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

Friday, 09 February 2024

BBC News

• On-demand bus service expanded due to popularityAn on-demand bus service in Worcestershire has expanded because of growing popularity.
• Bus stop design competition honours Bristol bus boycottA design competition has been launched to mark the Bristol bus boycott
• Cost of delayed Arterio train fleet withheld by governmentThe government has refused to reveal the cost to the taxpayer of the delayed introduction of a new fleet of trains.
• Motorway to close for bridge demolitionNational Highways says it has to remove the bridge which was hit twice by lorries in January.
• Why the e-bike boom is raising fire fearsSales of electric bikes are booming but defective batteries and chargers can cause fires.

ITV News

• Avanti West Coast under fire: HS2 Cutbacks threaten Manchester servicesAvanti West Coast has been told to “do better” by the rail minister after criticism by politicians, passengers and business leaders for its 'poor performance'.

Financial Times

• Maersk shares drop after it warns on shipping outlook and suspends buybacksWorld’s second-largest container shipping group says industry is confronting oversupply
• Ministers cut performance targets for biggest UK rail franchiseShift comes after Govia Thameslink failed on most measures in first year of its contract

The Scotsman

• Scottish bus operator looks to get more women behind the wheel and dispel 'inaccurate' industry perceptionScottish bus operator is looking to break down the barriers and get more women behind the wheel.

City AM

• Losses slashed at Liverpool John Lennon Airport as turnover takes off The group behind Liverpool John Lennon Airport slashed its losses as its turnover took off during its latest financial year.

Mail Online

• Finnair plan to weigh passengers is 'long overdue' and essential for safe flying, experts claim - as travellers say there should be a 'fat tax' for bigger flyersFinnish company Finnair has divided readers and consumer rights experts with its review of how much passengers weigh and bring on board with heavy carry-on items.

Birmingham Post

• First phase of Cardiff Crossrail project takes step forward with consultants appointedNetwork Rail development plans for its land site south of Cardiff Train Station need to designed without compromising the full public transport impact potential of Cardiff Crossrail

Bristol Live

• New bus lanes on M32 would ’turbocharge’ public transport networkAnd the mayor says a long-discussed park and ride will also be crucial, else commuters face 'misery'
• Hundreds more electric vehicle charging stations planned across Bristol regionThe council hopes the investment will encourage more drivers to switch from petrol or diesel to electric

Edinburgh Evening News

• Edinburgh trains: East Lothian services 'so overcrowded that passengers can't get on'Trains taking commuters from East Lothian to Edinburgh are so overcrowded that by the time they reach Musselburgh no more passengers can get on, the Scottish Parliament has been told.

London Evening Standard

• Londoners slam the 265 'ghost bus' service which 'too often fails to appear as timetabled or sails past full'Transport for London has admitted the service needs to improve

Manchester Evening News

• The area around a Greater Manchester train station is being transformed with plans for offices, apartments, shops and restaurants unveiledPlans for the final phases of the £145m redevelopment of the area around Stockport train station have been unveiled. Stockport Exchange, nestled between the A6 and the town centre side of the station, near Grand Central, has already become 'one of the North West’s most thriving business hotspots.'
• Avanti West Coast told to 'do better' by rail minister amid warnings HS2 cutbacks could 'badly hit' Glasgow and ManchesterCommons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who represents Chorley, criticised the "appalling service" on the West Coast Main Line while MPs heard one Manchester business owner often travels to London the night before a meeting as he "can't rely" on Avanti.
• Night buses coming to Wigan and Bolton later this yearEXCLUSIVE: Andy Burnham has revealed where the trial will be launched

Wales Online

• The £100m plans it's hoped will start the transformation of public transport in CardiffThe first phase of Cardiff's transformative Crossrail scheme is taking a major step forward but there are major concerns over its budget and potentially conflicting Network Rail plans
• The £100m plans it's hoped will start the transformation of public transport in CardiffThe first phase of Cardiff's transformative Crossrail scheme is taking a major step forward but there are major concerns over its budget and potentially conflicting Network Rail plans
• The cost of rural bus services drives up council tax in the Vale of GlamorganThe leader of Vale of Glamorgan Council, Cllr Lis Burnett, said her administration is left with "impossible" choices

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Commons speaker tells West Midlands rail operator Avanti West Coast: "Your services are appalling"Avanti West Coast has been told to "do better" by the rail minister amid warnings HS2 cutbacks could "badly hit" services north of the West Midlands.

Yorkshire Post

• Minister insists increase in rail ticket prices for passengers is 'fair'The government has announced regulated rail fares, which make up almost half of all fares, will increase by 4.9 per cent on March 3.

Carlisle News & Star

• Great Musgrave bridge works challenged as infill removal cost revealedCampaigners have voiced concerns about ’damaged stonework’ and ’poor repairs’ at a historic railway bridge in Cumbria which National Highways exhumed last year at an ’eyewatering’ cost to the taxpayer.

Plymouth Herald

• Hundreds sign a new petition to protect Plymouth airportA new petition is calling for Plymouth’s disused former airport land to be protected for aviation use only. In just a week more than 300 names have appeared on the online petition at change.org and the people behind it say they would like to match the 37,000 who signed a similar petition more than a decade ago.

Other Regional Press

• HS2 cuts mean 'no material benefits for Watford commuters’Local commuters have blasted government "bean counters" claiming their HS2 decisions are trashing benefits for Watford.
• MP fears “bean counter in Treasury” will halt return of Cleethorpes to London trainsGainsborough MP Sir Edward Leigh has urged the government not to allow “some bean counter in the Treasury” to slam the brakes on plans for a direct train service from London to North East Lincolnshire.
• Major overhaul of bus services in Wales almost readyTHE final touches are being put on a long-awaited bus services bill to reform the failed system of deregulation, Wales’ first minister told the Senedd.
• Spalding bus station crossing would cost £200k, but improvements for site ’moving in right direction’A crossing linking Spalding bus station with nearby shops would cost up to £200,000, campaigners have been told.
• First Minister says new bill will fundamentally change the landscape for bus servicesThe final touches are being put on a long-awaited bus services bill to reform the failed system of deregulation, Wales’ first minister told the Senedd.
• Council hopes government officials' bus trip visit will mean the next stop is extra fundingOfficials from the Department for Transport have visited Shropshire to find out more about Shropshire Council’s new on-demand bus service – and about the council’s plans and aspirations for improving public transport across the county.
• Contracts awarded to secure Neath Port Talbot bus servicesIn total, the council says it has awarded bus service contracts worth £3,086,883 per year with this being achieved despite a drop in Welsh Government funding.
• Airport bosses blast ‘inexplicable’ latest court rulingHopes of Manston Airport’s £800m revival have once again been put on ice after a legal challenge will see the saga continue well into 2024.
• European airline announces passengers will be weighed as well as luggageThey will start later this year on Finnair and the weigh-ins will be voluntary to begin with
• Coventry pothole repair figures see drop over last three yearsEvery year, councils across England have to repair over a million potholes in our roads

Train Operators

• Great Western Railway’s innovative FastCharge battery train trial could transform UK’s railwayInnovation led by Great Western Railway could transform the UK’s railway as it powers forward with a FastCharge battery trial designed to help future decarbonisation of branch line services.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• Wrightbus secures 87-strong order from ArrivaThe order consists of 11 single-deck GB Kite Electroliners and 76 StreetDeck Electroliners. The buses, which will be operated on a number of routes around the capital, are due to be delivered from July. It comes on the back of an order the bus operator made last year with the Northern Ireland-based firm for 34 StreetDeck Electroliners and represents one of Arriva UK Bus’ largest investments in a zero-emission fleet.
• Go-Ahead to acquire Eastbourne SightseeingThe Go-Ahead Group has agreed a deal to acquire Eastbourne Sightseeing.

Intelligent Transport

• First Bus launches first apprenticeship programme to address driver shortagesFirst Bus aims to transform bus driving into an appealing career choice, offering comprehensive training and career progression opportunities for aspiring drivers across the UK.

New Civil Engineer

• HS2 seeks zero carbon power supply in £760M contractHS2 Ltd has signalled its intention to procure a £760M contract for the provision of zero carbon energy along the entire High Speed 2 (HS2) route.

Rail Advent

• Merseyrail staff to support four new charities for the next two yearsFour charities based in the Liverpool City Region are set to benefit from additional funding over the next two years.
• Merseyrail staff to support four new charities for the next two yearsFour charities based in the Liverpool City Region are set to benefit from additional funding over the next two years.

Railway Technology

• Alstom begins driverless metro train production for Chennai36 trains made of 108 coaches will be produced for the second phase of the Chennai Metro.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• McGill’s targets women with driver recruitment daysMcGill’s Group is to hold three recruitment days aimed at bringing more women drivers into the bus sector.
• Arriva London orders 87 more battery-electrics from WrightbusArriva London has placed a further order for battery-electric buses with Wrightbus. It will see the Ballymena manufacturer deliver an additional 76 StreetDeck Electroliner double-deckers to the operator, and 11 GB Kite Electroliner single-deckers.

Transportxtra

• SLC makes CunninghamCommercial head Rail delivery specialist SLC has appointed Jermaine Cunningham as new Head of Commercial.

Aviation Industry

• Prohibiting supersonic flight over land: AEF responds to CAA proposalsAEF has responded to a CAA consultation on prohibiting supersonic – and transonic and hypersonic – flight over land by civil aircraft.  Supersonic flight creates air pressure waves that result … The post Prohibiting supersonic flight over land: AEF responds to CAA proposals appeared first on Aviation Environment Federation.

Other News Sources

• Caerphilly station redevelopment moves forwardThe proposed demolition and redevelopment of Caerphilly's railway and bus stations has been green lit by council planners, although Welsh Government could intervene.
• West Midlands Railway unveils electric fleetWest Midlands Railway has unveiled a new fleet of electric trains which forms part of a £700m investment.
• Class 730 EMU arrives in the West MidlandsUK: ’Customers will have their breath taken away’ said West Midlands Mayor Andy Street when West Midlands Railway presented its Alstom Aventra Class 730 EMUs in Wolverhampton on February 8.
• Call for station upgrades throughout the North East from mayoral candidateKim McGuinness says our public transport should be owned by the public and accessible
• 1,000th Yutong bus delivered in UK. Transdev will use ZE buses in Heathrow airportPelican announced it delivered their 1,000th Yutong bus into the UK to Transdev Airport Services over the Christmas period
• The futuristic new red buses coming to London that look more like tramsThe new emission-free electric buses are expected to enter service in June 2024.
• West Sussex County Council begins Worthing Railway Approach workWork worth £3 million to improve Worthing Railway Approach has begun.

News from Europe

• Île-de-France Mobilités invests €1.8bn for 3,500 clean buses for city and intercity servicesParis region public transport authority Île-de-France Mobilités plans to order 3,500 clean buses for city and intercity services via the centralized body Centrale d’achat du transport public (CATP).