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Christ Stokes Column - Perhaps now is the time for North Wales and Chester to join the HS2 network?
Publication of the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and the Midlands, originally scheduled for early this year, now finally seems to be imminent. A month or so ago, it was anticipated that it would be announced at the same time as the Comprehensive Spending Review on 27th October, then the expected date briefly moved forward, but has now slipped back to mid-November, amidst rumours that Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak were arguing about the scope, with the Prime Minster wanting greater ambition, hence higher spending. Surely, all will at long last be revealed in the next few weeks?
Manchester plans for carbon neutral transport network
Plans include creating an all-electric bus fleet and expanding tram services in Greater Manchester.
More than 80 miles of smart motorways will open in defiance of transport secretary's guidelines
Highways bosses are reportedly ignoring guidance issued by transport secretary Grant Shapps which states refuges on smart motorways should be no more than one mile apart.
Reports Leeds tram network could finally happen if HS2 link scrapped
Leeds is the largest city in Western Europe without a built-in mass transit system and plans in the early 2000s were dreamed up for a ‘supertram’ which never came to be
Tuesday, 09 November 2021
Cogitamus
- Christ Stokes Column - Perhaps now is the time for North Wales and Chester to join the HS2 network?Publication of the Integrated Rail Plan for the North and the Midlands, originally scheduled for early this year, now finally seems to be imminent. A month or so ago, it was anticipated that it would be announced at the same time as the Comprehensive Spending Review on 27th October, then the expected date briefly moved forward, but has now slipped back to mid-November, amidst rumours that Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak were arguing about the scope, with the Prime Minster wanting greater ambition, hence higher spending. Surely, all will at long last be revealed in the next few weeks?
BBC News
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- Manchester plans for carbon neutral transport networkPlans include creating an all-electric bus fleet and expanding tram services in Greater Manchester.
- Tube drivers vote to take strike actionThe Aslef union says bosses want to slash staff pensions and tear up agreed working conditions.
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ITV News
- Greater Manchester aims to be first to deliver carbon neutral transport networkGreater Manchester is hoping to become the first city-region to deliver a carbon neutral transport network in an effort to help stem climate change.
Financial Times
- Revival of transatlantic flights brings new hope to travel industryAirlines, hotels and tour operators aim to recoup some of the $6tn lost during pandemic turbulence
- UK airports urge government to bring back rules on take-off and landing slots Chiefs at Gatwick, Belfast and Edinburgh push for Covid waiver to be dropped
- ‘An unbelievable feeling’: joyous passengers head to US as travel ban liftsFamilies and friends rush to reunite after Biden administration lifts pandemic border controls
The Guardian
- Carmaking recast: West Midlands finds new role in electric vehicle industrySome firms reinvent themselves in the battery era, but others struggle as work moves abroadCorners of the Alucast factory in the Black Country would be familiar to metalworkers several centuries ago. Workers pour molten aluminium at 720C into steel moulds. The cooling metal is then quickly pressed into shape before being sanded down into parts for gas-guzzling British sports cars.Yet for all its traditional West Midlands manufacturing roots, Alucast is finding a role for itself in a fast-growing new industry: electric cars. Continue reading...
- SpaceX capsule splashes down after astronauts’ six months onboard ISSEndeavour parachutes into sea after a fiery re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere broadcast live by Nasa on webFour astronauts strapped inside a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule have splashed down safely in the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida coast, ending a six-month Nasa mission onboard the International Space Station and a daylong flight home.The Dragon vehicle, dubbed Endeavour, parachuted into the sea as planned just after 10:30pm EST on Monday, after a fiery re-entry descent through Earth’s atmosphere broadcast live by a Nasa webcast. Continue reading...
i News
- COP26: Rail chiefs defend plans to power UK’s first hydrogen-fuelled train with electricityRail industry chiefs have defended plans for the debut trip of Britain’s first hydrogen-fuelled train at COP26 in Glasgow this week after it was revealed it would be powered by electricity for the exercise.
Mail Online
- More than 80 miles of smart motorways will open in defiance of transport secretary's guidelinesHighways bosses are reportedly ignoring guidance issued by transport secretary Grant Shapps which states refuges on smart motorways should be no more than one mile apart.
Sky News
- Grant Shapps: Transport secretary thanks 'brilliant' NHS staff after hospital treatment following fall from bikeGrant Shapps thanks "brilliant" NHS staff "who patched me up" and says his injuries "could have been worse" if he had not been wearing a helmet.
Belfast Telegraph
- SpaceX returns four astronauts to earthFour astronauts have returned to earth after a 200-day space station mission.
Birmingham Mail
- 'Total death traps' - M5 drivers slam smart motorwaysMPs wants the roll-out of the smart motorways - where there is no hard shoulder - to be scrapped amid claims they are dangerous - and Worcestershire motorists agree
- Historic Digbeth company fears eviction but promises to 'triple' workforce if given HS2 land Arkinstall Galvanizing boss Tim Straker wants to expand his business and keep jobs local
Daily Post (North Wales)
- Bus strike by Arriva Cymru drivers to start this weekendBus services are set for severe disruption in North Wales and Chester as nearly 400 drivers take part
Cambridge News
- Cambridge could be getting a congestion charge to fund better public transportA workplace parking levy, Cambridge congestion charge and major new bus network are all proposed under a new consultation
Leeds Live
- Reports Leeds tram network could finally happen if HS2 link scrappedLeeds is the largest city in Western Europe without a built-in mass transit system and plans in the early 2000s were dreamed up for a ‘supertram’ which never came to be
- How train times from Leeds could be transformed by new high speed journeysBuilding the Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2 high speed rail projects in full would be "transformational" for the North's economy by putting so many towns and cities in closer reach of each other, regional leaders have claimed.
Other Regional Press
- Witney firm installs CCTV for free to protect community bus depot from vandalsA Witney company has installed CCTV free of charge at a community bus depot which has been subjected to repeated attacks of vandalism.
Train Operators
- Growing Attraction: Comedian Bill Bailey visits Azuma Living Wall to promote sustainable transportComedian Bill Bailey has today (Monday 8 November 2021) visited the Azuma Living Wall which has been created by London North Eastern Railway (LNER) at Edinburgh Waverley Station to raise awareness of the small changes that people can choose every day to help lead a more sustainable lifestyle – including travelling by train.
- Book swap opens at one of Northern’s Cheshire stationsA community group at one of Northern’s stations in Cheshire hopes to help passengers pass the time while waiting for a train or on their journey by creating book exchange.
Business Live
- Transport giant Go-Ahead to update shareholders on talks following loss of southeastern rail franchiseThe Newcastle company says talks with the Department for Transport and an independent review are ongoing
- Carbon neutral transport network plans outlined for Greater Manchester as Andy Burnham attends COP26Plans for Greater Manchester to become the first city region to deliver a carbon neutral transport network have been outlined.
New Civil Engineer
- DfT set to target procurement to deliver on sustainability aspirationsThe Department for Transport (DfT) has set out key actions it will take to improve its operational sustainability performance over the next four years and reduce its environmental impact.
- HS2 is learning the ‘sweet spot’ for packaging work from CrossrailLessons must be learned about how major projects break work down into packages for delivery, according to HS2 chief executive Mark Thurston.
Rail Advent
- Transport leader Hitachi sees a huge cut in their emissions thanks to improved energy management and the use of renewable energyHitachi revealed that they have made a massive 30.5% cut in their carbon emissions for the period 2020-2021 which is more than double their 2019-2020 period cut in emissions which reached 14.2%.
Other News Sources
- ‘Alarming’ increase in reports of sexual harassment on public transport must be addressedIt says staffing cuts at British Transport Police (BTP) and among station staff has proved “counter-productive” to women’s safety.
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