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

Tuesday, 30 April 2024

BBC News

• Council seeks private sector Cornwall airport partnerCornwall Council is looking for a "private sector partner" to jointly run Cornwall Airport Newquay.
• Train drivers overwhelmingly middle-aged white menThe average train driver is 46 years old, male and white, according to new data compiled by an industry body.
• Landslip-hit Knottingley-Pontefract line reopens after seven-week repairTrains are running once again on a West Yorkshire railway line after a landslip forced its closure for seven weeks.
• Airport 'shambles' as passengers miss flights Social media posts show people in long queues inside Birmingham Airport due to a technical issue in security.
• Heathrow bank holiday strike called offUnite said a deal had been reached with employers over pay and conditions.
• CalMac boss accuses port owner of 'lack of investment'The boss of west coast ferry operator CalMac has accused a private port operator of failing to maintain one of Scotland's busiest harbours.
• Tesla shares jump after reports of China dealA reported deal with Chinese search giant Baidu will help pave the way for a rollout of Tesla's self-driving technology.
• Tesla China rival BYD sees profits and sales fallCar maker takes a hit from weakening demand and price war in the world's largest electric vehicle market.
• Thousands stranded as Australian airline weighs its futureThe nation's new low-cost carrier has cancelled all flights, as its business hangs in the balance.

Financial Times

• Can a freeport level up the Welsh island of Anglesey?The local community is desperate to see if the Tory party's flagship policy will revive their economy
• Turkish Airlines not in a rush to buy more Boeing jetsCarrier says production problems have held up negotiations as it announces deal with Airbus
• Expansion of car-carrying fleet risks worsening port congestionWarning from head of Wallenius Wilhelmsen comes as shipping capacity set to increase by 42% in three years

The Independent

• Stansted and Birmingham airport passengers hit by long delays due to technical issues‘After queuing for two hours at Birmingham airport I missed my flight’ – passenger Joe Morris
• Heathrow Border Force strike: What does it mean for your flight?Hundreds of UK Border Force officers at Heathrow airport are striking for four days over what their union calls “an unworkable new roster system”.

The Telegraph

• A glimpse inside Dubai’s futuristic new airport, set to be the biggest on Earth. [subscription]Al Maktoum International Airport will have a capacity of 260 million annual passengers according to ambitious new plans

Times Online

• Potholes ‘cost UK economy £14bn’. [subscription]The Centre for Economics and Business Research said road damage was approaching levels seen in emerging economies
• The boss of west coast ferry operator CalMac has accused a private port operator of failing to maintain one of Scotland's busiest harbours. [subscription]Six need-to-know Scottish business stories: Green transport partnership; executive move at Wood; medical firm funding boost; Marine Park gets green light; deal to heat homes; retail firm back in profit

City AM

• Labour’s rail nationalisation is a misdiagnosis. More state intervention can’t be the cureLabour’s plans to renationalise Britain’s rail network have been touted as the “biggest reform of our railways in a generation.”

The Mirror

• Airline suspends all flights to airport over Vladimir Putin's 'extremely dangerous' GPS jammersPlane approaches to Tartu Airport in Estonia currently rely on GPS signals, said Finnair, which is the only airline that flies into that city - and all flights have now been suspended until May 31

Belfast Telegraph

• New station welcome, but it’s drop in oceanIt was all bells and whistles yesterday as Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd opened the new York Street Train Station.

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham Airport passengers miss flights after 'technical issue' at securityOne person was said to have collapsed in scenes branded a 'disaster' and an 'absolute shambles'

Birmingham Post

• New trains on a rail line that Welsh Government has spent £90m on despite it being a non devolved matterThe new trains on the line follows a £90m investment since 2008 by the Welsh Government despite it being a matter for the UK Government

London Evening Standard

• Fresh London bus controllers strike to cause 'chaos' for eight daysUnion warns of disruption to routes as control room staff stage walkout in row over pay

Nation. Cymru

• Developers for a rail testing centre want more time to submit plans of schemeDevelopers of a rail testing facility want more time to be able to produce detailed plans for the £150 million scheme.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Tyne and Wear Metro bosses claim 'good progress' on fixing problem with new train fleetTyne and Wear Metro passengers have been left frustrated by a series of delays that has hampered the arrival of the network's Swiss-made fleet of new trains
• Fears over future of Newcastle's central motorway with one footbridge already deemed 'life expired' Concrete has a life expectancy of between 50 and 100 years

Other Regional Press

• Vow to reopen 'missing' 11-mile Lancashire train linkThe move comes as part of Labour's promise to reform railways across the country
• Rail partnership receives government accreditationThe Robin Hood Line (RHL) Community Rail Partnership (CRP) is celebrating after attaining accreditation for a second year running from the Department for Transport (DfT).
• Repairs and a new colour planned for historic rail viaduct in BurntislandNetwork Rail wants to repaint and repair the Burntisland viaduct by the end of the year. The C-listed structure crosses Harbour Place, and a planning application from the company wants the go ahead from Fife Council carry out the work and repaint the bridge a solid ‘purple red’ colour
• £19m Haverfordwest interchange contract under the spotlightA ‘call-in’ on the recently-awarded contract for the second stage of Haverfordwest’s near-£19m transport interchange is to be heard next week.

Rail Advent

• Construction of bridge on new Scotland railway line delayedAn active travel bridge that was being constructed to link Methilhill in Fife with the new Cameron Bridge station on the Levenmouth line will not be ready when the line opens because the company building the bridge has gone into administration.
• West Midlands Trains to continue to maintain CrossCountry Class 170 trainsWest Midlands Trains (WMT) has announced that it has come to a long-term maintenance contract to keep maintaining, servicing and cleaning CrossCountry's Class 170 fleet at WMT's Tyseley depot in Birmingham.

Rail Business Daily

• William Cook Rail acquires CWE to strengthen UK rail supply chainWilliam Cook Rail Ltd has announced the acquisition of Crowle Wharf Engineers Ltd (trading as CWE) in a major development for the UK rail supply chain.

Rail Technology Magazine

• More than 800 projects planned for May bank holidaysMore than 800 projects will take place across Britain’s railway network over the two bank holiday weekends in May, Network Rail has confirmed.

Railway Gazette

• William Cook Rail acquires Crowle Wharf EngineersUK: Leeds-based wagon and industrial component supplier William Cook Rail has acquired coupler, bogie, buffer and wagon maintenance, repair and overhaul specialist Crowle Wharf Engineers Ltd.

Other News Sources

• Are we heading for a rolling stock crisis?Despite the rapid return to almost pre-Covid passenger numbers, 2023 saw several fleets of trains withdrawn and placed in store. Chris Milner casts an eye over the current rolling stock situation.
• Leeds Bradford Airport £100 million terminal project to deliver expanded retail and F&B facilitiesUK. Passenger experience at Leeds Bradford Airport is set for a major boost after a ground-breaking ceremony marked the start of construction work on its £100 million (US$126.4 million) terminal regeneration project.
• Bus services decline across Wrexham and FlintshireA NEW study has confirmed a decline in bus services across the UK in recent years. Conducted by environmental organisation Friends of the Earth, a study has confirmed a decline in bus services across all operators which heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• New bus service connects Bishopton to Braehead Shopping CentreA new bus service directly linking Bishopton to Braehead Shopping Centre is now in operation.
• North Yorkshire Mayoral Candidates Discuss Public Transport AmbitionsOne of the key powers being given to North Yorkshire's new elected Mayor will be control over public transport in the county so what are the candidates plans and is there enough money?
• Call to axe Exmouth Gateway planRecommendations will go before Devon County Council's Cabinet next week (Wednesday 8 May) asking councillors not to proceed with proposed active travel improvements near Exmouth railway station.
• Labour’s rail nationalisation plans: a welcome start but a long way to goPassenger groups, campaigners, and rail unions have worked collectively over many years for the renationalisation of our railway, following its privatisation in the early 1990s. 
• Network Rail’s joint venture seeks social landlord for affordable housing portfolioNetwork Rail’s development partnership is seeking a social landlord for a rail-side affordable housing portfolio, Inside Housing can reveal.

News from Europe

• The first city to ban 100% of transport: no more driving motor vehiclesIn an effort to address environmental challenges and improve the quality of life of its citizens, Oslo implemented bold measures to reduce dependence on motor vehicles.