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

Friday, 17 July 2020

BBC News

• M4 relief road: 'Motorway charge may be necessary'But better public transport is needed before such a charge is introduced, a report recommends.
• M4 relief road: 'Better public transport' for Newport neededBut people may be reluctant to use trains and buses after the coronavirus pandemic, a report says.
• Electric cars: St Athan confirmed as site for planned battery factoryBritishvolt says its plans could create up to 3,500 jobs and lead to £1.2bn of investment.
• Bristol's SS Great Britain in 'survival mode' faces £2m lossPeople in Bristol are being urged to visit Brunel's famous ship and ensure it remains in the city.
• Pomeroy: Thousands of tyres dumped in County Tyrone fieldAn investigation is launched after 100 tonnes of car tyres were left on land near Pomeroy.
• British Airways retires entire 747 fleet after travel downturnBritish Airways is permanently grounding its jumbo jets which are nicknamed

The Guardian

• Talks on Stonehenge road tunnel delayed by neolithic findGrant Shapps extends decision deadline after archaeologists discover prehistoric pits at world heritage site in WiltshireA decision on whether construction of a road tunnel near Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, can go ahead has been further delayed by the transport secretary, Grant Shapps.The deadline for the verdict has been extended by four months to late autumn to allow further consultation following a recent archaeological find within the Stonehenge world heritage site, the transport minister, Andrew Stephenson, said. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Scottish Greens renew plans to roll out 20mph speed limitsEFFORTS to make 20mph the default speed limit on Scotland's residential streets are to be renewed after similar measures were voted through in Wales.

The Independent

• British Airways Boeing 747s will never fly passengers againJumbo jet first flew for BA in 1971 but is now surplus to requirements

The Telegraph

• Coronavirus forces British Airways to retire entire fleet of Boeing's jumbo jets

City AM

• British Airways retires entire fleet of Boeing's jumbo jetsBritish Airways, the world’s largest operator of Boeing 747, said late Thursday it would retire its entire jumbo jet fleet The post British Airways retires entire fleet of Boeing's jumbo jets appeared first on CityAM.

Mail Online

• Boris Johnson poised to RELAX train and bus restrictions to get UK back to workThe Prime Minister is expected to deliver a press conference in Downing Street tomorrow afternoon when he will say it is time for people to go back to their workplaces.
• End of the BA jumbo jets: British Airways scraps ENTIRE FLEET of iconic 747 planesThe nation's flag carrier is the world's last major operator of the iconic Boeing 747 'Queen of the Skies', which has been in service with the airline since 1971.

The Mirror

• UK's largest vehicle charging network gives away energy to power 1.3m homesVolkswagen, Tesco and Pod Point teamed up to provide the largest free retail charging network for electric vehicle (EV) owners across the UK - partnership which has now  hit the landmark 200th store after installing four EV points at the Tesco superstore in Chester

This is Money

• Dirty diesel vans to have free access into most polluted towns in 2021Experts said errors in the DVLA's own records mean they will fail to stop some of the dirtiest diesel vans from causing even more problems across the nation's towns and cities with poor air pollution.

Sky News

• British Airways scrapping entire 747 fleet amid virus downturnBritish Airways' iconic 747 jumbo jet will no longer be operated by the airline after it decided to retire its entire fleet with immediate effect.

Belfast Telegraph

• Motorcyclist group slams MLAs for snubbing road safety campaignJust two of Northern Ireland's 90 MLAs responded to a plea for help from motorcycle safety campaigners concerned about potentially deadly barriers on our major roads.

Birmingham Post

• The Welsh ports seeking freeport statusThe UK Government is planning to establish 10 freeports across the UK
• Coach hire price comparison site reveals plans to double in sizeDerbyshire-based firm celebrates landmark with rebrand
• East Midlands Airport starts flights to 50 holiday destinationsSince July 10 UK nationals have been able to take holidays to some countries without facing a 14-day quarantine on return.
• Jaguar Land Rover marks key engine milestoneThe car maker's Ingenium engines are produced near Wolverhampton in a dedicated manufacturing facility

Bolton News

• Bolton Council reverses plans to end free parking at weekends until 2021THE Tories have formally reversed plans to end free parking in Bolton town centre as proposed before the pandemic.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• West Yorkshire Combined Authority calls for school bus fundingWEST Yorkshire Combined Authority continues to call for a long-term funding solution to support public transport as schools look to reopen in September.

Bristol Live

• Trial rental e-scooter scheme is set to be launched on Bristol's roadsUsers must stay off pavements
• easyJet resumes more Bristol Airport flights for August Flights for summer 2021 are currently on sale
• New congestion charge necessary for M4 claim Welsh ministersThe commission was set up after the Welsh Government decided not to build the £1.4bn new M4 around Newport

London Evening Standard

• Government told to ditch plans to withdraw free public transport for under-18s Pressure increased on the Government today to ditch plans to withdraw free bus and Tube travel from London children and teenagers.
• 20,000 people stopped for not wearing face masks on Tubes or busesMore than 20,000 Londoners have been stopped by police or transport inspectors for not wearing face masks on the Tube or buses.
• British Airways retires entire fleet of Boeing jumbo jets due to impact of coronavirus pandemic British Airways has announced it is retiring its entire Boeing jumbo jet fleet with immediate effect.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Council told to 'come clean' in bus lane camera fiascoA tribunal ruling has accused Newcastle City Council of “fundamental negligenceâ€� in its handling of the John Dobson Street bus lane camera, once dubbed the most lucrative in the country

Wales Online

• Anger over late-night car racers who are 'noisy as aeroplanes''There have been cases where it's gone on until two or three in the morning'

Bucks Free Press

• Bucks carbon neutral target set in council climate change row COUNCILLORS clashed in a fiery debate about when Buckinghamshire should aim to become carbon neutral last night.

Cambridge News

• Bridge closure has left Mill Road 'dark and dead'Residents and business owners even protested the decision by blocking the road
• Relief as 'distressing' plans for six-week road closure put on holdDevelopers are reportedly discussing alternative routes
• British Airways to retire all Boeing 747s with immediate effectIt comes as a result of the travel downturn caused by COVID-19

East Anglian Daily Times

• Police report 250 drivers in ‘staggering’ seat belt crackdownOfficers from Suffolk and Norfolk police have reported 250 lorry drivers as part of a national crackdown on seat belt avoidance.

Get Surrey

• River Thames 'slumboats' need to be moved as residents ask Environment Agency to act over 'eyesore' Residents want the Environment Agency to move the boats on

Reading Evening Post

• The M4 is closing for a whole weekend for smart motorway worksM4 traffic will be impacted by Highways England's planned closures on the busy motorway

Other Regional Press

• Lorries will be stopped from using old bridges in OxfordshireA BRIDGE in an Oxfordshire village should have a lower weight limit placed on it to prevent damage, a council has heard.
• More Low-Traffic Neighbourhoods could come to Oxfordshire ROADS in residential streets across Oxfordshire should be changed to stop commuters from speeding along them.
• Jet2 flights resume from Leeds with £30 fares to top destinationsYorkshire-based airline back in the skies with flights to Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Spain and other holiday spots
• Why strange devices will pop up on roads and town centres across WarwickshireThe council wants to make sure new measures in place in town centres are working

C.N.N.

• US Navy aircraft carriers resume rare dual exercises in the South China SeaTwo US Navy aircraft carriers have resumed rare dual exercises in the South China Sea, the second time this month the massive warships have teamed up in the contested waters.

Coach and Bus Week

• Welsh bus operator sets out the future for hygienic bus travelFollowing rigorous research and testing of various products that have come to the market since Covid-19, NAT Group has confirmed its updated cleaning product line-up and procedures to ensure that all Welsh Government regulations are adhered to, and exceeded. The announcement aims to keep passengers up-to-date with the latest measures and restore passenger confidence that public transport is a safe means of travel, as well as an environmentally friendly one.

Railnews

• Rail passengers could be welcome again soon There is growing speculation that the government is poised to change its ˜anti-public transport™ message as part of continued easing of lockdown restrictions. An announcement could be made as soon as tomorrow.

Other News Sources

• Transport Focus reveals rail passengers’ priorities for improvementReliability and punctuality are the top things rail passengers want to see improved.
• Delay to the electrification of the railway line between Bedford and CorbyThe electrification of the line between Bedford and Corby, due to be delivered in December, has now been put back to May next year.
• Young people express fears over free travel axeLondon TravelWatch probes reaction to Oyster Zip suspension   Young people across London have shared their concerns over the axing of free Oyster Zip card travel with London TravelWatch. Their worries, which included fears about the financial cost, threats to independence and safety concerns are highlighted in a report published by the watchdog today. One of the terms of the emergency financial settlement agreed by Transport for London and London mayor Sadiq Khan with the UK Government was that free Oyster Zip Card travel for under 18s would be suspended. The measure was justified on the ...
• Edinburgh plans radical transport shake-upMerger would end ‘duplication’ between bus and tram   City of Edinburgh Council has announced plans for a major shake-up of its arms-length public transport businesses with plans to merge bus operator Lothian and Edinburgh Trams into a single operation. While the Lothian and Edinburgh Trams brands would remain, “unnecessary” competition between the two networks would be eliminated and services co-ordinated. At present Transport for Edinburgh, wholly owned by the council, is the parent of Edinburgh Tram. It also holds 91% of Lothian, with the rest of the bus operato...
• Competition aims to shape future stationsDesigners asked to reimagine small to medium-sized stations There are more than 2,000 small-to-medium stations across the UK   Network Rail and RIBA Competitions have launched an international competition to shape the future of Britain’s railway stations. The competition will provide architects, engineers and designers the chance to improve the travel experience for the millions of passengers who use Britain’s railway, and leave a lasting legacy on station design. It asks designers to reimagine small to medium-sized stations – which make up 80% of all those on Britain’s railway – so they ...
• US Extends Cruise No Sail Order Through SeptemberThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday extended its no sail order for all cruise ships through the end of September, as the U.S. continues to battle rising numbers of coronavirus cases.The CDC issued its initial no sail order on March 14…
• Gatwick and Heathrow face mask rules plus easyJet, British Airways, Ryanair and Emirates policies Will you be jetting off anywhere?
• British Airways workers campaign in HorshamCAMPAIGNERS took to the streets this week to show their support for airline staff at risk of losing their jobs.

EIN News Subscription

• Heathrow Airport announces new coronavirus safety measures including UV cleaning robot … wraps are being fitted to security trays, lift buttons, trolley and … will thoroughly disinfect the airport and answer passenger queries on the methods … prepares for life outside the EU, with Common International Standards for …