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

Saturday, 16 January 2021

BBC News

• Transport for London: A future with fewer faresTransport for London (TfL) has detailed new plans on how it will become self-sufficient in the long-term, a new document shows.
• Irish hauliers 'bypassing Welsh ports because of Brexit', say bossesSea port managers fear the shift may be part of a long-term trend to ship from the Irish Republic.
• Covid: 'Urgent' aviation support plea over travel curbsAir industry bodies call for more government support ahead of the UK travel corridor closure on Monday.
• Covid: UK to close all travel corridors from MondayPrime Minister Boris Johnson says the action is needed to protect against the risk of new Covid strains.
• London Underground: 'Measures in place' to prevent overcrowdingDozens of passengers squeezed on to a train at Canning Town because of Jubilee Line delays.

Department for Transport

• Government safeguards vital ferry servicesVital ferry links between the Isle of Wight and the mainland have been safeguarded with an additional £6.5 million of government support to ensure they can continue to run through the crisis, the Chief Secretary announced today, 15 January.
• Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce meeting, 14 January 2021Joint statement on progress made by the taskforce at its meeting on 14 January 2021.
• Consultation launched to improve Manchester’s railwaysConsultation launched on improving the performance of rail services in and around Manchester following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Guardian

• Questions will be asked over timing of closing UK travel corridorsThe announced closure of all international travel corridors to the UK marks the end of another week of changing policy, with the timing and implementation dismaying many.

The Independent

• Amtrak CEO asks Congress to expand TSA’s ‘No Fly List’ to rail passengersAmtrak is limiting ticket sales, requiring masks to be worn on their trains, and expanding their security personnel following deadly Capitol riot

The Telegraph

• Cambridge criticised over 'confusing' plan to allow electric cars to use bus and cycle lanes [subscription]So-called ‘Tesla lane’ intended to encourage EV drivers is criticised by motoring groups
• Truckers face £50 an hour charge waiting for Brexit customs checks [subscription]HMRC to charge hauliers as they park up at 'inland border facilities' aimed at keeping Brexit chaos away from ports
• Boris Johnson closes borders to shut out new Covid strains [subscription]Britain's borders will effectively be closed from Monday amid growing fears over new variants of coronavirus, Boris Johnson has announced.

Times Online

• Councils will get new powers to fine for motoring offences [subscription]Councils are expected to be given new powers to fine drivers for a range of traffic offences by the summer despite fears that they will simply be used as “lucrative revenue-raising” tools.

The Mirror

• Transport Secretary says he's the 'last person' Brits should listen to for travel adviceThe Cabinet minister made the comment when asked if it was wise for pensioners who have had a coronavirus vaccine to book summer holidays

Network Rail

• Week-long upgrade of Portsmouth's railway about to get underwayNetwork Rail engineers are about to kickstart improvements to Portsmouth’s railway and the landmark Landport Viaduct.

Birmingham Mail

• Ridiculed 'brown shed' Perry Barr railway station to cost nearly £10m more than plannedThe redevelopment of Perry Barr railway station will cost nearly £10 million more than originally planned - raising concerns over the scheme.

Birmingham Post

• Firms urged to take part in Cornwall's £330m A30 dual carriageway schemeHighways England puts out call for companies and individuals who can work on the ambitious dualling project
• Airbus workers asked to accept shorter working week to save 360 jobs at BroughtonUnite members will be balloted on the proposals to avoid compulsory redundancies

Bolton News

• Frustration over cars parking on Chorley New Road cycling lane CARS have been parking up on a cycling lane in Bolton, causing frustration among cyclists.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Jet2.com rated top scoring UK airline in refund survey by Which? JET2.com has ranked as the top scoring UK airline in a new airline refund satisfaction survey by Which?, with the leading leisure airline receiving the highest score for customer satisfaction.

Edinburgh Evening News

• ScotRail cutting carriage numbers on some services from Monday – including Edinburgh-Glasgow routeScotRail has confirmed it is to reduce the number of carriages on some of its services due to the latest lockdown restrictions – including the busy route between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Body blow for 'Oyster card for the North' as government axes £105m for contactless travelHopes of passengers using contactless payment to touch in and out of different public transport systems across the North East have been rocked by a major funding cut

The York Press

• 'Staggering' boost for North Yorkshire Moors RailwayA CRISIS appeal launched by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway after it was closed down by the pandemic has raised a 'staggering' £440,000.

Yorkshire Post

• Give us clarity on rail investment, say transport leaders, as Transport for the North cuts row continuesRail industry leaders have called for the Government to urgently clarify its investment in northern transport in the wake of proposed cuts.

Other Regional Press

• 'Essential travel only' says train operator as Covid timetable returnsTRANSPORT for Wales is to reintroduce a Covid-19 timetable to support lockdown.
• TfL: Fares to increase as sustainability plan releasedTransport for London has outlined its radical plan to become self-sustainable by 2023, which includes introducing a boundary charge to drive into Greater London and a potential redrawing of the Tube map.
• Date set for final decision on long-running Southampton Airport runway expansion sagaA final decision on plans to expand the runway at Southampton Airport could be made by March, it has been revealed.

Trafnidiaeth Cymru [Transport for Wales]

• Work begins to transform Llandudno railway stationTransport for Wales has started work to revamp Llandudno railway station for use by a community enterprise.

Other News Sources

• Shock as part of north-east rail bridge collapses close to site of Stonehaven train tragedyA trade union says the situation on Scotland’s railways is “becoming terrifying” after part of a bridge collapsed approximately one mile from the site of the Stonehaven train derailment.
• FLINTSHIRE: Flintshire Council set to take lead on emergency scheme to protect bus services as passenger numbers dropFLINTSHIRE Council looks set to lead on an emergency scheme to protect bus services following a large drop in passenger numbers due to Covid-19.