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

Friday, 05 April 2024

BBC News

• Disability campaigners make bus station pleaDisability campaigners have asked to be consulted on the location of Bradford's temporary bus station, saying they are struggling to access the facility.
• More trains to stop at Woolston railway station from JuneMore trains are set to stop at a suburban railway station. Southern is adding stops at Woolston for its Southampton-Brighton route which will run half-hourly from June
• Plan to spend £5.4m on city's transport approvedA plan to spend more than £5.4m on improving roads and transport across a city has been given the green light.
• New HS2 highways projects revealedNew bridges, a new roundabout and a dual carriageway are among the latest plans announced.
• London Underground strikes called offTube strikes will no longer go ahead on 8 April and 4 May, Aslef union says.
• Electric cars lose share as private sales fallCar sales overall grew in March but fewer individuals are buying electric vehicles.
• Boeing pays Alaska Air $160m after mid-air blowoutThe sum to the airline for losses since January reflects the ongoing fallout to Boeing from the crisis.

ITV News

• Rail passengers face major disruption as train drivers begin fresh strikesThousands of train drivers from 16 companies are walking out today as union ASLEF's long-running dispute over pay and working conditions continues.

Financial Times

• Russia is trying to sabotage European railways, warns PragueCzech minister tells FT of thousands of attempts to interfere with train networks and signals

The Guardian

• Train drivers in England begin three-day series of strikesAvanti West Coast services among those affected by Aslef industrial action, which continues on Saturday and Monday
• Rail passengers face rolling strikes but London Underground action called offAslef members start three days of 24-hour strikes from Friday but tube driver action cancelledRail passengers are bracing for travel disruption as train drivers bring some routes on the national network to a halt in a wave of strikes, but two days of similar action on the London Underground have been called off.On Friday, members of the union Aslef start the first of three 24-hour strikes that will affect 16 rail operating companies in England as part of its 20-month dispute over pay. Continue reading...

The Independent

• April rail strikes 2024: How will Friday’s train drivers’ walk-out hit passengers?In three days of ’rolling’ walk-outs, most of the train operators involved will cancel all services

i News

• France releases details of €49 nationwide rail pass – but there’s a catchInspired by Germany's successful unlimited monthly pass, it will exclude high-speed TGV trains and Ile-de-France

Mail Online

• Futuristic jet that could replace faulty Boeing fleet by 2030: 'JetZero' aircraft that's modeled after the Stealth Bomber and releases 50% fewer emissions than most airlinersJetZero's revolutionary aircraft received FAA approval to start testing its Pathfinder that could replace Boeing. The jet, called Pathfinder, seats 250 people and can travel 5,754 miles.

Network Rail

• Multi-million-pound investment for world famous Glenfinnan viaductNetwork Rail will start a £3.4m investment to carry out repairs on the 123-year-old Glenfinnan viaduct this month.

Sky News

• Tube strikes called off, but walkouts on rail still set to go aheadThe Mayor of London said it was "good news" for Londoners, adding: "This demonstrates - once again - what can be achieved by talking and engaging with transport staff and trade unions rather than working against them."

Northern Echo

• Hitachi Newton Aycliffe: Talks to continue on site's futureTalks between politicians on the future of the Hitachi plant in Newton Aycliffe are set to continue in the coming weeks as the rail manufacturer faces uncertainty due to a lack of orders.

The York Press

• Grand Central Rail to relocate in York city centreA high-quality complex of modern office suites situated in the historic city of York is close to achieving full occupancy after Grand Central Rail announced it would be relocating to the premises

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Government urged to guarantee orders to secure future of train-making in DerbyThe Government has to “stop dithering” and do everything in its power to secure the future of Derby’s Alstom train factory, Labour has said.

Wrexham.com

• Politicians optimistic for further improvements at Gwersyllt StationLocal politicians have met with Network Rail representatives to discuss the recent renovations at Gwersyllt Station.

Carlisle News & Star

• Pie Demand rolls into first-class with TransPennine Express contractCARLISLE'S own bakery business, Pie Demand, has secured a tasty contract with TransPennine Express.

Other Regional Press

• Bus boost from Skipton to the Dales from this weekendA BUS boost is on the way from this weekend as bus operator The Keighley Bus Company prepares to run more buses, more often on two key routes.
• London Heathrow has made several changes to its executive team following its COO’s decision to leaveAfter 15 years at Heathrow, chief operating officer (COO) Emma Gilthorpe is to leave for the Royal Mail, where she will become CEO, effective May 1. Gilthorpe’s last day at Heathrow will be April 26.
• Network Rail aims to curb landslip issues with £60mNetwork Rail is set to begin a £60m drainage improvement scheme in Yorkshire and the North East this month.
• Government urged to go at full steam on Tavistock rail planPlans to reintroduce train services from Tavistock received a major boost last October, when the government agreed to back plans to reinstate five-miles of track between Tavistock and Bere Alston.
• Town cut off for 22 minutes every hour to finally get new railway footbridgeA town that currently gets cut off for 22 minutes every hour will finally get a new railway footbridge so residents don't need to wait for the trains to pass. Locals in Lostwithiel in South East Cornwall have been campaigning for six years to see a footbridge reinstated at their train station.
• 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.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• Van Hool taking extra week to secure futureVan Hool says it remains steadfast in its pursuit of a sustainable future, despite recent challenges. Within the proceedings pending before the Mechelen Enterprise Court, Van Hool will take one extra week to safeguard the possibility of a quick restart. The company originally had a deadline of 31 March 2024 to provide an outcome in some form that ensures the preservation of as many activities and jobs at Van Hool as possible
• Yutong electrics launched at Newport TransportNewport Transport has launched two new Yutong U11DD electric double-decker buses and 11 new E9L Yutong single-deckers to its fleet.
• Free travel scheme ends after ’disappointing and distressing incidents’The programme was launched in March 2022 as part of a package of support measures to help Ukrainians, Afghans and other refugees to integrate more effectively in Welsh life. Over the last two years, the Welsh government estimates that around one million journeys have been undertaken through the scheme.

Business Live

• Plans approved for Bradford hydrogen plant to decarbonise vehicles and industryOperators Hygen and N-Gen will set up a plant on the former Birkshall gas storage site capable of producing 12.5 tonnes of green hydrogen per day
• Shipbuilder A&P Group to close North East yard impacting jobsThe repair and conversion specialist has operated from the Teesport base for more than 20 years

Railway Gazette

• ScotRail offers all front-line staff body-worn camerasUK: ScotRail has equipped its front-line staff with more than 1 000 Motorola Solutions VB400 body-worn cameras, building on an initial deployment in 2017.
• Long-distance electric-diesel-battery trainset unveiledITALY: Trenitalia has unveiled its first long-distance trainset which can operate on electric, diesel or battery power.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• TfL seeks tenders for passenger-counting solutionsTransport for London (TfL) has published an invitation for tenders to provide passenger-counting technology for trial on buses.
• NatEx adds 100 more departures for rail strike weekendNational Express is to add about 100 more departures to its services on 5, 6 and 8 April to cater for increased volume as a result of a strike by train drivers.
• Equipmake completes repower work on First York Versa EV fleetEquipmake has completed the repower of a 12-strong fleet of mid-life Optare Versa EV battery-electrics in the First York fleet, with all those vehicles having returned to service.
• ’Standard times’ analytics showcased by Freeway Fleet SystemsFreeway Fleet Systems will showcase its latest developments in fleet maintenance data analytics at the forthcoming ALBUM Conference in Cheshire during April, including a ’standard times’ calculation service.
• Scott Pearson remains Chair of Coach and Bus Association CymruFormer Newport Transport Managing Director Scott Pearson will remain in the industry by continuing as Chair of trade body the Coach and Bus Association Cymru (CaBAC).
• David Conway is appointed Head of Operations by NCTNottingham City Transport (NCT) has appointed David Conway as Head of Operations. He joins from fellow municipal Cardiff Bus, where he had been Service Delivery Director since August 2020.

Other News Sources

• Welsh operator turns to bus rentalTanat Valley Coaches has taken delivery of a 10.8m Volvo B8RLE MCV eVoRa single decker bus and a 9.7m Alexander Dennis Enviro200 midi-bus from Asset Alliance Group’s new rental offering.
• Now’s the 'Tyne' to catch the busGo North East, the region’s largest bus operator, is urging people to reconsider their travel choices during the Tyne Bridge restoration project as ’bargain fares’ see the region’s public transport offer become increasingly attractive for car users.
• InterCity East Coast direct award plannedUK: The Department for Transport intends to directly award incumbent London North Eastern Railway a contract to continue to operate InterCity East Coast passenger services.
• Network Rail recruits 400 engineers to combat rising rainfallNetwork Rail is looking to recruit an extra 400 engineers to combat the effects of climate change. It will also convert existing employees into ’amateur meteorologists’ with the help of a new ’weather academy’.
• County's rail provision ranks among nation's worstA new analysis of government statistics has shown that the rail companies serving Lancashire are among the least reliable in the country.
• Hitachi Rail unveils long-distance version of Europe’s first battery trainHitachi Rail has unveiled its first long-distance hybrid battery train which will help to cut carbon emissions by 83% when it enters service later this year.
• Hitachi Rail has unveiled the new hybrid train Masaccio “Blues”The new Masaccio “Blues” hybrid train is equipped with battery packs, specifically designed for the Italian operator Trenitalia, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.
• Viaducts taking HS2 into Birmingham get OKWork to be carried out by Balfour Beatty Vinci team A Balfour Beatty Vinci team has been given the green light to begin building two major structures that will bring the HS2 railway into Birmingham.
• London Underground strikes called off after TfL and train drivers reach dealThe Tube strike was first called by the union over fears train drivers would be made to work longer shifts