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

Thursday, 22 December 2022

BBC News

• City Zipper bus scheme aims to cut Hereford's car useA free city centre bus service in Hereford is aimed at cutting the number of people driving in the area, the city council said.
• Bus service set to end after council funding cutA bus service between two Leicestershire towns could be scrapped after funding was pulled.
• Merseyrail to limit services during January rail strikesMerseyrail will run a limited service during four days of strikes to help passengers make essential journeys, the operator has said.
• London Underground: Parts of Tube's Central line gets 4G phone signalLondon Underground passengers on parts of the Central line can now receive 4G phone coverage.

ITV News

• E-scooters banned from Avanti West Coast trains and stationsE-scooters will be banned from Avanti West Coast stations and its trains following concerns for safety.

Financial Times

• Warning of UK Christmas airport disruption as strikes escalatePassengers told to ‘prepare’ ahead of Border Force walkouts at UK’s busiest hubs from Friday

The Guardian

• Passengers warned to expect delays during UK Border Force strikeBorder Force official does not rule out possibility of airport closures when staff go on strike from FridayPassengers travelling into the UK during a strike by Border Force staff over the holiday period should prepare for the prospect of long delays and a remote possibility that airports could close, a senior Border Force official has said.The warning came as a senior Home Office source said soldiers and civil servants covering for striking Border Force staff would not have the skills needed to spot modern slavery victims. Continue reading...
• French rail firm to reimburse double ticket price for Christmas cancellationsSNCF apologises to up to 200,000 passengers likely to be affected by wildcat strikes by conductors

The Scotsman

• Nicola Sturgeon makes first intervention in Network Rail dispute to urge UK transport secretary Mark Harper to immediately help find solutionNicola Sturgeon stepped into the national rail dispute for the first time on Wednesday to call on UK transport secretary Mark Harper to immediately intervene to help reach a solution as a series of Christmas strikes looms.

Times Online

• Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit ready for blast-off. [subscription]The first satellite launch from Britain has been cleared for take-off after Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit gained operating approval from the regulator.
• Border Force strikes could close UK airports at Christmas. [subscription]Airports could be forced to close during strikes by Border Force staff, officials have warned.

City AM

• Campaigners warn hiking rail fares could push people away from train travelNorman Baker, director of external affairs at advocacy group Campaign for Better Transport, told City A.M. that any increase to ticket prices will come “as a further blow to long-suffering passengers” after months “of cancellations and delays to train services”.

Birmingham Mail

• CrossCountry urges Midland rail passengers to finish Christmas Eve journeys by noon amid strike actionThe country is gripped by a wave of industrial action impacting a range of industries

Metro

• Don’t even try to take a train, warns rail firm as software fails and more strikes loomBritain’s railways went into meltdown on one of the busiest days of the year – with one company warning people not to travel.

Nation. Cymru

• Work on track to convert Welsh coal mine into £250m Global Centre of Rail ExcellenceWork is well underway in Neath Port Talbot and Powys, for the new Global Centre of Rail Excellence, described as having the potential to put the area on the map.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Bus chiefs told they must improve reliability as North East passengers left to endure 'utter misery'Delays and cancellations have become a major problem over recent weeks, with complaints that helpless passengers are being left stranded at 'freezing cold stops'

Other Regional Press

• East West Rail chief makes personal pledge to publish update “as soon as possible”The chief executive of East West Rail Co (EWR) has said that she will be in a position to update local communities on the chosen route in the “early part of 2023”.
• MSP Ross Greer praises Scottish Government for peak rail fare cutsA West Scotland MSP says the Scottish Government’s plans to suspend peak time rail fairs will “make a big difference” to North Ayrshire residents.

Business Live

• Virgin Orbit finally granted licence for delayed UK space launch from CornwallThe launch was due to happen in December but will now take place after Christmas
• Nissan profits impacted by trio of headwinds facing automotive sectorAccounts for the UK company behind the automotive giant's Sunderland operation detailed how Covid, global semiconductor shortages and the war in Ukraine had impacted performance
• Almost £17m awarded to project turning black bin bags into sustainable jet fuelThe Government also said the winners of the Advanced Fuel Fund will create thousands of skilled, green jobs
• £27m backing for green jet fuel refinery welcomed as Westminster confirms funding for Altalto plantStakeholder reaction following Velocys securing the significant investment last week

Calling All Stations - The Transport Podcast

• Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 2Christian pays tribute to a giant figure of the transport industry, reflects on the current industrial relations scene and finances of Great Britain's railways and examines bus fare capping, e-scooter technology and whether airliners can ever be truly safe without co-pilots.

New Civil Engineer

• Reopening of North Wales swing bridge delayed againThe reopening of Caernarfon swing bridge in North Wales will be delayed due to problems obtaining bespoke parts needed to repair a mechanical fault.
• MPs probe National Highways’ investment strategy following project cost hikes and delaysThe Transport Select Committee has launched an inquiry into the management of the government’s £24bn five-year road investment strategy (RIS) for 2020 to 2025, known as RIS2.
• Transport company looks ahead to a net zero futureTransport for Wales, which runs trains through Shropshire, has published a five-year corporate strategy outlining how it will improve public transport and encourage more people to travel sustainably.

Rail Business Daily

• Wakefield celebrated thanks to new vibrant station artworkWakefield Cathedral, the city’s art gallery, The Hepworth, and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park are just some of the landmarks and attractions featured in a new piece of artwork unveiled at Wakefield Westgate railway station.

News from Europe

• Transport infrastructure: EU allocates further EUR 616 million to civilian-defence dual-use investments on the Trans-European Transport NetworkThe EU is supporting with EUR 616 million a total of 35 projects that will help deliver key infrastructure investments for dual civil/defence use, which is crucial in light of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The projects will also help strengthening the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes. The projects have been selected among those submitted under the second Military Mobility call for proposals issued under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme
• Cleaner ships on the horizon: wind and electricity propel shipping sector towards reduced emissionsShips are among the world’s biggest polluters. To replace them means finding alternatives to traditional diesel engines. With climate change at the fore of the industry's mind, companies are testing the waters with game-changing solutions.