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

Tuesday, 09 January 2024

BBC News

• Refunds after delays on UK's first battery-powered trainsPassengers on the UK's first battery-powered trains are to get refunds over delays, the Liverpool City Region mayor has said.
• 20mph: Drakeford says confused drivers will not face 20mph fineEnforcement of the Welsh government's flagship 20mph policy begins on Monday.
• Where will all the electric cars be charged?Lamposts and mobile charging machines are being touted as the answer to charging electric cars.
• Union calls for urgent talks over Tube disputeTSSA calls on Transport for London to
• Boeing 737 Max 9: Two airlines find loose hardware in jet inspectionsBoth United Airlines and Alaska Airlines find loose hardware on jets after Friday's blow-out over Oregon.

Financial Times

• United and Alaska Airlines find loose parts on 737 MaxesDiscovery threatens wider crisis for aerospace group after plane suffered mid-air blowout
• Boeing's Alaska Airlines mid-air breach puts focus on its biggest supplierSpirit AeroSystems, which built door panel that blew out, is one of the largest suppliers of aircraft structures
• Ryanair boss calls on Boeing to improve quality control after mid-flight accident Michael O'Leary says manufacturing issues at US group and its rival Airbus will cut profits and put up fares

The Guardian

• United Airlines finds loose bolts on multiple Boeing 737 Max 9 planesAircraft model has been grounded after a panel blew off an Alaska Airlines-operated plane mid-flight on Saturday. United Airlines has found loose bolts and other 'installation issues'on multiple 737 Max 9 aircraft, it said on Monday, referring to the Boeing model that has been grounded after a panel blew off an Alaska Airlines-operated plane mid-flight over the weekend.

The Independent

• Loose bolts found on grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after Alaska Airlines incidentMore flights have been cancelled as a result

Daily Express

• 'Loose hardware' found on grounded Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 MAX planesAlaska Airlines has said disruption to flights will continue until at least the middle of the week after a mid-air blowout

Daily Record

• Edinburgh Airport 'hole on runway' causes delays for passengersOne anxious flyer said she was stuck on the airfield while workers worked to repair the hole.

Mail Online

• Sadiq Khan is accused of opening the door for MORE Tube strikes as senior people at TfL feel completely 'p****d off' after he found £30million from 'magic money tree' to halt this week's walkoutThe Labour Mayor of London is said to have angered Tube drivers from the Aslef union, who were told less than a month ago that there was no more money to fund pay rises.

Sky News

• Fears grow over Boeing 737-9 MAX airliners after more 'loose hardware' found on planesAlaska Airlines has said more "loose hardware" has been found on some of its Boeing 737-9 MAX fleet of aircraft.

Birmingham Mail

• British Airways 'sorry' after passengers left thousands out of pocket in payment error Some BA passengers have been mistakenly charged twice after booking flights and holidays through its website this month, the airline has confirmed.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bus station in Bradford Interchange remains closedAN update has been given as a part of the Bradford Interchange is set to remain closed for a fifth day.
• Bradford campaigner's concerns over self-driving carsA Bradford road safety campaigner has voiced concerns about self-driving cars - after a Government minister said they could be used in the UK in just two years.

Bristol Live

• Year-long roadworks on Bristol's Park Row to improve 'pointless' bike lane and safetyPedestrians and cyclists should find the route 'safer and more pleasant' once the 'ambitious' scheme is finished
• Marvin Rees urged to drop Bristol underground dream as it's 'completely unrealistic'Plans for a major public transport scheme in the Bristol region remain in limbo after veto

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Bridgnorth Cliff Railway hoping to reopen next month after being shut for over a yearBridgnorth Cliff Railway could soon be back up and running after being out of action for 14 months, the owner has said.

Bucks Free Press

• Major transport reforms underway for High Wycombe by 2050High Wycombe aspires to be "one of the best-connected towns in the Thames Valley" by 2050, according to Buckinghamshire Council.

Cambridge News

• Calls for government to fund major £162m transport project as it pushes Cambridge 2040 housing plansThousands of new homes cannot be built without addressing the city’s transport problems, says Greater Cambridge Partnership’s executive board

Lancashire Telegraph

• No promise on HS2 cash for East Lancs from Rishi SunakPrime Minister Rishi Sunak came to East Lancashire today and declined to commit the government to funding four major transport upgrades - but did promise to wear his seatbelt this time.

Oxford Mail

• Good causes are lining up to win Brand the Bus! competitionGood causes have this week left to enter Oxford Bus Company’s Brand the Bus! competition, to be in with a chance to have an electric double decker emblazoned in its branding

South Wales Argus

• Reaction to reopening of Cardiff Parkway planning hearingDEVELOPERS behind plans for a new railway station and business park on the outskirts of Newport have said they are disappointed with the delays in getting the project off the ground caused by the reopening of a planning hearing.

Other Regional Press

• Public asked for views on Greater Manchester's first new train station in 20 years as part of Bee NetworkTransport for Greater Manchester has launched a public forum for plans to build a new train station at Golborne. The consultation is hoped to collect views on station facilities and how it will be linked to the local area. 
• Largs and Garnock Valley: 'Bring bus stop timetables into digital age'The long-awaited installation of electronic timetable updates at local bus stops is a step closer, the News can reveal.
• Politicians move to quash rumours that rail line could be scrappedPoliticians have quashed rumours that plans to re-open the rail line from Oswestry to the mainline station at Gobowen have been pulled.
• Eurostar confirms no Kent stops in 2024Eurostar has announced its services to the continent will not return to Kent this year.

Train Operators

• Great Western Railway planning to restore direct Bristol-Oxford servicesGreat Western Railway is planning to run direct services between Bristol Temple Meads and Oxford for the first time in more than 20 years.

Calling All Stations - The Transport Podcast

• Welcoming 2024 with aviation safety, EV progress, bus headaches and New Year predictionsChristian and co-presenter Mark Walker examine a positive report on progress in jet airliner safety alongside extraordinary incidents in Tokyo and Portland [02:00]. We have an extended interview debunking myths about electric cars with Edmund King OBE, President of the AA [12:40] and explore the implications of a Daily Mirror report on the scale of bus service cuts across England [37:55]. Finally, 'Mystic Wolmar' stares into his crystal ball and makes predictions about the transport world for 2024 [43:44].

New Civil Engineer

• HS2 land unlikely to be sold before General ElectionSafeguarded land that was previously to be used for the construction of HS2 north of Birmingham is unlikely to be sold before a General Election, despite the government’s wishes to offload it.
• Another crack found in rail crossing on Reading to London Paddington lineAnother crack in the railway was found during the night of 7 January which led to the disruption of Great Western Railway (GWR) services on the morning of 8 January.
• UK government supporting £1bn export finance for Turkish high-speed rail projectThe UK government’s UK Export Finance (UKEF) agency has partnered with a range of credit providers to secure €1.2bn (£1bn) in financing for a 140km electrified high-speed rail project in Türkiye.

Rail Magazine

• Derby warning from Alstom MDTrain manufacturing at Derby will end forever at the end of January unless new orders are forthcoming, says Alstom UK and Ireland MD Nick Crossfield. Alstom UK is consulting to make 1,330 jobs redundant at its Litchurch Lane facility.

Railway Gazette

• Chiltern Railways seeks fleet proposalsUK: Chiltern Railways has invited proposals from established rolling stock owners for the lease and maintenance of between 25 and 70 existing vehicles to operate inter-city and regional services on the Chiltern Main Line between London Marylebone and Birmingham.

Railway Technology

• UK rail operator Govia awards $79m in dividends despite complaintsThe payment came despite recent challenges to the UK rail sector, including ongoing industrial action and widespread passenger dissatisfaction. 

road.cc

• Leaked documents suggest "low risk" of cyclist collisions at "floating bus stops", as blindness campaigners urge safety action on designThe infrastructure, which forces bus users to cross a cycle lane when boarding or alighting, has been criticised by some, leaked TfL meeting slides suggesting that floating bus stops might "feel dangerous" but there is a "low risk" of a collision...

Other News Sources

• Sadiq Khan defends more cash for London Underground staff as he's accused of 'caving in'TfL says it will now negotiate with unions with the £30 million reportedly provided by City Hall
• New half-hourly bus service linking Bedford and Stevenage to launch in FebruaryA new bus service is launching in mid-February to connect Bedford and Stevenage for the first time.
• Stratford rail travellers face more disruption despite U-turn on closing town ticket officeSTRATFORD railway station’s ticket office remains closed to travellers despite a government U-turn on plans to scrap ticketing officers across the country.
• Northern mayor pledges £1M from HS2 towards Tees tunnel studyTees Valley mayor Ben Houchen has pledged money saved from the cancelled leg of High Speed 2 (HS2) towards a feasibility study into a new eastern crossing on the River Tees.
• Nearly 3,500 passengers enjoy the King Alfred BusesAlmost 3,500 free tickets were issued to happy passengers who helped the Friends of King Alfred Buses (FoKAB) start the New Year in style.