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

Monday, 10 May 2021

BBC News

• Rail disruption set to continue after train cracks foundRail firms GWR and LNER warn of issues on long-distance routes after cracks were found on some trains.

Department for Transport

• Government calls on industry for action to resolve rail disruptionPlan requested to resolve prolonged disruption following the discovery of cracks in Class 800 Series Hitachi trains.

Financial Times

• Europe forced to turn back clock to bail out airlines Debate rages over billions spent to prop up flag carriers as crisis reverses privatisation drive
• Will the pandemic make first class a thing of the past?With the largest planes grounded and the richest passengers switching to private, the decline of first class is accelerating

The Guardian

• Electric cars ‘will be cheaper to produce than fossil fuel vehicles by 2027’BloombergNEF forecasts result of falling cost of making batteries as well as dedicated production lines Electric cars and vans will be cheaper to produce than conventional, fossil fuel-powered vehicles by 2027, and tighter emissions regulations could put them in pole position to dominate all new car sales by the middle of the next decade, research has found.By 2026, larger vehicles such as electric sedans and SUVs will be as cheap to produce as petrol and diesel models, according to forecasts from BloombergNEF, with small cars reaching the threshold the following year. Continue reading...

The Scotsman

• Cracks found on ScotRail trains after urgent safety checksSeveral ScotRail trains have been found to have hairline cracks as part a widespread safety investigation also affecting other operators such as LNER, The Scotsman has learned.

The Telegraph

• Passengers urged to prepare for rail transport disruption caused by cracks in trains [subscription]Customers for all affected routes are 'strongly advised' to check their intended journey before travelling
• Free lateral flow tests may not be approved for departing green list holidaymakers [subscription]Sources indicate the free kits may not now be allowed because of the failure to reach 'cross-Government agreement' on the scheme
• Rail firms told to find extra trains to restore services after disruption caused by cracksHitachi 800 trains were pulled from the lines on Saturday morning as a 'precautionary measure' after a fault was found in some trains

Times Online

• Rail operators ordered to end chaos caused by train cracks [subscription]The government has called on rail operators to “urgently set out a comprehensive plan” to resolve the disruption to services caused by cracks found in some high-speed trains.

City AM

• Rail disruption set to continue next week after cracks found in trainsTravel chaos caused by safety checks after cracks were discovered in some high-speed trains is set to continue into next The post Rail disruption set to continue next week after cracks found in trains appeared first on CityAM.

The Mirror

• Airport delays this summer could be 15 times longer than normal, Border Chief warnsBorder Force director Paul Lincoln has advised passengers to face increased delays at "each stage" of their journey. Grant Shapps has announced 12 countries are on the UK green list

Birmingham Mail

• Full list of amber travel destinations and what it means for holidaymakersPeople returning from amber category countries must take two post-arrival tests and self-isolate at home for 10 days

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Faults lead to almost a quarter of Northern Rail's new £500m fleet being withdrawn from service ALMOST a quarter of the new model of train introduced by Northern Rail in the past two years have been removed from service due to a fault.

Bristol Live

• Rail chaos will continue into next week as cracks are foundGWR has warned people not to travel as there are no replacements

The York Press

• Rail chaos: Minister calls on Hitachi and train operators to end disruptionRail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris has called on train manufacturer Hitachi to set out a safety inspection plan and long-term repair strategy for its faulty Class 800 trains, following a weekend of disruption on the railways.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• CBI boss backs Leeds Bradford Airport plans for new terminalCBI director general Tony Danker has lent his backing to plans to construct a new terminal building for Leeds Bradford Airport, saying that the Government’s levelling up agenda would not be successful without a network of strong regional airports.

Bucks Free Press

• 'We need a modern transport system like HS2' Throughout his fifty-three years Isambard Kingdom Brunel designed and built the Great Western Railway, including the semi elliptical three centred brick arches over the River Thames at Maidenhead.

Other Regional Press

• Stagecoach bus drivers reveal hidden gems you can get to without a carAs lockdown restrictions ease and spontaneous day trips become a possibility again, it's an opportunity to travel somewhere slightly off the beaten track.
• Scrapping rail link ’undeliverable’The Department for Transport has denied claims its plans to scrap a key rail link between Southport and Manchester have been called “undeliverable” by its own consultants.

New Civil Engineer

• 24 historic railway structures that face demolition or infilling by Highways EnglandThe HRE Group has produced a report highlighting the 24 most noteworthy railway assets that face demolition or infilling under Highways England’s controversial plan.
• Network Rail seeks alternative to wooden switches and crossingsNetwork Rail is looking for alternatives to wood and timber for use in switches and crossings.
• Interview | Mike Wright of Network Rail on setting a new tone for project deliveryAmounts of time and cost required to move projects from concept to reality are often criticised in the UK construction industry, but Network Rail is tackling the issue head on with a fresh look at its project delivery framework.

Railnews

• Rail minister urges safety plan as IET disruption goes onTHE government is urging Hitachi to set out a ’comprehensive safety inspection plan’, and a ’longer-term repair strategy’ for the Intercity Express fleets withdrawn on Saturday morning, including its estimate of when the present crisis will be over.

Other News Sources

• Lonsdale Rail Awarded £8m Paddington Square fit-outMace has awarded Lonsdale Rail, part of the Michael Lonsdale Group, the MEPFC LUL fit-out for the Paddington Square development.
• Piling begins for new Tyne and Wear Metro depotVolker Fitzpatrick is working on track foundations as part of constructing the £70M Gosforth depot, which will accommodate Tyne and Wear Metro’s new fleet of trains.
• 'Cyclists over 16 should pay tax and insurance'YES Mr Armstrong, I could not agree with you more. All these cycle lanes are being provided at great expense for the safety of these people but they are not being used.