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

Tuesday, 21 March 2023

Government

• Trailblazing devolution deal signed giving West Midlands more control over transport, skills and housingThe Levelling Up Secretary and Mayor Andy Street have signed a landmark deeper devolution deal for the West Midlands putting more cash and power in the hands of local leaders.

BBC News

• National Express West Midlands bus driver strike under wayNational Express West Midlands expects to provide a limited service, mainly to major hospitals.
• Great British Railways: Derby expected to win race for rail HQA decision on where the new centre will be based has not yet been confirmed.
• Polluting M4 and A470 drivers in Wales could face paymentsMotorists in the heaviest polluting vehicles could have to pay on some of Wales' busiest roads.
• Transport for Wales rail passengers face disruption into AprilTransport for Wales says it is struggling to get parts needed to bring trains back into operation.
• HS2: New HS2 bubbling pool appears at rugby clubHS2 says tunnelling for the high speed rail line is forcing out trapped air from the ground.
• Extra ferry to join CalMac fleet on west coast networkPentland Ferries' MV Alfred will join the CalMac fleet on the west coast network for nine months.
• RMT members at Network Rail vote to accept pay dealRail workers have voted on a revised pay offer, ending walkouts for some RMT strikers.

The Guardian

• Derby to be named new HQ of Britain’s rail network this weekThe delayed result of the competition to become the official home of Great British Railways is expected as early as Tuesday, with the Midlands city the frontrunner on a shortlist of six including Birmingham, Crewe, Doncaster, Newcastle and York.

Times Online

• Derby will be headquarters of Great British Railways. [subscription]There are several towns and cities around the country that may claim to be the spiritual home of the railways in Britain but only one that can now say it will be its headquarters: Derby.
• Train strikes: RMT members accept pay offerMembers of the RMT union working for Network Rail have voted overwhelmingly to accept the latest pay offer, marking a major breakthrough in the dispute.
• Six-month deal signals lack of faith in Avanti. [subscription]The troubled Avanti West Coast train operation has been granted another six-month extension to its contract to run services on the mainline between London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, a move that suggests that ministers are not ready to commit themselves to the company for a long-term agreement.

London Evening Standard

• Derby expected to host Great British Railways HQThe East Midlands city will be confirmed as the home of new public sector body Great British Railways.

Manchester Evening News

• Passengers left gobsmacked as 'dreadful' train operator Avanti has contract extended despite months of rail chaosRail passengers are hitting out at the government's move to extend the contract of troubled train operator Avanti - despite the Secretary of State admitting there is 'still more work to be done to bring [Avanti] services up to the standards we expect'.

Nation. Cymru

• Footbridge plans submitted at station where wheelchair users have to be pushed across the tracksDesigns for a new footbridge at a railway station where wheelchair users currently have to be pushed across the tracks have been unveiled.

The York Press

• Guardian says Derby expected to be named as HQ for GBRA NATIONAL newspaper claims that Derby is expected to be named as the HQ for Great British Railways, after winning a contest against five other cities including York.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Time to look for ways to improve unreliable and shoddy train serviceTaken a train lately? Chances are something went wrong – if, of course, the trains were running at all.

Wrexham.com

• Criticism after Avanti West Coast handed six-month contract extensionA train operator which slashed services from North Wales and Chester to London has been handed ​a six-month contract extension following “significant improvements,”‌ the UK government has announced. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Yorkshire Post

• Bus gate on Arundel Gate, Sheffield: Anger at Sheffield City Council as bus gate is introduced to the city centre road next week to restrict vehicles travelling on the road and reduce pollutionThe bus gate on Arundel Gate will be part of Sheffield City Council’s (SCC) plans to enhance bus movement and the environment in this central area of the city. Work will start on the road on Monday, March 20 and will apply northbound only, which will restrict the flow of traffic travelling beyond the Novotel Hotel access point, by the Millennium Gallery, when travelling from the Furnival Gate direction.
• York leaders hit out at leaked Government decision to put Great British Railways in DerbyYork leaders have hit out at a “stunning blow” to the city after it was reported that it has missed out on becoming the headquarters of Great British Railways.
• Moorsbus services in North York Moors to be cut unless funding can be foundConcerns are mounting over access to public transport across the most remote communities in England’s largest county as the custodians of two national parks revealed they were considering how inadequate or threatened services could be given a boost.

Other Regional Press

• MP Warns of Elizabeth Line Becoming OverwhelmedThe Elizabeth line could struggle to hold thousands of passengers if the HS2 service does not continue to Euston, an MP has warned.
• Troon Station: Hopes high to be open for Open golf eventA NEW platform building for Troon's railway station has been given the green light by planners after the old one was destroyed in a devastating fire.
• Aberconwy MP reacts after Avanti West Coast handed contract extensionDESPITE being handed a short-term contract extension, stripping train operator Avanti West Coast of the franchise remains a "realistic option", according to an MP.
• Coventry's bid to become UK's first home to 'very light' railway hits major milestoneCoventry's bid to become the UK's first home of 'very light' railway is literally now on track. An innovative ultra-thin track has been installed at Whitley Depot for testing.
• Must do better: Off the rails Avanti West Coast is being kept on reportThe operator has struggled with reliability and punctuality during parts of the past year.

Calling All Stations - The Transport Podcast

• Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 10Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker discuss recent changes to the construction timetable for Great Britain's new high speed railway HS2, possible further proposals for reform of the bus regulatory regime in England, the unprecedented order for new civil aircraft by Air India and the decision by the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer not to increase fuel duty for road vehicles.

New Civil Engineer

• Funding shortfall for local road maintenance highest for 28 years says Asphalt Industry AllianceAn annual survey report from the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) has revealed the funding shortfall for local road repairs is the highest it’s been in 28 years at £1.3bn leading to roads in England and Wales being branded "a national embarrassment".
• MPs push for revival of £900M Heathrow Western Rail link proposalsA group of MPs have come together to voice their support for reigniting proposals to build a £900M rail link with Heathrow Airport.
• East West Rail has learned business case lessons from HS2’s focus on journey timeCommunication of the benefits of East West Rail (EWR) will focus on the economic prospects for the region resulting from the work rather than the journey time benefits required by the Department for Transport business case documents.

Transport Scotland

• MV Alfred charterThe Scottish Government has provided funding for an additional ferry to improve resilience on the Clyde and Hebrides network.

Transportxtra

• Digital transport provider Via acquires journey planning app CitymapperBy integrating Citymapper into its platform, Via will be able to connect all elements of a transit system, offering a unified solution for cities, transit agencies, and riders

Other News Sources

• This northern city is getting a super-connected transport system like LondonThe change will make buses, trams and trains ’much more attractive and affordable’
• Three more Cambridgeshire bus services could disappearThree bus services could end if new providers are not found, after the current bus companies announced plans to hand back the contracts to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
• FirstGroup ’rewarded for failure’ with Avanti dealFirstGroup has secured a six month extension to its west coast rail franchise with the Department for Transport amid accusations it is a ’reward for failure’.
• ’For too long the north has been left behind’ - Rishi Sunak plea for Metro expansion gains more backersMore leading business figures in the North East have joined the call urging Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to commit to re-opening the Leamside rail line and funding a new Metro extension to ensure the region is not ’left behind’.