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

Friday, 12 July 2024

BBC News

• Region's transport revolution is happening - mayorEight train lines will be taken under local control as the Bee Network expands, Andy Burnham says.
• Metrolink staff set for summer strikes over payUnion leaders describe the latest pay offer from Metrolink operators as
• Plan for third platform at railway station lodgedNetwork Rail says it wants to build an extra platform at the busy Greater Manchester station.
• Dover port warns of 'exceptionally busy' summerNew EU border checks and travel for the Olympics will increase congestion at the UK's busiest port.
• Stations' new QR codes reveal history of railwaysPassengers will be able to learn about the "unique" history of our railways thanks to new QR codes at stations.
• Council agrees £62m to fund new rail stationA council has agreed to press ahead with plans and funding for a long-awaited new railway station.
• Change to free transport would 'devastate' schoolsPlanned changes to free school buses could bankrupt an academy trust and have a "devastating impact" on three of its schools if pupils chose to go elsewhere, a council meeting has been told.

Department for Transport

• Transport Secretary kickstarts 'bus revolution' as she promises to support local leaders to deliver better buses up and down the countryOur plan will create and save vital bus routes by allowing communities to take back control of bus services through franchising or public ownership.

Financial Times

• Heathrow forced to cut airline landing feesCivil Aviation Authority decision follows lengthy dispute between the airport and airlines
• Jet2 says summer price increases will be modestLeeds-based group pledges to keep prices attractive as it posts record profit, revenue and passenger numbers
• Taylor Swift boost fails to allay discounting fears at DeltaUS airline’s shares decline after forecasts for peak summer travel season fall short of expectations

The Guardian

• Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels will cost up to £4 at peak times, says TfLFares for road tunnels under Thames could be halved for low-income local residents, as pricing consultation opens
• UK ministers preparing king's speech containing at least 30 billsExclusive: Programme to include devolution, housebuilding, crime, transport, AI and green energy. The government is preparing a packed king's speech containing at least 30 bills, including sweeping plans on housebuilding, green energy, crime and voter registration, the Guardian has learned. Labour ministers have drawn up plans for a busy legislative programme focused on delivering the priorities set up in the party's manifesto.
• Lower air pollution may help preserve older people's independence studyResearchers estimate 730,000 people a year in the US lose their ability to live independently due to traffic pollution.

Times Online

• Heathrow forced into bigger cut of passenger landing fees [subscription]Civil Aviation Authority caps price at £23.73 per passenger next year after competition regulator steps in

City AM

• Heathrow Airport: Landing charge ruling spells trouble for UK’s biggest hubLondon Heathrow Airport flew into turbulence this morning after a regulatory ruling deemed the level it charges for landing fees too high.
• London City Airport granted five-year ban for Just Stop Oil The injunction comes in response to Just Stop Oil's plans to cause disruption during one of the busiest summers in decades.

The Mirror

• Passengers set to see plane ticket prices fall after Heathrow ordered to cut landing feesLondon Heathrow Airport - the largest airport in the UK - saw some 81.9 million passengers pass through on their way to their destinations in the past year alone
• Passengers set to see plane ticket prices fall after Heathrow ordered to cut landing feesLondon Heathrow Airport - the largest airport in the UK - saw some 81.9 million passengers pass through on their way to their destinations in the past year alone

Local Government

• Liverpool City Region to use digital twin of bus servicesLiverpool City-Region Combined Authority has announced a plan to use a digital twin in its efforts to improve bus services and transport connectivity.

Network Rail

• Electrification project lays firm foundations at new Hairmyres stationWork to install the foundations of a new footbridge at the relocated Hairmyres station has begun.

Birmingham Post

• Jet2 books revenue and profit rises amid record passenger numbersThe holidays firm said more people were booking last minute for getaways
• Bentley 'disappointed' at GMB strike voteUnion says car giant needs to engage urgently with its members
• Battery recycling leaders Connected Energy and Altilium join forcesThe two clean tech firms are hoping to set industry standards for electric vehicle use after their initial use
• Record-breaking day at Heathrow as airport handles over a quarter of a million passengersThe airport said 268,000 passengers travelled through its terminals on June 30, the day after the Brexit deadline was extended from October

Bolton News

• Transport Secretary wants Bee Network rolled out across countryJust one week into the job and the new Transport Secretary wants to kickstart a "bus revolution" inspired by Greater Manchester’s Bee Network.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• State of roads in Leeds in decline as pothole numbers riseThe state of the city’s roads is in decline after maintenance funding failed to keep up with demand for repairs, a report has warned.

London Evening Standard

• Labour offers ’bus revolution’ as minister visits Greater Manchester networkThe Government will give local authorities new support to take buses back under public control.

Manchester Evening News

• Plans submitted for third platform at one of Greater Manchester's 'busiest train stations'It could help reduce delays and increase capacity. Network Rail has submitted plans to build a third platform at Salford Crescent train station.

Nation. Cymru

• Fears for future of Heart of Wales Line after cuts to servicesCouncillors have criticised a reduction of services on a rail line named as one of the best in Europe, fearing its long-term future could be in jeopardy.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Rachel Reeves insists Labour 'will deliver' on promise to save County Durham Hitachi train factoryLabour's new Chancellor was in the North East on Thursday and reiterated a commitment to protect hundreds of jobs at Hitachi Rail's Newton Aycliffe plant

Wales Online

• The beautiful railway line in Wales at the heart of a row over its futureCouncillors have backed a motion calling for more investment in the rural service and a review of service cuts which are planned for December
• 60mph speed limits to be slashed to 30 in areas that already have 20mph roads Some stretches of road will get new limits to 'deter heavy breaking which could...lead to collisions'

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• HS2's 'Bellingham Bridge' takes shape in BirminghamHS2 has completed the four huge piers of the Curzon 2 bridge, marking a significant construction milestone on the sequence of viaducts that will take high-speed trains in and out of Birmingham.

Wrexham.com

• Residents hit out as “confusing” cuts to village bus serviceResidents in a Wrexham village have hit out over “confusing” cuts to local bus services. Changes to Arriva Buses Wales’ timetables this month led to the removal of some routes serving Tanyfron at busy times.

Bucks Free Press

• Heathrow Airport: campaign supports ban on Just Stop Oil protestsA ban on protests at Heathrow Airport by groups such as Just Stop Oil has been backed by a campaign group supporting the airport’s expansion

Other Regional Press

• Mansfield to get 23 new electric buses in £13 million investmentMansfield is set to become a pioneer of clean and green public transport after a partnership between Nottinghamshire County Council, Stagecoach East Midlands and West Notts College.
• Did somebody say discounted group bus travel?Group travel by bus in Nottinghamshire and Greater Nottingham is about to get even better thanks to a discount of up to a third-off existing group tickets this summer.
• Rural bus services will continue says Bedford council - despite contract ending on July 31The borough’s rural bus services are not being cancelled at the end of July despite rumours from bus drivers, a meeting heard.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• First London order for Alexander Dennis’ next gen’ busesAlexander Dennis has today confirmed the first order from a London operator for its next-generation electric buses.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Transport Secretary Louise Haigh unveils 5-Point sector strategyNewly appointed Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, has unveiled her 5 key strategic priorities for the sector as she promises to deliver the biggest overhaul to transport in a generation. Her 5 priorities include: Improving performance on the railways and driving forward rail reform Improving bus services and growing usage across the country Transforming infrastructure to work for the whole country, promoting social mobility and tackling regional inequality Delivering greener transport Better integrating transport networks In her first address to parliament on Monday July 8, Haigh se...
• Transport Secretary unveils 'bus revolution' in Greater Manchester visitTransport Secretary Louise Haigh visited Greater Manchester today ( July 11) to launch the government's ambitious bus revolution, pledging to empower communities across the country to take control of their bus services through franchising or public ownership. During her visit, Haigh met with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to discuss the success of the area's Bee Network and how it could serve as a model for improved bus services nationwide. The Transport Secretary promised to create and preserve essential bus routes throughout the UK, signalling an end to the "failed syst...

Rail Magazine

• Light rail body seeks tram safety improvementThe Light Rail Safety and Standards Board (LRSSB) has launched a national campaign aiming to enhance pedestrian safety around UK tramways.

Rail UK

• Nexus selects Tracklink® system for Renewal ProgramRail and safety systems specialist Sella Controls, A HIMA Company, is pleased to announce the contract award by Nexus Tyne and Wear Metro for the renewal of their Traction Power SCADA System.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Liverpool City Region links with South Korea to boost bus servicesA collaboration involving Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) and technology experts in South Korea is focused on improving bus services in the area.
• TfL proposes coach and bus exemption from 2025 tunnel chargesCoaches, buses and other vehicles with nine or more seats will be exempt from user charges to be introduced at the Blackwall tunnel and the new Silvertown tunnel from 2025 under proposals outlined by Transport for London (TfL) in a consultation.
• Stagecoach London orders Enviro100EV and Enviro400EV busesStagecoach London is the first bus operator in the capital to order Alexander Dennis next-generation battery-electrics after concluding a deal for 24 Enviro100EV small single-deckers and 17 Enviro400EV double-deckers.
• Compass Travel launches app in link-up with UrbanThingsCompass Travel has partnered with UrbanThings to launch a new app and website. The platform will give passengers of the independent bus operator, which has 101 routes in Sussex and Surrey, access to real-time updates, mobile QR ticketing, and journey planning.
• 10-strong Mellor Orion batch delivered to East Ayrshire CouncilEast Ayrshire Council has taken delivery of 10 Mellor Orion accessible minibuses, each built on the Fiat Ducato base vehicle.

Other News Sources

• London Heathrow transforms airport operations with GenetecHeathrow Airport’s multi-year investment in Genetec solutions is enabling it to continuously innovate and transform operations.
• Heathrow forced into bigger cut of passenger landing feesHeathrow Airport has been compelled to reduce the landing fees it charges airlines following intervention by the competition regulator.
• Average age of European coaching stock tops three decadesA new generation of locomotive-hauled coaches is required for both inter-city and overnight trains, according to a new report from SCI Verkehr.
• Bus driver shortage: How do we bridge the gap?IRU member the Swedish Bus and Coach Federation has launched a new campaign to tackle the chronic shortage of bus and coach drivers by simplifying access to training and attracting new talent.
• Nottingham Bus StrategyOver the past 15 years, Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and bus operators have invested significantly in our bus network. By collaborating and working together, the Greater Nottingham area has been able to deliver some of the United Kingdom’s best bus services.