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

Saturday, 29 January 2022

Government

• Public transport in towns and cities inquiry, launched by Lords CommitteeThe Built Environment Committee has launched its inquiry into public transport in towns and cities in England and is inviting written contributions.
• Apply for grant funding to transport freight by rail and waterExplains how to access funding to transport freight by rail and water, rather than by road, and provides details of grants awarded.

BBC News

• Covid: Greater Anglia adds services as Plan B rules relaxA rail company said it was adding more weekday services in anticipation of more people travelling to work now that Plan B restrictions have been lifted.
• Highway Code: How the update could improve road safetyThe revamped code is designed to make the roads safer for users who are more at risk.
• Scottish government faces £5m bill over shipyard takeoverThe Scottish government lost a High Court case over the purchase of the Ferguson Marine shipyard.
• HS2: Cutting Tameside tram link for two years 'would be disastrous'An MP says
• London Underground: Fresh Night Tube strikes on Friday and SaturdayServices are expected to run on the Victoria and Central lines in spite of the action.

Financial Times

• BA boss pledges to rebuild its reputation for premium serviceSean Doyle aims to fend off low-cost rivals and restore airline as main driver of IAG profits
• Shipping line profits at full steam as trade chaos shows little sign of abatingPersistent ructions on global routes and higher spot rates continue to fuel outsized industry earnings

The Guardian

• E-scooter firms to develop universal warning sound after collisionsLicensed operators Dott, Lime and Tier are working with UK engineers amid concerns from charities for blind people
• Highway Code update comes into force in England, Scotland and WalesChanges include a new hierarchy of road users, and expectation that drivers give way to pedestrians at junctionsCyclists and pedestrians are better protected as of Saturday as a revamp of the Highway Code comes into force, despite concerns that millions of drivers are confused by or unaware of the changes.An AA survey of more than 13,700 drivers carried out this month indicated that 33% were unaware of the changes, including 4% who had “no intention” of looking at the details.Hierarchy of road usersPeople in charge of vehicles that can cause the most harm in the event of a collision have the g...

The Independent

• New rail boss ’more provocative’ than former private operators, say unionsUnion leaders have criticised Scotland’s new railways boss, accusing the new publicly owned firm of treating its workers “in a more confrontational and provocative way than any of their failed private sector operators”.

The Scotsman

• ScotRail unions angry at threat to staff conditions under public ownershipA major bust up emerged today between ScotRail’s unions and the Scottish Government-appointed body which will oversee the train operator when it is returned to public hands in April.

Times Online

• Passenger charge row casts cloud over Heathrow profit forecast [subscription]In an update to investors, Britain’s premier airport accused the Civil Aviation Authority of making “material and basic errors”, despite allowing an inflation-busting rise in charges from £19.36 to £30.19 per passenger. The increase, from the start of this year, covers the period until this summer, when the regulator is expected to rule on charges for the next five years.

i News

• ScotRail: ’Confrontational’ head of Scotland’s new state-run railway firm criticised by unionsRail unions claimed that Chris Gibb, chief executive of state-owned Scottish Rail Holdings, seemed intent on ’repeating the mistakes of the past’

Bolton News

• Transport for Greater Manchester raise almost £20,000 for charitiesALMOST £20,000 has been raised by Transport for Greater Manchester for two local charities.
• What are the changes being made to the Highway Code from today?Major changes to the Highway Code come into effect on today.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• A55 tunnel named as UK's best for drivers to enjoy the sound of their carThe tunnel beat some stiff competition to take the top prize

Edinburgh Evening News

• Edinburgh set for huge travel network including new tram lines and bus routesThe Scottish Government recently published their Strategic Transport Projects Review and recommended that Edinburgh joins Aberdeen and Glasgow in having a new mass transit scheme

London Evening Standard

• Transport Secretary claims climate protest action ’doesn’t make sense’Transport Secretary claims climate protest action ’doesn’t make sense’

Manchester Evening News

• Stockport buses could go completely green in two years' timeStockport’s buses could go completely green in two years’ time after local leaders signed off on a bid for nearly £40m to decarbonise its fleet.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Newcastle Airport solar farm with almost 40,000 panels set to go ahead - despite objectionsThe airport hopes to get 100% of its energy from the 16MW plant to be built on green belt land next to its runway, as it seeks to become carbon neutral by 2035

The York Press

• Concerns over site of new Haxby station in YorkOPPONENTS of the chosen site for a new railway station on the outskirts of York have voiced concerns.

Wales Online

• Inside the incredible disused Valleys rail tunnel that's stood empty for decadesWe took a trip inside the two-mile long tunnel that was shut down in the 1960s

Yorkshire Post

• Boris Johnson U-turn on Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2 urged by industry bossesRail industry bosses have added to growing calls for Boris Johnson to reconsider building Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2 to Leeds in full.

Chester Standard

• Warrington council vows to fight against 'unwanted' Golborne HS2 linkTown Hall chiefs have vowed to use ’every opportunity’ to press the case for the Golborne link to be removed from the HS2 plans.

Other Regional Press

• Council welcomes reduced bus fare initiatives in boost to low carbon travel  Cornwall Council has welcomed the first in a series of low fare initiatives to make bus travel cheaper, easier and more attractive to new passengers.  
• Have your say on Scotland's transport strategyThe Scottish Government has published its blueprint for future transport investment.
• North East bus journeys could be cut by 17% as passengers left 'stranded in public transport deserts'An email seen by ChronicleLive reveals the first routes Go North East could axe in March, with warnings of more to follow over the coming months
• Llandaff transport hub takes another step forwardThe development of a sustainable mixed-use scheme including new housing, retail and bus interchange on Waun Gron Road, has taken another step forward by the removal of the “call in request” by Welsh Government.
• Woolwich ferry faces fresh chaos as staff demand huge £10k pay riseThe Woolwich ferry faces fresh chaos as staff are demanding a huge £10,000 pay rise.
• Re-regulation of bus services will ensure public transport better serves our communitiesThree North Wales Members of the Senedd are calling for the bus industry to be re-regulated to ensure public transport better serves our communities. 
• Delyn MP speaks in House of Commons on plans for Flintshire railway stationTHE MP for Delyn has given a speech in the House of Commons talking about how plans for a new railway station for Flintshire could help transform his constituency.
• Authorities in Cheshire and North Wales suggest HS2 plansThe introduction of the High-Speed Rail (Crewe to Manchester) Bill to Parliament has been welcomed by local authority leaders, but they say further developments are needed.

New Civil Engineer

• Crossrail: Decision to open Elizabeth line will be ’independent’ to Bond Street readinessThe opening date for the Elizabeth line will be made “independent of whether Bond Street is available for use by passengers”, Crossrail Ltd has insisted.

Rail Advent

• Future of West Somerset’s Washford station is secureThe future of the site of Washford station on the West Somerset Railway seems secure after prolonged negotiations between West Somerset Railway (WSR) PLC and the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust ended satisfactorily.

Other News Sources

• Think tank: Airport expansion will cost you £742 millionNew analysis shows planning application underestimated true cost of carbon clean up says New Economic Foundation
• General Motors confirms $6.6bn investment in EV manufacturing General Motors (GM) has announced a $6.6bn investment package in electric vehicle (EV) and battery manufacturing in Michigan, as part of its commitment to funnel $35bn into EVs and automated cars by 2025.