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

Thursday, 18 August 2022

BBC News

• Avanti passengers locked in Oxenholme station after late trainPassengers were stranded in a locked station after their train arrived 100 minutes late, an MP has said.
• London bus cuts: Transport bosses urged to reconsider changesPlans for the biggest bus cuts in the capital for decades would be "counterproductive", Transport for London (TfL) has been told.
• Further cuts to Reading bus services announced as fares increaseA bus company has announced more cuts to routes but has increased fares. On Tuesday, Reading Buses said some services would no longer run and ticket prices would increase.
• Arriva North West bus strike called off after improved pay offerUnion members agree a truce after Arriva North West returns with a fresh 11.1% pay deal.
• Greater Manchester scheme to cap single bus fares at £2 approvedGreater Manchester's mayor confirms a scheme to lower bus fares will brought in from September.
• School bus routes cut the night before pupils returnThe late announcement affected 26 primary and secondary schools on 40 routes in North Lanarkshire.

ITV News

• Bus fares to be capped at £2 per journey in Greater Manchester to ease cost of living burdenBus fares in Greater Manchester will be capped at £2 per journey to 'help ease the cost of living crisis', it has been confirmed.

Financial Times

• UK transport strikes set to heighten summer of disruption as pay talks stallRail, tube and bus walkouts come as unions repeat calls for wage rises to offset soaring inflation

STV

• Call for views on plan to redesign old rail bridge into Clyde crossing Plans to transform a former railway bridge into a cycle path and walkway over the Clyde linking Carmyle with Westburn are moving forward.

The Guardian

• Rail strikes: Britons face three more days of disruption from ThursdayNetwork Rail, several train firms, London Underground and London buses to be hit by latest action. Commuters and other travellers are facing further disruption over three days from Thursday on rail, tube and bus services, as tens of thousands of workers begin the latest round of strike action.Network Rail, several train companies, London Underground and buses in the capital will be hit by industrial action due to long-running disputes over pay, jobs and conditions.

The Telegraph

• Bring back face masks on public transport this winter, says Tony Blair InstituteThink tank headed by former prime minister says move would help reduce risk of Covid wave causing winter health crisis

Times Online

• Mad rush for emergency exit at strike-hit airlines [subscription]Strikes have been a recurring stock market theme this summer particularly in the transport sector, with train and bus operators to the fore.
• Train fare rises won’t match inflation (but could still hit 8%) [subscription]Train fares will not rise in line with inflation next year, amid concerns that millions of people will be priced out of travelling by rail.
• Supersonic travel is back. Can it beat Concorde? [subscription]American Airlines has ordered 60 Overture jets but the heyday of superfast flights was about more than speed. By Simon Mills
• Train strikes: Shapps plans emergency powers to take on ’Luddite’ trade unions [subscription]Ministers could use emergency powers to block strikes under government plans to “reset” the balance of power in favour of passengers, the transport secretary said last night.

Mail Online

• GRANT SHAPPS: We WILL take on Luddites who are disrupting millions of people... like Thatcher didRail workers aren't striking because they're hard up, writes transport secretary GRANT SHAPPS. They average £44,000 a year - and there's a pay rise on offer, already accepted by some of their colleagues
• Chaos for thousands of holidaymakers as dozens of flights at Gatwick are axed due to thunderstormsThunderstorms and torrential rain have cancelled dozens of flights at Gatwick and created massive delays, leaving some people stuck on the tarmac for four hours.

The Mirror

• Passengers set for more travel misery with transport strikes set for todayNetwork Rail, train companies, London Underground and buses in London will be hit by tens of thousands of workers going on strike on Thursday causing misery for travellers

Sky News

• 'We can't tolerate being bullied or hoodwinked' - Fresh transport strikes set to cause more travel chaosRail, Tube and bus passengers are set to face four days of travel misery as tens of thousands of workers stage another round of strikes.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Train operator Northern shortlisted for national awardTRAIN operator Northern has been shortlisted for a national award for its work towards long-term environmental sustainability.

Bristol Live

• Bristol Airport apologises after passengers complain of 'disaster' baggage wait"The pilot even said it was quicker to get from Amsterdam to Bristol than it was to get the baggage off the plane"

Liverpool Echo

• Arriva bus drivers' historic pay win is ray of hope in these difficult times The hard-fought victory will provide a crucial boost to others stood on picket lines around the country

Sheffield Star

• Sheffield buses: South Yorkshire Mayoral Authority looked at taking over failed bus company Powell’sSouth Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard has confirmed he has looked into using his powers to take over a failed bus company.

Yorkshire Post

• Transport Secretary Grant Shapps accuses Yorkshire mayors of being 'found wanting' on rail strikesThe Transport Secretary has accused the region’s metro mayors of being found wanting on rail strikes.
• Our railways need reform and Yorkshire mayors should speak up against union militancy - Grant ShappsDuring the pandemic, this Government protected millions of jobs and tens of thousands of businesses with an economic package endorsed by unions and business groups.

Get Surrey

• The £12m plan to improve travelling around WokingSurrey County Council has applied for "Levelling Up" funding

Other Regional Press

• Northern mayors warn of ’devastating’ impact on bus servicesFour northern mayors have joined forces to demand a government take action as a bus funding lifeline comes to an end - saying it will "devastate" communities and exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis.
• Argus readers on end of Fflecsi bus scheme in NewportTHE Fflecsi bus scheme is coming to an end in Newport next month, and for many of our readers, it is a case of "what might have been".
• South Yorkshire's Mayor may take over failed bus company Powell'sPowell's went under earlier this month leaving 260 staff out of work and hitting 24 bus routes
• More than £115million to be spent on Coventry's roads and cycle lanesA futuristic rail project will also get a boost

Christian Wolmar

• Avanti winning the wrong competitionWhen the railways were privatised a quarter of a century ago, Prime Minister John Major  said that it was to stimulate competition on the tracks. Now as the model they  used to break up the railways is falling apart, it seems the only competition is to be the worst train operator.

New Civil Engineer

• ’Quality issues’ detected in HS2’s pre-cast green tunnel at Chipping WardenAssurance tests are being carried out on the installed pre-cast sections of HS2’s Chipping Warden tunnel following the identification of quality issues.
• Transport union flags safety concerns if TfL heads into managed declineTransport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) has warned that there will be safety issues if the government fails to settle with Transport for London (TfL) and sends the operator into "managed decline".

Rail Advent

• Restoration of Barmouth viaduct to be extended for additional repairsTo reduce the impact on rail services, the community, and the local economy, the final stage in the refurbishment of Barmouth Bridge is to be carried out in stages over the next two years.

The Business Desk

• £115.9m secured by Coventry city council to improve transport systemCoventry City Council has secured £115.9m in grant funding, to help decarbonise and improve the city’s transport system.

Other News Sources

• £170,000 for Caley Railway canopy is small cash comfort after Levelling Up knockbackGet all the important local headlines as well as top Scottish and UK news.
• Time to Upgrade Wales’ Transport SystemWe don’t know yet who will be the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, but I was delighted that both candidates at the Cardiff hustings are clearly far more ambitious for Wales than the devolved government in Cardiff Bay.
• £570m funding for South Yorkshire transport schemesFunding of £570m has been awarded for transport schemes across South Yorkshire.
• Leeds City Council statement in response to possible cuts to the bus recovery grants.Leeds City councillor Helen Hayden, executive member for infrastructure and climate, said:
• MP and council leader clash over bus cutsAn MP has accused his local council of axing key bus routes just after "trousering" millions from the government to improve local services, but the council leader has defended the decisions and blamed central government for delays. Weston MP John Penrose (Con) criticised North Somerset…
• Coventry very light rail scheme gets funding boostCoventry City Council has secured £115.9M to spend on decarbonising its transport systems and a “large chunk” will go towards developing the city’s very light rail system.
• Heavy rain causes ballast to come loose on Eastbourne railway lineHEAVY rain has forced a train operator to close one of its lines for a safety inspection of the track.
• Dozens of flights cancelled at Gatwick Airport due to bad weatherSOME flights will be cancelled at Gatwick Airport due to “poor weather conditions”.