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

Friday, 22 December 2023

BBC News

• Rail fares in England to rise by up to 4.9% in MarchRegulated train fares in England will rise by up to 4.9% from March, the Department for Transport has said.
• Rhondda railway line to Treherbert to reopen in FebruaryA south Wales railway line will finally reopen in February, 10 months after closing for improvements.
• New railway station work hits 'critical milestone'Work to build the first train station along the Great Eastern Railway in 100 years hit a "critical milestone", an MP said.
• Trains cancelled as overhead cables damagedDamage to overhead wires caused delays for rail commuters using the West Coast Mainline between Macclesfield and Stoke-on-Trent on Thursday morning.
• Rail passengers warned of disruption over ChristmasRail passengers are being urged to check their route before they travel over the festive period due to timetable changes and major engineering works.
• Inside the immersive simulator training Scotland's HGV driversThe innovative equipment has been launched to address a skills shortage in the transport industry.
• Translink: No bus or train services as workers go on strikeTranslink workers walk out for a fourth day this month as part of an ongoing dispute over pay.
• Strike that disrupted Eurotunnel and Eurostar endsDrive-on LeShuttle trains are resuming, while Eurostar passenger services restart on Friday.

ITV News

• Rail fares in England to increase by 4.9% next yearRail fares in England will increase by up to 4.9% from March 3 next year, the Department for Transport has said.

Department for Transport

• Significant intervention to cap rail fares comes as government delivers target to halve inflationFare increases capped at 4.9% and will not increase until 3 March 2024.

Financial Times

• Thousands of UK rail passengers face Christmas getaway chaosWest Coast mainline hit by storm while strike at Channel Tunnel forces Eurostar to cancel services

STV

• Christmas getaway journeys ruined as French strike stops cross-Channel trainsThe industrial action is affecting Eurostar and Eurotunnel Le Shuttle services.

The Guardian

• Rail fares in England to rise 4.9% in March; UK economy on brink of recession – business liveMore transport news: rail customers in England can expect many rail fares to rise by almost 5% next spring.
• Eurostar cancellations add to disruption on storm-hit rail networkPassengers are suffering fresh disruption in the Christmas getaway after severe weather left rail lines blocked around Britain, while a strike by French Eurotunnel workers has halted Eurostar trains and cross-Channel shuttle services.

The Independent

• Rail fares in England to rise by up to 4.9% in MarchJuly’s RPI measure of inflation, which is traditionally used to determine fare rises, was 9.0%.

The Telegraph

• The real reason behind your train delay – and how long you are going to have to wait. [subscription]From stolen cables to leaves on the tracks, Network Rail has a lot to contend with

Times Online

• UK motor industry speeds ahead as EU delays electric car tariffs. [subscription]Britain’s motoring sector has received two seasonal gifts: further evidence of continuing momentum in the recovery at the factory gate and news of a delay in post-Brexit tariffs for electric cars.

City AM

• All London Euston trains cancelled in day of rail Christmas chaos Passengers travelling through London Euston station today faced significant disruption after strong winds caused damage to overhead wires.
• British car industry reports best month since 2020 despite Brexit headwinds British car production got back to its best in November, reporting its best month of growth since 2020, new industry figures show.

The Mirror

• Train ticket prices to rise as huge rail fare increase confirmed in blow for passengersTrain travellers already faced a 5.9% rise in rail fares rise in England and Wales this March so the announcement will come as a blow to those who use rail services

Local Government

• Local bus services reviewed to secure long-term supportKey bus services that serve local communities in York are being reviewed and consulted on by City of York Council, to ensure support can continue longer-term.
• New bus service connects communities in North Lincolnshire and East YorkshireA new Sunday bus service is now running between Scunthorpe and Goole, connecting communities along the route.

Sky News

• Millions set to pay 'brutal' rail fare rise next yearThe government said the new 4.9% increase cap is less than this year's- but Labour called it another "brutal bumper rise".

Nation. Cymru

• Pressure mounts on Labour to promise Wales HS2 funding justicePressure is mounting on UK Labour to redesignate the high speed rail route HS2 as an “England-only” project if the party wins next year’s general election – a decision that could see Wales benefit by billions of pounds.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Rail fares in England to rise by up to 4.9% in March – Department for TransportJuly’s RPI measure of inflation, which is traditionally used to determine fare rises, was 9.0%.

Bucks Free Press

• Chiltern Railways travel warning ahead of ChristmasChiltern Railways has warned passengers of short notice cancellations during the festive period.

Sunderland Echo

• Sunderland Station not finished yet; but please lose the 'music'Sunderland's new £27million railway station finally is in use, but isn't complete.

Other Regional Press

• TfL says graffiti costs London Underground 'millions per year'Transport for London (TfL) has revealed the cost in money and to customers' journeys that graffiti on Tube trains creates. The authority says the vandalism forces trains out of service, causing delays.
• Eurotunnel strike ends – but M20 closure continues to wreak traffic havocA 15-mile section of the M20 remains closed after emergency measures were brought in following unexpected strike action at the Channel Tunnel.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• ’Ban coaches’ idea mooted by council leader in Bourton-on-the-Water crisisIn an interview on BBC local radio, the Cotswold District Council Leader has suggested that coaches could be excluded from Bourton-on-the-Water. Lib Dem Joe Harris claimed that the hotspot is ’over-touristed’ and should perhaps focus purely on visitors who come by car.
• InterChoice goes into liquidationA Wolverhampton coach operator has gone into liquidation, apologising to his customers and suppliers for money owed.
• FlixBus gives drivers festive treatsFlixBus has been busy sharing gifts with drivers today at Victoria Coach Station. The lucky drivers have been given branded goodies, chocolates, Christmas crackers and Christmas cards filled with passenger comments.
• Over 6m more bus journeys reported by First West of EnglandFirst West of England has reported over six million extra journeys in 2023.
• Welsh government to provide £120m of bus supportThe Welsh Government has today announced that it will protect revenue support for the nation’s bus network as part of its draft Budget announcement. It is to ensure that more than £120m of support will be invested in bus services in 2024/25.

New Civil Engineer

• Minister promises completion of £3.7bn A9 dualling by 2035Scottish Government highways chief Mairi McAllan has promised the long-running £3.7bn A9 dualling programme will be completed within 12 years.

Rail Advent

• Tesco wins rail awards from Logistics UKLogistics UK has announced the winners of its seventh annual Logistics Awards, with rail industry winners featuring alongside those from the road, sea and air industries.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• First West of England welcomes 15% patronage riseFirst West of England has reported a 15% year-on-year increase in patronage across its network for 2023.
• TfWM fast-tracks Birmingham bus lanesPlans to install bus lanes in Birmingham have been accelerated in a bid for them to be completed before a major long-term road closure.
• Coach and bus industry in 2024: How much better will it be?The curtain will soon fall on the industry’s 2023. A year that for coach saw the continuation of a rebound which looks likely to continue in 2024. For bus, the book closes on a period where well-overdue stability started to return, although the long-term position has still not crystalised for England, Scotland or Wales.
• Bus funding in Scotland and Wales broadly protected for 2024-25Government bus service funding for FY2024-25 in Scotland and Wales has broadly been protected by those nations’ respective devolved administrations in their draft budgets, both of which were published on 19 December.
• Operators call for better coach parking at key sitesSector wants additional recognition of the importance of coach tourism for the environment and local economies

Trafnidiaeth Cymru [Transport for Wales]

• Reopening the Treherbert railway lineThe Treherbert railway line will reopen to passengers in February 2024, following a huge upgrade as part of the South Wales Metro project.  

Urban Transport Group

• Urban Transport Group to act as Secretariat on independent Rail and Urban Transport ReviewThe Urban Transport Group will act as the Secretariat for a new independent Rail and Urban Transport Review, led by industry heavyweight Juergen Maier CBE.

Other News Sources

• More misery for commuters as rail fares to rise by almost 5% next yearRegulated rail fares in England will increase by up to 4.9% from next year, the Department for Transport has said.