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

Saturday, 07 December 2024

BBC News

• New train deal 'protects jobs at Hitachi factory'Hundreds of jobs have been protected at a train factory following a £500m deal, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said.

Department for Transport

• £500 million deal to maintain hundreds of jobs in the Northeast for years to comeGovernment helps deliver a train-building deal that will give Hitachi's Newton Aycliffe site a future helping protect hundreds of jobs in the Northeast.

Financial Times

• Hitachi chair warns UK train factory at risk unless HS2 northern leg revivedToshiaki Higashihara says jobs at Newton Aycliffe site near Durham cannot be guaranteed without increased demand
• Is flying first-class worth it?We compare the offering of some leading airlines

The Guardian

• Hitachi's £500m train deal secures hundreds of jobs at UK factoryContract for 14 new trains from FirstGroup will help give County Durham site a future

The Herald

• Glasgow stations to benefit from £5m platform improvementsNetwork Rail has announced plans to deliver nearly £5 million of investment in platform works at two Glasgow train stations.

The Independent

• Keir Starmer: £500m Hitachi deal will relieve anxiety of rail workersSir Keir Starmer has said a deal struck by Hitachi which has given a lifeline to hundreds of jobs at a Co Durham train factory will relieve the anxiety of workers.

The Scotsman

• Glen Sannox starts MOT-like maintenance as CalMac updates on when ferry will enter serviceThe operator of the hugely-delayed Glen Sannox has said the ferry remains on track to enter service next month, as the equivalent of a MOT is carried out on the vessel - despite it being brand new.

Times Online

• Is now the time to buy an electric car? [subscription]he discounts on electric cars are set to continue as manufacturers try to shift vehicles off their forecourts and hit their zero-emission sales targets.

Transport Committee

• Digging in: Transport Committee launches inquiry into impacts of street works by utility companiesThe Transport Committee will investigate ways to help limit the damage and disruption to England's roads and pavements that work carried out by utility companies can have.

City AM

• A new Era for London transport? Taylor Swift';s Eras Tour was emblematic of the rise of ‘mega-events’ in the capital that are acting as a catalyst for London’s transport infrastructure to upgrade how it manages surges of visitors and passengers on its network, says Jim Webber

Sky News

• Hitachi: Hundreds of jobs secured at County Durham train factory after £500m dealUncertainty had surrounded the future of the Newton Aycliffe plant and the 700 people employed there.

Birmingham Post

• Northumberland aircraft de-icer Kilfrost hails good trading year despite fall in sales and profitsKilfrost has been making de-icing fluid for the aircraft, ground and rail sectors around the world since 1933

Bolton News

• Bolton to Wigan rail electrification to go live on January 1The long-awaited electrification of the railway route between Bolton and Wigan is set to "go live" on January 1.

London Evening Standard

• Cut flights at Heathrow, campaigners urge after Dutch lower planes limit at rival Schiphol airportThe Dutch government's decision was hailed as a potential 'game changer' for campaigns against noise pollution at major airports

Manchester Evening News

• Greater Manchester could see yellow Bee Network trains in two yearsThe trains would be publicly controlled, much like London's Overground, bosses say

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Keir Starmer vows to 'fight' for train building in North East after £500m deal to save Hitachi jobsPrime Minister Keir Starmer visited Hitachi Rail's factory in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, on Friday to welcome news of a new contract being agreed, after months of uncertainty over the site's future

Doncaster Free Press

• Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Fresh update in New Year says mayor as first plane landsThe Mayor of Doncaster has said she will give a fresh update on plans to re-open Doncaster Sheffield Airport in the New Year after the first plane since its closure landed.

Other Regional Press

• Former Tameside Council leader calls for review of transport groupTHE FORMER leader of Tameside Council has called for more balance on a panel that may influence the area's public transport.
• Richmond Council renews opposition to Heathrow Airport's plans to build third runwayRichmond Council has renewed its opposition to Heathrow Airport's plans to build a third runway over environmental concerns. The council set out fresh demands for Heathrow in response to the airport reviving its expansion plans.
• SIC approves £18.6m for Fair Isle ferryShetland Islands Council has today (Fri) agreed unanimously to fund up to £18.6 million towards the cost of a new Fair Isle ferry and related harbour works.
• UK's first fully electric cross-river passenger ferry Orbit Clipper to launch from Rotherhithe next yearA new zero-emissions passenger ferry will hit the Thames in March next year, becoming the UK's first fully electric cross-river service
• Heathrow expansion: airport faces fresh demands over revived plans for third runwayRichmond Council has renewed its opposition to Heathrow Airport's plans to build a third runway over environmental concerns.

Airportwatch

• Nationwide train chaos caused by overnight communications hub maintenance [subscription]Train services across the country were delayed on Friday morning because of overnight maintenance to a communications hub in Stoke-on-Trent.

Business Live

• Transport for Greater Manchester begins business case for Metrolink extension to StockportSolid business case will help secure funding for £1bn project

Rail Advent

• Blackpool's Heritage Trams suspended after becoming 'increasingly difficult' to operateAfter a review, it has been decided to suspend the Heritage Tram Tours in Blackpool.

Railway Supply

• Cardiff Crossrail: The First Step Towards a Modern Transport Network in CardiffThe first contract for Cardiff Crossrail has been signed in Cardiff, Wales' vibrant capital. A competitive tender process selected the contractor to deliver this ambitious transport project. This was reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The Business Desk

• Burnham sets sights on rail plans to bolster London-style transport systemGreater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, is urging the new Transport Secretary to back the next phase of Greater Manchester's Bee Network.

Transport Scotland

• Further progress on delivering A9 Dualling ProgrammeThe publication today of Made Orders is a major step forward in dualling the 15-mile section of the A9 between Dalraddy and Slochd. Subject to no legal challenge being received to the published made Orders, this will complete the statutory authorisation process for the scheme.

Other News Sources

• Advancing AI in transport: AIthena gears up for final yearAIthena partners focused on reviewing progress, evaluating key activities, and mapping out a strategic plan for the project's final year during their preparatory meeting in Austria.
• UK autonomous transport competition launched to solve technology gapsA £2 million competition has been launched to help solve technology gaps on the path to autonomous transport in the UK.
• North West hydrogen sector calls for greater focus on storage and transport networks to meet net zero goalsThe North West's emerging hydrogen sector has called for additional input from government to support the low-carbon fuel's transport and storage to help meet net zero goals.
• The true cost of cuts to post-16 transport support? Disabled young people's life chancesIt can be hard work to find the right college for your young person, then to get that college named on the Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and the necessary funding secured. But once you've done that, you can put your feet up and relax, right?
• First aircraft lands at Doncaster Sheffield since closureFollowing the announcement of a substantial fund, Doncaster Sheffield Airport has seen the first aircraft in two years return to its base as reopening pends.

News from Europe

• EU sets 2027 emissions cap for buildings, transport and small industries under ETS2The European Commission has set the number of emissions allowances under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS2) for 2027. This cap, totalling 1,036,288,784 allowances, applies to buildings, road transport and small industries and plays a key role in achieving the EU's 2030 climate goals.
• Number of air passengers up almost a quarter in 2023In 2023, the total number of passengers travelling by air in the EU was 973 million, an increase of 19.3% compared with 2022 (816 million).