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

Saturday, 27 July 2024

BBC News

• Spiralling costs lead to rural bus service closureA rural bus and taxi service has announced it has shut with immediate effect due to falling passenger numbers and spiralling costs.
• Airport completes £20m security scanner upgradeAn airport has completed a £20m project to upgrade its security scanners.
• France travel disruption expected to last all weekendFrench rail company SNCF has warned that disruption from Friday's sabotage against the country's train network could last until the end of the weekend and affect hundreds of thousands more passengers.
• Weekend of rail disruption for East Midlands passengersRail passengers in East Midlands have been warned of disruption over the weekend due to engineering works.
• Bus station to become revamped £2.7m transport hubPlans to reopen Taunton's bus station as a revamped transport hub have been published - four years after it was last used.
• One in four Eurostar trains cancelled after arson attacksA quarter of all Eurostar trains will be cancelled on Friday and over the weekend after arson attacks caused disruption ahead of the opening of the Olympics in France.
• Airbus boss admits long delays in making aircraftThe plane maker has sold dozens of new jets at the Farnborough airshow, but is struggling to keep up with demand.
• Drivers 'ripped off' by fuel prices, warns watchdogThe Competition and Markets Authority says poor competition cost British motorists £1.6bn last year.

Financial Times

• Sabotage hits French railways hours before Olympics opening ceremonyHigh-speed rail services suspended after fires ‘set intentionally’ to damage network

The Guardian

• Who launched attack on the French rail network and why?Arsonists used crude methods but disruption to opening of the Olympic Games in Paris was severe .

The Telegraph

• Why suspicions are surrounding Left-wing radicals over France rail line attackSuspicions swirl as authorities try to determine the perpetrators behind Friday’s attack

Times Online

• Birmingham HS2 station to be completed with four unused platforms [subscription]More than half of Curzon Street’s high-speed platforms will be redundant, but it would cost more to pare back the scheme than to finish it
• Electric car chiefs look to Labour for new sense of direction [subscription]Policy U-turns by the previous government left the EV industry, which had pumped time, effort and money into plans to hit the strict deadlines, in shock.

Mail Online

• New York City turns to AI-powered scanners in push to keep guns out of the subway systemNEW YORK (AP) - New York City is turning to AI-powered scanners in a new bid to keep guns out of its subway system, but the pilot program launched Friday is already being met with skepticism from riders and the threat of a lawsuit from civil liberties advocates who say the searches are unconstitutional.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Halifax: New West Yorkshire bus station officially opens after £20m investmentThe new Halifax Bus Station was officially opened by the Mayor of West Yorkshire at a ceremony yesterday (Friday, July 26).

Yorkshire Post

• Economic contribution as a result of £2 bus fare cap needs to be taken into accountThere is no denying that the £2 bus fare cap has been a blessing for passengers in Yorkshire. Ever since the fare cap was rolled out in 2022, passengers have been making use of bus travel more often.

Cambridge News

• Temporary 40mph limit on old A14 in Cambridgeshire could finally be liftedPart of the A1307 has had a 40mph limit since around April 2021, while another part has seen the speed restriction in place since February this year

Other Regional Press

• Councillors criticise 'disgraceful' handling of HS2's upcoming month-long Kenilworth road closureTown councillors have criticised the "disgraceful" handling of an upcoming major road closure for HS2 works.
• Network Rail apologises as Richmond residents 'wasting cash' over London Underground failuresRichmond residents have been left stranded due to repeated failures of the District line in recent weeks, Lib Dem politicians have said. Richmond Park MP Sarah Olney and Richmond Council leader Gareth Roberts have demanded answers over the London Underground disruption experienced by thousands of commuters due to a spike in track and signal failures and train fleet issues affecting Richmond station, which is owned by Network Rail.
• Harrogate's new MP criticises restricting home-to-school transport in North YorkshireHarrogate and Knaresborough's new MP has spoken for the first time in Parliament in a week which has seen him join calls for compensation for WASPI women, criticise plans to restrict home-to-school transport in North Yorkshire and back action on social care and sewage.
• Wrexham: £20m plan revealed to cut crime and boost transportPlans worth £20m to revive the fortunes of Wrexham city centre have been outlined following claims that crime and poor transport links are causing residents to spend huge sums elsewhere.
• Bus services facing ’cliff edge’ transport boss warnsBus services across England’s largest county are facing “a cliff edge” with the impending end of the Government’s £2 fare cap, leaving passengers with a potential 600 per cent rise in fares on some routes, a transport boss has warned.

Rail Business Daily

• First points renewal for Southern Integrated Delivery completed at Hoo JunctionThe first major renewal of switches and crossings to be delivered by VolkerRail, as part of the Southern Integrated Delivery (SID), was successfully completed over a number of weekends in May and June.
• Putting the customer at the heart of rail reformIn this guest writer article, Jonathan Booth, Director of Journey4, welcomes rail reform – and explains why, in order to deliver it, the industry must adopt a customer-focused approach.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Transport UK London bus Enviro200 forms part of Ukraine convoyTransport UK London Bus (TULB) has donated an Alexander Dennis Enviro200 to take part in a four-day drive as one of 50 vehicles transporting aid to Ukraine.

Other News Sources

• Nottingham City Transport announces more electric bus routesThree months after Nottingham City Transport (NCT) introduced the first zero-emission electric buses, a further 24 new electric buses will join its fleet in early 2025.
• Transport for London expands e-bike schemeTransport for London (TfL) has announced a major expansion of its Santander e-bike hire scheme, adding a further 900 bikes.