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Monday, 05 December 2022

BBC News

• Train strikes: RMT rejects offer aimed at averting festive strikesThe RMT union has rejected an offer from the group representing train companies which sought to stop strikes in the run-up to Christmas.
• Extra 100 Midlands daily trains pledged in £1.5bn rail planDetailed proposals are being submitted to the government to improve the Midlands rail network.

Financial Times

• Opec+ says ready to adjust oil output as Russia embargo loomsProducer cartel could take ‘immediate’ action, as EU ban on Russian crude imports is set to start
• UK rail strikes set to go ahead after RMT rejects pay offerAnger at Zahawi’s claim that industrial action in run-up to Christmas was playing in to Putin’s hands

The Independent

• Network Rail joins RDG in pay offer to end Christmas strikes chaos’After a weekend of intensive pay talks with our trades unions we have made an improved pay offer’ – Network Rail

The Telegraph

• Roll out congestion charges nationwide, bus operators tell ministers. [subscription]Proposal includes a £7 daily charge to make buses more attractive
• RMT rejects eight per cent pay rise offer aimed at heading off more strikes. [subscription]Thousands of RMT members across 14 train operators and Network Rail are due to stage two 48-hour strikes later this month

Times Online

• Rail strikes still on after pay offer is rejected. [subscription]Hope that a week-long shutdown of the railway next week would be averted faded last night after Britain’s biggest rail union rejected a pay offer.

The Mirror

• Transport bosses unveil rail revolution plan for Midlands and Welsh borderThe Midlands Connect group detailed how the blueprint, much of it centred on Birmingham New Street, could benefit commuters across the regions - and asked the Government for money to develop proposals

Belfast Telegraph

• Inadequate transport system and taxi charges are putting people off coming into Belfast, says Alliance councillor Michael LongThere has been a call for a compete overhaul of the public transport system in Belfast after reports that some people were being asked to pay six times more than usual to hire a taxi home after a night out at the weekend.

Birmingham Mail

• More rail services for region dubbed ’biggest step possible in levelling-up the Midlands’Proposals to increase faster and more frequent trains across the Midlands have been sent to the government today as part of a massive package of rail travel improvements.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Edinburgh 'consolidation centres' could cut number of delivery vans on the roadNew centres at Leith and Hermiston Gait are being considered

London Evening Standard

• Rail union offered 8% pay rise in bid to stop crippling Christmas strikeshe RMT rail union has been offered a new pay offer in a bid to head off planned strikes that could wreak havoc over Christmas.

Yorkshire Post

• ’Ghost’ railway lines could be reopened after bids for levelling up fundingPlans to bring back disused rail services and stations in the South Yorkshire region are moving forward as bids for levelling up funding have been submitted.

Other Regional Press

• Arriva ‘sorry’ but Watford bus turmoil set to continueArriva says it is “genuinely sorry” for buses disruption amid claims it is “destroying people’s lives” – but the turmoil looks set to continue.
• Modern new home for more than 100 Preston Bus vehicles is given the green lightThe “uneconomic and unsustainable” buildings where Preston Bus stores and services its vehicles are to be flattened and replaced with a new purpose-built facility.

New Civil Engineer

• National Highways vows to appoint ’design champions’National Highways will appoint “design champions” in the coming year to improve design processes, and challenge poor design.
• ’Lengthy delays’ to infrastructure policy is impacting project delivery, NIC design chair says“Lengthy delays” to infrastructure policy updates are having a negative impact on project delivery, according to National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) design group chair Sadie Morgan.
• Midlands Rail Hub plans promise £1.5bn of new infrastructure by 2030Midlands Connect has announced plans for £1.5bn worth of new and improved infrastructure, with the Midlands Rail Hub to be delivered between 2025 and 2030.

The Business Desk

• £1.5bn plans unveiled to improve East-West rail connectionsFaster and more frequent train services are on the cards for up to 43 communities, towns and cities throughout the region as part of a major package of improvements to transform east-west connections in the Midlands.