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

Monday, 20 January 2025

BBC News

• AI to be used to spot potholes and aid repairsAI will be used by a county council to to detect potholes in a bid to speed up road repairs.
• Villagers needs action to reduce speeding - MPElderly residents in a village are too scared to go shopping due to speeding traffic, campaigners have claimed
• Evening ferry crossings to resumeEvening ferry crossings are to resume after being cancelled for more than two months.
• Call for government help to reopen city airportThe leader of Plymouth City Council has written to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander asking for government support to reopen the city's former airport.
• The bright yellow buggies on the streets of FulhamThey're bright yellow, small, electric and look like a chunky golf cart and there are 10 of them now in Fulham.

The Guardian

• All carmakers in UK to escape fines for missing electric car sales targets in 2024Analysts say use of ‘flexibilities’ to avoid penalties shows that zero-emissions mandate does not need to be relaxedNo carmaker in the UK will have to pay fines for missing electric car sales targets in 2024, according to analysis.All but one carmaker sold enough cars, or will be able to use so-called flexibilities, to avoid steep fines under the zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) mandate, according to estimates by T&E, a campaign group that focuses on transport and environment issues. One carmaker, Japan’s Suzuki, will have to buy credits from rivals to avoid fines. Co...
• Market turmoil has calmed but Rachel Reeves faces more challenges aheadChancellor survives chaos in markets but faces more questions on growth, cuts, public sector pay and fraud

Times Online

• ScotRail criticised for 'oldest fleet in Britain' [subscription]Plans for a new fleet were announced in 2022 but no orders have yet been placed
• Airbus gives suppliers financial help as production targets slip [subscription]Aircraft shortages and engine problems across the sector are forcing up air fares
• Train firm fights to derail crackdown on private operators [subscription]FirstGroup, which operates Hull Trains and Lumo, vows to defend open access rail services after transport secretary says they deprive the government of revenue

i News

• Contactless pay-as-you-go system planned for Great British Railways routesTransport Secretary Heidi Alexander will set out plans to extend the rollout of contactless travel across the UK by the end of the year

Network Rail

• Kicking off better journeys: improving match day train travelNetwork Rail's crime and security team visited London Euston station at the weekend to connect with football fans and gather insights on improving their train journeys on match days.
• Network Rail launches consultation on plans to improve Manchester Oxford Road StationMajor upgrades to deliver improvements for passengers and the wider rail network are being proposed by Network Rail as part of the Manchester Oxford Road Station Remodelling Scheme.

Nation. Cymru

• Council considers new schemes to feature in regional transport planWalking and cycling routes, bus station upgrades, and new roads and railway links are among the schemes that are set to be put forward to be included in a new regional transport plan.
• Road closures planned due to South Wales Metro electrificationA number of roads and footways will close across Cardiff as part of South Wales Metro plans to electrify railway lines.

The York Press

• Northern shares plans for 450 new trains in Net Zero pushA York-based rail firm has announced plans for a "game-changing" new fleet.

Yorkshire Post

• Government rejects claims Northern Powerhouse Rail project has been mothballedThe Government has rejected claims it is set to delay major transport projects, including Northern Powerhouse Rail, until after the next election.

Other Regional Press

• Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel tolls may worsen London jamsThe looming toll for the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels could increase traffic jams elsewhere, a technology company has warned.
• Class 357 c2c trains to be repainted in major projectA major project has been launched to repaint the entire Class 357 fleet of c2c trains.
• Concerns about planned changes to East Coast Main Line timetablePEOPLE travelling home to Dunbar from Edinburgh could face a lengthy wait under a newly revealed proposed timetable.

Rail Business Daily

• RIA's Future of Rail series starts on TuesdayThe Railway Industry Association (RIA) kicks off its Future of Rail series this week, leading and shaping the national debate on the future of the rail sector.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Bus reregulation: Learning the lessons from LondonAs we march towards further reregulation, Stagecoach London MD and CPT President Paul Lynch observes what can be learned from the capital

The Business Desk

• Alstom reveals pair of senior hiresAlstom, the multinational firm which makes trains in Derby, has appointed Rob Whyte as managing director UK and Ireland.

Other News Sources

• Spending freeze to push major railway projects into the sidings past general electionRachel Reeves is expected to halt spending on major new rail projects until after the next general election, leaving Britain's train network under pressure from a squeeze on the public finances.
• £162m Cambridge South East Transport busway plans are submitted to the governmentPermission is being sought from the government to build the controversial $162million Cambridge South East Transport (CSET) busway.
• Ralf Tôbbe appointed as CEO of DB Schenker Germany/SwitzerlandRalf Többe will become the new CEO of DB Schenker's Germany/Switzerland region on 1 April 2025, succeeding Roland Dressler, who is stepping down after 32 years with the company.
• 3 Ways Trains are Becoming Greener Than EverGovernments and private companies worldwide are racing to find innovative ways to decarbonise transport. This has resulted in the deployment of several new passenger train technologies worldwide. While some are investing in carbon fibre trains, others are looking to alter train tracks to boost efficiency or are exploring the potential for hydrogen fuel cell technology.