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

Friday, 17 December 2010

BBC News

• Electric dreamsWould you buy a car just because of its name?
• Huhne unveils 'seismic shift' in energy policyThe government has unveiled a
• Bad weather hits airport flightsThe severe weather is causing disruption to flights at Aberdeen Airport, but all main trunk roads in the north east are now open.

The Herald

• Iconic Greyhound buses to connect Glasgow with London for £1 fareBob Dylan cruised down the highway in one in his song Get Your Rocks Off.

The Telegraph

• New lines needed to tackle London overcrowding New railway lines into London could be needed to tackle overcrowding, the ministers have been told.

Mail Online

• White weekend on the way as snow set to blanket UKThe return of the Big Freeze began today as airports, rail companies and breakdown services put extra snow teams on standby.

Network Rail

• Twenty Year Strategy for London Rail Services Set Out in Influential StrategyA long-term strategy for London’s railway has been unveiled, setting out the steps needed to cater for increasing demand for rail travel in and around the capital. With the number of passengers travelling into London in the busiest hours set to grow by more than a third by 2031, Network Rail’s London and south east route utilisation strategy: draft for consultation identifies ways to boost capacity, improve journeys and increase connectivity across the region.

Derby Telegraph

• Rail company fares frozen on websiteCROSSCOUNTRY Trains is freezing the cost of fares on its website but is increasing prices for tickets bought on the day of travel. The firm, which runs services from Derby Railway Station, says fares from January 2 will be kept at 2010 prices if bought from www.crosscountrytrains.co. uk. It applies to all 70,000 first class and standard advance fares for journeys on CrossCountry's services. However, customers buying tickets from Derby station on the day of travel face an average price hike of 7.4 per cent. Andy Cooper, CrossCountry's managing director, encouraged customers to
• City bus routes face the axe as travellers fear 'bleak' futurePASSENGERS said the future of public transport in Derby was

Edinburgh Evening News

• £21k bill for consultants to find new bus bossCOUNCIL bosses are set to pay consultants £21,000 to help fill the £24,000-a-year chairman's job at Lothian Buses.

Manchester Evening News

• Oldham drivers will be able to plug in to green revolution Drivers are being told to prepare for a green revolution with plans for 'plug sockets' for electric cars around the town. Oldham is one of five 'plug and park' areas in Greater Manchester to benefit from the £7m investment.

Northants Evening Telegraph

• Electirc cars on Corby's roads?Electric cars could soon be a regular sight on Corby's roads.

Other Regional Press

• Speed cameras could face uncertain futureTHE future of speed cameras across has been placed in doubt after an award-winning road safety team was told it is likely to be disbanded.
• Trouble on the buses as axe loomsIT could be the end for many bus services provided by private companies across the county under Northamptonshire County Council proposals to cull their subsidies.
• Rail firm gets the de-icers out!Southeastern has told long-suffering passengers it'is taking major steps to keep its trains running in the event of snow.
• New easyJet flights from Aberdeen to LondonNEW easyJet flights linking Aberdeen to London are to start from next June, it was revealed today.

Railnews

• News: Prime Minister affirms support for HS2 The Prime Minister has confirmed the Government's support for new domestic High Speed lines connecting London with Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, while the chief executive of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive has predicted that the new link will encourage firms in the 'overheated south east' to relocate.

Aviation Industry

• Virgin courted by rivals Virgin Atlantic said it has had œa number of lines of inquiry� since it appointed Deutsche Bank to assess the state of the aviation industry

Other News Sources

• VOSA signs deal to improve HGV inspections at portsVOSA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the British Ports Association and the UK Major Ports Group in a deal intended to improve enforcement activity targeted at vehicles entering the UK.
• London operators face parking fine increase from AprilOperators in London could see costs soar overnight if proposals to increase parking charges in Greater London go ahead, warns the Freight Transport Association (FTA).
• Tesco staff transfer to Stobart GroupTesco has confirmed that over 100 of its staff at its Fenny Lock, Milton Keynes DC have transferred across to Stobart Group following the end of a consultation on 10 December.
• Schmitz launch Europe-wide breakdown coverGerman trailer manufacturer Schmitz Cargobull is offering a Europe-wide breakdown cover package to reduce the risk for operators who run time-sensitive international freight contracts.
• Driverless Cars? Ah, But Who Do You Sue?The concern, of course, is what happens when something does goes wrong. And, something will go wrong, as with any machine made by humans. This means lawyers and lawsuits.
• £2.3bn Forth Crossing Bill passedPlans to build a new £2.3bn road bridge over the Firth of Forth have been approved overwhelmingly by the Scottish Parliament.
• UK car production speeding upUK car production accelerated again last month - rising 11.1 per cent compared with November 2009, it was announced today.
• Season's eatings at HeathrowHeathrow is getting into the festive spirit by serving up seasonal treats with a difference to arriving passengers on Thursday 16 December “ one of Heathrow™s busiest days of the year with over 300,000 people expected to fly through the airport...
• Heathrow Express launches UK's first fully functional train ticket appHeathrow Express, the fastest way to travel between central London and Heathrow Airport has become the first train company in the UK to launch a Blackberry and Android app which allows users to buy tickets and receive the ticket direct to their phone...