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

Monday, 15 November 2021

BBC News

• Grant Shapps denies lobbying against houses on airfieldsLabour says a group set up by the transport secretary argued against government housing policy.
• 'Derailment' at Wolverhampton causes disruptionNational Rail says trains may be cancelled or diverted until the end of the day.

Financial Times

• Airbus wins large order from veteran low-cost airline investor FrankeDeal for 255 jets underlines forecast demand particularly from short-haul airlines will rebound
• Euston trial shows appeal of letting the train take the strainThere is a worldwide revival in the use of rail rather than trucks or ships for logistics
• Port operators order ‘full steam ahead’ for supersized shipsThe latest generation of container vessels requires adaptations to cope with their scale

The Guardian

• Government to finally drop plan for HS2 link to Leeds – reportsThe government has refused to confirm or deny reports that it will finally cancel plans for the HS2 link to Leeds this week, and instead fund a hodgepodge of disparate projects which favour Conservative constituencies and leave mysterious gaps in the rail network.

The Herald

• Lesley Riddoch: What will Boris do next on railways? How about taking an example from Scotland?What will Boris do next? COP26 is finally over, leaving delegates disappointed but an electorate forever altered. For two long weeks the oft-ignored warnings of scientists have been given emotional force by the articulate speakers of the Global South.

The Telegraph

• Heathrow ‘greed’ under attack from rivals British Airways and Virgin Atlantic [subscription]Plus, why Heathrow’s owners are putting Global Britain in jeopardy, according to Willie Walsh and the bosses of Virgin Atlantic and BA
• HS2 eastern leg ‘to be scrapped after ministers reject £10bn to save 15 minutes’ [subscription]Government will announce alternate rail upgrades, including a 42-mile stretch across the East Midlands, to appease rebellious Red Wall MPs

Times Online

• Rail revamp of the north facing cuts to save money [subscription]Boris Johnson is poised to shelve plans for a big rail project in northern England and downgrade another in favour of smaller schemes that can be delivered more quickly.
• Virgin Atlantic ready to make U-turn and land again at Gatwick [subscription]Virgin Atlantic could make a dramatic return to Gatwick as early as next summer after its withdrawal from London’s second airport during the carrier’s near-death experience in the depths of the pandemic.

City AM

• HS2’s eastern to be scrapped while northern railways get £100bnTransport secretary Grant Shapps is expected to face criticism over the rumoured decision to scrap HS2’s eastern leg that would connect Birmingham to Leeds.
• Uber's model was rife with flaws but the gig economy deserves savingIt has been less than ten years since Uber started operating in London. In that short time, the ride-hailing service has transformed the way many urban dwellers think about their transportation needs and their expectations of connectivity.

i News

• Boris Johnson to water down promise on Northern Powerhouse Rail line in key plan this weekKey Leeds-Manchester section will be delivered through upgrades rather than a new line via Bradford, i has learnt. Boris Johnson is to water down a promise to fund a new high-speed rail link in the North of England by instead focusing on upgrades to existing lines.

Sky News

• Grant Shapps: Claim transport secretary using public money to block building on airfields denied by departmentAccording to The Sunday Times, Grant Shapps "set-up and diverted public money" to the Airfield Advisory Team in order to lobby against planning developments that infringe on airstrips. But the report has been denied by the Department for Transport.

Birmingham Post

• Airbus has secured a mammoth plane order at the Dubai AirshowIndigo Partners portfolio airlines have announced an order for 255 additional A321neo Family aircraft

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Rail plan expected in days - but will vision for Bradford become a reality?THE Government’s long-awaited Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) is to be released in the coming week, according to national newspaper reports.

Bristol Live

• Bristol Airport: Outrage at 'scandalous' new charge for 10 minutes' parkingIt's been described as the "final nail in the coffin" for taxi drivers ahead of the changes next week

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Airbus secures huge plane order at the Dubai AirshowThe wings for the planes will be made at Broughton in North Wales
• Images show people 'crammed' on to train after Wales international football game in CardiffFears have been raised that it was unsafe due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation in Wales

Liverpool Echo

• New map of Merseyrail and where new stations will appearWe take a close look at how the network is set to be expanded after a major government funding settlement

London Evening Standard

• MPs hit out at reports Northern Powerhouse Rail plans to be scaled backBoris Johnson had pledged his commitment to the scheme as recently as last month at the Tory Party conference.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham could benefit as Boris Johnson tipped to unveil £96bn Northern rail packageNottingham and the wider county could receive a public transport boost as Boris Johnson is tipped to unveil a near £100 billion package for Northern rail networks.

Yorkshire Post

• HS2 'won't reach Yorkshire' as Integrated Rail Plan published within daysThe Government's long-awaited Integrated Rail Plan is to finally be published in the coming week - but there are growing expectations that it will see the HS2 route to Yorkshire cancelled.

Wrexham.com

• North Wales business & council leaders seek urgent meeting with UK Transport Secretary in bid to unlock investmentBusiness and local authority leaders from North Wales, the Wirral and Cheshire West and Chester in the Growth Track 360 partnership are seeking an urgent meeting with the UK Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps to find ways to accelerate investment in cross-border rail links.

Other Regional Press

• ScotRail to almost triple its supply of body cameras amid ‘increase’ in attacks on staffScotRail is to nearly triple the number of bodycams available to staff amid growing concerns about attacks on train workers.

Airportwatch

• Grant Shapps, the minister for private jets, is ‘lobbying against his own government’ [subscription]The aeroplane-owning transport secretary is spending public money on lobbyists opposing the government’s own plans to build on private runways, including one he has personally used

New Civil Engineer

• Transport Decarbonisation Plan | Ministers attempted to minimise ‘chilling effect on road building’UK ministers allegedly sought advice on how to protect road building plans, the day before the government’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan was published.
• TfL begins safety upgrade of Westminster BridgeFM Conway will today, 15 November, begin safety upgrade work on Westminster Bridge for Transport for London (TfL), which will last until the end of January.

Rail Advent

• GB Railfreight announce new service from Port of Tyne to Yorkshire and the MidlandsAs supply chain issues continue to affect the country, GB Railfreight has pushed forward with their campaign and has introduced twice-weekly intermodal services from the Port of Tyne to Yorkshire and weekly services from the Port of Tyne to the Midlands.

Railnews

• Delayed rail plan set to axe HS2 eastern leg MONDAY BRIEFING: Delayed rail plan set to axe HS2 eastern leg ++ Tram cracks halt services ++ West Coast Main Line services disrupted ++ Salisbury trains restored

The Business Desk

• City to be offered consolation prize as HS2 is set for sidingsAs the North awaits the much anticipated and delayed publishing of the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP), reports over the weekend suggest the eastern leg of HS2 aka Phase 2B, is not to be.