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

Monday, 02 March 2020

BBC News

• Transport for Wales: Rail disruption set to continue due to stormsPassengers are warned to check before travelling with two lines closed following storms.
• Northern rail: Government takes over after chaosThe government takes over services from Sunday which were previously operated by Arriva Rail North.

Financial Times

• VW chief defies sceptics with ambitious electric car planHerbert Diess wants to sell 26m emission-free vehicles in 9 years, overtaking rivals including Tesla
• Shipping costs provide clues on coronavirus impactBaltic Dry index shows two-thirds drop in vessel leasing rates since start of December

Times Online

• Forget the third runway, Heathrow’s payouts are on the line [subscription]As the clock ticked down to Heathrow’s date with destiny at the Court of Appeal last week, the airport’s boss made one last attempt to burnish its green credentials.
• Luxembourg scraps public transport fares [subscription]Luxembourg has become the first nation to offer free public transport to everyone in an attempt to entice the EU’s wealthiest citizens to leave their cars at home.
• Green lobby can’t leave rural Scots on the road to nowhere [subscription]I recently had the pleasure of spending time with members of the Moray chamber of commerce. The region has cause to celebrate its strengths in the food, drink and tourism industries. But my visit also brought home how rural the region is and the impact this has on the livelihoods of the people who live there.
• Sturgeon ‘must answer ferry questions’ [subscription]Pressure is growing on Nicola Sturgeon to give evidence to the Holyrood inquiry into ferry procurement after a scheduled appearance by Derek Mackay, the former finance minister, was cancelled.

Daily Record

• How to avoid coronavirus: Doctors advice on face masks and public transportTips on face masks, hand sanitisers and public transport have been issued after a further two patients contracted the virus in the UK.

Mail Online

• We can have a third runway at Heathrow WITHOUT destroying the planet, says boss of Britain's biggest pension fundThe judiciary's decision to grant the appeal against the building of a third runway at Heathrow, announced earlier this week, was disappointing to say the least.
• Smart motorways make traffic jams WORSE after a road crash, newly-released data shows Highways England insists the controversial roads, also known as 'all-lane running', lead to shorter journey times because the lack of a hard shoulder boosts capacity.

Network Rail

• Storm Jorge: Joint statement from Network Rail and Transport for WalesNetwork Rail and Transport for Wales have issued the following statement and information following another weekend of extreme weather affecting the Wales and Borders route.

Belfast Telegraph

• Boris Johnson's bridge from Northern Ireland to Scotland could fall foul of ruling that sank Heathrow planThe legal ruling that has blocked a third Heathrow runway could also hit the proposed 'Boris Bridge' across the North Channel from Scotland to Northern Ireland.

Birmingham Post

• Could Budget give the green light to Grimsby's direct rail service to London?Formal application sits with Transport Secretary as 'levelling up' the country agenda launches

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• £16m scheme to improve route between Bradford and Leeds to be discussedA £16m SCHEME to improve roads between Leeds and Bradford is set to go before a panel of regional decision-makers.
• Grant Shapps: 'Bradford people have been let down by rail services - it had to change'Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has penned this piece for the T&A

Bristol Live

• £10million to be invested on roads in Filton, Kingswood, Cribbs Causeway and HanhamA number of towns are set to benefit from the transport investment

Manchester Evening News

• Train passengers warned of 'major disruption' after Storm Jorge causes landslide on West Coast main lineAn emergency closure has been put in place with the railway expected to be shut for several days

Northern Echo

• Northern Echo signs marketing deal with Teesside AirportTHE Northern Echo has today teamed up with Teesside International Airport to help drive its future.

Wales Online

• Commuters face train disruption this week as Storm Jorge clear up continuesWork to clear the problem is being carried out around the clock

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Transport Secretary, we'll be watching to see if you can get the north's trains back on trackThe Government has taken over ownership of Northern’s franchise to restore passenger trust but the Yorkshire Evening Post will be watching closely.

Leeds Live

• Forgotten plans for underground line linking Leeds and ManchesterEngineers have drawn up ambitious plans for a new HS2 line which includes an underground railway line that links Leeds and Manchester.
• Northern has been nationalised - this is what it actually means for passengersThe new state-owned train operator has promised to deliver a range of improvements for long-suffering passengers

Other Regional Press

• Totton to Hythe railway line 'could be running within next five years'Totton to Hythe railway line 'could be running within next five years'
• First formal step taken in bid to connect Oswestry to the national rail networkThe first formal step has been taken to try to reopen a short stretch of train track and connect Oswestry to the national rail network via Gobowen.
• ‘All under-21s should have free bus travel’THE inadequacy of viable alternatives to the motor car in Jersey have been laid bare as pressure mounts on the Infrastructure Minister Kevin Lewis over his much-criticised Sustainable Transport Policy.
• Manston boss reveals ambitious trade planA carbon neutral cargo route could help bring Kent's airport back to life and cut lorry traffic on the county's motorways.
• The ghost train station of Sheffield used by just 40 passengers a dayIt just has one platform

C.N.N.

• Luxembourg makes all public transport freeLuxembourg suffers from major traffic jams, so the government plans to make public transportation free for everyone in the tiny European state.

New Civil Engineer

• £20M fund launched for new and disused railway stationsA £20M government fund has been launched to connect communities across the country with new railway stations. It could also see the restoration of disused stations and links.

Other News Sources

• We would be mad to give up the economic advantage that expansion at Heathrow offersI changed my mind on Heathrow expansion because the benefits to West London residents is clear; as is the leadership Heathrow can provide the wider industry on climate change, writes Andrew Dakers, Chief Executive of West London Business.
• Southend Airport: Meeting to discuss night flightsTORY councillors have slammed rivals for holding a meeting with Southend Airport over disruptive night flights without inviting them.