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

Thursday, 12 January 2023

BBC News

• Cycle route on old King's Lynn to Fakenham railway line proposedA new 20-mile (32km) cycle and walking route could be created on a disused railway line that closed down more than 60 years ago.
• Tyne and Wear Metro thieves 'burned' stealing cablesThieves responsible for disrupting Metro trains are suffering burns and potentially life-changing injuries, transport bosses have said.
• Railway station could reopen at Ashton Gate stadiumCouncil leaders have pledged their support for a new railway station near a stadium.

Financial Times

• FAA says damaged database file prompted halt on domestic US flights National traffic had come to a stop for two hours after failure of critical computer system
• US travellers confront worst winter flight chaos in a decadeNationwide plane grounding follows meltdown at Southwest as passenger complaints triple from pre-pandemic levels

The Guardian

• Deal to end RMT rail strikes could be close, industry bosses tell MPsA deal could be close to end the long-running RMT strikes on the railway, industry bosses have told MPs, adding that customers’ confidence is “ebbing away” as they start to switch to rival modes of transport.

The Mirror

• 'New offer’ to end rail strikes due as firms and unions hold crunch talksRail firms will meet unions on Thursday in a new push to end eight months of strikes.

Sky News

• Body found of missing British aid worker in Ukraine, Russian mercenaries claimRussia's Wagner Group has claimed the body of one of the missing British aid workers in Ukraine has been found.
• Rail strikes: Pay deals to avoid further industrial action a 'long way off', unions sayMPs are told by union leaders that while their action is inflicting great damage on the railways, the disputes are justified to protect their members and the travelling public.

Other Regional Press

• FedEX invests in new parcel technology at Stansted AirportFedEx Express Europe has ramped up its parcel sorting operation at Stansted Airport.
• FedEX invests in new parcel technology at Stansted AirportFedEx Express Europe has ramped up its parcel sorting operation at Stansted Airport.
• Coventry Very Light Rail backed by Campaign for Better TransportA national charity that campaigns for better public transport has backed the Coventry Very Light Rail scheme as a game-changer for cities across the country.
• 'The start of something big': Leader hails 'team effort' over village's train station dreamA community leader has hailed "a real team effort" that has helped keep a Shropshire village's railway station dream on track.

New Civil Engineer

• Work to begin on new Welsh railway stationWorks are set to begin on the construction of a new Butetown railway station and the redevelopment of Cardiff Bay station as part of the biggest upgrade to public transport in the area for a generation.
• Active travel revolution planned in Wales to decrease road usageCouncils in Wales have come together to release maps detailing plans for a huge active travel revolution to decrease car usage on roads.
• Treasury blocked infrastructure pipeline publication due to Autumn Statement and inflation pressuresThe Treasury blocked the release of the 2022 National Infrastructure Construction Pipeline (NICP) until last year's Autumn Statement was delivered, it has been revealed.
• Network Rail fast-tracks Bakerloo line and Overground work in seven-day Christmas closurePassengers are benefiting from major improvements to the Bakerloo line and London Overground between London Euston and Watford Junction, following work carried out over Christmas.

Rail Business Daily

• Network Rail announces nine days of major upgrades in MorleyWork to transform Morley station continues later on this month with Network Rail laying the foundations for new, longer platforms, realign the track to support faster trains through the area and complete important drainage work.

Rail Magazine

• CrossCountry set for franchise extensionThe Department for Transport has announced its intention to make a Direct Award to CrossCountry, following the expiry of its current three-year contract on October 15.

Transportxtra

• ScotRail struggles to find right locations for cycle-carrying trainsScotRail is struggling to find ways to make full use of the five Class 153 units which have been converted to carry 20 bicycles each. Deployment anywhere outside the West Highland line as at present, now seems to be highly unlikely for a variety of reasons, and even on the West Highland the options are severely limited by the current infrastructure.
• GM plans to integrate 20% of train services into Bee NetworkGreater Manchester’s vision for a fully integrated public transport network includes ambitions for services on six rail key routes to be integrated into the Bee Network once all buses are brought under local control from 2025:
• Stagecoach pleased with big early response to £2 offer on longer routesOver 300,000 bus journeys were made using the new £2 single bus fares on Stagecoach services in first few days of national initiative he operator has said with services on the South Coast and in South Lancashire amongst those seeing the highest number of extra travellers.
• TfL’s property business aims to fund transport improvementsA new housing development next to a tube station in Hounslow is set to become one of the first projects involving Transport for London’s new property company.
• Transport for Wales seeks right balance over governanceFurther changes to Transport for Wales’ governance are on the cards, after the key minister responsible expressed doubts about the current structure’s accountability as a separate body. TfW is currently developing a new “target operating model”.

Other News Sources

• Alstom awarded £12 million overhaul contract for ScotRail trainsAlstom has been awarded a £12 million contract to work on the modernisation of ScotRail’s Class 334 fleet which serves the Edinburgh to Glasgow line.
• Translink to explore funding for full-time late night services after festive period passenger numbers exceed 10,000TRANSLINK has said it will work to secure funding for a full-time late night bus and rail network after it was revealed over 10,000 people used temporary late city services over Christmas.
• "Cities should not just build green transport but actively dismantle car infrastructure"Instead of desperately trying to reduce road congestion in the short term, politicians should be using traffic as a tool for making urban transport more sustainable