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

Tuesday, 17 January 2023

BBC News

• Bus interchange plans aim to boost Blackheath's growthSandwell Council says Blackheath is the only town in its area without a bus station or interchange.
• Pet dogs set to be allowed on Metrolink permanentlyPlans to allow dogs on board Greater Manchester's Metrolink will be rubber-stamped later this month.
• People urged to intervene in sexual harassment on TubePosters are going up across the transport network encouraging people to support victims.
• CalMac's race to keep its ageing fleet afloatThe ferry operator's maintenance budget is soaring as it struggles to maintain its limited fleet.

Financial Times

• China's carmakers outstrip foreign brands in its electric vehicle boomFast-growing companies such as BYD, XPeng, Li Auto and Nio are increasingly favoured by consumers
• Bain Capital prepares to relist Virgin Australia as aviation market recoversAirline collapsed after country closed borders during pandemic but was bought out of administration
• Global air travel forecast to bounce back by mid-2023 as China reopensWorld’s second-largest jet lessor expects revival despite shortage of new jets

The Guardian

• Rail industry and RMT resume talks amid hopes of end to strikesBut drivers’ union Aslef set to reject initial pay offer from train operators, meaning resolution is some way off

The Herald

• Forth won freeport bid despite being 'ineligible'SCOTTISH and UK ministers ignored a warning last year that Edinburgh’s bid to be a green freeport should have been ruled “ineligible”.

Times Online

• Drive savings by using electric car to power your home. [subscription]Electric car owners will be able to power their home using their vehicle or sell electricity back to the grid under plans to revolutionise domestic charging.

City AM

• All aboard another year of fighting over low-traffic neighbourhoods and e-bikes Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and e-scooters will impact how we get around in London - and with transport strikes still making the headlines, it's going to be a rather interesting year

Birmingham Post

• Grade II-listed former Derby railway building brought bang up to date with latest techEngine Room building transformed from a restaurant to a meeting and training space for Derby College
• 115 oil and gas licensing applications made in latest North Sea roundEnergy security at the fore as bids tied into Net Zero ambition

Manchester Evening News

• Avanti West Coast reports 'huge increase in capacity' and 93 trains a day 'north and south from Manchester'Under-fire Avanti West Coast has reported a 'huge increase in capacity', with 93 trains per day now said to be leaving north and south from Manchester. Bosses have reported a 'vastly reduced' level of cancellations recently, although acknowledging some trains were still being taken out of service.

The York Press

• City of York Council digs deep to help with pothole funding gapsCouncillors have hit out at new research which shows York’s allocation of national road repair funding has been slashed by almost a third by central government.

Other Regional Press

• Wrexham councillors seek post-16 transport answersWREXHAM councillors have experienced frustration in their attempt to get the Council’s Executive Board to look at the authority’s post-16 school transport policy.
• Teesside to London flight ‘aspirationally important' but still not financially viableThe demand for business flights remains lower than before the pandemic
• Coventry's Very Light Railway to be showcased on streets as £72million investment approvedThe first test model of Coventry's VLR line will be built in the city

Christian Wolmar

• Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 4Christian's thrilling and informative cab ride with GB Railfreight is bookended by a discussion of the importance of Chris Skidmore MP's review of Net Zero for the UK Government and reflections on attempts to launch artificial satellites from Cornwall. There are also some harsh words for the unintended consequences of e-bike hire schemes.

New Civil Engineer

• Network Rail donates £10M worth of bridging material to UkraineNetwork Rail has donated £10M worth of bridging material to Ukraine to help rebuild critical infrastructure that has been damaged in the war.
• Concerns raised that road investment plans are at odds with decarbonisation targetsConcerns have been raised that decisions on future road investment are not consistent with the UK's target to reach net zero by 2050.

Other News Sources

• Historic bus shelters near Brighton Pavilion cleaned by councilHistoric bus shelters in the city which are regularly vandalised have been repainted after the council came under fire for not maintaining them.