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

Wednesday, 06 December 2023

BBC News

• Ipswich Buses extends service cuts due to driver shortageA bus company has confirmed cuts to services will continue into the new year due to driver shortages.
• Lack of disabled access at Essex station dubbed 'a disgrace'An MP has dubbed the lack of disabled access at a city railway station an "absolute disgrace".
• Airline adverts banned over 'greenwashing' claimsThe ASA said Air France, Lufthansa and Emirates had misled customers over their environment impact
• Train strikes: When are the walkouts in December?Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express, SWR and Island Line are affected by the walkouts.

Department for Transport

• International rail freight: UK border requirements and processesCustoms and security requirements for rail freight movements entering or leaving the UK.

Financial Times

• Brussels proposes 3-year delay to EV sales tariffs between UK and EUBritish government argued that duties would heap excessive costs on carmakers

The Guardian

• Air France, Lufthansa and Etihad ads banned for misleading claimsUK advertising watchdog says firms could not corroborate claims on environmental impact of air travelAdverts from Air France, Lufthansa and Etihad have been banned by the UK's ad regulator due to concerns they have misled customers about the environmental impact of air travel.The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned three adverts identified in July using artificial intelligence that suggested flights operated by leading airlines were sustainable.
• Record number of fossil fuel lobbyists get access to Cop28 climate talksUAE-hosted summit admitted at least 2,456 people affiliated with oil and gas industries, analysis findsSee all our Cop 28 coverage. At least 2,456 fossil fuel lobbyists have been granted access to the Cop28 climate negotiations, according to an analysis.The figure calculated by the Kick Big Polluters Out (KBPO) coalition is a record number that raises further questions about the fossil fuel industry's influence over this year's UN summit, which is being run by the president of the United Arab Emirates national oil company.

Times Online

• The flying taxi that’s about to hit the skies. [subscription]No one knows what your first trip in a scheduled air taxi will look like. But here is one possible scenario.
• Brexit tariff reprieve for electric cars. [subscription]British car manufacturers are to be given a three-year reprieve from Brexit tariffs on electric vehicle exports to the EU, hours after new figures showed sales of battery-powered vehicles fell by almost a fifth last month.

City AM

• Airlines slapped down by ads watchdog over greenwashing claims Adverts for Air France, Lufthansa and Etihad have been banned for giving consumers a misleading impression of the airlines environmental credentials.

Local Government

• Councils join forces to provide vital 126 bus between Wells and Weston-super-MareAn essential bus service linking Wells to Weston-super-Mare will run again in the new year thanks to a partnership between North Somerset Council and Somerset Council.

Network Rail

• Landslip at Crewkerne closes railway between Salisbury and Exeter until MondaySouth Western Railway (SWR) services between Salisbury and Exeter will remain unable to run until Monday morning while the railway is closed to allow Network Rail engineers to repair a landslip at Crewkerne Tunnel.
• Station repairs and track upgrades in the North West this ChristmasHundreds of rail engineers will make improvements to key rail routes in the North West this Christmas to improve future journeys for passengers and freight.

Birmingham Post

• BAE Systems to create 2,700 apprentice and graduate roles in 2024The group builds submarines, fighter jets and ships and has bases across the country
• On The Beach hails Ryanair court win and slams airlines for ‘anti-competitive behaviours’Travel giant calls for regulation of sector

Bristol Live

• Dan Norris 'unlawful' bus images had to be so big because 'it's a big bus', metro mayor saysNew date set for council leaders to decide if West of England mayor should face punishment

Other Regional Press

• Coach driver: ˜Silent electric buses on new two-way road could kill someonePedestrians could be knocked down and killed by silent lectric buses if a new contraflow system is introduced in a town, a coach driver fears.
• Electric buses could hit the streets of Nuneaton and Bedworth as part of Warwickshire fund bidA bid is being made for government cash for towards securing Warwickshire-wide provision of all-electric specification buses
• Cycleway plan for Foleshill Road as people say 'too many cars' in areaCoventry city council have shared details of the £4.5 million plans for the road

Bus and Coach Buyer

• Go-Ahead teams with Google for payment managementThe Go-Ahead Group is teaming up with Google to introduce a new feature aimed at enhancing the customer experience for bus travel.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Uber's partners with London Black CabsIn early 2024 Uber is set to launch Black Cabs in London as drivers can now sign up to the platform. The hackney carriage is considered iconic in London being somewhat of a symbol of the city and is very popular with tourists being a historic part of the transport network. Andrew Brem, General Manager of Uber UK, said: “We’re partnering with taxi drivers across the world and the message we are hearing from them is clear – Uber and taxis are better together.

Coach and Bus Week

• Bus use up by 19.3% in EnglandThe number of bus journeys in England rose by almost a fifth in England, compared to a 29% rise in Scotland, in the period to March 2023, latest DfT figures show

New Civil Engineer

• Plans for £360M Lincolnshire highways investment while Balfour extends maintenance contractPlans are in place for a £360M investment for improvements and major projects on Lincolnshire’s highways, while Balfour Beatty has signed a new £330M highways maintenance contract with the county council.
• Decisions are needed now to deliver best value out of revised HS2 lineWhile a lot of attention has been paid to how the money due to be spent on Phase 2 of HS2 will be reallocated to projects under the banner of Network North, construction on the Phase 1 section from Old Oak Common in west London…

Rail Advent

• Transport Committee to investigate uncertainty in train manufacturingTomorrow, Wednesday, 6 December, the Transport Committee will be investigating the uncertainty in the train manufacturing sector and follows the news that Alstom may make a large number of staff redundant at its factory in Derby.

Rail Business Daily

• ORR: New East Linton railway station ready to openThe Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has authorised into service the new East Linton railway station ahead of its expected opening on 13 December.
• Driving innovation in railway training and assessmentIn a development that underscores the commitment of The Rail Academy to revolutionising safety critical operator training in the railway industry, the organisation has recently achieved OFQUAL accreditation for Level 3 train driver end-point assessments. RBD spoke to Cath Bellamy, Managing Director of The Rail Academy, to discuss this achievement and the innovative approach that sets The Rail Academy apart from the competition in the field of end-point assessments.

Rail UK

• Airborne bridges and railway revamps in the Midlands this ChristmasMajor upgrades to the railway this Christmas and New Year will see a new platform bridge lifted in Lichfield, vital trackside equipment upgraded in Birmingham and work continuing on HS2.

Railway Gazette

• Rail Charging Facility to enable battery trains to use local power suppliesUK: Porterbrook has announced a £1·7m deal with Siemens Mobility to purchase a Rail Charging Converter, a modular and containerised system developed to enable a battery-powered train to be recharged from standard local power supply cables in places where 25 kV 50 Hz overhead electrification is not available.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• The electrifying opportunities for buses in 2024As we stand on the cusp of 2024, the electric mobility revolution feels like it has finally gained unstoppable momentum. With vehicle sales worldwide growing exponentially due to falling costs, improving technology, and serious government support in several markets, we will reach a real tipping point in the year ahead.

Other News Sources

• Biden administration pledges $6 billion to a pair of high-speed electric rail routes in the US WestSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Biden administration on Tuesday said it will give more than $6 billion to a pair of high-speed electric rail routes in the U.S. West, injecting new life into long-stalled projects hailed by supporters as the future of public transportation but bemoaned by critics for their high price tags and lengthy construction times.
• TfL launches two more Superloop London bus routes with Harrow and Walthamstow getting new servicesTransport for London has launched two fresh bus routes following the success of Superloop. The express SL10 route between Harrow and West Finchley has begun operating, while SL1 journeys between North Finchley and Walthamstow Central will kickstart on Saturday (December 9).