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

Thursday, 23 March 2023

BBC News

• Gloucester station open to pedestrians during subway repairsPedestrians are being allowed through Gloucester railway station while an underpass is closed for refurbishment.
• Equal pay call as Eurotunnel train driver, 66, loses benefitsAn MP has branded the case of a cross-Channel train driver whose workplace benefits ceased when he turned 66 as age discrimination.
• Buses blocked from leaving depots during strike, bosses claimThe third day of a National Express West Midlands drivers strike is affecting hundreds of thousands.
• Wales freeports for Milford Haven-Port Talbot, AngleseyThe two new areas will have tax and duty relief and simplified customs, with hopes for 20,000 jobs.
• Train strikes planned in March and April suspendedRail workers across 14 train companies were due to walk out on 30 March and 1 April.

Financial Times

• RMT suspends 2 days of strikes at train operators next weekUnion considers new proposal raising hopes of end to long-running dispute
• Ryanair's O'Leary said talks restarted with Boeing over new aircraft orderChief says there is a deal to be done in latest sign of aviation revival after multibillion-dollar order collapsed 18 months ago

The Guardian

• Pressure grows on shipping industry to accept carbon levyWorld Bank among those urging levy to fund climate action in developing world and encourage fleets to upgradePressure is growing on the international shipping industry to accept a carbon levy on ships that would fund climate action in the developing world, with the World Bank among those pushing for the measure at a crucial international meeting this week, the Guardian has learned.
• Cargo ships powered by wind could help tackle climate crisisShipping produces much of the world's greenhouse gases but new technology offers solutions to cut fuel use Cars, trucks and planes get plenty of blame for helping drive the climate crisis, but shipping produces a large portion of the world's greenhouse gases, as well as nitrogen oxides and sulphur pollution because ships largely use cheap heavy fuel oil.

The Telegraph

• Thirty-five injured after high winds topple ship over in dry dock Thirty-five people were injured after a ship that was previously owned by the co-founder of Microsoft toppled over in a dry dock during high winds.
• Met Police could be given Ulez cameras to use for law enforcement - even if expansion is delayedTfL's proposal to hand over ’sole control’ of newly installed devices to help officers detect crime in London prompts privacy concerns

Times Online

• Islanders ’badly let down’ by Ferguson Marine ferries fiasco, report findsNicola Sturgeon criticised for premature announcement of contract award. A long-awaited report into the Ferguson Marine ferries fiasco has identified serious failings, including Nicola Sturgeon’s premature announcement that the shipyard was the preferred bidder.
• RMT calls off nationwide train strikes next week. [subscription]Nationwide railway strikes by the RMT union planned for next week have been called off, averting a virtual shutdown of the network.

The National

• French company promises sleeper train between Edinburgh and ParisA FRENCH company is looking to rollout a sleeper train service between Edinburgh and Paris.

Birmingham Mail

• Welsh economy to be transformed as two freeports are given green lightThe Celtic Freeport and Anglesey Freeport are expected to generate about 20,000 jobs and £5 billion in investment

Birmingham Post

• Figures suggest Space Park Leicester had an £89m impact on economy in its first yearIt is part of a new Space City Leicester cluster - one of the biggest enterprise zones for space-related activities in the UK
• Wales is not getting one but two freeportsThey promise to create 20,000 new jobs by 2030 mainly in the renewable energy sector
• Vision for South Wales and South West transport revealed - with journey times halved and better connections to London Business and government leaders call for up to £8bn of improvements

Bolton News

• Bolton: Yasmin Qureshi MP pushes for Metrolink extensionLong delayed plans to bring trams to Bolton are

Bristol Live

• Huge £8 billion 'vision' to link West of England and South Wales unveiledIt would see new stations, quicker trains and more services. Billions of pounds could be spent on a ’vision’ to improve the railways around Bristol and in South Wales in the next ten years, politicians from both sides of the Channel will announce today (Thursday).

Daily Post (North Wales)

• 'It's saved me a 90 minute trip to see mum' - train scheme helps people with hidden disabilities travel againTrain travel is being made more inclusive thanks to a new scheme set up by Transport for Wales (TfW). The project aims to make it easier for people with hidden disabilities to use public transport - including trains and buses - and make commuters feel more comfortable when they travel.

The York Press

• £190,000 council grant buys two new Dial & Ride busesYORK Wheels has got two new Dial & Ride buses, allowing it to continue transporting residents with mobility problems from their homes to the supermarket or city centre.

Wales Online

• Two areas of Wales named as freeports with tax breaks to create jobsThe UK and Welsh governments said the two freeports have the potential to create 20,000 jobs by 2030

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Council accused of 'waving a white flag' to HS2 over lorries planCouncil chiefs have been accused of "waving a white flag" to HS2 over plans to run juggernauts through country lanes in Staffordshire.

Cambridge News

• New electric buses in Cambridge hailed as 'major step forward' by mayor"We know what a positive impact this is going to have on the health of those living in the city of Cambridge. With these 30 buses we can expect to see a 40 per cent reduction in emissions in the central zone, leading to improved air quality and better public health."

Carlisle News & Star

• Decision to extend Avanti West Coast's contract criticisedPassenger groups and rail workers' unions have ’denounced’ the government’s decision to extend Avanti West Coast’s contract for a further 6 months.

Doncaster Free Press

• Doncaster Mayor reacts to losing out on Great British Rail HQ to DerbyIt was revealed yesterday that Doncaster will not be the home of the new Great British Rail Headquarters.

Other Regional Press

• Greenway group makes £428,000 bid to Borderlands fundA £428,000 funding bid to bring a redundant railway line back into use as a public greenway has been submitted.

New Civil Engineer

• £298M plan drawn up to reinstate abandoned Yorkshire to Lancashire rail linkA campaign group has drawn up plans to reinstate the missing railway link between Yorkshire and Lancashire and put a cost against the work of £298M.
• HS2 reveals designs for final Chiltern Tunnel portalHigh Speed 2 (HS2) and Align JV have revealed the designs for the north portal of the Chiltern Tunnel.
• TfL predicts self-sufficiency next year but seeks future government supportTransport for London (TfL) is to achieve operating surplus in the 2023/24 financial year with revenue exceeding costs for the first ever, but seeks future government support and commitments to remain financially self-sufficient.
• Barmouth Viaduct to close for 13 weeks this autumn for final phase of restorationNetwork Rail will close the historic Barmouth Viaduct in Wales for 13 weeks this autumn for the final phase of its £30M like-for-like restoration scheme.

Transportxtra

• Consultant finds that light rail would reduce Anglesey rail reopening costThe proposed reopening of a derelict railway on the island of Anglesey could be achieved at 35% lower capital cost if light rail rather than heavy rail technology were used, according to consultant WSP.

Other News Sources

• Piling at HS2 Euston station put on pauseHS2 Ltd has confirmed that piling work at Euston station is being delayed after it was announced that construction on sections of the High Speed 2 (HS2) project will be pushed back by two years.
• Latest on Surrey's talks with TfL over ULEZ expansionSurrey County Council is in conversations with Transport for London over the extension of the zone