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

Tuesday, 22 August 2023

BBC News

• HS2: New flood plain proposed to counter rail project 'threat'A new inland flood plain and a five-mile (8km) woodland corridor could enhance an area which is threatened by the HS2 rail project, conservationists have said.
• Car breakdowns due to potholes soar in rainy JulyThe AA saw call-outs jump with drivers reporting damage after wet weather hampered road repairs.
• Can narrowboat owners break with fossil fuels?Narrowboat owners are under pressure to find greener ways to run their craft.
• Ulez: Scrappage scheme extension beginsAnyone who lives in London can access up to £2,000 to replace non-compliant cars.
• Lost luggage showing signs of recovery after hitting 10-year highNew airline data indicates the number of lost, delayed or damaged bags is returning to pre-pandemic levels.

The Guardian

• Iron railway bridge that ’changed the world’ to return home to DurhamCurators at National Railway Museum at Shildon say they are delighted and proud to get Gaunless bridge back
• Growth of airlines’ add-on fees sparks calls for price reformsStudy finds almost 90% of carriers charge for at least one item, leading to questions about whether firms should be forced to be more transparent

The Independent

• Alarming airline close calls are happening with increasing frequency, report revealsThe chilling report comes shortly after a private jet came nearly collided with a Southwest Airlines plane in San Diego

Times Online

• Ships face 21-day wait at Panama Canal after lack of rain [subscription]Experts predict the price of some goods could rise as drought hits one of the world’s wettest countries
• Monarch Airlines set for relaunch six years after collapse. [subscription]Monarch Airlines is poised to return to the skies six years after it collapsed and left 110,000 holidaymakers stranded abroad, leading to Britain’s biggest peacetime repatriation.

The Mirror

• Tories egged on train bosses to announce closure of almost every railway ticket officeA railway industry source told the Mirror that ministers had sent train firms 'charging over the hill' with the proposal to shut ticket offices at 974 stations across England

Network Rail

• Network Rail delays track work in Stroud due to discovery of dormiceTrack work that was due to be conducted this week near Stroud train station in Gloucestershire has been delayed by Network Rail due to the discovery of dormice in the area.

Birmingham Mail

• UK airline set to relaunch flights six years after collapseMore than 110,000 passengers were stranded abroad when the airline fell into administration in 2017

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bradford Interchange redevelopment plans are submittedPLANS for the redevelopment of the Bradford Interchange entrance and ‘public realm’ have been officially submitted.

Hull Daily Mail

• Goole rail village expansion plan could create 250 new jobsA total of 250 more jobs could be coming to Goole’s rail village as Siemens Mobility looks to further expand operations in the town.

Other Regional Press

• MP calls for work to prevent flooding issues putting Lichfield railway station lifts out of actionLichfield’s MP says urgent action is needed to deal with flooding issues putting lifts out of action at a railway station.
• Keighley-boost rail plan group to hold open meetingA CAMPAIGN group pressing for the reopening of a railway line which it's claimed would provide a huge economic boost for Keighley has announced details of its next open meeting.
• Unexpected stop gives boost to rail campaign for more trains at ChathillCampaigners calling for an increase in passenger train services at Chathill have received an unexpected boost to their efforts.
• Henbury’s new railway station could open as soon as 2024A railway station which closed to passengers in 1964 could be reopened as soon as 2024 as part of a line which could one day take passengers from Bristol to the new arena at Filton.
• Increased train fares and more strikes: The impact on Lincolnshire’s rail sectorWith train fares set to rise again next year, some passengers are left feeling frustrated by the cost compared to the level of service provided in Lincolnshire – while others have little to no complaints whatsoever.
• New bus service to Heathrow Airport launches with special £1 fareFrimley, Camberley and Bagshot all benefit as ULEZ increases costs

New Civil Engineer

• Alternative segment lift for HS2’s Colne Valley Viaduct minimises local disruptionConstruction of High Speed 2’s (HS2’s) 3.4km long Colne Valley Viaduct has reached a major milestone with a key 40m long span lifted into place over a local road during a three week closure of the route.
• Global Centre of Rail Excellence £7.4M innovation competition gears up for second phaseInnovators selected for the Global Centre of Rail Excellence’s (GCRE’s) £7.4M Innovation in Railway Construction competition have been briefed on requirements for phase two. GCRE was established by the Welsh Government as a special purpose vehicle in 2021 to deliver the research facility.
• DfT details contracts for East West Rail and HS2 to be procured this yearThe Department for Transport (DfT) has outlined a pipeline of contracts for East West Rail (EWR) and High Speed 2 (HS2) that will see procurment commence before the end of the year.

Rail Business Daily

• Rail experts come together to study safety performance in the freight yardExperts from across the rail industry have joined together for a ground-breaking event at Newcastle University to discuss how understanding human factors can benefit performance in the rail freight yard.

The Business Desk

• Latest roll-out for £500m Merseyrail train fleetMerseyrail’s Wirral Line is the next route to switch to the transport authority’s new £500m train fleet.

Trafnidiaeth Cymru [Transport for Wales]

• Don’t let the car drive your dayTransport for Wales (TfW) and Visit Wales have partnered to encourage travellers to use the train to visit some the country’s best tourism hot spots and extend the busy tourism season into Autumn.

Aviation Industry

• 5 Reasons Why Air Travel Is Vital For Keeping Scotland's Islands ConnectedFlights within Scotland's highlands and islands have many advantages over ferries.
• Monarch Airlines Is Reportedly Being RevivedCould the failed UK carrier really be taking to the skies again in the near future?

Other News Sources

• Call for urgent re-think on plans to axe key bus route in CardiffA NUMBER of Cardiff councillors have called for an urgent re-think on plans to cut a “vital” bus service which operates in their wards.
• Lib Dems call for rail fare freeze as Lambeth’s residents face 9% price hike next yearThe Liberal Democrats have called for rail fares to be frozen for the next 5 years after new figures show that Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation in July reached 9%. This is the figure normally used to increase rail fares from next March.

News from Europe

• Peak hour price hike “unfair”, says rail user lobby groupRail user lobby group Rover has slated proposed higher charges for rush hour travel, saying the scheme is impractical and will cost travellers a great deal more money.