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

Thursday, 04 April 2024

BBC News

• Plan for electric vehicles on Peak District railwayA community group is campaigning to provide a rail link between tourist beauty spots in the Peak District.
• Footbridge returning to Lostwithiel railway stationA railway footbridge will return to a Cornish station after 50 years without one, engineers say.
• £40m cable car plan 'would trash historic hill'The Kilvey Hill project would include a zipline and café, with claims it could generate £84m.
• CalMac boss steps down amid shake-up at ferry firmThe west coast ferry operator said the move had followed a review of its executive leadership.
• Rail body wants staff to be 'amateur meteorologists'Network Rail aims to train hundreds of staff as it tries to tackle the effects of climate change.
• Airports could take extra year to lift liquids banMajor airports will not have new scanners at all security lanes by the summer, the BBC understands.

Financial Times

• Virgin Atlantic to return to profit this year amid Caribbean holiday boomAirline boosted by strong demand for long-haul holidays and premium seats
• UK pushes back deadline for new security scanners at airports Fresh extension means travel hubs have until June 2025 to install technology that promises to cut queues
• What next for Britain's broken railways?After years of quiet renationalisation, reform of the network is desperately needed

The Guardian

• Network Rail to spend £2.8bn to cope with effects of climate crisisFunding for drains, embankments and other measures is part £45.4bn five-year investment plan. Network Rail is to spend nearly £3bn to protect the railway from the effects of the climate crisis and extreme weather, as it warned that the country’s network was having to contend with hotter summers and more winter floods.
• Liquid restrictions at UK airports to remain in place until June 2025Travellers will have to wait another year for 100ml limit to be lifted after government extends deadline for new scanners

Times Online

• ’Ferries fiasco’ intensifies as CalMac chief executive resignsRobbie Drummond is stepping down with immediate effect amid a warning of challenging years ahead
• 100ml liquid rule set to stay at UK airports as new scanners delayed. [subscription]Hand luggage restrictions were due to be scrapped in time for the summer holiday rush but the operators of some of Britain’s largest travel hubs are not ready

City AM

• How to avoid train strikes this weekend? National Express revs up capacity ahead of rail disruption National Express is adding more routes and more seats to its UK coach network this weekend to help Brits avoid train strike disruption.

Birmingham Mail

• Five major HS2 highways projects revealed included bridges and islandsHS2 highways projects have been revealed ahead of discussions in Solihull

Birmingham Post

• Overtime ban and strikes set to cause more rail disruptionAslef members' 20-month dispute goes on as Government insists pay offer is on table

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Why no Northern trains will be running this SaturdayNorthern has said it will not be able to operate any trains across the entirety of its network on Saturday due to strike action.

Manchester Evening News

• New spiral ramp and coffee shop set to open in Stockport interchangeWork continues on the town's new transport hub

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Planned strike by bus drivers and engineers in Northumberland suspended after Arriva make new pay offerThe industrial action was due to start on Sunday and last for one week

Northern Echo

• Hitachi Aycliffe closure was 'inevitable' says former workerA former Hitachi worker says he cannot see “any hope” for the train builder in Newton Aycliffe, with its future now hanging in the balance.

The York Press

• 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.

Other Regional Press

• First Bus slammed for 'axing paper tickets' for customersPassengers will have to download an app to pay for a four week pass, but have been accused of “discrimination” and “digital exclusion” for the move.
• Sadiq Khan lashes out at London bus 'cynics' branding Bakerloop 'just a rail replacement'Sadiq Khan has lashed out at critics of his proposal to introduce 'express' buses to mirror a planned extension of the Bakerloo line further into South London. The mayor has dubbed the services the 'Bakerloop', with the quicker services running from Elephant and Castle to Lewisham if he were re-elected on May 2.
• Watford mayor demands 'urgent meeting' over trains chaosWatford’s mayor has blasted repeat travel chaos for the town as he called for an urgent meeting with rail bosses.
• Oxford traders unhappy with new car parking tax plansTraders in Oxford have expressed their disapproval over a new workplace parking levy agreed by county councillors for Oxfordshire in a budget meeting.
• First Bus X51 trial service to Winterbourne Steepleton and MartinstownFirst Bus has announced a trial route on the X51 diverting via Martinstown and Winterbourne Steepleton, running until September.

Train Operators

• Northern appoints former British Library and housing association executive as its new Head of ITNorthern has appointed David Sparling as its new Head of IT.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Network rail unveils £45 Billion climate resilient planNetwork Rail has announced a £45 billion plan aimed at delivering an improved railway to cope with the extremes of climate change. The network said they will invest £2.8 billion yearly over the next 5 years in activities and technology that will help it cope better with weather conditions to deliver a more reliable and better service.

Railnews

• Network Rail prepares for major changes as CP7 starts Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines is predicting that Control Period 7 will mean meeting the challenges of ’climate change, train performance, industry revenue and reform’.

Railway Gazette

• CrossCountry gets more Voyagers as refurbishment plan agreedUK: CrossCountry has selected Alstom as preferred bidder to refurbish its fleet of Voyager and Turbostar DMUs over a broadly two-year period as part of an investment package aimed at increasing capacity on its network by up to 25%.

Other News Sources

• Porterbrook to finance WMT’s £66m Bletchley depot upgrade The move to invest in the Bletchley depot is part of Porterbrook's strategy to diversify its existing portfolio.
• Porterbrook to finance Bletchley depot redevelopmentPorterbrook are set to finance a £66 million redevelopment of Bletchley depot, the soon to be home of West Midlands Trains’ Aventra fleet.
• Northstar launches as North East’s newest bus operatorA former Commercial Development Manager for Go North East has launched a new bus operator called Northstar.
• Hitachi Rail Unveils Long-Distance Hybrid Battery TrainHitachi Rail and Trenitalia have unveiled the long-distance version of Europe’s first hybrid battery-powered train.
• DP World drive to shift freight from road to rail sees 13,500 lorry journeys cut at Southampton hubDP World has increased the share of freight being transported by rail from its Southampton logistics hub by two thirds - the equivalent of 13,500 lorry journeys - the company announced this week.
• Transport For Wales wins Large Employer of the Year AwardTransport For Wales has won an award for its apprentice train driver scheme.