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

Thursday, 19 January 2023

Government

• Landmark Levelling Up Fund to spark transformational change across the UKMore than 100 projects awarded share of £2.1 billion from Round 2 of government’s flagship Levelling Up Fund to create jobs and boost the economy

BBC News

• London council tax and transport fares to increaseLondoners will face Sadiq Khan's biggest council tax rise to date at the same time as a record increase in transport costs.
• Oxfordshire pupils face losing home-to-school transportSome pupils are set to lose their home-to-school transport from September.
• Rail commuters targeted by town's new parking permit schemeA residents' parking scheme is to be introduced in a Lincolnshire town amid claims some streets are "plagued" by commuters.
• Levelling Up: £50m for new Cardiff rail line announcedThere is also cash for an engineering campus and a Llandudno Junction to Betws y Coed bike route.
• First MoT could be delayed to cut costs for driversTesting cars after four years - rather than three - would not affect road safety, the government says.
• London council tax and transport fares to increaseSadiq Khan says he has

Financial Times

• China to launch state-owned ride-hailing app to take on DidiBeijing’s Strong Nation Transport platform will target Communist party members and state workers
• Passengers to keep ‘paying the price’ of aviation chaos, says United CEOUnited boss Scott Kirby says rivals have unrealistic schedules that will force cancellations

The Guardian

• Strikes have cost UK government more than a settlement would have, rail minister confirms [video]Huw Merriman, the rail minister, has confirmed that the government has lost more money due to the impact of rail strikes than it would have cost to settle the disputes months ago. During a transport committee hearing, Merriman also said he was 'really hopeful' there would soon be a settlement with the RMT rail union to end its strike

The Telegraph

• Noisy cars could face tougher tests in MOT overhaulDepartment of Transport looking to beef up engine noise testing to clamp down on drivers whose loud engines impact communities

Times Online

• Rishi Sunak tells Sadiq Khan to think again on expanded low emissions zone. [subscription]Sadiq Khan should “properly reconsider” his plan to expand London’s ultra-low emission zone, or Ulez, Rishi Sunak has said.
• Flight prices rise 44% in summer holiday scramble. [subscription]The price of flights rose by 44 per cent in the past year as airlines capitalised on pent-up demand for holidays.

i News

• Rail strikes: Transport minister hints RMT union could avoid national strike action as pay deal is close’There’s no action on a national stage from the RMT as things stand,’ the minister said

Mail Online

• Trains in northern England are less reliable than in war-torn Ukraine, figures showTrains across the North of England are less reliable than in war-torn Ukraine, new analysis suggests.

The Mirror

• Tory Transport Minister admits cost of rail strikes more than settling disputeThe RMT union General Secretary Mick Lynch said the comments from Huw Merriman were evidence of the Government treating businesses in the pre-Christmas period as 'collateral damage'

This is Money

• Glencore and Jaguar owner join battle for collapsed BritishvoltBritishvolt collapsed into administration this week in a major blow to the UK's hopes of creating an electric car powerhouse. It has put 230 jobs at risk.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• How 'transport poverty' is affecting Bradford's car ownership levelsSome parts of the Bradford district are being hit by so-called “transport poverty”, new figures reveal.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• UK Levelling-Up cash for cycle routes and monuments - but Wrexham's stadium bid misses outFour North Wales projects will get £65.4m in funding between them
• Llew Jones Coaches axes T19 Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog bus routeThe firm say it was left with 'no option' after huge post-Covid drop in passenger numbers

Liverpool Echo

• Steve Rotheram says Merseyrail service 'fell below standard' amid weather disruptionThe Metro Mayor said he was demanding answers "about why our region suffers so badly during cold weather"

London Evening Standard

• London hit with biggest transport and council tax rises in a decadeTube and bus fares will increase by an average of 5.9% while the mayor’s share of council tax bills will jump by 9.7%

Wales Online

• Work gets underway on new Barry transport interchangePhase one of the development is expected to be complete by May 2023
• New railway line, cycle routes and historic buildings share £208 million in UK Government Levelling Up fundsA total of 11 projects are receiving funds, but the Welsh Government has said Wales is still £1.1bn short of what it used to receive from the EU

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Birmingham Airport looking to bolster workforce ahead of busy summer Birmingham Airport is aiming to bolster its workforce ahead of what promises to be a bumper summer for overseas holidays.

Bucks Free Press

• HS2: UK's longest railway bridge reaches milestone in Colne ValleyTHE FIRST person has officially walked on top of record long HS2 bridge in Buckinghamshire.

Cambridge News

• First look as Cambridge South station work begins after approvalThe new station will be built next to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus with potential destinations including London, Stansted Airport, Birmingham, Ely, and Europe

North Wales Live

• Northern issue 'final' warning to students ahead of penalty rail fare price hikeThe government's first penalty fare increase since 2005 will begin from Monday, January 23

Other Regional Press

• Council leaders defend Shrewsbury park and ride bus services after resident's criticism of driver useLeaders have rejected a Shrewsbury resident's plea to take drivers off the town's park and ride services and put them on 'normal routes' instead.
• Arriva 'hopeful' Watford buses improving despite more delaysArriva has maintained it is hopeful service changes this month will improve Watford’s buses, despite three missed buses
• West Yorkshire to get £40 million to make buses betterOther areas such as Batley, Catterick Garrison and Barnsley have all been awarded funding as well
• Electric charging station on A354 set for approval-despite objectionsAN electric vehicle charging station on the Dorchester to Blandford road is being recommended for approval at a planning meeting on Tuesday (24) – against the wishes of local objectors.

C.N.N.

• China to launch state-backed transport platform for ride-hailing, truckingChina will soon launch a state-backed platform for transport which includes services of ride-hailing, cargo trucking, road transport, railway, ferry and flight services, Chinese state media Beijing Daily reported on Wednesday.

New Civil Engineer

• National Highways makes 32 design changes to overbudget A66 road schemeNational Highways has announced 32 design changes to its proposed A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project.
• National Highways’ £228M Trans-Pennine link roads scheme delayed by legal challengeNational Highways has revealed that the legal challenge against its £228M A57 Link Roads scheme has indefinitely delayed the start of construction.
• Road dualling, junction upgrades and bridge renewals among improvements supported by £1.7bn ’Levelling Up Fund’Road dualling, junction improvements and bridge renewals all feature among work to be supported by the government's £1.7bn 'Levelling Up Fund'.

Other News Sources

• First day of service for new trains on the Rhymney Valley lineTransport for Wales ran the first service of its new Class 231 trains today – including journeys to and from Rhymney and Bargoed.
• Rail minister admits settling dispute months ago would have cost less than impact of strikesA rail minister has admitted more money has been lost due to rail walkouts than it would have cost to settle the dispute with unions months ago.
• Five share £2bn railways frameworkNetwork Rail has named five contractors who will share the work delivering Wales and Western region’s £2bn programme of works over the next eight years.