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

Thursday, 21 July 2022

BBC News

• Cheaper bus fares due in East Sussex this summerBus fares are set to get cheaper in East Sussex this summer due to extra funding from an underspend.
• Threatened Dumfries to Edinburgh bus route secures funding lifelineA "vital link" bus service facing the threat of removal in August has secured a funding extension lifeline.
• Public transport push for Birmingham Commonwealth GamesRail strikes and recent tram failures have raised concerns about Birmingham's transport network.
• Network Rail ordered to improve train services in WalesFewer than seven in 10 services in the Wales and Western region were on time, says critical report.
• Baidu unveils new self-driving taxi in ChinaBaidu says its latest robo-taxi has the road skills of a driver with 20 years' experience.
• Arriva North West bus services cancelled due to drivers' strikeArriva North West says it cannot run services in Lancashire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester.
• Government used P&O ferries despite condemning firmThe government has admitted P&O Ferries was used by the military - despite widely condemning the firm for sacking nearly 800 staff without notice. The Department for Transport cancelled a contract with P&O after it conducted a review of government business with P&O, after the sackings in March.

Financial Times

• US airlines: loyalty schemes are revenue goldFrequent flyer programmes provide steady stream of revenue for carriers

Times Online

• Breeze through border control in ‘contactless corridors’ [subscription]British travellers returning home will be allowed to skip queues for passport checks and walk through “contactless corridors” under plans to use facial recognition technology at airports.
• UK heatwave: Network Rail asks experts to heat-proof train tracks [subscription]Network Rail has launched an urgent review of its infrastructure after record heat paralysed the network.

City AM

• Hiring spree: Gatwick recruits 400 security staff to battle delaysGatwick has hired 400 additional security staff over the last few weeks as the airport battles the ongoing travel chaos.  Crowned the UK’s worst hub last week, Gatwick said it was still recruiting workers ahead of the peak summer period.  “With passenger numbers rapidly returning to 2019 levels, we expect to be busy, particularly at [...] The post Hiring spree: Gatwick recruits 400 security staff to battle delays appeared first on CityAM.

Daily Record

• Success for Lanarkshire campaigners as lifeline bus given six month extensionCampaigners celebrated last night after it was announced a lifeline bus service will be given a six month extension.

Labour Party

• Louise Haigh demands action from ministers to tackle “looming bus crisis”Labour’s Louise Haigh has demanded action from the government to tackle a “looming bus crisis” amid reports that more than 100 bus routes in England are facing cutbacks or closures over the summer.

Bolton News

• Bolton Arriva bus drivers go on strike over pay and conditionsArriva bus drivers in Bolton went on strike yesterday, Wednesday, over a pay and conditions dispute with the operator

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Still no detail on plans for electrification of Bradford to Leeds rail lineLOCAL Government bosses are still waiting for more details on plans to electrify the rail line between Bradford and Leeds.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• EasyJet update on Airbus plane dealThe deal for 56 A320neo Family aircraft is worth around £4bn at list prices
• Fuel costs could drop by £10 a tank within the next fortnightPrices have been bobbing around at just under the £2 mark recently

Wales Online

• Roads tolls and congestion charges part of Welsh Government transport planLocal road charges - which could include tolls and congestion charges - are included in the Welsh Government's strategy for transport in Wales. Officials think road charges could fund improvements in public transport and reduce the number of vehicles in the road.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension in doubt after cost rises to £550 millionThe future of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension has been plunged into doubt after its cost ballooned to £550 million.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Northern announces skeleton timetable as train strike to hit Leeds next weekThe majority of Northern's services will not run next Wednesday.

Other Regional Press

• Shropshire: MP's drive to increase bus services in rural areasNORTH Shropshire's MP is taking on rural bus services after research revealed just one route operates across the whole county on Sundays.
• Oxfordshire completes transport data exchangeOxfordshire County Council has announced the completion of the second phase of its New Mobility project, using real time data to support management of the local transport network.

New Civil Engineer

• Manchester Relief Road to move ahead despite costs almost doublingTrafford Council is expected to push ahead with compulsory land and property purchases needed for the construction of the Carrington Relief Road, despite the cost rising from £34M to a potential £66M.
• Network Rail hires ex-ICE President Oakervee to investigate railway heat resilienceFormer ICE President Doug Oakervee will undertake an investigation into the resilience of the UK’s railways in the wake of disruption caused by this week’s record-breaking heatwave.

Rail Magazine

• Lords discuss concerns over Avanti West CoastPeers in the House of Lords have been expressing their concerns about the performance of Avanti West Coast (AWC) services.

Other News Sources

• New blow for Devon bus services as drivers and buses 'sent to Birmingham'Stagecoach has not commented on the secondment which follows the announcement of time-table changes due to a lack of drivers and a drop in passenger numbers
• How did UK infrastructure cope with record temperatures?Lineside fires, power cuts, buckled road and damaged runway – Britain’s record-breaking heatwave certainly made an impact on infrastructure.
• EC green lights €285m Spanish scheme for rail freight transportThe scheme will enable the construction, adaptation, or improvement of loading dock and rail freight terminals.
• Network Rail launches hot weather resilience taskforceNetwork Rail is launching a taskforce to investigate and make recommendations on how the railway can develop its approach to resilience during hot weather.
• Gatwick Airport hires hundreds of security staff to ease summer rushAirport is also trying to increase awareness about placing liquids in a clear bag