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

Thursday, 09 March 2023

BBC News

• Firm pulls out of £6.1 electric bus scheme for StevenageA multinational transport firm has pulled out of a £6.1m deal to provide electric buses for a county town.
• MP accused of misleading residents on lack of progress on Bedford to Bletchley rail servicesA Bedford MP has been accused of misleading residents regarding the progress of train services on the Bedford to Bletchley line, while other MPs and campaigners say not enough is being done to reinstate the line.
• British Steel in major railway sleepers export winBritish Steel has won its largest ever order for rail sleepers with a major export deal for West Africa.
• International Women's Day: Flying Scotsman staffed by all female crewOne of the world's most famous steam trains, the Flying Scotsman, has been driven by an all female crew on the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) to mark International Women's Day.
• Hopes of end to rail strike row as workers vote on pay offerThe UK's biggest rail union RMT has suspended strikes at Network Rail and will hold a vote on a new pay offer.

Financial Times

• Heathrow forced to cut landing fees after airline lobbyingUK aviation regulator acts after demand for flights recovers from pandemic lows
• UK government hopes rise for end to RMT rail strikeSector’s largest union suspends action following improved deal from Network Rail

The Guardian

• RMT members to vote on new Network Rail pay offerUnion calls off planned 24-hour rail strike to consult members amid fresh hopes of an end to industrial action

The Telegraph

• Are the March train strikes cancelled? [subscription]RMT union suspends Network Rail walkout after new pay offer, but most strikes will go ahead

Sky News

• It will be interesting to know whether the latest offer from Network Rail to RMT members is in any way different from the last oneThe latest offer looks suspiciously similar to the one put to the union before, Sky's Ian King writes. The biggest question still remains: the extent to which the offer is contingent on changes to working practices.

The York Press

• Haxby Railway Station: Towthorpe Road site opposed by York LabourLabour has confirmed its opposition to Haxby’s proposed railway station being sited on Towthorpe Road.

Wales Online

• Welsh road named among best to drive in UKIt's an absolute stunner

Lancashire Telegraph

• East Lancs stations to benefit from Northern screen investmentCustomer information is being improved at railway stations across East Lancashire, with the installation of 230 new display screens at 93 stations.
• Anger over Burnley Bus Company scrapping Colne to Skipton serviceThe cancellation of a major bus route has sparked anger among East Lancashire residents.

Other Regional Press

• c2c smart card issues caused 'ridiculous queues' at stationsThe train operator says it's working on the issue but furious commuters took to Twitter demading action.
• All-day bus ticket will allow people to use all Reading operators for £3.50A discounted all-day bus ticket will allow people to use all Reading operators for £3.50. From Monday (March 13), passengers can take advantage of the 'Reading All-Bus' ticket which will allow travel on all services throughout the day.
• Shropshire MP urges bus company not to close Oswestry depotA Shropshire MP has written to one of the county's bus operators urging it not to close one of its depots.
• 'Desperation' for residents living without 'vital' bus serviceRuncorn residents are facing "desperation" after a "vital" bus service was cut last year. In April 2022, the only express bus service between Liverpool and Runcorn, the X1, was cut, leaving public transport dependant Runcorn residents with a two-hour journey between parts of Runcorn and nearby Liverpool City Centre, ten miles away.
• Anger at level of bus services cancellations in SomersetAn open letter has been written to bus operators across Somerset - demanding action to improve the reliability of services across the county. Councillor Mike Rigby, Somerset County Council lead member for transport, has written the letter expressing his ’dismay’ at the level of bus service cancellations across Somerset this year.
• TfL is now using social media to catch out Tube fare evadersTransport bosses are upping their attempts to catch fare dodgers on the London Underground – by using social media.
• Southern trains from Brighton to be replaced in MayPassenger journeys will be "transformed" as the country's oldest rolling stock is set to be replaced with a 21st-century alternative.

New Civil Engineer

• Jeremy Hunt dismays MPs with ’brief’ response to road-pricing reportA senior Tory MP has slammed chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s “discourteous” response to a detailed report urging consideration of road-user charging to prevent a tax funding black hole resulting from the transition to electric vehicles.

Other News Sources

• Kirsty Williams to chair new committeeWelsh politician Kirsty Williams CBE has been appointed as the new chair of the Global Centre of Rail Excellence Community Committee.
• Rail improvements to boost Herefordshire economy 'by millions'Herefordshire’s economy stands to gain by millions from improved rail services to Birmingham and beyond over the coming years, new research shows.
• Powys: new road and rail links could transform area says plannerChanges to rail and road networks around northern Powys could "transform" the area, a specialist has said.