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

Sunday, 23 February 2014

BBC News

• VIDEO: Rally driver honoured in home cityRally champion Paddy Hopkirk leads a cavalcade of cars through Belfast as part of a series of events marking the 50th anniversary of his 1964 Monte Carlo victory.

The Scotsman

• Europeans learning ropes from UK - FirstGroup ChiefTHE chief executive of one of Britain’s biggest transport groups has defended the record of his company’s rail operations in the face of ongoing complaints about delays and poor service. Tim O’Toole, who heads FirstGroup, said that European operators are learning lessons from Britain on how to perform as their own markets opened up.
• Police claim speed cameras just a cash cowSENIOR police officers have claimed that placing speed camera vans on motorway bridges or stretches of road without a history of accidents is like “shooting fish in a barrel”.

The Telegraph

• HS2: 50 ancient woods 'under threat'Almost 50 areas of ancient woodland will be lost or damaged due to construction of HS2 line, the Woodland Trust estimates    
• Quest for the sunken slave ship which claimed 664 livesExperts believe they are close to locating the final resting place of a slave ship which sank in what has been described as the biggest single tragedy of the Atlantic slave trade    

Daily Record

• Glasgow 2014: Government set to provide Scottish rail network with £3m funding boost ahead of Games THE £3million investment will also see new ticket machines, ramps and platform extensions throughout the Scottish rail network.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Care group staff cycle for charity Czajka Care Group is holding a series of fundraising events, including an endurance cycling event, to support several charities.

Bristol Live

• Reader's letter: Rudeness to bus users casts Bristol in a bad...IF George Ferguson wants to make the city as welcoming as possible, perhaps he should talk to First about the conduct of their staff on the Lulsgate to Bristol run.I travelled on this bus last week and was appalled by the rudeness of staff to a foreign visitor.When at Temple Meads a passenger politely inquired as to whether he was missing his required stop at the bus station. The "conductor" told him where we were, but told him off for not listening to the announcement. I thought...

London Evening Standard

• Royal Navy ship helps seize £8.5m cocaine haul in Caribbean SeaA crew of British civilian sailors has helped seize a cocaine haul worth £8.5 million in the Caribbean Sea.
• Virgin Galactic space flight will launch in 2014, says Richard BransonBusinessman Sir Richard Branson has reiterated his claim that the first Virgin Galactic flight into space will take place later this year.
• Thieves make off with 16 Sky bikesTeam Sky may have one of the biggest budgets in professional cycling but one of their riders will be on borrowed equipment at this weekend's Tour du Haut Var after thieves made off with 16 bikes on the eve of the race.

Sheffield Star

• Car fire and abnormal road create A1 disruptionTwo separate incidents on the A1(M) are causing problems for motorists this morning.

Sheffield Telegraph

• 1,500 heroes rush for Peak retro cycle rideIf anticipation is building for the Tour de France passing through the Sheffield region this summer, another international cycling event is not too far behind.

This Is Local London Network

• Troubled transport provider for special needs children forced to close Alternative plans for hundreds of children with special needs to get to school have been put in place after a transport company went bust.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• £1.2m plan to improve Merry Hill accessA £1.2million plan to improve pedestrian and bus routes around Merry Hill has been lodged with work due to start later this year.

Bucks Free Press

• Bus route changes start next week NEW timetambles for several routes in and around Amersham and Chesham are coming into effect next week.
• Volunteer railway wins award A VOLUNTEER based railway has been recognised for its innovative anniversary event, which linked Aylesbury and Chinnor once more.

Carlisle News & Star

• Carlisle Airport decision likely in next three weeks A farmer opposed to expansion plans for Carlisle Airport must wait to hear the outcome of his latest legal battle with the local council.

Other Regional Press

• Model of new FCC train at St Albans stationThe rail firm has been conducting a promotional launch of its promised transformation of the Thameslink services, visiting St Albans station last Wednesday to display a model new train. The display showed a miniature version of 115 state-of-the-art high capacity trains currently being built as part of the Government-sponsored £6.5 million Thameslink programme.
• New train service to help after Dawlish disasterA new train service will give rail passengers an extra hour in London while the Dawlish sea wall is repaired. First Great Western has announced that from Monday it will be adding a 21.35 weekday service from London Paddington to South Devon. The new service will run until the rail line at Dawlish is repaired and First Great Western is able to reinstate its sleeper service. The extra train will call at Reading, Taunton, Tiverton Parkway at 11.33pm, and Exeter St Davids at 11.51pm.
• Oriana's luxury cruise cut short for repairs PASSENGERS on board a Southampton-based cruise liner will be returning to port three days earlier than planned after propeller problems forced the trip to be cut short.
• Night bus services set to finish HAMPSHIRE bus company Bluestar is scrapping most its night services after this weekend.
• Rail boss says sorry for recent disruptionsTHE managing director of South West Trains has recorded a video explaining why customers have experienced rail disruptions in recent weeks.
• US submarine enters Portsmouth Harbour on ‘routine visit’SCORES of onlookers enjoyed a rare sight as a US submarine entered Portsmouth Harbour.
• Spoken bus timetable will be useful in any language NAVIGATING travel timetables can often be tricky even for those with 20/20 vision.
• Landslip repair work ‘will not delay trains’ Weekend rail passengers will not have their journeys disrupted by repair work following a landslip last Friday.

Other News Sources

• Rail plans submitted between Manchester and LiverpoolNetwork Rail has submitted plans for a new section of railway near Huyton station as part of the £600m Northern Hub investment to provide faster, more frequent services across the north of England.
• Parking charges move in East Brighton Park Parking charges are being considered for East Brighton Park.