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

Friday, 15 July 2022

BBC News

• Emirates refuses Heathrow's demand to cut flightsEmirates has rejected Heathrow Airport's demands for airlines to stop selling summer tickets, calling the move "unreasonable and unacceptable".
• Birmingham Commonwealth Games: Rail strikes see extra buses laid onMembers of two unions are set to walk out as the event gets under way in Birmingham.
• AGS Airports chief executive Derek Provan to step downAGS Airports chief executive Derek Provan will leave next year to
• Rail workers to strike for another two days in AugustWorkers at Network Rail and 14 train operators will now strike on 18 and 20 August, as well as 27 July.

Department for Transport

• Electric motorbikes race onto UK roads through transport decarbonisation measuresGovernment sets out a range of measures to mark a year of success since the Transport Decarbonisation Plan was introduced.

Financial Times

• Threat of US freight rail strike tests Biden's union-friendly pledgeWorkers and management await Washington's intervention as companies fear further disruptions to strained supply chains
• Emirates slams Heathrow decision to limit flights as ‘airmageddon’Gulf airline says it will ignore capacity cuts introduced by airport to avert travel disruption
• UK train drivers to strike in first mass walkout in 27 yearsOn top of co-ordinated action by Aslef on July 30, RMT union adds two further rail strike dates in August
• Hydrogen Fantasy or fuel of the future?High gas prices following Russias invasion of Ukraine widen a split over how best to produce low-carbon hydrogen; economic conditions put European hydrogen projects, and targets, at risk; proponents of fuel cells promote their favoured zero-carbon energy source
• Air show boost as Airbus and Boeing expected to announce flurry of new ordersCautious optimism prevails ahead of industry's first big gathering at Farnborough since outset of pandemic

The Guardian

• UK government issues ultimatum to Heathrow CEO over flight disruptionJohn Holland-Kaye has until midday on Friday to assure ministers the airport has sufficient security workers and to assist disabled passengers
• RMT announces further rail strike over two days in AugustMove comes after widespread industrial action announced by Aslef union, which will bring many services to a haltDrivers at 14 train operating companies are to go on strike for two days in August, in a move that will bring many services around Britain to a halt. The announcement was made hours after another union confirmed strike action for July.RMT members at Network Rail and 14 train operators will strike for two further days on 18 and 20 August in the row over jobs, pay and working conditions, the union announced. Continue reading...
• Warnings of severe rail disruption as Britain braces for extreme heatBlanket speed restrictions in south-east expected next week to reduce risk of track and equipment failingRail services around Britain are expected to be severely disrupted next week, with trains running slowly to reduce the risk of track and equipment failing in extreme heat.Blanket speed restrictions are likely to be put in place around the south-east of England, with the air temperature forecast to possibly surpass the highest ever recorded in Britain, which was 38.7 in 2019.

Times Online

• Time Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye was grounded [subscription]o that’s what Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye means by the company’s “vision” — “to give passengers the best airport service in the world”. Just “36 hours” notice for airline customer Emirates to turf travellers off its planes, with “threatened legal action for non-compliance”.
• Emirates rejects Heathrow airport’s ‘airmageddon’ flight cap [subscription]One of the world’s biggest airlines has accused management at Heathrow airport of incompetence as a row over who is to blame for travel chaos intensifies.

Daily Express

• Heathrow boss ordered to tackle 'airmageddon' as holidays remain under threatTHE BOSS of Heathrow has been ordered to handle the chaos currently underway at his airport as Brits face even more interruption to their summer holiday plans.

The Mirror

• Huge train strikes affecting 15 firms announced for two days in AugustA rail strike involving the largest rail union is due to take place over two days in August and will see over 40,000 workers across 15 firms walk out

Sky News

• London transport chief rejects Shapps claims over funding dealAndy Byford has told Whitehall officials that the failure to agree on a long-term financial settlement is the government's fault rather than that of TfL, Sky News understands.

Birmingham Mail

• Two new national rail strikes announced over summer holidaysStaff at West Midlands Trains and 13 other train operators will down tools on two days in August

Bristol Live

• Cumberland Road bus gate proposals described as 'crazy'The plans have sparked a strong reaction

Northern Echo

• Teesside Airport: Accounts reveal £11.8m lossNew accounts out today reveal that Teesside Airport made an £11.8m loss last year.
• Solar farm at Teesside Airport would help tackle cost of living crisisPlans to establish a local energy company to help tackle the rising cost of utility bills in the region has been unveiled today.

The York Press

• A59 at Kex Gill set for £60m contractA construction contract for the £60 million rerouting of a landslide-hit road between Harrogate and Skipton is set to be approved.

Bucks Free Press

• Work starts on building controversial HS2 viaduct near WendoverWork has finally started on building a controversial HS2 viaduct near Wendover.

Other Regional Press

• Concerns over plans for £800k per year transport cuts in HampshireA BOROUGH council has hit out at plans to cut transport funding across Hampshire by around £800,000 per year.
• Next steps for £75M Huddersfield to Bradford road schemeThe A641 which links Bradford to Huddersfield via Brighouse

C.N.N.

• 1,000 bags. Zero passengers. Delta flight from Heathrow latest sign of air travel hellNew York (CNN Business)Delta Air Lines took what it called a "creative" step to solve a massive baggage problem for passengers flying through troubled Heathrow Airport. Others might call the move extreme: the airline flew a plane from London to its hub in Detroit packed with 1,000 lost bags and zero passengers.

New Civil Engineer

• HS2 timeline of major events to 2025 revealedHS2 Ltd has revealed the timeline for key contract awards and works up to 2025, which will see a large proportion of the construction for Phase 1 to Birmingham completed.
• Longer Stonehenge Tunnel would cost up to £730M more, National Highways claimsBuilding a longer Stonehenge Tunnel would cost up to £730M more than current plans, according to National Highways internal analysis.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• ‘Excitement features’ will attract passengers back, says PassengerHead of Product at Passenger Greg Hepworth (pictured) has said customer experience and ‘excitement features’ such as capping will attract customers back onto buses.
• Deprivation was added to BSIP scoring, minister revealsDeprivation was among factors added to the scoring process for Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) submissions in England, Under-Secretary of State for Transport Baroness Vere told the House of Lords Built Environment Committee on 5 July.
• CPT publishes Decarbonisation Dividend reportThe Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) and WPI Economics have published the Decarbonisation Dividend report, which highlights the benefits of shifting car journeys to coach and bus.
• FlixBus UK opens Manchester to Paris coach routeFlixBus UK will launch what it says is the first direct scheduled coach service between Manchester and France on 13 July with a service to Paris. Departures will run overnight via Birmingham, Cambridge and London five days per week and be operated by Whippet.
• Targeted bus support needed beyond BRG, says Rotala chiefFurther financial support packages for some commercial bus services in England outside London must be developed quickly by the industry, politicians and local transport authorities (LTAs) if wholesale network reductions ahead of the Bus Recovery Grant (BRG) Extension mechanism ending later this year are to be prevented, Rotala Chief Executive Simon Dunn has said.

Other News Sources

• Emirates refuses Heathrow’s demand to cut flights, calling the move unreasonable and unacceptableA war of words has broken out between the management of Heathrow Airport and Emirates airline.
• Rail firm urges RMT to work for resolution to avoid strikeA TRAIN company has urged the RMT union to work to seek swift resolution to a pay dispute to avoid strike action that could cripple rail services.