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

Tuesday, 26 April 2022

BBC News

• The teen reviewing public transport for wheelchair usersA 16-year-old boy has set off across Ireland to see how accessible it is for wheelchair users to travel. James Casserly, who has cerebral palsy, has set himself the challenge to travel to all 32 counties on public transport.
• First full-size driverless bus trials to begin in ScotlandThe buses could be carrying passengers between Edinburgh and Fife, over the Forth Road Bridge, this summer.
• EasyJet 'sorry' as NI travellers left in AmsterdamThe airline says strong winds and runway maintenance forced the cancellation of flights over recent days.

Department for Transport

• Department for Transport appoints new HS2 Residents’ CommissionerStewart Jackson appointed to ensure the government meets its core principles of respecting people and places as the building of HS2 progresses.

Financial Times

• Aircraft lessors face uphill battle to return assets recovered from Russia to skiesOwners seek to avoid ‘tearing apart’ grounded planes to verify with authorities they are safe to fly
• Airlines take bullish turn after pandemic turbulence easesMacron triumphant in France, palm oil prices soar, UK return to office stalls

The Guardian

• Unions call for P&O Ferries boycott for allegedly paying staff less than minimum wageRMT says workers were paid £4.35 an hour, while P&O blames ‘administrative misunderstanding’Unions have called for a commercial and consumer boycott of P&O Ferries, which is facing a fresh row over crew pay even as its sailings are set to resume on the Dover-Calais route.The TUC urged freight firms and holidaymakers not to book on P&O Ferries, which broke the law when it sack nearly 800 crew last month, while the RMT union said it had evidence that agency workers brought in to replace those staff were being paid less than minimum wage.
• Star trek: three rich men return from Nasa's first foray into space tourismThis was the first time Nasa opened its space hatches to tourists, who paid $55m for a week, which was extended to nearly 17 days Three rich businessmen returned from the International Space Station with their astronaut escort Monday, wrapping up a pricey trip that marked Nasa’s debut as a B&B host.Flying back in a SpaceX capsule, they splashed down in the Atlantic off the Florida coast to close out a 17-day tour that cost them $55m apiece. Continue reading...

The Telegraph

• 'Shambolic' passport delays mean millions could lose out on summer holidays

Times Online

• Passport ‘shambles’ threatens holidays [subscription]Summer holidays are at risk for millions because of huge delays in processing passports, ministers are warning as they urge people to get applications in “as soon as possible”.
• Air-One drone and flying taxi airport opens [subscription]The world’s first drone and flying taxi airport opened in a Coventry car park yesterday.

City AM

• Government and railway industry to be more ‘radical’ in R&DThe railway sector and the UK Government need to be more “radical” when it comes to research and development (R&D) according to a paper published today. Through its Railway Innovation Strategy, the Railway Industry Association (RIA) has called on the government to roll out more investment in rail innovation and provide funding, while asking the industry to adopt a long-term view to enable it.

Birmingham Post

• HGV drivers set to get better showers and rest stops in £20million funding pledgeHGV drivers are set to benefit from £20 million of funding for better roadside facilities in a bid to tackle the UK driver shortage.
• Plans submitted for Holyhead hydrogen hub to drive green agenda on AngleseyThe hub is being developed by social enterprise Menter Môn, in partnership with Anglesey County Council
• VolkerFitzpatrick wins another brief for Birmingham railway stationsThe contractor leading the revamp of the city's university station has won a tender for trio of new sites on Camp Hill line
• Port of Blyth hails highest turnover in 140-year history amid offshore wind boomThe port also saw profits jump by 64% following a successful year for its main port operations

Bristol Live

• Major changes planned to north Bristol transport corridorMajor changes have been unveiled to the road network along the north Bristol transport corridor. South Gloucestershire and Bristol City Council are consulting on plans to improve walking and cycling routes in Filton and Brentry as well as proposals for relocating two existing bus stops on the A38 in a bid to improve traffic flow in the area.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Llandudno to Manchester Airport train links resume as Covid cancelled North Wales services restart A number of direct connections have been restored to a new Transport for Wales timetable which comes into force from Sunday, May 15

The York Press

• Transdev raises £3,374 for DEC's Ukraine appealA BUS operator has raised thousands of pounds to support relief efforts in war-torn Ukraine by donating money for every ticket sold on all its buses.

Other Regional Press

• £500k drawn from council coffers to keep transport running amid fuel hikeHalf a million pounds could be taken from Norfolk County Council's coffers to keep transport for some of the county's most vulnerable people running, amid rising fuel costs.
• £500k drawn from council coffers to keep transport running amid fuel hikeHalf a million pounds could be taken from Norfolk County Council's coffers to keep transport for some of the county's most vulnerable people running, amid rising fuel costs.
• 'Ridiculous' one-way system plan pushed backThe controversial redesign of a busy route has been pushed back until next year - giving hope to opponents the project may never get off the ground.
• Council 'bans' roadworks in busy street to curb further disruptionWorks restriction areas will also be put in place close to Commonwealth Games venues this summer

New Civil Engineer

• Infrastructure investment can be a solution to the climate emergencyThe infrastructure sector is in an unenviable position. On one hand, the ingenuity of our sector provides many of the answers to achieving net zero targets, boosting the UK’s energy resilience, improving the sustainability and quality of millions of journeys, and levelling up towns across the UK.

Railnews

• First refurbished Pendolino unveiled A Class 390 Avanti West Coast Pendolino has gone into service this morning with new and more comfortable seats, a redesigned shop and better passenger information displays. One First Class coach has been converted to Standard, to provide more seats. It’s the first example of a �117 million upgrade that will eventually include all 56 of the trains, most of which have achieved almost two decades of service.

Aviation Industry

• Government calls for ideas on the low carbon fuel strategy for the transport sectorWhat are low carbon fuels? Low carbon fuels are also known as sustainable aviation fuels within the industry (as set out by the International Air Transport Association, IATA). SAFs are … The post Government calls for ideas on the low carbon fuel strategy for the transport sector appeared first on Aviation Environment Federation.

Other News Sources

• Transport Committee report: Unfair to blame aviation industry for recent delaysThe Transport Select Committee has published a new report examining the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the UK aviation industry, calling government actions on travel restrictions “inconsistent” and “confusing”.
• Hitachi Is Said to Near Sale of Stake in Transport Unit to KKRHitachi Ltd. is nearing a deal to sell its 40% holding in Hitachi Transport System Ltd. to KKR & Co., which is planning a tender offer to take the logistics company private, people with knowledge of the matter said.

News from Europe

• 77% of inland freight transported by road in 2020 In 2020, road transport accounted for more than three-quarters (77%) of the EU’s inland freight transport, the highest figure recorded in the past decade. Rail and inland waterways transport accounted for 17% and 6% of inland freight transport respectively (based on tonne-kilometres performed).