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

Monday, 24 October 2022

BBC News

• East Yorkshire driver shortage leads to reduced bus servicesA shortage of drivers has led to a reduced timetable being brought in on bus services in Hull.

ITV News

• Reading station evacuated and Great Western Railway passengers warned to expect delaysPassengers on a key train route into London have been experiencing disruption because of damage to power cables.

Financial Times

• Ecommerce will boost demand for air cargo, says chief of handler WFSMove shipping companies invest in aircraft fleets even as global outlook darkens
• The driverless car revolution is stuck in the slow laneThere is still no consensus on how autonomous vehicles should work

Times Online

• ’Ryanair of rail’ lights up the east coast on fast track to profit [subscription]A cut-price rail service between London and Edinburgh, dubbed the Ryanair of rail, is on track to turn a profit after a year in service and has helped to reverse the airlines’ previous dominance of the travel market between the capitals.
• London LTNs: Councils that closed rat runs now have even more cars on their roads [subscription]Councils that implemented low-traffic neighbourhoods during the pandemic have seen bigger increases in car use than boroughs that did not, according to government driving statistics.

Daily Record

• Disabled train passengers allegedly being locked out of ScotRail servicesA ScotRail worker says changes to ramps at stations are making travel "extremely difficult" for people with disabilities.

The Mirror

• National Rail pays thousands to Brits living near stations after Japanese knotweed foundNetwork Rail has paid out nearly half a million pounds to homeowners living near train stations since 2019 after Japanese knotweed was discovered invading properties

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham leading 'transport revolution' with 75,000 e-scooter rides in one monthThere were a huge number of e-scooter rides during peak weekday commuter hours after the huge Voi trial was extended

Bristol Live

• Serious doubt for Bristol cycle path on lost railway as hope for project 'diminishing'The future of a project to turn a disused railway line through the heart of Brislington into a cycleway appears in serious doubt. Those backing the Brislington Greenway project claim the council’s planning department - who originally didn’t want the project to go ahead - are now putting so many demands on the project organisers that it has made the scheme unviable.

Liverpool Echo

• Contending with months of 'chaos' on Liverpool's Avanti and TransPennine servicesThe media gathered at Liverpool Lime Street on Saturday to hear Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham speak about ongoing problems on the North of England's railways.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham City Transport orders its first electric buses as part of £34m investmentNottingham City Transport [NCT] has ordered its first electric single deck buses as part of investment with £34 million. NCT has appointed Zenobē Energy as the delivery partner for the electrification of 78 of its buses, which will supply the charging infrastructure to Nottingham’s historic Trent Bridge Bus Garage, which housed horse-drawn and electric trams back when it opened in 1901.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Bus services delayed and roads blocked by flooding across regionRoads are blocked off and bus services delayed and re-routed after heavy rain has caused flash flooding across the region.

Doncaster Free Press

• Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Thousands join MPs to march against closureNearly 2,000 members of the public were joined by MPs and local politicians at a protest march against the closure of Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

Other Regional Press

• Controversial school transport policies in Powys to be reviewedThe current school transport system has been the subject of dismay from parents in certain areas in the county, with families complaining about its inflexibility - leading to parents having to pay for alternatives.
• Andy Burnham calls on government to help end rail ’chaos’ in the NorthManchester’s mayor has said “enough is enough” and asked the government to increase its efforts to improve rail services in the region.
• Stansted Airport: 800,000 passengers expected to fly through airport during "very busy October half term"Turkey, the Canaries, Spain, and Portugal are among the top destination for short haul holidays
• Gatwick Airport flying to almost 90 per cent of pre-pandemic destinations this October half-termThis October half-term, Gatwick Airport will fly to almost 90 per cent of the destinations it flew to at the same period in 2019 – the airport has reported – as it prepares to welcome holidaymakers jetting off for a short break or some autumn sun.
• Levenmouth rail link brings optimism in bleak times, says campaignerLevenmouth rail campaigner Eugene Clarke is a glass half full kind of person.
• Work begins to restore Carlisle to Newcastle train lineWORK is underway to remove the derailed cement freight train in Carlisle but, it could still be weeks away until the train line reopens again.
• Bus operators in West Yorkshire slammed after fares hiked despite price capsThe region's mayor is also concerned at bus services being pulled

Construction Enquirer

• Third of major rail enhancement projects stuck in sidingsAround one-third of the projects in the Government’s £10bn Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline have failed to advance in the three years since the 2019-2024 plan was published.

New Civil Engineer

• Piling work begins to electrify abandoned Scots railwayWork begins today to lay the foundations that will pave the way for the electrification of the Levenmouth Rail Link.
• Runaway engineering train damages track at Liverpool Street StationAn unattended engineering train ran away from platform three at London Liverpool Street station earlier this month, damaging a set of points.

Railway Gazette

• Transport for London power purchase procurement paused againUK: Transport for London has once again postponed plans to source 10% of its power needs from new-build wind or solar farms though a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement.

Other News Sources

• UK’s largest ever pour of low-carbon concrete at HS2’s Euston station siteA foundation slab has been poured for HS2’s new Euston station using a type of concrete that emits far less CO2 than normal construction grade concretes.
• Great British Rail must focus on data says TechUKIf GBR gets off the platform, data and tech modernisation are vital to achieving the stated policy aims