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

Monday, 14 February 2011

BBC News

• New blue badge parking crackdownThe government is to announce a package of measures aimed at cleaning up the much abused disabled blue badge parking scheme.
• Souter to aid SNP re-election bidTransport tycoon Brian Souter is to help fund the SNP's Holyrood election campaign by pledging up to £500,000.

Financial Times

• China's railway chief dismissed China's minister of railways, Liu Zhijun, has been removed from the top position at the ministry and put under investigation for 'severe disciplinary violations'

The Guardian

• In praise of … the Welsh Highland railway On 19 February a public passenger train will run from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, for the first time since the second world war
• Bill Bryson launches battle against litter on railways Campaign led by the author aims to force Network Rail to fulfil its legal obligation to clear up rubbish
• National Express investor urges Stagecoach deal National Express is understood to be facing pressure to put itself up for sale in a move that could lead to a tie-up with rival Stagecoach.

The Herald

• Government ignores its experts over tugs The UK Government is risking environmental disasters by scrapping emergency tugs in breach of its own expert advice, the Sunday Herald can reveal.
• Flying Scotsman returns in rail bid to rival air travelRAIL passengers will be able to travel from Edinburgh to London in four hours on a revived Flying Scotsman service from May, train operator East Coast has confirmed.

The Independent

• Rail minister faces corruption probe China's minister of Railways is under investigation for "severe violations of discipline", a state news agency reports, in a high-profile probe underscoring the wide-ranging corruption that threatens the ruling Communist Party's grip on power.

The Scotsman

• Campaigns and political clout in bid to halt fees A CAMPAIGN was launched against the drop-off charges after it emerged that Edinburgh Airport had decided to impose the fee.
• Fury at Brian Souter's £½m SNP election pledge A NEW £500,000 donation from bus tycoon Brian Souter to the SNP has prompted questions over his growing influence over Alex Salmond's government.
• Government 'colluded' with BAA on drop-off charge THE Scottish Government has been accused of "colluding" with BAA over the introduction of the controversial £1 drop-off charge for motorists at Edinburgh Airport.
• US investor set to fail in move to force National Express sale A BID by an aggressive US hedge fund to force National Express's board to put the transport group up for sale, possibly to Scotland's Stagecoach group, looked to have hit the buffers yesterday.

The Telegraph

• National Express not ruffled by hedge fund Elliott National Express has denied that Elliott Management, an aggressive American hedge fund with 16pc of the transport group, is placing pressure on the company to put itself up for sale.
• Bentley to make diesel car Bentley, famous for making highly expensive petrol-guzzling cars, is to bring out a vehicle with a diesel engine.

Daily Express

• National Express puts stop on sale callNATIONAL Express is thought to be under pressure to put itself up for sale.

Mail Online

• Women face paying £1k more for car insurance as EU to rule against firmsJudges are expected to rule that insurance companies cannot discriminate between customers on gender, meaning an end to cheap deals for young women
• Writer Bill Bryson leads the way in battle for rail clean-upThe writer will use a little-known law against Network Rail in response to their failure to clear up mountains of rubbish, plastic bags and bottles.
• How abuse of disabled parking permits could be cheating taxpayer out of £46m a yearDisabled drivers face tough new medical tests before they get 'blue badge' parking permits amid shocking evidence of fraud and abuse.

Northern Echo

• Dragon Bannatyne backs rail campaign DRAGON’S Den star Duncan Bannatyne has backed a campaign to bring train building back to the region.
• Airport campaign launched SUPPORTERS of one of the regions airports have started a campaign for people to back it.
• Extra trains for main line THREE million more train seats are to be made available every year to passengers travelling between the North-East and the capital. East Coast tomorrow unveils a new timetable to start in May, which the company said represented the biggest change on the route in 20 years.
• Airport campaign launched SUPPORTERS of one of the regions airports have started a campaign for people to back it.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Free Leeds city centre bus faces axeA popular free city centre bus service in Leeds is facing the axe following a council proposal to withdraw its share of the funding.

Yorkshire Post

• More trains to London in biggest overhaul of rail services in region for 20 years THE biggest overhaul of train services in two decades on the premier rail route through Yorkshire was announced today and has been heralded as a key move in helping the region claw its way out of the recession. Under the massive revamp along the East Coast main line, extra trains have been added between Leeds, York, Doncaster and London, while a new express weekday train will complete the journey from Leeds to the capital in under two hours.

Other Regional Press

• Save Our Buses warning over transport cuts COUNCIL spending cuts may leave some people in Somerset without any public transport, warns a new campaign called Save Our Buses.
• Noise capaign on Yorkshire buses BUS passengers in Huddersfield have been told: Turn down the noise.

Global Rail News

• Virgin Trains’ new Station Manager for Crewe and North Wales Sheila Breeze is the new Virgin Trains’ Station Manager for Crewe and North Wales, taking over from Sam Dixon, who has been appointed Group Station Manager overseeing all Virgin Trains’ station activity in the North West and North Wales.

Other News Sources

• Borders village ensures 'Cyclists Welcome' under VisitScotland initiative A village in the Scottish Borders has geared itself up to provide a warm welcome to cyclists, with local businesses signing up to a pilot scheme from the national tourist board to meet the needs of those touring the area on two wheels.
• SNP - Labour Hypocrisy on Freight Transport Grant More hypocrisy by Labour on the SNP Government’s budget has been exposed as it was revealed their MSPs lined up in a members debate secured by Labour MSP Cathy Jamieson calling for the Government not to phase out the Freight Facilities Grants (FFG).
• Step closer to Blackburn orbital road routeA COUNCIL™S hopes of demolishing a listed building to make way for a new road have moved a step closer.