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

Tuesday, 14 May 2024

BBC News

• School bus drivers to strike for 5 daysSchool bus drivers, in the Nipsa union, will strike from 20 to 22 May and on the 3 and 4 of June.
• The struggles over fixing London's broken bridgesRedbridge Council says there is no money to fix Broadmead Road Bridge in north-east London.
• Phone signal goes live on 25% of underground TubeAll Elizabeth line stations now have coverage as work continues.

Financial Times

• Chinese car executive calls west’s claim of overcapacity a ‘fake concept’Great Wall Motor’s international head defends China’s industry as it exports more vehicles amid slowing domestic demand

The Guardian

• UK police could get Ghostbusters-style backpack devices to halt ebike getawaysDevice in development fires electromagnetic pulse that tricks ebikes and scooters into shutting off. Police officers in Britain could be armed with Ghostbusters-style devices that fire electromagnetic rays to shut down the engines of ebikes being used in a crime.

The Telegraph

• Travel fees and tax-free shopping ban are hurting Britain, says Heathrow. [subscription]Heathrow Airport has claimed that Rishi Sunak’s tourist tax is undermining Britain’s position as a global transport hub.

Times Online

• Heathrow joins call to restore VAT-free shopping. [subscription]The airport’s bosses also criticised measures such as the £10 fee for transiting passengers and said the UK’s global connectivity was being curtailed

Local Government

• Want to know the name of the planned new Okehampton station?The name of a new railway station near Okehampton has been revealed in a special ceremony. Key figures from Great Western Railway; Network Rail; Devon County Council and West Devon Borough Council, along with Central Devon MP, Mel Stride, gathered at the site of the planned new station to unveil its name.

Network Rail

• Samaritans and Network Rail train over 30,000 rail staff to help prevent suicideThis Mental Health Awareness Week (13 - 19 May), Samaritans has today announced a new milestone with its Managing Suicidal Contacts programme - in partnership with Network Rail and the wider rail industry - as more than 30,000 staff members across Britain's railways have been trained to help people in crisis.*

Bristol Live

• Photos show new £23m Temple Meads station entrance as project remains on track for 2026 openingThe new entrance forms part of a multi-million regeneration project

Edinburgh Evening News

• Keep us on track as we build a fairer, greener and better transport system - Lorna Slater​When I look back on the time that the Scottish Greens spent in government, one of the proudest achievements was the pilot scheme we launched to remove peak rail fares and shift to off-peak fares all day.

The York Press

• Transport cuts ‘could undermine small schools viability’Controversial cutbacks on home to school transport in North Yorkshire would further undermine viability of struggling rural village schools, it has been claimed.

Cambridge News

• New Cambridge junction that separates cyclists from cars to open soon The Milton Road project is expected to be completed by the end of the year

Plymouth Herald

• MP warns South West rail passengers of 'decade of disruption' while HS2 station builtLuke Pollard MP said the new "super hub" in London for HS2 would affect rail passengers travelling to Paddington with up to 18 days of closures a year

Other Regional Press

• Ben Houchen on bus fare caps, free swimming and removal of controversial cycle laneThe Tees Valley Mayor said he was already working on fulfilling his promises, while also sharing his views on the upcoming general election
• 'No garden for two years' as Huddersfield residents demand £10k compensation in garden access rowResidents are at loggerheads with Network Rail over access to gardens
• Chance for Coventry residents to have say on new cycle pathThe proposed cycle plan is expected to connect links to Binley Woods and Coventry
• Jaguar Land Rover announces big update as car giant 'enters next exciting phase'Profits are higher 'than ever'

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Lumo celebrates 95% of workforce recruited through apprenticeshipsTyneside train operator, Lumo, has announced that 95% of their workforce first began as apprentices. Lumo’s milestone follows a five-year partnership between themselves and railway training provider, Train’d Up.

Rail Business Daily

• Draft Rail Reform Bill raises concerns over proposed power for Secretary of StateQuestions have been raised about giving the Secretary of State open-ended powers to change legislation in the draft Rail Reform Bill.

Railway Gazette

• Transport for London plans new model for rail capital worksUK: Transport for London is seeking market feedback on the possible replacement of its current multiple frameworks for the delivery of rail capital projects with a single pan-TfL framework.

Other News Sources

• XRail Managing Director appointed as next RIA ChairmanUK: The Railway Industry Association board has appointed XRail Managing Director Noel Travers as the next RIA Chairman, following a competitive interview process.
• Timelapse: HS2 completes 3,130 tonne second Wendover Dean Viaduct deck slideHS2 today revealed new timelapse footage showing the latest stage of a complex year-long project to slide almost half a kilometre of bridge deck into position, high above Buckinghamshire's Misbourne Valley.
• Collapsed Baltimore Bridge Blasted into PiecesU.S. crews in Baltimore set off controlled explosions on Monday to allow them to remove a portion of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge from the bow of the massive container ship that toppled the span in March.The detonations were meant to break the bridge's truss into small sections…
• Southampton Airport expansion: Romsey residents fear impactA GROUP of 20 people has raised fears over the environmental impact of Southampton Airport's expansion.