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

Wednesday, 03 April 2024

BBC News

• Alstom: MP calls government 'negligent' over jobs riskThe shadow transport secretary has called the government "totally negligent" over 1,300 train manufacturing jobs at risk in Derby.
• Scrapped HS2 leg provokes compensation rowResidents and landowners who were forced out say that six months on they have had no compensation.
• Little to no service during Tube strike, TfL warnsMembers of the Aslef union will walk out on 8 April in a dispute over terms and conditions.

Financial Times

• European airlines cut back Asia routes as Gulf carriers offer cheaper flightsLufthansa and Air France-KLM say they cannot compete with state-backed Middle East airlines that have lower costs

STV

• Calls for inquiry into £25m repair costs for Cairngorm funicular railwayHighlands and Islands Conservative MSP Edward Mountain claims HIE have failed to provide answers about the problems.

The Guardian

• UK government launches review into headlight glare after drivers' complaintsCampaigners welcome move as survey suggests they have become too bright and risk causing accidentsCampaigners have hailed the government's announcement of independent research into headlight glare, which comes as a survey suggests many drivers believe they have become too bright and risk causing accidents.The RAC, which has been highlighting the problem in recent years, said it was a key concern among motorists and welcomed the move as an opportunity to fix it. Continue reading...
• Councils demand independent review of 'arbitrary' levelling up schemesBoris Johnson's 2019 policy faces accusation of being politicised and failing to tackle skills shortagesLevelling up: what has the government spent - and where?Councils have called for an independent review of Boris Johnson's levelling up policy, as local authorities count the cost of years of hype, disappointment, bureaucratic delay and 'begging bowl' culture.Levelling up was launched by Johnson after the Conservatives won the 2019 general election, as he promised to boost left-behind parts of the UK by committing billions to regenerate town centres, upgrade local transport and invest in cult...

The Herald

• Airline launches Edinburgh Airport to Barcelona, Spain routeAn airline is launching a new route between Scotland and one of Spain's most famous city destinations.

The Independent

• As international travel grows, so does US use of technology. A look at how it's used at airportsAs travel continues to boom following pandemic-related slumps, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is expanding the use of technology to process the ever-growing number of passengers

Times Online

• Rolls-Royce tests its most powerful and greenest business jet engine [subscription]The Pearl 10X powerplant has been developed exclusively for Dassault, the French aerospace group
• Tesla sales fall for first time in four years [subscription]Elon Musk’s electric car company’s first-quarter deliveries of 386,810 vehicles were far short of forecasts

City AM

• As Derby’s historic rail industry declines, it should look to Redcar for a model of letting go From steelworks to freeport, Redcar's redevelopment offers a model for moving on which Derby may wish to follow, writes Paul Ormerod.

Mail Online

• Rail bosses face backlash after refusing to use strike-busting laws AGAIN despite looming Easter holiday travel chaosRail bosses were hit with a backlash last night as it emerged they are yet again refusing to use new strike-busting laws to spare millions from Easter holiday chaos.
• End of the line for Britain's biggest train factory as it says it will close with the loss of 1,300 jobs with French owner blaming HS2 woes and having 'no meaningful workload'Train manufacturer Alstom notified the government that it has started mothballing its Litchurch Lane factory in Derby.

This is Money

• Tesla slams into reverse as sales fall for first time in four years: £20bn wiped off value of electric car firmThe US electric car maker, led by billionaire Elon Musk (pictured), delivered 386,810 vehicles in the three months to the end of March.

Network Rail

• £45bn rail improvement plan puts climate change firmly in its sightsNetwork Rail today announced the start of its five-year, £45.4bn* rail improvement plan aimed at delivering a simpler, better, greener railway that provides the best level of train performance possible and that’s more geared-up than ever before to cope with the extremes of climate change.
• £45bn rail improvement plan puts climate change firmly in its sightsNetwork Rail today announced the start of its five-year, £45.4bn* rail improvement plan aimed at delivering a simpler, better, greener railway that provides the best level of train performance possible and that’s more geared-up than ever before to cope with the extremes of climate change.

Derby Telegraph

• All production stops at Derby's Alstom site and redundancies back onThe company has issued a notice to workers confirming it will demobilise manufacturing operations and resume its redundancy consultation

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• EasyJet relaunch flights to Alicante from Newcastle International AirportFlights from Newcastle to Alicante start at just £28.99 per person.

Northern Echo

• Rishi Sunak slammed for lack of solution for Newton Aycliffe HitachiThe Prime Minister has been slammed for his lack of solution to the crisis at a North East train manufacturing plant
• Newton Aycliffe's Hitachi 'incredibly important' says Paul HowellThe last week or so has seen serious speculation around the future of the Hitachi plant at Newton Aycliffe.

The York Press

• Northern reminds York train passengers of ASLEF strikesNorthern has reminded York rail users of ASLEF union train driver strikes.
• Key York cycle route closes its gates for 18 monthsThe Lowther Terrace route in and out of York Station will be closed for the next 18 months as part of the Station Gateway development.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Photos show progress on Wednesbury to Brierley Hill tram line as workers push forwardMetro builders have been hard at work over the Easter holidays powering forward with the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill tram route.

Bucks Free Press

• HS2 viaduct project strides forward thanks to Easter railway shutdownHS2 has thanked passengers after closing the railway south of Aylesbury for critical viaduct preparation over Easter.
• Bridges in Bucks declared unfit for the heaviest vehiclesBuckinghamshire had multiple bridges unfit for the heaviest vehicles on its roads last year, new figures show.

North Wales Live

• Liverpool cruise port to double operations with £25m plan featuring new pontoon International cruise giant Global Ports Holding PLC to take over city cruise operation, with new floating pontoon set to unlock plans for 7,000 passengers a day

Other Regional Press

• Major new South Oxfordshire road plans between A34 and M40There are claims county council officials want to introduce a major new road in South Oxfordshire
• Oxford councillor slams 'dangerous' Rose Hill junction planOxford Green councillor Emily Kerr is furious with upcoming changes to the busy Rose Hill junction.

Railnews

• Tuesday briefing: Alstom Derby prepares for mass job losses TUESDAY BRIEFING: Alstom starts winding down at Derby ++ ASLEF strikes set to cause disruption ++ Landslip line will be closed for two weeks ++
• Labour accuses ministers of 'complacency' over Alstom Derby redundancies Labour's shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh is accusing the Government of 'complacency, negligence and creating chaos for Britain's rail manufacturing industry'. She has been visiting the Alstom works in Litchurch Lane Derby, where the factory is being mothballed because of a lack of orders for new trains. Alstom has announced it will have to start preparing for 1,300 redundancies. Hitachi has also said that up to 700 jobs are at risk at its Newton Aycliffe works in County Durham.

The Business Desk

• Major manufacturing contract secured to create landmark rail routeBritish Steel has won a multi-million pound contract to supply rail for a landmark new route in North Africa.

Other News Sources

• All trains between Redhill and Tonbridge cancelled for at least 2 weeks after landslipA replacement bus service will run between Redhill, Nutfield and Godstone, Network Rail said

EIN News Subscription

• Now dozens of illegally parked cars are towed away at Welsh beauty spot after furious neighbours in the Peak District blamed Easter tourists for clogging up the national park with traffic and litter … carnage for those looking to travel back home.  Passengers described … Portugal came alongside reports of travellers finding themselves trapped in … have been queuing for Eurostar train services at St Pancras … day. Britain's rail network was also affected …