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

Thursday, 18 July 2024

BBC News

• New Isles of Scilly fast ferry seen in harbourThe new fast ferry which will take passengers between the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall has arrived in Newlyn Harbour.
• Alderney airport runway planning costs exceed £1mPlanning costs for Alderney airport's runway extension have risen above £1m according to the government body responsible for Guernsey's ports and airline.
• Luton Airport opens new drop-off zone after fireA new express drop-off zone has opened outside London Luton Airport's main terminal after the previous one was destroyed during a fire.
• Network Rail considers sea wall safety measuresNetwork Rail has said it is considering what safety measures could be put in place following the deaths of a woman and a young girl on a sea wall in Devon.
• Plea for Virgin to retake north Wales train servicesBusiness leaders want Sir Richard Branson to retake north Wales to London rail services after it was revealed more than one in five direct trains were being cancelled.
• Government urged to back buses in LincolnshireRural bus services in Lincolnshire need to improve in order to boost the county’s economy it is claimed.
• School travel bosses seek £5.5m cost cutPlans have been put forward to cut the cost of school transport by £5.5m over the next three years.
• Axing free uni bus 'will limit disabled students'A former student at the university says disabled people are not factored into the decision.

The Guardian

• Unions hail UK’s rail renationalisation bills as a return to ’public service’Separate measures in king’s speech will allow government to take operators into public ownership while Great British Railways is set up
• Labour to hold talks with Aslef over rail strikes next weekNew government aims for rapid resolution to dispute that has disrupted train services for more than two years. Talks between the train drivers' union Aslef and the Department for Transport (DfT) will take place next week as the new Labour government seeks a swift resolution to the long-running national pay dispute. Aslef's general secretary, Mick Whelan, said he believed fresh talks can and will get a deal, more than two years on from the start of a series of strikes by drivers that have halted train services around the country. .

The Independent

• Train drivers talks to resume in bid to break two-year deadlock and put an end to rail strike miseryNegotiators from the train drivers’ union, Aslef, are to meet the Department for Transport (DfT) on Tuesday 23 July in a bid to resolve their long-running pay dispute.

The Scotsman

• The CalMac electric ferry orders Ferguson Marine is expected to lose and winMinisters don’t expect Ferguson Marine to win the competition to build seven new CalMac electric ferries, but believe their planned £14 million investment in the

Times Online

• Electric car sales failing to keep pace with climate goals. [subscription]The Climate Change Committee says stalling purchases could endanger emissions targets but that it expects falling EV prices to reverse the situation

i News

• Avanti first rail firm at risk of nationalisation under Labour train plansThe West Coast Main Line operator has been heavily criticised over its service to passengers

The Sun

• BACK ON TRACK Rail and bus services back in public hands in sweeping renationalisation planRAIL and bus services are heading back into public hands as the new Government rolls out a sweeping renationalisation plan.

Labour List

• Government to enter talks with ASLEF next week over train drivers’ pay disputeThe new government is set to hold fresh talks as early as next week over the train drivers’ pay dispute.

Local Government

• £1.7 million plan set to boost 30 bus routesCouncillors back a £1.7 million plan to restore and improve 30 bus routes and services across Westmorland and Furness.
• Have your say on the new Local Transport Plan for KentFollowing the progress Kent County Council (KCC) has made delivering on the ambitions of its fourth Local Transport Plan (Delivering Growth without Gridlock), residents can now share their views on the new Local Transport Plan: Striking the Balance.
• Transport for the South East pleased that buses and trains featured in the King's SpeechTransport for the South East (TfSE), the Sub-national Transport Body for the South East of England, is encouraged to see that the issue of transport featured in the King’s Speech.

Network Rail

• Network Rail completes £5m Troon station rebuildNetwork Rail has completed the rebuild of the fire-damaged Troon station in a £5m investment in Scotland’s Railway.

The York Press

• Former shop could become fun family lounge at York stationFAMILIES could be making tracks for a fun time at York Railway Station under plans before the council.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Victorian transport pioneers didn't hang about – they built three tramlines in a matter of monthsLast week we learned that the long-awaited tram link from Wednesbury to Dudley had been delayed by another year, almost 30 years since the line was first proposed, while the extension to Brierley Hill High Street may never be built.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds Bradford Airport: Increased drop-off charges 'bordering on the ridiculous' as critics warn driversAirports including Leeds Bradford Airport have been criticised for raising charges for drivers dropping off passengers.

Carlisle News & Star

• Avanti hauled in for 'constructive' meeting with transport secretaryA meeting between the boss of Avanti West Coast and the new transport secretary has been described as ’constructive’ by the train operating company.

South Wales Argus

• South west Wales future regional transport feedback requestA public call for feedback on future regional transport plans in South West Wales has been made.

Other Regional Press

• Oldham: Details provided on Metrolink stop to be developedPlans have been laid out and funding has been allocated to create a new stop on the Metrolink line at Cop Road, in between the Derker and Shaw and Crompton stops.
• Gatwick Airport hosts student work experience for first timeNearly 30 secondary school pupils from eight schools in Crawley were invited to the airport from July 8 until July 12 to learn more about career opportunities and essential workplace skills.
• Sadiq Khan rules out double deckers on 'very busy' London bus route that Superloop 2 will missSadiq Khan has ruled out double deckers on a London bus route despite services being 'very busy'. The issue was raised by Labour London Assembly Member Leonie Cooper, who relayed concerns about the 293 - which goes between London Road / Morden Station and Epsom Hospital - to the Mayor of London.
• Reduced timetable concerns could hammer economy in LargsCUTS to the Largs train timetable threaten to deal a 'hammer blow' to already struggling hospitality businesses in the town, it's been warned.

New Civil Engineer

• Rail reform and establishment of Great British Railways confirmed for this ParliamentLegislation to bring the Great Britain’s railways into public ownership and establish a new integrated delivery body Great British Railways will be brought forward in this Parliament, as confirmed by the King’s Speech on 17 July.

Rail Magazine

• Rail Minister Hendy has a tough job… but the skills to succeedThere was no shortage of dropped jaws when news came through about the appointment of the recently ennobled Lord Peter Hendy as rail minister.
• King’s Speech promises laws to nationalise train operations and set up GBRThe King has just delivered his speech at the State Opening of Parliament, setting out the coming year’s parliamentary agenda included laws to deliver the new Labour government’s railway policies.
• ScotRail axes services due to driver shortageMore than one-quarter of trains have been suddenly axed by nationalised ScotRail, owing to worsening industrial relations that has resulted in a driver shortage with fewer drivers volunteering to work on their days off.

Railnews

• King’s Speech confirms creation of Great British RailwaysHM the King has confirmed that Great British Railways will be created and private sector passenger operators nationalised.

Railway Technology

• UK’s Network Rail extends AI trialThe forward-facing cameras will be trained to inspect tracks and potential hazards “in real time”.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• North East Mayor launches school holiday ’Kids Go Free’ bus offerNorth East Mayor Kim McGuinness has co-ordinated with public transport operators to introduce a region-wide ’Kids Go Free’ offer for the school holidays.
• ALBUM renews partnership with Women in TransportThe Association of Local Bus Managers (ALBUM) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting gender diversity in the transport sector by renewing its partnership with Women in Transport for another year.

Aviation Industry

• New technology to allow Heathrow to prioritise emission targetsHeathrow will now be able to measure and choose to prioritise the environmental performance of arriving flights, thanks to technology developed by air traffic service provider, NATS.

Other News Sources

• Talgo and Skoda Group may create a new European giant in rolling stock manufacturingTalgo is considering a proposal for a potential merger with Skoda Group following their offer of a “business combination”, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.
• "Misleading" adverts not used to promote petition backing London Luton Airport expansion, says council-owned airport companyA £150,000 spend on a Luton Rising marketing campaign to support a community-led petition was separate from an advertisement labelled “misleading” by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the company said.
• Birmingham Airport preparing for its 'busiest summer on record'Birmingham Airport is preparing for its busiest summer on record with more than 2.1 million passengers expected to travel through it over the next six weeks.
• SITA extends contract with Heathrow Airport for network infrastructureSITA will bolster Heathrow’s IT infrastructure, as both continue collaboration in their longest contract extension to date
• CPT reacts to the Kings SpeechResponding to the inclusion of a Better Buses Bill in the Kings Speech, Graham Vidler, CEO for the Confederation of Passenger Transport says,  
• Bills to overhaul UK rail and bus services included in King’s SpeechA number of bills related directly and indirectly to public transport have been announced in the first King’s Speech delivered under a Labour government in 15 years.
• Leading Rail Technology Companies Join ForcesLeading Rail Technology Companies Join Forces to Improve the Safety of Rail Workers in the Netherlands
• Kings Speech signals end for rip-off railTSSA today welcomed the pledge in the King’s Speech to bring the railways into public ownership. This landmark commitment marks a significant victory for TSSA, which has been tirelessly campaigning for this cause since 1994.
• New UK government's transport plans laid out in King's SpeechKing Charles III today outlined the plans of the UK's new Labour government at the State Opening of parliament, which include a commitment to overhauling the nation's railways and investment in the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).