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

Tuesday, 14 November 2023

BBC News

• Go North East bus strike skeleton service launchedA "skeleton" bus service has begun operating along some routes hit by an indefinite drivers' strike over pay.
• Derbyshire: Historic Grade II* rural railway station restoredOne of the earliest surviving examples of a rural railway station has been restored to its former glory.
• Dewsbury landslip-hit railway line reopensA railway line in West Yorkshire which was closed after a landslip has reopened, Network Rail confirmed.
• Costs of new Walsall rail stations set to rise by £15mThe cost of building two new railway stations in Walsall is set to rocket by more than £15m, developers say.
• Old Oak Common progresses amidst Euston uncertaintyWe are standing in a huge construction site, 16m (52ft) underground in Acton, north-west London, inside what is called "the box".
• Theale Station gets new footbridge in project 'landmark'A new footbridge has been installed at a train station as part of renovation works to make it completely accessible.

Financial Times

• Middle Eastern carriers place orders worth tens of billions of dollarsDeals for over 100 aircraft on first day of Dubai air show cement industry rebound despite regional tensions

The Mirror

• Northern leaders' crunch summit to thrash out new rail plans after HS2 fiascoA major meeting takes place today in Manchester where Northern business and transport leaders will discuss how they want the regional railway to look after the Tories' HS2 debacle

Local Government

• Get the bus for £1!Late night shopping in Freshney Place? Heading out for tea with friends? Watching that much-anticipated new film at the cinema? Get there for just £1 on the bus.
• Engagement announced for public transport improvements in BackwellLocal residents, community groups and businesses are being asked to put their views and comments forward to help shape plans for public transport design improvements for Backwell.

Birmingham Post

• Rolls-Royce completes Sustainable Aviation Fuel tests ahead of first transatlantic flight using 100% green fuelCEO Tufan Erginbilgic called it an 'important milestone for both Rolls-Royce and the wider aviation industry'

Wales Online

• People are having to quit their jobs because bus routes are being cutServices all across Wales are being cut but the disparity between extra government funding for trains and buses has been questioned

Doncaster Free Press

• Major upgrades to railway at Doncaster to deliver more reliable journey for passengersOn Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 November, engineers will be working at sites in Heck, near Selby, and Copmanthorpe, near York relaying close to two miles of track and making improvements to overhead electric wires and signalling equipment. This work will help to deliver more reliable and smoother journeys.

Other Regional Press

• Port of Southampton rail expansion is 'key target to reach net zero'A £17.5 million scheme to expand the rail terminal at the Port of Southampton has completed its second phase.
• Transport hub could come to Wrexham General stationThe public is asked to share views on a possible transformation of the area around Wrexham General Station into a transport hub.

Construction Enquirer

• Firms readied for £750m Wales & Western railway dealNetwork Rail has put firms on alert for an upcoming tender race for a Reactive and Minor Works framework renewal in the Wales & Western railway region.

New Civil Engineer

• Network Rail readies procurement for Wales and Western £750M minor works frameworkNetwork Rail has alerted contractors that it is looking to procure for a reactive and minor works framework in the Wales and Western region worth £750M.
• HS2 reveals digital innovations for efficient earthmoving and fresh concrete testing during transportEngineers on High Speed 2 (HS2) have revealed innovations that utilise on-machine technologies to improve earthmoving processes and allow real-time digital concrete testing during transportation.

Rail Advent

• Date Announced for Opening of London’s Newest Mainline StationSunday 10 December 2023 has been announced by Barnet Council as the date for the opening of Brent Cross West, London's newest mainline station.
• Network Rail: First Phase of Reliability Improvements completed in the West of EnglandNetwork Rail has confirmed the successful completion of the first phase of works in a wider half a million-pound project to improve reliability on the mainline between Yeovil Junction and Axminster in the West Country.

Rail Business Daily

• London Northwestern Railway welcomes Class 730 fleet into passenger serviceLondon Northwestern Railway (LNR) has introduced the first of its Class 730 electric train fleet into passenger service on the West Coast Main Line.
• Train firm awards £375,000 for community-led social and environmental projectsGovia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has awarded grants totalling £375,000 to 19 charities who are launching community projects in areas served by the train operator.
• Hitachi Rail: €861m deal with Trenitalia for 30 high speed trainsAs part of a major new order, Hitachi Rail has signed a contract worth €861 million with Trenitalia for the supply of 30 new ETR1000 high speed trains, with an option for a further ten trains for an additional €287 million.

The Business Desk

• Rail carriage painting firm facing uncertain futureA company which paints new rail carriages at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane site in Derby is facing an uncertain future.

Other News Sources

• Bus operator and Peterborough’s blind and partially sighted community tackle key issues at debateRepresentatives from Peterborough’s blind and partially sighted community have met with representatives from the wider region and the largest local bus operator at a ’round-table discussion’ to consider some of the key issues they face with public transport.
• £17m bus funding at risk say York GreensMore than a year since York formally established an ’Enhanced Bus Partnership’ to transform bus services in the city, the operational body in charge is failing to deliver key measures as we pass the half way point in the 3 year project, and risks wasting a large part of the £17m government funding according to Andy D’Agorne.
• 150 First Bus engineers dispute across Greater Glasgow resolved after pay dealUnite, Scotland’s leading trade union, confirmed today (Monday 13 November) that around 150 engineers who maintain and repair First Glasgow’s bus operations have secured a significant pay deal.
• New junior transport ministers confirmed in government reshuffleTwo new junior ministers have been confirmed at the Department for Transport as part of Rishi Sunak’s government reshuffle.
• UK almost halfway to net zero but buildings and transport among laggard sectors, says KPMGUK has failed to ramp up energy efficiency measures on level of European peers
• Transport Secretary Mark Harper takes a ride in a self-driving vehicleTransport Secretary Mark Harper takes a ride in a self-driving vehicle - video

News from Europe

• New Eurostar rivals could increase services and cut costs for travellersVirgin's Richard Branson will reportedly be the next to challenge Eurostar's 30-year monopoly on cross-Channel trains.