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

Tuesday, 23 March 2021

BBC News

• Bradford: city vision of Northern Powerhouse rail stationA "bold vision" for a new Northern Powerhouse railway station on the St James market site in Bradford has been outlined by the council's leader.
• Bus operators secure £40.5m for new green vehiclesThe Scottish government award will help firms replace 215 old diesel vehicles with battery-electric models.
• Covid: £5,000 fine for people going on holiday abroadIt is due to come into force in England next week as some other lockdown restrictions are eased.
• Coronavirus: Transport for London bailout extended until MayThe extension will cover TfL until May 18 when many Covid restrictions are expected to have been lifted.

Financial Times

• European airline shares fall as doubts over summer travel growCarriers will need to raise more cash if summer is a write-off, warn analysts

The Guardian

• Sweden to increase airport fees for high-polluting planesClimate impact, such as use of biofuels, to be taken into account when calculating charges, says government

The Telegraph

• Row over lockdown costs delays biggest rail reforms in 25 years [subscription]Sweeping changes for the train network to be discussed next week by Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak, with officials fearful of costs

Times Online

• Overseas travel ban extended until July due to third wave fears [subscription]Fines of £5,000 for trying to leave the country. Third wave feared despite new low of 17 deaths

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Plans for brand-new Bradford railway station on NPR revealedTHE NORTH could become as "economically vibrant" as the south if the Government invests in a brand-new Bradford railway station, says the council's leader.

London Evening Standard

• UK coronavirus live: First lockdown anniversary marked as £5,000 fine for travelling abroad revealedThe UK is marking one year since the first coronavirus lockdown was announced.

Manchester Evening News

• More 'rat run' roads could be blocked off to cars in bid to make streets safer'Speeding is a problem. I live on a road where they just go very fast, particularly younger drivers'

Yorkshire Post

• The Williams Review setting out the future of railways has been re-written because 'the pandemic changed everything', says Rail Minister Chris Heaton-HarrisLarge parts of the Government's vision for how the nation's railways will be run have had to be re-written because of the dramatic impact coronavirus has had on the industry, a Minister has revealed.

Other Regional Press

• The missing half a million that puts Bradford's new train station at riskCity leaders have thrown their weight behind the Northern Powerhouse Rail plans but Government backing is needed
• Holidays abroad illegal from Monday with £5k fines for anyone trying to leaveNon-essential international travel will be explicitly banned under new Covid rules until at least June
• Port support for King's Lynn to Hunstanton railway planLynn's port manager has spoken in support of the campaign to reinstate the railway line between Lynn and Hunstanton

Business Live

• Leaf production numbers overtake Bluebird at Nissan SunderlandMore than 190,000 electric Leaf vehicles have been produced on Wearside since 2013
• Electric cars could be powered by Gwynedd tidal projectNova Innovation has secured an investment of £1.2 million from the Welsh Government for its Enlli tidal energy
• Wales is being 'robbed' on rail investmentIf rail was devolved there would have been far greater rail investment says the Wales Governance Centre
• Airline ramps up Jersey flights for 'restriction-free' holidays from AprilAirline Blue Islands is preparing for a surge in demand for holidays to Jersey because Government overseas travel restrictions do not apply

New Civil Engineer

• Thousands of Network Rail jobs could be axed under ‘shake-up’, union warns Thousands of jobs could be axed by Network Rail under a “shake-up of working practices to cut costs after the Covid pandemic”, according to the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ union (RMT).
• ‘Next steps’ for Heathrow Southern Rail to be outlined this summerThe Department for Transport (DfT) “remains committed” to the proposed southern rail link to Heathrow Airport and will provide further information on the project’s next steps in the summer.

Rail Advent

• GB Railfreight unveil special British Rail livery for German Class 66 locomotiveGB Railfreight has unveiled the new look for Class 66 No. 66793, marking another Class 66 to have a heritage livery.

Transportxtra

• Mixed views on Manchester rail revampThe Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has criticised all three options in the DfT’s consultation on restructuring rail services in Manchester to improve reliability (LTT 22 Jan).
• DfT ‘withholding study on active travel spend’Cycling UK has urged the Government to publish a report apparently showing that current levels of active travel spending are far short of what is needed to hit Government targets. 
• More Covid bus support for ScotlandThe Scottish Government has announced up to £61.4m of further support for bus services during the recovery stage from Covid.