When Marmite spreads...all over the road

posted by Simon Ashberry

There was no doubt about whether motorists loved it or hated it when a Marmite lorry shed its load onto the M1.

Police closed a section of the motorway in South Yorkshire when the tanker carrying more than 20 tonnes of waste yeast crashed and spilt its contents.

Drivers faced long delays while the carriageway was cleaned up.

Have you ever had a journey disrupted by an unusual incident? Let us know the strangest thing you've seen spilled onto the road.

George's boost for commuters

posted by Luke Turner

There was some good news for commuters at least in Chancellor George Osborne's autumn statement.

Fuel duty will no longer rise in January and it will only rise by 3p in August. Meanwhile, rail fare increases have also been capped at 1% above inflation.

Above-inflation fare increases of 8.2% had been due to kick in from January, but will now be fixed at 6.2%.

In London, too, a planned seven per cent fare increase was reduced to six per cent thanks to a funding boost from the Treasury, with the London Mayor promising that all revenue would be put back into investing in infrastructure.

Labour's Mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone said that the reduction did not go far enough.

"The mayor's got it right by freezing the Council Tax during this economic crisis," he said.

"I just don't understand why he doesn't take the same approach to fares."

Mr Osborne also announced an extra £6bn in infrastructure expenditure on Britain's roads and railways.

With predictions that the UK is facing a "double dip" recession, these fare increase caps are to be welcomed. But a six per cent increase on the cost of rail travel will still cause many problems as the already dire economic outlook worsens.

Do you think these fare caps go far enough? What transport projects should the Government be investing in near you? How is the recession affecting the way you travel, for work and pleasure? Let us know below

UK faces storm warning

posted by Simon Ashberry

Forecasters are warning that many parts of northern Britain will be battered by storms this weekend.

Motorists are being urged to take particular care in South West Scotland, Lothian, the Borders and North East England.

The Met Office says gusts will reach gale force and locally severe gale force in some areas.

The public should be prepared for potentially damaging winds and possible travel disruption.

High winds will also affect these areas on Saturday and Sunday:

Highlands and Eilean Siar
Grampian
Strathclyde
Central Scotland
Tayside and Fife
Northern Ireland
North West England
Yorkshire and Humber
West Midlands
East Midlands

Check the weather forecast for your area here.

Speed limit sign is impossible to ignore

posted by Simon Ashberry

A villager has taken extreme measures to try to slow down traffic.

But has Tim Backhouse gone too far by painting a 15ft high 30mph sign on the side of his house in Bow, Devon?

He says his eye-catching handiwork is there to remind motorists of the speed limit.

The idea came about as part of Road Safety Week UK and Mr Backhouse says he will paint over it again on 5 December.

It's certainly impossible for traffic approaching Bow on the A3072 to ignore.

But not everyone thinks the stunt makes the village any safer. Some have even suggested that such a huge sign is more likely to cause accidents by distracting drivers.

Mr Backhouse is adamant that it is not safe to cross the road in Bow because of speeding traffic - even though Devon County Council says its own research shows most drivers do keep to the 30mph limit.

It's a common problem for many of us living where a main road passes directly through our towns and villages. 

And it seems churlish to criticise an individual for doing nothing more than reinforcing the message that there is a speed limit.

After all, illuminated signs which flash when oncoming traffic exceeds the limit are becoming more and more commonplace.

Is Mr Backhouse right to take matters into his own hands? Or is his giant sign more likely to prove a distraction? Let us know your views

Government plans new toll lanes

Posted by Sophie Morris

Fed up with sitting in traffic jams? Those with deep pockets might soon be able to jump the queue, if Chancellor George Osborne’s plan to create new toll lanes goes ahead.

The Government has already promised not to introduce tolls on existing roads, but they want to reduce congestion and also kickstart the economy.

To these ends, private companies will be handed the contracts to construct additional lanes beside existing roads and motorways, which drivers can then pay to take.

All the profits will go to the firms who build and manage the toll lanes, so back into the private sector.
We're willing to listen to any plans to reduce congestion of Britain’s overcrowded roads  - solutions are long overdue, and at present the problem just seems to be getting worse.

Yet creating a two-tiered system of those who can and those who can’t pay to take the new lanes is bound to lead to more trouble.

What's more, driving is already so expensive, that it is unclear how many motorists will be able to pay these additional costs.

As for handing over the profits to private companies, the Government is wise not go back on its promise not to introduce new tolls, but in this case it does seem to be giving up a potential revenue stream.

There is a chance the system could benefit everyone though – if some of the traffic takes the fast lane, the existing slow lanes will be less crowded too.

Would you travel on a toll road? Do you think this will work in reducing congestion? Share your thoughts below

Sports planner: 2 - 4 Dec

 

Get driving directions to these major sporting fixtures which could cause travel congestion.

Remember, Orange Maps can help you plan your route and you can also use Traffic TV to beat the jams.

And don't forget to check out the weather forecast for wherever you are.

FRIDAY 2 DECEMBER

 Racing
12.50pm - Tingle Creek Meeting at Sandown Park

SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER

Football
12.45pm - Newcastle v Chelsea at St James' Park
3pm - Man City v Norwich at the Etihad Stadium
3pm - Tottenham v Bolton at White Hart Lane
5.30pm - Aston Villa v Man Utd at Villa Park
Racing
12.55pm- Tingle Creek Meeting at Sandown Park
Snooker
11am - UK Snooker Championship at the Barbican, York

SUNDAY 4 DECEMBER
Football
3pm - Everton v Stoke at Goodison Park
Snooker
11am - UK Snooker Championship at the Barbican, York

MONDAY 5 DECEMBER
Snooker
12.30pm - UK Snooker Championship at the Barbican, York
Football
8pm - Fulham v Liverpool at Craven Cottage

Remember you can also get live train information on your Orange phone - and you can also download the Tube map for free to help you travel round London with ease.

>> More sports fixtures
>> More journey planning

Tube drivers threaten Boxing Day strike

posted by Sophie Morris

Those London Tube drivers are at it again. This time they’re threatening to strike on Boxing Day over pay.

And what is it they want? Well, last year they did strike on Boxing Day, when they were refused triple pay and a day off in lieu.

Yes, you read that correctly. While most of us are glad to be getting paid at all, and looking forward to a few days off over Christmas to spend time with friends and families  - should our own jobs allow it – the Tube drivers think they are worth treble their normal rate. This year they are calling it “adequate compensation”.

Don’t get me wrong. I think all workers should be adequately remunerated for working overtime and on holidays. Every company will operate a different system, but time and a half or double time seems to be the norm, and quite fair.

But the capitals tube staff have the city in a stranglehold, and threatening to strike on a major public holiday and disrupt everyone’s travel plans is a very strong bargaining tool.

Their union, Aslef, will reveal the results of the strike ballot on 14 December, just two weeks before the proposed strike.

Everyone is struggling to make sensible travel plans in the run up to Christmas. With fuel costs so high, those in the city want to make use of the tube system, even though ticket prices are high. It is unfair for one small group of people to try and spoil such a special bank holiday for everyone who lives in the capital.

Do you think the Tube drivers should get triple pay? Will you want to use the London Underground over Christmas? Share your thoughts below

The 'drives' and the 'drive nots'

posted by Sophie Morris

MPs are debating rising petrol costs – a move which any motorist will see as long overdue.

The current Government plan is to increase tax on fuel by 3p per litre in January, which would add £1.50 to the cost of filling an average tank.

In response, 100,000 people have signed an e-petition, backed by 100 MPs, and the price hikes will be discussed in parliament.

The Tories say that their approach has been fairer than that of Labour’s, because they have scrapped the annual fuel tax escalator introduced by their predecessors, where duty was linked to rise pm above inflation each year. The truth is this rise has only been delayed.

As it stands, struggling motorists need some help urgently. Our unfit-for-purpose public transport system requires many workers on low incomes to drive to their jobs, and some are spending a tenth of their income on petrol.

The AA has said that existing fuel price rises are already costing drivers an extra £38 more each year, and that 70% are cutting back on the number of journeys made.

According to AA president Edmund King, the country is being divided into the “drives” and the “drive nots”.

All this comes as politicians scratch their heads over how to protect the economy. Making it too expensive for people to travel to work is surely not the best way to go about this.

Are fuel prices affecting you? Have you cut down on your driving? Share your thoughts below.

Why London might not be so crowded in 2012

posted by Sophie Morris

Are you making plans to travel to London for summer 2012?

Anyone with a genuine interest in visiting London for the capital’s many charms, rather than for the Olympic Games, will no doubt have written off next summer as a potential time to make the trip.

The city is expected to be teeming with crowds of extra tourists, who will flock to join in the celebratory atmosphere, even if they haven’t bagged any tickets for the games themselves.

But in fact the tour operators are telling quite a different story. Holiday bookings to London have slumped by an average of 90% according to the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA), largely because fears of overcrowding in the capital are putting off tourists.

What is meant to be a boom year for London’s tourist economy might turn out to be anything but – there is a 60% shortfall in bookings across all of July and August.

You could jump in and take advantage by planning your own trip to the city directly before or after the Olympics, the period when most of the regular tourists will be staying well away.

Despite this downturn, hotel prices are still vastly inflated, so it is a good time to visit friends and relatives who can put you up. If foreign visitors can’t pump up our economy in 2012, we can have a good go at doing it ourselves.

Are you put off visiting London next summer? Will you rethink now? Share your thoughts below

High speed rail line gets backing

posted by Luke Turner

A new high speed rail line connecting London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds came a step closer this week after the plans were given the backing of the Transport Select Committee.

The £32bn High Speed Two (HS2) project has come under fire from environmental groups and some Conservative MPs, who say that the route will become a “white elephant” and spoil some of the finest countryside in the South East of England.

But Louise Ellman, the Labour MP who chairs the committee, said that HS2 would bring financial benefits.

"A high speed rail network, beginning with a line between London and the West Midlands, would provide a step change in the capacity, quality, reliability and frequency of rail services between our major cities," she said.

 "A high-speed line offers potential economic and strategic benefits which a conventional line does not, including a dramatic improvement in connectivity between our major cities, Heathrow and other airports, and the rest of Europe."

But the Taxpayers Alliance', which is joining the Countryside Alliance in attacking the plans, said: "Taxpayers will be disappointed the transport select committee haven't done more to hold the Government to account, and scrutinise this vanity project.”

Britain lags way behind much of the rest of Europe in high speed rail, and it’s time that we caught up.

But with our network so focused on London, might we not better invest the huge sums involved here on cross-country networks and local routes that will ease congestion on our motorway system? Or will you be looking forward to reduced journey times between Brum and London? Let us know your thoughts below.

Boris buses roll off the production line

posted by Luke Turner

Boris Johnson has driven the first of a new style of buses for London off the production line at the factory where they are being made in Northern Ireland.

The buses, due to arrive in time for the 2012 Olympic Games, are the first hop on/hop off style buses to be used by London Transport since the popular Routemaster buses were taken off the roads in 2005.

These were then replaced by the short-lived "bendy buses" that struggled with London's narrow streets, and on which fare-dodging was rife.

At the ceremony Boris praised the new buses, saying: "This fantastic machine is chock-full with the latest technology and London buses will be world leaders once again when the first eight buses take to our roads early next year."

He added that the first bus out of the factory would be the first of many:

"They are just an advance party for what I envisage will eventually be a legion of their type," he said.

"Our new bus is an improvement on standard double decks in every respect and has been designed with this city and its wonderful population in mind. It showcases the very best of British manufacturing and design and simply oozes with quality."

Are you looking forward to the old style hop on and off the platform buses returning to London? Or do you live elsewhere and think it's unfair London gets all the new gear first? Will these vehicles follow bikes and become Boris Buses? Let us know below.

Government tells families to take more holidays

posted by Sophie Morris

Given Britain’s ongoing financial woes, the last thing you might expect from the Government is encouragement to kick back, relax and go on holiday.

Apparently a few days away from the desk could boost the economy as well as our moods, according to an all-party parliamentary report out this week.

The report is called Giving Britain a Break. It says that the concept of families spending quality time together should be high on the political agenda, and that the opportunity to enjoy a few days away as a family should be a reality for every family in the country, every year.

It found that 42% of families do not spend enough quality time together, and that almost half of children aged eight to 12 feel they are missing out on quality time with their fathers.

During the week, 27% of parents spend less than an hour a day with their children.

The study was carried out in association with the Family Holiday Association and Thomson, whose representative said: "We believe everybody needs quality time together. For many people, the easiest way to secure that time is to go on holiday, to give ourselves time to reflect on what’s really important and valuable."

This seems to make sense. Spending some decent time with your loved ones should help you to reassess the important things in life and prepare to return to work feeling better and brighter.

That’s if your holiday time hasn’t been spent cooped up in the car in a motorway jam or hanging about for delayed and cancelled trains.
If politicians want us to take some time off to chill out, they should prioritise the transport system so we don’t return from our staycations more frazzled that when we left.

Do you think you spend enough time with your family? Do you go away together? Share your thoughts below

Greenwich tops for 2012

posted by Sophie Morris

London’s Greenwich has been named one of the top ten go-to destinations for 2012, by the upmarket travel guide Frommer’s.

With the Olympics on the horizon, our capital city is already a big tourist draw next year. As Greenwich is one of the designated host boroughs for the games, it has come under the spotlight.

Travel experts have realised how much the leafy, grand area, a former naval centre, has to offer visitors.

A number of popular Olympic events including equestrian events, shooting and the modern pentathlon will be held in Greenwich Park.

It is also to be named a royal borough next year, which will add to its pulling potential.

“Our annual list draws from our individual local knowledge, passion and expertise,” said Mark Henshall, one of the guide’s editors, “and is a great resource for travellers searching for their next extraordinary getaway.”

Greenwich certainly promises to be an extraordinary getaway, but is 2012 the right time to encourage more visitors to London if they are not travelling for the Olympics themselves?

Most people are now looking forward to a fantastic games and a celebratory summer, but with existing London residents, competitors and Olympic tourists, the city is set to be full to bursting.

Various tube and rail upgrades have been taking place over the past years to accommodate these many extra passengers, but I’m not sure the city can cope with even more tourists flocking to London just for a glimpse of Greenwich, lovely though it is.

Have you been to Greenwich? Would you travel to London during the Olympics if you didn’t have tickets? Share your thoughts below

Floods disrupt half term travel

Posted by Sophie Morris

Severe weather will disrupt the journeys of many families on half term breaks this week.

Parts of Britain are being battered by terrible weather, and the Environment Agency has issued flood warnings for a number of river and coastal areas in Cornwall, Devon, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Swansea.

In Ireland, a policeman, Ciaran Jones, died after he was swept away during a 90mm rainfall.

The bad weather is heading north- and eastwards, where it will affect those visiting family or on day trips in those parts of the country.

Shetland and Orkney have already experienced gales of up to 60mph; rain and high winds across the UK have led to flood warnings on the Yorkshire coast too.

The Environment Agency is asking anyone planning a road journey to check for up-to-date information on the travel situation on its website, www.environment-agency.gov.uk and to follow local and social media to keep abreast of the changing weather.

Are you on holiday or making day trips this week? Would you risk driving in heavy rain? Share your thoughts below.

Check the weather in your area

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Grab some ideas for family days out during the Half term

Half-term traffic terror

posted by Sophie Morris

Hurray for half-term! We’re nearing the end of October, but forecasters are promising a sunny and warm weekend with temperatures of up to 20C, crisp bright, dry days and mild weather across the coming week.

Unfortunately there is a big “but” to this good news, and it involves the traffic. So many people are planning a final weekend getaway before Christmas, that widespread traffic congestion is expected until the end of October.

The AA say that the 15 million cars expected on the roads will lead to major snarl ups.

Trafficmaster is predicting that the chaos will begin as people set off on short journeys to visit friends and relatives or theme parks such as Legoland in Windsor and Alton Towers in Staffordshire.

BAA is expecting 215,000 passengers through Heathrow. On top of all this, there are a large number of rail engineering works planned, so passengers can expect  weekend delays.

All things considered, it would be a shame to miss the wonderful weather stuck in traffic on the motorway or on a draughty rail platform – this might call for yet another mini staycation and a weekend in your local park.

If you are planning to make the most of half-term, here are some ideas for family days out around the UK.

Are you going away this weekend? Do you expect travel problems? Share your thoughts below

Glasgow kicks Edinburgh into touch

posted by Sophie Morris

There has long been rivalry between Scotland’s two premier cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Whichever city your loyalties lie with, Edinburgh has always won out in the tourist stakes – until now that is.

In 2011 so far, Glasgow is soaring ahead of Edinburgh in terms of hotel bookings, with an average occupancy rate of 78.3% compared to 74.3% for Edinburgh. This has generated £180m. Tourists have spent another £260m in shops, pubs and restaurants over the first eight months of the year.

You are probably wondering why. Edinburgh is famed for its stunning castle, historic streets and lattractions such as the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum (pictured), as well as the annual festival which draws thousands of tourists and their fat wallets.

It turns out that Glasgow’s secret weapon is Brad Pitt! The Hollywood mega A-lister was in Glasgow for much of August filming a new movie, World War Z.

He travelled with more than 1000 production staff, who filled some of those hotel rooms, and attracted visitors hoping for a glimpse of him. The spending phenomenon has been dubbed the “Brad Pitt effect”, and has also pushed Glasgow’s popularity ahead of Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle and Belfast.

The Brad Pitt effect is great news for Glasgow’s economy, but I’d like to think the city has plenty going for it regardless of fleeting visits from film stars.

If you're heading to Glasgow, we've got rooms for as little as £11 per night and flights from London from £44 return.

Have you been to Glasgow? What do you think of it? Would you visit in the hope of a glimpse of Brad Pitt? Share your thoughts below.

'Have a beer' during the Olympics

posted by Luke Turner

One of the novel ideas being suggested by Transport for London bosses to avoid public transport chaos during the 2012 Olympics is, for once, something that most of us might welcome.

As well as recommendations such as working from home, cycling to the office, or the rather apocalyptic advice to stock up on tinned and non-perishable goods, TfL boss Peter Hendy suggested that workers "have a beer" before heading home in the evening.

At a press conference at City Hall, Mr Hendy had warned that commuters could face delays of up to an hour as many as three million extra people try to take trains, tube and buses to and from the various Olympic venues.

"On one or two of the days [London Bridge station] will be very, very crowded and the best thing to do if you happen to be here on the day of the equestrian event in Greenwich is to have a beer before you go home because you won't be able to get into the station before then," Mr Hendy said.

TfL also admitted that special road lanes devoted to athletes and dignitaries would cause disruption for many of the rest of us.

As well as suggesting booze-ups, TfL is preparing for the Games by readying hot spot maps to help travellers avoid the worst of the disruption, as well as advising businesses on how to prepare for delays to deliveries or employees' travel plans.

"We are on track to get all athletes, officials and spectators to their events on time and to keep London running," said Mr Hendy.

If you’re in London, what are you planning to do to avoid the worst of the chaos? Will you even leave the capital all together for the duration of the Games? Let us know below.

Cheap hotels in 2012?

posted by Sophie Morris

As winter heaves its cold and blustery shadow into view, what can we look forward to? Next summer’s holiday of course!

The dilemma of 2012 will be similar to that of previous years – do we risk a staycation, or splash out on a foreign trip?

The government hopes we will go for the former, and Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has revealed that talks are in progress with hotel owners to secure a 20.12% discount for Brits, to encourage us to stay at home during the Olympics.

"We want to use next year to transform our domestic tourism industry," he told last week’s Conservative Party conference.

"We want next year to be the year to have a holiday at home and we are talking to hotels up and down the country about offering discounts for next year for people who holiday at home - discounts of, wait for it, 20.12%."

This is a fair discount and certainly a reason to stay home for. However it is unclear whether the hotels will sign up. The chief executive of the Bed & Breakfast Association, which has 30,000 members, says he has not even been contacted about the idea.

"It all sounds like a gimmick to me," said David Weston.

You might want to take your chances before the Olympic rush and book a hotel here first.

Will you risk another rainy staycation? Do you think hotels are too expensive? Are you planning to escape the UK during the Olympics? Share your thoughts below

Clouds and churches show us the way

posted by Sophie Morris

Of the many aspects of “the way we live now” that Steve Jobs has influenced somehow, travel is certainly up there.

The Apple co-founder, who died this week, gave us portable, user-friendly technology in the form of iPhones and iPads, which can help us plan journeys and book tickets, make last minute changes to itineraries thanks to various apps and, perhaps their most regular use, navigate towards a given destination.

But we have become so reliant on technology for navigating – if it’s not a smartphone then it’s a satnav – that few of us are any good at finding the way from A to B without help.

I doubt there are many of you who haven’t, at some point in time, found yourselves at a major junction and not quite known whether left or right is east or west, and that if you do go off in the wrong direction, you’ll be stuck on a traffic-packed ring road for the foreseeable.

A common sense way round this is to engage in “natural navigation”, which means working out which way to go without relying on instruments, technological or otherwise. Basically, you use certain signpoints to retain some idea of direction throughout your journey.

Sue Perkins, Alison Steadman and Stephen Mangan are trying natual navigation in the new BBC TV series All Roads Lead Home.

One example is satellite dishes, which nearly always point southeast. Then there are religious buildings: churches run west to east, with the entrance on the west and the main altar at the easterly end.

On buildings, look for signs of weathering, caused by prevailing winds which, most often, in the UK, come from the southwest. Likewise, look at the direction the top of a tree has been pushed towards.

If you are looking for a bus stop or rail station, follow the crowd at office closing time. You want the park? Follow the same crowd at lunchtime.

Roads into and out of a city are also aligned. Or you could use the clouds to keep hold of your sense of direction if you are already on the right track.

These methods might take a few tries to get used to, but in one respect they always trump technology – their battery life is endless!

Have you heard of these methods of natural navigation? Are there others you can share with us? Tell us your thoughts below

Revealed: Britain's best foodie hotspots

posted by Sophie Morris

Britain is often criticised for its poor food – unfairly I think you’ll agree. Now a TripAdisor poll proves that we’ve shaken off the boiled meat 'n' two veg reputation of past decades and developed into a major player on the European food map.

Although Britain didn’t take the number one spot, which was won by Florence in Italy, we did bag two mentions: York, in at number five, and Edinburgh, sneaking onto the winners’ board at number ten.

London missed out, but the UK got double the hits of France, where only Paris was recommended, at number two.

For years we’ve struggled to attract tourists on the basis of food and weather, despite all the British Isles’ many other charms, but we’re now well on our way to sorting out the food issue. Fixing the weather might be somewhat trickier!

"These awards recognise Europe’s best food and wine destinations according to millions of TripAdvisor travellers," said Emma Shaw, spokesperson for the travel website.

"With tough competition from destinations renowned for their culinary expertise, the UK should be proud to claim two top 10 spots, with York now well and truly establishing its place on Europe’s gastro tourism map."

Can’t argue with that. Or perhaps you do – if you regularly visit somewhere for its fabulous food and drink, do let us know so we can drop in next time we’re in the area.

Do you think York and Edinburgh have great food? Where else would you recommend? Let us know your thoughts.

Stately breaks

posted by Sophie Morris

If your list of travel “must-sees” features far-flung mountains and exotic ruins, which will break the budget this year, you’ll be pleased to hear that many of Britain’s best treasures have made Lonely Planet’s list of the world’s top 1,000 sights.

The Tower of London, the Angel of the North and Edinburgh Castle have all made the grade, as have Stonehenge, Castle Howard, Cornwall’s Tintagel Castle and Canterbury Cathedral.

Even Baker Street in London, home to Sherlock Holmes, has been chosen as one of the top literary attractions.

But one landmark stands out from the crowd. It is Highclere Castle, which has become popular thanks to ITV’s blockbuster drama Downton Abbey.

The second series of the period drama, which stars Maggie Smith among other well-known British acting faces, has reinvigorated our interest in British stately homes.

The programme attracted 11 million viewers in its first series, making it the most watched period drama since Brideshead Revisited.

Over just 12 hours following the beginning of the second series, lastminute.com reported a surge of 31% in searches for weekend getaways in period properties.

“Downton Abbey has taken the country by storm and it comes as no surprise that people are looking to recreate their own period drama experiences,” said Eva Bojitos from lastminute.com.

Escaping to a fabulous stately home will certainly help us forget humdrum daily life for the duration of the break. But let’s hope it doesn’t give us all delusions of Downton Abbey-style grandeur! 

Would you fancy staying in a stately home? Are you watching Downton Abbey? Share your thoughts below

The great late getaway

posted by Luke Turner

Britain could be basking in record-breaking temperatures this week as Atlantic weather systems look likely to delay the arrival of autumn.

After a fairly drizzly July and August, forecasters say the Indian summer could see Britain enjoying temperatures more frequently found in Mediterranean resorts at this time of year.

If the good weather does last, thousands of us can be expected to take to the roads for an unexpected late dash to the beach.

It’ll also be a great late boost for the local economies of many of our resorts, which usually start to wind down at this time of year.

Stephen Keates from the Met Office said temperatures of up to 82.4F (28C) couldn’t be ruled out.

He said: "The high pressure area over the continent is moving closer to us, and with low pressure over the Atlantic, that brings us south-easterly winds and air which can be traced back to south-eastern Europe, around Greece and Turkey.

"They are warm winds and also dry - as they have travelled over land to get here - so they will bring plenty of sunshine, causing the high temperatures."

If you are planning a trip to make the most of the sunshine, remember Orange Maps can help you plan your route and you can also use Traffic TV to beat the jams. And don't forget to check out the weather forecast for your area.

What your plans for this weekend if the warm weather lasts? Have you been disappointed by the summer of 2011? Let us know below

Cost of London travel soars again

posted by Luke Turner

Despite the continuing squeeze on our wallets and London being one of the most expensive cities on the planet, commuters and tourists are to be hit by a whopping seven per cent fare increase.

A bus journey will rise by 10p to £1.40 when using an Oyster card, an increase of 50p since London Mayor Boris Johnson came to power in 2008.

An annual zone 1-6 travel card, already over the £2,000 barrier, will rise to £2,176.

Mayor Johnson defended the fare increases, saying that officials had taken the difficult economic situation into account when setting them, saying: “I understand that any increase in tough times is difficult.

“This is a package that has sought to balance the needs of today's passengers whilst ensuring we continue apace with plans to overhaul London's transport system in the face of unprecedented demand. Income from fares is vital to ensure the on-going health of London's transport network, keeping services running for the billions of passengers who rely on them day in, day out.”

Nevertheless, despite investment in long-neglected Tube infrastructure, these increases go down with a bitter taste when you consider that drivers are being paid bonuses to work during the 2012 Olympics in the hope that this might adverse any industrial action that would cause widespread disruption during the Games.

And that’s not to mention a recent 20% increase in delays on the Tube over the last two years, despite the massive investment in the Underground’s infrastructure.

Given that fare increases on public transport networks across the UK mean that it’s not only London residents who are suffering, how much more will we be willing to take?

Hurricane hits UK

posted By Sophie Morris

It’s one thing to grumble about the autumn chill, quite another to brace ourselves for the arrival of a hurricane – forecasters are warning Brits to hold onto their hats as Hurricane Katia heads across the Atlantic.

Central and southern Scotland, Northern Ireland and part of the North have all been warned to expect incredibly strong winds today, of up to 80mph.

The coast of North Wales was hit early this morning with a 73mph gust, and forecasters say that worse is on its way.

Those in the south are unlikely to escape the bad weather, with heavy rain and marginally lighter winds of around 50mph expected.

Anyone planning a car journey should expect disruption and delays. In Scotland, it is possible that the Forth and Tay bridges might even be closed.

In addition, driving could be dangerous because of falling branches or unsecured items such as garden furniture or traffic cones finding their way onto roads.

Wherever you are driving to today, allow extra time and check the route before you leave.

Have the winds increased where you are? Will you delay your journey to be safe? Share your thoughts below.

How to cut school run congestion

posted by Luke Turner

With pupils returning to schools after the summer break this week, we can expect jams across the country during the peak school run times of morning and mid afternoon.

But a pioneering project in Wales could see thousands of unnecessary journeys cut every day.

The Welsh Government and the charity Sustrans Cymru are investing £4m into the scheme to give 63,000 households in Cardiff and Penarth personalised travel planning advice, with the intention of reducing car dependency on journeys to school or work.

The project, which has been launched to coincide with the start of the school year, aims to encourage people to use public transport, or to walk, instead of automatically getting in their cars. 

"Many pupils are driven from their front doors to the school gates yet the average journey to school for primary aged pupils is just 1.6 miles (2.5km),” said Sustrans director Lee Waters.

"Given the right information about alternative ways to travel, more people could leave their cars at home. We'll work with people at school, work and home, helping them to make changes to their daily travel choices when and where it suits them. If each family replaced one car journey a week with a more sustainable alternative it can make a big difference."

If the scheme is successful, it could be opened up to further areas across Wales. Other similar schemes have seen car use decrease by as much as ten per cent.

Combined with the increasing efficiency of online journey planners and live travel information, the Welsh scheme sounds like a model that could work well for us all. Would you welcome journey planning advice from the local council or government? Or is this just the nanny state telling us what to do?

One quarter of ticket offices face the axe

posted by Sophie Morris

Train ticketing prices are so complex that even if there’s a sizeable queue it is better to wait to speak to someone in the ticket office than try your luck at a machine.

Yet one in four of all Britain’s ticket offices are facing closure, with a possible loss of up to 1,000 jobs.

This means that more of the paying public, who already face hefty fare increases, will have to buy tickets at the vending machines.

Let’s be honest: these vending machines are often very welcome. If you know the journey you want to make and have an idea of the fare, they are far preferable to waiting in a long queue to talk to a member of staff.

But according to consumer watchdog Passenger Focus, many train users welcome the opportunity to talk to a human being to buy their ticket.

“Ticket vending machines offer at best a second-rate service,” says David Sidebottom.

“Not all machines sell the full range of tickets to all destinations, or any tickets at all to some destinations.

“The closure of ticket offices will make passengers feel less safe and put them off travelling by train.”

Ultimately, the decision lies with the train operators. Apart from the potential job losses, reducing the number of ticket offices would mean that many small stations in rural areas would be left without one at all.

Small stations might not produce much revenue, but they are vital in connecting communities. If the networks believe these stations don’t need ticket offices, the next step could be to close them down altogether.

Do you prefer to buy a ticket from a machine or a person? Do you find ticket prices confusing? Share your thoughts below

Beat the queues with GoCommute

posted by Simon Ashberry

Now you can get ahead of the queues with GoCommute, the new travel app for Android phones.

Combining road, rail and air data from leading suppliers, GoCommute from mxData focuses travel alerts into a handy mobile package.

You can set up your regular commutes and start saving time and money now.

GoCommute removes the hassle of journey planning, allowing you to simply specify your journey endpoints from your contacts, map, postcode and local search. It will then register your trip with our servers and deliver timely alerts ahead of and during your journey.

An in-car mode allows you to quickly check road conditions whilst your phone is in its cradle. Train and flight information can be seamlessly integrated into your trip, allowing you to check departures, arrivals and train progress.

Key features include:

* Car mode
* Map-driven search
* Multi-modal trip creation, incorporating road, rail and air
* Images from traffic cameras along your route
* Trip Wizard to help the first time user through the powerful functions of GoCommute
* In-app help
* Spacemarks to return to your favourite location

To find out more about GoCommute and to download it to your Android phone, Orange mobile customers can text COMMUTE to 247 for free.

Can new website fix transport problems?

posted by Luke Turner

Who are the experts on whether public transport is working properly or not? Is it the bus or train operators? The regulators? The consumer groups?

No, it's probably the people who are stuck at a red signal for what feels like an eternity, diverted due to accident, or suffering standing room only in the buffet car hell - namely, you and I.

A new website has just been launched that will use the resource of the British public to alert travellers of problems or delays on trains and buses across the United Kingdom.

FixMyTransport.com - which has the tag line "Euston, We Have A Problem" - allows registered users to submit details of transport issues.

For example, problems reported at the time of writing run from potholes in Leighton Buzzard station car park to a southbound bus lane suspended in Purley Cross.

Travel operators have welcomed the site, which was developed by Louise Crow over a period of 18 months, and is funded by non-profit organisation MySociety, which aims to give the public better information about local issues and services.

Myfanwy Nixon, of MySociety, said: "FixMyTransport offers a powerful toolbox to help them spread the word and lobby for changes."

Would you use a crowdsourcing site like FixMyTransport to plan your journey? Would you worry that you can't trust information sent in by the public? Or is it going to be more accurate than what the transport operators tell us?

Early autumn forces driving warning

Posted by Sophie Morris

Those of us hoping for an Indian summer are to be disappointed – weather forecasters are now announcing the onset of an early autumn, which no doubt many of you will have experienced over the past few days.

This wet, windy and cold weather has already disrupted bank holiday traffic. Monday was one of the busiest days on the road for the entire year, as anyone and everyone who had escaped home to enjoy the last long weekend struggled to travel through fog, mist and rain on Britain's overcrowded motorways.

Around 16 million vehicles were on the roads across the weekend – 60% more than on a normal Saturday to Monday stretch – as one in five British adults returned to their desks to slog it out until they can take some precious annual leave.

Although we won't see travel periods as this until Christmas, it is a timely wake up call about the extra care we should take on the roads throughout autumn and winter. Drivers are being encouraged to check their cars before taking any long journeys, as the roads are more perilous than usual when the conditions are wet and visibility limited.

The lucky few who did not have to be back at work on Tuesday morning were urged to wait until the traffic had eased before travelling.

This is a something to think about for all your car journeys in the coming months – if at all possible, try and avoid travelling at peak times.

Did you get stuck in the bank holiday traffic? How were the weather conditions where you were? Let us know your thoughts.

Bank holiday train misery warning

Posted by Sophie Morris

Is the sun shining where you are? We’re gearing up to the last bank holiday of the summer, so it’s important to make the most of this final long weekend before the days start to get shorter and the weather turns cold.

But what's this? Our miserable train networks are doing their damnedest to ruin travel plans by rolling out delays and disruptions across the country. As if soaring fares and regular late arrivals weren't enough, now the head honchos at train HQ want to ruin our lovely bank holiday weekend too.

The proposed delays will affect over five million train passengers, as 18 out of 25 train operators cut or reduce their services this weekend.

3,428 replacement buses have been organised to take passengers to their destinations, but we all know how slow a replacement bus can be. If we wanted to take the slow coach, we wouldn't book a train ticket in the first place!

Holidaymakers returning from abroad will also be hit, as there will be no trains between Luton airport and London St Pancras for most of Sunday.

The journey time between London Euston and Glasgow will be a staggering seven hours and 54 minutes, and there will be no service at all between Wigan and Crewe and Manchester Piccadilly and Chester.

In response, Network Rail claims that 95% of trains will be running as normal, and that there will be 1700 more trains in service than at the same time last year.

This is cold comfort if the service you need to take will be affected – do double check before you set off. There's only one thing worse than spending a bank holiday in a queue on the motorway, and that's spending a bank holiday in a queue on the motorway while sat on a rail replacement bus.

Do you plan to travel by rail this weekend? Will you change your plans now? Share your thoughts below.