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

Sunday, 02 February 2014

BBC News

• Passengers angry with Nuneaton to Coventry rail scheme delaysPassengers have criticised delays in plans to build a better rail link between Coventry and Nuneaton.
• Subsidence forces city road closurePart of the main A38 road in Birmingham is shut after subsidence forces emergency repairs to be carried out.
• Councils not amending bus lane signsSome councils are refusing to change misleading signs on roads warning people not to drive into bus lanes - despite motorists successfully appealing against fines.

The Guardian

• Black drivers are more likely to be stopped by policeStopwatch estimates five million unrecorded stops in one yearMillions of cars are pulled over by the police every year without being officially recorded – and black drivers are significantly more likely to be targeted, figures reveal.Although there is no official available data on the number of vehicle stops, researchers from Stopwatch, a coalition of academics and legal experts which monitors the use of stop-and-search powers by the police, used figures from the British Crime Survey to estimate that around 10% of adults in England and Wales are stopped in a vehicle by police each year.

The Herald

• Grit firm trebles its claim against Transport ScotlandTHE gritting company suing Transport Scotland over the supply of de-icing salt during the record cold snaps of 2010 and 2011 has more than trebled its damages demands to £3.5 million amid claims that its previous figure was based on misleading information from the agency.

The Independent

• Smile you're on dash-cam camera: More motorists are installing in-car recorders to capture instances of bad cycling and driving Sales of

The Telegraph

• What makes 'Britain's worst commute'?Human beings are an inconvenience at the best of times, but particularly on public transport, says Michael Deacon    

Mail Online

• Revealed: How HS2 will carve up Britain's historic canal network HS2 is set to travel through several major British towns, such as Oxford The scheme has sparked fears for ancient waterways in British countryside Trains are incredibly noisy, sparking fears for canal wildlife
• National Express in half-term price hike: Passengers face increase of up to five per centThe price rises of up to five per cent are being introduced on all its airport routes and routes to and from London. The company is also suspending group bookings on half-term weekends.

This is Money

• Sharp fall in annual profits is in the pipeline at oil giant BPThe oil giant is set to report a drop in profits this week due to weaker margins on its refining business, as well as disposals and reduced income from its Russian operations.

Bristol Live

• The Bristol Post commented Bristol railway stations to have electric car chargersBRISTOL Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway are among more than 40 train stations to have electric car charging points. As part of a government initiative, First Great Western (FGW) has been awarded £315,000 to install the devices at 44 of its 210 stations. Stations also include Exeter St Davids, Newquay, Oxford, Plymouth and Reading. The initiative is part of a £9m scheme to install charging points around the country. FGW's Major Projects Manager Sarah McManus said: "These...

Liverpool Echo

• Liverpool will be 'strangled' unless it gets HS2 railway lineLiverpool will be “strangled” unless it gets its own high-speed railway line , campaigners warn. Transport bosses plan to build 250mph train tracks between London, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham at a cost of £43bn

Sheffield Star

• Bus cuts in Sheffield and Rotherham hit OAPs and the disabledhe elderly and the disabled are set to shoulder the burden when cuts to bus services are brought in. South Yorkshire Transport Executive has announced plans to axe the FreeBee bus in Sheffield and Rotherham centres, and scale back concessionary travel for pensioners and disabled people from the end of April.

The York Press

• Fleetways Taxis buy defibrillator units and train staff in first aid A TEAM of York taxi drivers are taking on a lifesaving role in the community, in what is thought to be a UK first.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Free trial on M6 Toll route proves a hitSoaring popularity of the M6 Toll is partly down to more haulage companies continuing to use it following a free trial and other drivers being put off by roadworks on the free motorway, bosses have said.

Blackpool Gazette

• Holiday plans show changesHolidaymakers are already planning their escape from the Fylde coast this summer – as booking holidays with one budget airline reached its peak.

Other Regional Press

• Huddersfield train station’s VIP info service helps visitors on their wayThe Visitor’s Information Point, known as VIP for short, was launched in December to help people find out about travel, accommodation and local points of interest in the area
• Network Rail withdraws cash offer for community projects in Middleton St George following criticism of bridge improvement worksA COUNCILLOR has accused Network Rail of trying to gag members of a parish council after it withdrew funding to help pay for community projects in a Darlington village.
• Network Rail flattens Croydon playground during bridge work THERE will be no playtime for children at South Norwood Recreation Ground this year after rail contractors destroyed a play area as part of its works on a bridge.
• Guest column by HS2 campaigner Jonathan Loescher: HS2 Ltd is like Dracula in charge of the Haematology DepartmentHS2 Ltd has a massive conflict of interest. It is mandated by Government to build a railway as quickly and cheaply as possible. It is also supposed to deal with people who are due to lose homes, businesses and lifestyles with respect and fairly.
• Work begins on East West Rail line clearanceOVER the coming months Network Rail is carrying out de vegetation clearance and topographical and winter ecology surveys on a section of track which has no running trains in preparation for work which will upgrade the railway line between Claydon Jun
• Bus driver shot at as he drove through HartlepoolA BUS driver escaped uninjured after thugs are believed to have fired an air rifle at his bus.

Railnews

• RMT condemns TfL volunteer plan during strikesTHE Mayor of London Boris Johnson has reportedly agreed to have face to face talks with union leaders in the Underground ticket office dispute, but only if they call off the impending 48-hour strikes.