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

Tuesday, 16 January 2024

BBC News

• Consultation on Nottingham bus services cuts set to closeBus operator Nottingham City Transport (NCT) said many council-funded services were under review, following the city council's declaration of effective bankruptcy.
• West Berkshire on-demand village bus travel launchedA new on-demand transport service has launched to give villagers "more control" over their bus journeys.
• New train strike dates announced by Aslef drivers' unionA fresh series of strikes has been unveiled by the main train drivers' union, Aslef, in its long-running pay dispute with 16 train companies.
• Chiltern Railways' 'ghost bus': Is this Britain's most bizarre route?The one-way bus service that runs once a week - to save a rail operator time and money.
• Metrolink puts tram service on for football and music fansThe trams will travel to the Etihad for Manchester City games and concerts at the Co-op Live music venue.
• Boeing to increase quality inspections of 737 Max productionThe plane maker will allow independent assessments after a door plug fell from an Alaska Airlines flight.

Financial Times

• Average UK car insurance quote hits record £995Rise in prices comes after insurers register surge in cost of claims
• UK rail passengers face fresh wave of strikesAslef union calls on ministers to make realistic offer to end long-running pay dispute
• Boeing opens factories to airline customers as it beefs up inspectionsUS plane maker adds manufacturing process reviews as it tries to contain fallout from mid-air blowout incident

The Guardian

• Train drivers in England to hold fresh week of strikes from late JanuaryOperating companies not expected to use new minimum service levels law when Aslef members strike
• Average car insurance cost in UK nears £1,000 after prices rise 58%Young drivers face huge increases as soaring costs help push up inflationThe average price of car insurance in the UK has broken records to stand at close to £1,000 after price rises of more than 50% last year, according to new data.

Times Online

• Train strikes: drivers plan week of rail walkouts [subscription]Passengers could be spared mass train cancellations during upcoming drivers’ strikes if rail operators opt to use new minimum service laws.

Daily Record

• Poor Glaswegians struggling with transport costs to be offered free bike access for a yearEXCLUSIVE: A hundred free one-year memberships for the citywide OVO Bikes scheme will be given away by national shared transport charity Collaborative Mobility UK.

The Mirror

• Hundreds of Alexander Dennis bus manufacturing workers to go on strike for two weeksUnite members at the Alexander Dennis plant near Falkirk have rejected a pay offer from management

Sky News

• New train strikes announced by drivers' union ASLEFASLEF claims it hasn't had any contact from the Department for Transport in a year - and the latest industrial action intends to "pile pressure" on train companies nationwide.

Birmingham Mail

• 'Inflationary costs' drive up Birmingham Airport security hall re-build by millions of poundsThe 'state-of-the-art' security hall at Birmingham Airport, due to be completed this summer, has had its budget expanded in the face of soaring costs, bosses confirmed

London Evening Standard

• Night flights at Heathrow have 'catastrophic effect' on residents and should be banned, says MPRichmond Park MP Sarah Olney has accused ministers of 'keeping their heads in the sand' over the issue

Manchester Evening News

• Metrolink tram passengers face four days of disruption in Manchester city centreTwo lines will be affected

Nation. Cymru

• Council urged to improve public transport before launching new parking systemCardiff Council has been urged to make sure public transport is up to scratch before launching a new parking scheme in the city.
• Buses finally start operating at new multi-million pound transport hubA dedicated bus service has finally started operating at a multi million pound transport hub, and reporter Ted Peskett was one of the first to give it a try.

Northern Echo

• York: Aslef train drivers to stage fresh strikes over payTrain drivers are to stage a series of fresh strikes and an overtime ban in their long-running dispute over pay, causing more travel chaos on the East Coast mainline.

Wales Online

• Public transport plea for Cardiff ahead of new parking schemeCardiff council is looking at bringing in a new parking system which could require residents to reapply for a new permit
• I took one of the first buses operating at Barry's multimillion-pound transport hub and it was nearly deserted The Adventure Travel B3 service from Barry Transport Interchange did turn up on time though
• English Tory politicians running Facebook groups opposing 20mph in Wales while supporting it where they liveThere has been a lot of opposition to the 20mph limit

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Work begins on new £2.2m cycle route and road improvements in Dudley PortWork has begun on a £2.2million cycle lane and improvements to the A461 between Great Bridge and Peake Drive in Dudley Port.

Yorkshire Post

• Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Mayor wants it to reopen 'as soon as humanly possible'South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said he is working to ensure Doncaster Sheffield Airport can be reopened “as soon as humanly possible”.
• Ben Houchen announces potential rail nationalisation as part of £1bn transport spendTees Valley mayor Ben Houchen has announced his combined authority’s future transport investments, spending £1bn to deliver a package of projects across the region.

Burnley Express

• LANCASHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL: Pothole reporting rowA SENIOR county councillor has claimed a Lancashire's council's system for reporting potholes is “totally misleading the public” about how soon they are repaired.

Other Regional Press

• Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen announces 'revolutionary' £1bn transport strategy including direct rail link between Hartlepool and DarlingtonA plan for new direct rail services between Hartlepool and Darlington has been unveiled as part of an ambitious £1billion package of transport projects.
• Councillor accuses Kirklees Council of being ’anti-car’ and lacking strategic vision for transportA councillor has accused Kirklees Council of being “anti-car” and pushing people towards a public transport system that simply wasn’t working.
• Disabled people to give transport feedback at Harrogate eventHarrogate-based charity Disability Action Yorkshire is giving transport companies an opportunity to discuss their policies for improving accessibility on local public transport at an event on February 9.
• New electric buses for Oxford costing £82.5m arrive in cityNew electric buses which are part of an £82.5m scheme are starting to arrive in the city
• Trams, driverless cars and rail devolution: £1bn package of transport projects unveiledWide-ranging plans also include work towards a four-lane Tees flyover and a 'metro-style' rail service across the area
• 'None of this nonsense will happen': Mixed reaction to £1bn transport plansCritics have said described the plans as 'guff', 'pet ideas' and a 'white elephant', while Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said he has history of delivering on promises
• Plans for £9bn Thames crossing become Britain's longest everPlans to build a road tunnel between Kent and Essex have become Britain's longest ever, prompting concern over the state of the planning system.

Rail Magazine

• More capital sought for South Wales’ £400m Rail Excellence projectThe Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) is to join forces with rail engineering and consulting firm Xrail, and Getzner - a European specialist in vibration isolation technology.

Aviation Industry

• UK's largest airports celebrate record-breaking DecemberThe results are still coming in, but December 2023 looks set to be a record-breaking month for passenger numbers at UK airports.
• UK's largest airports celebrate record-breaking DecemberThe results are still coming in, but December 2023 looks set to be a record-breaking month for passenger numbers at UK airports.
• If Expansion Can’t Happen, Should London Build A New Airport?2024 looks to continue the theme of airport expansion in London. However, if it can’t happen, should there be a new airport built in the area?

Other News Sources

• E-Passport gates: UK airports announce new rules for arriving passengers to speed up journeysA number of UK airports including Bristol, Heathrow and Manchester have announced new rules for ePassport gates
• Latest UKIB loan a ’blueprint’ for local authority transport schemes across the countryThe UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB) has provided a £300m loan through its Local Authority function to Transport for London.
• Transport for London sets up Innovation Collaboration FrameworkTransport for London (TfL) has appointed Sopra Steria and Mercedes-Benz AG as partners on its new Innovation Collaboration Framework (ICF).
• What will the Superloop mean for Harrow as it expands?Transport for London’s Superloop, particularly the SL10 route connecting Harrow to North Finchley, is not just a transit development—it’s a catalyst for business growth and enhanced connectivity in Harrow. With its promise of efficient and sustainable travel, the Superloop is poised to redefine Harrow’s access to the broader London area.
• Tube fares could get ’dynamic pricing’ – here’s what that actually means for travelling around LondonLondon Underground fares could change to reflect post-pandemic commuter patterns
• Date SWR train drivers to stage fresh strike actionTrain drivers on the South Western Railway network and Gatwick express are to stage a series of fresh strikes in their long-running dispute over pay