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

Wednesday, 31 July 2024

BBC News

• Island to introduce year-round ferry serviceA year-round ferry service will be introduced in Alderney that will "change [the] island forever".
• Festival celebrating Manx transport history beginsA six-day festival celebrating the Isle of Man's heritage transport network that attracts hundreds of railway enthusiasts each year has begun.
• Council hopeful for station despite funding fearCity of York Council said it remained committed to plans for a new station in Haxby, despite the new chancellor's scrapping of a railways project.
• Fresh doubt over north Wales rail electrificationWelsh Secretary Jo Stevens has cast further doubts over the £1bn plan to electrify the north Wales rail mainline, stating she “suspects the money isn’t there".
• Elizabeth line shortlisted for architecture prizeFour out of the six buildings shortlisted this year are in London, including the National Portrait Gallery.
• Fourth rail union balloted after 'miserly' pay offerThe TSSA union warns of a
• Air NZ becomes first big carrier to drop climate goalThe airline blamed difficulties securing more efficient aircraft and sustainable jet fuel.
• Tesla faces recall over alerts for unlatched bonnetMore than 1.8 million cars are due to get a software fix, US safety regulators said.

Financial Times

• Airbus profits more than halve on extra charges in space businessResults come as aerospace group held exploratory talks with Thales about merging some of their space activities

The Guardian

• Air New Zealand is first major airline to scrap 2030 emissions targetFirm says it is now re-adjusting to a realistic end date and blames difficulties in procuring new planes and sustainable jet fuel. Air New Zealand has become the first major airline to drop its 2030 goal to cut carbon emissions.The company has blamed difficulties in procuring new planes and sustainable jet fuel.

The Scotsman

• Former CalMac boss Robbie Drummond secures new senior transport role after ferry sackingAn executive who was removed as the boss of beleaguered ferry firm CalMac has been appointed to the finance driving seat at McGill Group as part of a senior reshuffle at the Scottish bus giant.

Times Online

• Cost of keeping ageing island ferries afloat rises by 50% [subscription]More than £41m was spent last year on maintenance and repair on Scotland’s fleet as the wait for new vessels goes on
• Stirling Prize 2023: Elizabeth Line on London-dominated shortlist [subscription]The £18 billion transport scheme is a surprise contender to win the UK’s most prestigious prize for architecture

City AM

• Airbus earnings plunge as space unit hit by £833m charge The French manufacturer said its embattled space unit had received

Birmingham Post

• HS2 hit by £2bn in costs after northern leg scrappedLatest annual report reveals the full financial scale of decision last year to abandon second phase of high-speed rail scheme

Bolton News

• Diamond Bus North West gains prestigious accreditationA bus operator has achieved accreditation at its Bolton depot.
• Bolton Metrolink cancellation ‘could be revisited’, says MPChancellor Rachel Reeves said the previous government had ‘covered up’ a ‘£22 billion hole’ in spending.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Manningham Lane bus gate plan described as 'crazy'A MANNINGHAM councillor has hit out at proposals to limit car traffic on Manningham Lane, calling it a “crazy plan.”
• 72 bus service running from Bradford to Leeds will be 24/7A bus service which runs between Bradford and Leeds is set to become a 24/7 offering for passengers - the first for the region.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• North East Mayor Kim McGuinness moves forward with plans to take control of region's bus networkThe region's bus services look set to be taken back into public ownership

The York Press

• Haxby Station plan future uncertain says City of York CouncilThe future of Haxby Railway Station hangs in the balance after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced funding cuts to the transport sector.

Other Regional Press

• Heathrow third runway back on the table in government push for economic growthProspects for a third runway at Heathrow Airport have resurfaced, with the Government indicating it could be greenlit as part of a push for economic growth.
• ’Without Euston, we have a problem with HS2’Sadiq Khan has stressed the urgency of bringing High Speed 2 to Euston just hours before the government announces spending cuts which could include cancelling the required tunnel link.

Rail Business Daily

• Birmingham academic announced as Parliament’s Thematic Research Lead for TransportDr Louise Reardon, Associate Professor in Governance and Public Policy at the University of Birmingham, will begin her role as Thematic Research Lead for Transport in September.
• Keeping the rolling stock rollingSeveral important issues have the potential to affect rolling stock. Some show how rolling stock is impacted by issues elsewhere on the rail network. Others show how rolling stock improvements will benefit other parts of the network. All of them show how the rolling stock sector is trying to increase efficiencies and get greater value from existing or new assets
• Rail on track for the future: The challenges & opportunitiesAs the deliberations end and Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO) awaits the arrival of Cohort 2 of the Clean Futures programme – and so the range of exciting innovations their new SMEs will bring to the rail sector – we reflect on where the sector is at the moment and, most importantly, the track it’s on.
• Greater Anglia marks the 5th anniversary of its first new train in passenger serviceGreater Anglia (GA) has marked the 5th anniversary of its first new train entering passenger service.

Rail UK

• QTS and South Lanarkshire Council launch new Rail Skills AcademyQTS and South Lanarkshire Council, supported by Network Rail, are looking for enthusiastic young people, aged 18 to 24 years, to join the region’s first Rail Skills Academy.
• Major upgrades to improve journeys for years to come in LeicesterNetwork Rail is to carry out more than £5 million of major engineering work south of Leicester station which will improve reliability for passengers for years to come.

Other News Sources

• Hitachi Rail to Supply Battery-Powered Trams in FlorenceIn Florence, Hitachi Rail has been contracted to supply 46 advanced battery-powered trams and the necessary digital signalling to operate them.
• Alstom Acquires a Rolling Stock Bogie Manufacturing PlantThe French corporation Alstom has completed the acquisition of the Duray Ulasim Sistemleri bogie manufacturing plant located in the Turkish city of Bursa, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.
• RIA comments on HS2 accounts and spending review announcementsThe Railway Industry Association highlighted the financial impacts of the HS2 project changes and expressed concerns over the recent spending review and cancellation of the Restoring Your Railways programme.
• Decision to ditch Grimshaw’s Euston station adds to £2bn cost of cancelling HS2 Manchester leg, latest accounts sayHS2 has said a government decision to pull the plug on building a new station at Euston meant it has written off more than £150m in costs on the scheme.