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

Monday, 23 December 2019

BBC News

• Drink driving: More than 550 have road ban reducedThe punishment for driving under the influence of alcohol is usually a minimum 12-month ban.

Financial Times

• Heathrow shows detailed costings for third runwayOptions including early opening or delay including extra investment

The Guardian

• Manchester and Liverpool mayors ask PM for action on railway chaosJoint statement from Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram follows reports of Northern renationalisation
• Boeing's Starliner capsule lands safely in New Mexico after failed missionAborted flight threatens to derail the company's efforts to launch astronauts on behalf of Nasa next yearBoeing safely landed its crew capsule in the New Mexico desert Sunday after an aborted flight to the international space station that threatened to derail the company's effort to launch astronauts on behalf of Nasa next year. The Starliner un-manned spacecraft descended into the US army’s White Sands Missile Range in the predawn darkness, ending a two-day demonstration that should have lasted more than a week.

The Herald

• Why rail nationalisation could end up a vote loserLAST week on a morning train to Edinburgh from Glasgow, I found myself remarking at how improved the service was. The new, longer train was busy, but everyone got a seat. It left on time. The wifi worked. And, thanks to electrification of the line costing some £850m, the journey took just 43 minutes.

The Independent

• Tories urge Boris Johnson to ‘change course’ on HS2 amid fears project could reach 12-figure costNewly elected MPs in Labour’s ‘red wall’ warn business case for project is collapsing
• Christmas travel: Widespread disruption on the railways with dozens of cancellations before festive breakMany rail workers' employment contracts make Sunday working voluntary
• Boeing Starliner spacecraft lands in US desert after botched missionIt marks first time US orbital space capsule designed for humans has landed on land

Times Online

• Third runway could result in lift-off for Heathrow airport’s passenger landing charges [subscription]Passenger landing charges at Heathrow could increase by 25 per cent after a third runway is built despite a pledge to keep them unchanged. A business plan to be submitted to the aviation watchdog this week says that fees levied on airlines may rise by between 9.5 per cent and 25 per cent by 2029 to pay for better facilities.

Mail Online

• 737 Max crisis rocking Boeing casts doubt on whether a second new factory will get the go aheadExecutives at the US manufacturer had said it was keen to build a bigger plant following the success of the £40million facility it opened in Sheffield last year.

Birmingham Post

• Rolls-Royce unveils all-electric aircraft that will attempt speed world recordThe ACCEL aircraft aims to smash the 300mph barrier
• Coventry is now manufacturing two electric taxisThe recently launched Dynamo taxi joins the TX London black cab
• This is what Stoke Railway Station could look like after multi-million pound faceliftCars would be banned from driving past the station as part of the proposals

Bolton News

• Bolton TPE and Northern trains deemed ‘unacceptable’ after delaysKEY transport bosses have hit out at train companies over an “unacceptableâ€� rise in recent delays and cancellations.
• Bus driver fined for parking up at Bolton Interchange for a breakAN OUTRAGED bus driver is fighting back after being fined for parking his bus at a bus station.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Christmas timetable changes for bus and rail services in North WalesIf you're thinking of using public transport over the festive period, you might want to plan ahead

London Evening Standard

• Boeing Starliner lands safely after aborted flight to International Space StationBoeing's Starliner has safely landed in the New Mexico desert after an aborted flight to the International Space Station.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Taxi firm reports record-breaking weekend as Metro strikes bring network to a standstillBlueline Taxis and Go North East buses both saw increased passenger numbers on Friday and Saturday

Sheffield Star

• Mayors demand answers over Northern Rail's futureThe mayors of two northern cities have called for "clarity" after a Sunday newspaper was told Northern Rail would be stripped of its franchise.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Mayor calls for West Midlands Trains to be stripped of franchise if no improvementWest Midlands Trains should be stripped of its rail franchise if its "woeful" performance does not improve by the end of January, furious mayor Andy Street said today.

Yorkshire Post

• Two thirds of services from under fire rail operator Trans Pennine Express still delayed or cancelled as passengers endure more miseryTwo thirds of train operator Trans Pennine Express' services were delayed or cancelled on Sunday as the under fire operator faced growing criticism. Live public performance statistics showed that overall 65 per cent of Trans Pennine services were cancelled or late by more than 30 minutes.
• Leeds MP writes to Prime Minister to demand action over transport systemA Leeds MP has written to Boris Johnson to demand that the promises made about Leeds’ transport infrastructure during the election are now met. Alex Sobel, who was re-elected last Thursday with a much-increased majority in Leeds North West, has been a vocal campaigner for better transport in Leeds, releasing his own Transport Strategy earlier this year.
• Rail staff do not deserve abuse from passengers as they, too, are victims of inept management – The Yorkshire Post saysTHE YORKSHIRE Post makes no apology for repeatedly highlighting the unacceptable state of the region’s rail services – their poor quality continues to have a significant impact on the economy and lives of all those commuters caught up in the daily chaos.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Bid to bring electric bus scheme to Suffolk - and here's where it's likely to beElectric buses could be en route to Suffolk under plans to bid for government cash for a pilot scheme.
• Bid to bring electric bus scheme to Suffolk – and here’s where it’s likely to beElectric buses could be en route to Suffolk under plans to bid for government cash for a pilot scheme.
• Further train disruption for rail passengers to Peterborough and FelixstoweRail passengers face ongoing disruption on Greater Anglia trains this morning, and until further notice, due to major signalling problems.

Leeds Live

• MPs praise decision to scrap Leeds Bradford Airport link road plans"It made no sense to destroy greenbelt land to build this road and impose the further congestion"
• Leeds transport boss urges government to tackle plane emissions Leeds City Council has refused to say whether it supports the expansion of Leeds Bradford Airport, but is calling on the government to draw up a national strategy for reducing aviation emissions

Reading Evening Post

• Delayed Elizabeth Line to Reading project bosses 'very confident' on when Crossrail will finally openThe delay has already cost hundreds of millions of pounds

Other Regional Press

• Call for bus champions to secure better service for ShropshireCampaigners are looking for ordinary men and woman to become 'bus champions' and advocate for improving bus services in Shropshire.
• Very Light Rail could be on show in Coventry for 2021The new year sees some significant steps for the project

Rail Advent

• 1000 improvements for Northern’s stationsNorthern has been improving stations during 2019 and has made over 1000 improvements due to tens of millions of pounds invested in the Better Stations project.

Transportxtra

• Change at top of Heathrow Southern RailChris Stokes has been appointed the new chief executive of Heathrow Southern Railway Ltd (HSRL), a company promoting a southern rail connection to the airport.