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

Tuesday, 10 January 2023

Cogitamus

• The Chris Stokes Column - Still no clear light ahead for resolution of industrial disputesIt is truly bleak midwinter for the rail industry. Despite a brief hopeful period in early November when RMT cancelled three days of strikes, there is no sign of any progress towards a settlement. Both sides now seem to be dug in for increasingly bitter trench warfare. Services over the Christmas and New Year period have been a shambles in large parts of the country, with an overtime ban resulting in major planned service reductions or ad-hoc cancellations.

BBC News

• UK space launch: Historic Cornwall rocket launch ends in failureThe first ever satellite mission launched from UK soil has ended in failure.
• Wolverhampton a magnet for taxi driver applicationsWolverhampton registers about a third of England's taxi drivers, according to a report.
• New footbridge opens across A45The bridge is part of a £282m upgrade of the M42 motorway at junction six.
• Talks to resolve strikes end with little progress, unions sayUnite says NHS talks were a
• Rocket debris warning to boats off Irish coastThe Irish government warns seafarers to avoid area during the Virgin Orbit space launch.

Financial Times

• UK's bid to launch satellites fails after rocket anomalyVirgin Orbit's LauncherOne prevented from gaining orbit in major blow to British space ambitions
• Private jet business soars despite commercial airline revivalCharter bookings running 14% higher than before pandemic amid record-breaking demand
• Plan to sort out Britain's railways is stuck in the sidingsThe government seems to have lost interest in the idea of a new body to oversee the network

The Guardian

• Disappointing end to UK space mission as satellites fail to reach orbitBoeing 747 used in mission from Cornwall successfully released rocket before ’anomaly’ was reported

The Herald

• ScotRail trains contract awarded to French company AlstomROLLING stock manufacturer Alstom has been awarded a £12 million contract to carry out mileage-based modernisation of ScotRail’s Class 334 fleet of 40 trains operating between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The Telegraph

• Sturgeon and Burnham plot £3bn raid on Westminster to connect HS2 to Scotland. [subscription]First minister and mayor held secret talks aimed at extending HS2 north of the border

Times Online

• Britishvolt eyes deal to save gigafactory project. [subscription]Britishvolt is in talks with a consortium of investors over a deal which could potentially rescue the battery start-up’s ambitious gigafactory venture.

City AM

• RAC demands VAT cut for EV chargers after 50 per cent jump in charging costsThe RAC has called on the government to cut the VAT rate at public electric vehicle charging points following a 50 per cent increase in charging costs over the past eight months.
• Bentley posts record sales as luxury car market looks set to ride out cost-of-living crisisBentley has broken another sales record, as it delivered over 15,000 vehicles for the first time in its 104-year history. Over the past 12 months the luxury car maker sold 15,174 vehicles – a 4 per cent up on the record levels of 2021.

The Mirror

• Virgin Orbit space mission FAILS as 'anomaly' prevents rocket from reaching orbitBritain's first-ever orbital space mission has failed to reach orbit due to an "anomaly", according to Virgin Orbit, just hours after excited crowds celebrated its historic launch

The National

• Nicola Sturgeon and Andy Burnham in talks to extend HS2 to ScotlandNICOLA Sturgeon has held "secret" talks with Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham in a bid to make UK ministers spend £3 billion connecting Scotland to the HS2 rail project.

Network Rail

• Hope Valley Railway Upgrade picks up pace in 2023Work to remove historic bottlenecks, increase resilience and improve reliability continues on the Hope Valley Railway Upgrade as the new year begins.

Sky News

• 'It's gutting': Historic space launch from UK failsThe crew behind a historic rocket launch from UK soil have vowed to bounce back after their highly anticipated space mission ended in failure.

Birmingham Mail

• New footbridge opens at 'awkward and dangerous' Birmingham Airport crossingThe new footbridge across the A45 near Birmingham Airport has been praised - it is part of a scheme to upgrade the M42 at Junction 6

Birmingham Post

• Electric battery firm Britishvolt in talks to sell majority stakeBritishvolt is in discussions with a consortium of investors concerning the potential majority sale
• East Midlands Railway recruiting apprentice train driversApprenticeship scheme is open to people aged 21 and above and involves a 12-18-month training programme

Bolton News

• Dogs set to be allowed on trams permanently after successful trialPet dogs are set to be allowed on trams permanently in Greater Manchester after a pilot which was launched last summer has been declared a

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Leeds Bradford Airport announce record-breaking number of destinationsLEEDS Bradford Airport (LBA) has announced a record-breaking number of destinations are now available to book.

Bristol Live

• Bristol second only to London for UK traffic congestionMotorists spent 91 hours sitting in traffic in 2022 while London drivers were idle for 156 hours

Manchester Evening News

• ALL trains to be cancelled at Manchester Piccadilly due to roof repairsBus replacement services will be introduced on Sunday (January 15)

Northern Echo

• Leamside Line hope in £4bn North East devolution dealA new £4bn devolution deal for the North East could be crucial to turning dreams of reopening a disused railway line.

Wales Online

• Busy Cardiff and Valleys rail lines to close for weeks for major work There will be further disruption for rail passengers with replacement bus services put in place

Other Regional Press

• Norfolk disused railway station restoration bid under wayRail enthusiasts are hoping to restore a forgotten station building before it reaches the end of the line.
• Botley Road closes as Oxford rail station work gets under wayNetwork Rail has closed a road close to Oxford station as work gets under way to prepare for major rail improvements.
• New bus services between Weymouth and Wyke RegisTWO new bus services are set to begin in Weymouth tomorrow.

New Civil Engineer

• Latest phase of South Wales Metro work beginsEngineers have begun the latest phase of work to transform the Core Valley Lines into the South Wales Metro.
• Another delay for £145M rail upgrade between Sheffield and ManchesterThe estimated completion of a £145M rail upgrade to increase the number of fast trains running between Sheffield and Manchester has been delayed again.

Other News Sources

• Children living near airport found to have raised lead levels in bloodA study of children living near a small airport in California finds that those within 1.5 kilometres have concerning levels of the poisonous metal lead in their blood
• Young people can travel for 50p or free on Brighton's busesA new offer means younger passengers using buses across the city can benefit from cheaper fares until 2025.