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

Tuesday, 30 November 2021

BBC News

• Covid: Face masks rules return in England amid Omicron spreadCoverings become mandatory in shops and on public transport under measures to slow Omicron's spread.
• Translink: Late night public transport for Christmas periodExtra midnight services are operating on some routes, but taxi shortages still affect travel plans.
• Nissan boss warns no end in sight to global chip shortageThe Omicron variant could exacerbate the shortage of chips used in cars, Makoto Uchida tells the BBC.
• Asda charters cargo ship to prevent Christmas shortagesSupermarket says the move ensures it will not run out of decorations, gifts and toys.

Financial Times

• Travel and aviation groups dismayed by fresh Covid restrictions Response to Omicron variant a blow to businesses that had hoped worst of the pandemic was over
• German government to quiz Deutsche Bahn over fraud allegationsBerlin will ‘critically challenge’ state-owned rail group about whistleblower complaints

The Independent

• Public views sought on all-island rail reviewA key element of the review will be gaining insights from interested stakeholders and the wider public, ministers on both sides of the border said.

The Telegraph

• Make PCR tests free to stop the holiday rip-off, say Tory backbenchers [Subscription]Government must underwrite costs to prevent repeat of holidaymakers being hammered by testing scams, says Sir Graham Brady

Times Online

• Leith Walk traders out of patience with Edinburgh trams heading nowhere fast [Subscription]As contractors seek to complete a three-mile stretch of line to Newhaven, navigating the street has become an endless puzzle for pedestrians and motorists. For those on foot, the once-broad pavement has for long stretches been reduced to a foot-wide track. Shop fronts are routinely damaged, customers cannot window-shop, delivery drivers cannot park and road closures and diversions appear without warning.

City AM

• Virgin Atlantic £400m rescue package teeters on the brink as Omicron travel fears swirlA push to raise millions from Virgin Atlantic shareholders to form a rescue package for Richard Branson’s ailing airline is on the verge of collapse. Branson has been on a charm offensive to get existing shareholders to cough up around £400m in rescue money to save the struggling airline. However, fears that blanket travel curbs [...] The post Virgin Atlantic £400m rescue package teeters on the brink as Omicron travel fears swirl appeared first on CityAM.
• London's transport system must not be sacrificed on the altar of levelling upDare to dream: Crossrail might be about to arrive. Delay after demoralising delay pushed back the original 2018 opening, but Transport for London has hailed the significant milestone of the start of trial operations.

Network Rail

• Scotland’s Railway to deliver £17m upgrade this ChristmasNetwork Rail engineers will be working at locations across Scotland this festive period to carry out vital projects to renew and upgrade key infrastructure.

Birmingham Mail

• Watch as first of 32 new Flybe planes lands at Birmingham AirportThe airline's new HQ and crew base is launching at Birmingham Airport early next year

Birmingham Post

• Airbus and Rolls-Royce carry out 'promising' test flights using sustainable fuelThe two aerospace giants have taken part in a world-first study involving a commercial jet

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• LNER urge customers to book Christmas tickets nowLONDON North Eastern Railway (LNER) is urging customers to book their Christmas tickets now to secure their seats following a strong surge in bookings over the festive season.

London Evening Standard

• Sadiq Khan: Fines for mask refusers on Tube will ‘greatly’ help with complianceFining passengers who refuse to wear a facemask on the Tube will “greatly help with compliance”, Sadiq Khan has said.

Wales Online

• The UK government email that seems to sum up how little they care about Wales' rail networkWalesOnline asked the UK government how HS2 will benefit Wales ” their response didn't really try to strongly argue the case

Yorkshire Post

• Northern Powerhouse Rail downgrade 'even more damaging than HS2 axe', says Rachel ReevesThe downgrading of the Northern Powerhouse Rail route is an even bigger loss to Yorkshire than the axing of the HS2 route to Leeds, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said.

Sunderland Echo

• Transformational' plans for Sunderland station press ahead as top European contractor appointed to make vision a reality‘Transformational’ plans for Sunderland’s ‘depressing’ train station have taken a step forward after a top European construction company was appointed to turn the artist’s impressions into reality.

Other Regional Press

• CPT Cymru announces Chair and Vice-Chair of Bus CommissionThe Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Cymru has announced that Jane Reakes-Davies, Managing Director at First Bus Cymru, and Paul Dyer, Managing Director at Cardiff Bus, have been appointed as Chair and Vice-Chair of CPT Cymru’s Bus Commission.
• Newport makes bus journeys free this DecemberA festive scheme to encourage people to use local businesses in a sustainable way in the run-up to Christmas is being launched by Newport City Council
• Concerns for bus services in Weymouth and surrounding areaBUS users in Weymouth and Portland have said 'enough is enough' after services have arrived late or have been cancelled altogether.
• Glasgow bid to make Subway free for under 22s launches amid fears of £3 million per year lossesStrathclyde Partnership for Transport wants the Scottish Government's free bus travel scheme for young people to be extended to include the Subway.

Train Operators

• Do I have to wear a face covering on your trains?Yes you do. Many of our customers have continued to wear face coverings at our stations and on our trains, and from Tuesday 30 November 2021 it is compulsory again, unless you are exempt

C.N.N.

• Travel restrictions by country following the Omicron variant outbreakJust as many countries around the world were beginning to loosen their border restrictions, reports of a newly detected coronavirus variant in South Africa sent many of those doors slamming shut again.

Construction Enquirer

• HS2 Euston team to get designer training and welfare facilityHS2 is raising the bar on standards for site accommodation and skills training facilities with a major architect-designed temporary building for workers on the Euston station project in London.

New Civil Engineer

• Construction of West Midlands railway station begins with passenger services set to return to mothballed lineWork has started on the construction of a new railway station in Willenhall on the Wolverhampton to Walsall line, paving the way for the return of passenger services.
• HS2 given go ahead to construct Construction Skills Centre at Euston station siteHS2 Ltd has received planning approval from London Borough of Camden’s planning committee to build its construction site accommodation on the grounds of the former Maria Fidelis School, incorporating Camden’s new Construction Skills Centre.
• National Highways on hunt for contractors to join £1.3bn Pavement Delivery FrameworkThe roads operator has published a prior information notice for the framework which seeks contractors to carry out surfacing and pavement construction. It comes after National Highways held a market engagement day on the prospect of the framework in June.
• Funding for Network Rail track upgrades could be reallocated to tackle drainage issuesMoney earmarked by Network Rail for signal and track renewals could be reallocated to fund drainage works on the nation’s railways.
• Irish Sea link | The bridge and tunnel options deemed technically feasible by ex-ICE presidentsHigh costs ruled out the possibility of an Irish Sea bridge or tunnel crossing last week – but not before some detailed consideration of the engineering options for a link.
• Construction of West Midlands railway station begins with passenger services set to return to mothballed lineWork has started on the construction of a new railway station in Willenhall on the Wolverhampton to Walsall line, paving the way for the return of passenger services.

Railnews

• Safety course launched as level crossing misuse continues MONDAY BRIEFING: Safety course launched as level crossing misuse continues ++

Railway Gazette

• North Wales electrification and WCML enhancements backed in Union Connectivity ReviewUK: Electrification of the coastal main line across north Wales between Crewe and Holyhead and further modernisation of the northern sections of the West Coast Main Line are among the key rail interventions recommended by Network Rail Chairman Sir Peter Hendy in his Union Connectivity Review, published on November 26.

Other News Sources

• TfL London Underground and bus fare increases set for January to be pushed backThe planned Tube and bus fare increase set for January will not go ahead, internal TfL documentation seen by MyLondon suggests.
• HS2: transport expert on the huge gaps in the government’s new planIn 2009, the company HS2 was set up to provide a new high-speed rail line in England. It was planned to be built in two stages. Phase one would go from London to Birmingham; this is already under construction. Phase two was intended to connect Birmingham to Manchester (by a western line) and to Leeds (by an eastern line). Both of these would then link into existing lines to Newcastle and Scotland.
• Surrey railway bridge named as one of Britain's most-hit by vehiclesNetwork Rail reports that a bridge in Staines has seen 10 reported collisions between 2020-2021
• West Sussex Council to go to court over cycle lane removalA COURT date has been set for a judicial review into a council's decision to remove a temporary cycle lane.