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

Saturday, 09 December 2023

BBC News

• Heritage group seeks £6m to double size of Wirral Transport MuseumA heritage organisation has sought £6m in funding to "completely transform" and double the size of a museum.
• Barmouth Viaduct officially reopens after £30m restorationBuilt in 1867, Barmouth Viaduct is Britain's longest wooden railway bridge.
• Nextbike Cardiff: Bike sharing scheme scrapped due to theftMore than 3,000 bikes have been stolen or vandalised since the scheme began, says operator Nextbike.
• Could Labour plans mean a sea change for shipbuilding in Scotland?Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves is opening the door to more ships being built in Scottish yards.

Department for Transport

• Network Rail (Tackley level crossing): Transport and Works Act orderApplication for approval to acquire land and close Tackley level crossing as part of the Oxford Phase 2A enhancement works TWA application.

Financial Times

• Heathrow airport explores options for smaller expansionFocus on cheaper improvements rather than third runway being considered as new chief launches review
• Global pre-Christmas trade at risk from twin canal crisesDrought in Panama and shipping attacks near Suez threaten supply chains at festive season

The Guardian

• Watchdog calls for investigation after thousands trapped in trains in LondonNetwork Rail’s chief executive, on board one of the stranded trains, describes it as a ’painful experience’

Times Online

• The bus took 11 minutes before LTNs — now it takes 45. [subscription]Cycle lanes and low-traffic zones have been blamed for making bus travel a misery. Mutinous drivers are on the verge of strikes

Office of Rail and Road (ORR)

• The Rail and Road Pod Episode 19: authorisations - giving the green lightIn this episode, we take a look at our role in helping stations and trains into service

Sky News

• All aboard: Can we decarbonise rail freight? Shipping our heavy goods around the world is a huge carbon emitter.

Birmingham Post

• Hundreds of jobs saved as companies making police cars, buses and hearses are bought from administrationFive businesses from the WN Vtech Group rescued by Belgian entrepreneur Guido Dumarey

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• 'No plans' to introduce emissions based parking chargesBradford Council has “no plans” to introduce higher parking charges for more polluting vehicles.

Liverpool Echo

• I took the first night bus from Liverpool city centre and now I won't get an Uber againECHO reporter Dan Haygarth put the new N1 service to the test

London Evening Standard

• Elizabeth line: Network Rail boss apology to passengers in Paddington chaos after over 24 hours of disruptionThe head of Network Rail has apologised for the industry “letting down” thousands of passengers who were trapped on trains in west London - as he revealed he was on board one of the stricken services.

Manchester Evening News

• 'I tested the Bee Network from town to the edge of the region - and arrived over two hours later'The Bee Network was launched in September - bringing buses back under local authority control

Cambridge News

• New 20mph zone in Soham sees final decision delayed by Cambridgeshire County CouncilCambridgeshire County Council has said it is considering its next steps after delaying a decision on whether to introduce a 20mph speed limit across Soham

Other Regional Press

• New data shows how Shropshire bus services have deteriorated over the last ten years - and it makes for shocking readingThe number of miles covered by bus services in Shropshire has fallen by two-thirds over the last decade. This is a figure heavy report, but bear with us because the numbers are astonishing.
• Why I am not happy with Hereford transport hub plansFURTHER to your request for comments on the proposed transport hub in last week’s edition, I now understand that Network Rail intends to install a lockable gate between the station and the bus waiting room to allow their rail replacement vehicles to park outside the station.

Calling All Stations - The Transport Podcast

• How close are we to guilt-free flying, a more perfect Union and prosperous railways?Christian interviews the Aviation Environment Federation's Tim Johnson about just how green the first trans-Atlantic commercial flight using Sustainable Aviation Fuel really was [2:40]. Mark Walker and Christian discuss the rail, road and aviation measures contained in the UK Government's response to the Union Connectivity Review [24:14]. Our co-presenters also look at what rail patronage numbers in Great Britain say about post-pandemic recovery [36:53]. Finally, Christian asks what a recent legal decision on 'defeat devices' may expose about cheating on vehicle emissions [46:15].

Rail Business Daily

• TPE Reconnects West Yorkshire with Direct Rail Service After Half a CenturyFrom Monday 11 December, the second platform at Castleford railway station comes back online, allowing Transpennine Express (TPE) to run services between York – Castleford – Wakefield Kirkgate – Huddersfield – Manchester Piccadilly.
• Three new battery-only Revolution Very Light Rail vehiclesInnovative new lightweight passenger trains that will help decarbonise Britain’s railways are to be trialled after a new deal was announced.
• Transport for Wales service level increase update Transport for Wales will now increase train service frequency on its Liverpool – Chester route (via Liverpool Airport), and on the Ebbw Vale branch, in January 2024.

Railway Technology

• Hitachi Rail recognised as first company to track train’s ethical life cycleJapanese rolling stock manufacturer Hitachi Rail has announced a Social Product Declaration (SPD) which will allow for tracking the “ethical life cycles” of its trains.

Other News Sources

• 'It's impossible!' Bridgnorth Cliff Railway owner rules out reopening in time for ChristmasThe owner of the Bridgnorth Cliff Railway has ruled out reopening the stricken attraction in time for Christmas as "impossible" with the amount of work left to do.
• Network Rail chief admits 'service has gone backwards' after 'painful experience' being stuck on west London trainThe head of Network Rail, who was among thousands of passengers stuck on stranded west London trains on Thursday night, has admitted that "customer service has gone backwards".
• Network Rail to begin bridge works ahead of East Kilbride electrification projectNetwork Rail and Story Contracting will begin work on three rail bridges in the Hairmyres as part of the East Kilbride enhancement project.