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

Wednesday, 17 April 2024

BBC News

• Birmingham Airport flights disrupted by incidentWest Midlands Police says the airport has now reopened as there is no wider risk to the public.
• Potential new orders for struggling train firmStruggling train firm Alstom says it is in "intense discussions" with the government and Transport for London about a potential order for the Elizabeth Line.
• United Airlines says Boeing blowout cost it $200mThe firm had to ground its Boeing 737 MAX 9 fleet after a mid-air blowout on an Alaska Airlines flight.

Financial Times

• No one will win in container shipping's game of chickenThe industry seems set for cyclical pain
• Alstom close to securing a new train order for UK plantFrench manufacturer holds talks with British government about a deal that could prevent job losses at Derby factory

The Guardian

• Birmingham airport suspends operations after plane security incidentBirmingham airport temporarily suspended operations on Tuesday because of a security incident on an aircraft.
• Barcelona bus route removed from map apps to tackle tourist overcrowdingFor years, residents had complained that they could not get home because the number 116 bus was always crammed with tourists visiting Antoni Gaudí’s Park Güell. The park is the city’s second most popular attraction after the Sagrada Familia basilica.

The Scotsman

• Edinburgh bus operator Lothian in weekend passenger boomManaging director Sarah Boyd says more leisure trips have offset reduction in commuting

The Telegraph

• Last-minute deal saves Britain’s biggest train factory from closure. [subscription]Alstom secures vital new order after crunch talks with Transport Secretary

Times Online

• We need a railway station now, say residents of Scotland’s fastest growing town. [subscription]Opening a station in the rapidly growing West Lothian town could take more than 500,000 cars off the road every year, campaigners and developers say

i News

• UK’s biggest rail factory enters ’intense’ talks with Government to avoid closureProduction lines at the 147-year-old Alstom plant in Derby stopped work on new trains last month due to a lack of orders

Sky News

• Heathrow Border Force strike: Officers to walk out for four days as union protests against job cutsHundreds of Border Force officers will go on strike at Heathrow Airport later this month.
• UK airport suspends operations due to 'security incident' on aircraftBirmingham Airport temporarily suspended operations today due to a "security incident on an aircraft".

Birmingham Mail

• Aer Lingus confirms 'suspicious device' found on Birmingham Airport flight 'not a security risk'The plane landed safely and all passengers and crew have left the aircraft

Derby Telegraph

• Huge sign of hope for Alstom that could save thousands of jobsHope that train-making in Derby can be saved, along with thousands of jobs, has been given a significant boost

The York Press

• Bus firm Transdev stages open day at new Rawcliffe depotTransdev is staging an open event in York this weekend which will allow jobseekers to try their hands driving a bus.

Cambridge News

• Neighbours divided over safety of cycling and walking routes through new Cambridge developmentTwo opposing petitions have been made about a new development in Cambridge

South Wales Argus

• Welsh Conservatives push for better public transportThe Welsh public deserves a return on investment in public transport according to the Welsh Conservatives.

Other Regional Press

• Labour criticise Government over East Coast Mainline delaysLEADING Labour figures in the North East have criticised the Government over delays to planned changes on the East Coast Mainline.
• Birmingham Cross City Line gets new modern trains - but there are less seatsWest Midlands Railway has unveiled its new trains that are travelling on the Cross City Line
• Minister dismisses train-making job losses as ’peaks and troughs’, Labour saysShadow transport secretary Louise Haigh said there has been a lack of action from Transport Secretary Mark Harper over securing the industry’s future.

Rail Business Daily

• Government and Alstom in a period of “intensive discussion” around train manufacturingThe Transport Secretary Mark Harper says he has had “a good, constructive meeting with Alstom Group CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge on the future of train manufacturing in the UK. He added on social media: “Intensive discussions are taking place, to conclude no later than the end of May”.

Rail Magazine

• Alstom in redundancy talks over 1300 manufacturing plant jobsThe end of train manufacturing in the UK is edging closer, with a redundancy consultation for 1,300 manufacturing staff under way after Alstom confirmed it is shutting production lines at Derby Litchurch Lane, after 148 years.

Railtech

• City of The Hague goes after ’Energy in Public Transport’ and RETIn The Hague, on Wednesday, the municipality, businesses, and organizations made local agreements on sustainability measures. The Hague aims to use the overhead lines of trams and electric buses operated by HTM to provide power for car charging stations.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• McGill’s Bus Group promotes young managers Burge and GrayMcGill’s Bus Group has promoted two of its younger members of managerial staff. Nathan Burge (pictured, above) has taken up the position of Group Health and Safety Manager and Ewan Gray (pictured, below) is elevated to the role of Depot Operations Manager at the Inchinnan base.

The Business Desk

• Alstom’s Derby plant to be saved after ’intensive talks’, say reports“Intensive” talks between Alstom, the Government and Transport for London with a view to placing a train order which will secure the future of the firm’s historic train-making plant in Derby have been successful, according to reports.

Transport Scotland

• Next milestone for the A9 Dualling delivery planTransport Scotland has today taken a further step forward in the delivery of the A9 Dualling programme, outlining its intentions for procurement of the next section.

Other News Sources

• Refurbishment of Luton Airport Express rail service startsRail service operator East Midlands Railway (EMR) has embarked on a £27.6m (US$34.3m) train refurbishment program for its Luton Airport Express rail service to London Luton Airport (LLA).
• Urgent talks to buy more Elizabeth line trainsAlstom, the train manufacturer, has confirmed that it’s in “intense discussions” with the government and Transport for London (TfL) about a fresh order of new trains for the Elizabeth line.
• London Stansted Airport flights make early switch to SAFJet2.com has announced it will integrate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on departing flights from London Stansted Airport this year.
• Heathrow calls on government to scrap ETA chargesHeathrow has called on government to scrap the recently introduced £10 charge for overseas travellers using UK airports to connect with other flights, saying it puts UK airports at a competitive disadvantage compared with European rivals.
• Transport Secretary visits Scottish port for update on port’s strategic importance to renewables sectorMONTROSE Port Authority welcomed Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop MSP, for a visit last week on Wednesday 10th April.
• Electric vehicle charge points installed at Toton Park and RidePeople parking at Toton Park and Ride will now have access to eight new electric vehicle charging points.

News from Europe

• Freight transport 2022: road up to 24.9%, maritime leadsIn 2022, road freight transport represented 24.9% of all freight transport performance (in tonne-kilometres) in the EU as it went up by 0.4 percentage points (pp) when compared to 2021.