Breaking News
Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands
The government’s plan for delivering and sequencing major rail investment in the North and Midlands.
£96bn for rail but Leeds HS2 leg due to be scrapped
A £96bn rail improvement programme will help transform services in the Midlands and northern England, the government has said ahead of the expected scrapping of part of the HS2 scheme.
Birmingham Airport offers 'real partnership' to re-born Flybe says CEO
David Pflieger is upbeat about the future of the new-look carrier as it prepares to open HQ and operations centre at Solihull transport hub
Sadiq Khan warns Tube, buses and cycle schemes ‘face axe’ in dire funding alert
A nightmare scenario of huge cuts to Tube and bus services and an end to all new cycle schemes was outlined on Wednesday evening by Sadiq Khan.
Thursday, 18 November 2021
Government
- Integrated Rail Plan for the North and MidlandsThe government’s plan for delivering and sequencing major rail investment in the North and Midlands.
- CMA to open up electric vehicle charging competition on motorwaysCMA action is paving the way for greater investment, greater choice, and competition on prices for electric vehicle drivers, by opening up competition in the charging sector.
BBC News
- Rail times in northern England to be slashed - ShappsThe Northern Powerhouse Partnership, a business pressure group chaired by former chancellor George Osborne, has been looking at the £96bn rail investment announced by the government. It estimates the full HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail projects, as previously planned, would have ended up costing about £127.5bn. That estimate would make the alternative £96bn programme set out on Thursday at least £30bn cheaper.
- Flybe announces Birmingham Airport as new headquartersRegional airline Flybe was bought out by Thyme Opco after collapsing during the pandemic.
- North will 'benefit massively' from rail upgrades - PMNorthern England will "benefit massively" from rail upgrades, Boris Johnson has insisted despite reports that key rail schemes are to be axed.
- £96bn for rail but Leeds HS2 leg due to be scrappedA £96bn rail improvement programme will help transform services in the Midlands and northern England, the government has said ahead of the expected scrapping of part of the HS2 scheme.
Department for Transport
- General Aviation: DfT priorities and governanceResponse to the Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP concerning her letter of 15 November 2021.
Financial Times
- UK airline Flybe to return to skies next year after pandemic collapseRegional carrier to start flying to destinations in UK and EU from new Birmingham base
- Johnson to unveil £96bn of rail investment but risks wrath of northern MPsPrime minister’s new ‘Integrated Rail Plan’ will include watering down of promised high-speed links
- High shipping costs to push up global inflation, UN warnsConsumer prices likely to rise by an extra 1.5 per cent next year, with developing economies hit harder
The Guardian
- ‘Always neglected’: Bradford braced for bad news in rail planWe’re out of it … again,” said retired yoga teacher Jane Ayers, as she walked out of the railway station concourse on an unseasonably mild Wednesday morning. “As per usual. Bradford is always neglected.”
The Independent
- Boris Johnson facing backlash from Tory MPs as he unveils cuts to northern rail planBoris Johnson is facing a furious backlash from northern Tory MPs after he broke his promise to build a new railway line for the north of England by scrapping the eastern leg of HS2 from Birmingham to Leeds.
Times Online
- HS2 eastern leg to Leeds scrapped, confirms Grant Shapps [subscription]The government’s long-awaited Integrated Rail Plan also commits to full electrification of the Midland Main Line from London St Pancras to Sheffield, as well as upgrades to the East Coast Main Line. The Times understands that this includes removing level crossings, which will help reduce journey times.
- Transport giants must take responsibility for women’s safety at night [subscription]t was reported last week that the number of taxi drivers in the industry has plummeted by more than half since the beginning of the pandemic, with the shortage sparking new safety fears for women trying to get home at night. This is the latest in a long line of safety worries facing women.
- No 10 ‘betrays north’ with £14bn cut in railway plan [subscription]The government will save £14 billion by axing the eastern leg of HS2 and downgrading plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail, analysis of the cost cutting has revealed.
City AM
- CMA to open EV charging competition on motorwaysThe UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is set to open up a competition for electric vehicle charging on motorways.
- Decarbonisation is primary driver for transport investment, says DLA PiperDecarbonisation has become the primary driver for investment strategy in the transport sector. According to a report by law firm DLA Piper, 79 per cent of respondents from the railway industry believe decarbonisation a primary driver for their organisation’s investment strategy. Numbers go up when considering those working in the aviation and shipping industries, with 82 and 85 per cent respectively.
- UK costs of shipping higher than mainland Europe, research revealsThe cost of shipping to the UK is 24.2 per cent higher compared with mainland Europe, as a result of the supply chain crisis.
- Flybe to return next year, 20 months after collapseFailed UK airline Flybe is set to return to operating early next year, choosing Birmingham Airport as its new headquarters.
- Government faces backlash over HS2 overhaulThe government is facing criticism from small businesses and rail unions over plans to overhaul the designs for HS2.
- TfL: Network planning for “managed decline” and return to 1970s without Whitehall fundingLONDON’S transport network is headed for “managed decline†that will echo the 1970s if central government refuses to fill a growing funding black hole. Late on Wednesday evening, TfL’s finance committee published the bleakest assessment yet of the future of London’s public transport network, outlining an 18 per cent reduction in bus services and a [...] The post TfL: Network planning for “managed decline” and return to 1970s without Whitehall funding appeared first on CityAM.
Network Rail
- Birmingham New Street sees busiest day since December 2019The return of the Frankfurt Christmas markets made last Saturday the busiest day at Birmingham New Street station since before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sky News
- Transport latest: Boris Johnson 'confirms eastern leg of HS2 will be axed' ahead of travel updateThe latest on travel as the government unveils its long-awaited Integrated Rail Plan – in which it is expected the eastern leg of HS2 will be scrapped.
Belfast Telegraph
- Sadiq Khan makes urgent call on Government for London transport fundingLondon’s bus and tube services could be severely disrupted without urgent Government investment because of a £1.9 billion funding gap, the Mayor of London has warned.
- Government to launch study into extending HS2 to Leeds – JohnsonBoris Johnson has insisted the Government will investigate ways of extending HS2 to Leeds amid anger over an expected scaling back of railway plans for the North.
Birmingham Post
- Birmingham Airport offers 'real partnership' to re-born Flybe says CEODavid Pflieger is upbeat about the future of the new-look carrier as it prepares to open HQ and operations centre at Solihull transport hub
Bolton News
- Bolton Train Station pick-up and drop-off zone now openCONGESTION outside Bolton train station is set to ease from today with the opening of a new drop-off and pick-up facility.
Bradford Telegraph & Argus
- Ministers vow rail benefits 10 years sooner amid fury over reportsFASTER train journeys will be delivered up to 10 years sooner than planned, the Government has insisted amid anger over an expected decision to axe key schemes.
London Evening Standard
- Sadiq Khan warns Tube, buses and cycle schemes ‘face axe’ in dire funding alertA nightmare scenario of huge cuts to Tube and bus services and an end to all new cycle schemes was outlined on Wednesday evening by Sadiq Khan.
Newcastle Evening Chronicle
- Huge cuts to North East's public transport would be 'catastrophic' and risk 'economic collapse'Metro operator Nexus faces a £20.8m black hole that could mean major cuts to bus services in Tyne and Wear
Nottingham Evening Post
- HS2: Eastern leg to be 'scaled back and high speed hub at Toton scrapped'The eastern leg of HS2 will be scaled back and a high speed hub at Toton totally scrapped, Nottinghamshire Live understands.
Sheffield Star
- Broken promises and empty words on transport are all government has for Sheffield says MPGovernment has saved billions by failing to invest in transport in Sheffield – strengthening the case for upgrades to Supertram and buses now.
Yorkshire Post
- Boris Johnson confirms HS2 Eastern Leg to Leeds will be axedThe HS2 Eastern leg to Leeds will be axed today in the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed.
- Boris Johnson: Our Integrated Rail Plan for HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail in YorkshirePrime Minister Boris Johnson, writing in The Yorkshire Post, today puts forward his Government's long-awaited Integrated Rail Plan.
Plymouth Herald
- Tavistock to Bere Alston railway reopening could lead to full return of the Dartmoor line“That will make a huge difference to this town, an enormous difference to have that station open and be able to get in and out of Plymouth”
Other Regional Press
- Yorkshire leaders set for HS2 disappointment as Grant Shapps unveils new rail plan for NorthMajor high speed rail schemes set to be downgraded
- Maid Marian Line opening and Robin Hood Line extension tipped for green light in £100 billion trains revampThe Maid Marian Line could be reopened to passengers and the Robin Hood Line extended amid a major government shake-up of rail services, rep
New Civil Engineer
- Integrated Rail Plan | ‘Worrying’ cuts for Northern Powerhouse RailToday’s publication of the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) confirmed that the government has significantly scaled back plans for the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) scheme.
- Hammersmith Bridge | Rival design removes need for expensive strengtheningA rival design for the restoration of Hammersmith Bridge has been tabled in a bid to “break the stalemate” between the local council and government.
- East Coast Main Line cost cutting innovation should be template for further electrification rolloutThe Rail Industry Association (RIA) has released its Major Projects Report, which features over 50 case studies of major rail projects and how they can inform the way such endeavours are carried out going forward.
Rail Technology Magazine
- Government to introduce contactless ticketing in North and MidlandsThe Government have announced contactless pay-as-you-go ticketing will be rolled out across commuter networks in the North and Midlands over the next three years.
Other News Sources
- COP Cymru: Making Clean Transport the Norm in WalesTo reach Wales’ net zero goal, low-carbon transport must become the norm. That’s why the fourth – and final – COP26 Regional Roadshow shone a light on the policy and projects that aim to promote clean transport.
- Have your say about public transport in Glasgow - including bus fares, Subway opening hours and moreGLASGOW City Council has extended the deadline for the public to respond to a new transport plan that sets the direction of travel in the city until 2030.
- More than half of ethnic minorities abandon engineering careersMore than half of ethnic minorities abandon their engineering careers compared to 39% of white people, according to research by Atkins.
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