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

Wednesday, 03 February 2021

BBC News

• EU condemns Northern Ireland Brexit port staff 'threats'All NI parties also criticise threats against staff checking on animal and food products at Larne and Belfast.
• HS2 underground protest: Activists in 'very dangerous' situationA court orders the protesters to stop tunnelling and co-operate with the authorities.

The Guardian

• BP reports $5.7bn loss as Covid-19 pandemic hits oil demandCompany was forced to write off the value of its oil and gas assets by $6.5bn last year

The Telegraph

• A minister must lead the Build Back Better drive - Michael Heseltine [ subscription]The Prime Minister must appoint a senior minister to coordinate the Build Back Better business council

Times Online

• It’s time to be bold and put the Tees into the Treasury - Ben Houchen [subscription]t’s crucial that while the government concentrates on battling against Covid-19 it doesn’t lose sight of the policy agenda it has a mandate for. At the last election, the country was promised better policy-making for towns, villages and rural areas, and a transformative levelling-up programme.
• Pay for out-of-town parking under plan to save Scottish high streets [subscription]Charges for parking spaces could be brought in across shopping malls, industrial estates and business parks in an effort to revive town centres.

Labour Party

• The role of transport? To help meet a city’s needs, not compete with themIn Newcastle, this is the fourth year of the transport and air quality portfolio. Within that time, emphasis has shifted towards decarbonisation and the importance of air quality’s impact on public health. Transport is responsible for around a third of our city’s carbon emissions. The link between transport and our city’s environmental, economic and social health is clear; the design of places plays an important role in helping people make healthier transport choices for them and their families.

Birmingham Post

• Relocation puts rail tech specuialist on track for significant job creationDual Inventive has arrived at a new destination by Doncaster's airport
• Ambition Board chief says North Wales has a 'compelling story to tell' for investorsAlwen Williams says the North Wales Growth Deal is a cog in a wider eco-system of investment

Bolton News

• Councillor vows to tackle growing list of potholesA COUNCILLOR has vowed to tackle potholes across his ward following complaints by residents.

Yorkshire Post

• York railway station set for major £28m transformation to bring a new gateway to the cityThe £28m project is due to be discussed by councillors in York tomorrow and is set to see a redesigned entrance created at the station, which dates back to 1877, as well as a dramatically remodelled public transport interchange introduced at the site.

Sunderland Echo

• Watered-down 'Leamside South' rail line reopening would be 'opposite of levelling up', say leadersWatered-down plans to reopen a vital rail link would be ’the opposite of levelling up’, North East leaders have warned.

Other Regional Press

• MP call over high Covid death rate for taxi and bus driversOLDHAM MP and Shadow Transport Secretary, Jim McMahon has called on Grant Shapps to hold a virtual roundtable after data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals taxi drivers, bus and coach drivers have recorded some of the highest death rates of any occupation.
• Popular stretch of railway line to get refurbA MUCH-LOVED railways branch line is on track for getting a makeover.
• Leaders approve use of £69.5m government transport funding – and say they’re using it better than WhitehallGreater Manchester leaders have agreed to spend more than £69m on developing a ’world class’ public transport system in the city-region.

Train Operators

• Rail station waiting rooms in Essex refurbishedA programme to upgrade rail station waiting rooms on the Greater Anglia network saw three in Essex refurbished last year.

New Civil Engineer

• Ferrovial launches fresh bid to offload AmeyFerrovial has reportedly relaunched the sale of its UK outsourcing firm Amey.
• What scaling back Euston station means for HS2The Department for Transport’s (DfT) decision to order a redesign of High Speed 2’s (HS2) Euston station has renewed fears that the Eastern leg to Leeds is about to be axed (see Twitter reaction below).
• Network Rail engineers prevent Stoke-on-Trent street collapseMoving land beside the West Coast main line in Stoke-on-Trent has been stabilised by Network Rail engineers.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Hitachi Rail tests first battery-powered tram in ItalyHitachi Rail has announced that it has successfully completed the testing of its first battery-powered tram in the historic city of Florence in Italy’s Tuscany region.

Railway Technology

• MTR set to launch new signalling system on East Rail LinMTR Corporation, a majority state-owned Hong Kong company, is set to commission the new signalling system and nine car trains on the East Rail Line (EAL).

Seanews

• Advisory Group for Eco Marine Power Research Institute FormedEco Marine Power (EMP) announced today that a number of shipping, maritime & technology professionals from several innovation-focused companies have agreed to join the Eco Marine Power Research Institute Advisory Group. This group will focus on the exchange of ideas and solutions related to energy transition and shipping, plus help guide further research into topics ranging from zero emission ships to innovative energy saving devices and strategies.

Other News Sources

• Council listens and performs u-turn on some proposed town centre transport improvementsWARRINGTON Borough Council has listened to concerns over proposed town centre transport improvements and has now decided not to implement them all permanently.
• Government announces £760m for first stage of East West Rail projectThe Government has announced £760 million to support the new East West Rail line connecting communities between Oxford and Cambridge, with phase two of the project connecting Oxford to Bedford.
• 'Blanket quarantine would decimate industry', says former transport ministerCompulsory quarantine for all UK arrivals would mean the loss of another summer season for the industry, the former transport secretary had told parliament.
• Government announces £760m for first stage of East West Rail projectThe Government has announced £760 million to support the new East West Rail line connecting communities between Oxford and Cambridge, with phase two of the project connecting Oxford to Bedford.
• Enel Green Power, FNM to develop green hydrogen solutions for railItaly’s biggest utility Enel, through its renewable energy subsidiary Enel Green Power, and Italian public transport company FNM have inked a deal to develop green hydrogen solutions for railway transport in Lombardy, northern Italy.