I was interested by the story at the end of last month about the decline in road traffic using the Severn Crossing between South Wales and England.

Recently there has been a 20% decline in vehicular traffic on the bridge.

Inevitably, unemployment and fuel costs have been blamed.

However, apparently coach companies are offering round-trip fares between Cardiff and London at less than the cost of the toll for a car to cross the bridge. In June, National Express added two Cardiff - London round trips each day: it now provides 28 departures each way most days, with 36 on Fridays and Saturdays.

The train operator First Great Western has seen major traffic growth - an increase of 8% in three months between Cardiff and Bristol, 16.5% in two years between Severn Tunnel Junction and Avon and London - although only 1.5% in three months between South Wales and London.

Interesting! The story is in the Wales On Line website.

I recently managed by sheer chance to catch one of the new trains acquired to work on London Underground's Victoria Line - and I was impressed.

Externally it is reminiscent of the Central Line trains, with big doors covering much of the external body when open. However, there are also external LED displays with destination and next station information above head height between the doors.

The interior is bright and clean with cheerful blue and green seats in a variety of configurations. I happened to get into the car with multi-functional space for at least two wheelchairs. It can be used for luggage and has tip-up seats which are usable when the space is not needed by wheelchair-bound passengers.

The interior LED display also shows destination and next station information.

Something I noticed when getting out was that the platform had been raised by the point where that car stopped to give easier wheelchair access and egress. Indeed, perversely, I almost tripped because I was expecting a step down!

I was in a hurry, and unable to inspect the train thoroughly, but I liked what I saw.

I liked the new feature on Manchester Airport's web-site, My Airport Guide (and was it coincidence that this has the same acronym as Manchester Airport Group?).

You can specify whether you are arriving, departing, transferring, picking up or dropping off; and you then get directed to other options specific to your choice.

If you are departing, for example, you are asked for your airline and are then told which terminal it uses and how to reach the airport (with a link to a map of the extensive rail network). You are also given information about checking in and lounges, a plan of the terminal and a guide to your destination.

Look at Manchester Airport's web-site

Excellent!