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

Wednesday, 09 August 2023

BBC News

• Speed limit: Drivers tie red ribbons to cars in 20mph protestOne town's residents are campaigning to change 20mph speed limits due to come in later this year.

STV

• Town's new £18m railway station supported by city region cabinetPlans for another train station in Barrhead have moved forward.

The Independent

• Eurostar boss: cheaper tickets for London-Paris trains are coming backTrain Talk: ’London-Paris, it’s still £39. I really don’t want to raise our lead-in fares’ – Gwendoline Cazenave, Eurostar CEO

Senedd Cymru

• Remit for TfW 2.0 - Developing a multi-modal culture and supporting the development and delivery of an integrated transport network - Letter from Lee WatersLast year, I set out in your remit letter the priorities for TfW over the current term of government. This letter builds on that remit and should be considered alongside those requirements

City AM

• Former Britishvolt boss slams government’s EV strategy as takeover bid stalls The government lacks “innovative thinking” and a “joined up industrial strategy” to support the UK’s electric vehicle industry, the former boss of Britishvolt has said, as a takeover bid for the collapsed battery start-up hangs by a thread.  The fiery backlash follows a statement from EY – the administrators for Britishvolt – that Aussie buyer [...]

Bristol Live

• Refurbished Gaol Ferry Bridge to reopen to pedestrians and cyclists next monthThe £1.5 million project is nearing completion after the bridge was found to be rotting and unsafe

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Wales' top doctor calls 20mph speed limit 'biggest change in a generation'Come September 17, Welsh motorists are set to face the "biggest change in a generation" when blanket 20mph speed limits are imposed around many roads in the country. The measure comes from the devolved Welsh Government in a bid to increase road safety and also get people opting for greener modes of travel such as cycling and walking where possible.

Northern Echo

• Northern brings in autistic data scientists to boost fuel-efficiencyIn partnership with Chrome Angel Solutions they are developing a scenario modelling tool to advise on the optimal train speed and braking patterns for the specific topography of the North of England.

The York Press

• Fights break out on busy York train as passengers sit on tablesFights break out on busy York train as passengers sit on tables

Wales Online

• Top doctor backs rollout of 20mph speed limit throughout WalesDr David Hanna said children are more at risk from road traffic collisions than adults, and reducing the limit can help save their lives
• Cardiff Bus announces massive timetable overhaul as key routes are cutAlmost every route is affected and nine have been scrapped completely

Bucks Free Press

• HS2 works continue in Buckinghamshire as huge machines are seenThe HS2 construction has been a controversial subject within Buckinghamshire but the works are continuing.

Cambridge News

• Buses will replace train service through Cambridge and Peterborough at weekends for more than a monthA number of routes across the county will be affected

Other Regional Press

• Devon County Council wins rail service awardDevon County Council has been recognised by Railfuture as a “torch bearer in rail development” for its achievements in delivering new stations, restoring old lines, and integrating bus and rail services
• 'Seven years of disruption - that can kill a town': Reaction to HS2 'red' ratingLocal politicians and campaign groups have had their say on HS2 after the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) deemed Phase 2a, the Birmingham to Crewe leg of the project, 'unachievable'. The official infrastructure watchdog assigned a 'red' rating to the first two sections of the project.

Train Operators

• Norwich rail station receives ’Wildlife Friendly Station’ statusNorwich rail station has received a ’Wildlife Friendly’ accreditation, recognising the work of the station’s community volunteers to improve biodiversity and support nature.

Coach and Bus Week

• Newport Transport welcomes new coachesNewport Transport has taken delivery of the first brand new coaches to launch its new express coach venture in partnership with FlixBus on 7 August. The new Volvo coaches mark the start of the Welsh municipal’s partnership with FlixBus, for whom it will operate services from South Wales to London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

New Civil Engineer

• ’Major railway upgrade’ works now complete on West Midlands corridorNetwork Rail has completed a raft of upgrades to the rail route between Coventry in the West Midlands and Banbury in Oxfordshire.
• HS2 | Euston with only 7 platforms is not fit for the future network, experts sayA version of High Speed 2’s (HS2’s) London Euston station with only seven platforms would prevent the high-speed network from ever reaching the service levels it is designed to accommodate, according to experts.

Rail Advent

• Serious concerns raised by the London Assembly Transport Committee over proposed ticket office closuresThe Committee has revealed its concerns regarding the proposed closures across the country, in a letter to London Travel Watch

Rail UK

• evo-rail rolls out innovative rail connectivity technology to Spainevo-rail has today announced that they have signed a contract with leading Spanish infrastructure provider COMSA, and subsequently successfully installed its innovative rail-5G solution in mainland Europe.

Railway Gazette

• Signalbox develops Transport for Wales live train mapUK: Transport for Wales Rail has worked with technology company Signalbox to develop a live digital map showing the location of all its trains, enabling passengers to view their journey in real time and see expected arrival times at each station.

Other News Sources

• London Heathrow trials lower-carbon concreteLondon Heathrow Airport has started a trial to explore the viability of lower-carbon concrete, which cuts emissions by 50% compared to conventional concrete.
• Gatwick Airport's plans to create second Heathrow unveiledNew details of Gatwick’s multi-billion pound expansion plans – to double capacity and create a second Heathrow Airport in the south east – have emerged.
• Colouring book aimed at making rail travel even more fun for children to be launched in LowestoftA new colouring book is to be made available at railway stations for children to take with them on their journeys. Created by acclaimed artist Matt Jones, the book particularly aims to help children with autism and anxiety and other conditions feel more relaxed when travelling.
• TfL partners to improve accessible transport across LondonTransport for London will use technology from Via to power its Dial-a-Ride service to further improve the passenger experience for elderly and disabled people.
• Greater Manchester Bus Stations given upgrade ahead of Bee Network transport network launchBus stations around Greater Manchester have been given a bright yellow update. This comes as the launch of the region’s new Bee network Transport plan edges closer.
• Major new Maidenhead cycle route completedA major new cycle path set to bolster travel infrastructure in Maidenhead has been completed.
• ULEZ: Slough transport lead calls for extension of scrappage schemeSadiq Khan’s calls for the Home Counties to have their own scrappage scheme ahead of the ULEZ expansion have been met with frustration in Slough.
• Consultation deadline extended on Aberdeenshire Council's new transport strategyAberdeenshire Council has extended the consultation deadline on the new Aberdeenshire Local Transport Strategy to Wednesday, August 30.
• Hapag-Lloyd, DB Schenker ink biofuel-powered transport dealGerman liner major Hapag-Lloyd has entered into a partnership with compatriot logistics provider DB Schenker for emission-reduced container transports with waste- and residue-based biofuel.
• Bristol won’t bring in parking levy to fund transport as council forced to publish reportMayor Marvin Rees has again hit out at sceptics of plans for a Bristol underground, and said smaller schemes won’t do enough to give us the public transport we need.
• Are we nearly there yet? PACTS calls for new transport billAre we nearly there yet? It appears as though we’re not. In fact it may be that we never get to where we want to be. The destination is a new Transport Bill. In May 2022 the Queen’s speech suggested that it was full steam ahead for transport: “Her Majesty’s Government will improve transport across the United Kingdom, delivering safer, cleaner services and enabling more innovations. Legislation will be introduced to modernise rail services and improve reliability for passengers.”
• Welsh Government funding for Sardis Road bus corridor improvementsThe Council has secured funding to convert a small area of the former bingo hall site in Pontypridd into new bus stop bays – to create greater integration between bus and rail services as part of the wider South Wales Metro scheme.