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

Monday, 24 April 2023

BBC News

• More regular trains through North East plannedRail services running through the north-east of England are to become more regular. Train operator Northern said it would run three direct services every two hours between Middlesbrough and Newcastle.
• Manx bus timetables to return to pre-pandemic levels of serviceA revised bus timetable is due to come into force on the Isle of Man from Monday to coincide with the summer school term.
• Bristol residents 'may have to move' after First Bus lossResidents of a city suburb say they may have to consider moving after their bus service was withdrawn.
• TransPennine Express worst for train cancellationsThe troubled rail operator cancelled around one in six of its trains last month, the regulator says.

The Telegraph

• Sadiq Khan criticised for scrapping ’iconic’ bus route week before CoronationLondon’s mayor accused of ’pointless penny-pinching’ and ’causing transport chaos’ after axing the number 11 which goes past major landmarks
• Modern fare dodgers hunted down by rail bossesOne operator warned fare dodgers they leave trails of "digital breadcrumbs” that are leading to prosecutions of about 1,000 people a month

Times Online

• Smart motorways the ’most serious mistake’, says AA presidentAlthough the project has been scrapped, roads already converted will remain, with coroners warning of the risk of further deaths as a result

Mail Online

• Historic train carriages are taken out of service... because Gen Z passengers can't work out how to open the doorsTrain carriages which have been used for nearly a century are being taken out of service - because youngsters can't work out how to open or close the doors.

Leeds Live

• Major Leeds train station transformation set to cause delays with closure of main roadLeeds residents are warned of major delays and alterations as the next stage in the transformation of the city's train station's main entrance takes place.

Other Regional Press

• Cyclists live longer, a new study suggestsChildren are encouraged to be outside and ride bicycles to move their bodies and breathe in the fresh air. Doctors tell us to ride our bikes to avoid various health problems and diseases.
• Maria Miller MP says new house plans should include bus service plansBASINGSTOKE MP Maria Miller has called for new house-building plans and residential estates to incorporate bus service plans to encourage new residents to use public transport.
• Sarah Britcliffe MP speaks in Commons about railway concernsAn MP has spoken about improvements which are needed on the railway system in Hyndburn in Rossendale.
• Harrogate train station set to have unmanned exit?Harrogate train station could be set to have unmanned barriers on the exit leading to East Parade. The barriers are currently monitored by staff, who help with ticket queries.
• Drone footage shows progress on £92m flyoverExclusive new drone video shows the latest progress on a major revamp of one of Kent’s busiest junctions.

C.N.N.

• American Airlines plane engine catches fire after possible bird strikeAn American Airlines plane was forced to return to the airport Sunday morning in Columbus, Ohio, after a possible bird strike may have sparked an engine fire.

Calling All Stations - The Transport Podcast

• Calling All Stations with Christian WolmarThis week, Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker examine the cutbacks to the UK Government's Smart Motorways programme in England, analyse what the grilling of UK Transport Secretary Mark Harper MP by the House of Commons Transport Committee tells us about the rail reform programme for Great Britain, discuss why two-wheeled forms of innovative transport may be falling out of favour in the UK and elsewhere and reflect on whether or not young drivers deserve more restrictions on their freedoms.

New Civil Engineer

• Ferrovial reports £30M loss in operating profit due to Silvertown Tunnel complicationsFerrovial Construction UK has reported an operating profit of -£30M in 2022 tied to complications at the Silvertown Tunnel project.
• Mott MacDonald begins work on Heathrow Airport carbon reduction programmeMott Macdonald has begun work as programme designer for Heathrow Airport’s programme to reduce the airport’s carbon footprint by 2.3Mt by the end of 2026.

Rail Advent

• Best-selling author unveils book vending machine at Devon railway stationA vending machine that dispenses Penguin Books has been installed at Exeter St. David's train station and has been officially unveiled by the bestselling author Michael Morpurgo and his wife, Clare.
• Hitachi Rail’s Maintenance contract extended by Great Western RailwayThe maintenance partnership between Great Western Railway, Eversholt Rail and Hitachi Rail will be extended and will see millions of pounds invested into the UK's supply chain in order to bring improvements and increased reliability to rail services for the train operator's customers.

Railway Gazette

• Freightliner creates ERTMS training academyUK: Freightliner has developed a rail freight training academy in Ispwich to support the roll out of ERTMS.

The Business Desk

• Breath-through deal in TransPennine driver dispute, but disruption continuesTrain drivers’ union ASLEF has agreed to end a ban on working overtime, which has inflicted 16 months of disruption on TransPennine Express passengers, but imposed another ban on the same day.

Other News Sources

• Network Rail hits back at claims it's making Wigan schoolchildren walk ’dangerous’ routesNetwork Rail has been criticised for not putting on a service to help children get to school after its railway bridge works have caused road closures in Wigan.
• MP calls on rail minister to restore track and connect Oswestry to the mainlineAn MP has again urged the government to back Oswestry's bid to re-instate the town's railway line with Gobowen.
• A step forward for troubled Island Line?Network Rail and South Western Railway (SWR) have said that Ryde Pierhead station and the line to Ryde Esplanade station will re-open no later than June 10, shortly before the IW Festival, which starts on June 15.