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

Tuesday, 09 May 2023

BBC News

• Airship company should use Doncaster Sheffield Airport, MP saysA Doncaster MP is calling for the company behind a plan to build airships in the city to base themselves at the former Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
• Commercial flights to Skye remains 'possibility'Highland Council has agreed to maintain Ashaig Airfield to a level that would support such a move.
• Glasgow City Council doubles road budget for pothole repairsGlasgow City Council has added £6m to help fix potholes and resurface damage from winter.
• Work to start on Derbyshire rail tunnelsWork is due to take place in a 183-year-old tunnel, designed by railway pioneer George Stephenson, which Network Rail said will affect services.

Financial Times

• New wave of strikes set to disrupt UK rail servicesTrain drivers strike on Friday expected to bring large parts of network to a standstill

The Guardian

• Birmingham airport had longest delays in UK last yearPassengers flying from Birmingham airport experienced the longest delays in the UK last year, official figures show.

The Herald

• Ferry fiasco means no bookings on Orkney route for over two weeksFerry services to and from Orkney are facing two weeks of cancellations after the MV Pentalina ran aground last month.

The Scotsman

• Ferry services to Scottish islands face further fortnight of disruption after Pentalina groundingFerry services on Orkney face will be disrupted for a further fortnight following the grounding of a Pentland Ferries vessel last month.

Times Online

• Blood test to see if you’re too sleepy to drive. [subscription]A blood test that would detect whether a driver is too sleep-deprived to be behind the wheel could be available within five years.
• UK ’losing ground’ in race for self-driving vehicles. [subscription]The government has been warned that the UK risks falling behind in the race to deploy self-driving car technology unless it brings in legislation soon.
• Hydrogen cars were the future once — might they be again? [subscription]The clean energy gathered steam in the Seventies, but after many false starts a mass market is yet to materialise. Now BMW wants to change that
• Stars ask Michael Gove to stop demolition at listed London station. [subscription]Stephen Fry and Tracey Emin are among dozens of public figures and conservationists who have called on Michael Gove to stop the “grossly opportunistic” demolition of part of Liverpool Street railway station.

Mail Online

• Blow to electric car owners as nearly 40 PER CENT of free charging points disappearThe number of charging points that offer electricity for free has dropped from 5,715 to 3,568 in the past year. This is in stark comparison to a year ago, when one in five chargers were free.

The Mirror

• Worst UK airports for delays revealed as wait times soar amid chaos for travellersBirmingham, Manchester, Doncaster Sheffield, Luton and Gatwick were among the UK airports with the longest average wait times in 2022, according to Civil Aviation Authority data

Birmingham Post

• North East well placed to lead batteries charge but investment in skills required, say industry expertsThis week sees the start of oral evidence in a parliamentary inquiry into what is holding UK electric vehicle production back

Sheffield Star

• 16 days of essential track upgrades – passengers urged to plan aheadPassengers are being urged to plan ahead, as reliability-boosting track renewal work in two tunnels means significant changes to services on the Midland Main Line and Derwent Valley line, from Saturday 27 May to Monday 11 June.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Birmingham Airport delays are worst in the UK again Birmingham Airport was the worst in the UK for flight delays for a second year in a row, an investigation has found.
• Star comment: Airport needs to up reliability for passengersThe West Midlands is connected to Europe and the world by a modern airport at Birmingham. It’s a pity, however, that the number of flight delays is far too high.

Cambridge News

• Cambridge train station waiting rooms refurbishment cost £190,000The refurbished waiting rooms have new information screens and CCTV

Other Regional Press

• East Midlands Railways reintroduces services lines with stops including Bingham, Aslockton and BottesfordEast Midlands Railways is to reintroduce 14 services on its Leicester to Lincoln route, stops including Newark Castle and Lowdham.
• Rail Ticketing in a post-Covid WorldThe Covid pandemic has had a lasting impact on Britain’s railways. Undoubtedly the most significant impact has been on changing travel patterns in general and, in particular, a reduction in commuting and other business travel which is not expected to ever fully return

Calling All Stations - The Transport Podcast

• Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 16Christian speaks at length with Anit Chandarana, Lead Director at the Great British Railways Transition Team on the work of the GBRTT, the wide range of reform issues the team is addressing and the prospects for legislation implementing the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail in what remains of the present UK parliamentary term. Christian also reflects on the right royal endorsement for the success of Transport for London's Elizabeth Line.

New Civil Engineer

• National Highways chair announces departure after three years in the roleDipesh Shah OBE, who is National Highways chair, has announced his intention to leave the role at the end of his current term in office later this year.
• Reaching net zero in transport will positively impact national prosperity and quality of lifeAnyone who’s waited for delayed train, or an infrequent bus knows we must upgrade our public transport system. And doing so is essential to meet our net zero commitments. But this is more than a need, it’s an opportunity. A chance to create a faster, cheaper and more extensive system that can boost the UK economy and improve everyone’s quality of life.

Other News Sources

• Glasgow Airport not yet returned to pre-pandemic capacity, bosses sayThe number of holidaymakers passing through Glasgow Airport is still below pre-pandemic levels. Bosses say they are currently operating at 86% of pre-Covid capacity.
• Transport for Wales plans new bus data servicesTransport for Wales (TfW) has awarded two contracts for the development of a Welsh Bus Data Service (WBDS) and a content management system (CMS) to provide better quality information on services around the country.
• Wrightbus zero emmisions transport plans boosted with £12m investment​Wrightbus will take a major step forward in pioneering greener alternatives to diesel power with a £12 million investment in the latest technology announced on Tuesday.
• Island Roads bring Ryde Transport Interchange vision to life with new bus station launch on TuesdayThe project to improve Ryde Transport Interchange reaches an important milestone this week when Southern Vectis services will begin using the new bus station.