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

Wednesday, 12 May 2021

BBC News

• West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin tweets about bus journey woesThe newly-elected mayor of West Yorkshire has complained about problems with her bus journey to work on the second day in the job.
• 'Talk to me': A train driver asking men to open upAs Scotland's only woman freight train driver, Heather Waugh was already a pioneer. Then a tragedy from her past inspired her to take on a new mission - getting men to talk about their mental health.
• Electric car mechanics to be trained at Wrexham collegeAccording to the RAC, just 5% of the UK's 202,000 vehicle technicians can work on electric cars.
• US petrol supplies tighten after Colonial Pipeline hackSome petrol stations run out of fuel in the US southeast as the Colonial Pipeline remains shut.

Financial Times

• Hitachi: derailed by reputational issuesCracks in UK railcars made by the Japanese group underscore long-running problems
• Shipping: carbon conundrum cramps cycleThe dry bulk sector is vulnerable to a pattern of over-ordering
• US petrol stations emptied due to panic buying after pipeline hackShortages emerge as work to restore service to Colonial system on east coast continues

The Telegraph

• How Hitachi's plan to replace Britain's train fleet went off the railsThe cracks discovered on the Japanese company's Azuma trains are the latest in a litany of problems
• New concern over HS2 leg to LeedsCampaigners have urged Boris Johnson not to abandon a high-speed rail link connecting Leeds to London after the Queen’s Speech stoked fresh fears that the £32bn eastern branch of HS2 could be axed.

Times Online

• Spain prepares to let British travellers inSpain will open its borders to British holidaymakers from as early as May 20, officials said last night.
• First Group return ticket to calm investor ire [subscription]First Group is hoping to stave off a shareholder rebellion by finding some more cash to return to investors after a better than expected financial settlement with the government over the renationalisation of the railways.

Birmingham Mail

• 'Sat-nav goons' face 40 signs beyond Five Ways Island - AA warningThe AA says the presence of 'sat-nav goons' in a world of an ever-increasing number of road signs on the city's roads could lead to more bumps and scrapes

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• National Express releases Wensleydale sweets for Bradford NATIONAL Express has released the first ever range of regionally inspired travel sweets with a cheesy flavour representing Bradford and Yorkshire.
• Cabbies to strike as Bradford braces for major disruption MAJOR disruption is anticipated as around 1,000 drivers are expected to take part in a taxi strike in Bradford from 6am to 6pm tomorrow.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• FirstGroup’s shares nudge up after the Aberdeen company strikes termination deal for rail contractFirstGroup has agreed to pay another £6 million to escape its TransPennine Express (TPE) rail contract obligations.

Wales Online

• The English can go abroad in six days but Wales' rules are a mysteryEngland is reopening international travel on May 17 with a green list of approved countries and a vaccine passport. We still don't know what Wales is doing

Bucks Free Press

• HS2 deny claims workers are “targeting” protesters with laser pens HS2 has fiercely denied that any of their security guards carry laser pens amid allegations from protesters that they have been “targeted” by them.

Carlisle News & Star

• All changes as work due to begin on Carlisle bus stationBus routes will be temporarily moved next week as part of a revamp scheme of Carlisle’s bus station.

Leeds Live

• West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin gets bus to work - and says what everyone has been thinking for yearsThe newly-elected West Yorkshire mayor experienced what life is truly like for thousands of public transport passengers across the county as she got the bus to work this week.
• Yorkshire's biggest rip-off train journeys and routes - including one that is 79p a mileApart from delays, cancelled services and outdated vehicles, the privatisation of Britain's railways has led to a complex and seemingly illogical system of fares.

New Civil Engineer

• Queen’s Speech | 7 key bills for construction and infrastructureIn yesterday's speech, the Queen outlined the government's aim to "deliver a national recovery" from the Covid-19 pandemic that makes the United Kingdom "stronger, healthier and more prosperous than before".
• Architect’s modular concept trumps Atkins’ design to win Network Rail station competitionEdinburgh-based 7N Architects has won a competition to shape Britain’s future stations.
• Queen’s Speech | 7 key bills for construction and infrastructureIn yesterday's speech, the Queen outlined the government's aim to "deliver a national recovery" from the Covid-19 pandemic that makes the United Kingdom "stronger, healthier and more prosperous than before".
• Queen’s Speech increases anxiety around HS2’s eastern legThe rail industry has called for clarity on the future of the eastern leg of High Speed 2 (HS2) following yesterday’s Queen’s Speech.

Railnews

• End of Hitachi trains crisis ’a long way off’THE return of all Hitachi-built Intercity Expresses to normal service is ’a long way off’, according to notes of an internal industry briefing seen by Railnews. The document also reveals that two types of cracking have been discovered and that welding to repair the damage will be a ’highly specialist job’.
• LNER to bring back older trains as IET disruption goes on The disruption on intercity routes between London, Leeds and Edinburgh, and also between London, Bristol, south Wales and south west England is continuing today after cracks were found in some Hitachi-built Intercity Express units.

Railway Gazette

• Rail industry responds to reform and HS2 plans in the Queen’s SpeechUK: Rail industry bodies have responded to the Queen’s Speech at the state opening of parliament on May 11, in which the Queen set out the government’s plans to invest in infrastructure, ’transform connectivity by rail and bus’, and ’invest in new green industries to create jobs, while protecting the environment’. The government reiterated its commitment to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

RMT

• RMT ACCUSES THE GOVERNMENT OF DECEIVING THE BRITISH PUBLICTRANSPORT UNION RMT has accused the Government of deceiving the British public and transport workers with a Queen’s Speech that made no mention of their planned cuts agenda across rail and bus sectors.

Other News Sources

• Rail Industry responds to Queen’s Speech; calls for HS2 to be delivered in fullDarren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “The Queen’s Speech today confirmed the long-awaited Williams Review White Paper on rail reform will be published shortly and, encouragingly, that investing in and improving national infrastructure to transform connectivity – and creating new jobs and skills to drive growth in sectors such as rail – is seen by the Government as key to strengthening economic ties across the UK.
• Delayed White Paper review into Britain’s railways to be publishedA White Paper will be released containing proposals that will “transform the railways and deliver for passengers”, according to a document produced for the Queen’s Speech.
• Queen's Speech: Transport and infrastructure key to union's levelling upThe Government used the Queen's Speech today to make infrastructure investment a core element of its future 'levelling up' plans.
• FirstGroup ends TransPennine franchise with £6mln final paymentFirstGroup said the agreement is around £50m better than its last assumption
• Reading MP calls on Government to act quickly over GWR delays on the London Paddington lineRAIL LINES into London have been disrupted this week after Great Western Railway (GWR) pulled its fleet from action.
• New report finds increase in non-incumbent operators in the European rail freight marketA new report has found that the number of non-incumbent operators in the European rail freight market has increased to one third of the market share.
• Gatwick and Heathrow react to green, amber and red list restrictionsAn international travel ban is set to be lifted from May 17