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

Monday, 18 December 2023

Cogitamus

• Serious rather than magical thinking needed for rail in 2024Policy towards the rail industry appears to be at one with the wider malaise that reflects a tired, divided and demoralised government, bereft of ideas. The effect is the reverse of the Midas touch; everything the Department for Transport touches seems to turn to dross. High Speed 2 is of course a prime example.

BBC News

• Derby City Council to make zero-emission buses funding bidPlans have been drawn up to replace a city's diesel buses with new zero-emission vehicles.
• Plans for Pop cards to be used on North East busesA London-style ticketing system for the North East will be tested in the next year.
• Cornish train technician's 'sublime' sunrise shot makes calendar coverA train maintenance technician who photographs sunrises in his spare time has said being the cover star of a rail operator's calendar left him shocked.
• Shetland is first UK spaceport for vertical rocket launchesSaxaVord Spaceport on the island of Unst has been given approval from the Civil Aviation Authority.
• Network Rail manager for stranded passenger line quitsPassengers were stuck in cold and dark carriages for hours recently after overhead electric cables were damaged.

The Guardian

• Bollards and superblocks: how Europe's cities are turning on the carIn Paris, Barcelona and Brussels, authorities are adopting varied approaches to the task of reducing congestion and pollutionMost of Europe's cities were not designed for cars. Their streets were once a place for a host of varied human activities: working, trading, socialising, playing. Getting from A to B, other than on foot, was a small part of the mix.The arrival of the car in large numbers on European roads ended that in the 1950s. Streets were now for traffic, which must reach its destination as fast as possible and have somewhere to park once it gets there. Cities changed, radically.

The Telegraph

• Rishi Sunak personally intervened to save his helicopter transport. [subscription]The Prime Minister personally intervened to prevent the scrapping of a contract providing VIP helicopter transport for himself and senior ministers.

Times Online

• Network Rail manager resigns after passengers stranded on trains [subscription]A Network Rail manager has resigned after passengers were left stranded for hours near London Paddington earlier this month.
• Islanders demand £33,000 a day for reduced ferry service. [subscription]Islanders facing a cut in ferry services are demanding tens of thousands of pounds in compensation for “financial, reputational and emotional” damage.

Daily Record

• Shetland site becomes UK's first licensed spaceport for vertical rocket launchesSaxaVord Spaceport on Unst has been granted the licence by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), paving the way for its first launches in 2024.

Mail Online

• Greyhound bus network in crisis as scores of stations close across the country, threatening transport options for 60 million people who rely on intercity coachesBus passengers are being kicked to the curb as intercity terminals shutter and are replaced by inaccessible, out of town, roadside stops, leaving the network in crisis. 
• Electric car charging station refused planning permission as locals fear it would become a hotspot for crime, sex work and doggersOsprey Charging wanted to build 16 rapid charging points beside the motorway on land south of Tinwell Road, in Stamford.

Sky News

• Network Rail manager quits £330K job after thousands of passengers stranded on trains for hoursA Network Rail manager has resigned after thousands of passengers were stuck on cold, dark trains for hours in west London.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Flying Scotsman's future being 'carefully considered' by NRMA York Museum has provided an update about one of its prize locomotives ahead of its centenary celebrations.

London Evening Standard

• Sadiq Khan's transport plans face rethink after Government approves only half of mayor's £500m 'wish list'Sadiq Khan is expected to have to abandon some transport projects after receiving only half the investment funding he requested from the Government.

Nation. Cymru

• Wales and Western Network Rail manager resigns after passengers left stranded near PaddingtonA Network Rail manager has resigned after passengers were left stranded for more than three hours near London Paddington earlier this month.

Bucks Free Press

• Driving in bus lane offence not enforced councilMotorists who drive in bus lanes are not currently being fined, Buckinghamshire Council has admitted as it is not enforcing the offence.

Burnley Express

• Upgrades to Leeds and Liverpool canal towpath in BurnleyMajor works to upgrade a waterside walkway through Burnley town centre have finished.

South Wales Argus

• No priority for new Magor 'Walkway' station councillors toldHOPES for a new train station to relieve traffic on the M4 are tied to others proposed for the South Wales Mainline, councillors have heard. 

Other Regional Press

• Heartsease roundabout revamp land deal boost for cyclistsThe controversial revamp of Norwich's Heartsease roundabout will now feature a cycle track which runs separately from the footpath, after council bosses snapped up extra land.
• New Cycle Route Across the Yorkshire Coast Planned for Next YearTwo of the UK’s leading adventure cyclists are gearing up to road test the Yorkshire Coast’s new cycle touring route today
• Rail replacements running on main routes due to 'train crew unavailability'The Lancashire services are disrupted until the end of the day due to staffing issues, Northern Rail said
• Use or lose it campaign by MP Ian Liddell-Grainger to save Wiveliscombe's No 25 bus serviceA ’SAVE the No 25’ campaign has been launched by MP Ian Liddell-Grainger, who fears Wiveliscombe could lose its bus service when a subsidy ends next year.
• Somerton station to be UK’s first battery train hubA new rail station in Somerset could revolutionise green transport by offering recharging facilities for battery trains, electric cars and buses
• Nottinghamshire upgrades with HS2 cash criticised as ’designed in London’One of the proposals is to extend the Nottingham tram system to serve Gedling and beyond Clifton South
• Crackdown to protect staff on Scottish trainsA £1.6m crackdown has been launched on abuse suffered by transport staff across Scotland. Coinciding with the Christmas party season, which can see a rise in abuse on the rail network, there have been new commitments to protect staff and the public.

Rail Advent

• One month to give views on South East Wales stations and services planTransport for Wales (TfW) is reminding residents that they have one more month to respond to a consultation on its plans for five new railway stations in South East Wales and better cross-border train services.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Coach and bus policy: Some progress in 2023, but more to doThe start of 2023 brought much anticipation about key moves from government around zero-emission coach and bus policy. While progress has been made, notable expectations have not come to fruition, to the disappointment of many in the sector.
• The challenge of making bus services available to allDisability access is a well-known issue for operators, but we also touch on two lesser-considered types of bus users — cyclists and dog owners
• Graham Vidler: Bus’s role in reducing transport povertyImproving public transport can make a real difference to household finances, writes Confederation of Passenger Transport President Graham Vidler

Other News Sources

• Ledbury Town Council to provide more funding for bus routeThe town council has pledged more support for a community-run bus route - but will ask businesses to help fund next year’s Christmas lights.
• Scotland flights: Glasgow airline Loganair in key moveScottish airline Loganair has appointed Chris Gemmell, who was most recently finance director for the Caledonian Sleeper rail operation, as its new chief financial officer.