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

Monday, 18 March 2013

BBC News

• Worle 'narrow gap' bollards to remain A local authority has said it has no plans to change a pair of "narrow gap" traffic bollards by a Somerset bridge.
• Steam railway museum in £2.5m boost Millions of pounds is to be spent turning a steam engine depot at Whitehead, County Antrim into a tourist attraction.
• Surrey traffic scheme 'hitlist' revealed by council A list of projects to ease congestion on Surrey's roads has been revealed.

Financial Times

• Luxury carmakers in China digital driveCompanies are increasingly turning to social media and digital technology to peddle their wares in what will soon become the world™s largest premium car market

The Guardian

• Rail freight in Britain: Shaped by Beeching, despite his reputationThe damage wrought by the Beeching report is an article of faith among rail enthusiasts, not to mention millions of would-be passengers living near branch lines closed down its wake.But within one section of the rail industry, there is a great degree of appreciation for other foundations that Dr Richard Beeching laid even as he brandished his axe, 50 years ago this month. That may seem heretical to many: at an event held by the Campaign for Better Transport at the Science Museum in London last week, its president, Michael Palin, said Beeching "left a psychological and environmental scar unmatched by the scaling down of any other industry."
• Budget 2013: If there's one thing George Osborne should do … Seven opinion formers set out their ideas for the 2013 budget to chart the country back to a path of growth and prosperity. Vicky Redwood, chief UK economist, Capital Economics. I'd like to see a decision on airport expansion in London and the south-east.

The Scotsman

• Forth Replacement Crossing work angers residents RESIDENTS have accused the Scottish Government of failing to apply proper controls to contractors currently building the Forth Replacement Crossing.

Mail Online

• Fraud probe sees 70,000 blue badges and 100,000 bus passes confiscatedAlmost 70,000 blue badges and 100,000 bus passes have been confiscated as part of a huge drive to detect fraud by cross-checking official records.

Bristol Live

• The Bristol Post published You can see so much on a bikeArticle
• The Bristol Post published On Track: Dave Wood's column on railwaysArticle

Manchester Evening News

• Sales and profits up at Shearings Group The Wigan operator, which specialises in over-50s holidays, carried a record one million passengers in the year to December 31

Metro

• Railway minister Norman Baker could hit buffers laying down tracksWith the HS2 controversy, ticket inflation and overcrowded trains to worry about, you might think transport minister Norman Baker had a lot on his plate.
• Big Brother is watching: Department for Transport and 27 councils spend £3.9million to snoop on youThe Department for Transport (DfT) and 27 councils in England and Wales have paid private investigators to spy on their behalf, new research claims.

Sheffield Star

• Safe pedestrian and cycle route ready for actionA NEW greenway has been opened providing a safe route for walkers and cyclists to travel from Killamarsh to Sheffield.

Wales Online

• Bus passengers in Welsh towns and cities face fare risesBus passengers in Wales’ biggest cities and towns could suffer service cuts or further increases in fares because of subsidy changes.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds train station fight is fictionA FIGHT among members of two rival political groups at Leeds rail station ended with two men falling under a train as a live emergency exercise swung in to action.
• Leeds and West Yorkshire: Bus fares to rise by 3pcBUS fares are to rise across West Yorkshire after the principal operator, First, announced price increases from April 1.

Yorkshire Post

• Misery on the buses as passengers face increase in faresBUS fares are to rise across West Yorkshire after the principal operator, First, announced price increases from April 1.

Bucks Free Press

• Scratching your head about reporting potholes? Take a course EVER wanted to report a pothole or a road in need of repair but not known who to go to or how to do it?
• Bucks motorcyclists offered training COURSES are being run to help motorcyclists refresh their skills and can keep safe on the roads.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Pedal power for PeterboroughGreen transport was given a push in Peterborough city centre as pedal power took over Cathedral Square.

Other Regional Press

• 'Options do exist' to electrify lines to Hull THE electrification of railway lines to and from Hull could still happen, an MP has been told.
• Under-used village bus service cut BUS services are being drastically cut around a village on the outskirts of Weston due to a lack of demand, according to North Somerset Council.

Other News Sources

• South West Trains apprentices reach training milestone The South West Trains – Network Rail Alliance launched today the search for five new young talents to join its unique apprentice scheme, as part of the sixth annual National Apprenticeship Week.
• Preston councillors set to reject offer to save bus station Cabinet recommended to turn down bid from local businessman in favour of demolition