Scotland provides 130 new jobs with a new rail line linking Edinburgh and Glasgow
The new tracks on the £330m Airdrie to Bathgate rail linking Edinburgh and Glasgow will create almost 130 new jobs. The track which is due to open in December will offer jobs like drivers, ticket examiners and station staff for Scots and is the same as the one which had operated in Scotland for 25 years
Though there was a dispute between the RMT rail union and the First ScotRail in the recent months on the fact that it may jeopardize the safety of the passengers, it is all settled now. The union had also said that it will urge the minister to ensure a guard on every service of the new link.
Designed in order to complete the ‘missing link’ between the communities in Glasgow and Edinburgh, the company declares that it is safe and is same as that which has operated in Scotland for 25 years.
The use of public transport will be beneficial with the new rail Airdrie-Bathgate. It also seems that this new form of employment will profit the economy as a whole.
Adventure Sea Fareres rush to Oban!
Sea fareres can adventure on Oban waters by taking a boat trip. Oban a town in Scotland, has beautiful scenery that can be enjoyed on a trip in boat. You can spot all sorts of birds, sea mammals and wildlife which is otherwise not possible from the land. 
If you take the boat tour in any particular season, you will come across rare species of birds and mammals. There are various tours from Oban, taking visitors on a journey round the Argyll waters, where they have the chance to spot all sorts of wildlife. If you are happen to be around in a place called Easdale, a point 13 miles south of Oban, here the main thrust of the business is to take wildlife tours down to the gulf of Corry reckan, which is home to the world’s third largest whirlpool.
And as most tours are taken place from spring to early winter, visitors get the chance to spot all sorts of different animals through the seasons – as well as the spectacular whirlpools which are created by the tides in the early part of the year.
The whole area of Argyll waters comes under European special area of conservation and this is one of the main reason that the visitors enjoy fresh and good seafood.
Scotland Roads in need of great repair
The worst winter weather and the cash cuts have severely affected the conditions of roads in Scotland this time. Scotland have had the worst winter this year in 30 years. The motoring groups and politicians have warned nearly fifth of carriageways in some areas are in urgent need of repair.
The state of 36 per cent of the routes was classed as either “urgent” or as deteriorating so fast that they will need to be repaired within the next two or three years.
There is another worry spreading as the major public spending cuts will further worsen the massive road repairs backlog, with an extra £45 million a year required just to stop the situation getting worse. Compensation claims from motorists for damage caused by potholes has also soared, putting further pressure on cash-strapped councils.
If the delay in patching up the potholes continues, the maintenance load will only increase and work will become costlier, more complex and more disruptive. Some experts have opinionated that the delay can affect the nation’s prosperity since Scotland’s road network is an essential utility in bringing tourists to the country.
Scotland- Most dangerous part in UK to drive!
Always known to be in the good books, Scotland has now been known for its dangerously bad driving roads. According to charity Road Safety Foundation, Scotland is the most dangerous place to drive in Britain. With a higher proportion of killer roads north of the Border compared to other regions, Scotland was given the highest risk rating followed by north-west England and Yorkshire.
Five roads including a stretch of A86 south of Kingussie, the A97 near Huntly and the A6088 at Hawick due to its possibility for fatal or serious collision that is more than 15 times higher than the lowest risk roads have been Branded “high risk” for Scots. The reports that covered 28,000 miles detailed that almost one-third of all accidents and crashes occurred in Scotland junctions and it has highest risk highways.
Dr, Joanne Hill, the Road Safety Foundation director wants the council to spend more on the safety on most dangerous stretches of roads than paying for emergency services and hospitals. She had also said that when the road budget was getting tighter they need to give more emphasis on saving lives with less amounts- low cost, high-return counter measures.
Single carriageways were found to be six times more risky to motorists than motorways and also drivers were found seven times riskier on major roads than minor ones. A 5% reduction in the number of fatal accidents has been seen in the recent years.
- Improved road- A40 between Llandovery and Carmarthen
- Safest region- West Midlands
The Cat and Fiddle, A537, has met with fatal and serious collisions which rose from 15 within three years, 2005 and 34 between 2006 and 2008. Most crashes were seen to be happening during the summer in dry and daylight conditions.
Parking fine goes up
Parking fines are said to be dearer from now on to keep a check to the offenders and boost the revenue for the government. This rise is slated in order to reduce the illegal parking of vehicles and to meet the cost of staffs. This move might have come as a positive move to keep a check on the illegal parking incidents, but has sparked a fury among the motoring groups.
Opposition even came from the Edinburgh transport leaders and Association of British drivers who termed this rise as outrageous. Reports also suggest that this revised fine on illegal parking would apply across six local authority areas, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Pert & Kinross and South Lanarkshire. It is told that Parking fine revenue in Glasgow has increased one fifth to £5.5 mn which is substantially higher than last year. Edinburgh too showed a rise in the increase in parking fine revenues.
With the hike in the parking fines to £100, it seems the parking system will be the cash cow for the council with better salaries and perks for the staffs. On the contrary the outrageous transport leaders and car owners are left to bear this extra burden of such soaring fines. Now it has to be seen will this increase in parking fines comes up as a smart move by the council or triggers more protest.
News Source : Scotsman
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