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

Wednesday, 07 December 2022

Cogitamus

• Vision of international rail traffic still awaits full realisationThe Channel Tunnel opened in a burst of excitement and optimism in 1994. When Eurostar started its twice daily “discovery” service between London and Paris that November, I took a detour from my normal journey to work to stand on the platform at Vauxhall station to watch the morning departure from Waterloo go through. It was a long, fully loaded train, and I felt a sense of real excitement.

BBC News

• A1 Northumberland dualling decision delayed furtherA decision on dualling the A1 in Northumberland has been delayed until September 2023, the government has confirmed.

Financial Times

• Airlines set for first profit since 2019 next year Industry recovering from disruption of pandemic that led to $185bn of losses
• Sunak under pressure to accelerate anti-strike legislationTory MPs call for new union curbs as UK faces biggest wave of industrial action since 1989
• Why private sector strikes are not all about the money Disputes at Royal Mail and the railways will not be solved with pay rises alone

Times Online

• RMT strikes: Don’t travel on the railways next week, public told. [subscription]Passengers will be told not to travel on the railways next week, whether or not unions call off strikes at the 11th hour.

London Evening Standard

• Train strikes: Fury over the rail grinches walking out for Christmashe militant RMT union faced fury on Tuesday after announcing rail strikes at Christmas — having previously pledged this would not happen to avoid inflicting travel misery across the country.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Tyne and Wear Metro trains should finally start running to South Shields again next weekTransport bosses say they hope to reopen the Metro line from Pelaw to South Shields on Monday, December 12, but that date is not set in stone yet

Wales Online

• Llandeilo bypass preferred solution to be decided on this winterResponses to a consultation about a long-awaited Llandeilo bypass or diversion scheme are still being considered by the Welsh Government. A recommendation on a preferred route was due to be made by the autumn, but it's now expected to be over the winter.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Motorway to close for 11 days over Christmas period for HS2 worksDrivers heading away over the Christmas period are being warned to plan their journeys with a West Midlands motorway set to be closed over the festive period.
• 100 extra trains for the Midlands each day under £1.5 billion rail schemeUp to 100 extra trains will pass through the Midlands each day under a £1.5billion scheme to improve rail connections.

Other Regional Press

• Stansted Airport warns travellers that breaking any of these rules can lead to jail or £80,000 fineStansted Airport has urged travellers to keep in mind all existing rules at the airport and on board, as breaking those can cost up to £80,000. Passengers have been reminded that despite the festive season, everyone should travel responsibly.
• Manufacturer of new trains for Wrexham-Bidston in administrationVivarail’s refurbished Class 230 tube trains were scheduled to enter service back in 2019, yet they were only delivered to Transport For Wales (TFW) in 2020 and are yet to enter service on the Wrexham to Bidston line for which they were purchased.

Train Operators

• Aberdeen station restoration project celebrates success at National Railway Heritage AwardsScotRail is celebrating success after winning a top award at the National Railway Heritage Awards 2022.
• New station building takes shape as part of Reading West transformationThe £4.1m transformation of Reading West is gathering pace with work under way on a new station building.

Forbes

• Forcing Helmets On Cyclists Would Crush Bicycle Use, Says U.K. Transport MinisterTransport minister Jesse Norman has—again!—batted away a call for mandatory cycle helmet wearing by British cyclists.

Intelligent Transport

• New project to advance large-scale roll-out of user-centric autonomous vehicle servicesThe European Union’s new project aims to foster the integration of autonomous vehicles into cities’ public transport networks with on-demand services, in order to allow for more sustainable, accessible and inclusive mobility.
• West Midlands’ contract bus services saved following reviewA total of 26 bus services of the 39 that had been at risk of withdrawal have been saved, following a six-week review which looked at passenger demand, value for money for the taxpayer and availability of alternative services in the area.

New Civil Engineer

• Funding uncertainty delays 55 north Wales road projects including third Menai crossingDecisions on whether to continue 55 north Wales road projects have been delayed, with the nation’s government blaming capital budget cuts from Westminster.
• £1.3bn Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon officially sunk as developer loses planning appealPlans for the £1.3bn Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon have been dealt a blow by the Court of Appeal, which has ruled that work on the project did not commence within five years of receiving planning approval and therefore the development consent order (DCO) is no longer valid.
• Belfast Grand Central Station construction remains on track despite Covid and supply chain challengesWork on Belfast's new multi-modal transport hub, Grand Central Station, is progressing at pace despite the challenges of the past few years.
• West Yorkshire transport schemes worth £270M to be paused to mitigate inflationary cost pressuresWest Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) is poised to put a pause on 42 transport schemes facing inflationary pressures as it attempts to save £270M and create headroom for other projects to proceed.

Rail Magazine

• Global Centre of Rail Excellence targets private investorsInvestors from around the world are being invited to consider taking a majority stake in the business planning to build a £400 million test track and facilities at the former Onllwyn colliery site, near Swansea.

Aviation Industry

• Bombardier to open new service facility at Abu Dhabi AirportThe new facility, planned to open in 2025, is expected to help Bombardier grow its aftermarket revenues.

Other News Sources

• Mace trials ’Dave’ the robot dog at Heathrow AirportConstruction firm Mace is trialling a Boston Dynamics robot dog it has named ’Dave’ as part of the refurbishment of a 1960s cargo tunnel at Heathrow Airport.
• Bristol Airport – Hydrogen South West to Host Uk’s Airport Hydrogen Hub PartnershipBristol Airport – Hydrogen South West to host UK’s airport hydrogen hub partnership. How Bristol Airport can become an Airport Hydrogen Hub will be determined by a new partnership of Airbus, easyJet, and EDF’s Hynamics. This UK project now joins a network of ’ZEROe’ agreements that Airbus has reached with various airports in Europe and Asia Pacific to explore hydrogen technology.