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

Saturday, 15 May 2021

BBC News

• 'Keep spending on transport ready for return to work', says adviserThe government needs to keep up spending on public transport, even though its usage has plummeted during the Covid pandemic, a government adviser has told the BBC.
• Rossington level crossing near-miss caught on cameraAn attempt by a group of young people to lift an East Coast Main Line level crossing barrier has been branded "incredibly dangerous" by Network Rail.

Financial Times

• Renault and Nissan step up race with Tesla over powering electric carsAuto alliance aims to be among first to sell 1m battery vehicles, car boss tells FT event
• Portugal to welcome British visitors from Monday in boost to tourism industryReopening border ties in with lifting of ban on international travel by UK's regional governments

The Guardian

• Booking a holiday outside the UK? Here's what you need to knowBritish travellers face challenges this year not only from the Covid crisis, but also the effects of Brexit. Here's the lowdownHolidaymakers in England, Scotland and Wales have been given the green light for trips abroad. Travel is restricted to a small number of countries but the early signs are that they are proving popular with those desperate for a change of scene“ this week Tui announced it would be putting on bigger planes to meet demand for trips to Portugal.
• Thousands of UK train services to be restored as Covid restrictions easeAddition of 2,500 extra services will mean rail network running at levels before start of December lockdownCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThousands more train services will be restored to the UK rail schedules this weekend with more passengers expected to travel as coronavirus restrictions ease on Monday.The addition of 2,500 extra services daily means that about 85% of the rail network will be running again, back to levels before the start of the last lockdown in December.

The Telegraph

• Waterloo & City line to reopen after 14 months [subscription]London Underground is gearing up for the return of thousands of City workers by reopening of “The Drain” between Waterloo and Bank stations.
• 'The Drain' to run again after 14-month closure [subscription]The Waterloo & City line that connects the country's busiest rail station with the Square Mile will resume services on June 21

Times Online

• Flexible fares and pay-as-you-go travel under radical rail reforms [subscription]Ministers will pledge to introduce flexible rail season tickets, pay-as-you-go travel and enhanced compensation for delays as part of the biggest reform of the railway since privatisation almost three decades ago.

Mail Online

• UK's 'green list' for quarantine-free travel won't expand 'very rapidly', warns Boris JohnsonEighteen airport bosses signed a letter urging the PM and his counterparts in the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to initiate 'a more meaningful restart of travel'.
• Road rage battles over Covid bike lanes are dividing BritainBroadcaster Jeremy Vine tweeted last week to his 760,000 followers after criminals vandalised a flowerbed belonging to pro-cycling campaigner Karen Liebreich in Chiswick.

Network Rail

• On track – Network Rail reaches key milestone on Dartmoor LineThe reopening of the railway line between Okehampton and Exeter is one step closer after Network Rail finished relaying the new track and sleepers this week.

Belfast Telegraph

• Belfast councillors vote down call to keep private taxis out of bus lanesBelfast councillors have voted down a call to keep private taxis out of bus lanes. Votes from Sinn Fein and the DUP were enough to sink a motion by the Green Party, supported by Alliance and the SDLP, to support a continued ban on private taxis in bus lanes across the city.

London Evening Standard

• Sadiq Khan presses ahead with Ulez expansion that is set to hit almost 140,000 London motorists a dayFirst warning signs go up as more drivers face charge

Sheffield Star

• 'Out of touch' mayor under pressure over free transport schemes in South YorkshireSheffield City Region mayor Dan Jarvis is being urged to swallow his pride and reinstate two free public transport services to help the elderly, save the environment and boost the economy.

The York Press

• "I am absolutely appalled at the state of the roads"York’s smooth road sections are a menace. Having only gone out for a few times last year in between lockdowns, I have now started venturing out into the wide world again in the car.

Wirral Globe

• Wirral residents want more local shops and improved transportEnhancements to transport and improving the offering of local shops have emerged as the key issues facing Wirral residents, according to a survey.

Other Regional Press

• Mammoth rail upgrade set for line between Dewsbury and HuddersfieldTransport Secretary Grant Shapps is to rule on planned changes to Huddersfield’s 19th century rail station as part of a mammoth revamp of the line between Manchester and York.
• Help for blind and partially sighted at Sussex railway stationsNEW TOUCH sensitive maps have been put in at major rail stations to help blind passengers.
• HS2: Rail project slated for traffic and environment disruption in new consultation reportA broad consultation into community views on the next stage of the controversial HS2 rail project has released its report which includes strong objections from communities around the West Midlands.
• Rail operator Northern to install hundreds of ticket machines as part of £17m schemeNorthern has pledged to install 600 new ticket vending machines across the network as part of wide-ranging modernisation plan.
• 'Critical' regional transport links to north Shropshire require investmentKEY border links between Shropshire and Wales 'require investment' according to a group of councils.
• Bus improvement campaign won't aid rural services, says councillorPlans to improve bus services under a new £3billion government scheme will not solve problems around the availability of rural bus services in Suffolk, it is feared.

New Civil Engineer

• HS2 | Concerns raised about lack of transport links in Phase 2a consultationDisruption to existing transport links, insufficient plans for new public transport links to High Speed 2 (HS2) and lack of local HS2 stations have been raised as major concerns in a consultation on extending HS2 from the Midlands to Crewe.

Railnews

• First of new West Midlands trams arrives The first of eight additional trams for West Midlands Metro has been delivered from Spain. Five of the eight CAF trams will be needed later this year when extensions open in Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

Other News Sources

• David Hockney has designed a tube sign and some people are angry about itIn a plain case of you can’t please all the people all of the time, a new tube roundel designed by the venerable national-treasure artist David Hockney has sparked a wave of criticism from some quarters. Hockney is possibly the UK’s favourite painter, but even in his eighties his work remains divisive, with a few people always chipping in that old chestnut ’my [insert age of child] could have done better’ etc etc.
• Councillors approve business case for Dunfermline transport infrastructure transformationA programme of transportation measures that will facilitate the development of thousands of homes and investment in the Dunfermline and wider regional economy has gained the support of councillors.
• Better transport the top priority for Powys, survey showsMore than a fifth of people believe improving transport is the most urgent issue in Powys, according to a survey.
• Atkins’ transport division takes space at Plymouth Science ParkThe transport division of design and engineering consultancy Atkins has agreed a deal for space at Plymouth Science Park.