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

Wednesday, 09 December 2020

BBC News

• Senedd as it happened: 8 December 2020transport options The South East Wales Transport Commission recommended tripling the number of train stations between Cardiff and the River Severn, from three to nine, as well as establishing bus and cycle route networks in Newport.
• 'Catastrophic' failings over Ferguson ferry 'fiasco'A Holyrood probe says shipyard bosses, ministers and government agencies are all to blame for spiralling costs and delays.
• Tesla: German court halts factory plan over snake and lizard habitatsThe electric carmaker has been clearing forest to make way for a 'Gigafactory' close to Berlin.
• Honda pauses production after UK port woesThe Japanese carmaker temporarily stops production at its Swindon plant after UK ports congestion.

Financial Times

• Ineos abandons Britain to build flagship off-roader in FranceDecision by Brexiter Jim Ratcliffe’s company to buy Mercedes plant ends promise of 500 jobs in Wales
• Path to net zero puts heavy burden on UK consumers Revolution in transport, food and energy needed to hit 2050 target, say climate advisers

The Guardian

• Ineos boss opts to build 'British' heir to Land Rover Defender in FranceVocal Brexiter Sir Jim Ratcliffe vowed to make new Grenadier 4x4 in Bridgend but has now bought car plant at HambachBillionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe has chosen to build a “Britishâ€� 4x4 inspired by the Land Rover Defender in France, rather than Bridgend in Wales.Ratcliffe, who has built up an estimated £12.15bn fortune from petrochemicals company Ineos, announced on Tuesday that the Ineos Grenadier vehicle will be built at the former Smart factory in Hambach, close to the French-German border.
• Honda says production at UK factory to pause due to car parts shortageSwindon plant affected by British ports chaos amid Brexit stockpiling and Covid restrictionsHonda is to pause production at its UK plant on Wednesday because of a shortage of car parts caused by delays in getting parts into Britain in the run-up to the end of the Brexit transition period, according to reports.The car company, which relies on “just in timeâ€� and “just in sequenceâ€� supplies, told the BBC on Wednesday the decision was “due to transport-related parts delayâ€� as ports are hit by Brexit demand and coronavirus restrictions. Continue reading...

The Telegraph

• Uber drops plans for flying taxi journeys [subscription]Company sells off its Elevate division, a day after announcing the sale of its driverless car unit
• Should your 14-year-old be allowed to drive one of these? [subscription]It's well known that young drivers are a greater risk on our roads. But the potential safety benefits to starting earlier are also valid

Times Online

• Honda warns of shortages [subscription]Honda has warned that potential parts shortages may result in the Japanese carmaker needing to temporarily halt production at its Swindon factory.
• Blame game over ferry ‘fiasco’Nicola Sturgeon’s government oversaw a “catastrophic failure” in the building of two new ferries and should be investigated by the public spending watchdog, a damning report has said.
• Brexiteer billionaire Jim Ratcliffe moves his Land Rover production to... EU [subscription]Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the chemicals tycoon and one of the outspoken billionaire backers of Brexit, has turned his back on the UK with plans to build his new version of the Land Rover Defender on the Continent.

Belfast Telegraph

• Test flight of SpaceX’s Starship aborted at last secondThe first high-altitude test flight of SpaceX’s futuristic Starship was aborted at the last second in Texas on Tuesday.

Birmingham Post

• 34 new services added to Hull Trains timetable over festive periodOpen access operator steps up to meet demand with increased travel windows either side of Christmas
• Stena Line wants EU to delay full border checks in call for 'pragmatic approach'Ian Hampton, Stena executive director and brexit spokesperson, said it is in both sides' interests to prioritise trade flows

London Evening Standard

• SpaceX Starship’s first high-altitude test flight aborted at last secondThe first high-altitude test flight of SpaceX's futuristic Starship has been aborted at the last second.

The York Press

• £9.8 million upgrade of York-Harrogate rail line completedA £9.8 MILLION upgrade of the York-Harrogate railway line has been completed, boosting safety and allowing more trains to run.

Reading Evening Post

• Heathrow Airport: who is John Holland-Kaye?The Airport's boss is under the spotlight as workers gear up for a strike over wage cuts
• Heathrow Airport: Workers commit to strike action in contract rowWorkers in positions crucial for the easy functioning of the airport are set to strike over proposed pay cuts

Other Regional Press

• Coventry bus fares to be frozen for 2021BUS fares in the city will be frozen in January 2021 at the same price they are now. The announcement was made by National Express Coventry for all of its tickets.
• Ken Skates on Newport transport commission next stepsPLANS to revolutionise public transport around Newport will be a "test" of the UK Government's willingness to invest in South East Wales and promises to 'level up' the region.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• MAG to roll out UK's largest airport testing scheme to help get Britain flying againMAG (Manchester Airports Group) has launched Covid-19 testing facilities at all three of its airports. The announcement means the full range of tests – RT-PCR, RT-LAMP, Rapid Antigen and Antibody - will be available to all passengers in one location. They will be delivered in partnership with airport services and travel medical provider, Collinson. MAG, the UK’s largest airport group, also became the first operator to give its passengers the chance to book discounted pre-flight testing appointments on the high street at selected Boots UK stores.

New Civil Engineer

• Birmingham station design revised after being likened to a shoeboxUpdated plans for the redevelopment of Perry Barr railway station have been submitted to Birmingham City Council, after the original designs were compared to a shoebox, a Nintendo console and a drive-thru Starbucks by unimpressed railway engineers and local politicians.

Railnews

• RMT suspends Alstom strikes to ˜escalate pay battle™ The RMT has called off strikes which had been under way at two Alstom maintenance sites in north west England – but only for now. The sites affected are Longsight in Manchester, where Alstom maintains Avanti West Coast Pendolinos, and Chester, which takes care of the Class 175 fleet used in north Wales. The union has warned that it will return to its ˜pay battle™ in the New Year, and in the meantime a ban on rest day and overtime working will continue.

Other News Sources

• Southampton Airport plans for runway expansion delayed A DECISION on plans to expand the runway at Southampton Airport has been pushed back.