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

Wednesday, 20 November 2024

BBC News

• 'Train so overcrowded I collapsed three times'A student who collapsed three times on a severely overcrowded train has said the experience left her scared to travel during rush hour.
• British Steel opens £10m rail hubA £10m storage facility for steel rails used to make train tracks has opened in North Lincolnshire.
• London Overground line names and colours roll outThe new names and colours of London's six Overground lines are being rolled out across London from Wednesday, Transport for London (TfL) has said.
• Rail crossing decision postponed after protestsA council has postponed a decision on a railway crossing which has sparked 12 years of public protests.
• Town could get station after 60 years without oneThe proposals have had overwhelming support from residents, the Mayor of Greater Manchester said.
• Elizabeth line operator loses bid to renew contractTfL says GTS Rail Operations Limited will bring the best of Tokyo and London to the Elizabeth line.
• London's new tram-like buses come into serviceThe vehicles use pantograph technology and have a structure attached to the bus roof to recharge them.
• Glen Sannox gets green light to carry passengersThe long-delayed ferry is now expected to enter service on CalMac's Arran route in January.
• Jaguar unveils new logo ahead of electric relaunchThe luxury car manufacturer will launch three new electric cars in 2026 as part of its rebrand.

Financial Times

• Chinese vessel spotted where Baltic Sea cables were severedSwedish investigators looking into movements of bulk carrier travelling from Russia to Egypt
• Italy cracks down on ‘reckless’ e-scooter ridersUsers will have to wear helmets and carry insurance but rental operators say new rules will slash demand

The Independent

• Broken railway: ejecting private train operators is popular. But will it prove effective?Train Talk: Nationalisation looks a sideshow considering the fundamental problems of the railway

The Telegraph

• British Airways flight chaos fixed faster after £750m IT investment [subscription]Airline hails computer upgrades for averting chaos after tech meltdown solved within hours

Times Online

• Cursed Glen Sannox ferry finally ready seven years late [subscription]After a tortuous history of budget overruns and technical problems, the vessel has passed safety checks and will soon be handed over to CalMac

City AM

• Labour approves Ardian and Saudi swoop for majority stake in Heathrow AirportThe private equity group Ardian and Saudi Arabia's £3.3bn deal for a 38 per cent stake in Heathrow Airport has cleared the final hurdle after receiving approval from the Cabinet Office, City AM understands.

Network Rail

• We're adapting our railway to face the challenges of climate change and the extreme weather it brings.So that we can continue giving you smoother, more reliable and better journeys now and in the future.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• LNER explains why it cancelled Bradford to London services based on weather forecastsA train operator has explained its decision to cancel Bradford to London services based on weather forecasts.
• Major safety worries for children over plans to scrap bus services to two schoolsParents, councillors and children have hit out at the Council over plans to scrap school bus service to two Bradford high schools.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Edinburgh trains: Network Rail to produce 'Improvement plan' next month after increase in delaysNetwork Rail is due to produce an "improvement plan" next month for its eastern region, which includes the East Coast mainline, after an increase in delays.

Manchester Evening News

• The 'village' beneath railway arches that could help tackle homelessnessSpades are officially in the ground for a £5m project under Castlefield's railway bridges.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham won't be focus of new £40 million bus fund as cash targets rural areas in 'great need'The East Midlands Mayor says Nottingham already has a "fantastic" bus service in Nottingham City Transport

Yorkshire Post

• British Steel opens £10 million stocking hub in Yorkshire to support rail supplyThe new hub is at the firm's headquarters in Scunthorpe where the vast majority of rail laid in the UK is made.

Other Regional Press

• Southampton bus services to get boost of more than £4.5mMore than £4.5 million will be invested in Southampton to improve bus services.
• Network Rail teams up with TfW and Avanti West Coast for North Wales Rail UnitA dedicated local railway unit, Rheilffordd Gogledd Cymru (North Wales Railway), has been launched by Network Rail, Transport for Wales (TfW), and Avanti West Coast to improve rail services across North Wales.
• Haverfordwest: Public meeting on town's new transport hubA community evening is set to take place this week to discuss Haverfordwest's new public transport interchange (PTI).
• One of UK's biggest bridges built by HS2 near OxfordshireEngineers working for the HS2 project have begun assembling a new bridge.
• Maersk announces it is leaving Port of Felixstowe in SuffolkLeaders around Suffolk have expressed their "disappointment" as a major shipping company announced it is leaving the Port of Felixstowe.
• Suffolk's Greater Anglia trains among best in BritainGreater Anglia trains between Ipswich and London remain among the best in Britain for reliability and punctuality, according to the latest monthly figures.
• Calls to to make Kirklees' roads safer - but not enough cash to do it This week marks Road Safety Week, with Kirklees' town halls lit up orange to remember road traffic victims
• Residents to benefit from £3.8m boost for buses in DorsetThis Government is directing £83 million government funding across the south west with £3.8m to support buses in Dorset into 2026.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• DP World's Modal Shift Programme cuts 64,300 lorry journeys in first year successDP World Modal Shift Programme in Southampton has removed 64,300 truck journeys from UK roads and cut carbon emissions by more than 17,000 tonnes in its first year, significantly advancing more sustainable logistics in the country. The Modal Shift Programme was launched in September 2023 to improve the commercial viability of rail transport for import laden containers. Under the programme, customers are paid an incentive for each container moved by rail from DP World Southampton to a railhead within 140 miles.
• Government unveils £955m to protect and improve bus services across englandThe government has announced substantial new funding to support, improve, and protect vital bus services across England.

Rail Magazine

• Network Rail promises answers to supply chain after communication concerns raisedMembers of Network Rail's supply chain are waiting to hear how it will improve communication after voicing concerns about how information about spending is being shared.
• First London Northwestern Railway Class 350s taken off-leaseThe first three of London Northwestern Railway's 37 Porterbrook-owned Class 350/2s have been returned to their owner.

Other News Sources

• A modern makeover revealed for Kingston's bus stationAlmost 30 years after the last one was built, Kingston on Thames has replaced its old bus station with a new one that has drawn mixed comments.
• 3D digital maps designed to help people navigate stationsUK: Govia Thameslink Railway is testing digital 3D maps designed to help passengers, and particularly those who are disabled, gain more confidence in navigating its stations.
• Hitachi Rail reinforces ETCS market leadership in Thailand with the award of two new projectsHitachi Rail has been awarded a contract to upgrade two major railway infrastructure projects in Thailand with European Train Control System (ETCS) digital signalling, delivering enhanced speed, reliability and safety. Hitachi Rail's ETCS Level 1 system will be installed trackside on the Northeast Line from Nong Waeng Rai to Nong Phok and on the North Line from Den Chai to Ngao, on a total of 780.7 km, as well as on board three vehicles.
• BETTER TRANSPORT LINKS ARE KEY IF LANCASHIRE IS TO DRIVE UP PRODUCTIVITYIt is widely acknowledged that better transport links are vital if Lancashire and the wider North is to drive up productivity and transform its economic performance.
• Bidders announced for Suburban Rail Loop East stationsThree global consortiums have been shortlisted to build the six underground stations on the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East project in Melbourne.