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

Friday, 06 October 2023

BBC News

• Starmer: Scrapped HS2 leg a mess for future governmentBut Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will not commit to reversing the decision on the northern leg of HS2.
• North Wales electric rail expected to cost more than £1bnThe UK government has given "a cast-iron commitment" that the electrification of the north Wales main rail line will happen. Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said the full business case is still to be done but the line will be built.
• Why did Rishi Sunak record video cancelling HS2 days earlier?The transport secretary says the decision to cancel the Manchester leg of HS2 was not taken until Tuesday.
• Scottish airline Loganair no longer up for saleAdvisers had been appointed to find a buyer for the Glasgow-based business in October 2022.
• Labour can not promise HS2 to Manchester - Keir StarmerThe Labour leader says Rishi Sunak has
• HS2: No new compensation for 'pain' of people affected by scrapped rail routeThere will be no new money for displaced people and firms along the scrapped route, the government says.
• Electric car sales to private buyers fall sharplyNo incentives for consumers to buy electric has affected sales, but overall the car market is growing.
• HS2: Government 'misleading' people over Leamside line reopeningReferences to the restoration of a mothballed line are dropped 24 hours after its announcement.
• HS2 will not go to Euston without private fundsIf the money cannot be raised then passengers travelling to and from central London will have to change.
• North Wales electric rail expected to cost more than £1bnThe UK government has given "a cast-iron commitment" that the electrification of the north Wales main rail line will happen. Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said the full business case is still to be done but the line will be built.
• Electric taxis 2028 target ditched by Welsh ministersA target to make all taxis electric by 2028 has been dropped by the Welsh government.

ITV News

• Government u-turn on Leamside Line pledge less than 24 hours after reopening announcedThe government has u-turned on their pledge to reopen a disused rail line less than 24 hours after it was announced as part of Rishi Sunak's "Network North".

Financial Times

• The case against HS2Even in countries bigger than England, high-speed rail is often a vanity project that escapes public scrutiny
• Starmer refuses to pledge undoing HS2 cutsThe Labour leader said on Thursday he cannot commit to reversing Rishi Sunak's cut to the northern leg of HS2
• Alstom: UK rail fails leave CEO racked and pinionedGroup’s shaky finances fuel talk of a fundraising which management denials cannot completely dispel
• "Managed decline": the uncertain future for British rail after cuts to HS2Rishi Sunak promised major new investments as he slashed back HS2. But the UK rail industry is fearful of the future
• Northern voters cast doubt over Sunak's transport pledge after HS2 failureAnnouncement may land badly with electorate as UK government shifts focus to new local schemes

STV

• New 'first of its kind' bus multi ticket launched in GlasgowA new multi ticket that removes the need to purchase separate bus tickets has been launched in Glasgow.

The Guardian

• Sunak’s ’spiteful’ sale of land intended for HS2 dashes hopes of revivalA future Labour government would not be able to easily reverse Rishi Sunak’s decision to scrap the northern leg of HS2 as he has “spitefully” authorised the sale of properties that were subject to compulsory purchase orders on part of the route.
• Sunak’s ’spiteful’ sale of land intended for HS2 dashes hopes of revivalA future Labour government would not be able to easily reverse Rishi Sunak’s decision to scrap the northern leg of HS2 as he has “spitefully” authorised the sale of properties that were subject to compulsory purchase orders on part of the route.
• Ten problems with Rishi Sunak’s Network North announcementProspectus repeats old promises, ditches others and demonstrates an elastic definition of ’the north’
• The Guardian view on HS2 cancellation: mind the north-south gap | EditorialRishi Sunak promotes himself as a leader who takes long-term decisions for the national benefit, but this one is the exact opposite. Flying into Granada for the European political community summit on Thursday, Rishi Sunak may have noticed that the Andalusian city is well served by high-speed trains. Granada is not alone. Spain now has the largest high-speed rail network in Europe, with more than 4,300km of track in operation and a further 1,370km under construction. Britain, by contrast, has 113km in operation and, before Mr Sunak's cancellation of the northern arm of HS2 this week,

The Telegraph

• Firework attack on office of minister spearheading Welsh 20mph speed limit. [subscription]Police say man arrested in connection with damage to constituency office of Lee Waters, the deputy minister for climate change

Times Online

• Alstom cash flow hit by stalled train deliveries. [subscription]Delays in getting paid for new electric trains in Britain have contributed to a cash flow warning from Alstom, the French manufacturer.
• HS2 may never reach Euston without private funding. [subscription]’No guarantees’ line will secure vital private funding despite Rishi Sunak’s conference pledge
• What is the new HS2 route? The UK’s high-speed rail network mapped. . [subscription]Rishi Sunak said he will cancel the northern leg of HS2 and invest the money into regional connectivity instead.
• Millennium Bridge closes again for urgent repairs . [subscription]When the Millennium Bridge in London opened in 2000, the Queen dedicated it to pedestrians as a “symbol of the new millennium”, with its designers describing it as a “blade of light” across the Thames.

Mail Online

• Rishi Sunak will face crunch Commons votes on HS2 as he battles to quell Tory revolt with claims he is already ditching substitute projects… but clash could also force Keir Starmer to get off the fenceRishi Sunak will face crunch Commons votes on HS2 as he battles to quell a Tory revolt amid claims a substitute project has already been ditched.

The Mirror

• 'PM's rail pledges are as fake as the 40 new hospitals promised by Boris Johnson'A supposed £36billion package of transport projects announced by Rishi Sunak in the wake of the HS2 scrapping have already been shown to be as fake as Boris Johnson's '40 new hospitals' claim

The National

• Glasgow buses in 'crisis'? Campaign sets sights on public ownershipTRADE unions, environmental campaigners and health charities have all put their names to a campaign calling for buses in the Strathclyde region to be taken into public control.

Local Government

• Rail history made yet again as Mayor hails the launch of the UKs first battery powered trains in the Liverpool City RegionUK’s first battery powered trains are now operating from the new £80m Headbolt Lane station in Kirkby.

Network Rail

• Not all disabilities are visible: Network Rail opens ’stoma-friendly’ toilet facilities at London PaddingtonLondon Paddington has become the first station managed by Network Rail to offer ’stoma friendly’ toilet facilities ahead of Stoma Aware Day, which takes place on Saturday 7 October.

Birmingham Post

• Rail priorities of £8bn for South Wales and the West of England set outThe cross-border Western Gateway Partnership said £8bn of investment is required up to 2050 to address years of under investment

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• £2bn rail project a 'chance to regenerate Bradford'Rail minister Huw Merriman has spoken on the £2bn rail announcement for Bradford.

Manchester Evening News

• Bee Network bus services 'improving' after 'teething problems', insists Andy BurnhamAndy Burnham said franchised bus services in the Bee Network are 'improving' after 'teething problems'.

Nation. Cymru

• MS blasts Sunak’s ’empty promise’ on north Wales rail electrificationAn MS has taken aim at the “empty promise” made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to electrify the North Wales Main Line. Llyr Gruffydd MS, who represents north Wales in the Senedd, said the Prime Minister “can’t be trusted” to follow through on the £1bn pledge.

The York Press

• HS2 u-turn: 'Boy, do we need a General Election' - lettersFrance has 1,700 miles of high-speed rail. Spain 2,338 miles. Germany 1,000 miles, and Italy 834 miles. But the UK is incapable of building even 200 miles.
• City of York Council’s plan to improve transport revealedYork council’s plan to improve transport infrastructure and reverse the ban on blue badge vehicles in the city centre is set to be approved.

Yorkshire Post

• Two disabled rail passengers apply for judicial review amid plans to close ticket officesTwo disabled rail passengers have applied for a judicial review of a consultation on controversial plans to close nearly all ticket offices in England.

Bucks Free Press

• Bucks MPs attack HS2 as Sunak axes northern leg of rail linkBuckinghamshire’s MPs have criticised HS2 after Rishi Sunak scrapped the northern leg of the high-speed rail link.

Cambridge News

• Cambridge MP says Ely Junction 'needs to happen' after HS2 leg scrappedDaniel Zeichner said he welcomed the news but "now it needs to happen"

Other Regional Press

• Government accused of ’misleading’ public over HS2 alternativeThe Government has been accused of “misleading” the public after an apparent pledge to reopen a railway line was dropped 24 hours later.
• Positives for electrifying North Wales railway lineBUSINESS leaders have hailed news that the North Wales main line is to be electrified as a "once-in-a-generation boost" for the region.
• Greater Anglia ramps up staffing at Stansted Airport station in response to feedbackGreater Anglia has made improvements across its network, including more staff at Stansted Airport’s station, in response to customer feedback.
• Plans submitted for EV chargers at depot for electric bus fleetPREPARATIONS for Warrington’s new electric bus fleet are well underway – and are progressing to the next stage.
• HS2 campaigner pinpoints moment it 'should have been scrapped'Peter Delow says the government's 11th hour move proves he and fellow campaigners were right about the project all along

Bus and Coach Buyer

• NatEx sees ’huge surge’ on Trans Pennine networkNational Express has announced what it describes as a huge surge in passengers travelling on its Trans Pennine coach network. The rise in patronage follows a boost to the number of services on the network in May this year.
• First Minister to discuss West Lothian service cancellationsHumza Yousaf, Scotland’s First Minister, is to discuss looming bus service cancellations in West Lothian.
• ’Roaring success’ at Oxford Tube as capacity to increaseStagecoach reports its Oxford Tube service is a ’roaring success’ and is to increase capacity. The boost to services will require more coaches added to the service.

New Civil Engineer

• East West Rail ponders innovations for ’faster and cheaper’ project deliveryA sustainable cable management system, 3D printed concrete and self-healing infrastructure were among the pitches heard by East West Rail (EWR) Co. at its supplier innovation event, as it looks to improve delivery and maintenance of the new Oxford to Cambridge railway.
• Sunak’s ’scorched earth’ slashing of HS2 means further legs will never be builtPrime minister Rishi Sunak’s “scorched earth” approach to cancelling High Speed 2 (HS2), including slashing Euston’s capacity and removing safeguards on the route, means that the northern legs of the high-speed network will never be built.

Rail Business Daily

• Breakdown of transport projects following the scrapping of HS2’s northern sectionThe government has outlined where the money saved from the scrapping of Phase 2 of the HS2 project will be used. Following yesterday’s announcement, Rishi Sunak says areas will benefit from new stations, reopened railway lines and revitalised roads in what he describes as a “major funding boost to create stronger public transport networks”.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Hydrogen rail project collaboration launched by Angel Trains and University of St AndrewsAngel Trains, the UK's largest rolling stock company, has partnered with the University of St Andrews to support an innovative hydrogen train project.

Railway Technology

• Rolling stock leaser acquires European loco leasing firm MRCEMRCE will be run as part of Beacon, although the future of staff and operations have not been made clear.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• ADL to take on new Scarborough warehouseAlexander Dennis (ADL) has announced it will lease a new 104,000 sq ft warehouse near its existing Scarborough site.
• Mellor plots £85 million turnover in 2023 under expansion pathMellor is projecting a turnover of over £85 million and an output of 900 vehicles in 2023 as part of what the Rochdale business calls “an accelerating path of expansion.”
• NatEx reveals big passenger increase on Transpennine routesNational Express has reported a 49% increase in passenger volume year-on-year over the last four months for certain of its coach services which have benefitted from Transpennine Express rail strikes.
• Buses ’across the country’ to benefit from HS2 decision, PM claimsAs expected, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has included bus services “across the country” as one of the beneficiaries of his decision to cancel the HS2 high-speed rail link north of the Midlands. That includes an extension of the £2 capped fare in England to the end of 2024 and a £700 million funding package for buses in the north of England and £230 million for the Midlands.

Other News Sources

• WLGA Calls for Fair Share of HS2 Savings to be Spent on Transport Projects in WalesReacting to today’s announcement by the Prime Minister, Cllr Andrew Morgan OBE, Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) Leader said:
• Welsh Transport Minister proposes new national standards for taxis and PHVs to tackle cross-borderIn a bid to address concerns raised by drivers and passengers alike, Welsh Transport Minister Lee Waters announced plans to introduce new national standards for taxis and private hire vehicles in Wales.
• Angel Trains supports next generation of scientists in changing the future of rail travelAngel Trains, the UK’s largest rolling stock company, has partnered with the University of St Andrews to support an innovative hydrogen train project, which could change the future of rail travel as we know it.
• French train manufacturer Alstom slides over 20% after cash flow downgradeShares of French train manufacturer Alstom plummeted up tp 35% on Thursday, according to LSEG data, after the company slashed its free cash flow forecast.
• Alstom reports drop in orders in first half of 2023-24 and negative outlookGrowth in order backlog and delays to Aventra programme negatively impact free cash flow causing Alstom’s share price to plunge.
• New mobile ticket to make bus travel in Glasgow 'easier' launchedA new mobile ticket to make bus travel 'easier' has just been launched.