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

Wednesday, 28 February 2024

BBC News

• Reading-London Paddington route set for overhaulA spate of failures include broken rails, signal faults and passengers stranded due to damaged cables.
• Retro Renault 5 takes on EV challenge from ChinaThe boss of Renault has said European manufacturers "can't surrender", despite Chinese and US brands leading the market for electric cars.
• Apple unplugs self-driving electric car project, reports sayThe firm never acknowledged the project publicly but had recruited about two thousands workers.

Financial Times

• Apple cancels secretive electric car project in shift to focus on AICompany ends decade-long research effort as electric vehicle industry loses momentum

The Guardian

• Electric cars produce twice as much CO2‚‚ as trains, says rail group dataRail Delivery Group said it hopes analysis will allow businesses to make greener travel choices Travelling by train on Britain's busiest business routes generates less than half the carbon emissions of a battery electric car, according to detailed analysis from the rail industry.

The Scotsman

• Lumo: Cut-price train operator plans to extend London-Edinburgh services to GlasgowProposal comes despite rival LNER axing its last services on route

Times Online

• We can all be proud of overdue ferry, says shipyard boss. [subscription]MV Glen Sannox, which has been beset by delays, performed well in sea trials, according to David Tydeman, who runs the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow

Transport Committee

• Transport Committee launches new inquiry to scrutinise draft Rail Reform BillThe Transport Committee launches its pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Rail Reform Bill and invites experts to share their views on its proposals.

Rail Delivery Group

• Rail travel is almost nine times greener than by car on the Top 100 business routes new figures showThe next phase of Green Travel Pledge carbon emission passenger data shows journeys along 100 of Britain’s busiest business routes create significantly less carbon emissions by rail compared to travelling by car.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Friends of Dales Bus launches campaign for green travel in the DalesFriends of Dales Bus launches new campaign for green travel in the Yorkshire Dales

Bristol Live

• Bus to return to Bristol suburb where residents were left 'isolated' after service was axed over a year agoThe new 47 route will bring buses back to Oldbury Court

Wales Online

• Work begins on cycleway at major Cardiff junction which will cause disruption for eight monthsThe council also plans to improve footpaths, drainage, and bus access in the area

Yorkshire Post

• Rishi Sunak reviews Haxby station plans and announces new transport fundingPrime Minister Rishi Sunak has visited Haxby and looked over plans to reopen a train station in the York town.
• A united transport vision for Yorkshire that focuses on outcomes for communities is needed - Russell JacksonIt’s time for a rail reset. The North’s transportation system seems stuck in a vortex of plans and policies, with the cancellation of Phase 2 of HS2 the latest missed opportunity. It’s no surprise that people are left wondering if they will ever see the new rail lines and infrastructure the region so desperately needs.

Bucks Free Press

• Machine digging HS2’s longest tunnel breaks throughThe machine digging HS2’s longest tunnel has completed its 10-mile journey under the Chiltern Hills.

Other Regional Press

• Government-run Transpennine trains urged to build new fleet in the northMayoral candidate, Kim McGuinness urges Transpennine to build new fleet in the north
• Gaming-changing' £420 million transport boost for StaffordshireMoney from scrapped HS2 phase 2 could now improve Staffordshire's roads and ease congestion
• GWR launches new community fund in Bristol and SomersetGreat Western Railway (GWR) has announced a fresh round of bids for its Customer and Community Improvement Fund in Bristol and Somerset.
• HS2 tunnelling machine breaks through years after Maple Cross launchThe machine digging HS2’s longest tunnel has completed its 10-mile journey from a site near Maple Cross.
• Dorset Council urged to act on 20mph limits for busy roadsDORSET Council has been accused of mis-interpreting the rules around 20mph speed limits – putting some residents at unnecessary risk.

Calling All Stations - The Transport Podcast

• Revealed! Draft Rail Reform Bill, new urban transport ambitions and rebranded Overground linesWith the Draft Rail Reform Bill published by the UK Government for scrutiny by the House of Commons Transport Committee, Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker discuss just what this says about the direction of travel after six years rail reform in Great Britain and ask whether any of the proposals will ever be implemented [01:30]. The centrepiece of this episode is Christian's interview with Jason Prince, recently-appointed Director of the Urban Transport Group, who sets out his organisation's agenda for delivering major improvements in sustainable transport across the UK's cities and towns [15:44]. Finally, Christian celebrates the rebranding of London's Overground rail network with individual names for lines reflecting the history and heritage of our capital city [42:03].

Rail Technology Magazine

• Unlocking rolling stock potentialNetwork Rail has highlighted that, according to the Rail Delivery Group, more than half of all passenger trains around the country have been either replaced or upgraded, opening the door for further improvement in the future.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Urban Transport Group joins five-year bus funding settlement callThe Urban Transport Group (UTG) is a further body to call for a five-year funding settlement approach for bus services in England. It says that such a policy should begin with provision of “urgent” certainty on revenue support beyond 2025 and work towards a “devolved single pot” allocation for the mode.

Transport Scotland

• Road Safety SummitScotland’s key road safety partners are meeting in Edinburgh to discuss plans to tackle the post pandemic rise in road casualties and injuries.

Other News Sources

• A new leasing model for Europe?Siemens’ decision to set up a subsidiary dedicated to short-term leasing of multiple-units could herald the start of a new way of procuring rolling stock.
• Transpennine Express urged to bring train production to DurhamTranspennine Express has been told it should rebuild its reputation in the North by bringing train production to Durham.
• Network Rail gaffe as Scottish town mistaken for English cityAN official sign on a new railway bridge between Perth and Inverness appears to have confused an English city with a Scottish town.
• Hydrogen projects across UK win share of £21m in government fundingFrom Suffolk to Pembroke via Aberdeen and the Shetlands, seven hydrogen production and fuel supply projects have secured a share of government funding