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

Monday, 03 January 2011

BBC News

• Parking guidance 'to be scrapped'The Government has announced it is scrapping parking charge guidance to local councils, which currently instructs them to put up parking charges to get people out of their cars and into public transport.
• Two missing after boat capsizesTwo people are missing after a boat carrying six people capsizes on the River Thames in Surrey.
• Train boss defends rise in faresRail travellers will see the cost of a train ticket rise by an average of 6.2% as planned rail fare hikes begin.
• Car 'driven deliberately at man'Police say a man is lucky to be alive after he was deliberately hit by a vehicle in Glasgow's west end.

Financial Times

• Winterkorn to stay at VW until 2016Volkswagen chief executive has had his contract at Europe™s largest carmaker extended for a further five years as he seeks to complete the merger with German sports car maker Porsche
• Expedia stops American Airlines ticket salesOnline travel company stops selling American Airlines tickets to become the second main travel website to fall out with carrier in as many months.

The Guardian

• Two missing as Thames boat capsizesDive teams searching for men feared dead after small boat carrying six capsizes on riverTwo men are missing and feared dead after a small boat capsized on the river Thames in Surrey yesterday evening.Four other people on the boat, three women and one man, were rescued and taken to hospital, emergency services said. But a search of the river near Shepperton, including the use of a police helicopter, failed to find any sign of the missing men. Teams of divers were to begin looking for them today.Police and rescue services were called to the river at around 7.30pm, a Surrey police spokeswoman sai...
• Bikeability scheme may be savedPopularity of government training scheme for young cyclists key to its survival despite abolition of quango that runs itThe government's flagship training scheme for young cyclists is hugely popular with both children and parents, according to a study, boosting the chances that it will survive funding cuts despite the abolition of the quango which currently runs it.A total of 98% of parents said they were happy with the Bikeability scheme, launched three years ago as a replacement for the defunct cycling proficiency test, according to an Ipsos/Mori poll carried out for the Department for Trans...

The Herald

• Passenger anger as rail fares rise by up to 13%Inflation-busting rises in rail fares took effect yesterday with some mainline season tickets going up almost 13%.
• SNP delay over EU law puts vital ferry link in jeopardyA vital Scottish ferry service is under threat due to the SNP Government™s failure to meet the requirements of European law, according to a senior Labour MSP.
• Glitches on new trains mean six-month delay to servicesFresh technical problems to a fleet of of new ScotRail trains have delayed the introduction of some rail services by at least six months.

Mail Online

• Ferrari driver arrested after bashing Fiat 600 off road for not allowing him to overtakeThe 32-year-old Italian driver of the £166,000 Ferrari 485 with a top speed of 200mph repeatedly rammed the small car when his attempts to pass it were frustrated.

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham transport chief hits back over gritting claims BIRMINGHAM’S transport chief has praised the efforts of gritters during the recent big freeze and insisted that the city is prepared for any more bad weather.

Journal Live

• North East rescue helicopter escapes collision A RESCUE helicopter narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with a microlight aircraft in the North East sky, a new report has revealed.

Liverpool Post

• Neptune begins final push on New Brighton Marine Point scheme THE vision of a £65m revamp to a Wirral seaside resort has been unveiled by developers, as they prepare a final push to attract new businesses to the site.

London Evening Standard

• Snow forces drivers to abandon carsThe return of snow showers forced drivers to abandon their cars on an exposed road, the coastguard has said.

Manchester Evening News

• £250k cost of town hall bus lane fine blunders Bus-lane blunders have cost Manchester council up to £250,000 in the past two years, according to new figures obtained by the M.E.N. Town hall chiefs have been forced to cancel more than 4,000 fines because of errors in management of bus lanes.

Northern Echo

• Milestone is reached in steam locomotive project A GROUP of rail enthusiasts building a replica of a historic North- East steam locomotive has reached a milestone.

Sheffield Star

• Report slams Sheffield highways departmentA DAMNING independent report has highlighted serious "weaknesses" within Sheffield Council's Highways Department.

This Is Local London Network

• Residents urged to act soon over Thames Tunnel plans Putney residents are being urged to make sure their voices are heard as the end of a public consultation looms.
• TRAVEL: Engineering work on TubeANYONE travelling in and around central London on the Underground network could face disruption to their journeys today.

Blackpool Gazette

• Rail fares hike starts todayRAIL passengers on the Fylde coast are bracing themselves for a New Year price hike.

Bucks Free Press

• Rail campaign group highlights HS2 'flaw' TIME saved by travelling on a planned high speed rail route through Buckinghamshire will be œwasted because of the location of a new station, rail experts have claimed.

Carlisle News & Star

• Rise in rail fares for Cumbrian passengers Rail fares for Cumbrian passengers went up yesterday as part of a national rise.

Doncaster Free Press

• New airport flights set for take offONE of the country's biggest low budget airlines has handed a New Year boost to Robin Hood Airport by announcing the launch of a third sunshine route.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Fears as bus routes face axeRURAL communities across Suffolk face the prospect of losing their bus links as the county council aims to cut its public transport budget by more than half.

Northants Evening Telegraph

• Northamptonshire road deaths reach record lowThe number of people killed on Northamptonshire's roads in 2010 was the lowest since records began.

Sunderland Echo

• Sunderland streets to be halted by fuel price protestHUNDREDS of motorists are expected to bring Sunderland’s streets to a halt as they fight to drive down rocketing petrol prices.
• Electric car cashMOTORISTS are being reminded they can get a grant of up to £5,000 when buying eco-friendly cars, including the Nissan Leaf.

Other Regional Press

• All aboard for a free bus ride in Winchester BUSES in a Hampshire city centre had a distinctly different look about them yesterday “ and it was also free!
• Huddersfield commuters will stick to trains despite fare increases, experts say A HIKE in rail fares will not force commuters on to the roads, a Huddersfield passengers’ group has claimed.
• Shopping trip hits the buffers after journey from hell for rail usersA couple have told of their nightmare journey from Bedford to London by train and coach, which took nearly four hours each way.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Our Fair Fares Now campaign is off to a flying start2 January: We™re launching our new campaign this week, as commuters returning to work face massive fare hikes of up to 12.8%. read more

Railway Gazette

• Saving one tonne per wagon BRAZIL: Following 18 months of trials on Vale's metre-gauge heavy freight lines, V&M do Brasil is seeking type approval for its tubular axle design, which the company claims could allow operators to increase payloads by up to 1 tonne per wagon. The machined tubular axle was developed to fit 1000 mm and 1600 mm gauge wagons on a like-for-like basis to replace solid variants. According to V&M's Technical Director Antonio Medeiros Fonseca, the tubular axle offers a weight saving of around 35% against conventional solid designs. The company believes that, although the initial outlay to fi...

Other News Sources

• Crazy fan trying to board Pammie's train arrestedA crazy fan of former 'Baywatch' babe Pamela Anderson has been arrested after trying to board her train, according to British Transport Police.
• Millions set to claim for travel chaosAfter being caught up in the airport and rail nightmare caused by snow and freezing temperatures, millions of travellers will be looking for compensation
• Health bodies spend £11m on hire vehiclesCars rented included Jaguars and BMWs, figures reveal.
• First DAF LF Hybrid hits the roadThe first of DAF's new LF Hybrid diesel/electric trucks has left its UK production line destined for the Continent, just months after the completed version was unveiled at the IAA Hannover motor show.
• Campaign to save Blackburn bus route fails A CAMPAIGN to prevent cuts to a bus route has failed after bosses insisted ˜the figures don™t add up™.
• VOSA to consult on test booking improvementsThe Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) is proposing improvements to the way commercial vehicle tests are booked at VOSA testing stations, to provide a faster, more efficient service to the industry. Currently customers book their tests using a combination of fax, email, post, over the counter at test stations or online. Under the new [...]
• VOSA signs ports agreementVOSA has signed an agreement with the British Ports Association and the UK Major Ports Group which will see all parties working together to improve road safety. The three parties have signed a Memorandum of Agreement, a formal document which sets out the key principles of VOSA enforcement activities at ports. The principles are: Where [...]

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