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

Monday, 18 September 2023

BBC News

• Unilink Southampton bus drivers threaten strike over right turn.Bus drivers have threatened strike action over what they describe as a "dangerous" route change.
• No final HS2 decision until revised costs known, say LabourShadow minister Pat McFadden says its policy on high speed rail will be set out in the party's manifesto.

The Independent

• Labour refuses to commit to finishing HS2 rail project in fullDoubts raised as Labour rail architect Andrew Adonis says scrapping Phase 2 would be ’utter stupidity’

Times Online

• 20mph limits for two fifths of the population. [subscription]The government says it will add only 63 seconds to average trips

The Mirror

• 'Tories can't run a bath let alone a railway with HS2 fiasco latest symbol of failure'Things might get even worse for Rishi Sunak and the Tories before the next election with the HS2 fiasco the latest sign of their cuts, incompetence and failure, writes Kevin Maguire

Sky News

• Foreign Secretary James Cleverly won't confirm HS2 link to Manchester despite PM's 'absolute' levelling up commitmentWith the House of Commons rising for recess this week for party conference season, the government has until Tuesday to announce any major changes to the railway line. Decisions on spending are being made ahead of the autumn financial statement in November.

Bolton News

• Greater Manchester: Bee Network buses to roll out of BoltonYellow “Bee Network” buses are set to roll out from Bolton depots this weekend.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bradford-London service will not stop at these stations todayA BRADFORD to London train service will not be stopping at several West Yorkshire stations on the route like usual today.
• All change for Bradford's road system as major works enter next stageBradford Council, in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, have released information on the latest road changes for the city centre.

Bristol Live

• Exclusive: Report into Bristol underground says it is needed and can be done - if it's mostly above groundMetro Mayor Dan Norris has said Bristol 'won't get an underground', but the latest report from his team recommends going further with a plan for a hybrid underground-overground project
• Airport to reopen after torrential rain caused floodingCars were trapped in the rain which also closed a zoo and left roads impassable - more bad weather is expected thanks to Hurrican Lee

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Transport for Wales has UK's lowest customer satisfaction rate - and no one will be surprisedThere are almost daily complaints about services and this is now reflected in the latest figures

London Evening Standard

• Labour studying HS2 costs amid questions over fate of Manchester legFresh questions have been asked about the fate of the new HS2 railway line after a senior Labour figure declined to commit to the project being built in full.

Manchester Evening News

• These trains were meant to be the future. Now they're being pulled after just four yearsTransPennine Express is set to mothball its Nova 3 fleet after four years of false starts, Covid restrictions creating huge backlogs in training drivers and, more recently, reports of cracks in carriages
• Now Labour refuses to guarantee HS2 to Manchester after Conservative government wobbleThe prospects of HS2 reaching Manchester appear to be getting thinner. Following a week which saw the Conservative government fail to guarantee the planned high-speed railway will reach the city, now a senior Labour figure has questioned the current plans.

Wales Online

• Wales' 20mph limit backed by sporting and environmental groups as open letter published'We praise the 20mph limit as being a huge contribution towards fairer streets and more liveable communities for all in Wales'

Cambridge News

• The railway line that once joined Cambridge and Oxford and will be used for East West RailThe Varsity Line was nicknamed the 'Brain Line' because it connected the universities of Oxford and Cambridge

Other Regional Press

• Plans approved for new footbridge and lift at Cwmbran train stationTorfaen Council has approved plans by Network Rail to build a new footbridge and lift to make it easier for passengers to use Cwmbran railway station.
• New 20mph speed limit rolled out on Leamington roads - and it's not a mistake this timeThey were initially brought in by mistake earlier in the year but they're here to stay this time
• Readers back ban on 'utterly useless' e-bikes and e-scooters in Coventry city centreCoventry city council has launched a consultation on plans to ban them

Calling All Stations - The Transport Podcast

• Hands-free or speed-free on the roads plus awesome site visit (part 2) as HS2 again under scrutinyIs Christian Wolmar's sceptical view of self-driving vehicles vindicated by the report from the House of Commons Transport Committee [1:59]? Does the new default 20mph speed limit on residential streets in Wales point the way to better road safety or economic ruin [9:50]? Will political choices leave the breathtaking HS2 Old Oak Common station as the terminus of a bizarre Acton to Aston railway [15:37}? Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker set out to answer these questions.

New Civil Engineer

• £50M West Midlands Metro extension to Wolverhampton now openPassenger tram services on the new West Midlands Metro extension in Wolverhampton city centre began yesterday, Sunday 17 September.
• £42M upgrade to Leeds’ Armley Gyratory enters final phase as prefab footbridges to be lifted into placeThe removal of the Spence Lane footbridge over the Armley Gyratory in Leeds is to begin later this month as the wider £41.97M Armley Gyratory upgrade scheme nears completion.
• Ivanhoe Line restoration will not extend to Leicester due to ’significant infrastructure investment’ requiredProposals for the redevelopment of the Ivanhoe Line will not see passenger railway reinstated all the way to Leicester, Network Rail has revealed.

Rail Advent

• Southeastern achieves amazing six wins at National Rail AwardsSoutheastern achieved unprecedented success at this year's National Rail Awards when it won six awards and was highly commended in two other categories.
• Lincolnshire to see increased service reliability as Network Rail renews two sections of trackThe renewal of track will also see improvements to level crossing infrastructure for the two Lincolnshire sites.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Technology is changing the game for coach and bus operatorsHow two businesses are using apps and e-ticketing to smooth operations in the coach and bus sectors
• TfL pushes forward on bus safety to satisfy ’vision zero’ questEliminating deaths on or by London buses by 2030 sounds a tall order, but TfL has a far-reaching plan