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

Saturday, 20 May 2023

BBC News

• Millions to be spent on cycle and walking routesAuthorities in the West Midlands are being given more than £20m from a government fund.
• New Silvertown walking and cycling bridge approvedThe cycle and foot bridge across the Royal Victoria Dock would be funded by a £233m loan.
• Network Rail says infrastructure will get less reliableExtreme weather and rising costs are stretching the budget for maintaining rail infrastructure.

ITV News

• Transport For Wales launch review after women report being sexually harassed by staffTransport for Wales has said it is reviewing its processes after three young women alleged being sexually harassed by support staff whilst on their daily commute.

Financial Times

• Network Rail doubles spending on adapting to climate risksRail owner admits that vital infrastructure will deteriorate over 2024-29 despite new investments

The Telegraph

• Drivers ’twice as likely to die on smart motorways’ if they break down. [subscription]Transport Secretary reveals rate of fatal or serious injuries caused by stopped vehicle collisions compared to normal highways

Times Online

• Air rage incidents triple despite crackdown on drinking. [subscription]Passenger air rage incidents on UK airlines have nearly tripled over the past three years despite attempts to reduce in-flight drinking.
• Will the climate crisis ground the private jet set? [subscription]Having your own plane may be the ultimate status symbol, but it’s hugely damaging to the environment. Damian Whitworth names and shames the A-list eco offenders and talks to aviation insiders about the future of private jet travel

The Mirror

• Travellers who cause mayhem on planes could end up on no-fly list for years in new planBrawls, sex assaults, booze-fuelled violence, cases of stripping and verbal abuse have all been reported by cabin crew, and now anm MP wants to give courts banning powers

Network Rail

• Five-year investment plan for ’Backbone of Britain’ railway revealedPassengers and freight customers are at the heart of the multi-billion pound 2024-29 business plan revealed by Network Rail’s North West and Central
• Passengers and freight at the heart of new £44bn, five-year plan for our railwayNetwork Rail today published its £44bn, five-year plan (2024-29, Control Period 7 – CP7) for the railway in England and Wales that sees increased investment in tackling climate change, improving train performance from current levels, investing in things that matter most to passengers and freight users, and making our ’green’ railway, even greener.

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham's best cycle routes revealed as city set to bask in summer heatAs the weather heats up across the region, the most popular cycle routes in Birmingham and across the West Midlands have been revealed

Birmingham Post

• Great British Railways project to improve UK train services could be watered downSources suggest a significantly watered-down version of GBR could be established, without overall control of the railways
• Hull Trains named top employer at Women in Rail AwardsOne in three driers is female with a 50 per cent split at board level

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Council to investigate why EV points off in Lidl, ShipleyBRADFORD Council is to investigate why EV (electric vehicle) charging points in Lidl car park in Shipley are out of order.

Bristol Live

• Bristol's Clean Air Zone: The recurring complaints drivers keep makingReport on number of CAZ fines expected at the end of the year

Liverpool Echo

• Andy Burnham backs Liverpool City Region bus reform plansGreater Manchester Mayor hopes Liverpool City Region can follow his area in delivering public transport shake-up

Yorkshire Evening Post

• New pictures offer first look as £26.5m White Rose Rail Station begins to take shapeRail infrastructure specialist Spencer Group is making significant progress on the construction of a £26.5 million station in South Leeds.

Bucks Free Press

• Amersham: HS2 update after sinkhole opens near Shardeloes LakeThe HS2 has spoken out after a ‘giant’ sinkhole opened up on a Buckinghamshire field.

Other Regional Press

• New Transport Minister, but same refusal to dual the A90 north of EllonScotland’s new transport minister has revealed he will not resurrect plans to dual the A90 between Ellon and Peterhead. Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid described the newly appointed transport chief’s decision as a “dereliction of duty” and “massively disappointing”.
• The 'sleepy' West London town where residents 'can't wait' for HS2 to turn it aroundBusiness owners and commuters say the massive transport hub will provide much needed customers and transport connections
• London train travel boss admits it's 'fair' to describe plan to scrap day travel cards is 'exclusionary'The final decision has not yet been made by TfL and proposals are under consultation until May 23

Train Operators

• Metro to get security teams on the majority of evening train servicesSecurity will be deployed on the majority of trains on the Tyne and Wear Metro to provide customer reassurance in the evenings and tackle anti-social behaviour where it arises.

Intelligent Transport

• Critical funding gap endangers bus services across UK, says new surveyWith the Bus Recovery Grant coming to an end, CPT’s new survey highlights the concerns among bus passengers regarding the potential loss of services and its impact on their ability to commute and access job opportunities.

New Civil Engineer

• HS2 reveals first components of ’giant lego’ lightweight modular viaduct in KentHigh Speed 2 has revealed the first modules of a project to build its 880m long Thame Valley Viaduct in Kent entirely using prefabricated components.
• DfT confirms go-ahead for Great British Railways despite speculation on axeingThe Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed to NCE that Great British Railways (GBR) is going ahead despite numerous reports in the national media suggesting otherwise. The Times cited sources within the DfT that are said to have claimed GBR is not a priority for the current government and will not be brought forward in the King’s Speech.

Railway Technology

• Chester Train Station to undergo upgrades as Transport for Wales continues its Station Improvement VisionWork to improve Chester Train Station will get underway next month. The works are part of Transport for Wales’ (TfW) Station Improvement Vision and will include a number of improvements designed to enhance the customer experience.

road.cc

• Railway manager says no bikes have been stolen after cycle rack cut in two – but insists cyclists should continue to use the racks to prevent children “being knocked over”A railway station manager has said that no bikes have been stolen from a nearby carpark, despite concerns raised by cyclists after one of the council’s cycle racks was cut in two by vandals.

The Business Desk

• £41m earmarked for improvements to Greater Manchester’s transport systemsMore than £40m will be invested in Greater Manchester’s travel infrastructure, following a £23.7m injection by Active Travel England (ATE) announced today.

Aviation Industry

• Cardiff Airport boosts efficiency and predictability with Veovo’s Airport Management and Revenue technologyVeovo’s next-generation airport management and revenue technology provides staff with up-to-the-moment information for faster, more proactive decision-making.

Other News Sources

• Nottingham City Transport posts £1 million loss for 2022Nottingham City Transport has reported a loss of almost £1 million after being hit by a “poisonous cocktail” of rising gas prices caused by the war in Ukraine and long-last impacts from the Covid pandemic.
• Three-quarters of motorways not adequately equipped with electric car chargersThe Government is set to miss one of its own targets on improving electric vehicle charging infrastructure - after the RAC found fewer than a quarter of motorway service areas in England are equipped with the right number of rapid chargers.