resurfacing work at Windwhistle SOMERSET County Council has announced that resurfacing work along the busy A30 at Windwhistle is due to start on September 1.
• Fire at Ilfracombe bus station THE derelict bus station in Ilfracombe's was hit by a fire yesterday evening.
• Fundraisers turn to pedal power for charity A GROUP of friends have cycled 50 kilometres to raise money for the a Gwent carers charity.
• Transport bosses™ pledge over roadworks during Aberdeen eventsROADS bosses have said they will try to ensure vital work does not clash with two major Aberdeen events.

C.N.N.

• Venezuela defends controversial flights to Iran and SyriaVenezuela's ambassador to the United States is defending his country's controversial airline service to the capitals of Syria and Iran -- both countries that are designated by the U.S. as state sponsors of terrorism.

Forbes

• Predicting The Aviation Of Tomorrow: From Solar Power To Flocks Of AircraftWhat we will find in the future: Transparent aircraft with no need for windows, passenger seating ar

Washington Post

• A year after bankruptcy, GM prepares for initial public offering NEW YORK -- Would you buy stock in a company that has hemorrhaged tens of billions of dollars for years and run through four bosses in quick succession just because it has turned a profit for a few months?

Other News Sources

• Minister steps in over scandals at rail firmThe Transport Secretary has been forced to intervene after a string of scandals plagued Network Rail, which receives a £4billion public subsidy.
• Surge in staged car crash scamsThe number of