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

Friday, 18 June 2021

BBC News

• Coronavirus: First cruise ship visits Belfast since start of pandemicThe MSC Virtuosa is the largest passenger ship to visit the city, with 1,000 passengers on board.
• London to Glasgow fastest rail journey attempt fails by 21 secondsThe Avanti West Coast service was hoping to break the record set 36 years ago.
• Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi faces probe ahead of market debut, says reportA watchdog is reported to be investigating whether Didi has been unfairly squeezing out smaller rivals.
• Ryanair and Manchester Airports Group take action over travel listsThere is anger in the travel sector over how the government has made decisions over the green list.
• Halfords warns of bike supply challenges as cycle boom continuesThe retailer says sales have surged amid travel restrictions but lockdowns have hampered manufacturers.

ITV News

• ‘Clean and quiet’: Hydrogen-powered bus tested on the streets of KentAn electric bus powered by a hydrogen fuel cell has hit the streets of Sevenoaks, as part of a week-long trial. 

Financial Times

• My flight into the futureThe dream of emission-free flying might be closer than you imagine. Tom Robbins takes a ride in the first all-electric plane

The Telegraph

• Virgin Atlantic and British Airways join legal action over ‘traffic light’ fiasco [subscription]Richard Branson's airline and BA join Ryanair in High Court action against ministers over system that restricts travel in and out of Britain

Times Online

• Appeal court backs mayor’s pro‑cycling road closure scheme [subscription]An expansion of controversial “low-traffic neighbourhoods” could be on the cards after the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the pro-cycling road scheme.
• Covid vaccine ‘passport’ to let double-jabbed travellers beat quarantine rule [subscription]A vaccine passport system could be introduced in weeks to allow twice-vaccinated tourists to travel abroad without quarantining on their return.
• Speed limit derails London to Glasgow train record attempt [subscription]High-speed Pendolino misses British Rail’s fastest time set in 1984 by 21 seconds
• Tougher targets to be set on improving air quality [subscription]New legal limits on air quality will be introduced before the end of next year as part of measures designed to address escalating concerns over pollution.
• Councils handed power to fine drivers £70 for traffic offences [subscription]Motorists will face £70 fines for a range of common traffic offences by the end of this year as councils are given new powers to punish errant driving.

Reuters News

• Rolls-Royce outlines plans for net zero emissions by 2050LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s Rolls-Royce, which makes engines for planes and ships, outlined plans to reach net zero emissions by 2050 through investing more in decarbonising technologies and, in the short term, using more sustainable aviation fuel.

City AM

• Crossrail under renewed scrutiny as further delays loomLondon politicians have today called for more transparency over the progress of the Crossrail line after a new report into The post Crossrail under renewed scrutiny as further delays loom appeared first on CityAM.

Mail Online

• Tough new air pollution laws to be introduced after tragic death of Ella, 9, from asthma attackA Southwark coroner ruled in December that air pollution contributed to the 2013 death of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, nine, who lived 80ft from the South Circular road in Lewisham, south-east London

Bolton News

• Why cycle lane posts have disappeared from Chorley New RoadControversial posts separating cycle lanes from traffic on a major Bolton road have been temporarily removed.

Bristol Live

• EasyJet launches two new routes from Bristol AirportThe new routes will begin flights in the second week of July

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Stagecoach marks Clean Air Day with call for mass switch to public transportStagecoach is marking Clean Air Day today with a call for a major shift in travel behaviour to address health and climate problems facing the country.

The York Press

• York bus firm Transdev in Clean Air Day emissions pledgeYORK and North Yorkshire bus operators say they are driving forward on a mission to meet the toughest UK emission standards.

Bucks Free Press

• Extra Motorway Services' new M25 service station to go before public inquiryThe fate of a major motorway service station boasting a new hotel, significant parking, and a complex new junction will be debated at a public inquiry two months from now.

Cambridge News

• 'No more busways and park and rides' petition launched by campaign groupSmarter Cambridge Transport is calling on the Greater Cambridge Partnership to change tack
• Autonomous delivery robots spotted cruising down Cambridge streetsOne dismayed social media user wrote: "What fresh hell is this?"

Other Regional Press

• Hurdles still remaining to make TransPennine Express rail extension to Saltburn a realityA NUMBER of hurdles remain in the way if the ambition to bring express trains to Saltburn is to be achieved from May next year.
• Week-long hydrogen bus trial launchedA hydrogen bus, which only emits water, is to tour a Kent town to showcase the new technology.
• Buses will avoid town centre during England Euros gamesBuses will avoid a town centre during England's next two Euros games after previous run ins with rowdy fans.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• UK’s largest electric bus order receivedBYD UK and Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL) are to deliver the UK’s largest ever electric bus order. The order has been placed by RATP Dev London for a total of 195 single and double-deck buses.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• National Express brings CitySwift onboard for COVID-safe bus journeysNational Express has announced a deal with CitySwift, a leader in big data and machine learning for the public transport sector. Through the agreement, National Express West Midlands, the biggest bus operator outside of London, will be using CitySwift’s product suite to help provide enhanced network planning and optimised routes in the region to provide COVID-safe journeys. Through this three year, multi-million technology investment, CitySwift is also supporting National Express Group’s mission to be the UK’s most sustainable bus and coach company.   After a succe...

Coach and Bus Week

• Arrival and Hitachi to deliver electric buses and infrastructureA joint partnership has been announced to develop end to end solutions for the European bus industry
• First Bus and First Rail sign Tomorrow’s Engineers CodeFirst Bus and First Rail, part of transport operator FirstGroup, have pledged their support for the Tomorrow’s Engineers Code launched by EngineeringUK.
• Alexander Dennis unveils first zero-emission tri-axle double-deckerAt a Vehicle Innovation Center virtual event, Alexander Dennis (ADL) recently unveiled its Enviro500EV Charge, a North American all-electric version of its double-decker Enviro500.
• TfGM offers former Yellow School Buses for community good causeWhether its reading spaces, quiet places or somewhere to meet new faces, people are being asked to submit their ideas for a chance to win a free decommissioned yellow school bus this summer. Individuals, schools, community groups, sports teams and volunteer organisations can bid to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to win one of several yellow school buses that will be decommissioned from its fleet in July 2021.
• Scania launches new Fencer single-deckThe first new complete Scania single-decker bus offering in a decade has been unveiled in the UK ahead of a worldwide roll-out

Construction Enquirer

• Network Rail unveils next generation of bridgesA new modular bridge design that could transform crossings has been unveiled by Network Rail.

New Civil Engineer

• How HS2 civils team is drawing up its northern bridges and viaductsHS2 Ltd’s civils team has revealed the lessons learnt from its Phase 1 work on bridges and viaducts, along with how this will inform the next phase of the scheme as it extends north.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Omnibus supports OBC’s transition to electric vehiclesOmnibus, one of the UK’s leading transport software suppliers, is supporting the Oxford Bus Company (OBC) as it transitions to electric vehicle (EV) operations.
• PSVAR exemption decision for H2S ‘at least two weeks away’Ministers are “actively considering” how PSVAR will apply to in-scope home-to-school services after the current exemption expires on 31 July, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has told members. But CPT has expressed a belief that a decision on what happens after that – and most pressingly, whether a further round of special authorisations will be issued – is at least two weeks away. 
• Stagecoach is thanking carbon-conscious passengers on Clean Air DayTo mark Clean Air Day on 17 June, believed to be the UK’s largest air pollution campaign, Stagecoach East Midlands is thanking customers who choose to travel by bus.
• MyMiX Tracking added to MiX driver engagement appMiX Telematics has launched MyMix Tracking, an extension of its MyMix driver engagement app. It says the new product is a solution to deliver “innovative app-based tracking for vehicles and drivers.”
• London coach facilities losses highlighted to Deputy MayorThe importance of restoring coach parking and drop-off/pick-up facilities in central London that are currently unavailable has been conveyed to Deputy Mayor for Transport Heidi Alexander by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).
• Hitachi Intelligent Fleet Decarbonisation: Electrification as a service for bus fleetsA move towards widespread operation of zero-emission buses (ZEBs) is now well underway, but – external funding aside – the transition’s financial realities are its trickiest. The shift is influenced by air quality concerns and may be accelerated by the long-awaited Transport Decarbonisation Plan (TDP), publication of which was recently touted as imminent.
• Second round of Scottish coach operator support fund launchedA second strand of the Scottish Coach Operators – COVID-19 Business Support and Continuity Fund has been established. It will be delivered by Visit Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government and is worth £1.6m.
• BYD and ADL confirm UK’s largest single electric bus order for RATP Dev LondonBYD UK and Alexander Dennis (ADL) have confirmed today (16 June) that they will deliver a record 195 battery-electric buses – the UK’s largest single order of electric buses – to operator RATP Dev London.
• Stagecoach to offer discounted bus travel to all Scottish NHS employeesStagecoach is teaming up with NHS in Scotland to offer discounted bus travel to all 140,000 of the service’s employees across the nation. The 10% discount is made available through a special NHS Staff Benefits portal which is directly linked with the Stagecoach app.
• National Express works with CitySwift for COVID-safe bus tripsCitySwift is providing enhanced network planning and route optimisation for National Express West Midlands (NXWM), enabling the operator to deliver COVID-safe journeys through a three-year technology investment with the supplier.
• WeLoveCoaches consumer campaign launched by CTAThe Coach Tourism Association (CTA) has launched a consumer-facing campaign to promote coach tours and excursions under the WeLoveCoaches umbrella.
• West Yorkshire bus franchising: Approval set for first stepWest Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) has published proposals to begin a formal assessment of a franchising scheme for the region’s bus network. If approved, it will represent the first step towards possible reregulation and follows a manifesto pledge by Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin to bring services under public control.

Aviation Industry

• Rolls-Royce to create 300 jobs as it enters new aviation markets to pioneer sustainable powerRolls-Royce is entering new aviation markets to pioneer sustainable power and will be developing energy storage systems (ESS) that will enable aircraft to undertake zero emissions flights of over 100 miles on a single charge.

Other News Sources

• Create broad micromobility regulatory framework, says new Gov innovation docReleased this morning (June 16th), the UK Government’s Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform paper has called for a new and broad regulatory framework to govern an evolving micromobility marketplace.
• National Trust to trial £42,000 of Raleigh e-Cargo and e-BikesThe National Trust and Raleigh Bicycles have announced a new partnership where £42,000 of electric bikes and e-Cargo bikes will be donated to National Trust properties.
• The APPGCW to hold an inquiry ahead of second Cycling and Walking Investment StrategyThe All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking (APPGCW) has revealed that it is holding an inquiry, to help shape the Government’s upcoming second Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS 2).
• UK’s National Express will use CitySwift data to keep passengers informedThe UK’s National Express has announced a deal with CitySwift, a specialist in big data and machine learning for the public transport sector. Through the agreement, National Express West Midlands, the biggest bus operator outside of London, will use CitySwift’s data-driven scheduling and planning technology, which uses AI, Big Data and machine learning techniques.