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

Tuesday, 18 October 2022

BBC News

• Survey launched on reconnecting Coventry and Leicester by railA survey has been launched on reconnecting three Midlands cities with a direct rail link. Regional transport body Midlands Connect said the plans would see direct services resume between Nottingham, Coventry and Leicester for the first time since 2004.
• How the Falkirk Wheel revived Scotland's canalsIt's 20 years since the world's only rotating boat lift opened, linking Scotland's lowland canals.
• Train strikes: Workers vote on further six months of walkoutsThe RMT union is asking members if they will support further train strikes to Spring 2023.

Department for Transport

• 'Noise camera' trials to detect rowdy drivers coming to Bradford, Bristol, Great Yarmouth and BirminghamNew technology will identify antisocial drivers and reduce noise pollution.

Financial Times

• Heathrow taps senior executive in bid to repair relations with airlinesKathryn Leahy will manage relations with carriers and baggage handlers after summer of disruption
• Toyota was the Prius pioneer but is struggling with the leap to electricAfter a botched rollout of its first EV, the carmaker faces a tough task at home — persuading customers to lease not buy

The Guardian

• Noise cameras to be trialled in England to tackle boy racersGovernment-backed scheme aims to crack down on road users who breach legal noise limitsNoise-detecting traffic cameras will be trialled in four areas in England in an attempt to crack down on boy racers who rev engines and use illegal exhausts, the Department for Transport has announced.The so-called noise cameras will be installed on the roadside in Bradford on Tuesday, before a rollout in Bristol, Great Yarmouth and Birmingham over the next two months.

Times Online

• Noise camera trial to keep an ear on boy racers [subscription]A trial of “noise cameras” will begin today in an effort to clamp down on boy racers using modified cars and motorbikes.
• Airline chiefs want Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye in the ejector seat [subscription]Sir Tim Clark, chief executive of Emirates airline, was on his way from London to Amsterdam earlier this month to give the opening speech at a conference of aviation industry executives. He never made it. His British Airways flight was cancelled while he was driving to Heathrow.

The Mirror

• New noise-detecting traffic cameras unveiled in crackdown on 'boy racer' miseryThe devices are set to be trialled in Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol and Great Yarmouth, with the Department of Transport saying they will help identify and punish those who illegally adapt their cars to make them louder

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• New noise camera trial comes to Bradford - is loud engine revving illegal?The first noise detecting cameras will be deployed in Keighley - here's how it works, how noise pollution from engine revving damages health and more.

Bristol Live

• TUI Bristol flight cancellations for 2023 to 'impact small number of flights'The airline is reviewing its flying programme, but says it will "always contact customers directly and will offer the opportunity to change flights, or offer a full refund"

Leicester Mercury

• Campaigners call for Leicester to Coventry rail link to 'create jobs and cut carbon emissions'A new direct Leicester to Coventry rail line would create more jobs and help the environment, according to a transport campaign group. Businesses in Leicester are now being called to have their say on the project.

Northern Echo

• Timelapse shows Sunderland's hated railway station being demolished A city train station has vanished from the skyline as part of multi-million regeneration work.The southern entrance of Sunderland’s station has been demolished as part of a committed £26m revamp of the facility, itself part of a bigger £100m plan to transform the whole transport hub. 

Yorkshire Post

• Northern Powerhouse Rail under threat from cuts, Hunt suggestsThe Chancellor has suggested that Northern Powerhouse Rail may not be delivered in full, as he tore up Liz Truss’ spending pledges and tax cuts.

Doncaster Free Press

• Transport Secretary refuses to use emergency act to save Doncaster Sheffield AirportTransport Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said she is “not persuaded” that the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 would be successful in keeping the airport open when challenged in the House of Commons last week.

Other Regional Press

• Why is the Ely rail junction scheme so important to Norfolk?As fresh fears grow about the likelihood of the £500m Ely junction rail revamp going ahead, why is the Cambridgeshire project so significant to Norfolk?
• Fears over rail junction revamp after £500m 'significant cost' warningFears the £500m revamp of Ely junction could be shunted into the sidings have grown - after a transport minister highlighted the "significant" cost.
• Uncertain future for huge Network Rail conference centre in CoventryA worker says they've been told the facility will be mothballed while Network Rail says the numbers using it have decreased

Train Operators

• Greater Anglia wins top accolade at National Rail Awards 2022Greater Anglia, the train operator for the East of England, has been named Passenger Operator of the Year at the National Rail Awards 2022.

New Civil Engineer

• Debate continues over Stonehenge Tunnel alternativesThe debate over the merits of alternative Stonehenge Tunnel options continues, with several organisations maintaining that other options for the road scheme should be considered.
• Anger over continued delay to replace Welsh road bridge damaged in Storm ChristophFrustration among locals is rising over the replacement of a Welsh road bridge destroyed by Storm Christoph almost two years ago.

Rail Advent

• Levenmouth Rail Link gets a visit from MP, Wendy ChamberlainThe visit provided the perfect opportunity to meet the team and also get a project update on the ongoing delivery of the £116 million project

Rail Business Daily

• Uniforms in the rail industry: the challenges and benefitsDressing the rail sector presents a unique challenge, today more than ever. With an increasingly diverse, multi-skilled workforce to cater for, and changing conditions to consider, workwear suppliers can’t adopt a one-size-fits-all approach.

Aviation Industry

• Emirates President Sir Tim Clark Calls For Heathrow Airport’s CEO To ResignThe UAE flag carrier's relationship with the UK's busiest airport has become somewhat tense in recent months.

Other News Sources

• New Chancellor, new uncertainty for UK railwaysThe railways of Great Britain face new uncertainty with the appointment of yet another Chancellor of the Exchequer. Jeremy Hunt, put into place only last week by Liz Truss, has nevertheless set about dismantling much of the new prime minister’s economic policy. He has already warned that difficult times are ahead and that almost certainly means a cutback in public spending. With no clear plan for investment in the railways, there are fears that major projects may be postponed or even cancelled.
• Transport sec Trevelyan to make select committee debut this weekTrevelyan, who was appointed to her role at the start of September by prime minister Liz Truss, will face MPs at 9.30am on Wednesday (19 October).