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

Sunday, 28 November 2010

BBC News

• Driver warning as cold takes holdDrivers are being advised only to take to the road if their journey is essential after unseasonally early snow swept across Wales.
• London Tube strike set to beginTube staff are set to stage a 24-hour strike starting on Sunday evening after talks with managers broke down.
• Chaos as heavy snow hits ScotlandRoads and transport links across Scotland are hit hard by more heavy snow and freezing temperatures.

The Herald

• Outcry as consultants on tram deal paid £140,000 bonusesIt was supposed to be the contract that would bring a world-class tram network to Edinburgh.
• Cover up row over spending on advisersThe body behind Edinburgh™s botched trams project is at the centre of an alleged cover up over how much it has spent on outside advisers.
• U-turn over war on cars sparks angerMinisters are under fire for making a major U-turn in Scotland™s transport policy by ditching plans for parking charges at work, tougher speed limits and road pricing.

The Independent

• Tube workers set for another 24-hour strike Thousands of London Underground workers will start a 24-hour strike tonight, threatening travel disruption for commuters and other passengers.

The Observer

• Big freeze “ with worse to comeNorthern Britain is hardest hit as the arrival of Arctic air causes temperatures to plummet. Now all of the UK is forecast to see snow by midweekSnow storms and freezing winds caused chaos across Scotland, Northern Ireland and north-east England yesterday. Forecasters warned that the disruption and bitter conditions will spread across the rest of Britain later this week.Falls of up to 14 inches of snow were reported yesterday, causing police in many areas to urge people to stay indoors. The AA said it had been called out to 16,000 breakdowns by the end of Friday. Yesterday, calls from motorist...

The Scotsman

• Tube workers set for 24-hour strikeThousands of London Underground workers are set to start a 24-hour strike, threatening travel disruption for commuters and other passengers.

The Mirror

• Tube workers set for 24-hour strike Thousands of London Underground workers are set to start a 24-hour strike, threatening travel disruption for commuters and other passengers.

Journal Live

• North East gridlocked by heavy snow A SECOND day of severe snow caused chaos on North East roads yesterday – as forecasters warned of more wintry weather to come this weekend.
• Scandal of airport bosses' bonuses revealed NORTH East taxpayers could bear the brunt of a huge debt worth hundreds of millions of pounds after two airport bosses were paid sky-high bonuses for simply taking out a loan, The Journal can reveal.

London Evening Standard

• Tube workers set for 24-hour strikeThousands of London Underground workers are set to start a 24-hour strike, threatening travel disruption for commuters and other passengers.

The News (Portsmouth)

• A smiley or sad face? Depends on your speedHE'S the happiest speed device on the roads “ and he's coming to Horndean.

This Is Local London Network

• Tube strike set to go ahead A 24-hour walkout by Tube staff will go ahead from 6.30pm tonight, leaving commuters facing the prospect of widespread disruption tomorrow morning.

Wales Online

• Wales on snow alert as mercury plunges Severe weather warnings for almost all of the UK were in place today with heavy snow, widespread icy roads and bitter temperatures forecast.

Other Regional Press

• Train work is on trackLONG-suffering rail commuters can breathe a sigh of relief after transport ministers gave the go ahead to the final leg of improvement works on the Thameslink route last week.
• Villagers upset over salt raidVillagers are angry after road salt was stolen from a public storage bin just days before snow was due to fall.
• Stagecoach rethinks Kempston bus routeStagecoach has listened to comments from customers and local councillors about their local route 1 in Kempston.
• Pupils stage street demo over speeds PUPILS across Oxfordshire have been urging drivers to slow down to help cut deaths on the roads.
• Severe weather warnings right across Britain . . . and it could get worseA severe weather warning for almost all of the country is in place as Britain remains in the grip of a bitter cold snap. Temperatures across the West plunged well below zero overnight leaving icy stretches on many roads. The region woke up this morning to a covering of snow with heavy overnight falls in Dorset as the showers moved south from Somerset. Motorists were warned to take extra care on the roads as the country continued to suffer disruption caused by the earliest snow for 17 years. Forecasters said the cold snap is set to tighten its grip, blanketing large parts of the country in snow...
• Accident on M5 A MAN trapped in a vehicle after a car accident on the M5 has been rescued by fire crews from Tiverton and Cullompton.
• Metro welcomes Early Day Motion on Bus Quality ContractsPlans to improve services in West Yorkshire given boost by Leeds MP.
• Icy conditions in some areasExpect delays on buses - especially on minor roads and estates.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Criticism of £8bn rail subsidiesAn organisation has hit out at plans by the government to invest £18 billion over the next four years in the UK's railways.According to Transport Watch, "we should not have a subsidy" for the train network, as passengers should be required to meet the costs of improving tracks and stations."If subsidy wasn't there, the rail system would collapse," director of the body Paul Withrington declared, explaining it would prove too expensive.He noted train services currently carry only around two per cent of total UK passengers, predicting ...

Other News Sources

• Carbon tax to double in Ireland As part of the tough austerity measures announced by the Irish government in its recovery package will be a huge hike in carbon tax.
• Does the Government Keep Track of the Worst Semi-Truck Drivers?Being that 18-wheelers pose a safety concern to other vehicles, it is of the utmost importance that semi drivers are professionals and safe.
• British Airways Launches New Route from London City to ChamberyBritish Airways is extending its route network from London City Airport with the launch of a new flight to Chambery on December 18.
• Redspottedhanky Warns Train Travellers of Increased Need to Book EarlyRedspottedhanky is warning train travellers to shop around and book early following the announcement by the Association of Train Operating Companies of 2011 fare increases.
• UK Power Networks Services - the new name in rail power infrastructureThe infrastructure services team from EDF Energy will be bringing their expertise and experience to the rail industry under a new name from November 1 - UK Power Networks Services...
• Low carbon jobs potentialClimate Change minister highlights low carbon economy opportunities.
• TUC support for London Underground strikesCommenting on strikes by London Underground which begin today (Sunday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'It should be remembered that tube staff are not striking over pay and conditions but over ticket office closures and the impact of cuts on passengers.
• 8 dead, 7 injured in cargo plane crash in Karachi residential areaA Russian-made cargo plane crashed near residential apartments in Karachi, seconds after taking off from the city's airport today, killing all eight people on board and injuring seven others.