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

Friday, 13 December 2024

BBC News

• 'My friends and I can't get the bus together'For many people, getting the bus is an easy way to travel around with their friends. But for wheelchair users, it can be much more difficult.
• Tube fares up 4.6% in 2025 while bus fares frozenTube and rail fares in London will rise by an average of 4.6% in 2025, while bus and tram fares will again be frozen, the mayor has announced.
• More frequent buses wanted in Jersey, survey findsMore than a quarter of adults surveyed in Jersey never use the bus. About 1,200 people were surveyed by Statistics Jersey for the 2024 Opinions and Lifestyle survey, which found 28% do not use the public bus service.
• Northumberland Line reopens after 60 yearsA railway line closed for more than 60 years has been officially reopened following delays.
• 'Disastrous' port closure may delay Christmas presentsThe aftermath of Storm Darragh disrupts Christmas shopping and passenger ferry services.
• Christmas train travel could be hit by staff shortages Lord Hendy says the transport department is going to "keep a close watch on staffing" over the festive period.
• 'Train phone snatcher stole £21,000 from my bank apps'Niall fell victim to theft while on a train and police data shows a rise in reports of these crimes.

Financial Times

• Reeves dismisses calls for HS2-style Birmingham to Manchester lineChancellor does not want to give ‘false hope’ to proponents of partially private-funded rail link

The Guardian

• UK electric vehicle charger rollout risks regional divide, report warnsNational Audit Office says government on track to install 300,000 charge points by 2030 but areas outside south-east risk missing outPlans to roll out 300,000 electric vehicle charge points across the UK by 2030 risks creating a “regional divide” between well-connected areas in London and the south-east and the rest of the country, according to the spending watchdog.The National Audit Office found that the government was on track to meet its goal for 300,000 charge points to be fitted by 2030, but that large swathes of the country were missing out. Continue reading...

Local Government

• Council calls on MPs to support railway blight fightMPs are being urged to back a council's fight to oppose the resurrection of the HS2 rail line.
• Platform and rail track improvements underway at Newquay Railway StationImprovements are underway at Newquay Railway Station as part of the Mid Cornwall Metro project.

Birmingham Post

• Cross-border Western Gateway Partnership facing loss of £1m core funding from the UK GovernmentThe lose of funding would undermine the momentum built up by the partnership over the last four years and could even lead to questions over its viability

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bus stop and timetable changes as Interchange reopensBRADFORD Interchange bus station is set to reopen in January 2025 - here's a guide to the services are moving back to the Interchange and which will stay elsewhere in the city centre.
• Work to install gates on city centre rail arches beginsWork to gate off a row of rail arches in Bradford city centre has begun – and is due to be completed by the start of next year.

London Evening Standard

• HS2 would be better value for money without 225mph bullet trains, says rail ministerThe highest speed high-speed railway in Britain is going to cost this nation a lot of money, said Lord Hendy
• Tube fares to rise by almost 5% but London bus fares frozen at £1.75Tube fares will rise by double the rate of inflation next year but London bus fares will be frozen at £1.75.

Manchester Evening News

• First day of strike action as TfGM office and interchange staff rally over conditions and pay The mayor has since invited unions to another meeting with transport bosses

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander opens Northumberland Line railway between Newcastle and AshingtonPassenger services between Newcastle and Ashington are set to begin this weekend
• Northumberland Line: Residents say return of rail services could revive 'dying town'The Northumberland Line opens to passengers on Sunday
• Labour's Nissan Sunderland plant pledge as Rachel Reeves says Goverment 'working to protect jobs'Chancellor Rachel Reeves pledged support for Nissan's Sunderland car factory during a visit to the city on Thursday, a week on from positive jobs news at Newton Aycliffe's Hitachi plant

Other Regional Press

• Havering Council Leader Hits Out At Sadiq Khan- The Mayor Of London Claims Every Journey Matters-Apparently Not For Havering Residents' As Bus Route Axed.Councillor Ray Morgon, Leader of Havering council has hit out at Sadiq Khan following the axe of the 347 bus route.
• Kent county council set to receive £23m to improve bus servicesKent is set to receive more than £23m to ensure better bus services across its county. This is part of the £124 million Government funding set to support buses into 2026 in England.
• Greater Anglia trains to be renationalised next yearGreater Anglia, which operates services through Hackney Downs and Lea Bridge into Liverpool Street station, is one of three railway companies to be renationalised in 2025, the government confirmed, a move that hopes to 'put customers first.'
• Cheshire East 'insulted' by proposed future rail schemesOUTSIDE elected mayors 'insulted' Cheshire East by putting forward two potential rail schemes which will plough through the borough but bypass Crewe and bring no benefits to locals, councillors said.
• Construction begins on new flying aircraft facility in OxfordshireThe UK's first vertiport testbed is under construction at Bicester Motion.
• Plane maker to axe nearly 500 jobs to cut costsEuropean aircraft maker Airbus is laying off nearly 500 workers in the UK to try to cut costs.
• Transport chief cast as Scrooge in bizarre council meetingA rendition of 'A Christmas Carol' that talked about Oxford's traffic measures was performed at an Oxfordshire County Council meeting.
• Brits heading to Spain face 'chaos' at airports as new rules cause havocA new registration scheme for tourists in Spain has been branded 'chaos' after a glitch left travel agents unable to fill in the forms correctly - with strict fines for those who don't comply

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• DHL and Oxa showcase self-driving technology in Heathrow AirportDHL Supply Chain has successfully completed its first deployment of an autonomous vehicle in live airport traffic at Heathrow, covering 1,300km of self-driven operations over 14 days. Using Oxa's autonomous software, the vehicle navigated Heathrow's complex airside environment without requiring specialist modifications.

New Civil Engineer

• Where is the UK transport sector along its digital transformation journey?An effective transport system is a critical driver for local and national economic growth and broader social and environmental change. The contribution that transport will make to the UK's future was again underlined recently when the (now former) transport secretary Louise Haigh set out government ambitions for what has been hailed as the biggest overhaul of transport in a generation.
• New plan for Euston station will see one concourse for HS2 and national rail servicesThe Department for Transport (DfT) is currently working on a plan for the new Euston station that would see it have one concourse serving both High Speed 2 (HS2) and national rail services, according to rail minister Lord Hendy.

Rail Magazine

• HS2 to begin work on moving Great Western main line at Old Oak CommonElizabeth Line bosses believe that disruption over the Christmas period will be minimal as construction work at the new Old Oak Common terminus continues.
• Heidi Alexander must deliver a railway fit for the 21st centuryWith nationalisation legislation in place, but Great British Railways still several years away from managing train operations, Philip Haigh explains why the government has to fully engage with today's railway.

Railnews

• Nationalised railways office headcount to quadruple The number of people employed in the administration of DfT Operator, which runs nationalised passenger operators, is set to rise from 25 to 100 by the end of the coming year. Alex Hynes, the director-general at DfT Rail Services Group, told MPs on the Commons Transport Committee that DfT Operator would be increasing in size to deal with the growing workload caused by the nationalisation of three more former franchises during 2025.

Railway Technology

• HS2 Project: Key Insights from Transport Committee on Challenges, Opportunities, and Future ProspectsIn an evidence session with the Transport Committee yesterday, key figures from the UK's rail sector, including Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, Alex Hynes and other senior officials, discussed the current state and future of the High Speed 2 (HS2) project. This session provided critical insights into the challenges and opportunities facing HS2, particularly in light of recent developments and strategic shifts.

Aviation Industry

• Improving baggage operations at the UK's second busiest airportStevie Summers, Head of Baggage at London Gatwick Airport spoke to International Airport Review about how the airport is transforming baggage operations, making the job safer and his long career in baggage.
• Birmingham Airport gets set for Christmas getawayBirmingham Airport has said it is preparing for a busy Festive Season as passenger predictions will see an increase of 11% in departing and arriving passengers between 20th December and January 6th.

Other News Sources

• Spain's Ferrovial sells US$2.1b stake in London's Heathrow airport to French and Saudi investors, ending major ownership Spanish infrastructure group Ferrovial said yesterday it had sold a 20-per cent stake in Britain's Heathrow airport to French and Saudi investors for over US$2 billion (RM8.9 billion).
• Heathrow forecasts passenger growth and investment hikeLONDON - Heathrow Airport's management has released its December 2024 Investor Report, outlining the airport's financial performance and expectations for the coming years. As Europe's busiest airport, Heathrow saw a record 76.8 million passengers through November 2024 and has been recognized for its connectivity and service quality.
• PIF acquires 15% stake in London's Heathrow airportSaudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has acquired a 15 percent stake in FGP TopCo, the holding company of Heathrow Airport Holdings.
• New transport secretary urged to meet with industryLogistics UK has written to the new transport secretary seeking a meeting as soon as possible to discuss reversing a steep decline in productivity within the sector.