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

Wednesday, 23 October 2024

BBC News

• Airport's cargo hope amid low passenger numbersCardiff Airport's chief executive praises a new cargo service, but passenger numbers remain low.
• Plan to tackle town's decades-old traffic 'chokehold'A public inquiry is examining a plan to combat traffic on Cookstown's A29, one of Mid Ulster’s busiest roads.
• ‘Clear need’ for new motorway services on M56Planning authority suggests the benefits 'clearly outweigh' the harm of building on green belt land.
• E-scooter rules eased to 'improve rider experience'Transport for London is reducing the number of “go slow” or "no go" zones across the capital.
• Why is the Victoria line so loud?Tube engineers say they have identified why noise levels have increased on the Victoria line.
• Plans to convert buildings to bus facilityCornwall Council has applied for permission to demolish the disused Coronation Hall and St John's Ambulance buildings in Liskeard and replace them with a new bus facility.
• Boeing-made satellite breaks up in spaceThe "total loss" of the communications satellite has affected Intelsat customers around the world.

Financial Times

• Tokyo Metro rises 40% on debut in Japan’s biggest IPO since 2018Capital’s underground railway network has raised $2.3bn in heavily oversubscribed listing
• Labour to end profit incentive for rail operators in run-up to nationalisationTrain bosses accuse government of being ‘ideological’ over ending post-Covid scheme letting them keep more cash

The Guardian

• Train involved in fatal crash in Wales ‘entered wheel slide when braking’A man in his 60s died and 15 others were injured after a head-on collision between Talerddig and LlanbrynmairRail investigators believe a train involved in the first head-on collision in the UK this century, which killed a passenger in his 60s, “may have entered into a wheel slide when braking”.A further 15 people were treated in hospital after the collision between the Welsh villages of Talerddig and Llanbrynmair on the largely single-track Cambrian line. Continue reading...
• Local transport funding at risk as Reeves considers big budget cutsExclusive: England mayors fear bus, tube and tram plans could be scrapped if Treasury reneges on agreed budgetsHundreds of millions of pounds of local transport funding in England could be cut in next week’s spending review despite having been agreed with regional mayors, putting bus, tube and tram improvements at risk.The mayors, most of whom are Labour, are engaged in a last-minute lobbying campaign to stop the Treasury raiding their transport budgets as Rachel Reeves looks for immediate savings. Continue reading...
• Rail, water, energy: the big projects likely to be in Rachel Reeves' budgetChancellor expected to promote range of infrastructure plans to boost economy, including reviving parts of HS2

The Independent

• Driver of train in horror crash ran in to carriage to warn passengers seconds before head-on collisionA train driver ran into the carriage to warn passengers seconds before a horror crash that killed one and left 15 in hospital, those on board have said.

The Telegraph

• The little-known rail project giving Reeves a £500m headache [subscription]Transport bosses fear dire consequences if a crucial upgrade fails to win funding

Times Online

• It's unfair on the poorest to bin bus fare scheme [subscription]What has this government got against the poor? Who will stick up for them if Labour won't? A small (to you or me) but really positive bit of help for bus passengers who don't own cars looks likely to be taken away in next week's budget.

City AM

• Heathrow Airport: Passengers reach record high on summer boomHeathrow Airport smashed through its record-breaking 30m passenger target over the summer. It welcomed 30.7m between June and September, a record for the group.

Network Rail

• Network Rail seeking contractors for £226M property construction frameworkNetwork Rail is procuring for a £226M framework for contractors to conduct new property construction and renovation and refurbishment services of its existing properties across its regions.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Wales train crash: Rail crash investigators release statement with early potential theoryRail Accident Investigation Branch have put a preliminary statement

Manchester Evening News

• 'Manchester Airport owe us millions - at some point they have to pay'Calls have been made to 'put pressure on Manchester Airport' to pay out millions they owe in dividends. Town hall bosses in Trafford are bidding to get the huge sums owed to them by Manchester Airport Holdings (MAH) - which have been suspended since the Covid pandemic - restored.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Caledonian Sleeper staff to wear body cameras after increase in verbal abuseThe train operator will fork out nearly £200,000 to acquire the technology.

Wales Online

• Wales train crash investigation update says train 'may have entered into wheel slide'Investigations are under way which will involve inspection of its 'black box' data recorder, inspecting the track, analysing data from railway signalling and radio systems, and interviewing witnesses

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Team at Heathrow visit Black Country as part of drive to connect with business communitiesLeading global airport Heathrow strengthened its links with businesses in the Black Country when senior representatives visited the region for a tour organised by the Chamber of Commerce.

Oxford Mail

• HS2 assembles new viaduct over River Cherwell floodplainHS2 has begun assembling a viaduct across the floodplain of the River Cherwell near the Oxfordshire border.?

Other Regional Press

• Could plans for a new rail station and reinstated coastal line become a reality?Plans to build a new South Lynn railway station and reinstate the Lynn to Hunstanton line would be considered if viable, a report has said.
• Trainline announces change to flexibility of RailcardsTrainline has issued an update for customers with a Railcard to help them avoid being fined when travelling on trains.
• Popular Farndon and Chester evening bus service to continueA POPULAR evening bus service will continue throughout the winter, it has been confirmed.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Roads Minister launches 'Ways of Life' highways campaignA new initiative aimed at transforming public perception of careers in Britain's highways sector has been launched by the Highways Sector Council (HSC). The 'Ways of Life' campaign seeks to highlight how roads and transport networks are vital to modern life whilst showcasing diverse career opportunities within the industry. The campaign features an engaging video narrated by Mr Gee, which explores the numerous ways people interact with highways daily—from bus journeys and commercial deliveries to cycling and walking. It emphasises how the sector contributes...
• First Bus and Heliox join forces to announce five new charging depotsFirst Bus and Heliox are set to develop five new electric bus charging depots across the UK, backed by an £89 million investment and government ZEBRA 2 funding support. The new facilities will be constructed in Bristol, Weston-super-Mare, Minehead, Taunton, and Basildon, building upon the companies' existing network of nine operational electric bus charging depots throughout Scotland and England. The expansion follows their previous collaboration in Glasgow, where they launched the UK's largest electric bus depot ahead of COP26 in 2021, capable of charging 178 vehic...

Rail Business Daily

• Alex Hynes awarded Chartered Institution of Railway Operators honorary fellowshipThe Chartered Institution of Railway Operators (CIRO) has announced that Alex Hynes, Director General, Rail Services and former Chair of CIR''s Board, has been awarded Honorary Fellow level membership. This recognition reflects Alex's outstanding contributions to the UK rail industry and his lasting support for CIRO?s mission to advance professional development in railway operations.

Rail Magazine

• Network Rail confirms the closure of Deepcar branchThe Deepcar freight-only branch in north Sheffield is no longer in use after Network Rail mothballed the line from September 29.
• 'Safety is my top priority': Louise Haigh vows to learn from fatal mid-Wales train crashTransport Secretary Louise Haigh has pledged to understand what caused Monday night's fatal train crash in mid-Wales.
• Freight needs clarityThe Rail Freight Group held its 32nd annual conference on September 26 with many of the industry's leading voices delivering talks.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Worries from coach sector as Entry/Exit System go-live postponedDelay to the introduction of EES, previously planned for10 November, prompts warning of later disruption at peaks

Transport Times

• Heathrow Southern Railway: never has so little track given so much to so many!?Air travel is booming. Heathrow is having day after day of record passenger numbers. While there are some headwinds on consumer sensitivity to price ? Michael O'Leary, Ryanair boss, recently said consumers will only travel 'at a price' ? air travel looks set to keep soaring.

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow Elevates Standards as Airlines Compete for Dominance in Noise and Emissions PerformanceHeathrow Airport has relaunched its innovative league table, Fly Quieter and Greener, which evaluates the performance of the top 50 airlines operating at the UK's primary airport based on noise and emissions. This initiative aims to encourage improvements in airline practices and provide transparent data to local communities and stakeholders.

Other News Sources

• Heathrow makes pre-Budget appeal for government to back aviation sectorHeathrow today urged the Labour government to set the aviation sector up for 'long term success' in next week's Budget.
• Charles Wright: What will the government do about Euston and HS2?Funding for the rail link from Old Oak looks on the cards, but a full regeneration of Euston station and its surroundings remains a giant task
• DfT investigates upgrades to mobile and Wi-Fi services for train passengersOfficials at the Department for Transport (DfT) are investigating how to improve mobile phone and Wi-Fi services for train passengers.
• Network Rail set for all-clear for huge Olympics site last-mile hubThe 2-million-square-foot plans are for the last parcel of development land on 2012 Olympics site
• First Bus and Heliox to develop five new EV charging depotsFirst Bus has expanded its partnership with rapid charging systems firm Heliox to develop five new electric bus depots in Bristol, Weston-super-Mare, Minehead, Taunton, and Basildon.

News from Europe

• Deutsche Bahn eyes AI tools, unveils 5G projectGermany's national railway company Deutsche Bahn unveiled a pair of initiatives heralded as aiding a wider modernisation plan, comprising a move to further develop AI tools for its operations and a separate pact with mobile providers to explore ways to improve 5G coverage on its network.