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

Sunday, 28 May 2023

BBC News

• East-West Rail looks at new plans for Bicester crossingSome of the plans that were being looked at in a bid to reduce the impact of a new train route on a busy level crossing have been ditched.
• Anger over airports' passport e-gates not workingPassengers arriving in the UK faced hours of delays - but the situation is now resolved.
• ULEZ: Labour MPs in London call for ULEZ scrappage scheme reviewTwo Labour MPs in London say they are concerned there is not enough support ahead of ULEZ expansion.

Financial Times

• Air taxi start-up Vertical Aerospace delays service launch by a yearBristol-based flying taxi start-up pushes back service entry to 2026 as certification schedule slips

The Guardian

• Rail strikes: Hopes of a resolution have been indefinitely delayedAfter a year of walkouts and failed talks, the unions, ministers and operators are as far apart as everAlmost a year since the first national rail strike was called, another series of stoppages loom. Passengers who have been spared the usual round of disruptive bank holiday engineering works this weekend won't be so lucky in the second half of the half-term break.

The Herald

• Scots rail safety fears over Stonehaven crash 'fails' and £150m 'cuts'SCOTLAND's railways are at the centre of safety concerns as it emerged Network Rail faces swingeing cuts while 18 out of 20 official recommendations for action in the wake of the Stonehaven rail disaster have still not been completed.

The Independent

• What went wrong with TransPennine Express and what happens next?Train services run by TransPennine Express have been brought under Government control.

i News

• Transpennine Express train services may take months to improve despite being nationalised this weekendEXCLUSIVEPassengers are promised a ’seamless transition’ to a new operator. But those hoping for quick improvements are likely to be disappointed

Sky News

• Airport e-gate failure could be 'risk to national security' - and why it may keep happeningFailure of e-gates at the UK's airports "poses a danger to national security", a travel expert has told Sky News.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Old Northern rail uniforms to be used for insulationOld uniforms no longer needed by Northern staff are set to be shredded and turned into ‘further life products’ such as insulation and sound-boarding as part of a new environmental push by the train operator.

Bristol Live

• No council review of Bristol's Clean Air Zone signs despite complaints "I feel I have been mugged here as the signage is at fault"

Northern Echo

• PD Ports unveils two new electric harbour cranes at Tees DockTwo new electric harbour cranes, representing an £8.6 million investment, are the latest arrivals at Tees Dock as port operator and owner PD Ports continues its push for sustainability.

Wales Online

• TransPennine nationalisation is 'reset moment' for travellers, says rail ministerThe rail minister said it's “down to the unions” whether nationalising train services would improve performance

Bucks Free Press

• Heathrow security guards stage fresh strike over paySecurity guards at Heathrow Airport will launch a three-day strike on Thursday in a dispute over pay.

Carlisle News & Star

• Impact of nationalising TransPennine services ’down to unions’ – rail ministerIt is “down to the unions” whether nationalising TransPennine Express train services improves performance, the rail minister has said.

Other Regional Press

• New Brent Cross West train station moves closer to openingThis week, London witnessed a significant development in the construction of its newest mainline station as the external signs were installed at Brent Cross West.
• Powys town and north Wales coast set for new cycle linkA new epic cycling route that links Machynlleth and Snowdonia is set to be launched at the end of the summer.
• Powys border town included in new shuttle bus routeThe Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership is welcoming passengers on board the shuttle buses for a new season with a new route and simplified ticketing.
• Gosport bus station set to be improved in £5.9m planPLANS for a new bus interchange in Gosport have been given the green light in a bid to regenerate the town centre.

Other News Sources

• Shropshire: Oswestry bus summit to help raise concerns and ideasOrganised by Bus Users Shropshire, the event is designed to bring together passengers with staff from various operators around the Oswestry, Wales and north Shropshire area.
• Statistics reveal whether nationalised train services are more reliableRail industry statistics show nationalising services may not be guaranteed to result in good performance.
• Southampton Airport to launch new easyJet flights this wintereasyJet has announced new routes to Belfast and Glasgow from Southampton Airport

News from Europe

• Orsted opens a new era in green shipping by breaking ground on Europe’s largest e-methanol projectAt an event in Örnsköldsvik in Northern Sweden, Ørsted broke ground on Europe’s largest e-methanol project, FlagshipONE. The groundbreaking of FlagshipONE not only marks the construction start of the project, but also the first steps in a new green era of shipping, where large-scale methanol production facilities will supply a constantly growing fleet of methanol-powered vessels. Currently, over 110 e-methanol vessels have been ordered or are in operation, up from 80 vessels at the end of 2022. At the same time, new regulation such as Fuel EU Maritime is also increasing the demand for new, green maritime fuels. FlagshipONE will start production in 2025 when it will produce 50,000 tonnes of e-methanol yearly.