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

Thursday, 02 February 2012

BBC News

• Fuel firm 'not abusing' islandersThe firm supplying fuel to the Western Isles and Northern Isles says it is not responsible for high costs on the islands.
• Forth crossing road speed warningMore than 100 motorists are caught in two weeks speeding on an access road being built for the new Forth road bridge.
• London 'shared-space' road opensAfter three years of construction work, one of west London's most famous streets is officially re-opened.
• Japan carmakers see US sales jumpJapanese carmakers report a jump in their US sales in January boosted by new models and the restoration of supply chains.

Department for Transport

• Better service for motorist at garagesMotorists are set for improvements in customer service from garages under a package of transparency and value-for-money measures unveiled today by Transport Secretary Justine Greening.

The Scotsman

• U-turn over plans for fewer MOT tests after faults missedPLANS for less frequent MOT tests have been abandoned by the UK government in favour of improved annual checks after ministers found that faults were missed in one in four cars.

The Telegraph

• Plans to cut MoT frequency ditched in Government U-turnPlans to cut the frequency of the MoT test have been ditched after the Government bowed to pressure from road safety and motoring groups.

Mail Online

• Toyota Corolla overtakes Ford's F-trucks to become the best-selling car of all timeThe ultra-reliable, if perhaps rather dull, Japanese runaround has clocked up global sales of around 37.5 million since it was first rolled out in 1966.
• Britain's longest clutter-free street is unveiled to make things SAFERIndeed, the newly revamped Exhibition Road in the heart of London’s museum quarter in Kensington, visited by millions of people from around Britain and the world, doesn’t even have kerbs or pavements.

Birmingham Mail

• M6 Toll price hikes - to keep investors sweetTHE company behind the M6 Toll road has defended increasing prices yet again – insisting backers who stumped up to build it needed a “return on their investment”.

Liverpool Echo

• Merseyside police ditch locally-made Vauxhall cars in favour of Korean-built HyundaisMERSEYSIDE police chiefs are set to ditch locally-made Vauxhall cars in favour of new cheaper Hyundais as they look to save money.

Liverpool Post

• Ford may leave Liverpool after Speke £30m New Mersey leisure scheme plans approved by councilCAR giant Ford may pull out of its Liverpool base after plans to build a £30m leisure park near its Speke headquarters were approved by Liverpool Council.

Manchester Evening News

• 20mph speed limit to be introduced on all non-major residential roads in ManchesterA speed limit of just 20mph is set to be introduced in all non-major residential roads in Manchester. The plan has received cross-party backing among city councillors “ and town hall bosses will now draw up detailed proposals, saying it will help cut accidents.

Peterborough Telegraph

• New plans drawn up to strengthen bridgeA SCHEME to strengthen a viaduct that carries the A14 road over the main railway in Huntingdon has been announced by the Highways Agency.

Other Regional Press

• Gritting crews out in force on roadsCrews have showed true grit to keep Beds moving this week.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Manchester commutes 'worst in the UK'Those living or working in Manchester face the worst commuting times in the UK, with an average of one hour and 55 minutes per day when conditions are busy.Each trip for such workers is an average of 25.4 miles to and from their place of employment, but heavy traffic results in speeds of 13.3 mph.This is according to a new report on congestion on UK roads, which has discovered that rush hour times for commuters across the country average just 15.2 mph.Delays and traffic building up at peak times means the Direct Line research discovered Birmingham, Bradford, London and Glasgow are also hotspot...