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

Monday, 27 March 2023

BBC News

• Slough Borough Council: Organisations step in to save bus servicesOrganisations have stepped in to save most of a town's bus services after a cash-strapped council withdrew funding.
• 'Terrible' Tidworth bus service caused by driver shortageA vital bus service continues to experience widespread problems, months after operators had promised action.
• Avanti West Coast extension was right move, MP saysExtending the contract of under-fire rail operator Avanti West Coast was the right decision, but the company still has "a long way to go", an MP has said.
• Gatwick Airport passengers complain of new check-in delaysPassengers report long queues again due to a problem with the airport's self-check-in machines.
• London cable car: Social media helps boost passenger numbers - TfLThe number of people using London's cable car has risen to the highest level since 2016.
• Airbus A380 'superjumbo' touches down in GlasgowPlane enthusiasts turn out to see the world's largest commercial airliner make a return to Glasgow.

Financial Times

• China's economic rebound weaker than expected, warns MaerskOne of world's largest shipping groups says country's consumers are still stunned by Covid disruptions
• Air India boss hails biggest turnround effort in airline's historyCampbell Wilson hopes to return privatised carrier to upper echelons of global aviation
• HS2 delay will increase costs, warns spending watchdog Price tag of rail line has soared from £33bn a decade ago to as much as £100bn

The Guardian

• Revised plans for HS2 Euston terminus would cost almost £5bn, says watchdogNAO warns cost of station in London almost double initial budget and pause on work could push it higher

The Observer

• A ’complete mess’: fury in north London over HS2’s ’big hole in the ground’The blighted communities have little to show for six years of disruption … except a mile-long hole in the ground

Times Online

• HS2 has ’wasted enough time and money’ on Euston station. [subscription]Spending watchdogs have told the government that it has “wasted enough time and money” on a new HS2 terminus at London’s Euston station.
• Coaches seek better road to zero-emission travel. [subscription]The government is being told to come clean on its policy for decarbonising the coach industry.

Sky News

• Euston HS2 delays would mean extra costs and higher spending, watchdog warnsDelays linking up HS2 and Euston will mean extra costs and potentially even higher spending, the public spending watchdog has warned.

Manchester Evening News

• Michael Gove insists HS2 will arrive in Manchester - but it might not reach EustonMichael Gove says it is Government policy that HS2 will reach Manchester - but high-speed trains might not travel all the way to central London. The levelling up secretary has refused to guarantee that HS2 will terminate at Euston, where existing services from Manchester to London currently reach.

Yorkshire Post

• Rail services in North in "appalling state", warns National Infrastructure Commission chairRail services in the North are in an “appalling state”, the chair of the National Infrastructure Commission has warned.

Kent Online

• Why Eurostar stopped serving Kent and left behind a huge empty stationThe 'international' side of Ashford station is used as a thoroughfare and the huge multi-storey care park lies mostly empty

Other Regional Press

• North Devon 'needs back its lost rail links'Ace Rail is hoping to restore the lost railway connection from Bideford to Barnstaple and is progressing well with its campaign
• Bridport to Yeovil bus has controversial timetable changedA bus service which had been heavily criticised in West Dorset has changed it's timetable based on recommendations made by a local action group.
• Bus services return to normal today after drivers accept new pay offerBus services are set to return to normal today after disruption last week and over the weekend due to industrial action. Drivers voted to accept a new pay offer on Saturday, bringing the strikes to an end.

Calling All Stations - The Transport Podcast

• Calling All Stations with Christian WolmarEpisode 11 - Christian and Mark Walker discuss the announcement of Derby as the future headquarters for Great British Railways, Christian talks about reducing road accidents with David Davies, Executive Director of the Parliamentary Advisory Committee on Transport Safety and discusses city region developments with outgoing Urban Transport Group Director Jonathan Bray before inviting ideas for naming London Overground's individual lines.

Construction Enquirer

• HS2 Euston needs full design reset as costs set to doubleThe public spending watchdog has called for an urgent total design rethink of the Euston terminus of HS2 as its cost soars.

New Civil Engineer

• TfL gives progress update on long-delayed Old Street station and roundabout upgradeThe new cycle lanes and road layout for the Old Street roundabout upgrade have been completed while construction of the new station entrance superstructure continues, Transport for London (TfL) has revealed.
• NIC warns that stuttering infrastructure delivery will lead to missed economic and net zero goalsThe National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has said that the last year has seen UK infrastructure delivery “stutter further just as the need for acceleration has heightened” and that “in a range of areas government is off track to meet its targets and ambitions”.

Rail Magazine

• Euston HS2 terminus delayed until 2041?JUST weeks after the Government confirmed that London Euston remained High Speed 2’s southern terminus (RAIL 976), Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper delayed Euston’s arrival until “we have an affordable and deliverable station design”.

Other News Sources

• Elderly residents 'could be left stranded without lifeline bus service' set for the axeFears have been raised elderly residents risk being left stranded and forced to take taxis to hospital if a 'lifeline' Bedworth bus service is axed. As we reported in our newsletter, the 55/55A Stagecoach service is set to be pulled from the timetable as of next month.