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

Friday, 05 July 2024

BBC News

• Signal issue disrupts Isle of Wight rail servicesA signalling problem has led to rail disruption on the Isle of Wight. South Western Railway earlier said lines between Ryde St Johns Road and Shanklin were closed, while an "infrequent" service was running between Ryde Pier Head and Ryde St Johns Road.
• Could the 'flying piano' help transform air cargo?A Texas start-up is developing cargo gliders that would be towed behind a jet.

The Herald

• 'Glasgow's new public transport ZoneCard is a shambles'In the spring of 2020 an invisible, semipermeable dome came crashing down over Glasgow city centre. People are now repelled from crossing the invisible threshold, but four years later I’m still living underneath it. It’s lasted a lot longer than Stephen King’s (eight days). And yes, some people still actually live in the city centre.

The Mirror

• Car purchase expenditure rises three times faster than public transport spending'These latest ONS figures underline the UK's reliance on cars and the huge amounts of money they generate for the economy not to mention VAT on that spending, and other tax' - Jack Cousens, AA head of roads policy

London Evening Standard

• Sadiq Khan's Superloop 'puts more Londoners on buses but they keep getting stuck in traffic'TfL says mayor’s £6m express bus network has driven 8% increase in passengers

Sheffield Star

• General election: Sheffield Heeley result – victory for Labour’s Louise HaighThe party’s shadow transport spokeswoman won the seat she has held since 2015 with 21,230 votes. In second place was Green Alexi Dimond, with 5,926 votes.

The York Press

• GB Railfreight’s 10,000 trips to the Drax power stationDrax has reported a major milestone in the transportation of woodchips, which it uses to generate electricity.

Coach and Bus Week

• Stagecoach orders 402 electric busesThe operator has placed orders with Alexander Dennis for 244 new vehicles, and Yutong, which will supply 158
• RailAir expands Reading-Heathrow servicesFirst Bus owned RailAir is increasing the frequency of its RailAir 1 service between Reading and Heathrow Airport. From 30 June, the RA1 has increased to operate every 20 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays, instead of every 30 minutes, in response to growing demand, the operator says.

Rail Magazine

• Analysis: the final chapter of Stagecoach’s railway adventure?Stagecoach was once a big hitter of the rail industry but recently surrendered its last franchise. Howard Johnston charts its rise, fall and return to buses

Railway Gazette

• DB Cargo UK to increase use of digital and AI technologies’Greater use of digital and AI technologies is a key aspect of our ongoing transformation plan and will enable us to deliver even better customer service and product innovation, as well as improving our overall efficiency’,

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Transmach claims patronage boost and BODS compliance easingMoving to a cloud-based system for ticketing has led to increases in patronage of 10% for its client operators, says specialist software supplier TransMach.
• BASE and Centrad underline importance of CCTV on vehiclesBASE Coach Sales and Centrad are celebrating almost a decade of working together on the fitment of CCTV systems to vehicles supplied by the Lancashire dealership by highlighting the ever-increasing importance of such equipment on insurance coverage.

Transportxtra

• We need to talk about transport and health....Population health professionals are currently under-engaged with transport. What more needs to be done?

Other News Sources

• Levenmouth Rail LinkLevenmouth Rail Link is a huge project that reconnects communities in Levenmouth in Fife to the railway for the first time in over 50 years. It means more education, culture, work, and leisure opportunities for local people following the opening of the route on Sunday 2 June 2024.
• UK rail “supercommuters” double in hybrid working era, blurring lines with business travelNew research from Trainline Partner Solutions reveals the number of UK “supercommuters” using rail to travel longer distances to work has doubled since Covid. Almost half (47%) of current supercommuters surveyed made the lifestyle change either during or post-pandemic, and over four in five (84%) of these new supercommuters say hybrid working has enabled their switch in commuting habits.
• Transport for Wales introduces free period products for staffTransport for Wales has introduced access to free sustainable period products in all its stations and offices for menstruating employees.
• Transport UK London Bus Joins the 2024 Pride in London ParadeTransport UK London Bus was honoured to participate in the 2024 Pride in London parade on 29 June. Our Alexander Dennis Enviro400 EV, a familiar sight on Route 63, led the Transport for London section of the parade, a powerful celebration of the LGBTQ+ community in TfL and London.
• Special purpose vehicles firm secures transport hub with acquisitionA supplier of adapted and special purpose vehicles has acquired a Rugby industrial unit for £2.5m to provide the business with a Midlands transport hub.
• Transport sec Mark Harper and predecessor Grant Shapps lose seatsTransport secretary, Conservative MP Mark Harper, has lost his seat in parliament following a landslide general election victory for the Labour Party.