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

Thursday, 23 May 2024

BBC News

• Crash train 'authorised' to pass danger signalA signaller who failed to close barriers ahead of a train crash reportedly permitted its driver to pass a signal indicating danger ahead.
• Rail plans include town's only London linkA train company has announced plans to expand services, including a town's new and only direct connection to London.
• Plan for new Liverpool-Manchester rail line revealedPlans for an extra line between Liverpool and Manchester have been announced by the cities' new combined railway organisation.

Financial Times

• Labour vows to break inertia of UK infrastructure deliveryParty plans to create new body to avoid delays and overspending on big projects such as HS2
• Singapore pledges thorough investigation into turbulence-hit flightMembers of Transport Safety Investigation Bureau sent to Bangkok to probe incident

The Guardian

• TV tonight: why are our roads in such a state of crisis?Dispatches investigates the motor issues that are grinding people's gears.
• Call for stricter rules to stop UK MPs repeating conspiracy theoriesDemos report come after two ministers publicised unverified claims about low-traffic neighbourhood schemes Politicians should be subject to stricter rules on spreading disinformation or wild claims for which there is scant evidence, the thinktank Demos has urged, after senior members of the UK government repeated conspiracy theories on 15-minute cities.Parliament's ethics and standards watchdog should urgently review its requirements to ensure ministers were truthful and accurate in their communications on contentious issues, and avoid spreading disinformation that can polarise debate, the th...

The Independent

• Liverpool Manchester rail plan announced will cut journey time in halfMayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram, Liverpool City Region Mayor, said the plans will boost the economy of the North West

Times Online

• Should drivers pay road tax per mile? [subscription]A new system could ensure that electric cars are charged as well as petrol and diesel, but would this be fairer overall? We ask two motorists

City AM

• The return of Virgin Trains: Can Richard Branson give Avanti a good kicking? Could Richard Branson's return to the West Coast Main Line finally get Avanti West Coast on the right track?

Network Rail

• Five-year investment plan for ‘Backbone of Britain’ railway revealedPassengers and freight customers are at the heart of the multi-billion pound 2024-29 business plan revealed by Network Rail’s North West and Central region... The regional Strategic Business Plan (SBP) covers the projected activities, outputs and cost of operating, maintaining and renewing its railway infrastructure between 2024 and 2029.

Birmingham Mail

• EasyJet urges all passengers to 'please check' or 'charges will apply'The low-cost airline is known to check bags before boarding and non-compliant luggage 'won't be able to go in the cabin'

Bolton News

• Bolton MP warns against cutting Bee Network bus stopsBus stops should not be cut in response to new Bee Network buses failing to hit targets, a Bolton MP says.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• West Yorkshire third highest for EV vehicle registrationsWEST Yorkshire is in the top three areas of the country for motorists switching to electric vehicles.
• Latest on plans for south Bradford Park and Ride schemeWork on a Park and Ride scheme in Bradford is expected to continue - despite the fact there is no funding available for the car park.
• Latest on plans for south Bradford Park and Ride schemeWork on a Park and Ride scheme in Bradford is expected to continue - despite the fact there is no funding available for the car park.

Bristol Live

• Drivers could face £1 per minute charge for 'idling' under new plans to cut congestionSelect Car Leasing has warned that electric car drivers could be hit with 'idle fees' for leaving their vehicles connected to charge points for too long as more people switch to eco-friendly vehicles

Nation. Cymru

• 20mph speed limit in Wales ‘draconian’, says shadow transport ministerThe Welsh Conservatives shadow transport minister has described the 20mph speed limit in the country as “draconian” and “bringing Wales to a standstill”.

Wales Online

• Major announcement made about Cardiff bus stationThe new bus station has been beset by delays

Yorkshire Post

• Leeds Bradford Airport night flights continue to disrupt us residents - Yorkshire Post LettersSleeping indoors in Adel and having a lie-in on Easter Sunday, with all my windows shut and with earplugs, I was furious to be woken up shortly after 6am with the sound of aircraft taking off from Leeds Bradford airport.

Bucks Free Press

• How Arriva's bus closures could impact Buckinghamshire pubsArriva's proposed closure of their bus services across Buckinghamshire areas could drastically affect local pubs and nightlife.

Other Regional Press

• Dispute over Southampton plans for bus lanesQuestions have been raised over the prospect of bus lanes being introduced on one of the main routes into Southampton city centre.
• Column: Back ​my comprehensive plan to improve transport in our area - Alexander Stafford MP​One of the issues that is most often raised with me is the state of our local transport infrastructure. Transport is devolved to the Mayor of South Yorkshire, but I am straining every sinew to improve our area, writes Rother Valley MP Alexander Stafford.

New Civil Engineer

• Great British Railways’ long-term business plan must be informed by five-year funding cyclesGreat British Railways’ (GBR) long-term business plan must be informed by short-term funding settlements because a long-term operational funding commitment “wouldn’t be realistic” according to Network Rail chiefs.
• Bespoke escape hatch installed in Heathrow runway under pressurised conditionsContractor Design Build International (DBI) teamed with Aco to efficiently install a bespoke escape hatch in Heathrow Airport’s runway under pressurised time and logistical conditions.

Rail Magazine

• Level boarding fuels Southeastern’s new trains planSoutheastern is inviting five train manufacturers to negotiate to replace “as soon as possible” the operator’s 30-year-old Networker fleet that run metro services in London.

Transportxtra

• Rail plans for North and Midlands questionedThe NIC review includes new analysis on the railway network in the North and Midlands in light of the decision last autumn to cancel work on High Speed 2 north of Birmingham.
• New SNP position on transport unclear as fares cut extendedJohn Swinney, Scotland’s new First Minister, has extended the pilot of ScotRail peak fares removal, rather than making a permanent decision one way or the other.
• Transport for the North asks public for views on accessible stationsSome rail stations in northern England are “partially or wholly inaccessible to people with disabilities or reduced mobility”, says Transport for the North (TfN).

Other News Sources

• Alstom’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion recognised at Women in Rail AwardsAlstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, is celebrating after winning two major awards at the seventh Women in Rail Awards.
• Transport police and CPS smash major ‘rail for scrap’ conspiracyA series of trials has concluded with the prosecution of seven men for their part in a conspiracy to steal rails from Network Rail and sell on through scrap businesses.
• Loughborough led AI transport project shortlisted for prestigious national awardA Loughborough University led AI transport project, intent on helping the UK reach its net-zero targets, has been shortlisted for a national award.
• Zero-emission cars up 18% in 2023, Department for Transport data revealsMore than 314,000 new cars with zero tailpipe emissions were registered in 2023, an increase of 18%.
• Data maturity challenges for the Scottish transport networkThe reality of ‘open data’ often falls short of what is promised, and as it looks to implement the practice across its functions, Scotland’s transport network is finding there are a multitude of hurdles to clear. Consultants from Zühlke have been working with the network’s leaders to address siloes – and have identified three key fronts on which improvement is needed.