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

Tuesday, 05 September 2023

BBC News

• Backlash sparks delay over rail ticket office closure plansA backlash against plans to close most rail station ticket offices in England has led to a delay in the process.
• Birmingham bus driver crowned UK's bestLee Grantham beats 100 other drivers to win the annual competition in Blackpool.
• Fuel price rises push up cost of full tank by around £4The rises in August were among the steepest in 20 years but retailers did not bump up profits, says RAC.
• Port of Dover plans to reclaim land to prevent queuesThe Port of Dover is planning to reclaim land from the sea to avoid long delays when new EU biometric checks come in.
• Alan Joyce: Qantas boss exits early amid mounting scandalsThe airline has been criticised for its prices and customer service, and is facing several lawsuits.

ITV News

• A new ferry service could soon be transporting people to the Isles of Scilly. North Devon shipbuilder Harland and Wolff have announced proposals to build and operate two ferries on the Penzance to Isles of Scilly ferry route, as well as one inter-island vessel operating from spring 2025.

Financial Times

• Renault chief moots €10bn valuation for EV unit to be floated next yearLuca de Meo hits out at unrealistic valuations for EV start-ups and calls for European investors to support region’s car sector

STV

• Plans to connect Shetland islands through tunnel network 'advanced'The council said plans to connect the mainland with Yell, Unst, Whalsay and Bressay through tunnels are at an advanced stage.

The Guardian

• Rail disruption: Huddersfield named as British station with most cancelled trainsRail passengers travelling to and from Huddersfield station have been the most likely to see their plans thwarted by cancellations, according to an analysis of Great Britain’s trains.
• Thirteen-year wage dispute between NYC and Staten Island ferry workers set to endOne of the lengthiest wage disputes in the US is reported to be drawing to an end, as Staten Island ferry captains, mates and engineers appeared to be reaching a deal after 13 years without a union contract with New York City.

Times Online

• Shetland makes headway in talks on tunnels linking islandsThe Scottish secretary has agreed to meet Shetland council bosses to discuss ambitious plans to invest hundreds of millions of pounds in building tunnels linking the islands.
• Airlines face clampdown on hidden feesAirlines face a clampdown on charging hidden fees for luggage and other extras under plans being considered by ministers.

Reuters News

• France's Macron wants German-style public transport subscriptionPARIS, Sept 4 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday he wants to see a German-style system of low-cost monthly subscriptions for regional trains in France.

Daily Record

• Lifeline bus service could be back on Paisley route amid crunch talksCouncil chiefs are understood to be looking at parking restrictions and potential one-way traffic in a bid to reinstate the number 64 bus service

Local Government

• Local stakeholders discuss future priorities for bus servicesKey local stakeholders will discuss what the priorities should be for the future of bus services in the city in the Southend Local Bus Forum, which will hold its inaugural meeting in early September.
• Portsmouth supports ferry charter to protect seafarers pay and conditionsFollowing the annual Merchant Navy Day, Portsmouth has thrown its weight behind two recent charters that were signed by a number of ferry companies, which operate between the UK and Europe, to protect the pay and conditions of seafarers.

Network Rail

• Work begins to bring step-free access to St ErthWork is underway to make St Erth station in West Cornwall fully accessible for the first time.
• Network Rail completes reliability upgrades at busy railway junction which serves passengers travelling in and out of London BridgeThe railway reopened as planned earlier this morning following upgrade work to improve the reliability of New Cross junction, which controls the movement of trains in and out of London Bridge station.

Bolton News

• Thousands affected as Ring and Ride drivers threaten strikeThousands of vulnerable people in Greater Manchester are set to be affected by strikes as Ring and Ride drivers threaten industrial action.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• More drivers switch to low-emission vehicles due to Clean Air ZonesMORE drivers in Bradford are switching to low-emission vehicles, new figures show, as cities look to introduce penalties for drivers who contribute to polluting the atmosphere.

London Evening Standard

• Nearly 700,000 responses to consultation on station ticket office closuresore than 680,000 responses were submitted to a consultation on proposals for a widespread closure of railway station ticket offices, Transport Focus and London TravelWatch have said.
• Sadiq Khan backs Heathrow Southern Rail Link to Surrey and south west LondonThe mayor said the new link would enable more people to reach the UK’s busiest airport

The York Press

• Northern train efficiency drive planned for diesel fleetAutistic data scientists will create an efficiency model to advise better ways to operate the Northern rail fleet.
• 'Forget George Hudson's railway mania - HS2 is railway madness''Forget George Hudson's railway mania - HS2 is railway madness'

Yorkshire Post

• The pandemic should have taught us the value of rail workers - Yorkshire Post Letters The RMT is also concerned with passenger safety and working conditions for their staff. No mention is made of the proposed closure of many ticket offices.

Cambridge News

• More than 4,000 people sign petition calling for changes to plans for Cambridge South East buswayCampaigners are calling for an alternative route

Other Regional Press

• 
More secure cycle units installed in Glasgow city centreAnother eight of the units are to be put on streets to add to the 12 that were put in before the UCI World Cycling Championships last month.
• Network Rail says why 24-hour work hasn't started at Botley RoadThe 24-hour shifts were billed to come into operation at the Botley Road station site from Saturday.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• B&H Worldwide successfully delivers first engine shipment for Singapore AirlinesSpecialist aerospace logistics company, B&H Worldwide, has completed its first successful engine transportation and storage on behalf of Singapore Airlines.  Recently commissioned by Singapore Airlines, B&H had a mission to transport a GE90 engine from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Singapore. The B&H Worldwide team are no strangers to the GE90 series engine type, completing transportation assignments for other airline customers numerous times over the years.  Sation Manger of B&H Worldwide Singapore, David Wong, said: “B&H Worldwide has a strong track...

Construction Enquirer

• Kier swoops as Buckingham Group enters administrationBuckingham Group Contracting has formally entered administration triggering the break-up of the £700m turnover employee-owned business.

New Civil Engineer

• Lincolnshire councillors to vote on changes to £200M Balfour road schemeHighways chiefs in the North East have urged councillors to approve changes to a £200M link road project awarded to Balfour Beatty well over a year ago.
• Aecom and Stantec awarded contract for study into reinstating abandoned railway between Aberdeen and BuchanA campaign to reopen an abandoned rail link in the north east of Scotland has seen a major boost as Aecom and Stantec have been awarded a £250,000 contract to undertake the latest phase of feasibility work.

Rail Advent

• West Midlands to see a 30-year rail revolution as its Rail Investment Strategy is revisedThe publication has been updated and features the delivery of the Midlands Rail Hub alongside proposals for new railway stations. 
• Reliability upgrades at busy South London railway junction completedNetwork Rail has now completed upgrade work to improve New Cross Junction to improve the reliability of trains throughout the area.

Rail Business Daily

• Why tomorrow’s rail industry must be better connectedSimon Holmes, Managing Director of evo-rail, discusses the business’s transformative rail-5G technology – and explains why GBR’s joined-up network must also be well-connected

Rail UK

• Arup appoints David Hughes as major programmes directorArup has announced the appointment of David Hughes as major programmes director, with a focus on supporting and accelerating the firm’s delivery of significant national infrastructure and strategic change programmes. Based at Arup’s headquarters in London, he takes on a UK and international role, focused on clients across energy, transport, and the broader built environment.
• 3D Lumo train tour helps passengers before they travelLumo, the 100% electric train operator, has invested in an interactive 360° ’walk-through’ tour of one of its trains for customers who may require additional support or information ahead of their travels.

Railtech

• 49-euro Deutschlandticket ’revolution with great potential’, says German rail allianceFour months ago, the Deutschlandticket was introduced in Germany, a monthly rail subscription ticket for unlimited travel for a flat fee of 49 euros. The German Pro-Rail Alliance draws a positive interim balance, and appeals to the federal and state governments to agree on permanent funding so as not to jeopardise the success of the ticket.

Railway Gazette

• NI Railways operations planning software contract awardedUK: Translink has selected software company SISCOG to design, develop and maintain a platform for planning NI Railways timetables and managing rolling stock and staff deployment.

RMT

• RMT welcomes unprecedented response to ticket office closure consultationRAIL UNION RMT calls for plans to close all ticket offices in England to be abandoned today after transport watchdogs London TravelWatch and Transport Focus received over 680,000 responses to the proposals.

Other News Sources

• DP World launches programme to encourage cargo owners to shift to railDP World has launched a new programme in the UK to help cargo owners reduce their carbon emissions by shifting from road to rail.
• Spencer Group appoints Managing Director for railSpencer Group has appointed a Managing Director for its rail division, experienced and highly respected industry professional Mike Halliday. Mike joins the multi-disciplinary engineering specialist from Network Rail, where he has served as a route delivery director for the last six years.