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

Thursday, 24 June 2021

BBC News

• Covid: Birmingham Airport 'losing millions' due to travel restrictionsThe boss of the airport says nearly half its staff have lost their jobs in the past 18 months.
• Train operator Transport for Wales to get extra £70m from taxpayersThe train operator, which was nationalised this year, has seen passengers numbers plummet.
• England's first double-decker hydrogen buses to launch in LondonThe new buses can be charged once a day within five minutes.
• HS2: Old Oak Common construction work beginsThe transport secretary gives the signal for digging to start at Old Oak Common station.
• Climate change: Set target to cut car use, minister toldShifting to electric vehicles will still leave the UK with transport problems, a report says.
• Travel industry protests against Covid restrictionsAirline and travel firms want more help from the government amid tight rules on international travel.

Financial Times

• Ever Given owners reach deal with Egypt over Suez Canal blockageAgreement will lead to release of the ship that blocked the vital trade artery for 6 days in March
• Self-driving trucks: Embark needs a smooth ride to meet forecastsCompany estimates revenue of nearly $3bn by 2025
• American ‘was warned’ over shortages that prompted flight cancellationsPilots’ union says US carrier is understaffed for planned increase of services as demand returns

The Telegraph

• Kill off business travel to maintain pandemic’s green benefits, say climate advisers [subscription]Drastic cuts in flying and car use as a result of lockdowns should be extended indefinitely, according to Climate Change Committee

Times Online

• Electric cars as cheap to own as petrol models in four years, says minister [subscription]Electric cars will cost the same as petrol and diesel equivalents within as little as four years to accelerate the shift away from polluting vehicles, according to a transport minister.

Daily Express

• Travel rules to be reviewed TODAY amid hopes more countries added to green listTRAVEL rules in the UK could be set for a shake up as industry workers demand a

Network Rail

• Major investment into West Coast main line railway signalsA once in a generation investment is being made to improve railway signalling on a key section of the West Coast main line in the North West.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Government considering ‘all options’ for Northern Powerhouse Rail, says ministerTHE Government is continuing to consider “all options” for a planned fast rail link across the North, a transport minister has said amid reports the project could be ditched.

Bristol Live

• Bristol Airport urge government to allow summer travelThe plea was part of an open letter on Bristol Airport's website

London Evening Standard

• When is the London Ulez expanding and who will have to pay? The ultra-low emission zone is due to expand from central London to the boundaries of the North and South Circular roads, here is everything you need to know ahead of the major change for motorists in London.

Wales Online

• Construction of the new station could start in autumn this year and be finished by late 2022The extra money has been given to cash-strapped Transport for Wales to take its total public funding since the start of the pandemic last year to £237m
• Roads in Blaenau Gwent to be improved with £3m investmentThe focus of the funding will be on high priority works to the council road network, along with improving residential and unclassified roads

Leeds Live

• Work on £22m train station near White Rose Centre could start this year as plans get green lightConstruction of the new station could start in autumn this year and be finished by late 2022

Other Regional Press

• Esther McVey challenged Boris Johnson over HS2's valueA Member of Parliament for Tatton has challenged Boris Johnson about High Speed 2’s value for money.
• £20m plan to regenerate areas around Newport railway stationA BID for £20 million bid is being made to the UK Government to improve areas around Newport railway station.
• Boris Johnson asked to back Coventry Airport gigafactory planRugby MP Mark Pawsey asked the Prime Minister if he would give the ambitious project his support

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Ickenham becomes the latest step-free Tube stationTransport for London (TfL) has announced that Ickenham Underground station has become step-free, helping people with accessibility needs to access the station and the wider transport network, significantly improving their journeys.    Ickenham Underground station has recently received upgrades to improve accessibility. The station now has two new lifts and improved signage giving customers step-free access from street to the station platforms. Alongside the upgrades, manual boarding ramps will still be available to assist customers to get from train to platform, as well as existing ...

New Civil Engineer

• Updated rail enhancements pipeline to be published in ’coming days’, what can we expect? Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines has revealed that he is expecting an updated Rail Enhancements Pipeline to be unveiled in the “coming days”.
• Rail industry calls for hydrogen plan to transform networkThe Railways Industry Association (RIA) has called for the country’s railways to be put front and centre in the government’s upcoming Hydrogen Strategy.

Railnews

• Edinburgh could be served by new Paris sleepers Plans have been unveiled for a new set of sleeper services in western Europe, potentially including night trains between Edinburgh and Paris. The trains could also run between Paris and 11 other destinations on the continent

Railway Gazette

• We need a simpler, sustainable and more user-centric railway, says Network Rail Chief ExecutiveUK: ’This is a fantastic time to look at reshaping the industry, as we come out of covid and look to build back’, says Network Rail Chief Executive Andrew Haines.

Other News Sources

• Leicestershire attraction the Great Central Railway to re-open all of its stationsLeicestershire's Great Central Railway has announced it will be re-opening all four of its stations from this weekend.
• Nothing sinister in Jacobs not getting invite to key Crossrail meetings, project’s boss saysUS consultant has been keeping tabs on scheme for government and Transport for London
• Travel industry workers protest over Covid rulesThe government has defended its decision to delay the final lifting of England's lockdown, as new figures show more than 16,000 daily Covid cases were reported in the UK today.