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

Saturday, 13 February 2021

BBC News

• Carlisle to Settle train removes dangerous icicles in tunnelNetwork Rail has used a special train to remove dangerous 5ft (1.5m) icicles dangling from the roof of a tunnel on the Settle to Carlisle line.
• Climate Change: Government may review road-building policyThe government may review its road-building policy in England following a legal challenge from environmentalists.
• Huge tram extension planned for EdinburghPlans show a north/south line, running from Granton Harbour and down to either Roseburn or Shandwick Place.
• Manchester Go North West bus drivers to strike in 'fire and rehire' disputeUnite members voted 4-1 to strike with the walk-out due to take place from 28 February.
• 'I saved £5,000 by charging my electric car for free'Drivers of electric vehicles are able to charge their batteries with free electricity, so how long might that last?
• Brexit lorry chaos avoided as freight flows 'back to normal'Internal government data says lorries are moving again, but some were empty as trade dropped.

The Guardian

• HS2 tunnel protest will be first of many, says activistLazer Sandford says subterranean tactics are likely to feature in new wave of climate emergency protestsAn environmental activist who spent 12 days in a tunnel network underneath Euston Square Gardens in central London says the protest is likely to be the first of a new wave against the climate emergency using subterranean tactics.Speaking exclusively to the Guardian in his first interview since leaving the tunnel network on 6 February, Lachlan Sandford, 20, known as Lazer, said the protest to raise awareness about the environmental destruction that activists believe the high-speed rail link H...

The Telegraph

• Government to develop Covid vaccine certificates for travel abroad [subscription]Transport Secretary will lead work on options for certificates, which would operate in a similar way to yellow fever cards
• Electric cars will be easier to refuel than petrol or diesel, pledges Grant Shapps [subscription]Electric cars will be easier to refuel than petrol or diesel, Grant Shapps has pledged, as the Government laid out plans for its charging revolution.

Times Online

• England-Scotland border checks on cards as talks falter [subscription]Border checks at Berwick and Gretna have moved a step closer after negotiations to convince UK ministers to enforce Scotland’s tough quarantine broke down.
• Britons are at the back of a year-long queue for new Teslas [subscription]Oscar Wilde said that if something was worth having, it was worth waiting for. Then again, he wasn’t in line for a Tesla.

Birmingham Mail

• First look at multi-million pound bus and Metro station set for DudleyThe new facility will combine bus, tram via the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill line and Sprint services

Birmingham Post

• Leeds Bradford Airport improvement plans given approval after marathon debateClimate change protestors had objected to plans which are hoped will allow the airport to increase its number of flights
• Airbus supplier makes "positive start"However the company has warned that its half-year performance will be weaker overall
• GWR boss calls for electrification to Swansea and faster train speeds in WalesMark Hopwood said his trains travel at 125mph but cannot do so in Wales
• Boss of George Best Belfast City Airport to retire after 16 yearsBrian Ambrose has overseen the expansion of the airport and turbulence of the last year
• Stena Line cancels Fishguard-Rosslare sailings for a weekThe route has seen a huge drop in demand since Brexit but Stena says committed to long term future of Welsh port

Bolton News

• Free Metroshuttle bus in Bolton is under threat due to CovidTHE Metroshuttle free bus service for shoppers in Bolton town centre is set to be axed.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Jet2 boosts summer breaks to Greece from Leeds Bradford Airport JET2.com and Jet2holidays have responded to demand from customers looking to enjoy some Greek sunshine in late summer, by adding more flights and holidays to Zante, Crete (Heraklion), Rhodes and Kefalonia from Leeds Bradford Airport, extending the Summer 2021 season.

Edinburgh Evening News

• North-south tram line by 2030 under new council planAn ambitious decade-long transport plan for Edinburgh - designed to fight climate change, air pollution, congestion and inequality in the city – has been unveiled by council chiefs.

The York Press

• 'These plans will make York station fit for the future' SO, plans to transform the front of York railway station have been approved. Councillors voted in favour of the scheme by a majority of 9-6 at a meeting on February 4.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Preparing to live with HS2: Minister pledges to listen to residents' concernsA minister today said HS2 was crucial to the region's economic recovery post-Covid, as he told residents:

Other Regional Press

• Lib Dems say 'loudest voices' must not dictate Harrogate's transport futureHarrogate’s future on travel and transport must not be dictated by the “loudest voices,” argue the town’s Lib Dems.
• Timelapse footage shows rail landslip being rebuiltThe landslip was caused by heavy rain brought by Storm Christoph

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Port of Antwerp and Zeebrugge join forces to become Europe’s largest portThe City of Antwerp and the City of Bruges have reached an agreement to merge their respective ports. The two-city agreement marks the start of a unification process that is expected to take a year to finalise. Once completed, the ports will operate under the name ‘Port of Antwerp-Bruges’.  As a result of the merger, the ports will be able to strengthen their position within the global supply chain and continue their course towards sustainable growth. Furthermore, the unified port will be more resilient to the challenges of the future and will take a lead in the transition to...

Railnews

• West Coast line to reopen after major landslip The West Coast Main Line south of Rugby will reopen tomorrow after Network Rail engineers spent more than a fortnight repairing a landslip at Hillmorton junction.

Aviation Industry

• Communities say no to night flightsNight Flight Consultation Night-time flights at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted are controlled for the purposes of limiting noise, and the Department for Transport is carrying out a consultation on a …

Other News Sources

• Transport Secretary hails work of transport industry in vaccination roll-outTransport Secretary Grant Shapps hailed the efforts of transport operators and employees across the country who have gone above and beyond to help the nation’s coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination roll-out, as government remains on track to meet its target of offering a first dose to those in the top 4 priority groups by 15 February 2021.
• Ten-year transport and mobility plan could see further extension to Edinburgh tram networkAnother major expansion of the Edinburgh tram network is being considered as part of a ten-year transport and mobility transformation plan
• Hermes and Ford trial new parcel delivery service in UK Hermes has trialled a new delivery model which combines delivery vans with pedestrian couriers.