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

Monday, 12 December 2011

BBC News

• Revamp for Tyne and Wear Metro ticket machines Tyne and Wear Metro passengers can now use notes and credit cards to buy train tickets at stations for the first time in the Metro's 30-year history.
• Mirfield to London train service launched A new rail service between Mirfield in West Yorkshire and London has started.
• Derbyshire council buying group grows in Nottinghamshire Officials said it had brought benefits with large contracts such as waste collection, IT software and transport.
• Norfolk school bus contract e-auctions 'save £218,000' Hundreds of thousands of pounds are to be saved through the renegotiation of school transport contracts online, according to Norfolk County Council.
• Extra seats 'to cut train crowds'A rail company announces extra seats on West Midlands services to help tackle overcrowding.
• Council tweets on road grittingManchester City Council launches a Twitter feed to keep people up to date on where its gritters are out and about.
• MPs unite in fight for Anglia rail improvements They worked together to get the A11 dualled. Now Norfolk and Suffolk MPs are combining their efforts to do something about the main rail line from Norwich to London.

Financial Times

• Shipping yet to be won over by private equityEvidence is so far mixed about how well the investor group has adapted to the industry™s extreme volatility and unique legal framework
• Eurozone crisis adds to shipping market woesEuropean banks shy away from financing potential purchases of ships, further depressing vessel values
• Saga of shipowners™ downward spiralMiserable earning levels and the crisis facing European banks has combined to send the value of companies™ ships tumbling

The Guardian

• Westminster parking charges attacked by galleries, theatres and mayor Council plan to extend parking charges to evenings and weekends heavily criticised by Boris Johnson and arts groups
• Minister blocks Boris Johnson's plan to fund £1bn Crossrail project Fears for Bombardier's Derby train plant after London Mayor, Boris Johnson loses Crossrail battle

The Scotsman

• Walking the line: Uncovering the work of the Upper Tweed Railway Paths group Next year marks a century since one of the most remarkable railway lines in Britain was torn up for scrap. Now plans are being laid to bring it back to life as part of a railway path network, finds Alastair Dalton

The Telegraph

• Rail firm boss who took the planeA senior executive at state-owned rail firm publicly trumpeted the benefits of travelling by train - while clocking up £1,400 in plane tickets for routes covered by his own franchise.
• Transport department's 'new war on Whitehall poor grammar'Civil servants have been ordered not to use adverbs in official correspondance with ministers, as part of a

Mail Online

• The rail boss who snubs the trains: Chief racks up £1,400 air fare bill on flights around the UK A train boss paid more than £1,400 to take flights around the UK and claimed the money back on expenses instead of using his own rail service.

The Mirror

• At last a Transport Secretary who's on our side Had a chat to Mike Penning, Under Secretary of State for Transport the other day. Turns out he’s a good bloke.

Yorkshire Post

• Transport chiefs and Ministers unite over troubled rail upgrade Politicians and transport chiefs have united in a bid to bring about a multi-million pound upgrade to the rail line between York and Leeds, after the long-awaited scheme was dealt a blow when funding could not be found for an initial scoping report.

Bucks Free Press

• Bucks band release HS2 protest song A BUCKINGHAMSHIRE based band has recorded a new song specially composed to support the Stop the HS2 campaign.

Sunderland Echo

• Extra trains on the Metro EXTRA Metro trains will run during the festive period.

Other Regional Press

• Police crack down on railway cable theft A MAJOR operation has been launched to crack down on cable theft on Northumberland’s railways.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Tolling isn’t a realistic solution to the A14, says transport charity Responding to today’s launch of the A14 Challenge, Campaign for Better Transport’s chief executive Stephen Joseph, said: