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

Wednesday, 15 December 2021

BBC News

• Norwich to Stansted train in 75mph 'near miss' with two carsA train travelling at nearly 75mph (121km/h) almost hit two cars at a level crossing, a safety report said.
• Stagecoach and National Express agree to mergeThe move comes after talks between the bus and coach rivals were first revealed in September.

Financial Times

• Global shipping optimism looks overdoneEconomists forecasting a return to normalcy in 2022 may have to downgrade those predictions
• Stagecoach/National Express: defensive bus deal needs more axle greaseBritish bus companies are banding together for safety but shareholders should think hard before accepting the first offer

The Guardian

• Paris taxi firm suspends use of Tesla Model 3 cars after fatal accidentTesla denies any technical problem with the car as authorities investigate the accident which killed one person and injured 20The biggest taxi firm in Paris said it was suspending the use of Model 3 Teslas in its fleet after a fatal accident in the French capital at the weekend.A driver lost control of his Tesla on Saturday night in the southeastern 13th district of Paris, killing one person and injuring 20, with three people in intensive care. Continue reading...

Times Online

• National Express welcomes rival on board with £1.9bn takeover of Stagecoach [Subscription]National Express has agreed an all-share deal to buy its rival Stagecoach, forming a £1.9 billion UK transport group and sparking a overhaul of the long-distance coach travel market.
• Boxing Day trains: Just 6 of 28 operators to run services despite government pledge [subscription]More than 20 train operators will shut down on Boxing Day despite Conservative promises over a decade ago to provide a proper service for shoppers and football fans.

City AM

• Christmas Eve will be December’s busiest day of traffic, data showsData from the AA has predicted that 23 and 24 December will be the busiest days of traffic, with 54 per cent of drivers planning to travel. Motorists are also expected to travel further, with an average of 39 miles. Despite Covid regulations allowing families and friends to be reunited, one in five drivers admit [...] The post Christmas Eve will be December’s busiest day of traffic, data shows appeared first on CityAM.

Daily Express

• Car ownership could end in massive overhaul of UK roads - 'at tipping point'GOVERNMENT transport ministers have backed calls to end private ownership of vehicles in a major overhaul.

The National [Wales]

• New pictures of Cardiff Parkway train station plans revealedNew pictures have been revealed of the plans for a train station and office development in east Cardiff.

Sky News

• National Express agrees deal to pick up Stagecoach in all-share takeoverThe deal will be subject to regulatory scrutiny but will be seen as bolstering the firms' respective recoveries from the slump in demand for travel during the coronavirus crisis to date.

Birmingham Post

• The £120m new train station for South Wales and business district creating 6,000 new jobsCardiff Council is expected to decide whether to approve the Cardiff Parkway and Hendre Lakes scheme early next year

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Last ever Airbus A380 leaves heartfelt message in the skyThe final super-jumbo - whose wings are made at Airbus Broughton - is set to be delivered to Emirates

Manchester Evening News

• Bus giant Stagecoach signs merger deal with National ExpressThe two firms, which both have a big presence in Manchester, have signed an 'all-share' deal

Nation. Cymru

• 2,000 sign petition calling on Welsh Government to reconsider Llanbedr bypass decisionOver 2,000 people have signed a petition calling on the Welsh Government to reconsider their decision to withdraw the Llanbedr bypass scheme.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Busgate: Highland Council rejects its own ‘bonkers’ planning application at Raigmore Hospital and may take action against the NHSHighland councillors have unanimously refused planning permission for a bus and emergency services gate at Raigmore Hospital.

Wales Online

• Speeding fines are down but careless driving offences increase by a fifth in England and WalesMore people ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt during lockdown Download

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Tram services between Wolverhampton and Birmingham to resume Tram passenger services are set to return to the region on Wednesday after final safety tests were completed.

Cambridge News

• Tragic and heroic history of Cambs station open again for first time in 56 yearsThree brave train crew saved the town many years ago

Hull Daily Mail

• Hull's all-day bus lanes to become permanent as they're hailed a massive successExperimental all-day bus lanes and lighter traffic levels during lockdown have resulted in quicker bus journey times across Hull.

South Wales Argus

• Caerphilly's tree-cutting bus which cost £25k used five timesA DOUBLE-DECKER bus used for cutting trees has only been used for five days since Caerphilly County Borough Council bought it in 2017.

Other Regional Press

• Cyclists fear danger as Portsmouth bus lanes are opened up to private hire and taxi driversHUNDREDS more cars are set to be allowed to use Portsmouth bus lanes after the council approved a trial in which they will be opened up to private hire vehicles.
• Night Tube reopening for first time since start of pandemicThe Night Overground is set to reopen on Friday for the first time since the start of the pandemic, TfL has confirmed.

New Civil Engineer

• Cancelling Bakerloo Line Extension will cost London up to £6.4bn in lost benefitsFailing to deliver the Bakerloo Line Extension will equate to £6.4bn in lost economic benefits, a new City Hall report has claimed.
• Transport infrastructure, education and innovation key to levelling upTowns are helped – not hindered – by links to nearby cities, according to our new report from the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.

Rail Advent

• Network Rail wins Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative’s Disability Confident AwardNetwork Rail has been announced as the winner of this year’s Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative’s Disability Confident award.

The Business Desk

• Lufthansa opens up global gateway for Liverpool John Lennon AirportLiverpool John Lennon Airport today announced a hugely significant link-up with German carrier Lufthansa that will connect the airport with worldwide routes once again.

Other News Sources

• Preston's new railway station to reduce city centre congestionProviding easier links between Blackpool and Preston 'Cottam Parkway' will serve the west of the city
• From ‘smart wagons’ to a ‘smart train’EUROPE: Mercitalia Group’s TX Logistik arm and Mercitalia Intermodal have launched a 15-month project to determine how digital technology can best be integrated into combined transport operations.