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

Sunday, 21 October 2012

BBC News

• Thames cable car for 'tourists'A cable car across the River Thames is a
• 'Arson attack' on 7/7 tribute busTwo girls are charged after a bus which replaced the double-decker destroyed in the 7 July bombing is the target of a suspected arson.

The Guardian

• MPs dodge expenses rules to get first-class rail travelRow over expenses widens as 185 members are shown to have claimed for first-class rail tickets despite official guidelinesMore than a quarter of MPs have charged first-class rail travel to the taxpayer in the past year, contrary to parliamentary guidelines that discourage the practice unless it is genuinely cheaper than buying a standard fare.An analysis of MPs' expenses by the Sunday Telegraph found that 185 had claimed for first-class train tickets. First-class travel has been curbed by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), brought in after the 2009 expenses scandal to sw...

The Independent

• London airports waiting to be cleared for take-off The row over airports expansion in the South-east has produced very little that is tangible, bar the invention of a rather marvellous word to describe Boris Johnson: "bonkeramus".

The Telegraph

• Heathrow expansion is only 'affordable' option, says Virgin Atlantic chief Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway has moved against relocating to a new airport in the Thames Estuary, warning that Heathrow expansion is the only “affordable” option to improve Britain’s links to key markets abroad.
• The gravy train: 185 MPs travel first class and 24 claim for club class flights More than 180 MPs - including a third of the shadow cabinet - are enjoying first-class train travel at the taxpayer’s expense, an investigation has revealed.
• Underground art is still fresh after 150 yearsThe Tube's designs were always utterly modern, says Harry Mount

Mail Online

• 'This is first-class hypocrisy': Tory's attack Ed Miliband over revelations Labour uses first-class travel for its eliteThe Labour leader’s officials admitted party general secretary Iain McNicol travelled first class by rail from London to the party’s conference in Manchester last month.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post commented Bicycle is king on the day, but new tram is set to trounce itArticle

Sheffield Star

• Average-speed South Yorkshire cameras aim to reduce casualtiesCAMERAS measuring the average speed of motorists are to be installed on a stretch of a notorious South Yorkshire road, where six people have died over the last five years.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Funding blow leaves Wolverhampton railway station work in doubtThe long-awaited rebuild of Wolverhampton™s railway station has been thrown into doubt after a £20 million bid for funding towards the project was turned down.
• Plans to reopen rail line are put on hold Plans to reopen a rail line between Wolverhampton and Walsall are effectively shelved for at least three years, it emerged today.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds: Train station bid is back on track after rescue pleaSenior councillors in Leeds have agreed a multi-million pound loan to developers to kick-start a stalled regeneration scheme.

Crewe Chronicle

• UK & World News: 25% of MPs 'claim first class rail'More than a quarter of MPs have charged first-class rail travel to the taxpayer in the past year, it has emerged.

East Anglian Daily Times

• East Anglia: Rail figures boost as county prepares for major conferenceRAIL experts, industry bosses, and councillors from across Suffolk are to attend a one-day conference on the future of the region’s rail services next week.

Other Regional Press

• Heathrow complaints unit too busy to respond to individual complaints from disgruntled residents Heathrow Airport have received so many complaints about noise pollution from disgruntled residents that they have given up responding to individual complaints.
• Heathrow third runway blow as Wandsworth Council vote against expansion Heathrow Airport’s controversial plan for a third runway has taken a further blow as Wandsworth Council unanimously voted to oppose any future expansion on Wednesday.
• Councillors unite against Heathrow expansion This week Wandsworth councillors unanimously backed a motion reinforcing the town hall's opposition to Heathrow expansion.
• New online tool to help rail passengers A NEW online tool has been launched to help train passengers access improved information about their journey.
• UK & World News: 25% of MPs 'claim first class rail'More than a quarter of MPs have charged first-class rail travel to the taxpayer in the past year, it has emerged.

Other News Sources

• Airlines shrink seats, offer extra legroom for a fee As they establish a category of roomier economy seats, airlines are finding new ways to pack regular coach passengers closer together.