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

Monday, 29 July 2024

Cogitamus

• All Change? Rail Under the New UK GovernmentIt was our great honour and pleasure to welcome so many colleagues from across the rail industry in partnership with Rail Forum to our invitation-only seminar ’All Change? Rail Under the New UK Government’ on 19 July 2024, just two days after the newly elected UK Labour Government had announced its legislative programme in the […] The post All Change? Rail Under the New UK Government appeared first on Cogitamus.

BBC News

• Leader's pledge for fewer idling buses in plazaCity leaders plan to reduce the number of buses idling in near a popular plaza.
• TransPennine introduces 'much needed' late serviceA rail campaign group has welcomed a decision by a train operator to introduce an extra late-night service, but is disappointed it is only for four weeks.
• Rail firm boosts seaside services over holidaysRail operating company Southeastern is providing extra capacity on trains to coastal towns in Kent and East Sussex this summer.
• Path over railway line to shut due to safety fearsA railway line level crossing has become a "risk to public safety", officials have warned, with quieter and more frequent trains prompting plans to close a public path.
• ScotRail travel misery over double disruption to trainsScotRail is already running a reduced timetable after a pay dispute with drivers.
• Rail firm boosts seaside services over holidaysExtra services will be in operation to Ramsgate, and carriages will be added on trains to the coast.

Financial Times

• US air taxi developer Joby Aviation scouts for English take-off sitesStart-up hopes to launch its first European services in Britain well before end of the decade
• Cyber attacks on shipping rise amid geopolitical tensions State-backed hackers present a fresh threat to an industry that has long faced security concerns
• SNCF fixes sabotaged train lines as security at Olympics remains tightHigh-speed lines shut on Friday are set to operate a full service tomorrow, while officials continue to investigate attack
• Embraer banks on regional jets to double revenues by end of decadeBut Brazilian group's CEO leaves option open to take on Airbus and Boeing with a larger plane

The Guardian

• UK port operators to seek compensation if post-Brexit trade barriers are loweredBritish Ports Association reportedly warns government it faces huge losses after investing in border control postsUK port operators have reportedly said they must be compensated by the government if it negotiates a deal to lower trade barriers with the EU, having been forced to invest millions in building post-Brexit border control facilities under the Conservatives.The British Ports Association (BPA) is said to have written to the Cabinet Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs warning of huge losses after operators built sophisticated control points to enforce stric...

Times Online

• Stonehenge campaigners rejoice as road tunnel set to be scrapped. [subscription]Rachel Reeves is expected to abandon the £1.7bn scheme in the artefact-rich area as part of spending review

City AM

• Who will pay to phase out petrol cars?Last week the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) set out seven measures it wanted the government to implement in order to make “automotive sustainability” a competitive advantage for the United Kingdom in the global marketplace. One of them was “a package of fiscal, tax and regulatory support measures that attract new investment and ensures domestic vehicle producers are globally competitive”.

Network Rail

• Network Rail reveals drone footage of 42 metre beam delivery ahead of multi-million-pound bridge rebuild over the M62.The "VIBs" (very important beams) were delivered ahead of work that sees the first ever weekend closure of the M62.

London Evening Standard

• HS2 high speed rail link may end in London suburb rather than Euston, signals ministerCabinet Office minister Pat McFadden says HS2 route will be re-examined

Cambridge News

• Trains in Cambridgeshire to face major disruption over August Bank HolidayThese are due to come into effect over the August Bank Holiday weekend

Other Regional Press

• 'Dorset Metro' plan could improve Weymouth to Waterloo lineWork on a potential Dorset Metro that will provide greater rail links across Dorset will begin this summer.

Calling All Stations - The Transport Podcast

• Calling All Stations is LIVE! S2, Ep23In our first ever episode recorded in front of a live audience at the Cogitamus and Rail Forum #allchangerail seminar, Christian Wolmar and Mark Walker examine the outcome of the UK General Election and the appointments of Labour's Transport Ministers [1:08] along with publication of the new Government's extensive transport legislative programme in the King's Speech [06:00]. We then have a featured and extensive interview with Martin Tugwell - Chief Executive of Transport for the North - who discusses with Christian the agenda for investment across all modes in northern England [16:42].

Rail Magazine

• HST vehicles are readied for exportThe next series of HST vehicle exports is being assembled at Great Yarmouth before being moved by road to the docks for export to Nigeria and Mexico.

Railway Gazette

• Northern awards station passenger information systems contractUK: Train operator Northern has awarded Sella Controls a contract to supply, install and commission 269 customer information displays as well as long line public address systems at 68 stations.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Bus Vannin connects all on-bus CCTV systems to Journeo PortalBus Vannin has connected all its on-vehicle CCTV systems to the Journeo Portal. The supplier says that will save time and money for the Isle of Man operator by making insurance claims and customer service queries easier, faster, and more efficient to manage.
• Bee Network bus services to embark on strategic reviews processTransport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is to open a programme of strategic network reviews of bus services that form part of the franchised Bee Network. All areas of the conurbation will be subject to the exercise within three years with a view to identifying and deploying improvements.

The Business Desk

• £33m park and ride scheme at Cheltenham opens for businessA major £33m transport scheme in Gloucestershire has reached completion.

Aviation Industry

• London Heathrow Airport Handles Nearly 40m Passengers in Six MonthsLondon Heathrow Airport this week revealed the handling of nearly 40 million passengers in the first six months of this year.

Other News Sources

• Cyberattacks Present Shipping Industry’s Biggest Threat Since WWIIThe industry saw at least 64 cyber incidents last year, the Financial Times reported Saturday (July 27), citing research by the Netherlands’ NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences. That study found that there were three such incidents in 2013 and zero in 2003.
• First Bus has placed an order for 32 repowered buses with Wrightbus’ NewPowerFirst Bus becomes first UK Bus operator to place order with NewPower, a new enterprise owned by bus manufacturer Wrightbus that coverts diesel buses into zero emission vehicles. An initial order of 32 buses has been placed that will serve four regions. The new company has the goal of converting more than 1,000 diesel buses
• Unite says ’full steam ahead’ as over 300 Scotrail workers balloted over strike actionUnite the union has today (Monday 29 July) said that it's ’full steam ahead’ over strike action involving hundreds of Scotrail workers as the nation’s rail pay dispute threatens to escalate and widen.
• Creation of new Devon rail link takes another leap forwardA railway group campaigning for more rail infrastructure in North Devon has got Torridge District Council (TDC) on board. The council's community and resources committee is to join the Northern Devon Railway Development Alliance which is championing a new rail link between Bideford and Barnstaple and supporting improvements and services between Barnstaple and Exeter.

News from Europe

• Belgium, France Austria: The European countries where employers must pay for public transportWith the climate crisis gaining pace and the benefits of sustainable forms of transport clear, some European countries are making employers pick up employees’ public transport bills.