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

Monday, 13 May 2019

BBC News

• Arriva sues government over East Midlands franchiseThe train operator joins rival Stagecoach in taking legal action over the government's decision.

The Guardian

• Arriva takes UK to court over East Midlands rail franchiseClaim by state-owned German operator pits two governments against each other. Chris Grayling’s embattled transport ministry faces a second legal challenge over the way the East Midlands rail franchise was awarded, from Arriva Rail, owned by Germany’s state-backed Deutsche Bahn.

Times Online

• It is vital to reach net zero emissions but not by pursuing a 2025 deadline [subscription]am a member of the committee on climate change whose recent report recommended that the UK should aim for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. I’ve been gratified by the generally positive response, but also rather concerned. It’s easier to appear supportive, even argue for more ambition than to engage with the issues. Aiming to get to net zero is the right thing to do but will not be easy.
• The Times view on the fight against air pollution: Electric Shock [subscription]Britain lags far behind other European countries in sales of the greenest cars
• Arriva sues in fight for East Midlands rail franchise [subscription]Arriva has become the second train operator in a week to launch legal action against the government over its handling of a rail contract.
• Berliners wonder why, 70 years after great airlift, new airport is a shambles [subscription]There is a pleasing regularity to the rites of the Berlin spring. At the start of April the city gorges on the first harvest of white asparagus. On May Day left-wing revolutionaries gather in the streets to torch cars and heave paving stones at the police in the name of solidarity. And then, as the prospect of hazy summer days begins to loom, Berliners discover the latest slapstick reason why their long-delayed international airport cannot open.
• Electric car sales stall after cut to green grants [subscription]Drivers in European countries bought twice as many electric cars as their British counterparts last year as the government significantly reduced grants for green vehicles.

Mail Online

• First leg of £56bn HS2 would be 'very difficult' to abandon because of the amount of resources already invested in it, claims spending watchdogThe HS2 high-speed rail project would be ’very difficult’ to scrap before it reaches Birmingham, the head of the spending watchdog has claimed.

Sheffield Star

• Public spending watchdog says cash ’sunk’ into HS2 would make it ’very difficult’ to scrap project The volume of cash ’sunk’ into the high-speed HS2 rail project so far would make scrapping it in its entirety ’very difficult,’ the head of the public spending watchdog has suggested

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• New bus service to be launched in Stafford this weekD&G Bus will introduce the bus service between Stafford, Weston, Uttoxeter, Rocester, Denstone, Alton and Alton Towers Resort on Saturday. The new service – X41 – will operate daily, when Alton Towers Resort’s Theme Park is open to the public and is designed to connect with national rail services, at Stafford (0925) and Uttoxeter (1005).

Bucks Free Press

• Chiltern Railways makes plans for new carriages to cut overcrowdingThe rail company which runs services from Bucks to London is trying to bring in new carriages to reduce problems with overcrowding.

Other Regional Press

• Partnership just the ticket for bus passengersTwo of Yorkshire’s biggest bus operators have announcing a new partnership to offer smooth and easy travel from East Yorkshire to Leeds and York, and on York City Sightseeing services
• Warrington MP raises residents HS2 concerns in parliamentary debateWARRINGTON North MP Helen Jones has raised residents’ concerns over High Speed 2 in a parliamentary debate.

Rail Advent

• TransPennine Express committed to increase reliabilityAs part of the upcoming timetable change, TransPennine Express (TPE) say that they are continuing to focus on enhancing the reliability of services for customers.

The Business Desk

• Second rail operator to sue government over East Midlands franchiseRail company Arriva has joined Stagecoach in launching legal action against the government after it failed in its bid to land the East Midlands rail franchise.

Other News Sources

• What it's like living in a Heathrow ghost townA resident who has seen half the village where she lives sold to Heathrow Airport, has warned others not to accept early offers to buy their homes because it will “decimate” their community.