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

Friday, 14 April 2023

BBC News

• Railway tunnel surveyed near Whitehaven's discoloured harbourTechnical surveys at a railway tunnel will form part of the investigation into a harbour's discoloured water.
• Arriva North West due to close two Cheshire bus depotsThe move would mean no Arriva buses in Winsford, Northwich, Crewe or Macclesfield.
• ULEZ: Labour MPs seek support for non-LondonersIt comes a day after five Tory-run councils were granted a High Court hearing into the expansion plans.

Financial Times

• Boeing says deliveries of 737 Max jet will be held up by production issueMove threatens to exacerbate plane shortage that has affected airlines globally
• The new age of the night trainAs cheap flights lose their allure, the sleeper is being reborn as an environmental ” and romantic ” alternative

The Telegraph

• Ford launches Britain’s first hands-free car’BlueCruise’ system allows motorists to use self-driving without touching the steering wheel

Times Online

• First driverless car approved for British motorways. [subscription]Ford to launch hands-free model in UK — but motorists will need keep their eye on the road
• MP bus meets its Waterloo [subscription]Seven British sites have been shortlisted this week for Unesco world heritage status, including York. To the regret of two Tory MPs, however, a London bus route has not joined them. Greg Hands and Nickie Aiken had been pushing for the No 11 to have UN protection.

The National

• Does Scotland need self-driving buses, or just buses that run on time?IT was reported last week that the world’s first self-driving bus route will launch between Edinburgh and Fife next month. It was undoubtedly an exciting moment for Scottish innovation but also felt like a bit of a slap in the face for ordinary Scots for whom our buses are unreliable, uncomfortable and increasingly expensive.

Birmingham Post

• Hull set for HS2 logistics role as European steel giant plans £10m rail terminal investmentVoestalpine Railway Systems has won a major contract on HS2

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Snowdonia steam railway expansion bid hits the buffersThe Bala Lake Railway wants to extend the line from Llyn Tegid to the town centre

London Evening Standard

• TfL replaces ’misleading’ zero emissions bus advertTory politician Emma Best asked Mayor Sadiq Khan whether the advert was “false advertisement”

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Call for barriers at 'not fit for purpose' Metro level crossing after latest crash between train and carThe level crossing next to Callerton Parkway Metro station has been the scene of multiple collisions over the years, the latest of which was on Thursday morning

Sheffield Star

• Customers viewing 'explicit, inappropriate or offensive content' on trains proving an issue for operatorNorthern Rail is asking passengers to stop consuming explicit, inappropriate or offensive content on their trains, due to commuters “rush” to consume content after work.

Other Regional Press

• Rail union bosses back Burnham’s calls to end TPE contractRail union bosses have backed Andy Burnham’s calls for train services run by TransPennine Express to be brought under public control.
• New and improve bus services in Ripon to boost sustainable transportResidents and visitors in Ripon are to benefit from easier travel with new and improved bus services.
• Innovative project tackles loneliness and isolation with transportNow the Tarka Line Creatives are holding an exhibition of their work in the foyer at Barnstaple Library from 24 to 29 April
• East Sussex buses are "incredibly uncomfortable and hardly ever running"Residents in the Lewes District feel buses in the area are “incredibly uncomfortable” and claim the reduced frequency of services is tough on the elderly.

Railway Gazette

• London King’s Cross station gets LED lightsUK: Metal halide lamps on platforms 1 to 8 at London King’s Cross station have been replaced with more than 160 LED lights with the aim of significantly reducing maintenance costs, cutting energy consumption by 60% and future-proofing the building’s illumination systems.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Coach zero-emission shift needs support: TimberbushNational and devolved governments must do much more to help the coach industry to deploy zero-emission vehicles, Timberbush Tours founder Gary Voy (pictured, below) has urged.
• Funding review sought in Scotland after bus support cutsPaul White, Director of the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Scotland, has called for a full review of funding levels for the bus sector there following the end of the Network Support Grant Plus
• Alexander Dennis and BYD confirm further large order from National Express West MidlandsThe Alexander Dennis and BYD UK partnership has confirmed an order of a further 170 Enviro400EV battery-electric double-deckers from National Express West Midlands.

The Business Desk

• National Express West Midlands makes biggest electric bus order yetA fleet of 170 electric double decker buses will join National Express West Midlands’ growing number of zero emission buses in its biggest electric bus order to date.

Other News Sources

• Closing Nuneham Viaduct ’absolutely the right decision’, says Network Rail bossNetwork Rail chief executive Andrew Haines has said that closing the Nuneham Viaduct was “absolutely the right decision”.
• Council agrees deal to progress Clyde Metro transport planA DEAL to take forward the Glasgow Clyde Metro transport system has been agreed.
• Less traffic, cleaner air and higher productivity: UK urged to invest in public transport Overhauling the UK’s public transport system could unlock £50 billion (€56 billion) and help the country meet its net zero goals. These are the conclusions of a new report released by the Trade Union Congress (TUC), a union federation which has slammed the ’gaping holes’ in the UK government’s public transport strategy.
• Council slammed for 'extremely dangerous' London bus stops 'forcing' passengers to walk through cycle lanesSome cycle lanes do not change colour or road surfacing as they pass in front of bus stops
• Better By Bus scheme extendedThe major improvements to Warrington’s bus service are continuing, with enhanced timetables, cheaper fares, and no limits for concessionary pass holders until July 2023.