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

Friday, 19 February 2021

BBC News

• No Covid variants found on London Tubes, buses and stationsThis does not mean none is circulating or commuters can let down their guard, the researchers say.

The Guardian

• North of England leaders fear region faces 'cheap and nasty' rail alternativeLeaders in the north of England fear that a new £39bn railway line could be scaled back, with the region ending up with a “cheap and nasty” alternative instead.

Birmingham Post

• North being 'marginalised' as rail schemes are finalised, leaders warnPolitical and business leaders are angry at having to wait to finalise plans for Northern rail improvements

Liverpool Echo

• 'Cheap and nasty' Liverpool to Manchester rail link plan rejected by leadersRegional leaders have united to reject a 'cheap and nasty' government plan for a new rail link between Liverpool and Manchester.

Manchester Evening News

• Leaders fear 'cheap and nasty' rail network as Government delays plan for north"This is not the point to go quiet given everything else that is happening to Transport for the North right now."

Northern Echo

• Up to £65,000 funding available for study into possible rail link on Derwent WalkFUNDING for a study into whether creating a rail link between Consett and Newcastle is viable has been made available, the MP behind the scheme has confirmed.

Sheffield Star

• Sheffield transport leader warns of ‘bad deal’ from Government over Northern Powerhouse Rail projectA Sheffield transport leader has cautioned that the city is likely to get a "bad deal" from the Government amid uncertainties surrounding the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) proposal for high-speed Leeds to Manchester line project.

The York Press

• £300k boost for North York Moors Railway THE North York Moors Railway is to receive almost £300,000 from the Government's Culture Recovery Fund.

Yorkshire Post

• North 'will not just roll over' if transport plans are downgraded, leaders sayNorthern leaders have said they feel their voice has been “marginalised” at a time when decisions are being made which will “define the North of England for the rest of this century”, and into the next.

Other Regional Press

• Avanti West Coast to donate £93k worth of food to homelessA local train provider has vowed to deliver nearly £93,000 worth of surplus food to people in need.
• 'Why a new Harrogate train station could help fix traffic in this area of town'A Harrogate councillor has called for another train station to be built in the town in a move he says could cut congestion in one of the worst areas for rush hour traffic.

New Civil Engineer

• Heavyweight backing for Bristol Airport expansion appealThe Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has thrown its weight behind plans to expand Bristol Airport, as the airport owner attempts to overturn the council’s decision to block expansion.
• Crossrail | All but one central London station is ‘ready for use’All but one of Crossrail’s central London stations has been signed off as “ready for use”, Crossrail chief executive Mark Wild revealed in his latest update to the London Assembly.
• Northern Powerhouse Rail | Business plan setback ‘won’t necessarily delay’ constructionThe delay to the submission of the business plan for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) “won’t necessarily delay” construction of the project, according to Transport for the North (TfN) chief executive Barry White.
• Network Rail seeks contractors to restore abandoned Portishead rail lineNetwork Rail has launched a search for contractors to build the proposed Portishead to Pill rail line.

Rail Business Daily

• TravelSafe Partnership marks 50th lockdown day of actionThe TravelSafe Partnership has marked its 50th ‘day of action’ by clamping down on people making non-essential journeys on public transport.
• GBRf kick off new service from PortburyGB Railfreight (GBRf), one of the largest rail freight operators in the UK, has officially begun a new service from Portbury to Acton, in partnership with AI.
• Northern leaders reluctantly agree to hold off submitting Northern Powerhouse Rail business planTransport for the North (TfN) has agreed delaying submitting the business plan for Northern Powerhouse Rail until after the publication of the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP).

Railway Gazette

• App to keep passengers up to date with Tyne & Wear Metro depot worksUK: Contractor VolkerFitzpatrick has worked with software developer SitePodium to launch a community engagement app to help people living and working around the Tyne & Wear Metro’s Gosforth depot gain a better understanding of the works to rebuild the facility to accommodate new Stadler trainsets.

Other News Sources

• Loch Lomond one of the 'most picturesque' views in the UK, say LNER travellersLoch Lomond has been picked amongst one of the UK's favourite views by railway passengers.