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

Wednesday, 07 October 2020

BBC News

• HS2 road closure 'utter disaster' for Southam and Leamington Spa firmsThe closure of a link road at short notice has been branded an "utter disaster" for residents.
• Flooded tracks cause rail travel disruptionTrains have been delayed across parts of Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire after heavy rain caused flooding on tracks.

Financial Times

• Boeing slashes expectations for global passenger jet demand by 11%Cuts represent estimated losses of $200bn in potential revenue as airlines shrink fleets
• Shares in AirAsia’s long-haul carrier sink on restructuring planMalaysian tycoon Tony Fernandes’ airline launches last-ditch effort to save business
• Airlines hope Covid-19 health pass will have passengers flying againUsers download a digital certificate to prove they have tested negative for coronavirus

The Guardian

• Heathrow to challenge third runway verdict using climate pledgeHeathrow will argue in the supreme court this week that its proposed third runway would only ever be built in accordance with Britain’s climate commitments, as it seeks to overturn a court of appeal verdict that stopped the airport’s expansion plans.

The Independent

• Gatwick Express: the missing link?So many trains depart from Gatwick to London that an expensive and confusing express service is no longer required

Times Online

• Airline shares take off on hopes of tests for travellersAirlines took off this morning amid talk that the government would soon introduce a coronavirus testing system for travellers entering the UK.
• Breakdown drivers paying a high price for rise of smart motorways [subscription]Drivers have been hit by a £25 million breakdown “tax” as the introduction of smart motorways has coincided with a rise in motorists having to pay to be rescued.
• Brace yourself for pilotless planes by 2030 [subscription]Pilotless passenger aircraft will take to the skies within a decade under plans drawn up by a British manufacturer to cut the cost of flights.

City AM

• Heathrow Airport begins third runway Supreme Court appealHeathrow Airport will today begin a Supreme Court appeal over the decision to block the building of a third runway on the grounds that it did not take into account the UK’s climate pledges.
• Rishi Sunak unveils plan to create England FreeportsThe Treasury will soon start taking bids from cities and towns in England to become Freeports next year, which will The post Rishi Sunak unveils plan to create England Freeports appeared first on CityAM.
• Investing in a greener future: How do we make the sums add up?By 2030, the UK will produce enough wind from offshore sources to power every home in the land.  That was The post Investing in a greener future: How do we make the sums add up? appeared first on CityAM.

Daily Record

• Loganair boss urges Sturgeon to announce Xmas lockdown reprieve to save jobsThe airline chief says Xmas trade is vital and that relaxing restrictions for festive period will help families be reunited and keep people in jobs.

Mail Online

• Young drivers are risking lives by making video calls at the wheelNearly a fifth of drivers aged 17 to 24 are guilty of the lethal habit with the growing popularity of video calling apps presenting 'new, clear and present danger' to Britain's roads, according to the RAC.
• Aviation industry dealt another blow with time consuming review planned into coronavirus screeningThe aviation industry had hoped trials of new systems designed to cut travel quarantine times could begin as soon as tomorrow. Pictured: The testing facility at Heathrow Airport.

Sky News

• Coronavirus: Why public transport could be safer than we thoughtThe health measures used on public transport have helped prevent the virus spreading, an aerosols expert said.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• First Minister 'baffled' by Boris failure to introduce travel bans from English Covid-19 hotspotsMark Drakeford says he will keep 'hammering away' at UK Government until it takes 'common sense' measures to halt spread of coronavirus

Wales Online

• New average speed cameras to be installed on M4 after New YearWelsh Government plans to install average speed cameras on the M4 around Newport were put on hold in April

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Why we can’t stall on projects that will ease city’s transport woes - the YEP saysTransport chiefs are set to approve more than £3m towards the scheme which aims to revamp Leeds City Station.

Yorkshire Post

• £32m Leeds Rail Station refurbishment plans to move one step closerPlans to revamp Leeds City Station are set to take one step forward this week, as regional decision-makers are expected to agree more than £3m towards the project.

Get Surrey

• The Surrey town being devastated by the slowdown in flights at GatwickIn the Surrey town which borders the world’s busiest single-runway airport, coronavirus has hit hard

Leeds Live

• Boris Johnson told Leeds and the North needs HS2 link for Covid-19 recoveryThe Prime Minister will be urged to commit to the Eastern Leg as part of the Northern Powerhouse vision

Other Regional Press

• ‘Scrapping bus gates is a bad idea’ says Oxford councillor AS plans to scrap two bus gates in Oxford city centre are likely to be shelved, the city's council leaders have described the move as a 'U-turn'.
• New 'super hub' in Langley Mill to improve transport and ease congestionPlans to create a Super Hub in Langley Mill to extend the tram network, improve passenger transport links and ease congestion have taken a step forward.
• Welcome for plans to improve county transport linksTHE prospect of faster road and rail links between Shropshire, Wales and the rest of the country has been welcomed after the Government announced a new review of transport connections across the UK.
• Adam Price MS: 'Heart of Wales line repairs must be a priority’Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MS Adam Price has called for the Heart of Wales train line to be restored as a matter of priority by the British Government.
• MP seeks views on campaign to boost Rutland railway servicesRailway campaigners are calling for support to re-open a short section of railway track to boost services between Stamford, Peterborough, Rutland, Kettering and Corby.
• Bicycle bus initiative helping children from Warwick Gates to Whitnash get to schoolA 'bicycle bus' initiative has been launched to help children get to school on their bikes.

Rail Advent

• Stadler takes over Metro train fleet maintenance and Newcastle train depotOld trains and new trains will be maintained by Stadler

Rail Technology Magazine

• Network Rail using world-first innovative technology for rail projectsRail projects across Britain could be potentially transformed as Network Rail begin working with technology start-up nPlan to use Machine Learning technology across its portfolio.

Railnews

• Protests as operators refuse Advance ticket refunds Passengers with Advance tickets who cannot make train journeys because of new Covid restrictions are being told that no refunds will be paid. The latest ruling has come just after the Government had said that there would be no compensation for railcard holders who have been unable to travel.

Railway Gazette

• Bombardier Transportation to establish global centre for electric propulsionIts aim is to facilitate co-operation across sectors including rail, road and construction equipment, with joint research and development projects including industry partners, academia and start-ups.

RMT

• MPs support RMT Campaign to Save Open-Access Rail Jobs and ServicesRAIL UNION RMT has welcomed the fact that a motion tabled in the Westminster parliament, calling on the Government to take action to protect all jobs and services in the open-access rail sector, has received widespread support from MPs.

Other News Sources

• Reader's letter: More thought needed if cycling is the way forward for WinchesterSIR: I am concerned at the increasing support for cycling as a means of travelling into and within our city. It is assumed by some, without question, that cycling is always a Good Thing. More thought needs to be given to this.
• New Runnymede school transport service to replace yellow buses A borough council initiative planned for April 2021 will also serve Chertsey High School
• What Transport for London says about the impact of 10pm curfew on London Underground and bus passenger levelsThe Government's latest attempt to curb the second wave of Covid-19 has certainly rattled a few cages.
• Liverpool Metro Mayor welcomes Voi e-scooter trial to make transport "cheap, quick and green"A new e-scooter trial has launched today in Liverpool, implemented by Swedish startup Voi - welcomed by Liverpool Metro Mayor, Steve Rotherham.
• Create e-Cargo grant for elderly and disabled, user group urges transport MinisterThe Beyond the Bicycle Coalition has written to Cycling and Walking Minister Chris Heaton-Harris, recommending to allocate a new tranche of the e-cargo grant funding be targeted to the people who have suffered the most from the pandemic, namely elderly and disabled people.
• Build sustainable transport into recovery, business leaders and public urgeLocal authorities have been urged by business leaders and individuals alike to deliver on sustainable transport provision and micromobility, according to a new study of public and private sector attitudes.
• New practical advice to help local authorities decarbonise transportThe Local Government Association (LGA) has launched new practical advice to help local authorities decarbonise the transport industry.
• Transport is integral but the white paper has almost nothing to say about itPlanning for the Future is a serious attempt to grapple with significant challenges, while acknowledging that there are practical issues to work through. But the Transport Planning Society’s initial observation is that the inter-relationship of planning and transport is not addressed. Transport is key to land-use planning, achieving the legally binding target of net-zero emissions by 2050 and supporting wellbeing. Yet the white paper mentions transport only five times.
• Helston railway line study by CIC to bring people to townSerious moves are being made to look at whether it is possible to one day reintroduce some form of railway connection to Helston.
• Welland Valley 'Beeching Reverse' Rail link will provide new links for Stamford and Peterborough and possible new station for RutlandRailway campaigners are proposing a new line that runs between Kettering and Corby with new links to Stamford and Peterborough.
• Network Rail to deploy machine learning on 40 rail projectsBRTAIN’s infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) has teamed up with nPlan to roll out machine leaning on 40 rail projects initially and all projects by mid-2021.
• Gatwick airport to charge drivers to drop off passengersDRIVERS will be charged for dropping off passengers at Gatwick, as the airport tries to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

News from Europe

• The not-so-secret solution to decarbonising EU transportSustainable biofuels are already making a big dent in Europe’s dependence on fossil fuel but should be empowered to do even more. With the right policy priorities, the EU Biofuels Value Chain writes, Europe can achieve new, higher emissions-reduction goals.