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

Monday, 19 June 2023

BBC News

• Rail services disrupted after Colchester station evacuationServices travelling through Colchester railway station have been disrupted after the site was evacuated following security concerns over a train.

The Guardian

• EU countries accuse TfL debt collectors of breaching data protection laws over London penalty finesBelgium and Dutch vehicle licensing agency say citizens’ details obtained unlawfully to issue driving fines

The Herald

• Fresh ferry chaos with two ageing CalMac vessels sidelinedFerry services were hit with a new wave of service cancellations after another of CalMac's ageing vessels broke down and another is expected to be forced out of action for a sixth month.

The Telegraph

• How HS2 haunts ambitious plans for Britain’s golden triangle [subscription]The rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge stretches back centuries, with each university town famously dismissing their opposite as “the other place”. Yet a new £5bn rail link aims to unite the ancient foes at last, in the hope of turning the region into a rival to Silicon Valley or Boston, Massachusetts.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• 'Open mind' on a third Menai crossing but transport minister says they don't currently have the cashThe Welsh Government minister leading on transport says he has an "open mind" about a third Menai crossing but that it was not an option they could even afford to pursue right now. Welsh Government had previously backed a third crossing over the Menai Strait with the previous first minster Carwyn Jones naming a preferred route in 2018.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Edinburgh's George Street: Businesses call for 'complete rethink' on taxi ban as part of pedestrianisationConcern over plans to transform Edinburgh’s George Street – including banning taxis
• Edinburgh trams: City transport convener Scott Arthur seeks meeting with new Transport Minister Fiona HyslopExpansion of tram network and free fares for under-22s likely to be high on agenda

Manchester Evening News

• LIVE: Transport chaos across Greater Manchester as trams hit by lightning strike - latest updatesThere are 'severe' delays across the tram network today (June 18) after a lightning strike wrought havoc on the Metrolink service.

The York Press

• York Wheels community transport is looking for new trusteesYork community transport charity York Wheels is looking for new trustees

Other Regional Press

• Warrington's stations have been massively neglectedSteven Broomhead is chief executive of Warrington Borough Council and writes a regular column for the Warrington Guardian
• This bus shelter could be the most beautiful in Lancashire and maybe even on planet earthAh, bus shelters. They don't always carry the most positive connotations, do they?
• Bus stops in Cornwall set for 21st century with digital advert boardsAdvertisement consent is sought to replace existing double-sided internally illuminated six sheet bus shelter advertising displays with double-sided digital displays at a number of bus stops in Cornwall, including in East Looe and Saltash (PA23/03277).
• New bus campaign group formed in Burnham and Highbridge to seek improvementsA new group is being formed in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge to seek improvements in local bus services.

New Civil Engineer

• Transport committee calls for long-term rail electrification strategy after ’disappointing’ decarbonisation responseThe transport committee has written to Mark Harper calling the government’s response to its decarbonisation report “disappointing” and has demanded a long-term rail electrification strategy.

Rail Advent

• London Underground station to close for up to a yearLondon Underground's Kentish Town station will close for up to a year from Monday 26 June, as engineers replace both its escalators.
• Merseyrail Manager Honoured in King’s Birthday Honours ListSally Ralston, the Community Involvement Manager at Merseyrail, has been honoured in the inaugural King's Birthday Honours list, receiving a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her exceptional contributions to the Liverpool City Region community.
• King’s Birthday Honours List for 2023 includes Transport for London StaffTransport for London has seen six of its current and former staff members recognised in the King's Birthday Honours List for 2023, including:
• Transport for Wales starts testing new Metro tram-trainsTransport for Wales (TfW) has started testing on the South Wales Metro railway lines its new tram-trains that are set to revolutionise public transport in the area.
• Award for North of England transport-related social exclusion studyThe Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) has awarded Transport for the North (TfN) its ’Research Initiative of the Year' prize.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Bus depot visit shows zero-emission challenge for coachZemo Partnership and Abellio (together with partners Enel X, ESP Utilities Group, Cleaner EV, Wrightbus and Rock Rail subsidiary Rock Road) hosted an enlightening bus workshop last month which included a visit to the operator’s depot in Twickenham (Fulwell).
• Response continues on England bus fundingThe bus sector has given mixed feedback on last month’s government announcement of a package of support for networks in England

Transport Scotland

• Vision for world class public electric vehicle charging networkThe Scottish Government has published its Vision for Scotland’s Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network. It comes as a new study shows that uptake of electric vehicles in Scotland could be up to 16% higher than UK Government statistics suggest.

Other News Sources

• US Transport Chief Wants to Break China’s EV Battery StrongholdTransportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the US must take steps to cut into China’s advantage in batteries used to power electric vehicles, saying building the refining capacity for key materials is “addressable.”