Trams boss says budget going off track is “great success”

By Michael MacLeod

EDINBURGH’S tram scheme boss believes going £33million over budget would be “a great success.”

Richard Jeffrey says the massive project is likely to cost £545million instead of the original £512million budget.

But rather than going off the rails, he says he would be “pleased” if his team hit the newly raised budget bar.

Shirley Anne Somerville MSP slammed his remarks as “simply not good enough.”

Speaking in a weekend interview, Jeffrey – the recently appointed chief executive of Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (TIE) – conceded that the project was “not going smoothly.”

But he refuted claims the final bill could be £1billion.

Scottish company use LEDs to fix potholes

 

By Cara Sulieman

The Infrared technology in action

A SCOTS company has harnessed infra-red technology to fix potholes without the usual noise and disruption of traditional road-works.

And they have now been given a six month contract from Fife Council to repair the roads in the Kingdom quicker and greener than other methods.

But it’s not the first successful contract for Nu-Phalt, who now supply their unique machines to countries around the world including America, India and Hungary.

The technology is a world first and uses LEDs to heat up the pothole before adding fresh tarmac to the mix.

New stats show Scots are ditching cars for trains

By Oliver Farrimond

NEW evidence has shown that Scots are starting to ditch their cars in favour of train travel.

Statistics released by the Scottish office for National Statistics yesterday has shown a dramatic fall in new car registrations, as well as a drop in numbers travelling to work by car.

In total, the number of new vehicles registered in 2008 fell by 14 per cent to 215,000 – a drop of more than 30,000.

In contrast, the number of ScotRail passengers increased by three per cent, which the group have credited to an “improved performance” and the opening of several new stations.

The data also reveals that Scots roads are safer than ever.

Some 271 people were killed on Scottish roads this year, the lowest figure for more than 50 years.