A new package of EU transport proposals misses enhancements to driver training, says IAM RoadSmart. The Third Mobility Package was put forward by the European Commission includes proposals for new safety features to be fitted on all new cars sold. It has been suggested these changes could have as drastic an impact on road injuries and fatalities as the compulsory wearing of seat belts … [Read more...]
Travel Features
Automated vehicles will reduce and alter crashes
Serious crashes on inter-urban roads may be slashed by a quarter over the next 30-40 years with the introduction of automated vehicles. But the ride may be far from smooth, with a mixed fleet transition and vital need for roads that cars can read, according to a EuroRAP report. The report, the third in the “Roads that Cars Can Read” series, examines the relationship between road … [Read more...]
Brittany Ferries will boost sailings after Brexit
Brittany Ferries will charter two new cruise-ferries to serve its long-haul UK to Spain routes in 2021. The latest investment underlines the company’s commitment to Portsmouth and to its Spanish routes. It comes after work began this spring on a new LNG cruise ferry called Honfleur to serve its most popular Portsmouth – Caen crossing. Like Honfleur, which arrives in 2019, both … [Read more...]
Taffs Well to become Metro trains hub
A new state of the art train depot will open in Taffs Well as part of plans for the South Wales Metro, Economy Secretary Ken Skates has announced. The Welsh Government will invest nearly £100m in the new Transport for Wales depot which will house and service 36 of the new Metro vehicles operating on the Taff Vale lines. The depot will also become the base for 400 train crew, 35 Metro vehicle … [Read more...]
Smart motorways worry drivers, say GEM
Road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist says two thirds of motorists are concerned about safety on smart motorways. In a survey of more than 2,500 people the main concern expressed by 51 per cent was of breaking down with no access to a hard shoulder. GEM road safety officer Neil Worth commented that it was easy to see why motorists would be concerned. “The prospect of … [Read more...]
£5 Billion for Welsh rail services & passengers
About 600 staff will be recruited and 450 apprenticeships offered with a new 15-year £5 Billion investment in rail services by Welsh Government. The Wales and Borders services along with the proposed South Wales Metro regional service will be contracted to KeolisAmey, who run London Docklands and Manchester Metro, in partnership with stand alone not-for-profit company … [Read more...]
Fuel prices rising again and more to come
Supermarkets have increased the price of petrol and diesel every day since the end of March, adding more than 8p a litre to the average price at their pumps, analysis of RAC Fuel Watch reveals. The outlook is not good for the rest of the half-term break, and possibly into the summer. On 26 March a litre of unleaded bought at the big four supermarkets averaged 116.66p and diesel 119.35p – … [Read more...]
Join the queue in 14 million trips this Bank Holiday
With much of Britain basking in heat this bank holiday weekend, the RAC suggests at least 14m individual leisure trips on major roads will be taken between today and Monday. American Express calculates Brits will spend about £8.6 Billion on breaks, at home and abroad at an average of £407 per trip. The RAC research of 2,500 motorists’ plans found that the Friday before the bank holiday 25 May is … [Read more...]
Newslines 25 May
Allensbank Primary School, near Whitchurch Rd., Cardiff has been awarded with Sustrans’ Bronze School Mark following the school community’s recent efforts in getting children walking, cycling and scooting to school. The Whitchurch Rd area has recently been identified as one of the highest polluted in the capital and so every effort made by the school to get as many families as possible to … [Read more...]
Nextbike Cardiff expands with free trial – but is it enough?
Scores of cyclists will take part in a mass ride through Cardiff to celebrate the expansion of the city’s nextbike share scheme. A whopping 4,300 miles have been clocked up on the bikes in Cardiff since a trial scheme with 50 bikes was launched in March – the equivalent of cycling the Taff Trail 78 times. And the whole city will get to use the bikes for free for 24 hours today as part of the … [Read more...]