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

Friday, 05 November 2021

BBC News

• What is hydrogen energy and why is it important?The BBC's Roger Harrabin takes a look at the tech behind hydrogen energy and its green potential.
• Scotland's 'space shuttle' runway revampedCampbeltown Airport's runway was in the past certified as an emergency landing site for Nasa spacecraft.
• Currys teams up with Uber for 30-minute deliveriesCustomers in 12 London boroughs will be able to order items such as laptops and printer cartridges.

Financial Times

• Wizz warns of return to losses, despite first profit since start of pandemicAirline says it will have to cut ticket prices to encourage people to fly this winter
• Airlines are still struggling for take-offThe pandemic has reinforced a two-tier industry in Europe
• Uber delivers first adjusted profit but Didi stake hits earningsRevenue up 72 per cent on popularity of food delivery service and recovery in rideshare business

Times Online

• Uber’s first quarterly profit since launch [subscription]The company reported adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, a measure that excludes one-time costs, primarily stock-based compensation, of $8 million for the three months to the end of September with a loss on the same basis of $625 million a year ago. But it posted a growing net loss of $2.4 billion, mostly driven by a drop in value of its holding in Chinese ride service Didi and stock-based compensation.
• Trainline’s stock shifts into reverse [subscription]The government’s takeover of the railways may not be good news for Trainline, the online retailer admitted yesterday.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• 'Cul-de-sac' fear for Bradford as further calls are made for Northern Powerhouse RailBRADFORD MPs and key leaders in the district have spoken of their concern that Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) was

Nottingham Evening Post

• Ryanair makes statement on its East Midlands Airport future as new flights confirmedRyanair have confirmed they will remain at East Midlands Airport as they announce 31 destinations from the region next year.

Wales Online

• What we learned about the dire plight of Cardiff Airport as bosses appeared at the SeneddCardiff Airport's passenger levels have fallen as low as they were 70 years ago in the 1950, bosses revealed as the gave evidence to Members of the Senedd.

Other Regional Press

• London Stansted Airport: 'Chaos' as claims travellers 'missed flights' waiting in security queuesThousands of passengers were reportedly left waiting in the queue for security at London Stansted Airport this week, with claims a number missed their flights as a result of "chaos" at the airport.
• Yorkshire town is '110%' getting a new railway station after government cash announcementCampaigners lobbying to reopen a railway line and to build a new station in a Doncaster town have said they’re ‘110 per cent confident’ it will happen following the allocation of Government money in the Budget.
• Rail campaigners call for 'heads to be pulled out of the sand' following alarm at lobbying for completion of A9 and A96 dualling while promised rail upgrades are still awaitedRail campaigners have criticised Highland Council for lobbying for the completion of the A9 and A96 dualling while ignoring the potential of parallel rail routes.
• MP calls for better integration between ferry and rail servicesMr Seely cited examples of where he had personally found it difficult to make ferry and rail connections work when travelling between the Island and Westminster
• Huddersfield drivers attack 'ludicrous' plan to cut car parking spaces to encourage cycling'Cyclists are actually causing much more pollution than they will ever save'

Coach and Bus Week

• Alternative accessibilityJonathan Welch looks at the Wrightbus Commuter and considers other models which have tried to offer an alternative to the mainstream accessible options.
• Local Transport Authorities secure ZEBRA fundingAs part of the budget announcements on 27 October, the Department for Transport confirmed an allocation of £71 million towards 335 zero-emission buses as part of successful Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) applications by the following Local Transport Authorities under the fast track process:
• Push for better customer experience for disabled peopleBrighton & Hove and Metrobus supported international ‘Purple Tuesday’ on 2 November by offering all disabled concessionary cardholders free travel for a ‘plus one’ of their choice. Purple Tuesday aims to promote improving customer experience for disabled people by thinking about their needs year-round, not just on one day of the year, whether that is when catching public transport, visiting an art gallery, or going out for dinner.
• Lothian adopts weekly cappingLothian Buses has extended its ‘TapTapCap’ travel scheme to include weekly fare capping across its Edinburgh city network. The operator, supported by its ticketing and payments partner Flowbird, was the first bus operator in Scotland to introduce a ‘contactless and capped’ transport open payment system when launched in 2019.

New Civil Engineer

• Northern Powerhouse Rail will ‘struggle’ to meet target construction start due to IRP delayTransport for the North (TfN) will “struggle” to meet its target to begin Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) construction by 2024/25 due to the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) delay.
• Rail sector confidence bounces back despite major project uncertaintyConfidence in the UK’s rail sector has returned to pre-pandemic levels according to a new survey of leading industry professionals.
• Salisbury train crash | Network Rail preparing for ‘heavy refurbishment’ of track as trains lifted awayNetwork Rail has revealed that it will need to carry out a “heavy refurbishment” at the site of the Salisbury train crash.
• Councils back cheaper Crossrail extension option to KentThe leaders of Kent, Bexley, Dartford and Gravesham councils have backed plans to extend Crossrail into Kent.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Rossendale Council successfully bid for restoration of Manchester rail linkThe restoration of rail services between Rawtenstall, Bury and Manchester has been approved by the Government under the ‘Restoring Your Railways’ fund.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Stagecoach South to take on some Arriva Guildford depot workStagecoach South will step in from 18 December to take on some of the work that will be given up by Arriva Kent and Surrey when it closes its depot in Guildford.
• 20 Wrightbus hydrogen single-deckers for Metrobus FastwayGo-Ahead has placed a long-anticipated order for 20 Wrightbus GB Kite Hydroliner single-deckers for its Metrobus subsidiary’s Fastway BRT network around Crawley, Redhill and Gatwick Airport. They will enter service from June 2022 and represent the group’s first venture into hydrogen power.
• First Bus and Hitachi Europe enter decarbonisaton partnershipFirst Bus and Hitachi Europe have agreed a strategic partnership that will see Hitachi support decarbonisation work at First Glasgow’s Caledonia depot.
• Remote downloads as Passenger Plus looks to ER applicationPassenger Plus is a further coach operator to have signalled an aspiration to join the DVSA Earned Recognition scheme, with Managing Director Mark Drury outlining a hope that the Surrey business will be onboard by Q2 2022.

Other News Sources

• Investment planned as Blackpool airport comes under local council controlThe prospect of a revival of Blackpool airport has emerged as it came under the control of a wholly-owned subsidiary of the local council.