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

Wednesday, 02 December 2020

BBC News

• Brexit trade: 'Serious disruption' risk at Channel post-transition periodA group of MPs have warned of the "risk of serious disruption and delay" at Channel crossings when the Brexit transition period ends on 31 December.

Financial Times

• London’s Crossrail project boosted by £825m government loanNew east-west rail line in the capital is running £4bn overbudget and almost four years late

The Guardian

• Crossrail work to continue after £825m government loanTfL says finance will allow line to open in 2022 amid row over London funding in Covid crisis
• Britain’s least used railway station served just 42 passengers in 2019Britain’s least used railway station has been revealed as Berney Arms in Norfolk, which served just 42 passengers last year.
• Wildflower meadows to line England's new roads in boost for biodiversityNative wildflower meadows will line the verges of all new large-scale road projects under an initiative by Highways England, the Guardian can reveal.
• Good riddance to Britain's franchised railway systemThe pandemic has finished off an unsustainable system and replaced it with de facto nationalisation. What comes next?

Times Online

• Crossrail bailed out with £825m loan... and it could need more [subscription]Crossrail has been handed a further £825 million in an attempt to complete the heavily delayed project, with warnings that more cash may be needed before it is opened.
• Easyjet will charge for large bags in cabin [subscription]Easyjet will charge passengers at least £8 to bring large bags into the cabin under tough rules it says will speed up the boarding process.

Birmingham Post

• Indian bike maker Calamus to launch UK HQ in BirminghamCompany has been accepted onto accelerator programme so will open new base in the city centre
• Hull Trains returns to service this week with strong bookingsThursday return following second lockdown pause for open access operator as student travel window and Christmas lifeline provided

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bradford Interchange sees rise in rail journeys in 2019-20 BRADFORD Interchange was the sixth busiest railway station in Yorkshire last year, official figures have revealed, but total rail journeys fell by 32 million.

Wales Online

• 'I've been gagged' says ex mayor as he's thrown off transport boardWilliam Routley has had his membership to the board of directors at Newport Transport withdrawn
• 'City of Swansea' Boeing 747 is about to complete its final flightIt is one of just two 'Queens of the sky' left in the BA fleet

Bucks Free Press

• BBC Radio 2 broadcaster Jeremy Vine grills Buckinghamshire Council over axed quietway schemeA TOP radio presenter has challenged the council on its decision to scrap a pop-up travel scheme after receiving pressure from locals who mounted a petition for its removal.

Other Regional Press

• Thousands more cars are on Bedford's roads than a decade ago as RAC warns public transport not up to scratchDrivers have been avoiding public transport during pandemic and say it "simply isn't practical"
• ‘Gagged’: Ex-mayor's claim after removal from transport boardNEWPORT’S former mayor says he has been ‘gagged’ after his membership of the board of directors at Newport Transport was withdrawn.
• Fylde rail line on track for key boost to servicesPlans to double rail services on the South Fylde Line have taken a major step forward after a bid from MPs Mark Menzies and Scott Benton won Government backing and funding.

British Trams Online

• Stadler to work in partnership with Newcastle University on new Metro fleetWhen Stadler were announced as the winning bid to construct the new fleet of trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro there was controversy in the local area as Hitachi – who have a factory in the region – had been shortlisted but were unsuccessful with complaints about not securing local jobs. It has now been confirmed that Stadler are to work in partnership with Newcastle University to “promote shared learning and innovation” as part of their “commitment to North East England”.

New Civil Engineer

• ‘Urgent action’ needed on troubled Scots A roadThe leader of Argyll & Bute Council is calling for “urgent action” on the A83 after weeks of closures.
• Non-essential parts of Crossrail may be ‘parked’ to get line open in 2022Non-essential parts of the Crossrail project may be “parked” to ensure that the Elizabeth Line is ready for its revised opening window, Transport for London (TfL) commissioner Andy Byford has revealed.
• HS2 contractors embroiled in row over worker payConstruction union Unite has accused the Balfour Beatty Vinci Systra (BBVS) joint venture of allowing “Scrooge” activities at HS2’s Old Oak Common site.

Railnews

• All clear for Crossrail, as funding is agreed The government has agreed a further tranche of support for Crossrail, after there had been warnings that the project would have to be mothballed because Transport for London has a continuing cash problem and cannot pay for further work itself. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: ˜Securing this financing package enables us to press full steam ahead. The Government have insisted London must pay the shortfall – despite the overwhelming majority of the tax income that will result from Crossrail going to the Treasury.™

Trafnidiaeth Cymru [Transport for Wales]

• New Transport for Wales trains being builtWork is continuing on the construction of Transport for Wales’ new trains for the Wales and Borders rail network and the South Wales Metro despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other News Sources

• Gatwick Airport station officially most used in South East, with Surrey station not far behind London Waterloo station topped the overall chart for the sixteenth consecutive year
• £1 million investment to be made in Inverclyde transport projectsSTRATHCLYDE Partnership for Transport is investing more than £1m in Inverclyde.
• Cheshire East Council launches public consultation for transportThe consultation is seeking the public's opinions on plans for local transport and parking across the borough.
• Port of Rotterdam warns of no transport if Brexit paperwork incompleteStarting Jan. 1, 2021, U.K. shippers importing or exporting goods via the Netherlands will have to notify a digital system for processing containers through large ships and ferry terminals, Port of Rotterdam Spokesperson Leon Willems said at the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency roundtable discussion Monday.
• Mini visitor boom takes the shine off railway station once named quietest in UKAn east Cambridgeshire railway station, once named the UK’s quietest, has made the yearly top 10 list once again after just 164 visits between 2019 and 2020.
• Government’s proposals for HS2 phase two to be revealed before ChristmasIntegrated Rail Plan also expected to unveil details for Northern Powerhouse Rail initiative