Breaking News
Rail decision set to bring public control a step closer [subscription]
Britain’s railways are on the verge of being formally renationalised with billions of pounds of financial liabilities carried by the train operating companies being taken on to the public books.
HS2 | Alternative eastern leg tabled including direct link to Nottingham
Infrastructure thinktank Greengauge21 has called for alterations to the eastern arm of High Speed 2 (HS2).
Friday, 31 July 2020
BBC News
- Video shows passenger train on disused Fawley branch lineA time-lapse video shows the first passenger train to run on a branch line for 54 years.
- 'Baby shark' drones to help rescue helicopter missionsRemotely controlled aircraft will support coastguard rescue missions for the first time in the UK.
- Virgin Atlantic could face enforcement action over refund delaysThe aviation regulator may use legal powers to ensure airlines refund consumers for cancelled flights.
- Jet2 tells some holidaymakers in Spain to come home earlyThe airline says it cannot keep sending empty planes to pick up passengers on different dates.
Financial Times
- BA parent IAG launches €2.75bn rights issue as losses swell Airline reveals €4bn loss for first half of 2020 as it faces ‘unprecedented crisis’
The Guardian
- Don’t believe the spin about Johnson's cycling plan - LettersThis is classic Johnsonian policymaking, says David Lewis, and Dick Follows wonders whether we can really expect a ‘golden era’ for walking and cycling
Times Online
- Rail decision set to bring public control a step closer [subscription]Britain’s railways are on the verge of being formally renationalised with billions of pounds of financial liabilities carried by the train operating companies being taken on to the public books.
- Civil Aviation Authority calls for greater powers to punish airlines over late refunds [subscription]The aviation watchdog is calling for stronger powers to crackdown on airlines after an official review found that passengers had to wait up to four months for refunds for cancelled flights.
- BA pilots left gasping by stench of ‘sweaty socks’ [subscription]A British Airways pilot was incapacitated by an odour described as like “sweaty socks” as his plane prepared to land at Heathrow, prompting fresh concerns over fumes on passenger jets.
i News
- AI-powered pollution-reducing traffic lights trialled as part of £30m boost for 5G initiativesThe sensors, running AI software to collect road data in real-time, will be installed on each junction approach, in a trial in Manchester
Belfast Telegraph
- Court of Appeal to rule on Chris Packham legal challengeThe Court of Appeal is set to rule on a bid by Chris Packham to bring a legal challenge against the Government over the controversial HS2 rail scheme.
Bradford Telegraph & Argus
- ‘Don’t let rail upgrade opportunity slip’TRANSPORT bosses have been urged not to let a golden “opportunity” slip for rail upgrades between Leeds and Manchester. A £580m project to revamp the transpennine route was announced by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps last week, and is now another step closer following talks between regional leaders and the government.
- Jet2 flying Spanish holidaymakers home early JET2 are asking its customers in Spain to fly home early.
Bristol Live
- New bike lanes and road layout to be introduced in city centreStreets including Park Row, Upper Maudlin Street and Marlborough Street will benefit from new bike lanes
The York Press
- Biggest zero emissions bus fleet in UK launched in York THE biggest zero emission park and ride fleet in the UK has been launched in York.
- More than 400 object to closing Leeman Road for York CentralA PUBLIC inquiry may be looming after more than 400 people objected to plans to close a key city road as part of the York Central development.
Cambridge News
- Ryanair and Virgin Atlantic rated worst for handling refundsA survey conducted by MoneySavingExpert.com found that people had rated both airlines as the worst when it came to refunds
- M11 speed limit set to increase as part of major road changes in EnglandHighways England have confirmed the changes will be implemented in places where it's safe for both road workers and drivers
Kent Online
- Council defends decision to pay for new look bus station at The Mall Shopping Centre in MaidstoneA council that stepped-up to fund long overdue upgrades to a bus station despite not actually owning it, is defending its decision saying it feels it's the council's job to support what has been a 'long standing issue' for the town.
Other Regional Press
- Burnham has been unwilling to meet to discuss region’s clean air plan, say environmental lawyersGREATER Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has been unwilling to meet with environmental lawyers about the region’s Clean Air Plan, it has been claimed.
- Greenfield Rail Action Group still on track despite change in transport useAs a result of the pandemic, the government has advised the country to use public transport, including trains, for essential travel only and instead to travel by car, bicycle or on foot.
- Calls for better bus and rail services across DorsetPUBLIC transport campaigner David Redgewell has pressed Dorset Council to better support local bus and rail services.
- Government announce Longannet rail hub intentionsDUNFERMLINE and West Fife is set to be "at the heart of the future rail industry in Scotland" with plans for a centre at Longannet.
- Transport for Wales passengers travel 'at their own risk' according to Dyserth retireeA PASSENGER has protested to her MP and First Minister of Wales about two packed rail journeys which she says made a mockery of social distancing.
- Train services to resume on Abbey Line in AugustA rail company has announced when it will begun running services on a line again.
- Protesters in Boris Johnson Masks outside Uxbridge London Underground station against British Airways 'mental abuse'Uxbridge residents donned a different type of face mask in a protest outside Uxbridge Tube station against British Airways. Constituents of the Prime Minister wore masks of his face as they protested against the national flag carrier over their handling of job losses as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
British Trams Online
- West Midlands Metro seeks to decorate worksite hoardingsAs preparation continues towards the main construction phase of the West Midlands Metro extension between Wednesbury and Brierley Hill, the Midland Metro Alliance are seeking talented “colour-iners” (pretty sure that isn’t a word but you get what we mean!) to help to decorate hoardings along the route.
- Still Standing! Guiseley Tram Depot, LeedsWhereas most of this series has been one side of the Pennines today we head across to Yorkshire and take a look at a surviving tram depot in Leeds – Guiseley Depot.
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
- TfL celebrates 10 years of cycle hire in London with a record-breaking summer for Santander CyclesTransport for London (TfL) is celebrating a successful decade of cycle hire in the capital, ten years on from the launch of its flagship cycling scheme. On 30 July 2010, TfL introduced cycle hire to Londoners with 350 docking stations across eight London boroughs. Today, these numbers have more than doubled: Londoners now have access to 781 docking stations and more than 12,000 bikes, with an additional 1,700 new bikes currently being added to the fleet. Cycling in London has more than doubled since 2000. TfL’s cycle hire scheme has been at the forefront of this cycling boom over the l...
Coach and Bus Week
- Transport2 appoints new CEOTransport2, the firm behind the Kura platform (incorporating CoachHire.com), has announced the appointment of Godfrey Ryan as CEO.
- First West of England unveils three more gas buses as zero-emission target is setFirst West of England has unveiled its latest trio of biomethane powered gas buses, part of an overall £28 million investment across the region.
- ’Stagecoach Solutions’ launched to help businesses bounce back following COVID-19Stagecoach has launched a new product, ‘Stagecoach Solutions,’ aimed at helping businesses, the education sector and event organisers to bounce back from COVID-19. The operator says this range of tailored solutions will act as a ‘one stop shop’ to help employers, pupils and customers.
- Warrington goes contactless thanks to TicketerStaff at Ticketer have been working hard in recent weeks to roll out 90 mTicketing-capable contactless ticket machines at Warrington’s Own Buses.
New Civil Engineer
- Highways England pledges £114M for roads upgradeHighways England has announced it will invest £114M to improve roads, pavements and bridges in the East of England over the next 12 months.
- HS2 | Alternative eastern leg tabled including direct link to NottinghamInfrastructure thinktank Greengauge21 has called for alterations to the eastern arm of High Speed 2 (HS2).
- New Crossrail opening date to be announced in AugustA new opening date for the central section of Crossrail – known as the Elizabeth Line – is set to be announced after the project’s August board meeting.
- Motts begins project to assist Network Rail signal failuresMott MacDonald has begun its first job under Network Rail’s design services framework.
Rail Technology Magazine
- Ep.14 Leaving a lasting legacy, Harriet Glen Harriet Glen, Head of Programme Close Out at Crossrail, joins us on this week’s episode of RTM’s Track Talk to discuss the largest construction project in Europe. Harriet gives us an update on the project that was brought to a standstill during lockdown but her “team are...
- £81m signalling scheme hits halfway marker in South London As the London Bridge Area Signalling Centre ends operations, an £81m scheme by Network Rail (NR) to renew infrastructure in the Hither Green area of South London reaches the halfway mark and is on track to deliver an improved railway for passengers. The project means the entire main line...
Route One (Bus and Coach)
- 21st Century SmartVision cameras find favour with Go-Ahead LondonOver 100 buses in the Go-Ahead London fleet are now equipped with 21st Century Technology SmartVision rear view cameras. They are spread across five of the operator’s depots, with 62 of them being at Northumberland Park garage.
- Manchester Clean Air Zone set for spring 2022, plans showThe Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is to be introduced in “spring 2022” under plans that will be subject to an eight-week consultation process starting in October.
- Virtual Public Inquiry is ‘no alternative’ to in-person hearing, say TCsPotential for further Public Inquiry (PI) hearings to be undertaken via virtual means “is limited in scope,” the Traffic Commissioners (TCs) say in their Annual Report for 2019/20.
- Optare Metrodecker EV fleet makes debut with First YorkFirst York launched the first of 21 battery-electric Optare Metrodecker EV double-deckers on Thursday 30 July.
- Details of second proposal for coach industry support revealedThe Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has outlined details of its further proposal to the government for financial support for coach industry. It follows an earlier set of plans that were rejected by Transport Minister Baroness Vere on 15 July.
- Suspended ArrivaClick service in Liverpool will not returnThe ArrivaClick demand-responsive transport (DRT) service in Liverpool that was suspended on 29 March will not be reintroduced. Arriva says the withdrawal is down to the concept “not performing strongly enough in a tough commercial environment.”
Other News Sources
- Yorkshire airport to strengthen links to Northern Ireland with new routeLeeds Bradford Airport has announced the introduction of a new route to Northern Ireland in the autumn.
- Ewell bus gate plan scrapped over school safety concernsThere were strong objections to the development, but some councillors say the decision is disappointing
- Plans for rail testing centre progressPlans for a state-of-the-art rail testing centre in South West Wales have progressed further, with the submission of an outline business case as well as local approval for the land.
- PM's plans for 'mini-Holland' cycling hubs A CYCLING charity says the Government's new plans to get more Brits on their bikes could make cycling safer.
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