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

Monday, 21 March 2011

BBC News

• Bristol's Severn Beach rail line subsidy is halved A council subsidy for a rail line in Bristol is to be halved after an increase in passenger numbers.
• Jobs created with new bus routes in South Yorkshire Dozens of news jobs are being created as three new bus routes are introduced in South Yorkshire.
• Bridge gives last cycle path linkA new £4.3m foot and cycle path will go ahead across Rhyl's harbour, providing the final link in 15 miles of traffic-free travel.
• Osborne hints at fuel duty freezeChancellor George Osborne may scrap the rise in fuel duty planned for April in next week's Budget, he hints to the BBC.

Financial Times

• European report boost Siemens Eurostar hopesThe company that runs cross-Channel passenger trains looks closer to introducing new, German-built trains when the European Railway Agency publishes a report on Monday backing its plans

The Guardian

• Boris Johnson: bus crime and fare evasion number puzzles latest [blog]From the Standard: Boris Johnson today accused Tube and bus fare dodgers of being a "parasitic scourge" on London as figures showed the problem has got worse. The cost of fare-dodging rose to almost £75 million last year, up £5  million from the previous year.
• London to Frankfurt high-speed rail link back on track Deutsche Bahn plans to run 200mph trains from London to Frankfurt, Cologne, Amsterdam and Rotterdam from 2013

The Herald

• Pledge from Gray on electric vehicles LABOUR leader Iain Gray has said he will build 10,000 charging points for electric vehicles within four years if he becomes First Minister.

The Telegraph

• Victor Meldrew fights Rail Enquiries robot and loses [video]The actor who plays Victor Meldrew is shown trying and failing to communicate with an automated National Rail Enquiries helpline in a documentary tonight.
• Southeastern rail franchise extended until 2014 Train company Southeastern has been awarded a two-year extension on its franchise to run services to Kent, Sussex and the London suburbs.
• Children 'cannot detect' cars travelling faster than 20mph The inability of children to judge the speed of cars travelling at more than 20mph means they are at greater risk of being run down, a study has found.

Mail Online

• Rail station renamed in Vice President's honour... but Amtrak CEO almost didn't make event (because his train broke down) Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1368269/Rail-station-renamed-Vice-Presidents-honour--Amtrak-CEO-didnt-make-eventTrain travel is something very close to the heart of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.

The Mirror

• Voters want fuel duty rise scrapped More than eight out of 10 voters want Chancellor George Osborne to scrap the planned hike in fuel duty in Wednesday's Budget, according to a new poll.
• A fifth of mucky motorist Brits have been involved in an accident caused by a cluttered car Messy motorists in the UK are on the road to ruin, a car insurance expert warns.

Bristol Live

• Plaque honours Brunel's favoured railway worksTHE Bristol company chosen by Brunel to build his first locomotives for the opening of the Great Western Railway has finally been honoured with a commemorative blue plaque. Conceived by Bristol Railway Circle it was unveiled yesterday at the Ibis Hotel, in Avon Street, St Philip's, close to the site of the original works, by Bristol's Lord Mayor, Colin Smith. He said:

Derby Telegraph

• Urgent meeting sought to help train-maker win £3.4bn Thameslink deal Urgent meeting sought to help train-maker win £3.4bn Thameslink deal

London Evening Standard

• Boris Johnson slams the fare-dodging 'parasites' who cost Londoners £75mBoris Johnson today accused Tube and bus fare dodgers of being a "parasitic scourge" on London as figures showed the problem has got worse.

Manchester Evening News

• Cyclists up in arms over metrolink plans to divert TransPennine Trail Cyclists and green campaigners say cost-cutting plans to put steps over a new Metrolink line will sever a national trail. Proposals drawn up for the Metrolink extension to East Didsbury include diverting the TransPennine Trail over a bridge with a series of steps.

Metro

• Transport secretary Philip Hammond: Only Nimbys oppose 250mph trainsOpponents of the High Speed Rail plan are ˜dishonest Nimbys™ according to transport secretary Philip Hammond.

Other Regional Press

• Lichfield MP hopes HS2 inquiry will answer key questions Lichfield’s MP has admitted he is pleased to see a new inquiry examining the impact high speed rail would have on existing services.
• £7 million revamp of Port Talbot's outdated railway station on track to start THE £7 million overhaul of Port Talbot's outdated railway station is on track to start next spring.
• Hop on train for free local food RAIL passengers on the scenic Weymouth to Bristol line will get a treat when they are served free food and drink on the train today.