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

Tuesday, 19 March 2024

BBC News

• Call for new rail stations and electric trains to support MorecambeNew railway stations and trains are needed for Morecambe Bay attractions like the Eden Project, councillors say. A motion signed by 15 councillors representing 37,000 residents has been supported at a full Lancaster City Council meeting.
• Plans for two new Manchester tram links - mayorAndy Burnham says Metrolink trams could be extended to two new Greater Manchester locations.

Department for Transport

• Alex Hynes appointed Director General for rail servicesAlex Hynes has been appointed as Director General for rail services.

Financial Times

• Aviation industry calls for UK investment in hydrogen fuel EasyJet, Rolls-Royce and others ask for help in scaling up new technologies to develop zero emission flights

The Guardian

• In the company of wolves and kings: Suffolk's new medieval cycle trailThe Wolf Way a magnificent, not too hilly, cycling route takes in the county's myths, market towns and Gainsborough landscapesIt was an inauspicious start.
• Boost walking and cycling in towns and cities, urges UK government adviserChair of Office for Space says move would boost prosperity, health and personal freedom and could help solve housing crisis. A leading government adviser on cities has urged ministers to make urban areas friendlier for walking and cycling, saying this would boost prosperity, health and personal freedom, and could even help solve the housing crisis.In a report that takes a notably different stance to Rishi Sunak's recent plan for drivers, which seeks to prioritise car use at the expense of active travel and bus use,

The Independent

• Fares war steps up from Birmingham airport as easyJet opens base – meaning prices could fall this summerMediterranean air fares could be cheaper from Birmingham airport this summer as easyJet takes on Ryanair, Jet2 and Tui. Britain’s biggest budget airline will launch a new base at the West Midlands airport with three aircraft. It is targeting key summer sun destinations, including the Spanish costas and Greek islands.
• Green light for safety improvements on 17 dangerous roadsA total of £38.3 million has been allocated to council projects which are estimated to save 385 lives over the next 20 years.

The Telegraph

• Heathrow has lost its status as a global transport hub, says Dubai Airports boss. [subscription]Former Gatwick chief says the West places too much emphasis on environmental concerns

Times Online

• Ministers in crisis talks to save production at historic rail plant. [subscriptionJobs at risk as Alstom threatens to move work from its Derby plant abroad unless government gives certainty on train orders

The National

• Prestwick Airport 'cuts off Israeli Air Force access' after backlashPRESTWICK Airport will no longer do business with the Israeli Air Force after hosting a military plane late last year, the Scottish Government has said.

Local Government

• Cabinet to discuss update on transport cashPlans to invest millions of pounds in fixing roads, supporting cycling, walking and bus travel, tackling road safety and congestion and boosting greener travel across Leicestershire, are set to be drawn up.

Birmingham Mail

• Northfield MP Gary Sambrook accused of 'misleading' comments on controversial A38 cycle lane extensionCampaigners in favour of the A38 Blue Route extension say it will allow cyclists to 'commute without the fear of being killed'
• New Jaguar Land Rover jobs with 250 electrification engineering roles up for grabsThe recruitment drive is set to support the development of the luxury car manufacturer's next generation electric vehicles

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• First electric train's test run on part of upgraded Transpennine routeENGINEERS have tested new electrification equipment installed as part of a multi-billion-pound upgrade to the railway line between Manchester and York, via Huddersfield and Leeds.
• First Bradford's statement after series of bus attacksA bus company in Bradford has spoken out about the
• 'Red routes' being considered to stop anti-social parking“Red routes” made up of double red lines instead of double yellow lines are being considered for some Bradford streets.

Nation. Cymru

• Cross party support for proposed safety on public transport BillProposals for a new Bill which would introduce measures to improve safety for people on public transport has received cross party support in the Senedd.
• Council commits £14.7 million to transport infrastructure projectsA local authority is set spend more than £14m on transport infrastructure projects next year, including two schemes which failed to get backing from the Welsh Government following a review.

Yorkshire Post

• White Rose railway station: Building work on a new railway station halted after 'unforeseen increase in costs'Building work on a new railway station in Leeds has been halted after an “unforeseen increase in costs.”

Other Regional Press

• Llanharan sustainable transport corridor to progressRCT Council has confirmed that over the last year, the Council has been working closely with Welsh Government and Transport for Wales (TfW) to review the Llanharan Link Road, which was paused under the Welsh Government’s Roads Review.
• Ready, set…tap-and-go! Contactless ticketing is on track for the Liverpool City RegionSteve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, announced today that tap-and-go will be arriving on the Merseyrail network.

New Civil Engineer

• TfL alerts contractors to upcoming Bakerloo line infrastructure and depot upgradesTransport for London (TfL) has alerted contractors to an upcoming contract for the upgrade of the infrastructure and depot associated with the entirety of the Bakerloo line.

Rail Advent

• Minister views progress on Coventry Very Light Rail systemShadow Rail Minister Stephen Morgan visits to see first hand the progress on the Coventry VLR project

Railtech

• UK Rail industry applauds sustainable start up Published on 18-03-2024 at 09:45Some companies are blurring the destination between passenger and freight-carrying operations. Network Rail chair Lord Peter Hendy lent his support to one ambitious start-up, at an industry gathering on Wednesday (13 March). The occasion was a public unveiling by ground-breaking express logistics operator Varamis Rail. The new company was parading its proposition to guests, ahead of proposed services into the heart of London.

Railway Technology

• Department for Transport confirms Alex Hynes as new Director General, Rail ServicesThe Department for Transport (DfT) has announced Alex Hynes as the new Director General, Rail Services.

The Business Desk

• Alstom bemoans lack of progress over Government talks as future of Derby plant hangs in the balanceAlstom, which has a major train making plant in Derby, has warned that talks with Government ministers to avert the closure of Derby’s historic train manufacturing plant are stalling, which could result in thousands of job losses across the industry.
• £15m to fuel electric dreams for Transport for West MidlandsTransport for West Midlands (TfWM) has received a £15.7m boost today for its plan to install up to 12,000 electric vehicle chargers across the region in the next five years.

Other News Sources

• ’Fifty new long-haul routes by 2050’ if Manchester airport becomes northern rail hubA vision for creating 50 new long-haul routes from Manchester airport has been outlined in an economic report calling for the northern hub to become the heart of a modern integrated transport network.
• British Airways moves to cut ground emissions at HeathrowBritish Airways has announced a raft of measures designed to make its ground operations at London Heathrow airport more sustainable by reducing emissions.
• Netherlands: Qbuzz Orders New Commuter Trains from CAFCAF has been awarded a contract to supply 10 commuter trains to Qbuzz, which is part of the FS Group in the Netherlands.
• Port of Southampton and Singapore explore green transport cooperationAssociated British Ports (ABP) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) have opened discussions on various areas of potential cooperation regarding sustainable maritime transport.
• Shaping the Future of Transport in the East by 2050In a significant development last week, Transport East successfully introduced the Regional Strategy Hub's Rural Mobility report in Parliament, marking a pivotal moment for rural communities in the East. This comprehensive strategy document, outlines a forward-thinking approach to transform transport connections, driving long-term economic growth, and enhancing the quality of life in the East up to 2050.
• Guildford's answer to 'Boris Bikes' - where and when it's happening and how to have your sayYou can have your say about where the e-bike docking stations should be