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

Wednesday, 29 November 2023

Cogitamus

• Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 8, Season 2Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker delve into the details of UK parliamentary bills covering automated vehicles [1:40] and pedicabs [11:42] and reveal why legislation on railways in Great Britain won’t get beyond the draft stage [17:15].  Picking up on the recent UK Government ministerial reshuffle, Christian and Mark look at the biographies and responsibilities of […] The post Calling All Stations with Christian Wolmar, Episode 8, Season 2 appeared first on Cogitamus.

BBC News

• Wales 20mph speed limit: Road's eight changes in two milesThe 1.8 mile stretch of road includes a 30mph section that is only 520ft long.
• Cardiff: Roads reopen after suspected bomb alertBomb disposal experts were called to the scene and a 200m police cordon was in place.
• Groundbreaking transatlantic flight using greener fuel lands in the USVirgin Atlantic is flying the first big passenger plane using 100% alternative fuels from London to New York.
• Saudi investment fund to buy 10% stake in Heathrow airportSpanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial agreed to sell its 25% stake, held since 2006, for £2.4bn.

Financial Times

• EasyJet swings to profit and reinstates dividend as travel demand soarsLow-cost carrier warns Mideast war would have an impact on 2024 results
• First transatlantic flight powered by cooking and animal fats lands in New YorkAviation industry hails milestone but green campaigners question whether alternative fuels are sustainable
• Uber courts London's black-cab drivers in push to expand servicesRide-hailing company hopes to register enough cabbies to start a new option in the UK capital

The Guardian

• First transatlantic flight using 100% sustainable jet fuel takes offVirgin Atlantic flight, partly funded by UK government, hailed by ministers but criticised by campaignersCan UK's 'jet zero' hopes take off with a plane fuelled by used cooking oil?The first transatlantic flight by a commercial airliner fully powered by 'sustainable' jet fuel has taken off from London Heathrow.Tuesday's'Virgin Atlantic flight, partly funded by the UK government, has been hailed by the aviation industry and ministers as a demonstration of the potential to significantly cut net carbon emissions from flying, although scientists and environmental groups are extremely sceptical. Co...

The Herald

• easyJet expands in Glasgow as it roars back into profitSHARES in easyJet closed up 4% last night after the airline roared back into profit and announced a further expansion of its presence at Glasgow Airport, while rewarding investors with the resumption of dividend payments.
• ScotGov's delivery of new wave of ferries put back more than two yearsThe Scottish Government has come under fire after insisting the delivery of crucial ferries was on schedule as it emerged it has been delayed by more than two years since 2021.

The Independent

• Government's mixed messages risk stalling financial sector on net zero - MPsThe Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) warned progress made at Cop26 in Glasgow could be undone.
• Uber to start offering black cab journeys in London for first time as it recruits 'hundreds' of taxi driversGroup representing drivers accuses Uber of 'trying to capitalise on success' of iconic black cabs
• British commuters still prefer cars to public transport as UK cities lag behind Europe, study findsStudy estimates that if Liverpool were more like Leipzig there would 33,000 fewer workers commuting by car or taxi

Times Online

• EasyJet brings back dividend after swinging into profit [subscription]EasyJet has resumed dividend payments after three years as it delivered its first annual profit since the pandemic.
• Ferrovial sells its 25% stake in Heathrow for £2.4bn [subscription]The Spanish infrastructure company Ferrovial has sold its 25 per cent stake in Heathrow airport to a French private equity group and Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund for £2.37 billion.
• Rolls-Royce chief targets £500m savings in turnaround plans [subscription]Rolls-Royce has set out ambitious financial targets and plans to raise up to £1.5 billion through offloading businesses as its new chief executive seeks to accelerate the revival of the aerospace engineer.

This is Money

• Easyjet hands £34m divi to shareholders after Covid-19 hiatusThe budget airline said it will hand shareholders £34m - a final dividend of 4.5p per share - after returning to the black having made more than £2bn of losses over the previous three years.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Lorry braking suddenly could have 'unzipped' Menai bridge and caused 'catastrophic loss of life'Engineers made the scary discovery while searching old records for specifications
• Transport for Wales announces new trains and extra services for passengersThe new investment comes at a time that the operator has been under-fire for its poor service

Liverpool Echo

• Drivers warned over Highway Code rule as temperatures plummetDrivers need to take extra care when it comes to leaving for their journey

Manchester Evening News

• Calls for 'bus renaissance' to replace 'crumbling' system as figures show shocking decline in services'There has been a silent war on bus users for over a decade'

Northern Echo

• Devolution for York and North Yorkshire comes a step closerA major step towards securing more decision-making powers and millions of pounds in funding from the Government will ensure wide-ranging benefits for hundreds of thousands of residents and businesses become a reality, North Yorkshire Council's leader has said.

The York Press

• Police warning as snow and ice force North Yorkshire road closuresSnow and ice force road closures in North Yorkshire.

Wales Online

• Rail electrification between Cardiff and Swansea 'back on the table', says council leader The case for electrification, which was ditched six years ago, has never gone away says transport expert

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Airline to start new flights early from Birmingham AirportAirline easyJet is opening its new three-aircraft operation from Birmingham Airport early.

Cambridge News

• The Cambridgeshire roads where lower speed limits, one-way systems and traffic bans are being consideredCycle routes could be introduced as part of a series of trials. The measures could also become permanent.

Other Regional Press

• easyJet has big update on flights from Birmingham to Tenerife, Barcelona, Alicante, Malaga and lots moreThe airline, has announced today it will be opening its new three-aircraft Birmingham base earlier than planned
• Scrapping HS2 could mean trains to Hythe could come backCampaigners say the government's decision to scrap part of the controversial HS2 project could mean trains to and from Hythe could be reintroduced.
• Cracked rails found on three Oxfordshire GWR routesDamaged rails were found in three areas of the Great Western line running through Oxfordshire in the space of one week.
• Chiltern Railways warns of disruptions due to rail strikesChiltern Railways has warned passengers of expected service disruption from upcoming ASLEF union action.
• Abingdon cycle route could be improved with £2.4m fundApproval has been given for a £2.4 million funding bid for new cycling routes which would 'transform the centre of Abingdon for the better.'

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Worlds first Sustainable Aviation Fuel flight takes off from LondonVirgin Atlantic used 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on a Boeing 787 taking off from London Heathrow to New York JFK. This is a world first on 100% SAF by a commercial Arline across the Atlantic made possible by Virgin Atlantic-led consortium, including Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Imperial College London, University of Sheffield, ICF and Rocky Mountain Institute, in partnership with Department for Transport. SAF plays a significant role in the net zero future in the process of decarbonising aviation and hitting targets by 2050. The fuel is made from waste products delivering CO2 lifecycle sav...

Railnews

• Lobby group steps up support for private sector rail The lobbying group Rail Partners has made a new bid to get the private sector more involved in operating passenger railways. Although the Government appears to be sympathetic, the Labour Party has said it would move towards a 'publicly-owned railway' in England if it gains power at the next General Election. Rail Partners is now calling for more open access operators to be permitted, such as Grand Central, Hull Trains and Lumo. The Office of Rail and Road has already approved an application by Grand Union Trains to operate five trains a day between London, Cardiff and Carmarthen.

Other News Sources

• Network Rail tenders £1.1bn eastern civils and buildings frameworkNetwork Rail has invited companies to bid for a £1.1bn framework for reactive and small scheme works that cover its building and civil assets within the eastern region over five years.
• Network Rail tenders £1.1bn eastern civils and buildings frameworkNetwork Rail has invited companies to bid for a £1.1bn framework for reactive and small scheme works that cover its building and civil assets within the eastern region over five years.
• Herefordshire commits to 20mph policy with £100,000 spendHerefordshire is pushing ahead with plans to increase the use of 20mph zones on the county's roads with a £100,000 investment in working up the policy.
• Hundreds more bicycle parking spaces planned for BrightonMore than one hundred resident bicycle hangars have now been installed across the city.