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

Thursday, 17 December 2020

BBC News

• Heathrow expansion: What is the third runway plan?The Supreme Court has reversed a decision to block plans for a controversial third runway at Heathrow Airport.
• Network Rail fined £135,000 over fence which led to serious burns for boy, 13The 13-year-old received an electric shock after climbing onto the roof of a freight train stopped at a set of signals.
• Heathrow wins court battle to build third runwayIn a blow to campaigners, judges say ministers' decision to approve the runway was legitimate.
• Thameslink to be restored to London Underground mapThe Thameslink service was removed from the famous London Underground map in 1999.
• 'My season rail pass has risen £12,000 since 1997'Fares will rise more than expected next year, although the 2.6% increase will be delayed until March.
• Bentley v Bentley: Car firm loses appeal against trademark rulingJudges at the court of appeal upheld a ruling which favoured Bentley Clothing over Bentley Motors.
• Boeing hires its own pilots to smooth return of 737The 737 Max plane was grounded worldwide last year following two deadly crashes that killed 346 people.
• Toy deliveries to miss Christmas amid port delaysWith Christmas fast approaching, popular lines including Lego, dolls and puzzles are out of stock at some toy stores.

Financial Times

• UK Supreme Court rules Heathrow airport third runway can proceedJudges say government has taken proper account of climate change commitments made under the 2016 Paris agreement

The Guardian

• Brexit Scotland: Emergency lorry park planned near Cairnryan ferry portTalks are continuing on plans to turn an airfield in Dumfries and Galloway into an emergency lorry park in case of post-Brexit delays at Cairnryan port.
• Heathrow third runway has always been rotten idea – time to end this saga | Nils PratleyLegal hurdle has gone, but from emissions targets to passenger projections, list of problems is longCleared for takeoff? Of course not. The supreme court has ruled that Heathrow’s third runway can proceed, but the chances of the thing being built still look remote. The obstacle of legality – admittedly, a large obstruction – has been removed, but the list of problems remains long.One is whether demand still exists for an extra 700 flights a day. Even when the pandemic passes, who can really estimate the long-term impact of Zoom on the critical business traveller market? Heathrow handled 80 mil...

The Herald

• Scotland to become 'world’s first zero emission aviation region'SCOTLAND could become “the world’s first zero emission aviation region” under ambitious plans to decarbonise scheduled flights by 2040.
• Network Rail fined £135,000 after regulator probe into electrocution of teenager in East LothianTHE government-owned company that manages the rail infrastructure has been fined £135,000 following a regulator's investigation over the electrocution of a teenage boy in East Lothian.
• Trains Scotland: Organisations call for Nicola Sturgeon to nationalise railwaysA coalition of organisations and MSPs have written to Nicola Sturgeon calling for the Scottish Government to take rail services into public ownership.

The Telegraph

• Heathrow opponents vow third runway won't see 'light of day' as judges rule work can move ahead
• Chinese capsule returns to Earth carrying moon rocks

Times Online

• Brexit: Wartime airfield is to be a lorry park for delays [Subscription]A former military airfield is lined up to become an emergency lorry park if Brexit causes delays at Cairnryan port.
• Wrightbus on road to recovery [Subscription]The renaissance of Northern Irish manufacturer Wrightbus is getting into gear with the delivery of three hydrogen-powered buses for Belfast.
• Rosamund Kissi-Debrah’s fight for the truth will save many lives from pollution [Subscription]After delivering his ruling on the death of Ella Kissi-Debrah, the coroner turned to her mother sitting in the court and thanked her. Philip Barlow said: “We all have many reasons to thank you for the determination you have shown in getting us here.”
• Boris Johnson refuses to back third runway after Supreme Court backs Heathrow [Subscription]Boris Johnson has refused to endorse proposals for a third runway at Heathrow despite a ruling in favour of the airport by the UK’s highest court.

Mail Online

• Toy stores urge government to 'save Christmas' and ease chaos at UK portsThe British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA), the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) want the Government to intervene at Felixstowe and Southampton.
• Heathrow third runway will go ahead: Airport wins Supreme Court challengeA panel of five justices at the UK's highest court allowed Heathrow Airport to expand by building the controversial third runway after the Court of Appeal declared the plans were unlawful.
• Trains cancelled as major outbreak of Covid-19 sweeps through GWR sparking fears of Christmas chaosPassengers face disruption over Christmas due to a major outbreak of coronavirus among railway staff. More than fifty GWR staff are out of action overall meaning some services will be cancelled.

This is Money

• What are the most reliable car brands to own in 2020?To understand which brands produce the longest-lasting vehicles, What Car polled almost 13,000 UK drivers about the reliability of their motors - even those that are up to 20 years old.

Belfast Telegraph

• Court's decision on Heathrow's third runway is welcomed in NIA Supreme Court decision favouring a controversial expansion at Heathrow Airport has been welcomed in Northern Ireland.

Birmingham Post

• BAE Systems to recruit for 1,250 new roles - its highest number everIt's a record for the firm, with opportunities available in a variety of roles from accountancy to mechanical fitting
• Plan for Liverpool to get 'world-class' station to connect city with HS2 and NPRLime Street doesn't have enough capacity to cope with 'significantly larger high-speed trains'
• Boat-builders defy Covid for salmon farming's 'tractor of the sea'Yorkshire's Parkol Marine and Pearson Electrical complete 27m job for Shetland aquaculture projects

Bolton News

• Crash hotspots in Bolton revealed as police crackdown on road safety THE spots where the most crashes happened in Bolton last year have been revealed – as officers pledge to crackdown on road safety.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Anger over £4.6 million railway station car park planPLANS for a new £4.6 million railway station car park have been slammed as a waste of public money.
• Work to replace Council fleet with gas powered vehicles to begin in 2021 BRADFORD Council will begin replacing its fleet of large diesel vehicles with greener gas powered vehicles in 2021 - Councillors have been told.
• Bradford drivers and Yorkshire's taxi industry write to Council in bid to rescue trade BRADFORD'S taxi industry has united with other Yorkshire drivers to call for an end to what it describes as

Bristol Live

• M5 'ghost busters' to tackle motorway phantomsHighways England to take action against 'ghost markings' that confuse motorists

London Evening Standard

• London Tube and bus fares to rise by more than inflation - but not until MarchMayor confirms 2.6 per cent hike in fares will coincide with increase in national rail fares
• Go-Ahead reveals British Airways pilots are applying for its APPRENTICESHIPS as Covid jobs crisis bitesTravel group Go-Ahead has revealed it saw 20,000 applications for its 650 new apprenticeships this year in a stark illustration of the pandemic's hit to UK employment. 
• Heathrow wins Supreme Court challenge over building third runwayThe decision clears the way for the runway to go ahead in a huge boost for the beleaguered aviation industry
• Royal Mail makes UK’s first drone package delivery with parcel drop-off at remote Scottish lighthouseRoyal Mail has become the first UK parcel carrier to deliver a package with a drone.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Fears that someone could die at accident blackspot after two crashes in two daysThe manager of the Honda dealership has complained that the junction it sits on is a hotspot of road accidents

The York Press

• Moors trains to continue running through winterTHE North Yorkshire Moors Railway is to scrap its traditional winter closure and keep running trains from Boxing Day until March.

Cambridge News

• 'Cambs missed out on £500,000 for active travel,' Labour claim'Every other Combined Authority received at least 95 per cent of their expected cash'

Reading Evening Post

• Rail fare increase - the cost to travel from Reading to LondonBerkshire commuters face another rise in March

Other Regional Press

• Oxfordshire council highways chief resigns after cycling tweets A SENIOR Oxfordshire councillor has resigned his leadership post following a Twitter spat which led to a series of complaints.
• Swanage Railway ‘Steam and Lights’ trains on New Year’s EveExtra festive ‘Steam and Lights’ trains will operate on Swanage Railway on New Year’s Eve due to huge demand for the service.
• Pedestrians will now share these pavements in Coventry with cyclistsSmall sections of pavement will be re-designated as a shared cycle and pedestrian space after Coventry City Council approved plans

The Economist

• Heathrow can build its third runwayBut it may not want to

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Rail fares to rise more than expected next yearRail fares will rise more than expected next year - although the new inflation-busting 2.6% increase is being delayed until 1st March. Regulated fares were expected to increase by 1.6% in January, as successive governments linked annual rises to July's RPI inflation rate. Rail minister Chris Heaton-Harris said the rise reflected
• Heathrow to shut Terminal 4 until end of next yearAirport operator Heathrow has said it will keep Terminal 4 closed until the end of next year as the pandemic continues to affect travel. The company said passenger numbers at the airport fell 88% in November
• Honda to resume UK output after problems at portsHonda has said its British car plant restarted production on Monday after problems importing parts had halted output. The Japanese company said in a statement on Sunday it had told staff at its Swindon plant
• Transport Secretary announces up to £3m for coach services to meet Christmas travel demandA support package worth up to £3m that will enable coach operators to provide additional scheduled services over the Christmas travel window, has been announced by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. The government is working with the coach industry, including National Express, megabus and Snap – who together provide a network of coach services covering Great Britain – to ensure extra scheduled services are provided over the Christmas travel window (23 to 27 December), including on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. People are reminded that however they choose to travel this Christ...
• Grangemouth invests £3m in rail facility at Scotland’s largest freight hubThe Port of Grangemouth has announced a multimillion-pound investment in its rail freight offering which will cement its position as the key strategic freight and export/import hub for Scotland. The £3m investment will significantly scale up and modernise the port’s current rail capacity to create an extended dual rail siding of 775 metres – currently 200 metres – capable of handling the longest freight trains on the UK network. When operational early next year, Grangemouth’s will be the first rail freight terminal to offer this and provide enhanced container / do...
• Test to Release for International Travel goes livePassengers arriving into England will be able to choose to pay for a private test and potentially shorten their self-isolation as the government’s testing strategy for international arrivals goes live. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that passengers arriving from locations not featured on the government’s travel corridor list can, from today, take a private test five full days after leaving the non-exempt place in order to release themselves from self-isolation on receipt of a negative result. Available as an option for all passengers arriving into England by plane,...

Railnews

• Inflation-plus rail fares increase confirmed Fares on National Rail will be increased by 2.6 per cent next year, but the government has put back the increase from the first week in January until 1 March, saying that the decision to delay the increase will offer ˜a significant window for commuters who cannot work at home to purchase cheaper season tickets at the existing rate and allowing greater flexibility in uncertain times™. However, the decision to increase fares above inflation has sparked protests by opposition politicians, transport campaigners and rail unions, with one union leader dubbing the rise as ˜extortionate and plain daf...

Other News Sources

• Heathrow Airport: Supreme Court gives go-ahead for third runway, despite climate campaigns The Supreme Court has decided to allow the Heathrow Airport expansion, despite the fact that the Court of Appeal ruled it unlawful on climate grounds earlier this year.
• Supreme Court overturns ban on Heathrow third runwayAnother key ruling has disappointed environmental campaigners. The prospect of a third runway at London’s Heathrow has been given a boost after the airport’s owners won a challenge at the Supreme Court. It means they can now seek planning permission for the runway, which had previously been blocked by the Court of Appeal for failing…

EIN News Subscription

• EU wants 30 million EVs on the road by 2030 to meet emissions targets … European Union wants at least 30 million electric vehicles (EVs) on its roads … other ambitious measures to tackle EU greenhouse gas emissions – … registered in Europe (EU and non-EU member states) today. … its withdrawal from the EU – announced it would bring …
• Airport slot rules that trigger ‘ghost flights’ could return next year EU rules dictating that airlines … are “not happy” with the EU’s proposed rule that they … Weekly Newsletter TIME TO TRAVEL! European Commissioner for Transport, Adina … contacted Iata for comment. Europe’s biggest budget airline was operating frequent “ghost …
• Air pollution played part in Ella's death: coroner … 1b) severe asthma, 1c) air pollution exposure.” Ella lived 25 … Sir Stephen Holgate found air pollution levels at the … lived “consistently” exceeded lawful EU limits over the three years … Health, the Department for Transport, Transport for London, the Mayor …