Other fundraising events included West Bromwich runner Dave Heeley, known as Blind Dave, driving a train along the Severn Valley Railway and breakfast show presenter Pete Morgan busking with 1980s singer Jaki Graham.

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"At the point of impact he had already decelerated as much as he could, to around 33 kilometres, but the point is when you're driving a train, you're then working on velocity, " she said, AFP news agency reports.

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Drivers also reported problems on other turns with Red Bull's David Coulthard describing driving conditions as "incredibly difficult...like driving on a train track".

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Nina Walker, of Woburn in suburban Boston, said she had to shovel about 8 inches of snow off her driveway before driving to Boston's South Station to take a train to New York.

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For the first time ever a road train comprising a Volvo XC60, a Volvo V60 and a Volvo S60 plus one truck automatically driving in convoy behind a lead vehicle has operated on a public motorway among other road users.

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But taking a train station-to-station rather than driving a car door-to-door is guaranteed to be slower unless traffic jams are severe.

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Driving your car to a park-and-ride station and taking the train downtown is now cheaper and perhaps faster than the average trip on the congested highway.

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Enthusiasts from all over the world will travel to the island this summer for the chance to drive the restored train - as part of the 'Ultimate Driving Experience' project, which currently has a two-year waiting list.

BBC: Caledonia