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

Saturday, 10 July 2021

BBC News

• Pollution-eating car shown off at Goodwood FestivalThe car looks radically different but critics are not convinced it can really help the environment.
• Covid: Travellers returning to England warned of six-hour airport queuesBorder Force staff will struggle to deal with a surge in passengers over the summer, a union says.
• Bookings surge after Covid quarantine rules relaxedAirlines say bookings increase after the government removed quarantine rules on amber-list countries.

Financial Times

• Greens rejoice as Parisian drivers moan about new speed limitFrench capital's left-Green government to apply 30kmh maximum for cars in most streets
• Half of all bikes sold in Europe will be electric by 2025, predicts manufacturerBosch executive says switch underlines commuters desire to avoid public transport and cars
• England's borders race to install new tech to avert travel chaosMass upgrade to e-gates at ports and airports launched to tackle grave concerns over queues as Covid rules ease

The Guardian

• Buses, not the tube, derailed our tramsThe successful operation of trolleybuses in the 1930s convinced the London Passenger Transport Board that they should replace the tram network, writes Mark Lyons
• Richard Branson's quest: to boldly go where no billionaire has gone beforeSuccessful flight on Virgin Galactic craft would mark the next phase of space tourism race with Jeff BezosIt does not often rain in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Nevertheless, Sir Richard Branson is likely to feel nervous as he checks the weather forecast on Sunday morning: if there are blue skies ahead then the British entrepreneur is likely to become the richest person ever to venture into space.Branson and his team – two pilots and three other “mission specialistsâ€� – will strap into the spacecraft, the VSS Unity. If all goes well Branson and co will be propelled 50 miles above the Earth’s surface...

The Telegraph

• Black cabs slump to lowest level since 1983 as a quarter of drivers quit [subscription]Just under 14,000 traditional taxis are left on the capital's roads following the disruption to normal life caused by the pandemic

Times Online

• Grant Shapps says mask-wearing should continue on busy trains [subscription]Masks will need to be worn on rush-hour trains after all restrictions are lifted on July 19, a cabinet minister said today.
• Billionaire rocket men have set us on course for conflict in space [subscription]Branson, Bezos and Musk, the three rocketeers, are burning off their fortunes in the ultimate game of one-upmanship. But their technological leap forward heralds an age where superpowers compete for control of the satellite network on which our security depends, argues Roger Boyes

Daily Record

• First Scot in space is chief pilot Richard Branson's rocket missionDavid Mackay and Michael Masucci will be taking the controls of VSS Unity with their boss Branson as passenger.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• More disruption expected as rail operator battles with CovidNORTHERN is asking customers to check before they travel this weekend as the rail operator continues to feel the impact of coronavirus.

London Evening Standard

• Unite union has been answering machine for airport workers leadership candidate Gerard Coyne claims The powerful Unite union has for too long been an answering machine for airport workers, leadership candidate Gerard Coyne has claimed.
• British holidaymakers told to expect six hour airport queuesBritish tourists desperate to escape the country could face up to six-hour airport queues at peak times as travel restrictions ease, a union has warned.
• British holidaymakers told to expect six hour airport queuesBritish tourists desperate to escape the country could face up to six-hour airport queues at peak times as travel restrictions ease, a union has warned.

Bucks Free Press

• Fury as Bucks school bus services 'cancelled from September'Angry parents have hit out at the council after school bus contracts were cancelled from the new school term in September – leaving dozens of pupils no way to get to school.

Other Regional Press

• Northumberland County Council leader Glen Sanderson dismisses Sunderland-led calls to rebrand Newcastle International AirportLEADERS in Northumberland are the latest to reject calls to rebrand Newcastle International Airport to include Sunderland.
• Network Rail starts work on £320,000 investment to refurbish Congleton station's footbridgeWork has started this week on a £320,000 investment to refurbish Congleton station's footbridge.
• Arran Ferry: Union demand government summit to resolve crisisScottish Ferries union RMT today urged Transport Minister to call an urgent Ferries Summit to sort the crisis on the Clyde and Hebrides network.
• Ynys Môn MS discusses station closures and overcrowded trains with Transport for Wales’ ChiefYnys Môn MS Rhun ap Iorwerth has met with Transport for Wales’ Chief Executive to discuss temporary station closures and overcrowded trains.

Rail Advent

• Another Leicestershire level crossing to be upgraded by Network RailLater this month Network Rail will be carrying out improvement work at the Rearsby level crossing in Charnwood, Leicestershire.

Rail Technology Magazine

• TfL begins trial operations on the Northern Line ExtensionThe Northern Line Extension has seen a major milestone reached as Transport for London (TfL) begins the start of trial operations on the new 3km twin-tunnel railway between Kennington and Battersea Power Station, via Nine Elms.

Railnews

• Crossrail: 'no short cuts' Both Crossrail Ltd and Transport for London have responded to today's National Audit Office report, which says that 'although cost increases and schedule delays are in line with Crossrail Ltd's 2020 estimates, they exceed the available budget and there are still significant issues that could arise'. Transport commissioner Andy Byford said: 'It is right the Crossrail project continues to be scrutinised and we welcome the National Audit Office™s report. Crossrail is a transformational project that will benefit London and beyond forever, and it is vitally important to get it over the line. As su...

Aviation Industry

• Are Smart Trays the Future of Airport Security?AI technological geniuses UtterBerry have been creating a new addition to security in airports – smart trays.

Green Miscellany

• Relaxed hours for HGV drivers will increase road dangerIn response to a shortage of HGV drivers that threatened to lead to empty supermarket shelves, the government has decided relax rules this month for how long lorry drivers can work. According to the transport secretary, Grant Shapps on Twitter this week: “We’re aware of a shortage of HGV drivers, so I’m announcing a temp extension of drivers’ hours rules… The post Relaxed hours for HGV drivers will increase road danger appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Work starts on £8m business centre at Goole 'Rail Village'The site will provide office space near a new £50m research base for Siemens
• Work on new Stanford-le-Hope rail station must start, councillor saysWORK must begin on the long-delayed new Stanford-le-Hope railway station to end a six-month “paralysis”, a councillor has insisted.
• ScotRail: MSP blasts rail firm over latest Helensburgh punctuality figuresA WEST of Scotland MSP has called for urgent action to improve the standard of rail services in Helensburgh and Lomond after the publication of ScotRail's latest punctuality figures.