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

Thursday, 15 August 2024

BBC News

• Channel Island ferry tender behind scheduleBidders to run ferry operations in the Channel Islands have not yet been contacted to be told they are shortlisted.
• Bus shelter CCTV to combat anti-social behaviourSecurity cameras have been installed at more than 150 bus shelters in a bid to improve the safety of those waiting for a ride.
• Airport gets injunction to stop would-be protestsLondon Southend Airport has secured a High Court injunction to stop would-be environmental protesters from trespassing on its land.
• Heathrow rail link project could be 'reopened'Network rail has said plans for a rail link between Great Western mainline and Heathrow Airport could still move forward if funding is found in the future. The Local Democracy Reporting Service recently reported that the project had been put on hold.
• Rise in reports of violence against women on transportThe number of recorded violent crimes against women and girls on the transport network has risen in the past year by 20%, the British Transport Police Authority has said.
• Train strikes near end as union and government agree dealTrain drivers will vote on a new pay deal aimed at ending long-running strike action. It follows talks between representatives of Aslef and the Department for Transport that aimed to resolve the pay dispute between drivers and train companies in England.
• Thousands hit by fines from cloned car platesFines cancelled due to car cloning in London rise by 64% in three years, data obtained by the BBC reveals.
• Wizz Air launches 'all you can fly' annual dealWizz Air was named the worst airline for UK flight delays for the third year in a row in June.

Department for Transport

• Major breakthrough in rail dispute could signal end of national strikesThe pay proposal could see an end to 2 years of industrial action, protect passengers from further national strikes and improve the reliability of services.

Financial Times

• Tui targets more holidays outside Europe as long-haul demand boomsBoss Sebastian Ebel says ˜I very much believe in Africa with new data showing rising popularity of trips further afield
• Rail strikes in England near end after unions and UK government reach deal Offer of more than 14 per cent over three years agreed by Aslef leadership to end industrial action

The Guardian

• Clear for takeoff? Amazon gets green light to test-fly delivery drones in UKTrial in Orkney to test machine flying out of human controller's line of sight could pave way for home deliveries. Amazon has been given the green light to test-fly drones beyond a human controller's line of sight in the UK, paving the way for using the machines to deliver packages to homes.The online retailer is one of six organisations taking part in a trial led by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), with other projects including the inspection of offshore windfarms, air traffic control, policing and delivering emergency medical supplies.
• Aslef train drivers reach deal that could end rail strikes after two years of chaosLast long-running dispute between unions and English train companies will be resolved if members back offer. Train drivers and the UK government have reached a deal that could end more than two years of conflict between rail operators and unions during which wide-ranging strikes have led to weeks of misery for passengers.

The Scotsman

• When fire-damaged 35-year-old CalMac ferry might go back into serviceCalMac ferry which caught fire last week will not be back in service until at least Saturday.

Times Online

• Tories accuse government of ’caving in’ with 15% rail pay offer. [subscription]The Aslef leader Mick Whelan says drivers should accept the ’good, fair offer’ over three years, which will end the union’s two-year campaign for better pay

City AM

• Former Harland & Wolff chief’s failure to accept blame for troubles is embarrassing Harland and Wolff has been fighting to stave off collapse since the new Labour government said it wouldn't guarantee a £200m loan from its lenders.

Mail Online

• Easyjet cancels 232 flights over next three days from holiday destination loved by British tourists as cabin crew go on strikeMore than a quarter of the planes due to take off will remain on the ground from August 15 to 17, it has been revealed today.

The Mirror

• NASA admits astronauts could be stranded in space until 2025 aboard Boeing test flightNASA said there is no return date set for the stranded astronauts Butch Willmore and Suni William on the Boeing Starliner Crew Test Flight after their thrusters malfunctioned

Sky News

• Rail strikes could end following 'major breakthrough' as train drivers set to vote on new pay offer There has been a "major breakthrough" in the long-running pay row involving train drivers, which could signal the end of national rail strikes, according to the Department for Transport (DfT).

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Shipley rail depot to be built on former Crossley Evans siteA £100 million rail depot in Shipley has been given the green light by planners.
• Northern to let customers book cheapest tickets twelve weeks aheadFrom next Friday, August 23, Northern will allow customers to book their cheapest tickets up to 12 weeks in advance.
• Bosses reveal when repair work on Bradford railway station lift is due to finishNetwork Rail has revealed when it expects repair work on the lift at Bradford's Forster Square railway station will be finished.

Northern Echo

• Reaction as violent attacks against women on Britain’s trains doublesNorth East Mayor Kim McGuinness says women shouldn’t have to plan journeys around safety after new data revealed violent attacks against women on Britain’s trains had doubled in just two years.

Cambridge News

• Calls for £5million from Government to put Cambridge light rail scheme on trackCambridge Connect has written to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to request the funding

Other Regional Press

• Airport pushes on following return to profitBack in the black for the first time in a decade, Teesside International Airport is advancing a hydrogen refuelling station and a test-bed for digital technologies.
• Network Rail explains its progress on Botley Road closure worksThe Botley Road rail scheme has moved forward in Oxford as a Network Rail review takes place.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• CILT seeks input on Road User Charging policyThe phrase Road User Charging evokes a number of reactions; fear, anger, triumph, glee but whatever your feelings are about the subject it is likely to be something that is required to address transport funding gaps and to help achieve environmental targets by engaging modal shift. We are edging towards a turning point in our transport history where our reliance on fossil fuel cars is shifting but our desire for mobility is greater than ever.  With these shifts comes challenges for us as individuals and as a society as well as how we govern and fund transport strategies. With this in mi...

Rail Magazine

• GB Railfreight secures extension at London GatewayGB Railfreight has secured a two-year extension to its contract with DP World to handle freight trains at London Gateway port. The deal will see the rail operator continue to prepare all departing trains from the busy terminal.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Landmark for Lochs Motor Transport as Enviro400 trio arriveLochs Motor Transport, based in Leurbost on the Isle of Lewis, has taken delivery of the first three of five Alexander Dennis Enviro400 double-deckers that are to join its fleet.

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow welcomed 8 million passengers through JulyAlmost eight million passengers travelled through Heathrow in July, seeing the UK hub retain “gold spot” on the podium as the busiest airport in Europe in the first half of 2024.

Other News Sources

• Hull City strike deal with train companyHull City have partnered with Hull Trains for the 2024/25 Sky Bet Championship season. Hull Trains will have branding across the stadium, social media platforms and matchday materials.
• Stormont "killing Belfast nightlife" as night transport shortage hits industryDebate comes amid widespread concerns about the state of the Belfast night time economy
• Banbury’s MP and the Transport Secretary demand CrossCountry resolve unreliable servicesBanbury’s MP and the Transport Secretary have both written to CrossCountry setting out their concerns about the service provided by the train operator.
• Combined Transport performance rebounds by 4,25% in Q2 2024European Combined Transport (CT) performance has rebounded by 4,25 per cent in the second quarter of 2024. The improvement occurred because the sector left earlier disturbances behind in Q1. Whether the positive trend will continue in the near future is uncertain, as many infrastructure work disturbances are expected in summertime.
• Transport for Wales Hails Service to Summer Events a ’Major Success’Transport for Wales trains successfully transported more than160,000 music fans into Cardiff this summer for shows by global music stars at the Principality Stadium.
• South Western Railway partners with military children's charitySouth Western Railway (SWR) has partnered with Scotty's Little Soldiers, a charity aiding military children who have lost a parent.