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

Sunday, 24 October 2010

BBC News

• Westminster HS2 rail link protestWarwickshire campaigners are taking part in a protest at Westminster against the high speed rail link.
• Metrolink fares to increase by 6%Passengers using the Greater Manchester Metrolink network will see their tram fares rise by twice the rate of inflation.

The Herald

• Call for Scotland to ditch its ˜addiction™ to oil and coalOne of Britain™s top green gurus has attacked Scotland for its œaddiction to the oil and coal industries which he says threaten to tip the world into catastrophic climate chaos.
• Tough action to cut pollution by city bus firmsAir quality in Glasgow is expected to be dramatically improved by regulations that will force bus firms to upgrade or replace nearly 1500 vehicles within three years.

The Mirror

• How low the 7/7 bombers sank As one of the millions of Londoners who takes the Tube every week, I can barely bring myself to read the harrowing details of the 7/7 bombing inquest.

Birmingham Mail

• Bikers gather in Birmingham for funeral of lorry driver Tony Wright THOUSANDS of bikers gathered at Robin Hood Crematorium to pay their last respects to Birmingham truck driver Tony Wright.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Plans for two-tone taxis dropped in Gwynedd TAXI drivers in Gwynedd may have to operate cars painted in a specific colour.

Manchester Evening News

• Airport stops charging for full car park Drivers who use Manchester Airport will no longer have to fork out when the car park is full. Bosses have installed sensors which detect when its multi-storey car park runs out of spaces “ and warns drivers before they enter.
• Tram fares to rise by 6 per cent to help pay for Metrolink expansion Passengers on Metrolink are to be hit by an inflation-busting fare rise. Transport bosses will raise the price of tickets from January by up to 7.3 per cent - more than double the current inflation rate of 3.1 pc. They say it will pay towards improving and expanding the tram network.
• Metrolink tram system grinds to a halt after computer failure The Metrolink system ground to a halt this afternoon because of a computer failure. Trams on the Altrincham and Eccles lines suddenly stopped just around 4.20pm and were out of action for nearly 45 minutes.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Bus driver ran over bike being pushed by pedestrianA bus driver steered his vehicle so close behind a man that he ran over the bike he was pushing, a court has heard.

The Shields Gazette

• Railway cable thief snared by his DNAA MAN who stole cable from a South Tyneside railway line was identified by forensic evidence after an investigation by British Transport Police.
• Cyclist dies in truck horrorA CYCLIST was killed after colliding with a truck on one of South Tyneside's busiest roundabouts.

Other Regional Press

• Three steps to smooth bus trips BUS passengers who hold concessionary passes are being urged to learn three simple steps to ensure a smooth start to their journeys from the end of the month.
• Kent MPs fight fare hikeKent MPs have called for a cap on rail fares in the county - defying plans set out in the government's Spending Review.
• Bus driver admits running over bike in AberdeenA BUS driver is to face sentence for a dangerous driving charge after hitting a bike in Aberdeen.
• Bus driver admits running over bike in AberdeenA BUS driver is to face sentence for a dangerous driving charge after hitting a bike in Aberdeen.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• TfL announces increase in Congestion ChargeA new increase in the London Congestion Charge has been unveiled by Transport for London (TfL).The body revealed the rises will come into force from January 4th 2011 and a new CC Auto Pay accounts system will make it easier to pay and provide discounts to those using the service.Rates for entering the congestion charging zone will rise from £8 currently to £9 via CC Auto Pay and £10 if paid in advance or on the day, while paying the following charging day will cost £12.TfL is also introducing a Greener Vehicle Discount to encourage take up of electric an...

Railway Gazette

• Wheel-Rail Best Practice Handbook Book review.

Other News Sources

• Of deep-fried fat, the coming trains and, of course, FranceReaders are wondering about my fascination with the protests in France and prefer instead that I stay closer to home and come up with a solution for the Fourth of July weekend on Harriet Island or wha...
• Actions to Curb New York City Bicycle and Pedestrian AccidentsNew York City is taking steps to combat bicycle and pedestrian accidents, but not all parties involved are in favor of proposed safety measures.
• Google Car Steering Toward Driverless Future?Will consumers soon be seeing driverless cars on the market? Still to be determined are questions of liability if driverless cars were to end up in accidents.
• Your Legal Options Following a Bus AccidentBuses owe passengers the highest duty of care, yet nearly 15,000 people reported bus-related injuries last year. Surprisingly, thousands of these injuries didn't come from a collision.
• Row over 'jobless bus' suggestionUnion leaders have rounded angrily on Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith after he suggested the unemployed should
• Work finishes on spaceport's runwayVirgin Galactic's Sir Richard Branson and prospective astronauts have gathered in the southern New Mexico desert to celebrate the completion of the runway at the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport.
• Plaistow Rail Project Fails to Win $19 Million GrantThe commuter rail project failed to win a $19 million federal grant, but supporters said that doesn't mean the end of the controversial Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority stop.
• Moore Stephens Warns: UK Shippers Review FinancesAhead of the imminent withdrawal of a concession relating to the application of transfer pricing rules to loans made to companies in the UK tonnage tax scheme,
• FTA accuses TfL of hiding price hike newsThe Freight Transport Association has accused Transport for London of deliberately announcing an above-inflation rise in London™s daily congestion charge on the same day as the comprehensive spending review to hide the news
• Salt plan to beat winter snow chaos The salt supply chain for highway authorities must be made more resilient, according to David Quarmby whose committee has just produced a report into the road chaos caused by snow last winter which is reckoned to have cost about £1 billion
• Clegg 'wrestled with conscience' over cuts Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has described how he wrestled with his conscience over the coalition's spending cuts.Related StoriesMS sufferer presses Cameron on care servicesMost voters think cuts are unavoidableUnions protest across the UK59% of voters 'think spending cuts are unfair'Spending cuts are fair, says Cameron
• Mayor gives Greener Vehicle Discount the go-ahead