HomeAuthorsBen Hurst

Ben Hurst

Ben Hurst

Call to drive out 'cowboy' bus operators

TRANSPORT campaigners today branded some of the bus operators in Birmingham "cowboys" and called for local authorities to take back control. Read

We're fuming over burnt-out bus stop

A BURNT-out, blackened, and cordoned off shelter has stood untouched for four months, making it an appalling advert for bus travel in Birmingham, residents say. Read

Shocking death toll of young drivers

ALMOST 11,000 people were killed or injured in crashes involving young drivers in just 12 months in the West Midlands, shock new figures have revealed. Read

Passengers face Virgin travel ban

WEST Midlands commuters could be banned from using Cross Country inter-city services. Read

Give us back control of our buses - passengers

BIRMINGHAM Mail readers today overwhelmingly called for bus services in the region to be taken back into local authority control. Read

Jump on board, help our ailing planet - and save cash

BIRMINGHAM Mail readers are desperate to use public transport more, our exclusive survey has revealed. Read

Passengers want 'clippies' to return

BRING back the 'clippies' and we'll get back on the buses! Read

Crime and violence on the buses

A SHOCKING level of violence and crime on the region's buses was today exposed by an exclusive Birmingham Mail survey. Read

Delegation to minister armed with Mail

A HIGH-powered delegation is going to London to meet Transport Secretary Doug Alexander in a bid to stem plunging bus passenger numbers - and they are going armed with today's Birmingham Mail survey. Read

Bus firms demand £15m to carry kids

MIDLANDS taxpayers could face a £15 million bombshell this year because bus operators are demanding more cash to carry children, the disabled and pensioners. Read

200 extra speed cameras plan for city

MORE than 200 sites for new speed cameras have been earmarked across the West Midlands. Read

Passenger groups unhappy with replacement trains

THEY have been branded as a "dirty, decrepit disgrace" and transport leaders recently spent £1.3 million on doing them up. Read

Youngsters killed in car crash

TWO teenagers were killed today when their car careered off a Birmingham road and hit a tree. Read

Plan for canals to cut city congestion

IT'S an often repeated statistic that Birmingham has more miles of canal than Venice - now transport leaders want to utilise the extensive network of waterways for moving freight and relieve the strain on the region's creaking roads. Read

Airport pushes on with runway extension bid

BIRMINGHAM International Airport is to press ahead with a full planning application to extend the main runway which would allow jumbo jets to take off. Read

Young thug urinated on bus seat

PASSENGERS were horrified when a young thug openly urinated while travelling on a bus. Read

Rising bus fares equals rising profits

TRAVEL West Midlands is the most profitable bus company in the world but relies heavily on the public purse to drive its profits. Read

Service changes to make New Street even busier

RAIL passenger groups today hit out at plans to make all Cross Country service passengers change at New Street, labelling them "crass". Read

Airport faces huge bill for extra policing

BIRMINGHAM Airport is facing a massive bill from police who have had to drastically increase security to tackle the terror threat. Read

More roadworks ahead for city centre motorists

BIRMINGHAM motorists were today hit by another roadworks hammer blow. Read

Author Profile

News Editor Ben Hurst joined the Birmingham Mail in 2000 from the Gloucestershire Echo. Current Midlands News Reporter of the Year, Ben writes the technology blog for the Birmingham Mail.

Get involved

We want your local stories, videos & pics.