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

Saturday, 03 October 2020

BBC News

• Aberdeen railway station £8m revamp to begin later this yearAn £8m revamp of Aberdeen railway station is to get under way later this year, ScotRail has said.
• Coronavirus: Public transport use dropped by 90% in pandemicPublic transport use in Northern Ireland dropped by more than 90% at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. More people are now using buses and trains but the numbers are still down - 60% lower than before the pandemic.
• Bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis 'to cut further 70 jobs in Falkirk'Unite says the move by Alexander Dennis means 270 out of 850 workers will lose their jobs in Falkirk.
• 'Bittersweet' farewell for Scotland's oldest miniature railwayThe 85-year-old attraction plans a
• Heathrow Terminal 2 evacuated over 'suspicious item'Passengers had been moved away from the building
• Crossrail work 'will stop' without extra £1.1bn fundingThe route, known as the Elizabeth Line, was due to open in December 2018 but has had several delays.
• Coronavirus: London transport 'will shut without second bailout'Transport for London warns Tube and bus services will shut in a

Financial Times

• Uber sells stake in its freight business to private equityDeal is latest attempt to cut exposure to cash-guzzling ventures outside ride-sharing core
• Pelosi raises prospect of new airline bailoutUS House speaker promises support for industry even if broader economic stimulus talks fail

The Independent

• Caledonian Sleeper strike: Rail union blames talks breakdown on row over MP’s coronavirus trip‘We are deeply disappointed this action is going ahead at a time when everyone’s focus should be on maintaining vital Scottish transport links,’ said the operator
• The mystery of the East Coast ghost trainsAt 8.32 each weekday evening, a big diesel train roars into life and accelerates away from the glorious curve of York railway station, brushing against the right bank of the River Ouse. The CrossCountry service growls its way north, pausing at Darlington, Durham, Newcastle and the Northumberland village of Alnmouth en route to Edinburgh Waverley.

The Scotsman

• Remote airport control towers plan ‘unsafe’Plans for remote control towers to be used at airports serving island communities are “unsafe and untested”, MSPs have been told.

Times Online

• Covid-19 sends Ryanair into steep descent [subscription]Ryanair’s passenger traffic fell by 64 per cent in September compared with last year in another sign of the devastating impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the airline industry.

Mail Online

• Cowpats could be used to power milk tankers around the UKLeading UK dairy co-operative Arla is taking part in an experiment in which manure is turned into biofuel to provide a 'limitless source of energy'.

Bristol Live

• E-scooter trial in Bristol and Bath to go ahead It will be the only way to ride them legally

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Buses still being used on Snowdonia railway route despite line opening days agoAnd Dolgarrog station, which was repaired after being badly damaged by flooding, will also stay shut for the time being
• Impressive drone images shows major progress of Caernarfon-Bontnewydd bypass The pictures taken by Glaslyn Hughes show the £135m road beginning to take shape

Edinburgh Evening News

• Reopening Edinburgh's South Sub railway is top public suggestion for transport improvementsREOPENING Edinburgh's South Suburban rail line for passengers or using it as a tram route emerged top of the list when the public was asked for ideas to improve the city's transport system.

Wales Online

• The massive impact of coronavirus on Cardiff Airport as business drops by 93%Cardiff Airport's interim boss has revealed that business is down 93% on the same time last year.
• First look at new transport hub for Porth as plans are submittedThe development would link up bus and rail travel and is part of a wider regeneration strategy for the town

Bucks Free Press

• Jones' Hill Woods HS2 protesters stand firm in treetop protestsTensions are building between treehouse protesters obstructing HS2 construction in a forest and evictions officials, as a second day of removals got under way.

Other Regional Press

• Transport chiefs urged not to make north-east wait 20 years for A90 duallingA north-east councillor is urging transport chiefs not to make them wait two decades for a major road link upgrade.
• Milton Keynes Council to create a completely new system of public transport in the cityCompanies running 26 subsidised bus routes across MK are being offered extended contracts until next April to give the council time to create a completely new system of public transport.
• UK government slammed over "farcical" bus transport policy after passenger numbers fallNumber of bus journeys have fallen in 65 of 88 English local transport authorities outside London and by 10 per cent overall

Business Live

• New report calls for 'infrastructure revolution' for SW transportA major new report is calling for an “infrastructure revolution” for the South West with long-term Government transport spending targeted at the region in a bid to “level up” the UK.

Green Miscellany

• New powers to protect cycle lanes from driversPerhaps the most significant answer at Transport Questions in parliament recently was in response to a question from Lloyd Russell-Moyle who asked if the Government would activate the Traffic Management Act 2004 (part 6) so that local authorities in England don’t have to rely on the police to enforce against drivers who drive in mandatory cycle lanes, encroach on advanced stop… The post New powers to protect cycle lanes from drivers appeared first on ETA.
• Level playing field for rail travel urgently neededYou may already know that airlines pay no tax on jet fuel and fuel duty for cars has remained unchanged since 2011, incentivising people against changing environmentally damaging travel habits. What you may not know is that at a time when we are rolling out more electric and electro-diesel ‘bi-mode’ trains, the levies that train companies pay on electricity have… The post Level playing field for rail travel urgently needed appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• ACI: physical distancing can reduce airport capacity by up to 75 per centAirports Council International (ACI World) has warned that physical distancing at airports could severely restrict capacity as passenger traffic starts to grow.
• Abbey Wood station at risk as 'catastrophic' Crossrail collapse fearedThe construction of London’s major Crossrail project could grind to a halt without a £1.1b support package from the Government, with transport bosses warning funding for the scheme was becoming an “increasingly critical issue”.
• New transport guidance for a climate smart COVID-19 recoveryThe Local Government Association has launched new advice developed by experts at the University of Leeds on practical actions local authorities can take to decarbonise transport.
• Stagecoach bus services in Winchester reduced due to curfew A REDUCED bus service is being enforced in Winchester, in line with the Government-sanctioned 10pm curfew, Stagecoach has announced.

News from Europe

• COVID-19 rail transport measures adopted by CouncilThe Council today adopted emergency measures to help the rail sector in the current difficult situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The measures will give member states the possibility to provide relief from certain infrastructure charges for rail companies while ensuring a timely refund for infrastructure providers.