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

Sunday, 06 March 2022

BBC News

• Darlington Rail Heritage Quarter 'to put town on world map'Work on a £20m railway tourist attraction which will feature a theme park-style trip through time has begun. Darlington Council said the Rail Heritage Quarter, in North Road where the first passenger rail began, would put the town on the "world map".
• Wakefield bids to host Great British Railways headquartersWakefield is bidding to become the home of the headquarters of a new public body in charge of Britain's trains services.

Financial Times

• The office is fine but the commute is still atrociousLuring workers back from their homes is a big ask now that they have tasted life without costly, crowded transport

The Herald

• SNP accused of 'greenwashing backroom deal' over Heathrow expansionThe Scottish Government has adopted aviation industry claims that expanding Heathrow airport will not lead to increased emissions from Scotland, internal documents show.
• Argyle Line closure: ScotRail customers set for 'bumpy 8 weeks'SCOTRAIL customers are set to be in for a 'bumpy' two months as a major line gets essential repairs.

The Independent

• Are surcharges coming back to travel?The eyes and sympathies of the world rest with the people of Ukraine. Yet the disaster that Vladimir Putin has perpetrated will have repercussions across the world and in our daily lives. As I write, the price of Brent crude oil – a good proxy for the cost of aviation fuel – is sitting at $115 (£87) per barrel. That is its highest level since 2014, and is exactly 50 per cent higher than the cost at the start of 2022, just nine weeks ago.

Times Online

• Biggest cruise liner Wonder of the Seas sets sail [subscription]A ship that can carry more than 9,000 people and enough beer to fill eight swimming pools has launched into post-Covid world
• £100 fines for ear-splitting flash cars that drive all over noise laws [subscription]Vehicles are being clocked by acoustic cameras hitting 112 decibels. Councils hope penalty charges will apply the brakes

This is Money

• Scandal-hit train operator Go-Ahead blocks bonus of former chief executive amid embarrassing accounting scandalScandal-hit train operator Go-Ahead has blocked the bonus of its former chief executive amid an embarrassing accounting scandal. David Brown will miss out on a £1.6million cash and shares package after the Gatwick Express owner opted to deny the awards.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Iain Stewart: Scotland has the ’right stuff’ for to take giant leap in space raceThe facility is due for completion this Spring. Orbex's Prime rocket has been developed to transport small satellites to low Earth orbit

Other Regional Press

• ’We’re going backwards’: Greenwich councillors call for proper transport strategyGreenwich councillors have said their town hall needs to have a proper transport strategy in place – with one saying the borough is “going backwards” after losing its only low-traffic neighbourhood.
• Cheshire train station is the least used in the UK, yet people are outraged that it could closeCampaigners are up in arms over the possibility that a Cheshire train station could be permanently closed - despite the fact that nobody uses it.
• Renfrewshire: ScotRail tweak planned cuts at train stationsPLANS to reduce opening hours at ticket offices at train stations in Renfrewshire have undergone minor revisions following a public consultation.

Airportwatch

• £150 million provided to safeguard local transport services"CHERISHED and essential" bus routes across the country have been given a lifeline, with £150m worth of emergency funding announced.

Rail Advent

• Tyne & Wear Metro secures extra Government funding to support services until OctoberThe Tyne and Wear Metro has secured extra funding from the Government, which will support its services for a further six months while customer numbers continue to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
• GWR names train to honour BBC Bristol community heroesGreat Western Railway (GWR) has named a train after two community heroes from BBC’s Bristol region who selflessly helped others at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Other News Sources

• Daytime London taxi fares set to rise 5.51%, whilst night time fares frozenBlack cab prices between 10pm and 5am have been frozen, but amendments to the starting meter is likely to rise by 60p across all tariffs.
• Sustainable transport route linking Wimborne, Ferndown and Poole town centre opensWork to build new sustainable transport infrastructure on Wimborne Road West and Leigh Road has now completed and the 2.3km stretch of new walking and cycle paths and crossings are open and ready for use.