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

Thursday, 19 May 2022

BBC News

• ScotRail cuts 700 daily services in driver pay rowThe operator apologised for cutting a third of trains and blamed an ongoing shortage of drivers.
• Tube strike: Jubilee weekend walkout at two stationsTfL says it expects Euston and Green Park will both remain open in spite of the action on 3 June.

Department for Transport

• UK government leads global transport transformation as it takes over ITF presidency in GermanyGrant Shapps, Transport Secretary, is assuming presidency of the International Transport Forum and will lay out 5 priorities for the UK’s tenure.

Financial Times

• Shipping group CMA CGM to take Air France-KLM stake under cargo tie-upContainer company seeks to expand its reach after business soared during pandemic

The Herald

• From ferry fiasco to train 'chaos' as newly nationalised ScotRail slashes services by a thirdNEWLY-NATIONALISED ScotRail has confirmed it will slash services by nearly a third from next week - just three days after providing a half price offer in a bid to get passengers back on trains.

Times Online

• Berliners divided on plan for car-free zone bigger than Manhattan [subscription]A campaign to pedestrianise the German capital is a sign of the times in a country historically full of car lovers, Oliver Moody reports
• LTNs: Quieter streets cause noisy row [subscription]Low-traffic neighbourhoods spread fast during the pandemic. They are intended to reduce air pollution and make roads safer — so why have so many residents turned against them, asks Ben Webster
• Tesla’s charging network opens to all electric cars [subscription]Tesla will open its vast network of superchargers to other makes of electric cars in a landmark move expected to increase the uptake of plug-in vehicles but prove unpopular with the brand’s customers.
• Tube strike planned for Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend [subscription]London Underground workers are ready to strike on the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend over claims of a “toxic working environment” at two stations.

The Scotsman

• ScotRail service cuts: Drivers in pay dispute should beware biting the hand that feeds them – Scotsman commentOn April 1, when the Scottish Government took ScotRail into public ownership, Aslef union organiser Kevin Lindsay hailed it as a “momentous day” saying the train company was back in its “rightful place”.

The Telegraph

• Introduce 'rail miles' and scrap peak tickets to entice passengers back to trains, says think tank [subscription]Train operators should scrap peak tickets and introduce “rail mile” loyalty schemes similar to airlines to save Britain’s struggling rail industry, an influential think tank has warned.

The National

• ScotRail cuts a third of services amid driver shortage - see if your train is affectedSCOTRAIL is to slash 700 weekday services as it struggles with a driver shortage, it has emerged. The recently nationalised rail service is indefinitely cutting the services – accounting for about a third of trains from Monday-Friday.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bradford's Clean Air Zone: Hidden impact of pollution on children's healthA leading professor has warned the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is the only way to dramatically stop Bradford’s children breathing in toxic and illegal levels of air pollution.
• £2.8m awarded to active travel measures in BradfordA £2.8 MILLION pot of cash awarded to Bradford by the Government to boost cycling and walking will help improve a key city centre street and canal towpaths.
• Train operator accused of 'finger-pointing' after attributing delays to 'late-running freight train'A passenger train operator has been accused of

Bristol Live

• Aerospace company to develop 'first British-crewed military jet since 1970s' at Aztec WestAERALIS has a contract with Britain's Royal Air Force to develop its aircraft as a potential successor to the world's most successful military aircraft trainer - the BAE Systems Hawk

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Bilingual road sign in Flintshire tells drivers to go one way in Welsh and another way in EnglishThe sign is set be removed by the council

Manchester Evening News

• Government finally gives its reasons why Manchester can't have underground HS2 station - unlike LondonThe government wants to build an overground station - which region's leaders say would create a 'concrete jungle'

Northern Echo

• New Transpennine Express Saltburn to Manchester Airport serviceRAIL passengers in the North East can now benefit from a new rail link between Saltburn and Manchester Airport, providing direct travel to cities across the north. 

Cambridge News

• New March railway station reopens after £1M renovationThe station now has a bigger car park, retail outlets and an open-plan ticket hall

Other Regional Press

• Edinburgh trains: 'Savage' Scotrail cuts 'will leave the Capital cut off from Fife and Glasgow from as early as 8pmEdinburgh will be left cut off from major towns and cities thanks to ScotRail’s “savage” cuts to daily train services, an MSP has said.
• Extra direct trains between North Wales and London added ADDITIONAL direct train services between North Wales and London started this week.Direct services from the region to the UK capital have been impacted by two years of the pandemic.
• Plan to bring historic cycle route created in the 1930s in Leicester up to modern standardsA Leicester cycle lane built away from the road built to keep cyclist safe at a time when the use of cars was increasing is to be brought up to modern standards. Leicester City Council has announced plans to improve walking and cycling routes in two parts of the city after a successful bid for Government funding.

New Civil Engineer

• Calls for government to withdraw support for airport expansionsA group of NGOs has written to aviation minister Robert Courts calling on the government to withdraw its policy support for airport expansion.
• Amey urges Great British Railways to digitise railway design and deliveryAmey has warned Network Rail and its successor Great British Railways (GBR) that it will “struggle to keep the railways running” unless there is a step change towards utilising digital twins in the way projects are designed and delivered.

Transportxtra

• Queen’s Speech promises Transport Bill to set up Great British RailwaysA Transport Bill in the new Parliamentary session will implement plans for the new Great British Railways (GBR) organisation and make other changes to allow transport micro and e-mobility innovation. 

Other News Sources

• Fears rise Shields Ferry could shut by 2025 if fresh funding cannot be found for new landingThe Shields Ferry could be forced to shut down by 2025 unless vital new cash can be found to build a new landing, bosses have warned.
• Andy Burnham to ask for ‘rail station devolution’ in trailblazer dealAndy Burnham (Lab), the mayor of Greater Manchester, has called on the government to devolve control of the UK’s railway stations to local leaders in order to drive growth and investment in their respective areas.
• DfT chief claims Leeds leg of HS2 “never fully written off”The Department for Transport's permanent secretary says the government is "utterly committed" to running the high-speed line to the northern city.
• Network Rail to complete signalling overhaul in ManchesterNetwork Rail will modernise journeys into Manchester with a signalling overhaul during the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday.
• Over 5,000 call for fairer funding as drivers batter Surrey roads for Heathrow and Gatwick AirportsCampaigner argues council has some of country's busiest roads
• Could E-scooters be part of Leicester's next big green transport initiative?'E-scooters ... have the potential to play a positive role in meeting future travel needs – especially in cities'
• Contractor now appointed to deliver major A4119 transport schemeRCT Council has now appointed a contractor to deliver the A4119 dualling scheme from Coed Ely to Ynysmaerdy – and can confirm that the main construction phase is on course to start on site in late summer 2022.