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

Tuesday, 06 July 2021

BBC News

• Didi says removal of app in China will affect businessThe ride-hailing company is facing regulatory problems at home, days after its New York share launch.
• Ever Given: Egypt agrees deal to release ship that blocked Suez CanalEgypt agrees a compensation deal with the impounded Ever Given's owners and insurers.
• Van sales soar amid home delivery boomWhile demand for vans rises, new car sales remain sluggish as computer chip shortages limit supplies.
• Vauxhall to build electric vans at Ellesmere PortThe car manufacturer is expected to confirm plans to make electric vans.

ITV News

• Covid: Train companies will ‘support’ passengers voluntarily wearing masksTrain operators have pledged to “support” passengers who continue wearing face coverings if they become voluntary.

Financial Times

• The seafarers left stranded by the pandemicMaritime workers have kept the global economy afloat — often at the expense of their own welfare

The Independent

• Rail union boss condemns minister’s face mask commentsExclusive: ‘There’s a real danger of the government making up policy on the hoof on critical issues’ – Mick Lynch, RMTThe boss of the UK’s biggest rail union has condemned a minister’s ambivalence on wearing face masks on rush-hour trains.
• Heathrow resumes two-runway working and will reopen Terminal 3 in 10 daysTerminal 4, the ‘red list’ location, will not open to normal business this year

Parliament

• Key infrastructure issues for Wales considered by MPsThe Welsh Affairs Committee considers key Welsh infrastructure issues, including negotiations concerning a Welsh freeport, customs infrastructure for Welsh ports and Cardiff Airport.

City AM

• TfL opposes making masks optional as Boris Johnson looks to forget themLondoners may have to wear masks on the tube after 19 July, when Boris Johnson is expected to have abandoned the pandemic-imposed rule.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• EasyJet and Ryanair passengers to wear face masks - even after restrictions liftFrom July 19 masks wearing is expected be optional in England

London Evening Standard

• Airline passengers will still have to wear masks even if law changesRyanair said it will not change its current policy, while the PA news agency understands that easyJet is also not planning to ease its rules.
• Ministers do not rule out use of domestic vaccine passports Ministers have not ruled out the possibility of making the use of so-called Covid vaccine passports compulsory if England faces a “difficult situationâ€� this winter.
• Heathrow resumes using both runwayseathrow Airport has resumed using both runways and announced it will reopen Terminal 3 next week.

Wales Online

• Cardiff's first bee bus stop due to be moved months laterThe bus stop will be relocated from its current position, to a nearby site on Castle Street.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Stansted Airport welcomes two new airlines in travel boostTwo new airlines are launching flights from Stansted Airport. The airlines - Play and Flypop - are launching new routes from the Essex airport to Iceland and India.

Other Regional Press

• Chancellor gets rail demands from East Anglian campaignersThe bid to secure major improvements to the Great Eastern Main Line from London to Ipswich and Norwich has been presented to Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.
• Luton Airport: 22 countries 'should be added to green list'A travel expert says that as many as 22 countries should be added to the green list at the next UK government review later this month.
• Bristol Airport's 'carbon neutral' claims 'misleading', say councillorsGreen councillors in North Somerset have rejected claims made by Bristol Airport that it will become carbon neutral before the end of the year.

New Civil Engineer

• How Highways England mitigated planning delays to its A303 upgradeTransport secretary Grant Shapps delayed his decision on the scheme's planning application on three occasions, meaning Highways England had to wait an additional 13 months before it could proceed with the project.
• HS2 | Calls for two Cumbrian stations to be added to linePoliticians and business owners in Cumbria have called for better connections to High Speed 2 (HS2).
• Crossrail | Has TfL’s bus division let Elizabeth line opening date slip?Transport for London (TfL) has been forced to deny a target opening date for the Elizabeth line that is revealed in one of its own bus studies.

Rail Advent

• Southeastern to bring Class 707s to London from Autumn 2021With passengers returning to the tracks over the coming months, Southeastern is preparing to introduce its fleet of Class 707 trains.

Rail Magazine

• ‘Hydroshunter’ makes headway at Severn ValleyWork to convert a Class 08 shunter from diesel to hydrogen power has passed a significant milestone, with the locomotive’s existing 350hp engine lifted out at the Severn Valley Railway’s Kidderminster diesel depot.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Rail Forum Midlands launches SME opportunityAs part of efforts to involve more SME businesses in rail industry opportunities in the Midlands, the Rail Forum Midlands (RFM) have launched their third SME Challenge.

Railway Technology

• Yorkshire track improvements completed on time despite lightning strikeNetwork Rail successfully completed work to upgrade the track between York and Church Fenton over the weekend, despite a lightning strike compromising signalling, in the hopes of providing more reliable journeys for passengers in Yorkshire.

Aviation Industry

• Creating a more secure aviation industry in a post-pandemic eraNeville Hay, Director of Brooklyn Associates, explains why now is the time for the aviation industry to invest in its workforce and embrace the opportunity that the pandemic has created to review and challenge its security practices.
• AI Will Make It Easier To Find Items Lost In Airports And On AirplanesMillions of items are lost during air travel each year. Valuable devices, important documents, and sentimental artifacts are misplaced on aircraft and at airports each day. This issue isn’t only frustrating for passengers. It costs the aviation industry millions of dollars to repatriate items. However, SITA, the IT provider for the air transport industry, believes it has the key to reducing the headache. SITA President Europe Sergio Colella spoke exclusively with Simple Flying about the initiative.

Other News Sources

• Brighton Naked Bike Ride 2021 date confirmed for AugustTHIS is when a crowd of cyclists will ride naked through the streets of Brighton.. and how you can join them.
• Electric bikes are now available for hire in MusselburghELECTRIC bikes are now available for hire at the Brunton Hall in Musselburgh and the town’s railway station.
• New modern ticket hall with step-free access opens at Moorgate as part of Elizabeth line improvementLiverpool Street Elizabeth line station has been officially transferred to London Underground (LU), bringing immediate benefits to customers at Moorgate.
• Plans in to revamp railway station - despite demolition angerPlans are in to renovate a railway station on the edge of Norwich - despite objection to the potential demolition of a historic building.