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

Friday, 14 February 2025

BBC News

• Academy aims to tackle transport skills shortageThe centre in Aston will train people to work in the construction of train lines, tram routes and stations.
• Out-of-fuel plane made to wait to land - reportThe plane finally landed at Birmingham with less than two-thirds of its minimum fuel level.
• The steam train that could power the futureThe locomotive could help move the railway industry away from fossil fuels, those behind it say.
• Change Heathrow funding or third runway won't happen - businessesBusinesses want a review of the regulations that govern what Heathrow Airport can charge.
• Honda-Nissan multi-billion dollar merger collapsesThe Japanese car making giants aimed to combine their businesses to compete against Chinese rivals.

The Guardian

• EVs and datacentres driving new global ‘age of electricity’, says watchdogForecast for rising global electricity use likely to stoke fears of rising costs and stalled efforts to fight climate crisisThe world’s electricity use will grow every year by more than the amount consumed annually by Japan because of a surge in electric transport, air conditioning and datacentres, according to the world’s energy
• ‘It’s hard to survive’: why UK private hire drivers are striking on Valentine’s DayAbout 200 drivers got in touch with the Guardian to share their views on the industrial actionWhen Simon Waite began working as a private hire driver in 2017, it gave him the flexibility and income to spend time with his children, then aged five, 12 and 18. “One of the reasons I loved Uber was because I could now go to the school plays, my son’s football, I could earn my money around life,” he says.
• Brake pad dust can be more toxic than exhaust emissions, study saysResearch shows move to electric vehicles may not be enough to enable pollution from cars to be eradicatedMicroscopic particles emitted from brake pads can be more toxic than those emitted in diesel vehicle exhaust, a study has found.This research shows that even with a move to electric vehicles, pollution from cars may not be able to be eradicated.

The Independent

• Wobbly trains cost Scotland transport operator £120,000 to fixPassengers complained they had been "thrown about' in the new carriages

The Mirror

• Government update on plans to change free bus pass rules for over 60sPlans to lower the qualifying age for free bus travel in England and Wales have been backed by thousands of people, after a petition was launched earlier this year. The campaign, which has now surpassed the 10,000 signature mark, has triggered a response from Department for Transport (DfT) officials who cautioned against the move due to financial implications.

Local Government

• Kent County Council step in to save Ashford bus servicesKent County Council (KCC) has intervened to protect a number of bus services in Ashford that were at risk of being cancelled.

Bolton News

• 'Dedicated vehicle' could be brought in for parking enforcement on major roadsA new “dedicated vehicle” could be sent out to enforce parking rules on some of Bolton’s busiest routes.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• All you need to know about TRU's Station Road railway bridge worksThe Transpennine Route Upgrade has shared plans to rebuild Station Road railway bridge, in Cross Gates, Leeds, between March and November.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• New link road proposal that would see another street pedestrianisedThe new transport proposals are for the city of Wrexham

London Evening Standard

• Ding ding! TfL brings back Routemaster bell to cut number of passengers injured falling on London busesThe 'ding ding' bell once used on London's classic Routemaster bus is to be reintroduced in a trial aiming to reduce the number of passengers being injured in falls on buses.
• Transport Secretary urged to name train after Margaret ThatcherTory MP Sir Edward Leigh made the demand during Transport Questions in the Commons on Thursday.

Hull Daily Mail

• HS2 funding 'promised' to the North is 'fantasy money' says Transport SecretaryThe previous Conservative Government promised to reallocate HS2 funding to projects across the North

Other Regional Press

• City Council commit £11.5m fund towards electric busesSheffield City council have announced that they will be pledging a fund of £11.5 million towards the transition to electric buses.
• Disabled people paying the price for cuts to discounted bus fares in Preston, say campaignersA disability rights group has condemned the removal of a discounted peak time bus fare across most of Lancashire saying disabled people always pay the price for cuts.
• MP meets Transport Secretary to discuss station projectA meeting has taken place in Parliament with the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, to discuss the project to reopen Wellington and Cullompton Stations.
• ‘It's going to be a nightmare - no one will know where to get their buses'Plans have been submitted for a new park to replace a town centre bus station, despite fears it will encourage drug users and anti-social behaviour.
• Calls for higher summer charges in coastal car parksA DECISION to continue reduced parking fees for three resort car parks has been questioned by the former portfolio holder for the service.

Rail Business Daily

• HS2 contractor to recruit 20 further apprenticesHS2's construction partner for the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), has announced plans to take on a further 20 apprentices providing training and skilled jobs in the construction industry.

Rail Magazine

• Comment: an integrated transport planThe directly elected mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has launched a bid to control rail services in the conurbation, as part of an integrated transport plan which includes the franchised Bee bus network.

Rail UK

• HS2 reveals first completed viaduct at Delta JunctionThe first huge viaduct has been completed at HS2's Delta Junction in North Warwickshire, marking a major milestone as construction ramps up on the high-speed line in the region.

Railnews

• New name unveiled for HS1 contractor The owners of the HS1 concession have unveiled a new name for their enterprise. From now on, the HS1 concession will be branded London St. Pancras Highspeed.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Alex Jensen leaves National Express as Kevin Gale takes CEO roleNational Express UK and Germany CEO Alex Jensen (pictured) has left the business after 18 months in post, it has been confirmed.

Other News Sources

• McGills invests £14m in new electric bus rollout Bus services across the Forth Valley and into Edinburgh are set to benefit from 30 electric buses.
• £2 bus fare cap drove 5% increase in patronage, but value-for-money remains unclearThe UK Department for Transport's (DfT) final evaluation of the £2 bus fare cap scheme has found that the initiative contributed to an estimated 5% increase in bus patronage in England outside London.
• Alexander Dennis delivers first Enviro100EV to Shuttle BusesAlexander Dennis has delivered an Enviro100EV 'big small bus' to Shuttle Buses, Scotland's only employee-owned bus company.
• Residents urge Lower Thames Crossing expeditionA petition of residents of the constituency of Sevenoaks, including Swanley and the Dartford Villages, have declared that the lower Thames crossing is crucial to easing the relentless congestion at the Dartford crossing, which impacts thousands of residents every day.
• Further HS2 contract win for Booth IndustriesBooth Industries has secured a new £4.5m contract to supply pressure-rated fire doors for HS2.
• European transport groups call for more green fuelShipping and aviation are under pressure to speed up decarbonisation of operations, but a lack of green fuels availability is hampering the switch.