Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Tuesday, 05 December 2023

BBC News

• Condor Ferries to increase freight chargesAn increase in freight charges of 10% above inflation has been announced in Guernsey by Condor Ferries.
• End of the road for cars on Kalemouth Suspension BridgeA report says it is not
• Ryanair denies passengers must pay to download boarding passIt says reports of passengers having to pay for a seat before they can download a boarding pass are false.
• Tesla whistleblower casts doubt on car safetyA former Tesla worker turned whistleblower has spoken to the BBC's technology editor Zoe Kleinman.

Financial Times

• Airbus might need state backing to replace A320, chief saysGuillaume Faury comments could test 2021 agreement that resolved long trade dispute between Europe and US

Times Online

• Train fare warning as southeast loses super off-peak tickets. [subscription]New evening peak times will catch people out, says watchdog
• ‘Scandalous’ Ryanair change will impact millions of passengers. [subscription]Only travellers who pay for a reserved seat can download a mobile boarding pass or print one at home, it is claimed
• Climate talks are all wrong, says Exxon chief. [subscription]The boss of ExxonMobil has complained that international climate change talks have focused too much on renewable power instead of technologies such as carbon capture that the American oil major is “good at”.

Network Rail

• Network Rail unveils Cardiff South Central masterplanNetwork Rail has started work on masterplanning over 10-acres of railway land at Cardiff Central Station for a major mixed-use residential scheme.
• £3.9bn confirmed for next phase of Transpennine Route UpgradeNew ground has been broken today on the Transpennine Route Upgrade, as the Minister for Rail announced a £3.9bn funding boost to the North’s most transformative rail project.

Birmingham Post

• Tender launches for HS2 people moverHunt is on for a contractor to carry out enabling works on new automated transit system to connect high-speed rail line with NEC and airport

Bolton News

• Ryanair under fire for digital boarding pass add-on chargeRyanair already charge for add-ons such as checked baggage but now are reportedly charging people to receive a digital boarding pass

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• How Bradford taxi drivers can get grant money for electric carsTaxi drivers can get up to £10,000 in funding for fully electric licenced taxi vehicles or hackney carriages - thanks to a new Clean Air Zone grant.
• Bus campaigner warns of the 'real cost of franchising buses'AS Bradford’s bus users sit in long traffic queues as a result of the city centre road works do they wonder if everything would be better with London or Greater Manchester style bus franchising?

The York Press

• Network Rail withdraws Copmanthorpe bridge applicationYork community and accessibility campaigners are celebrating as a national transport body has withdrawn a long-planned application.

Wales Online

• Rail passengers left at stations due to lack of carriagesCancellations and short notice changes led to large numbers of rail passengers not being able to get on rush hour services on Monday morning (December 4). There were reports of up to 40 passengers being left at stations including Treforest, Taffs Well and Llandaf after the 7.21am train from Aberdare was cancelled.

Yorkshire Post

• Passengers in the North promised faster journeys as £3.9bn is announced for major rail upgradeRail Minister Huw Merriman has announced £3.9bn for the long-awaited upgrade of a busy railway line which runs between York and Manchester.

Other Regional Press

• New ferry service to trial Jersey-Guernsey route next yearA NEW foot-passenger ferry service connecting Jersey and Guernsey is scheduled to launch in spring next year.
• Trains running across the huge Barmouth viaduct once againTrains are running once again across the spectacular Barmouth viaduct over the Mawddach estuary.
• Kirkcaldy MSP accuses Fife Council of 'environmental vandalism' after station cherry trees are removedFife Council has been accused of “environmental vandalism” by Kirkcaldy’s MSP after a row of cherry trees at the town’s train station have been removed and replaced with asphalt.
• Oxford bus route frequency updated to meet increased demandChanges are being made to Oxford's bus routes after a rise in passenger numbers.
• Kirklees Tories call for council re-think on parking fee hikeThe decision has been "called in" for further examination
• E-bike ban in Coventry city centre to be strictly enforced as crackdown announcedPart of Coventry city centre will be subject to a renewed order for public safety

New Civil Engineer

• Network Rail completes Levenmouth bridge replacement ahead of timeNetwork Rail has completed a bridge replacement project in Fife, as part of the Levenmouth line restoration, earlier than originally planned.

Rail Advent

• DB Cargo to upgrade Class 66s to withdraw Class 60 locomotivesDB Cargo has announced it is to eliminate the use of its Class 60 locomotives by re-gearing ten of its Class 66 locomotives to provide an enhanced tractive effort.
• Staffordshire railway tells Pacer train group to find new homeThe Foxfield Railway has requested that The 142055 Group needs to find an alternative site to base Ex-Northern Class 142 No. 142055.

The Business Desk

• Mayors form private sector group to improve rail connectivityMayors Andy Street and Andy Burnham are teaming up to improve rail connections between the West Midlands and Greater Manchester.
• Logistics business to become new operator of major rail freight terminalThe UK subsidiary of MEDLOG SA, part of the MSC Group of companies, has agreed terms with pan-European logistics specialist Verdion to operate its iPort Rail multimodal freight terminal at iPort in Doncaster.

Other News Sources

• Vote opens on what to name new Scottish ferriesTHE public vote has opened to help name two new ferries that will serve the Western Isles.
• Could Franchising be the Answer to North Yorkshire's Bus Problems?The Conservative Party candidate to be the first Mayor of York and North Yorkshire is prepared to use franchising to improve local bus services.
• Millions face increase in rail tickets as five operators abolish super off-peak ticketsMillions of rail passengers face an increase in ticket prices as five operators abolish super off-peak tickets.
• Network Rail unveils Cardiff redevelopment masterplanNetwork Rail has unveiled its Cardiff Central Station redevelopment masterplan to convert over 10-acres of railway land into new mixed-use residential space.
• The reason London Underground crime is up 56% as Sadiq Khan says he's ‘not complacent'There's been a huge increase in theft and robberies
• Alstom selected to renew Portuguese regional fleetsPORTUGAL: CP has named a consortium of Alstom and local partner Domingos da Silva Teixeira as preferred bidder for a contract to supply 117 electric multiple-units in what the national operator says is the largest single rolling stock procurement in its history.