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

Wednesday, 27 November 2024

BBC News

• Dozens of bus routes to be scrapped or changedRoutes in the West Midlands will be affected, with most changes in January, after a viability review.
• What do people think of e-scooters in Welsh cities?Trials of e-scooters could be heading to Cardiff and Swansea, but we found mixed opinions.
• Electric car targets could be eased as demand flagsThe government faces pressure from the industry to make changes to electric vehicle sales quotas.
• Aston Martin issues second profit warning in two monthsThe iconic firm blames "minor delay" in deliveries of its ultra-exclusive Valiant cars for the shortfall.

Financial Times

• Chinese ship linked to cable sabotage urged to move into Swedish watersStockholm steps up probe after two lines were cut in Baltic Sea

The Guardian

• Vauxhall owner plans to shut Luton van factory, putting 1,100 jobs at riskStellantis says it will shift production from Bedfordshire to plant at Ellesmere Port, CheshireBusiness live – latest updatesThe owner of Vauxhall has announced that it plans to close its van factory at Luton, in a decision that will put 1,100 jobs at risk of being cut or moving location despite the UK government preparing to relax rules on electric cars.Stellantis said it would shift van production from Luton, Bedfordshire, to another factory at Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, blaming the UK’s economic conditions and the government’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate. Continue r...

The Telegraph

• Virgin Atlantic pushes for break-up of Heathrow [subscription]Airline chief calls for terminals to be run by rival companies to end monopoly control

Daily Record

• Lanarkshire MSP backs her party's call for £2 cap on bus faresCentral Scotland Green MSP Gillian Mackay would save regular commuters hundreds of pounds, and transform access to local bus services in Lanarkshire.

Network Rail

• Classic High Speed Train in main line digital signalling runA familiar and classic train became a new addition to digital signalling in-cab testing runs on the East Coast Main Line at the weekend.
• Passengers contribute almost £100bn a year to local communitiesAs a rail customer, you contribute £98bn a year through spending within local communities, underscoring the huge social and economic value of our railway.

Birmingham Post

• Boost for Nissan jobs as Business Secretary to announce consultation on electric vehicle targetsNissan was among manufacturers lobbying the Government to relax the zero emission vehicle mandate and had warned over jobs and investment at its Sunderland plant
• Vauxhall owner puts 1,100 UK jobs at risk with plans to close major factoryStellantis, the parent company of Vauxhall, has announced plans to close its van manufacturing plant in Luton, putting 1,100 jobs at risk

Bristol Live

• Bristol Airport expansion is 'downright dangerous' says council chiefThe leader of the ruling group at City Hall is not backing the airport's expansion
• 'Used to be good'... no surprise as Bristol Airport is put up for saleBristol Airport is one of five sites that is being put up for sale by its owner

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Electric vehicle charging points to be installed at North Wales council's car parks 'This is a positive step forward and brings us in line with other places'

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• New East Coast Main Line station in Killingworth to be consideredNorth Tyneside Council has announced it is looking into the feasibility of a new East Coast Main Line station in Killingworth
• Kielder Forest's lonesome Pine bike trail reopens three years after Storm Arwen destruction Storm Arwen left a trail of destruction across the North East in November 2021

Northern Echo

• Hitachi Lumo trains built in Newton Aycliffe win reliability awardHitachi's at-risk Newton Aycliffe factory has been given a boost as trains built there were named the UK's most reliable.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• 'I think it's disgusting': Bus users talk about upcoming cuts to servicesUpcoming cuts to bus services will see many West Midlands based routes either changed or axed completely

Blackpool Gazette

• Investment will unlock hopes for Blackpool Airport to handle larger flights as council agrees next stepInvestment which is a vital step towards eventually restoring scheduled flights to Blackpool Airport has taken another stride forward.

Other Regional Press

• CAMPAIGNERS SAY AIRPORT SHOWS 'CONTEMPT FOR COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTA campaign group has branded Bristol Airport's latest proposals 'utterly irresponsible', saying they show 'contempt' and a complete disregard for the local community and environment
• Luton Airport Parkway station celebrates silver anniversary with special eventOpened by Queen Elizabeth II in November 1999, the station serves nearly four million customers each year and provides an essential link between Luton Airport and London, as well as journeys further north.
• Huge airshow thrown into doubt over road closure uncertaintyAn international air show being heralded as the “last hurrah” for a closed airport before its £800 million renovation may have to be called off.
• One million passengers go through Bournemouth Airport's terminal in first since 2008Bournemouth Airport has welcomed its one millionth passenger in 2024 as it celebrates a bumper year and looks forward to even bigger growth in 2025.

Construction Enquirer

• HS2 awards £3bn of track contractsHS2 has confirmed the teams that will deliver contracts worth £3bn for track, signalling, communications, and other systems.

Rail Advent

• New Bi-Mode trains on the cards as Grand Central submits track access applicationOpen-access train operator Grand Central has applied to the rail regulator to extend its track access rights across Yorkshire and the North East beyond 2027.

Rail Business Daily

• Keeping rail on track: Meeting maintenance challenges head-onIn this Guest Writer article, Josh Gilsenan, Operations Director at Encompass Engineering, shares how embracing new technology and rethinking maintenance strategies can drive efficiency and deliver improved results.
• TransPennine Express celebrates five years of the Nova Fleet in ?Nova-ember?TransPennine Express (TPE) is celebrating the five-year anniversary of its Nova fleet.

Rail Magazine

• Royal Mail ending rail services 'undermines' government's commitment to freight, DB Cargo CEO tells ministersRoyal Mail?s decision to scrap rail services ?undermines? the government?s commitment to support the growth of rail freight, says DB Cargo Chief Executive Andrea Rossi.
• Minister provides Midland Main Line electrification update as Network Rail plans next stage of workThe government has said electrification of the rest of the Midland Main Line is expected to be completed early in the next decade.

Railnews

• Flooding still disrupting trains in south and west Trains are still being delayed or cancelled in several areas this morning, after Storm Bert caused flooding and wind damage over the weekend. The Northampton loop on the West Coast Main Line is not expected to reopen before tomorrow at the earliest, because signalling and telecomms equipment were damaged when the tracks at Northampton station disappeared under water from the nearby River Nene.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• ShuttleID expands scope for ?part-week? school bus ticket salesShuttleID has ?lots of plans? to further develop its home-to-school and home-to-work coach and bus ticketing platform to build on the recent introduction of Brickets and diversification into the local authority market, the supplier said at Euro Bus Expo.

Other News Sources

• NSAR appoints Mary Grant, CEO of Porterbrook, as new Board ChairThe National Skills Academy for Rail (NSAR) has appointed Mary Grant, Porterbrook Chief Executive Officer, as Chair of its Board of Directors.
• Redditch MP Chris Bloore on bus service improvementsPublic transport is the backbone of our community. For workers, students, and older residents across Redditch and the Villages, bus services provide a vital link to employment, education, healthcare, and social activities. Yet, under the previous Conservative government, our local services suffered a devastating decline, with Worcestershire experiencing a 42% reduction in bus miles over a decade. This left too many communities isolated and disconnected.
• Alstom engineer awarded for her leadership in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives within the rail industryAlstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, is delighted to announce that Charlotte Briers, Rolling Stock Performance Lead and Chair of the Voices of Women employee resource group, has been awarded the esteemed Verena Winifred Holmes Award by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). This accolade recognises her exceptional leadership in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives within the rail industry and beyond.
• Flooding repairs could see West Coast Main Line services disrupted for the rest of the weekPASSENGERS travelling on the West Coast Main Line are being warned that disruption could continue for the rest of the week.
• Planning application reveals a surprise about Heathrow Airport?s runwaysPlanning applications can reveal surprises, such as that planes weren?t allowed to lift off from Heathrow Airport?s northern runway when flying eastwards.
• Heathrow boss says 2025 to bring final decision on controversial third runwayLONDON ? Heathrow?s chief executive said Monday he would push the U.K. government for a final decision on construction of a third runway at the London airport by the end of 2025, adding that the latest discussions had seen ?positive momentum.?
• HS2 confirms rail systems contract winnersHS2 today named the teams that will deliver the high-speed rail project?s state-of-the-art track, signalling, communications, and other systems.
• Future of Guildford's controversial £6m cycle scheme decided in less than 3 minutesIt took less than 3 minutes