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

Tuesday, 17 December 2024

BBC News

• Mayor disappointed by bus fare increaseThe mayor for the West Midlands has said he is disappointed at the increase in National Express bus fares in his region.
• Rail services to London disrupted over ChristmasA train operator has warned passengers that engineering works will cause disruption to its services to London during the festive period.
• New fleet increases capacity for rail passengersMore rail passengers can now travel between Hull and Liverpool following the introduction of larger, more environmentally friendly trains.
• Rail company defends 'disgraceful' Sunday disruptionA rail company has apologised for ongoing disruption on Sundays that has been branded "disgraceful" by passengers.
• Liquids can stay in hand luggage at Cardiff AirportCardiff Airport installs new scanners, meaning passengers do not have to empty their hand luggage.
• Questions on whether port will reopen by ChristmasIrish PM says Holyhead is unlikely to reopen by Christmas, but the Welsh government remains hopeful.
• Edinburgh Airport tanker staff call off strikeA planned 19-day walk out over Christmas and New Year would have caused disruption to flights.
• The Scottish spaceport stuck in limboThe facility in Sutherland was to be the UK's first but there are now doubts over its future.
• New law to end 'scourge' of badly parked bikesThe government has proposed new powers to tackle the problem of hire bikes being dumped.

Department for Transport

• UK sets out next steps to help decarbonise aviation sectorHave your say on the proposal to implement the globally agreed international aviation carbon offsetting scheme (CORSIA) in the UK.

Financial Times

• Cost of HS2 could hit £66bn, according to management estimateA paper presented to the project’s board has flagged how the price tag could increase by a further £9bn

Transport Committee

• Rail investment pipelines: Transport Committee will investigate supporting industry to improve the railwaysHow the Government can ensure a stable pipeline of projects, enhancements and procurements to improve the railways will be the focus of a new Transport Committee inquiry.

City AM

• Rolls-Royce chair and Octopus founder named among industrial strategy panel Octopus founder Greg Jackson, Rolls-Royce chair Dame Anita Frew and former Tory business secretary Greg Clark are among the heavyweight names appointed to a new Industrial Strategy Advisory Council, launched by the government on Tuesday to help stimulate growth. The panel, which also includes private sector top dogs like Prudential chair Baroness Shriti Vadera

The Mirror

• Every region in England to get a mayor with powers on housing and transport, vows Angela RaynerDeputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said regional mayors will be handed more powers over housing, transport, education and employment under major devolution plans

Local Government

• Southampton celebrates new bus hub and urban park at Albion Place and Arundel GardensTo celebrate the formal opening of the Albion Place Bus Hub and Arundel Gardens, representatives from Southampton City Council, their partners and key stakeholders came together on Friday the 13 December to cut the ribbon and learn more about this transformational project

Network Rail

• Special event at Cardiff Central marks return of direct services between Cardiff and EdinburghDirect passenger services between Cardiff and Edinburgh returned today (Monday 16 December), with a special event to mark the launch of CrossCountry's new weekday offering.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Mayor answers questions from public on mass transit route and city centre harassmentWest Yorkshire's Mayor Tracy Brabin answered questions from members of the public in Bradford.
• Survey underway to shape design for new £25m rail stationSurvey work is taking place to help shape detailed designs for a £25 million new link in West Yorkshire’s rail network, which is due to be finished by late 2026.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Holyhead port 'highly unlikely' to be back open before ChristmasIrish premier Simon Harris said the 'seriousness' of the damage was becoming 'more apparent as the days go by'

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Rail campaign group sets out ambitious demands after Northumberland Line successThe group has been campaigning for the return of passenger rail services to the area for almost 20 years

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• The West Midlands will be an area where ambition is rewarded, says mayor Parker as devolution plans announcedThe elected mayor for the West Midlands welcomed plans by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to give greater powers to regional leaders.

Yorkshire Post

• Labour's bus reforms are putting wheels in motion for improved services across YorkshireLabour has committed to making it easier for local authorities to consider reforms to the UK's bus services, aiming to empower local communities and improve service quality by putting the services in the hands of local leaders.

Other Regional Press

• £4.5m boost for city bus servicesPlymouth City Council has been awarded just over £4.5 million from a £1 billion government funding boost for bus services across England.
• MP Sarah Dyke calls for better bus and rail servicesAn MP has called for "coordinated rail and bus services" to address the "crisis facing rural communities".
• Watford cleaners reveal just how dirty London bus seats areA Watford-based cleaner has been back on London’s TfL transport network highlighting just how much dirt commuters take home.
• Government confirms it has 'absolutely no plans' to scrap free bus passThe Department for Transport has confirmed that the UK Government has "absolutely no plans to withdraw the concessionary bus pass scheme" for people over State Pension age or those with a disability
• Update on plans for new West Yorkshire rail station as work continuesCompletion is expected by late 2026

New Civil Engineer

• Heathrow boss requests clear direction from government on third runwayThe boss of Heathrow has said he needs to see clear direction from the government about whether the country strategically wants a third runway.

Rail Business Daily

• Devolution by default to create new era of local powerSignificant plans to make devolution the default setting across a range of Government policy areas, as part of the English Devolution White Paper, have been announced by the Deputy Prime Minister.

Rail UK

• Heathrow Express leads open access Operators in UK rail punctualityHeathrow Express has been recognised as a top performer for punctuality in the latest rail performance statistics published by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) for the period of July to September 2024. With an impressive punctuality rate of 75.7%, Heathrow Express outpaced all other open access operators by at least 15%.

Railnews

• ORR steps up investigation into fare penalties Rail passengers who have been charged a penalty fare or prosecuted for not having the correct ticket are being asked to tell the rail regulator what happened. The Office of Rail and Road is asking passengers to complete a short questionnaire as part of its investigation into how operators deal with suspected cases of fare evasion.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Bus Users UK reacts as reciprocal concessions idea dismissedBus Users UK has challenged the government's reasoning for confirming it does not have plans to put in place a reciprocal agreement between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to allow free travel for pensioners across the UK.

Aviation Industry

• Glasgow Airport Launches Innovative AI-Powered Digital Assistant to Revolutionize Passenger Experience and Enhance Navigation and Accessibility Across the TerminalGlasgow Airport has launched a state-of-the-art AI-powered digital assistant designed to significantly improve the travel experience for passengers, especially during the busy festive period. This new technology, powered by Hello Lamp Post, is now operational across the airport, offering passengers real-time information and helping them navigate the terminal more efficiently. The introduction of the digital assistant aims to streamline services and provide a more accessible and personalized travel experience.
• Reject airport expansion plans, urges AEF and other NGOsAEF, alongside a group of NGOs, have written to the Secretary State for Transport, encouraging her to immediately review the case for airport expansion. The urgency for this strategic review … The post Reject airport expansion plans, urges AEF and other NGOs appeared first on Aviation Environment Federation.

Other News Sources

• Rail minister to meet with Peninsula Rail Task ForceThe Department for Transport has agreed to a meeting to discuss potential improvements to transport links in Tiverton and Minehead.
• Another barrier to Channel Tunnel rail competition expected to be removedOne of two remaining obstacles to competition was to gain access to the Temple Mills deport at Stratford (East London), which is dedicated to high-speed trains and currently used by Eurostar.
• Devo white paper: Govt outlines 'biggest transfer of power' this centuryDeputy prime minister Angela Rayner has announced the 'biggest transfer of power from Westminster to English regions this century', putting local authorities on an assembly line to unitary and mayoral status, supported with consolidated funding.
• Call for late bus service to take revellers back to Herefordshire townA late-evening bus service from Hereford to Ross-on-Wye should be a priority for spending new government cash in the county, it has been claimed.
• Council makes nearly £30 million profit on parking charges in the past yearBrighton and Hove City Council made almost £30 million from parking charges in the last financial year, new figures show