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

Friday, 22 January 2021

BBC News

• Newport Transporter Bridge: Multimillion-pound boost for historic structureThe world's largest surviving transporter bridge is set to be repaired and restored.
• Is Scotland 'lagging behind' on vaccinating the population?Scotland has immunised fewer elderly people in the community but nearly all care homes have had residents vaccinated.
• Nissan says Brexit deal 'positive' and commits to UKThe Japanese car maker has told the BBC its Sunderland plant is secure for the long term.

Financial Times

• Nissan greets Brexit deal as chance to expand range at SunderlandGroup says agreement creates opportunities as it moves battery making to north-east site
• Airbus to raise production more slowly as pandemic bitesAerospace manufacturer to take ‘lower for longer’ approach to increasing rate of output

The Telegraph

• Travel latest news: Tagging arrivals among tough border measures considered by Home Office

Times Online

• Ten legal challenges mounted against pro-cycling road closure schemes [subscription]At least ten legal challenges are being brought against road schemes designed to promote cycling and walking after a key court ruling.
• Travellers face bill for ten days in Covid quarantine hotel on return [subscription]Holidaymakers returning to the UK would have to pay to spend ten days in quarantine in a hotel staffed by security guards under plans being considered by ministers.

Mail Online

• Covid UK: Passengers fume over queues at Heathrow airportDespairing Heathrow passengers queued up for hours to get through passport control today as the Covid border situation worsened as one asked 'are they making sure we all get infected?'

Sky News

• Nissan says Brexit deal is 'positive' - and gives carmaker a 'competitive advantage'Nissan has hailed the Brexit deal, saying the agreement will give it a "competitive advantage" as it committed to produce new electric vehicle batteries at its Sunderland plant.

Birmingham Post

• Airbus slows down planned ramp-up of A320 productionThe continued impact of the coronavirus pandemic on aviation has prompted the action
• Nissan executive hails Brexit deal as 'positive' for Sunderland plantChief operating officer Ashwani Gupta said the deal would allow Nissan to continue exports of almost all of its vehicles

London Evening Standard

• Don’t use your Oyster card if you want to avoid the £20 auto top-up, says TfL chiefLondon’s transport commissioner has advised passengers to stop using Oyster cards to avoid incurring hefty automatic top-ups during the pandemic.

Northern Echo

• Jobs relief as Brexit deal secures Nissan factory at Sunderland THOUSANDS of North-East jobs have been protected after car maker Nissan committed to investment in the UK after Brexit in what the Prime Minister hailed as a “great vote of confidenceâ€�.

Cambridge News

• Stansted Airport shuts terminals overnight as flights cancelledThe lack of demand for flights during the lockdown means the airport will be completely closed overnight

Other Regional Press

• First Oxford Low Traffic Neighbourhoods approved in CowleyAN experiment which could see the number of cars on residential streets around Cowley has been given the go-ahead.
• Inside the new spacious £30m Halifax train station Calderdale Council is working with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority on the transformation

Bus and Coach.com

• New voice for coachesShortly before Christmas, the RHA announced details of its forthcoming new membership option for coach operators. Jonathan Welch looks at what the RHA intends to offer the industry

Coach and Bus Week

• Arriva Buses Wales depot to close for 14 days due to Covid-19 infectionsArriva has issued a statement in regards to a depot closure in Wales due to Covid-19: “Arriva Buses Wales has temporarily closed its Wrexham Depot as of 2000hrs on 12 January for a period of up to 14 days. This is due to a number of employees being diagnosed with Covid-19. This decision has been taken in full consultation with Wrexham Council and Public Health Wales, to ensure the safety of our staff at this crucial time.
• Stagecoach to invest £4m in bridge alert technologyStagecoach has worked with GreenRoad to develop new technology that will upgrade current software fitted to its fleet and inform driving staff, via a speaker, if they are nearing a low bridge
• Red revivedCentrebus Group-owned D&G Bus reintroduced a historic bus fleet name last week as it took over the reins of the Cannock depot from Arriva. Richard Sharman looks at the operation during its first week and finds out what customers in the area can look forward to as the brand develops
• The bus cabin should be as ergonomic as the office workplaceProfessional drivers are at a higher risk of developing musculoskeletal pain due to prolonged sitting, vibration, awkward posture and repetitive actions. Kostas Poulios, Principal Design & Development Engineer at steering system specialist Pailton Engineering, examines the situation from the vehicle design stage, and argues the importance of fully adjustable driver workstations
• Bus Users concerned as operators in Wales reduce bus servicesCharity Bus Users, which campaigns for accessible, inclusive transport, has expressed concerns over plans by a growing number of bus operators in Wales to reduce services in line with lockdown restrictions with the aim of preventing people from making unnecessary journeys.

New Civil Engineer

• Arcadis to develop systems strategy for Lower Thames Crossing and Stonehenge tunnelsHighways England has appointed Arcadis, in partnership with 4way consulting, to develop a tunnels, systems and products strategy.
• Extra land safeguarded at HS2’s Leeds stationAdditional land has been safeguarded next to Leeds station ahead of construction of High Speed 2 (HS2) and Northern Powerhouse Rail.
• £1bn Cardiff Crossrail backed in rail plan to tackle M4 congestionThe Welsh Government has backed a raft of recommendations to tackle congestion on the M4. Recommendations include a £1bn light rail proposal dubbed “Cardiff Crossrail”, upgrading the South Wales Main Line and building six new stations between Cardiff and the River Severn.

Rail Magazine

• Heaton-Harris: fare payers should make “fair contribution”Government recognises concerns regarding the planned fares rise in March, but has reiterated its belief that fare payers should make a “fair contribution” in the wake of the financial support the railway has received over the past ten months.

Rail Technology Magazine

• P.P O’Connor Group aids to develop HS2’s new Birmingham stationManchester-based civil engineering consultants P.P O’Connor Group has joined the list of firms supporting construction of UK’s new railway, High Speed Two (HS2).

Railnews

• £1.7 billion boost for Bombardier in DerbyA CONSORTIUM led by Bombardier Transportation has confirmed a deal with the Egyptian Government to build two new monorails, with the support of a guarantee from the British government which is worth £1.7 billion.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Scottish Government advances plans for U19 free bus travelThe Scottish Government has pushed ahead with its plans to provide free bus travel to all young people under the age of 19 who live in Scotland. It comes after a consultation returned an overwhelmingly positive response to the proposal.
• New jobs at Wrightbus support government’s 4,000 ZE vehicle pledgeWrightbus has announced it will be creating over 40 new positions at its headquarters in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, in preparation for an increase in vehicle production.
• Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme gets further £25mThe Scottish Government has made available a further £25m towards the purchase of zero-emission buses through a second round of the competitive Scottish Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS). 
• Gender imbalance still ‘our biggest challenge’, says Brighton and Hove bossGender balance remains the coach and bus industry’s biggest challenge in terms of scale, according to Managing Director of Brighton and Hove Metrobus Martin Harris.
• Anna Westerberg named President of Volvo BusesAnna Westerberg has been named President of Volvo Buses, and a member of Volvo Group management.
• Continental aims to protect cyclists and pedestrians with radar-based turn assist systemContinental says pedestrians and cyclists can be “reliably detected” by its new radar-based turn assist system, RightViu, helping to prevent serious and fatal accidents.
• UKCOA: ‘Strength in depth is key’ message at launch eventThe UK Coach Operators Association (UKCOA) will work collaboratively with members, stakeholders and other trade associations to further the coach industry’s cause, viewers of a virtual launch meeting were told on 18 January.

Other News Sources

• Andover Road crossing: Campaign close to successA CAMPAIGN for a new road crossing in Winchester appears close to success.
• Less than 5% of smart motorways have radar technology to protect stranded driversAccording to Highways England, installation of the technology has been completed on a 13-mile section of the M3 in Surrey and Hampshire
• London Underground weekend closures: The tube lines and overground shut on January 23 and 24Weekend number three of the third English national lockdown and millions are still working from home.
• Final bill to keep Newmarket's Weatherby rail crossing open climbs to £41kThe final cost of the fight to try to keep Newmarket’s Weatherby rail crossing open has climbed to more than £40,000.
• STUDY EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR EXPANDING THE ISLE OF WIGHT’S RAILWAY BEGINSWork has started on a project to study the Isle of Wight’s railways to see how they could meet future transport needs, which includes the possibility of running trains into Ventnor and Newport once again.
• UK grants $2.3bn to Bombardier rail in export fundingThe UK Government has granted $2.3bn to Bombardier’s train unit in export funding, which will support an English plant ahead of its pending merger with French train manufacturer Alstom.
• UK’s Heathrow Express introduces first new fleet since 1998The UK's Heathrow Express has introduced a newly renovated fleet of a dozen Class 387 trains, marking the first new fleet since the launch of the service in 1998.