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

Thursday, 17 November 2022

Government

• Iain Stewart elected Chair of the Transport CommitteeThe Deputy Speaker of the House has announced that Iain Stewart has been elected Chair of the Transport Committee.

BBC News

• Cornwall councillors vote against sale of Newquay airport sharesCornwall councillors have rejected plans to sell off Newquay airport despite having to spend millions every year to subsidise it.
• First images of new Portishead and Pill train stationsImages have been released of two new train stations that will operate once a long-closed line reopens.
• Northern Ireland nightlife: Campaigners call for later public transportLater public transport and staggered closing times for pubs and nightclubs are among measures that would transform nightlife in Northern Ireland.
• Harland and Wolff: Shipbuilder wins Royal Navy contractThe £1.6bn contract to build three support vessels is expected to create 900 jobs in Belfast.
• Wandsworth: E-bikes to be seized without action by operator LimeA London council will seize e-bikes blocking pavements unless the operator takes action by Friday.

Financial Times

• UK’s biggest transport union votes to extend rail strikeNew six-month mandate granted by members is a ‘massive endorsement’ of strategy, says RMT

The Guardian

• Rail strikes may continue for further six months after RMT extends mandateMembers of the RMT union have voted to continue taking industrial action in their long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions.

Times Online

• Life on the front line of neighbours’ traffic wars. [subscription]here’s a tiny sliver of my neighbourhood that is more disputed than the East China Sea, a mini Transnistria on a south London junction. Many low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) have caused controversy. But one in Dulwich Village has inspired demos, petitions, angry exchanges and election campaigns, pitting neighbour against neighbour.
• Death rate higher on single-lane stretches of A9. [subscription]Deaths on single carriageway sections of “Scotland’s most dangerous road” outnumbered those on dual stretches by 20 to one over the past five years.
• Six more months of rail strikes backed by RMT members [subscription]Rail workers have voted overwhelmingly to carry on striking for up to another six months, prompting fears that disruption could last into the spring.

i News

• Train strikes December 2022: Upcoming rail strike dates and if there will be planned disruption this ChristmasIf these talks break down again, meaning services could be disrupted into December and over the Christmas period

Bristol Live

• MP blasts Bristol 'bus chaos' and says public transport is 'collapsing' in the cityA Bristol MP has described a decision to cancel 1,450 buses a week as ’the apparent collapse of Bristol’s public transport system’, and says she will ’demand answers’ from the city’s biggest bus company.

Derby Telegraph

• Plea for announcement over Derby Great British Railways bid as government says it 'remains committed' to rail reformThe Government says it is still committed to "rail reform and modernising the industry"- but has stopped short of confirming that it will still create Great British Railways (GBR), which had been intended to absorb infrastructure company Network Rail and take over control of running trains across the country, including fares and timetables - and hopefully be based in Derby.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Praise for 'fantastic' Washington Metro Loop as transport chiefs told to find cash for £745m plansNorth East transport bosses have been told to press ahead with huge plans to extend the Tyne and Wear Metro to Washington – and find a way to pay for the £745m upgrade.

Other Regional Press

• North East leaders back 'Washington loop' Metro extension plans - so long as travel chiefs can find the £745 million needed to make the scheme a realityNorth East transport bosses have been told to press ahead with huge plans to extend the Tyne and Wear Metro to Washington – and find a way to pay for the £745 million upgrade.
• New Class 197 train on Conwy Valley Line welcomes first passengersA BRAND new train in service on the Conwy Valley Line welcomed its first passengers on board. 
• Miniature railway scheme for Cromer could cut trafficA new miniature railway line could be built in Cromer, to ease tourism congestion in the town.
• New Glasgow city transport plan puts cars bottom of priority listA new city centre transport plan has been published by Glasgow City Council, promoting walking and cycling over car use.
• Councillors team up to propose free public transport for allTWO councillors are proposing that Shetland Islands Council explore the costs associated with providing free bus and inter-island ferry travel for all.

Intelligent Transport

• Transport Planning Society calls on UK government to reform transport funding ahead of autumn budgetThe Transport Planning Society’s new report urges the UK government to simplify public transport funding to make it easier for decision makers to deliver services that best serve their communities.

New Civil Engineer

• National Highways outlines Lower Thames Crossing design changes after plans resubmittedNational Highways has revealed its updated plans for the proposed Lower Thames Crossing, after resubmitting the development consent order (DCO) application for the project earlier this month.
• £460M ’missing link’ on A417 in Gloucestershire given planning approvalNational Highways’ £460M plan to upgrade 5.5km of the A417 in Gloucestershire to a dual carriageway has been granted planning approval.
• Network Rail cuts number of human lookouts ’as low as reasonably practicable’The number of human lookouts on the nation’s railways is “nearly as low as reasonably practicable”, Network Rail’s latest publicly available board minutes reveal.

Rail Advent

• Freight operators can now haul more goods wagons per train!The Rail Safety and Standards Board has carried out a research project which has revealed approaches to improve rail freight haulage

Rail Business Daily

• Michael Roberts appointed as new CEO of London TravelWatchLondon TravelWatch has today welcomed Michael Roberts as its new chief executive officer.

Other News Sources

• Councillors refuse to sell off Cornwall Airport Newquay and recommend Cornwall Council keeps it operatingA report concerning a strategic review of the airport was discussed by councillors behind closed doors