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

Saturday, 13 March 2010

The Telegraph

• Holiday car rental prices jump The price of renting a car on holiday has jumped by up to 65 per cent in many popular European destinations this Easter.

Times Online

• Government loan saves 3,200 Vauxhall UK jobsMore than 3,200 jobs at Vauxhall were secured today after Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, made a £270 million loan guarantee to General Motors to ensure that the American carmaker keeps its operations in Britain.
• First consumer suit filed against Toyota in USA California prosecutor has filed the first consumer protection lawsuit in the US against Toyota, accusing the Japanese carmaker of endangering the public by selling hundreds of thousands of vehicles with accelerator defects.

The Sun

• Man killed driving recall car to garage MAN, 83, driving recalled Peugeot to garage for checks died when it shot into road

Daily Post (North Wales)

• A55 roadworks could blight start of Easter holiday ROADWORKS on the A55 could blight the start of the Easter holidays with lane closures and diversions planned.

Metro

• £270m loan boost for VauxhallThe Government has announced a £270 million loan guarantee to car giant General Motors to help secure its Vauxhall operations in Britain.

The News (Portsmouth)

• Jail for car thief who broke orderA NOTORIOUS troublemaker banned from Portsmouth car parks for a spate of vehicle thefts has now been jailed.
• M-way speeder hit 153mph and failed to see police bikeA DRIVER who topped 150mph on the M27 failed to spot the blue flashing lights of a police motorcyclist on his tail.

The York Press

• York Hospital parking staff ordered to halt traffic at pedestrian crossing PARKING attendants at York Hospital have been ordered to help ease chronic congestion during work on the site's new multi-storey car park “ by repeatedly pressing a pedestrian crossing button.

Carlisle News & Star

• Distington bypass leaves old road open to speedersResidents in Distington are campaigning against speeding motorists, fearing lives are being put at risk.

Northants Evening Telegraph

• Mechanics the only winners as roads crumbleThere's a silver lining to the misery of potholes as garages report a rise in business from disgruntled motorists with damaged cars.

C.N.N.

• Police tow funeral home van with body insideFor one New Yorker, the journey to the Pearly Gates involved a detour to the city's car pound.

New Scientist

• Electric cars jostle for position on the power gridWhen the surge of plug-in vehicles hits the streets over the next few years, how will our electricity grids cope?

Washington Post

• Hot pursuit: Competition heats up for police cars DEARBORN, Mich. -- Ford Motor Co. wants to remain the top gun in the U.S. police car market with a new cruiser due out next year, but its competitors are in hot pursuit.
• Orange County prosecutor sues Toyota over defects SANTA ANA, Calif. -- The Orange County district attorney has filed a lawsuit against Toyota Motor Corp., accusing the automaker of knowingly selling hundreds of thousands of vehicles with acceleration defects.

Other News Sources

• Torfaen gets £665,000 for road safety ROAD safety schemes in Torfaen have received a £665,000 cash boost from the Assembly to improve pedestrian safety.
• DfT urged to find a way to charge foreign lorriesThe DfT should work with the Treasury to find a way of charging foreign lorries for using our roads, a committee of MPs has suggested.
• Vauxhall given Government loan guarantee The Government has announced a £270 million loan guarantee to car giant General Motors to help secure its Vauxhall operations in Britain.Related StoriesUnion bosses to meet after BA peace talks failScottish Power to cut gas pricesUnite set to announce industrial action at BABA cabin crew announce strike datesClegg kicks off conference with spring in his step
• US safety body considers mandatory car black boxesUS safety regulators are looking at whether to make “black boxes” mandatory for all new vehicles in response to recent unintended acceleration problems in Toyota’s vehicles.
• Summit talks to smooth the way to less disruption on London™s roads 12 March, 2010 Three quarters of all roads in Capital to be covered by London Permit Scheme early next year A major summit attended by the Mayor™s Office, utility companies working in the capital, Transport for London, and the boroughs will discuss how to improve the flow of traffic in the capital today (12 March).  Seven more of London™s boroughs are expected to commit to introducing the capital™s roadworks permit scheme at the summit. The Mayor™s transport advisor, Kulveer Ranger, will also urge boroughs to sign up to the Mayo...
• County is 'UK's pothole capital', report claims SURREY has been named the pothole capital of the UK in the results of a survey published this week by a car manufacturer.
• DHL extends contract with BP™s retail network DHL Supply Chain has been awarded a four-year contract worth £75 million to manage the UK warehousing and distribution of dry goods and chilled produce for BP's UK Convenience Retail business. read more
• More cash for new 'regeneration' bridgePoole BC wins £14.14m funding from the Department of Transport to build an œiconic� bridge
• Bike racks replaced by ministerial carsA Labour MP has complained that government cars are responsible for
• Nearly 300 people get illegal car cruising injunctions POLICE have served injunctions on almost 300 people involved in illegal car cruising in Warwickshire.
• Streets of shame: Britain's pothole problemWith reports suggesting the number of potholes in Britain has nearly doubled since 2008, the never-ending winter is threatening to turn the UK road network into a pothole purgatory.
• Vauxhall to get £270m loan guaranteeBusiness Secretary Lord Mandelson announces a £270m loan guarantee to General Motors to help secure Vauxhall operations in the UK.
• Longbridge MG Rover site transformation cash row THE £750 million transformation of Birmingham’s former MG Rover car works is under threat following a bitter row between developers and the city council.