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

Friday, 06 December 2024

Government

• Plan for Change, Milestones for Mission-Led GovernmentOur missions - growing the economy, an NHS fit for the future, safer streets, opportunity for all, and making Britain a clean energy superpower - are part of a decade of national renewal, built on the foundations of a stable economy, secure borders and national security.

BBC News

• Electric cars make up one in four sold in NovemberSales of electric vehicles grow for the eleventh straight month as manufacturers offer steep discounts.
• Boeing plea deal tied to fatal crashes rejectedThe deal undermines the court and involves "contradictory" diversity requirements, a judge ruled.
• Journalists race by bus to highlight travel timesA team of radio journalists have raced each other by bus to highlight the lengthy commutes their listeners are facing.
• Bus network staff to go on strike before ChristmasAbout 200 members of staff at a regional bus network are set to take strike action over two busy weekends in the run-up to Christmas.
• Full rail service resumes after flood repairsA railway station has re-opened and resumed a full service after it was completely flooded during Storm Bert.

Financial Times

• Boeing’s Max plea deal rejected by court over DEI provisionRuling in Texas injects culture war into one of the country’s most significant corporate prosecutions

The Guardian

• Radio malfunction to blame for UK train disruption, says National RailDoncaster telecoms hub fault investigated after login error caused widespread delays and cancellations
• US judge cites diversity provision in rejecting Boeing plea deal over 737 Max crashesPlane giant's agreement to plead guilty to fraud after two jet crashes was called 'sweetheart' deal by relatives of victims

The Independent

• £2 bus fare cap hike puts rural routes at risk, MP warnsHigher bus fares put rural routes at risk of closure, an MP has warned, while another said he had heard from would-be passengers who have had to turn down job offers because of gaps in the network.

Times Online

• FirstGroup buys London to south Wales independent service [subscription]Ahead of renationalisation, the company is acquiring open access licences from other operators that will run services in competition with Great British Railways
• Rush-hour trains disrupted as system fails to 'log on'. [subscription]Elizabeth Line, South Western, Great Northern and Southern services among those hit as National Rail blames fault in communications between drivers and signallers

Sky News

• The electric shock behind Europe's stuttering EV futureAcross Europe, car companies are cutting jobs and shutting factories - to the extent that some question their very existence. So it's worth asking the question: what's gone wrong with Europe (and for that matter America's) car industry?

Bolton News

• Plans 'drawn up’ to redesign a ‘dangerous’ junction after ‘multiple crashes’Plans have been “drawn up” to redesign a “dangerous” Bolton town centre junction after “multiple” crashes – and repeated calls for change.
• Bikes to be allowed on Metrolink trams after 32-year banBikes are to be allowed on Greater Manchester’s tram network after being banned for 32 years.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bradford tunnel restoration 'unlikely' as council focus on other projectsThe restoration of a Bradford tunnel is "unlikely" to take place with Bradford Council saying its focus is on "delivering the wider active travel network for the area".

Bristol Live

• M48 Severn Bridge closure causing gridlock for driversStrong winds made the bridge unsafe for motorists

Wales Online

• New operator for key Welsh rail service to London The route which will launch in 2027 will be operated by FirstGroup after acquiring the open access rights from Grand Union Trains

Lancashire Telegraph

• Burnley Council call for M65 safety review and light returnBurnley Council has called for a feasibility study into bringing back lighting to the whole of the M65 as part of a safety review into East Lancashire's main motorway.

Other Regional Press

• Trains skipping Watford railway station 'until further notice'Trains are unable to call at a Watford station “until further notice”, with the Abbey Line station due for a safety inspection.
• Councillors to debate free bus tickets?Councillors will vote next week on a two-year trial program for all-round free bus travel across the Isles.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• Reading launching new Alexander Dennis busesReading Buses is launching a fleet of new Alexander Dennis buses into service in West Berkshire. They represent a £4m investment from Reading Buses.
• Arriva Merseyside pledges to improve bus services with community groupArriva Merseyside has pledged to work with a community group to improve bus services in the area. Representatives from Arriva attended an event organised by Liverpool Citizens, part of the Citizens UK scheme.

Business Live

• Planned South Wales to London train service has a new operatorGrand Union Trains has sold its open access rights for the new route to FirstGroup

Construction Enquirer

• PM pledges to fast-track 150 infrastructure schemesThe Prime Minister has committed to speed-up development consent order decisions on 150 infrastructure schemes to turbocharge economic growth across the country.
• Timber designs shortlisted for roads 'footbridge of the future'National Highways has picked three timber designs among the five shortlisted as a next-generation template for footbridges over the country's highways.

Rail Advent

• Nationalisation announcement prompts response from Heathrow Southern RailwayHeathrow Southern Railway Limited (HSRL) has responded to the announcement yesterday, Wednesday, 4th December, from the Department for Transport (DfT) that South Western Railway (SWR) is to be taken into public ownership.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Bus Infrastructure Fund in Scotland to handle spend on priorityThe Bus Partnership Fund in Scotland which is currently subject to a heavily-criticised 'pause' has been terminated and will be succeeded by a new Bus Infrastructure Fund in FY2025/26, documents accompanying publication of the forthcoming Scottish Budget show.
• Policy gaps on zero-emission for coach and bus need action: ZemoMajor gaps in policy around the transition to zero-emission for coach and bus must be filled if net-zero transport in the UK is to be delivered, a report from Zemo Partnership has said.
• DfT contest seeks AI-based ideas for Integrated Transport StrategyThe Department for Transport, in conjunction with Connected Places Catapult, has launched a competition to find business ideas for AI-based solutions to enhancing passenger experience in transport.

Sustainable Bus

• California's first wireless charging road, thanks to Electreon and University of Los AngelesIn the lead-up to the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028, UCLA has received a $19.85 million grant that gives continuity to the Electreon-led electric bus wireless roadside charging project and will enable UCLA's BruinBus fleet (the year-round vehicles that serve the UCLA campus and Wilshire Center) to go 100 percent electric

Other News Sources

• Rushcliffe: Council urges MPs and East Midlands Mayor to release cash for road repairsIt will now write to local MPs James Naish and Robert Jenrick to express concerns about inadequate funding from central government.
• Reaction: Signing off 150 development consent orders is a huge undertakingThe prime minister's promise to approve 150 consents for major infrastructure projects by the end of this parliament is a huge undertaking but essential, the chair of a government advisory body has said.
• Sir John Armitt: PM's plan for 150 infrastructure DCOs "a huge undertaking"In a speech this morning, the Prime Minister has set out a number of milestones which the government aims to fulfil over this Parliament on housing, the NHS, policing, clean power and other policy areas. This includes a specific pledge to approve planning decisions on at least 150 major infrastructure projects (through the granting of development consent orders, or DCOs), a significant rise in the level of consents made over the previous parliament.
• Bus company warns customers of online scamMetro Bus has warned customers of an online scam which has been circulating on social media