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

Thursday, 27 August 2020

BBC News

• Llangennech diesel train fire: 'Major incident' declaredPeople had to be evacuated from their homes after a large diesel freight train caught fire in south Wales. Dyfed-Powys Police said people were now allowed to return to their homes after the blaze on the tracks at Llangennech, near Llanelli in Carmarthenshire.
• BMW Mini Oxford car plant set for hundreds of job lossesThe number of shifts is to be reduced because of a
• Coronavirus: Rail passengers to be warned when trains are busyRail companies plan to share capacity information with passengers so they can avoid crowded trains.
• Gatwick Airport plans to cut 600 jobs due to coronavirusThe job losses follow an 80% drop in passenger numbers due to coronavirus, the airport says.
• Warnings of 'ghost towns' if staff do not return to the officeLocal businesses and jobs will suffer if workers do not return to the office, says the head of the CBI.

ITV News

• Will businesses that once thrived under railway arches survive the pandemic?For years London's railway arches have provided the perfect place for small businesses to trade from. Now some are warning they might not survive the economic fallout from Covid. The private company that owns the arches has already offered three months rent free to tenants, but are facing calls to do even more.

Financial Times

• Gatwick to cut a quarter of its staff as part of restructuringUK’s second-busiest airport has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic
• White House considers action to help airline employeesDonald Trump looks at passing unilateral order as stimulus talks come to a standstill

The Guardian

• Gatwick airport to cut 600 jobs as Covid continues to hammer industryAirport begins consultation that could result in losing about a quarter of its workforce. Gatwick airport is planning to cut 600 jobs, about a quarter of its workforce, as it struggles to cut costs amid the pandemic's continuing impact on international travel.The airport is beginning a consultation process with affected employees from all areas of the business, as part of a wider restructuring plan.
• Wales train fire triggers evacuationsDiesel freight train catches fire at Llangennech, near Llanelli, with exclusion zone put in placeHomes have been evacuated in south Wales after a large diesel train caught fire.British Transport police said crews were called to the blaze at Llangennech, near Llanelli, around 11.20pm on Wednesday. Continue reading...

The Telegraph

• People evacuated after large diesel train catches fire in south Wales

Times Online

• All hail the flying taxi from Vertical Aerospace. . . due to land in four years [subscription]Commuters hoping to avoid the rush-hour squeeze on the train from Brighton to London could soon be able to opt for a flying taxi.
• Gatwick proposes cutting a quarter of workforce [Subscription]Gatwick is proposing to cut a quarter of its workforce because of the “devastating impact” of Covid-19. Bosses at Britain’s second busiest airport said that 600 jobs could go after an unprecedented slump in passenger numbers. Arrivals and departures at the airport in West Sussex were down by 80 per cent this month — traditionally the busiest time of the year — compared with August 2019.

City AM

• The travel industry will not survive without a radical U-turnThe UK has a rich history as a global transport hub. While we all value our holidays as individuals, the The post The travel industry will not survive without a radical U-turn appeared first on CityAM.

Daily Express

• Wales horror: Llangennech residents flee homes after huge blaze engulfs trainWELSH residents were evacuated from their homes after a huge fire engulfed a diesel train.

Mail Online

• New York City's MTA warns of 'horrendous' 40% cuts to bus and subway services as well as 7,200 job losses if it does not receive $12 BILLION in federal aid after pandemic wipes out revenuesNew York's transit authority says it is facing 'horrendous' cuts to bus and subway services after the coronavirus outbreak wiped out its revenue.
• Gatwick Airport is planning to axe up to 600 jobs in 'significant restructure'Up to 600 jobs are set to be cut at Gatwick Airport, around a quarter of its workforce, as it struggles to cope with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Mirror

• Residents evacuated from their homes as diesel train catches fire in WalesHuge flames and pillars of smoke are towering above the area where a freight train has caught fire, with police urging people to avoid the area while fire fighters tackle the blaze in the middle of the night

Belfast Telegraph

• Translink Enterprise trains from Belfast to Dublin set to return to full serviceTranslink say the return to full timetable will offer customers 'more choice of travel times and help to facilitate social distancing on board'
• Diesel train fire leads to evacuations in south WalesResidents were forced to leave their homes and an 800-metre exclusion zone was set up after a large diesel train caught fire in south Wales.

Birmingham Post

• Derby firm behind new lightweight sportscar reveals more detailsMulholland Automotive is on course to start testing its first Legend 480 model
• Tender contracts 'confusion' hits Birmingham's Clean Air Zone launchIntroduction of new charge for high-polluting vehicles could be delayed even more after full business case not produced by council officials

Edinburgh Evening News

• Edinburgh Council is kicking businesses when they are down and putting cyclists and bus passengers on a collision course – John McLellanEdinburgh Council’s Spaces for People programme is causing damage to businesses, increased congestion and new danger for people getting on and off buses, writes Conservative councillor and cyclist John McLellan.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Train rides return to North Shields in time for Bank Holiday visitorsStephenson Steam Railway will reopen from lockdown this Friday - with changes including a slightly different name

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham City Transport make changes to bus services as schools, universities and colleges returnNottingham City Transport has announced changes to some of its timetables in August and September, as schools, colleges and universities return.
• How East Midlands Railway is changing its train servicesCustomers must continue to wear a face covering, unless they are exempt

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Cycling and walking ‘on prescription’Healthcare professionals are piloting a scheme which will ‘prescribe’ outdoor activities for some people with poor mental health and other conditions.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Suffolk pupils told to wear masks on buses to and from senior schoolsMany Suffolk pupils will be advised to wear face masks on their way to or from school when the new term starts next week – if they travel by bus to a senior school.

Other Regional Press

• Cycle lane on Bassett Avenue in Southampton to be removed A CONTROVERSIAL pop-up cycle lane on a busy Southampton road is to be removed.
• What’s changing on Arriva buses in Hertfordshire ahead of September school return?Officials from bus operator Arriva have released more details on how they intend to keep schoolchildren who use the bus safe, as preparations for the return to school ramp up.
• Letter: Electronic bus sign needs updating I must say that First bus really do keep quiet about their bus service improvements.
• Suttons Coffee Shop, Weymouth, wins South Western Railway small business competition AN HISTORIC Weymouth coffee shop will be featured on railway advertising billboards in Weymouth after winning a prestigious award launched to celebrate the best of local business.
• First electric double decker buses to be rolled out in CoventryThe new battery powered buses are days away from entering service

Business Live

• Wales will not get multi-billion pound high speed two rail consequential says Transport Secretary Grant ShappsHe says the UK Government hasn't given up on M4 Relief Road project although a devolved matter

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Dixons Carphone targets electric switch for deliveriesDixon’s Carphone has said it will switch its commercial fleet to either electric or alternatively-fuelled vehicles over the next decade as part of a wider supply chain push to reduce emissions. The retailer is joining the Climate Group’s EV100 Initiative, which aims at accelerating the transition to electric vehicles as “the new normal” by 2030. Alongside switching to electric or alternative fuel vehicles, Dixons Carphone said it would be installing electric vehicle charging points across the estate. Lindsay Haselhurst, chief supply chain officer at Dixons Carphone, ...

New Civil Engineer

• HS2 rail freight deliveries to take 1.5M lorries off roads and cut emissionsThe first rail freight delivery of aggregate arrived at High Speed Two's (HS2’s) Washwood Heath site in Birmingham this week, signalling the start of the project’s programme to take up to 1.5M lorries off the roads to cut carbon emissions.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Major upgrades to Great Eastern Main Line this autumn Numerous upgrade works are set to take place this autumn on the main line between Stratford and Shenfield to advance the reliability of passenger journeys and prepare for the introduction of Elizabeth line services. At Stratford and Maryland, improvements will take place to upgrade the overhead...
• Multi-million-pound upgrade work across August Bank Holiday Network Rail are reminding passengers of significant upgrades taking place across rail networks this weekend. Between the West Midlands and London Euston work is taking place to make journeys more reliable for passengers and freight customers in future. The multi-million-pound investment, part...
• 1.5 million lorries to be taken off the roads by HS2 HS2 have received the first rail freight delivery of aggregate arrive (25 Aug) at HS2’s Washwood Heath site in Birmingham, signifying the start of HS2’s major programme to take up to 1.5 million lorries off Britain’s roads to cut down carbon emissions. Over the next decade, up...

Railnews

• First tri-mode trains to be seen next year The first tri-mode train in Britain is set to enter service with GWR early in 2021. The operator has received the first example of a Class 769 unit, which is a conversion of a former Thameslink dual-voltage Class 319 unit with the addition of diesel power.

Other News Sources

• Innovation lab fires up best of new technology to help Transport for Wales improve customer experienceTRANSPORT for Wales has launched the second phase of its innovation and accelerator programme working with some of the best start up innovation businesses around to deliver real customer benefits.
• Transport accessibility app to be piloted in Scottish Highlands and IslandsThe app will provide instant information about access to buses, trains, car hire, car clubs, bicycle hire, air travel and ferries.
• £13 million investment in West Norfolk rail link upgrade announcedA multi-million pound funding package, which MPs hope will bring a major upgrade of West Norfolk's rail link a step closer, has been announced this afternoon.
• Poacher Line rail group vies for two national awards – your votes needed for one of themA group dedicated to the promotion and development of the railway line between Skegness and Nottingham is vying for two national awards.
• A Tory renationalisation?If there is one thing free marketeers and large state socialists agree on, it would be the terrible state/private hybrid ownership structure of our railways currently supported by the government. While large state socialists won’t be happy until the private sector is squeezed out of the system, market liberals view the Conservative government’s actions as creeping renationalisation.
• GWR receives first ‘tri-mode’ trainFlex fleet will expand services on North Downs line     Train operator GWR has received its first ‘tri-mode’ multiple unit – able to run on overhead and third-rail electrified lines as well as under its own power using a diesel generator. Converted from a Class 319 unit previously used on Thameslink services by ROSCO Porterbrook, the first of 19 Class 769 ‘Flex’ trains has arrived at GWR’s Reading Depot for an extensive programme of staff training and testing. The trains are expected to enter service by early next year in services along the North Downs l...
• The problem with Transforming Cities  Government funding has helped selected urban areas but more will be needed   We have seen a lack of value attached to bus services in the scramble to create space in the wake of the pandemic   The Department for Transport has awarded substantial funding to some cities under the heading of the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF). Bidding was required and amounts at a level not seen for some years have been made available to successful local authority applicants; Leeds City Region won the jackpot, £317m. This approach is becoming the norm to secure government funding for which a lot ...
• Heathrow should withdraw British Airways landing slots due to airline's treatment of workers, say protestersUnite the union has criticised the company for their approach during the pandemic, but the company says it is not immune to the financial impact of Covid-19
• Worthing woman slams 'unbelievable' cycle schemeA PETITION calling for the removal of new cycle lanes has gained more than 6,000 signatures.