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

Saturday, 05 November 2022

BBC News

• Bradford Northern Powerhouse Rail station plan axed again, No 10 saysPlans for a new high-speed railway station in Bradford have been axed, Downing Street has said. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has shelved predecessor Liz Truss's promise to build the station on a proposed line connecting Liverpool and Hull.
• 'They didn't understand the impact bus cuts would have on people'Several bus routes in Cambridgeshire and parts of Suffolk have seen changes this week after new operators took over from Stagecoach, which withdrew from 18 loss-making routes and introduced changes on others. With less frequent buses and limited timetables in some areas - and negotiations continuing with providers - how are passengers coping?
• Bus driver shortage: Almost 1 in 10 positions vacantAlmost 1 in 10 bus driver positions are vacant in the UK, driving a drop in the number of services, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has said.
• Oxford University and Oxford Bus Company back traffic filtersOxford University and a city bus firm are supporting proposed traffic filters that would stop most drivers from using busy routes at peak times.
• Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Final flights due unless last-minute buyer foundThe final passenger flights into Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) are due to land on Friday as time ticks away for a deal to save it.
• ScotRail services to be slashed despite RMT strike cancellationThe operator will only run a
• London Underground strike still on as rail strikes postponedTube passengers are being warned there will be little or no service on 10 November.
• Salford's e-scooter scheme extended for two more yearsA study has found the scooters are frequently replacing other modes of transport across Salford.
• Leaders angered by Northern Powerhouse Rail axingNorthern leaders accuse the government of breaking promises to improve connections.
• Avanti West Coast: Rail boss apologises for recent disruptionAvanti West Coast and Transpennine Express have been criticised for reduced timetables and cancellations.
• Workers at Heathrow to strike in World Cup run-upA union says 700 workers at the UK's biggest airport will walk out for three days from 18 November.

Financial Times

• UK rail and postal unions suspend strikes pending ‘intensive’ talks RMT cancels three days of imminent walkouts and CWU pause 48-hour stoppages

The Guardian

• Nicola Sturgeon rejects cronyism accusation over ferries contractScottish first minister defends decision to give £97m contract in 2016 to financier Jim McColl

The Independent

• ’Not much point’ going ahead with Northern Powerhouse Rail, says Grant ShappsMinisters denies downgrade of rail scheme is blow to ’levelling up’

The Telegraph

• Friday evening UK news briefing: RMT suspends rail strikes

i News

• Northern Powerhouse Rail: North could fund rail upgrades after Grant Shapps says ’not much point’ in planThere is renewed interest in asking for more revenue-raising powers to part-fund Northern Powerhouse Rail
• UK airports see mixed fortunes as Stansted and Southend reflect both robust growth and serious declineDundee Airport saw passenger growth exceed 2019 levels while Southend endured a dramatic drop in flights

The Mirror

• 'While Londoners enjoy the £18.9bn Elizabeth Line, others make do with a rickety rail system'While Britain’s bus services are being cut and routes cancelled because of a lack of investment and a shortage of drivers, travellers outside London have reasons to feel aggrieved
• Bus stung with fine for using bus lane to pick up passengers at city centre stopThe owner of Connexions Buses has said that one of his buses was given a ticket by Leeds City Council for using a bus lane to get to a stop to pick up passengers

Birmingham Mail

• Transport network 'key priority' for Birmingham but minister could not show one exampleThe levelling up minister accepted more transport investment was needed in the West Midlands, but could not answer any questions on what those proposals may look like.

Birmingham Post

• Ryanair adds sixth aircraft and new summer routes at Birmingham AirportIrish carrier announces second investment in the airport this year as seven new routes set to come online next year

Bolton News

• Northern unveil smart train to make safer and more enjoyable journeysIn 1830 Manchester and Liverpool made history as the first two cities in the world to be connected by an intercity passenger railway service.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Rail strikes called off at 'short notice' - but services will still be disrupted in WalesThe RMT says it's preparing for 'intensive negotiations with Network Rail and the train operating companies'

Manchester Evening News

• Outrage as minister says 'not much point' in Northern Powerhouse Rail's new high-speed Manchester to Leeds lineNorthern Powerhouse Rail looks set to be ditched by the new Prime Minister

Nation. Cymru

• New Transport for Wales electric buses to run on Welsh route in new yearNew electric buses, which will run between Carmarthen and Aberystwyth from next year, have been revealed at a trade show by Transport for Wales.

Doncaster Free Press

• Doncaster Sheffield Airport: “significantly improved” offer put to Peel after first offer rejectedDoncaster’s mayor has revealed that a potential airport buyer has increased its offer after the first was rejected.

Other Regional Press

• Petition against Southeastern Rail 'loop change' to Elizabeth line gains 1,400 signatures in under a weekThe petition was started by a local councillor, who called the changes a "farce"
• A look inside the electric bus that will travel between Aberystwyth and CarmarthenThe bus service between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen will go electric in the new year.

New Civil Engineer

• Former Transport Committee chair to lead on rail and HS2 in DfT shake upMP for Bexhill and Battle Huw Merriman has been appointed as minister of state at the Department for Transport (DfT) with specific responsibility for rail and High Speed 2 (HS2).

Rail Advent

• Practical Trackwork Challenge brings together heritage and modern railTo coincide with National Engineering Day on 2nd November, the Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) hosted the rail industry’s fifth Trackwork Training event on 2nd and 3rd November.

Other News Sources

• British government changes course again on Northern Powerhouse RailWeeks after being reinstated, project for Transpennine high speed switches again to line upgrade.
• First co-operatively owned rail service on track for WiltshireAN ambitious move to launch the UK’s first co-operatively managed rail service in the South West has moved a step closer.
• Northern Powerhouse Rail to be scaled back?Liz Truss pledged to build long-awaited scheme in full but new transport secretary Mark Harper has hinted at a return to a scaled-back version   Transport secretary Mark Harper   Reverting to a scaled back version of the Northern Powerhouse Rail project would be a serious setback to levelling up, campaigners warned this week. Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership lobby group, said: It raises serious questions about their plans for growth, given that the norths woeful transport infrastructure continues to weigh down our economy and hold back private...