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

Friday, 12 January 2024

BBC News

• Wimbledon: Electric double-decker bus catches fire during rush hourAn electric double-decker bus caught fire during the morning rush hour in south-west London.
• Bicester rail line partially closed after track bed subsidesIt followed a landslip near Bicester North station in Oxfordshire caused by recent heavy rainfall, the operator said.
• Bus station may face closure because of cutsA councillor warns of damage to the town if the bus station and toilets are closed to save money.
• Trains cancelled between Wigan Wallgate and Headbolt Lane after fireRail services are cancelled between between Wigan Wallgate and Headbolt Lane due to the blaze.
• Wimbledon: Electric double-decker bus catches fire during rush hourPolice declared a critical incident after the electric bus caught fire in Wimbledon.
• US launches Boeing investigation after blowoutThe Federal Aviation Administration will examine the jet-maker's processes after last Friday's emergency.

ITV News

• Denbighshire village bus service axed following introduction of 20mph speed limitResidents in a Denbighshire village say they feel like they are being "cut off" after their local bus service provider told them their stop was being axed following the introduction of the 20mph speed limit.

Financial Times

• Stephanie Pope faces turbulent start as Boeing's new co-pilotDave Calhoun's heir apparent must contend with the fallout of the Alaska Airlines mid-flight blowout
• US aviation regulator launches formal probe into Boeing's mid-air blowout FAA investigation comes as rival Airbus announces record number of orders last year
• Maersk chief warns Red Sea shipping disruption may last for months Vincent Clerc says container ship attacks by Houthis could have significant consequence for global growth

The Guardian

• Broken-rail Britain: my journey to the heart of the nation's privatisation nightmare | George MonbiotA rail-replacement service turned into a non-existent taxi. Once again, the rich take dividends and the rest of us pay the costsThe weather was worse than forecast. By the time I reached Bristol, at 5pm, all trains to the south-west had been cancelled, because of rising flood waters. It was no one's fault just one of life's vicissitudes. What happened next was a different matter. I believe I'm still suffering the effects of it: I think privatisation has made me sick. In various ways, it has sickened the whole country.

The Independent

• Double-decker bus bursts into flames as witnesses report huge ’bang’People have been advised to avoid the area after police, ambulances, and firefighters all rushed to the scene during rush hour

The Telegraph

• Electric bus bursts into flames during rush hour in WimbledonThe upper deck back windows are completely destroyed, but no injuries have been reported

Reuters News

• Maersk to use rail for some vessels to bypass Panama Canal amid droughtA.P. Moller-Maersk (MAERSKb.CO) will use trains to avoid the drought-hit Panama Canal for some of its vessels, the Danish shipping giant said as low water levels have caused one of the world's main maritime trade routes to reduce crossings

Network Rail

• Scotland’s Railway joins forces with Samaritans to bust ’Blue Monday’ myth once and for allRail industry in Scotland joins charity to encourage staff and public to have a cuppa and a catch-up instead for the charity’s annual Brew Monday campaign

Manchester Evening News

• Labour leader Keir Starmer says he's ruled out bringing HS2 to the NorthThe leader of the opposition said it would be 'impossible'

Nation. Cymru

• Budget cuts could result in closure of main bus stationA cash-strapped local authority could close its main bus station and public toilets in an effort to save £16m.

Wales Online

• Bridgend could lose its bus station as part of huge council budget cutsWhile it could save the local authority money, it could also have a "detrimental impact" on transport in the area

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Region's trains among worst for cancellations and running late, data revealsTwo of the region's train operators were among the top 10 when it came to the highest percentage of cancelled or significantly late trains.

Cambridge News

• Calls for Cambridge to Haverhill railway line to reopen after transport plans pausedCampaigners at Railfuture East Anglia believe rail might be a better solution to connect Cambridge and areas to the south east of the city

Wirral Globe

• Merseyrail network to benefit from toilet upgrade investmentTOILET facilities at some stations on the Merseyrail network are to be refurbished as part of an improvement plan.

Other Regional Press

• Progress on new Heathrow Airport rail link stalls as it 'must be value for money'Progress on a new rail link to Heathrow Airport appears to have stalled as the project is set to be assessed at to whether it would be value for money. The plan would mean a new 6.5 kilometre rail link between the Great Western Main Line and Europe's busiest airport.
• First Bus' 'groundbreaking' shake-up to Glasgow servicesFirst Bus has announced a major shake-up to its Glasgow services.
• Rail industry announces positive findings of long-term University of Cambridge research project into staff safety and body-worn camerasIn a first long-term initiative of its kind, train companies have joined forces to prove the effectiveness and promote the use of Body Worn Video (BWV) across the rail industry to improve staff and customer safety.
• MP slams 'disastrous' draft rail timetable plans that could cut number of trains stopping at Northumberland stationsA Northumberland MP has called on the Government to put a stop to “disastrous” plans that could slash the number of trains stopping in the county.
• Passengers warned to avoid UK's 'most unreliable' train operator TransPennine ExpressAccident compensation experts at Claims.co.uk have warned passengers to avoid TransPennine Express services this year as data reveals it is the most unreliable train operator. TransPennine Express reportedly had the highest percentage of cancelled trains between 2018 and 2021, and is most likely to have service disruptions, according to passenger rail performance data.
• New access road and A19 junction improvements approved despite dozens of objections No timescale was given for when work will commence

Coach and Bus Week

• Vectare launches ’Bigger Business, Better Buses’ strategyThe business has seen rapid growth across a wide area, and plans to continue growing whilst maintaining a focus on service delivery, investment, recruitment and retention
• Generation Go aims to help ’covid generation’ get on boardIn response to what it says are unique challenges faced by the ’covid generation,’ Go East Anglia, which owns Hedingham & Chambers and Konectbus, has launched a what it believes is a ground-breaking initiative called Generation Go.

Construction Enquirer

• Rail plant giant TXM files administration noticeRoad-rail equipment specialist TXM Plant has filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator.

Rail Business Daily

• Rail Forum launches free rail lessons for schoolsRail Forum has launched a suite of rail themed lessons aimed at Key Stage 3 students. Developed to reach students all across the UK, iRail aims to raise awareness of the vast array of careers available and inspire the next generation of rail professionals.
• LNER works with young entrepreneurs to capture their insight into the future of rail travelLNER has been working with budding young entrepreneurs on a project which has the potential to shape the future of rail travel.

Rail UK

• Major upgrade work to Midland Main Line will allow quicker, more reliable journeysMajor upgrade work as part of the Midland Main Line Upgrade project is set to continue in January and February with improvements to be made to overhead line equipment on selected weekends.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Arriva retains Greenline 757 coach contract for at least five yearsArriva will continue to operate the Greenline 757 coach service between central London and Luton via Luton Airport for at least a further five years after securing another competitively tendered contract from the air travel gateway.
• Road congestion: Action needs to be higher on the priority listCongestion. It does an inordinate amount of damage to coach and bus, and yet no obvious plan exists to do anything about it.

Other News Sources

• Shadow Rail Minister Stephen Morgan MP Visits Icomera UKIcomera, the world’s leading provider of integrated connectivity solutions for public transportation, welcomed Stephen Morgan MP to its UK headquarters in Chatham Maritime
• Passenger rail performance data reveals the most unreliable train operators to avoid this yearNew research carried out by accident compensation experts at Claims.co.uk has revealed which train operators have the highest percentage of cancelled or significantly late trains to determine which operator is most likely to experience disruptions throughout 2024.
• Network Rail Consulting Wins £57.5m Deal Network Rail Consulting Inc has won a £57.5 million deal to provide systems engineering services to California's High-Speed Rail Program.
• 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?

News from Europe

• The European Commission has launched taskforce to look at the next generation of mobility technologies, from electric eVTOL aircraft and delivery drones to EV fast charging infrastructure and maglev rail.The EU Future Mobility Taskforce aims to address key challenges faced by innovators in the mobility sector, with Aura Aero, Bolt, Cabify, Carto, Dronamics, EVBOX, EV Connect, Fastned, Flix, Lilium, MaasGlobal, Nevomo, Otiv, Volocopter, Voi, Virta.