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

Thursday, 31 October 2024

BBC News

• Delays hit first day of hourly Enterprise serviceIrish Rail has apologised after the first day of the hourly Enterprise service was hit with delays.
• Northern rail services embarrassing, mayor saysNorthern says it relies on using fax machines to communicate train cancellations among staff.
• TfL photocards still unavailable after cyber attackTfL contacted about 5,000 customers saying their details may have been accessed in September's hack.
• HS2 Euston link funding announced in BudgetChancellor Rachel Reeves says government funding will be provided for the project to link to Euston.
• China's BYD overtakes Tesla revenue for first timeThe electric vehicle giant saw its revenues jump 24% as government subsidies boost China's car industry.
• Rail fares set to rise in England next year Regulated rail fares in England are set to rise by 4.6%, while most rail cards will rise by £5.

Financial Times

• Volkswagen is in crisis again. Can it be reformed?Europe’s largest carmaker is at war with workers and politicians as it tries to navigate a painful EV transition
• UK rail operator admits it still uses fax machines to contact train crewNorthern under fire from regional mayors for poor performance
• Reeves’ Budget gives green light to HS2-Euston tunnel Chancellor pledges to speed up private investment in redevelopment of central London station

The Guardian

• Rachel Reeves’s big tax-and-spend budget dissected – podcastThe Guardian’s special correspondent Heather Stewart analyses Labour’s first budget in government for more than 14 yearsOn Wednesday the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, set out the Labour government’s debut budget in parliament. She told the House of Commons that Labour would “rebuild Britain”, promising more money for the NHS, schools and public transport.“In 1945 it was the Labour party that rebuilt our country from the rubble of the second world war. In 1964 it was the Labour party that rebuilt Britain with the white heat of technology. And in 1997 it was the ...
• Regulated rail fares in England to rise by inflation-busting 4.6% in 2025Labour announces only the second RPI-plus rise since 2013, though stresses it is ‘lowest absolute increase in three years’Rail fares will go up by 4.6% next March, the government disclosed alongside the budget – meaning they will rise above inflation for only the second time in 12 years.Meanwhile, the cost of most railcards will rise by £5, or almost 17%. Continue reading...
• Cycling will be more dangerous due to council clampdowns, say campaignersCritics of cycling bans in city centres say they unfairly punish cyclists and push them on to congested roadsA growing number of councils are clamping down on bikes in city centres to tackle a rise in antisocial cycling, but campaigners say the rules will “only make cycling more dangerous” and unfairly punish people committed to active transport.Birmingham city council is the latest local authority considering a ban on cycling in pedestrian-only parts of the city centre, prompting a backlash from some residents who fear it could block key routes for commuters and shoppers and push ...

The Independent

• November tube strikes: When are they and which lines are affected?Two unions are taking action next month

Times Online

• Land Rover and Range Rover hybrid sales soar over EV uncertainty [subscription]JLR says drivers are using the vehicles as ?stepping stone? to fully-electric models amid confusion over the transition
• Aston Martin losing ?1m a day as it misses all targets [subscription]Aston Martin Lagonda has confirmed that it remains stuck in second gear, with volumes and revenues still down on last year, its operations firmly in the red ? burning through cash at more than ?1 million a day ? and net debt soaring again.
• Union deal means Northern Rail still has to contact crews by fax [subscription]The operator, which was nationalised in 2020 due to poor performance, admitted the situation during a meeting with northern mayors including Andy Burnham

City AM

• Autumn Budget 2024: Major HS2 and train route updates unveiled Chancellor Rachel Reeves has revealed in her first Budget that the Transpennine upgrade to connect York, Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester will be secured under the new Labour government. Reeves said the money would deliver “fully electric local and regional services between Manchester and Stalybridge by the end of this year, with a further electrification of [...]
• Autumn Budget 2024: Train fares and price of railcards to rise The price of a train fare in England is to rise by up to 4.6 per cent in 2025, it has been announced. A Budget document published by the Treasury also revealed that the price of most railcards will also increase by £5. The increase in fares is one percentage point above July’s Retail Prices [...]

Daily Express

• Incredible 'new supertram' coming to major UK city after Rachel Reeves £1.3bn announcementThis announcement comes as local leaders have pushed for improvements and extensions to the tram network.

Mail Online

• The airlines most likely to delay holiday flights, according to a new studyTravelers flying to destinations in the US this holiday season should watch out for potential delays from several airlines.
• Northern Rail staff 'use fax machines to book time off': Britain's second biggest train operator forced to use 1980s technology 'by union'It is understood that fax machines are used by train crew members to communicate over their rotas, or to book time off.
• Anger as Labour launches multi-billion pound raid on holidaymakers with stealth levy on air faresThe Chancellor announced an increase of 15 per cent in Air Passenger Duty (APD) on economy seats to European hotspots such as Spain , Greece , Portugal and Italy .
• Rachel Reeves confirms HS2 WILL run to London Euston - but REFUSES to give a total cost for the workThe Chancellor said the track will run into the central London hub but did not give a figure for how much the work will cost. However, the commitment is thought to be worth about £1billion.

This is Money

• The Budget that doubled-down on EVs: Chancellor promises low BiK rates, cheaper road tax and more chargersThe Chancellor's reaffirmed Labour's will to 'support take-up of electric vehicles' in today's Budget. What do these tax incentives and other promises mean for EV drivers?
• Chancellor's stealth tax on new petrol and diesel cars: First-year VED rates to DOUBLE next year to as much as £5,490Rachel Reeves will double the first-year tax rates on new petrol and diesel cars from April in a bid to force more drivers to choose electric vehicles.
• Volkswagen says it must close German factories after China sales slump sees profits crash 64%As the crisis in German industry deepened, Volkswagen, Europe's largest car maker posted third quarter profits of £1.3bn.

Birmingham Mail

• New 'sound cameras' to catch drivers blasting music and revving engines rolled out in UKRoad users and motorists are being warned over a crackdown and clampdown on sound pollution and noise levels.
• Petrol and diesel drivers being handed free £130 from today under LabourIn the Budget, one surprise move was the chancellor’s announcement that a temporary 5p cut in fuel duty would remain in place for motorists.
• Car finance mis-selling scandal payouts hiked to £1,600 for driversAs we head towards Christmas, road users affected by the car finance compensation rulings could be handed thousands.

Birmingham Post

• Autumn Budget 2024: HS2 and tram extensions - how the Chancellor's statement will impact the West MidlandsRegional Mayor Richard Parker has welcomed the Budget speech, saying it will help 'deliver local priorities'

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• New easyJet route from Leeds Bradford Airport to Paris launchedA new easyJet route from Leeds Bradford Airport to Paris has been launched.
• £64m relief road in Bradford officially scrapped - after £1m spent on planningPlans for a £64m relief road in the South East of Bradford have been completely scrapped – but not before over £1m was spent on the scheme.

Manchester Evening News

• "It can’t go on" Andy Burnham calls on Chancellor to intervene over Northern rail chaosThe Greater Manchester mayor has described Northern as a 'part-time rail service' amid recent cancellations
• ‘Dim streetlights by 50% and charge motorists at free car parks’ as council budget cuts biteBury Council said it needed to make 'tough decisions' to close a budget shortfall of £35M over the next three years

Northern Echo

• Prime Minister confirms £1.5bn A66 dualling talks and meetings will progressSir Keir Starmer confirmed that meetings over the A66 dualling scheme between Scotch Corner and Penrith would progress during Prime Minister's Questions.
• Labour scraps plans to dual stretch of A1 with MP 'disappointed and frustrated'Labour has scrapped plans to dual the A1 in Northumberland in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' 2024 Budget.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• 'It's a joke' - Wolverhampton commuters hit back at 90p bus cap riseWolverhampton commuters have branded the new single-journey fares on their local buses as a 'joke' after the Government announced price cap change.

Cambridge News

• Calls for new rail service to make Cambs town 'thrive once again'Campaigners want an hourly rail service instead of proposed plans for a shuttle service

Other Regional Press

• Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirms Fuel Duty won't rise next yearFuel Duty will increase this year, after Chancellor Rachel Reeves reversed previous cuts to that tax in today’s Budget.
• Bus company will keep some fares below the £3 cap coming next yearAlthough the maximum single fare for a bus journey in England will go up, Swindon’s Bus Company says that won’t apply to all of its fares in the borough.
• TUI Airways to fly from Southampton Airport for the first time in 15 yearsTUI Airways is returning to Southampton Airport for the first time in 15 years
• Improvements at busy M27 junction scrapped by GovernmentImprovements to improve traffic around Junction 8 of the M27 have been scrapped, according to the Hamble Valley MP
• Bus fare cap increase provokes fury in OxfordshireGreen councillors have condemned the bus fare cap increase announced in advance of the budget
• Oxfordshire MP who worked for Network Rail joins parliament committeeAn Oxfordshire MP who used to work for Network Rail has been chosen to serve on the cross-party Transport select committee.
• MP seeking 'urgent meeting' with rail minister over town's level crossing fundingBicester MP Calum Miller says he is seeking an "urgent meeting" with the rail minister to seek funding for London Road Crossing.
• Fewer roads to be gritted this winter in council clawbackThe council needs to save £300,000 each year to balance the budget

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Government extends bus fare cap raising it to £3 until end of 2025The government has announced a £151 million investment to extend the national bus fare cap and are raising it to £3 until the end of 2025. This is an increase on the previous limit of £2 under the Conservative government and is in place to prevent significant bus fare price hikes across the country. Without this intervention, some passengers could face dramatic fare increases when the current cap expires at the end of 2024, with the Leeds to Scarborough route potentially soaring by £13. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh emphasised the importan...
• CILT(UK) experts respond to the Autumn Budget announcement30 October 2024 - Corby, UK;- Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unveiled one of the most substantial budgets in over 30 years, detailing future plans that impact the logistics, transport, and supply chain sectors. This budget features significant investments focused on enhancing connectivity and addressing the UK's pressing infrastructure needs. In response to the Autumn Budget announcement, experts from the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK (CILT(UK)) have shared their insights on its implications for the sector. Lee White FCILT, Chair of CILT(UK)&...

Railnews

• Rail fares to rise, but HS2 will get to Euston The Autumn Budget 2024 includes HS2 to London Euston and regulated rail fares rising by 4.6 per cent next year. The government has also promised tram improvements and East West Rail continuing to Cambridge.

Other News Sources

• Lower speed limits would make no difference to 'dangerous' Surrey road amid calls for safer crossingThe stretch of dual carriageway sits between homes and one of the county's most historic sites
• British Airways flights from Gatwick Airport to New York cancelled until next yearPassengers may be met with travel disruption this winter