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

Friday, 17 January 2025

BBC News

• Airport plans could cause 'unacceptable' noiseResidents of a Surrey village could suffer "an unacceptable amount of noise" after Heathrow Airport proposed a change to its flight patterns. Stanwell Moor could see the number of landing planes increase from 36 to more than 300 a day, says the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
• Council opposes six track plan for East West RailCouncillors have voted to oppose part of a major railway line being built through their district.
• Railway sorely in need of investment, study findsThe railway linking London and the South West of England is "sorely in need of investment" to offset the cancellation of major road projects, a new study has found.
• Task force to challenge ministers over rail faresA Devon councillor is planning to lobby the government for lower fares and better wi-fi on trains travelling to and from London.
• Railway sorely in need of investment, study findsThe new study recommends improving the West of England line, which runs parallel to the A303.
• TfL aims to use more AI to improve platform safetySecurity camera footage will be used to detect objects on the rails while ignoring train movements.
• BT scraps EV charging point scheme having only installed oneIt hoped to turn 60,000 roadside green cabinets into chargers - but now says it will focus on wifi instead.
• Toyota unit to settle emissions scandal for $1.6bnThe truck company will also be banned from importing its diesel engines into the US for five years.

ITV News

• Bus gate among major traffic changes planned for Bristol's Park StreetA bus gate and a bus lane are among the major traffic changes planned for one of Bristol's most recognisable streets.

The Guardian

• SpaceX’s Starship test flight ends in failure after spacecraft is destroyedRocket’s six engines appeared to shut down one after another after nearly nine minutes, while booster returned SpaceX launched its Starship rocket on its latest test flight Thursday, but the spacecraft was destroyed following a thrilling booster catch back at the pad.Elon Musk’s company said the spacecraft’s six engines appeared to shut down one by one, with contact lost just 8min 30sec into the flight.

The Independent

• Government reverses new visa requirement for Heathrow transit passengersHeathrow jubilant as ministers back down on plans to require visa from every passenger changing planes at Britain's busiest airport

The Telegraph

• 'Devastating' £10 airport charge scrapped after Heathrow loses 90,000 passengers [subscription]The Home Secretary has rowed back on plans to extend ETA charges to transit flyers

Daily Express

• Drivers face £500 million bills over 'national embarrassment' potholes Potholes are damaging cars and costing drivers a fortune with the problem getting worse

Local Government

• Transport minister visits Gateshead Highway flyoverTransport minister Lilian Greenwood MP has visited Gateshead to see for herself the condition of the Gateshead Highway flyover which was closed two weeks before Christmas.
• Combined Authority budget to prioritise growth, training, net-zero and transport improvements in the Liverpool City RegionAmbitious plans to develop public transport, grow the economy and train tens of thousands of people are central to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority budget for 2025-26.

Birmingham Mail

• People can't agree on how to transform West Midlands busesA consultation on reforming the bus network in the West Midlands runs until March 30

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Leeds Bradford Airport's update on £100 million terminal regenerationLeeds Bradford Airport has provided an update on how its £100 million terminal regeneration is progressing.

Bristol Live

• Bus gate for Park Street as council unveils £15m transformation to Clifton TriangleMajor changes have been revealed to one of Bristol's most famous streets that include a bus gate at one end and a bus lane at the other as part of a major £37.5 million project to make the route into the city centre better for public transport.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• List of Conwy 20mph roads that could revert to 30mphCouncil has announced which roads could have speed limit changed

London Evening Standard

• Sadiq Khan says second runway at Gatwick would destroy rationale for Heathrow expansionThe mayor said he understood ''the importance of aviation to our economy' while stressing the need to 'recognise the crisis we face in terms of climate'

Burnley Express

• Council leader joins campaign to save hospitals shuttle busBurnley Council leader Afrasiab Anwar has thrown his political weight behind the campaign to save the free hospital shuttle bus in East Lancashire.

Cambridge News

• East West Rail accused of being ‘frugal with the truth’ Councillors urged the company to improve how it communicates with communities

Other Regional Press

• Wiltshire Council accused of An environmental group has accused Wiltshire Council of gaslighting through its draft local transport plan (LTP).
• Rural parents told to move to areas with good bus links as pupils are left by the roadsideTory councillors say people who live in remote rural areas should not expect a decent bus service
• Next steps in hugely ambitious Devon rail revivalA coalition of councils, rail advocates, and business stakeholders is driving the push to bring transformative rail connections back to North Devon.
• Largs and Wemyss Bay protest over ScotRail ticket office cutsA PROTEST involving staff workers at ScotRail is to take place this week over planned cuts to ticket office opening hours.
• Port to break cruise call record for second successive yearPortland Port is looking ahead to a bumper 2025 as it looks to welcome more cruise ships than ever before

Construction News

• Infrastructure chief cautions over giving ministers more HS2 controlBringing HS2 into the Department for Transport (DfT) could increase, rather than reduce problems with the project, according to the head of the government's infrastructure advisory body.

New Civil Engineer

• HS2 construction skills bootcamp launched at Euston Approaches to train Camden residentsA skills bootcamp aimed at rapidly preparing individuals for careers in construction has launched at the High Speed 2 (HS2) Euston construction site in Camden.

Rail Magazine

• Network Rail assessing impact of Grand Central's plan for bi-mode trains on East Coast Main LineNetwork Rail is carrying out power modelling to assess the impact of Grand Central using overhead line equipment to power a potential fleet of new trains on the East Coast Main Line (ECML).
• Failing' Waterloo-Exeter line 'sorely in need of investment' as study recommends key improvementsThe railway linking London and the South West is 'sorely in need of investment' to offset the cancellation of major road projects, a new study finds.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• National Express retains Stansted airport contractNational Express has retained the contract to provide daily services between Stansted Airport and major UK cities after winning a tender process managed by the airport's owners, Manchester Airports Group (MAG).
• The Big Coach Conversation to be staged in Derby on 27 MarchThe Big Coach Conversation will be staged on Wednesday 27 March at Derbyshire County Cricket Club in Derby. The event is to focus on discussion and debate of all things related to coaches and larger vehicles.
• Wrightbus heralds buoyant order book amid strong JanuaryWrightbus is claiming its strongest ever start to the year with a record-breaking 12 months set to come.

Other News Sources

• Why transport workers are key to creating a 'people-centred' agendaAs transport workers navigate an era of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, technological change and rampant inequality, the concept of a "people-centred agenda" has never been more urgent.
• Rural bus provision in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough must improve, say campaignersMore has to be done to improve buses in rural areas across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, a bus campaign group has warned.