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

Tuesday, 22 June 2021

BBC News

• Flexible ticket 'will only save me £7 a year' on my commuteThe introduction of flexible rail tickets - aimed at a growing number of commuters who only travel to the office two or three days a week - has had a muted response.

Financial Times

• Asian stocks rebound as oil hits two-year highInvestors take comfort in signs Federal Reserve will not withdraw support for economic recovery
• Aston Martin in legal dispute over payments for £2.5m Valkyrie hypercar Carmaker goes to Swiss courts alleging £10m advanced by customers has been withheld by dealers
• UK aviation sets short-term targets in 2050 zero emissions pledgeSector calls on government for faster action to boost investment in clean technologies
• Shipping boss warns EU carbon plans threaten to raise industry’s emissionsHead of MSC says the commission’s move to cut CO2 will have the opposite effect

The Telegraph

• Tube to get mobile phone coverage by 2024 [subscription]The Mayor of London plans to bring mobile connectivity to the entire London Underground network within three years as he scrambles to repair its battered finances after the pandemic.
• Flexible rail season tickets more expensive for some commuters [subscription]For those working from home over the past year the daily commute and its associated costs have not been missed.

Times Online

• HS2 rail costs rise another £1.7bn in Covid pandemic [subscription]The cost of the HS2 high-speed railway line has risen by another £1.7 billion over the past year as the pandemic and social distancing measures forced delays and reduced productivity on Britain’s biggest infrastructure project.
• Tunnel imperils Stonehenge’s Unesco heritage status [subscription]Stonehenge’s status as a world heritage site will be in danger if plans for a tunnel underneath it are not altered, Unesco has warned the government.
• Rail commuters won’t save cash using ’useless’ new flexible season tickets [subscription]New flexible season tickets for trains were dismissed as “useless” after it emerged that savings on many routes were tiny or non-existent.
• Smart traffic lights get green light for cutting emissions by a quarter [subscription]A new generation of smart traffic lights could be introduced after a government-backed trial showed that eliminating unnecessary stops at junctions can cut emissions by a quarter.
• Covid quarantine rules will be dropped for double jabbed [subscription]British holidaymakers who have had both coronavirus jabs could enjoy more quarantine-free travel from August under government plans to rescue summer breaks.

Mail Online

• 'Confusing' flexible rail tickets 'do NOT save commuters enough to lure them back to the office'The scheme, which offers savings on certain routes for passengers travelling two or three days a week, is the first step in a major shake-up announced last month by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

Birmingham Mail

• Amber and red list quarantine could be scrapped for fully-vaccinated BritsThe Department of Transport are mulling over whether fully vaccinated adults will be allowed to enjoy quarantine-free trips

Birmingham Post

• Airbus wing parts deal for Magellan in boost to North Wales sitesMagellan announced today a contract extension between Magellan Aerospace (UK) and Airbus
• Velocys welcomes technology 'validation' as first flight taken using green fuelJapan Airlines used a 25 per cent blend of inward investing company's sustainable aviation fuel

Bolton News

• Region to push ahead with Clean Air Zone after securing government fundingGreater Manchester has confirmed it will push ahead with a Clean Air Zone that would see drivers of heavily-polluting vehicles hit with daily charges.

London Evening Standard

• ‘Flexible tickets for part-time commuters not saving enough’Business groups have welcomed the launch of flexible rail season tickets but warned the savings may not be enough to encourage commuters back to offices.
• How do flexible rail tickets work and how much do they cost?The return to work is likely to see a lot of people become commuters again - at least for some of the working week.
• Covid quarantine rules could be dropped for those who have had both jabs British holidaymakers who have had both Covid jabs could reportedly enjoy more quarantine-free travel from August.

The York Press

• New Great British Railways 'should be based in York'A NEW public body in charge of train services should be based in York, according to council leaders.

New Civil Engineer

• HS2 | Former chief advisor Cummings faces questions over ’garbage’ claimsPrime Minister Boris Johnson’s former chief advisor Dominic Cummings is facing questions over whether he withheld details of cost hikes relating to land acquisitions on HS2 which may have influenced the Johnson’s decision to press ahead with the project.
• DfT denies reports that Northern Powerhouse Rail is set to be scrappedReports in national media over the weekend suggested that prime minister Boris Johnson was set to hold crunch talks this week with a view to axing the Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme.

Railnews

• New part time season tickets go on sale The first part-time season tickets have gone on sale today, and will be valid from next Monday, 28 June. The Department for Transport said the paperless tickets will allow travel on any eight days in a 28-day period, and there will be no need to decide the days of travel in advance.
• Northern Powerhouse Rail ˜faces axe", claims report It is being claimed that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to hold a meeting in secret as soon as today at which plans will be agreed to axe much of Northern Powerhouse Rail. Northern leaders say they are ˜deeply concerned".

Other News Sources

• 'Brighton Council should be brave and ban cars quickly'Laura King (Argus letters) encourages residents to attend a protest at the town hall in defence of car culture and against the Green-led council's plans to reduce car use.