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

Friday, 24 March 2023

BBC News

• Leaders reveal vision for West of England rail networkA new vision for rail travel in the West of England shows how the area could nearly halve journey times between major cities and rural spots.
• Cornwall Council plans for student transport price hikeCornwall Council wants to increase the cost of travel for 16 to 19-year-olds in education by almost 30%.
• West Bromwich centre deserted as bus strikes continueBusinesses say trade has plummeted since workers at National Express West Midlands walked out.
• Bus cuts could be devastating, say Labour council leadersHighly critical letter backed by two Labour leaders criticises Welsh government transport plans.
• Sturgeon criticised for 'premature' CalMac ferry announcementNicola Sturgeon's role in the CalMac ferry fiasco is criticised in a report by a Holyrood committee.
• High winds unlikely to have toppled ship in Edinburgh dock - expertSeven people remain in hospital after a US Navy vessel became dislodged from an Edinburgh dry dock.

Financial Times

• Ryanair restarts talks with Boeing over new aircraft orderAirline’s chief executive optimistic there is a ‘deal to be done’

Birmingham Post

• Peel Ports plans £10m green automotive hub on MerseysideLaunching in September, the new maritime logistics hub is planned to service a twice-weekly shipping route from Vigo Port in Spain to Eastham
• Peel Ports' ambition is to double Humber Bulk Terminal trade after buy-outJobs set to be double in five year plan with substantial South Bank investment
• Port of Tyne boost clean energy park with Van Oord agreementThe Dutch firm will use the port for some of its work on the Sofia offshore wind farm
• World's fastest car company plugs into fastest growing charger to accelerate tech excellenceMyenergi and McMurtry Automotive are keen to ensure pole position for EV development

Bolton News

• Walkden Railway Station park and ride to open next monthA new park and ride facility at Walkden Railway Station is almost complete and set to open in the coming weeks.

Wales Online

• Why your bus isn't always turning up right now in Wales and why it could get so much worse'Every day for the last three weeks I've had to find out how I am getting home from work - sometimes it is dark and the weather has been bad recently'
• All the price changes and scrapped tickets as Cardiff Bus announces first fare increase in four yearsShort hop tickets have been abolished and replaced with new fares

Yorkshire Post

• TransPennine Express: Mayors call for 'fresh start under new management'Northern leaders want struggling train operator TransPennine Express to be merged with rival Northern, claiming a “fresh start under new management” will improve services for passengers.

Other Regional Press

• Heathrow bus route passenger numbers double following special £2 fare dealThe non-TfL route 102 through Uxbridge to Heathrow is currently seeing passenger numbers up 130 per cent
• Sheffield campaigners hope to win over Mayor for more public control over bus services.Sheffield campaigners for ’regular and reliable’ bus services across South Yorkshire protested for change this week. 
• Ormskirk bus station scheme 'damaged local trade' blasts councillor as new depot opens to publicThe modern new bus station offers a more comfortable environment for passengers
• 'We need better public transport' says Yorkshire Dales national parkLeaders of the Yorkshire Dales National Park are set to call for a ’significant increase’ in the frequency of bus services plus better coordination between bus and rail operators.
• Plans to reopen Manston Airport grounded by High CourtThe saga of Manston Airport took yet another twist today when a judicial review - rejected in January - was granted after a hearing in the High Court.
• easyJet report predicts travel in 2070 with heartbeat passportseasyJet has commissioned a new report which gives predictions into how travel and tourism could change by 2070 including heartbeat passports and 3D printed food
• Bus driver applications rocket at National Express during strikes as firm says plenty applying for jobNational Express said people are still interested in bus driver jobs despite the bitter row

Intelligent Transport

• UK government announces new initiative to strengthen and decarbonise bus sectorThe UK government’s investment in the Bus Centre of Excellence will help boost skills across the bus industry and support the delivery of more frequent, affordable and sustainable bus services.

New Civil Engineer

• Infrastructure upgrade at Skye ferry terminal complete following delaysThe first stages of infrastructure upgrades for the ferry terminal at Uig harbour in Skye have been completed by contractor RJ McLeod.
• Fresh plans revealed for £500M A46 upgrade following consultationNational Highways has revealed updated designs for the £500M upgrade of the A46 Newark bypass.
• Hammersmith Bridge project team eyes challenges ahead as stabilisation nears completionInstallation of steel support frames to the saddles that attach the chains on London’s Hammersmith bridge this month marks a major milestone in the work to stabilise the structure.

Rail Advent

• Leicestershire rail freight hub plans resubmittedBlaby District Council in Leicestershire is to scrutinise the new application submitted by developer Tritax Symmetry for the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI) to the Planning Inspectorate.

Rail Magazine

• Manchester Bee Network to offer integrated public transportGreater Manchester will get new responsibilities for transport as part of the city region’s latest devolution deal with the Government, which hands more powers, money and responsibility to local leaders.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Only 25% of public willing to switch to public transport, research findsNew research from Moneyzine.com has revealed that, while 75% of the public agree that switching to greener forms of transport is very or somewhat important to tackle climate change, only around a quarter of people are willing to make the switch to walking, cycling or using public transport, to tackle the issue.
• Urban Transport Group: ’Fix funding crisis’The Urban Transport Group (UTG) has urged the government to introduce a package of measures to fix what it calls a public transport funding crisis.
• Go-Ahead companies carry 10 million at promotional faresSince the launch of the Bus Fare Cap Grant scheme in England, Go-Ahead’s bus companies have carried over 10 million passengers at the promotional fare of £2. The company further reports that, as of today, its companies outside London have sold more than £20m worth of tickets.
• First Bus appoints senior leaders in North and West YorkshireFirst Bus has appointed two new members to its senior leadership team for the North and West Yorkshire part of its business.
• Government commits £815,000 for Bus Centre of ExcellenceThe government is today pledging £815,000 of investment for a new Bus Centre of Excellence to train and retain staff in the industry.
• Digitally disadvantaged are ’left behind’, says transport watchdogAround 1.5 million passenger with little or no internet access are being disadvantaged when it comes to public transport such as buses, according to a new report from London TravelWatch.

Other News Sources

• London’s transport ticketing chief calls for contactless expansionTransport for London’s Head of Customer Payments, Andrew Anderson, says the UK needs to simplify transport ticketing, including expanding contactless payments.

News from Europe

• European Green Deal: Agreement reached on cutting maritime transport emissions by promoting sustainable fuels for shippingThe Commission welcomes the political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council that increases the maritime transport sector's contribution to reaching the EU-wide target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, and to achieving climate neutrality in 2050.
• The world’s richest country made public transport free: Here’s what happened nextLuxembourg became the first country in the world to scrap fares on all public transport in 2020. Three years later, residents are filled with praise for the scheme.