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

Monday, 28 August 2023

BBC News

• Bridgwater drivers protesting to save 'vital hub' bus depotBus drivers gathered in protest against the planned closure of a bus depot described as a "vital hub" in Somerset.
• Why empty lorries are a problem and how to fix itDrive down almost any road in the UK and take a look at the lorries. Ever wonder what's inside? Food, fuel, furniture?
• P&O Britannia cruise ship crashes during Mallorca stormsA small number of people are being cared for onboard after sustaining minor injuries, P&O says.
• South Western Railway warns of decimated strike servicesTrains will be far fewer in number than on previous strike days, South Western Railway warns.

Financial Times

• Super aggressive Riyadh Air to focus expansion on Saudi marketChief executive says airline will avoid head-to-head clash with Gulf neighbours’ hubs
• Shipowners and traders clash over cost of climate regulationsDispute over who pays for cleaning up shipping emissions deepens struggle to decarbonise global trade

STV

• Labour blames SNP ’incompetence’ for 'spiralling' ferry cancellationsFigures show state-owned ferry operator CalMac cancelled 40,989 sailings between September 2018 and April 2023.

The Guardian

• How a community bus service made a Perthshire village smile again“Every person that gets on the bus has their own story,” says Douglas Fraser, parking his shiny 16-seater on the brae behind Glenfarg village hall.
• No 10’s Ulez stance reverses ’decades of clean air progress’, says Sadiq KhanRishi Sunak’s lack of support for expanded scheme risks stunting Londoners’ lungs, says mayor in run-up to Tuesday’s launch

The Herald

• CalMac defends record in wake of 'spiralling' ferry cancellationsFerry operator CalMac has defended its record after new figures revealed "spiralling" cancellations impacting lifeline ferry services to island communities.

Times Online

• Sadiq Khan denies plan for London pay-per-mile road scheme. [subscription]The mayor’s own transport strategy is one of the documents setting out the possibility of new road-charging plans, but he says it is “not on the table”
• Work rate on west coast ferry must ’increase considerably’ to hit deadline. [subscription]Fears that modifications to Glen Sannox could hold up second vessel which is due to be named this week

City AM

• Ulez expansion: Sadiq Khan accuses Government of ’weaponising air pollution’London mayor Sadiq Khan accused the Government of “weaponising air pollution” ahead of his expansion of the capital’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez).
• ULEZ: Residents living just outside zone offered £100 a month for parking spaces Residents of a street in Chessington which by geographic oddity is exempted from the ULEZ charge are being offered cash for parking

Daily Express

• Tory leaders call for rethink on controversial rail ticket office closuresControversial plans to close rail ticket offices must be rethought, leading Tories have demanded.

i News

• Seven wonders to visit with Portugal’s €49 unlimited monthly rail pass, from the Minho to the AlgarveA month’s worth of rail travel works out at less than €1.60 – or £1.40 – a day

Sky News

• People injured after P&O cruise ship 'crashes'People have been injured after a P&O cruise liner was involved in a "weather-related incident" in Mallorca, the company has said.

Wales Online

• The beautiful Welsh railway line where people are left stranded, holidays are ruined and job interviews missedTransport for Wales has admitted that the Heart of Wales line has seen a 'higher than usual number of service alterations of late' and there are urgent calls for action to fix the problems

Cambridge News

• The Cambs railway station that only sees 100 passengers each yearIf you've ever been at a railway station in rush hour, you'll know that it can be hell on earth. Massive crowds, platform changes, people with enormous suitcases – all these and more could make anyone wish to become a hermit.
• Railway fans invited to drive historic train in CambsThis rare opportunity is not one to miss at Nene Valley Railway this September

Other Regional Press

• All aboard for West Midland community rail grantsCOMMUNITIES across the region will be able to bid for up to £10,000 to carry out projects to help transform their areas through a grants scheme by West Midlands Railway (WMR).
• Why Warrington ticket offices are really worth fighting forDuring the course of my career, I have often had to commute to work. This was mainly by car but there were spells when it was more appropriate to use public transport, specifically trains.
• St Helens Central to Junction link explored in rail funding requestsA HISTORIC rail link that could vastly improve connectivity in St Helens has been put forward as a project to assess its revival.
• Simon Lightwood MP steps up campaign to save Wakefield Westgate ticket officeWakefield MP Simon Lightwood has launched his campaign to retain the ticket office at Wakefield Westgate Railway Station after it came under threat of closure.
• Catch The Bus Month campaign launched to boost bus travelA NEW campaign has been launched to encourage more people to catch buses across the Stroud district. 
• Train services in Shropshire hit as rail company suffers 'driver and signaller' shortagesNational Rail says two afternoon trains between Llandrindod and Shrewsbury have been cancelled and this morning there is "no guarantee" of replacement buses being available.
• Ryanair and Tui websites rated among worst for accessibilityRyanair, Jet2.com and Tui have been rated as the worst major airlines in the UK for website accessibility according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

New Civil Engineer

• Watch: Case Study – the case for regeneration over replacing bridge structuresThis talk was first presented at the NCE Bridges Design & Management conference on 28 June. Hewson Consulting Engineers director Andrew Hodgkinson and principal engineer Michael Duvall provide a case study on refurbishing a bridge rather than replacing it.

Rail Advent

• Edinburgh Waverley launches new Taxi ZoneThis week, Edinburgh Waverley station officially launched its new dedicated taxi zone in the New Street car park.
• Scottish Transport Minister lays final part of new Scotland rail lineOn Friday, 25 August, track laying on the Levenmouth Rail Link project was finally completed when Scotland's Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop, installed the final pandrol clip.

Aviation Industry

• Why Amsterdam Schiphol Airport's Drive For Quality Improvement Could Raise Ticket PricesAmsterdam's Schiphol Airport, the Netherlands’ largest and main airport, could increase its fees implemented on airlines due to the need for renovation at the airport. This increase in fees is likely to result in an increase in ticket prices for passengers.

Other News Sources

• Birmingham airport to install 12,800 solar panelsBirmingham airport (BHX) has announced plans to install thousands of solar panels, to help it reach its target of net zero operations by 2033.
• Arup appoints new Southeast Asia Rail LeaderCharles Im has been appointed as Arup’s new Rail Leader for Southeast Asia, further strengthening the firm’s established rail business across the region.
• 'Ludicrous' school transport costs called out by Gloucestershire mum facing £2,400 bill this year'What are we meant to do if we can’t afford it - every parent get on the road to drive our kids into school each morning and afternoon?'
• Slow Progress on Freight Could Undercut Shift to Clean Transport, Experts WarnElectric car sales are projected to more than double globally by 2026, but experts say eliminating road transport emissions by 2050 will mean throttling up efforts to decarbonize road freight and bringing an “all hands on deck” approach to support the transition away from gasoline.
• Building transport in Britain doesn’t have to be this hardIt costs more to build new roads, railways and tramlines in Britain than it does almost anywhere else in the world. With major infrastructure projects like HS2 at risk of cancellation due to spiralling costs and frequent delays, it is worth reflecting on the fact that it doesn’t seem to be this hard everywhere.