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

Friday, 06 March 2020

BBC News

• Newport Transporter Bridge set to get new visitor centreCity leaders hope to boost the historic structure's appeal as an all-weather attraction.
• Flybe: Cardiff Airport in 'strong position' despite lossCardiff Airport is
• Electric cars are coming: but where will you recharge?Charging points are springing up everywhere, but will there be enough and will the electricity grid be able to cope?
• Two Belfast Flybe routes taken by Scottish airlineFlybe operated 14 routes from Belfast City Airport, making up about 80% of all scheduled flights.
• Flybe: What are the wider implications of the airline's demise?The failed airline made up 90% of the flights from Southampton Airport - and the impact is spreading.
• Rest and Be Thankful: New pit to combat landslips on A83Transport Scotland say £1.9m is being invested in hillside work to improve the resilience of the vital route.
• Flybe: 'Devastating blow' for Scots travellersFlights are cancelled from all Scottish airports as the airline goes into administration.
• Flybe's collapse could be 'first of many' airlinesThe airline industry is under huge financial pressure as passenger numbers drop during coronavirus.

Financial Times

• Flybe collapse puts commitment to regions in doubtBoris Johnson’s administration had repeatedly vowed to improve ‘regional connectivity’
• Didi Chuxing was already struggling. Then came coronavirusDisruption yet another obstacle on Chinese ride-hailing app’s long road to profitability

The Guardian

• Tory governments spend more on London than rest of England – thinktankCentre-right thinktank Onward said budget is opportunity for Treasury to rethink prioritiesThe Treasury should stop directing so much money towards rich and productive London if it is serious about the “levelling up agendaâ€� that Boris Johnson hopes will help him retain red wall seats, according to a report by centre-right thinktank Onward.Its analysis by Neil O’Brien, a Tory MP and former adviser to George Osborne, found that the successive governments have spent much more on transport, science, affordable housing and culture in London than elsewhere in England over many years. Continue readin...

Times Online

• Airlines are flying empty planes to keep slots during the coronavirus crisis [subscription]British airlines are being forced to operate empty “ghost” flights during the coronavirus outbreak or risk losing airport landing slots, The Times has learnt.

City AM

• Flybe infected by aviation sector's malaiseAs ministerial tweets go, the mid-January proclamation by the business and transport secretaries that Flybe’s future had been salvaged will The post Flybe infected by aviation sector's malaise appeared first on CityAM.

Belfast Telegraph

• Three trains with all-female crews to mark International Women’s DayThree passenger trains will be entirely run by female staff on Friday to mark International Women’s Day.

Birmingham Mail

• Two airlines swoop to replace Flybe routes at Birmingham AirportFlybe went bust on Thursday, March 5, in the early hours of the morning after threatening a collapse on Wednesday

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Busy Shelf roundabouts need safety measures to combat speeding drivers, campaign urgesA NEW campaign calls for urgent safety measures to be introduced at two busy Shelf roundabouts regularly blighted by speeding drivers.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• MPs urge Chancellor to fund improvements to East Coast Main Line in BudgetNewcastle North MP Catherine McKinnell leads a cross-party group of MPs campaigning for improvements to the rail line
• North East to play major role in multimillion-pound clean transport projectNewcastle University to set up an innovation centre on the IAMP development in Sunderland that aims to be world leading

Wales Online

• What Flybe's collapse means for the future of Cardiff AirportOne airline has been found to operate flights to Edinburgh but the airport will still be very quiet

Burnley Express

• Burnley Council call to finish off rail station revampCOUNCILLORS have called for work on a new car park at a redeveloped railway station to be speeded up.

Cambridge News

• Wisbech station set to re-open after being closed for 52 yearsThe station was culled back in the late 1960s

Other Regional Press

• One of Huddersfield's most congested roads is about to changeKirklees Council have unveiled new plans to ease traffic jams on the A62 Leeds Road

Coach and Bus Week

• Profits could be shared with TfGM under new £142m partnership proposalsNew proposals developed through extensive engagement between Stagecoach and senior TfGM officials have the potential to make up to £25m in potential taxpayer savings by bus operators operating socially necessary services without subsidy. It is also proposing to use a single bus brand throughout one integrated bus network
• ‘It’s everyone’s journey’ launched by the DfTTransport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that he is accelerating progress to make the UK a world leader for accessible travel as a new Government campaign launches to improve the journeys of disabled passengers on public transport
• An operator’s best friendCCTV and telematics have come on leaps and bounds in recent years. One company at the forefront of the industry is Centrad. John Lewis spoke to its founder and owner to find out more
• Freeway introduces predictive fleet maintenance softwareFreeway Fleet Systems has developed smart software that simplifies fleet management by predicting the type and quantity of parts needed to maintain a fleet. Using artificial intelligence, the software works out future stock level requirements updating parts suppliers to automate stock replenishment and help eliminate out-of-stock occurrences.

Railnews

• Train operators rally to help Flybe passengers and staff Train operators have offered free travel today for Flybe passengers stranded by the airline™s collapse overnight. Staff from the airline can also travel without charge. Flybe has gone into administration after a financial rescue attempt staged earlier this year finally failed. Many flights from regional airports have been cancelled. Southampton has been hit particularly hard, and the airport™s website is showing no flights at all.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Oxford Tube upgrade with 34 Plaxton Panorama ‘deckersStagecoach in Oxfordshire has ordered 34 Plaxton Panorama double-decker coaches for its Oxford Tube fleet. They will be introduced during the summer. Five of them will have solar panels to deliver what Stagecoach says will be greater fuel efficiency by powering on-board amenities.
• Wales bus funding call from operatorsBus operators in Wales have called for the government to ensure that the country receives a fair share of the £5bn funding bonanza for the sector that was announced last month.
• Coventry Clean Air Zone is abandonedCoventry will not be subject to a Clean Air Zone. The news comes after proposals from Coventry City Council (CCC) to improve air quality via alternative options gained government support.
• Manchester Clean Air Zone set for delay?The possibility of a delay to the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone (CAZ) has been raised by Elected Mayor Andy Burnham.
• Wi-fi improved by Brighton and Hove and MetrobusAfter partnering with RebelRoam, Brighton and Hove and Metrobus have increased the speed and reliability of wi-fi on their buses.
• The new members of the Transport Select CommitteeFollowing the announcement of the Chair, the members of the Committee have now been appointed
• TfL roads have new 20mph speed limit in central LondonAfter starting on 2 March, all Transport for London (TfL) roads in the Congestion Charging Zone (CCZ) in central London have 20mph speed limits.
• Go North West launches WhatsApp messaging trialGo North West (GNW) launched a trial on 2 March where bus passengers can send its customer services team a message on WhatsApp.
• National Express commits to zero-emission fleetsNational Express Group (NEG) has set out its plans to progress both its coach and bus fleets in the UK to zero-emission, with an ambition for them all to become entirely emission-free by 2035.
• New senior appointment at Campaign for Better TransportTransport charity, Campaign for Better Transport, has appointed Silviya Barrett as its new Head of Policy, Research and Projects.

Other News Sources

• 'A rail revolution': £60m scheme marks new era for region's train networkIt has taken years of preparation, planning and engineering works.
• Ban on cycling through Woking town centre at certain times to be reviewedA cyclist argued that school children can currently cycle to school legally but can't cycle home again