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

Thursday, 11 January 2024

BBC News

• Reading bus lanes set for green light despite oppositionPlans to introduce six new bus lanes on key routes in Reading are set to be approved, despite criticism from local businesses.
• Road accidents still linked to deprivation, TfL tool showsPeople from the most deprived postcodes had double the risk of people from the least.
• HS2 to Birmingham may cost £65bn, railway boss saysSir Jonathan Thompson says inflation has added up to £10bn to cost of London to Birmingham stretch.

Financial Times

• Don't mourn the hyperloop the train trumps it every timeAttempts to shorten journeys such as that from Paris to London are exciting, but ultimately not worth striving for
• Start of train drivers strike adds to German transport disruptionThree-day walkout follows week of action from farmers blocking motorways and cities
• Cathay Pacific struggles to put its troubles behind it Airline beset by acute pilot shortages, flight cancellations and poor staff morale
• Grounded Boeing planes won't return to service until they are safe, official saysUS transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg says he has spoken with chief executive following 737 Max door panel mishap

The Guardian

• HS2: true cost of London-Birmingham line is more like £66bn, boss admitsInflation means project £8bn-£10bn more expensive than 2019 estimate, MPs told. The estimated cost of the HS2 line from London to Birmingham has ballooned to as much as £66bn, the scheme's executive chair has told MPs. Jon Thompson told the transport select committee on Wednesday that the current estimate for the first phase of the line could add between £8bn and £10b to the current top-end estimate of £56.6bn.

Times Online

• Urgent HS2 talks over shorter trains that mean fewer seats. [subscription]New trains will be 60m shorter than the Avanti ones already running on the west coast mainline
• Tube fares could rise and fall in line with demand to tackle WFH effect. [subscripton]Sadiq Khan is looking at ’dynamic pricing’ to get more people using London Underground as commuter levels drop on pre-pandemic levels

City AM

• Mobico: National Express owner revs up a gear as shares rebound on Cosmen family backing National Express owner Mobico may be turning a corner. Shares rallied 30 per cent in the last month after the Cosmen's upped their stake.

Daily Record

• Freezing passengers demand action over Scotrail service branded 'Polar Express'Punters have been lining up to complain about the temperatures on the Oban to Glasgow service.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bradford Interchange: Bosses silent on station speculationBosses at Yorkshire Combined Authority are refusing to be drawn on speculation over the roof at Bradford Interchange's bus station.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Welsh councils draw up lists of roads to return to 30mph because 20mph 'doesn't feel right' Deputy minister for climate change Lee Waters also said they are considering further tweaks to the guidance for councils on exceptions

Manchester Evening News

• Andy Burnham is working with private companies on an alternative HS2 planThe plan could keep the high-speed rail link to Manchester alive

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• MP slams 'disastrous' rail plans that could cut number of trains stopping in NorthumberlandIan Lavery has urged the Government to intervene in rail industry proposals which could result in fewer services stopping at stations such as Berwick and Morpeth
• Bedlington and Bebside railway stations could open six months after rest of Northumberland LineBedlington and Blyth Bebside could open much later than the rest of the stations

Northern Echo

• Tyne and Wear Metro slums to lowest number of on time trainsJust 61% of Metro trains turned up as scheduled in the four weeks to December 9.
• Plans for new bypass road to A19 in Hartlepool approvedProposals were submitted to Hartlepool Borough Council planning department last year for the construction of a new “grade separated” junction linked to the A19.

Sheffield Star

• Sheffield transport: Seven major 'let downs' that harmed South Yorkshire including axing HS2Expert speaks out after Grant Shapps, then transport secretary, in 2020 pledged £500m to re-open railway lines and stations.

The York Press

• Hundreds have say on York's transport problems in major consultationHundreds have say on York's transport problems in major consultation

Yorkshire Post

• Rural transport funding transformed by decision to cancel HS2: Guy OppermanRural transport is an issue that has been transformed by the Prime Minister’s decision to cancel the second leg of HS2 and attribute significantly larger amounts of funding to transport infrastructure across the country, and in particular to support rural communities.

Plymouth Herald

• Big changes for Plymouth's St Budeaux Square to improve transport linksDue to finish by June 2024, the scheme is part of the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan and is funded by the Transforming Cities Fund

Wrexham.com

• Transport for Wales rail services described as “being rewarded for underachievement”Welsh Government’s increased funding of rail services has come under the microscope as part of scrutiny of the wider budget. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌​‌‌‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌​​‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‌​​

Other Regional Press

• Campaign calls for railway station in WinchburghA campaign has been launched to bring a railway station to Winchburgh, the new town in West Lothian backed by entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter.
• Hopes of direct Blackpool to London trains dashed as operator admits there are 'no plans'In February 2020 when Grand Central was poised to launch its service, it said it had spent £21m on a new North West to London route
• Cornwall MPs demand better rail service from GWR and GovernmentCornwall is not falling off the map, but it needs more reliable and frequent trains
• Fed up residents in 'ignored' Devon town 'want action'The town is suffering from traffic congestion, air pollution, and overdevelopment but the Government is 'not listening'
• Bus operators commit to last bus promise in new passenger charterThe new charter has been drawn up and agreed upon by the West Midlands Bus Alliance, a partnership which includes TfWM, bus operators and the transport industry watchdog Transport Focus

Construction Enquirer

• HS2 to Birmingham true cost likely to be £67bnThe cost of building HS2 between London and Birmingham has ballooned to nearly £67bn at today’s prices.

Rail Advent

• East Midlands Railway installs new interactive information screensEast Midlands Railway (EMR) has made further progress in its million-pound project to install 166 new information screen across its network.

Railway Gazette

• Infracapital enters German rolling stock market with Rock RailGERMANY: M&G plc’s infrastructure investment arm Infracapital has entered the German rolling stock market through a joint venture with Rock Rail.

Transportxtra

• Cycle triggered traffic signals proposed for Menai Suspension BridgeTraffic signals triggered by approaching cyclists could be introduced on the Menai Suspension Bridge, as part of a package of measures to improve transport between Anglesey and Gwynedd.
• Burns commission suggests ’total transport’ pilot on AngleseyThe North Wales Transport Commission, chaired by Lord Burns, has suggested that a pilot be undertaken on Anglesey (Ynys Môn) of “total transport”, where budgets and fleets of public sector passenger vehicles would be merged.
• Transport and connectivity key target for Town Plans funding“The ease with which residents can access high streets, jobs and local shopping centres is critical if towns are to thrive into the future” says the Long Term Plans for Towns guidance.

Other News Sources

• c2c passengers can now use e-tickets across networkSOUTH Essex customers can now officially use e-tickets on trains across the c2c network, it has been announced.
• AGE secures €93.7m loan guarantee for Metro de Madrid’s train fleet expansionAssured Guaranty (Europe) SA (AGE), an indirect subsidiary of Assured Guaranty Ltd., has announced the successful guarantee of a €93.7 million loan to Metro de Madrid, S.A.
• Letter: 'Why do we have these old buses polluting the city?'We are supposed to be making Winchester more green, with expensive city centre parking to deter traffic?