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

Sunday, 28 August 2022

BBC News

• Cambridge congestion charge: Five-year plan consideredA congestion charge for Cambridge could be in force within five years under new plans. The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) is proposing a £5 charge to be introduced by 2026/27, which would affect private vehicles between 07:00 and 19:00 on weekdays.
• Metro upgrade: First glimpse at new-look trains ahead of testingMetro passengers have been given a glimpse of how the new £362m fleet will look, following the completion of the first two trains.
• Birmingham: Thousands expected on trains over bank holidayRail passengers are being urged to plan journeys in advance, with lines due to be busy over the bank holiday.
• Liverpool Edge Hill: Historic railway site gains heritage protectionWhat is said to be the cradle of railway travel has been earmarked as a nationally important archaeological site after a long campaign.

The Guardian

• Bye bye beamer: drivers downsize their cars as cost of living crisis bitesDrivers all over the UK are downsizing to cheaper, less prestigious and more fuel-efficient vehicles and banking the cash difference as the cost of living crisis continues.
• Drivers will be ’stunned’ by rise in drop-off fees at UK airports, says RACDrop-off fees have increased at two-thirds of the UK’s major airports since 2019, according to research.

The Telegraph

• Train stations hike parking prices at rates even faster than rail fares [subscription]Some 65 per cent of train stations that use APCOA to manage car parks have increased their fee for up to 24 hours on a weekday

Times Online

• Music put to railway messages goes viral [subscription]They are a background noise for thousands of commuters in Scotland, the unremarkable announcements heard on trains and station platforms.

Bristol Live

• Bristol underground transport system will 'never happen', some readers sayPeople have given a mixed reaction about proposals for a Bristol underground transport network. Consultants working for Bristol City Council say an underground could boost the region’s economy up to a level on par with London and the south-east.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• 'Return to the 19th century' as London trains to North Wales coast halted in emergency timetableAn emergency train timetable that removes direct trains between the North Wales coast line and London has been dubbed a "return to the 19th century". Business and local authority leaders from North Wales in the Growth Track 360 partnership are urging the UK Rail Minister to safeguard at least one direct train per day in each direction between North Wales and London.

Leicester Mercury

• Skylink bus company announces cancellation of services in East Midlands Airport areaSkylink bus services in the East Midlands Airport area are among those being scrapped after failing to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Transport operator Trent Barton says some routes serving Loughborough, Diseworth, Long Whatton and East Midlands Gateway are making a loss.

Liverpool Echo

• We were invited on a journey on a brand new Merseyrail trainIt is fair to say that Merseyrail's new trains have been a long time coming. It was in 2016 that a deal was first signed by the Liverpool City Region's transport body to purchase the 52-strong fleet of Class 777 trains from Swiss manufacturer Stadler. The fact they have yet to start taking passengers around this region has been very frustrating for everyone.

London Evening Standard

• I won’t back down to Rail and Tube unions despite strikes, vows Grant Shapps’They’ve been able to just carry on with unbelievably outdated practices,’ Mr Shapps said

Manchester Evening News

• Why have Manchester to London rail services been cut to the bone?Passengers have been hit hard with slashed trains and some of the worst rail problems in recent history

Other Regional Press

• Crucial funding given to Nottinghamshire Bus Services, including those that serve Newark, Tuxford, Sutton-on-Trent, Bingham and Rushcliffe villagesNottinghamshire County Council — working in partnership with local bus operators —will provide financial support to 19 key bus services across Nottinghamshire that would otherwise be at risk.
• Norfolk's disused train stations that you can still visit todayIf you feel like taking a step back in time, then visiting one of Norfolk's disused train stations may be all you need to transport you back to the good ol' days. There are a total of 138 disused train stations in Norfolk, from those in tiny villages to ones that once serviced our popular seaside resorts.

Rail Advent

• New rail freight flow opens up in North WalesA few weeks ago, a new rail freight flow opened up in North Wales when GB Railfreight transported a train of Welsh slate aggregate from Llandudno Junction to Luton in Bedfordshire.
• Lincolnshire Railway Station Gets New Coat Of Paint And Community RoomA project at Sleaford station to repaint and transform unused space at the station has been completed.

Other News Sources

• Community Transport to the Rescue...As we get older and frailer, we increasingly rely on others to help get us around
• The first ever Llandudno to Luton rail freight route opensThanks to a joint initiative between Network Rail, the Welsh Government and Breedon, Welsh slate aggregate is being transported from Llandudno to Luton via rail freight for the first time ever.
• 'Wareham' mural dubbed offensive by locals to remainA mural bearing the name “Wareham” on the side of the pedestrian rail bridge at the town rail station is to remain – although not liked by everybody. Network Rail has been granted retrospective listed building approval for the sign which has been in place since November 2021 on the grade 2 listed station site.