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

Wednesday, 22 September 2021

BBC News

• Metrolink: Manchester tram strikes called off after improved pay offerThe Unite union is recommending Metrolink tram drivers accept a
• National Express in talks to buy transport rival StagecoachThe move comes after both bus firms were hit hard by falling passenger numbers during the pandemic.
• Record backlog of cargo ships at California portsSome 65 container ships are stuck outside the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, amid trade bottlenecks.
• Covid travel test change date needed to avoid lossesAirlines and airports say they need a date for when PCR tests are removed so they don't lose out on bookings.
• Mask-wearing on public transport sees big dropOnly 20% still wear masks at train stations now it is no longer compulsory, according to Network Rail.
• Pandemic has changed travel forever, says AirBnB bossBoss Brian Chesky says people are increasingly combining business and leisure travel thanks to remote working.
• 'No clear end to HS2 cost and delays' say MPsThe Public Accounts Committee is

Financial Times

• Forget COP26 boasts — decarbonising takes thousands of tiny, boring stepsTruly green companies redesign their products rather than buying offsets or planting trees
• HS2 cost saga has ‘no clear end in sight’, MPs warnPublic accounts committee ‘increasingly alarmed’ by Covid cost pressures, slow progress at Euston and ‘lack of clarity’
• Bus industry tells UK government to go faster on zero-emission vehiclesComplaint over funding reflects broader concern about pace of action to meet decarbonisation goals

The Guardian

• Virgin Atlantic reports 600% surge in flight bookings to the USSales jump as US says it will allow fully vaccinated passengers from UK and some EU countries to enter from NovemberCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageVirgin Atlantic has reported a 600% surge in flight bookings to the US and British Airways reported a jump in searches after the US said it would lift restrictions to allow fully vaccinated passengers from the UK and most European Union countries to travel to the country from early November. Related: US to lift Covid travel ban for vaccinated passengers from UK and most of EU Continue reading...
• Electric air taxis to make their debut in Brazil’s most congested cityA Dublin-based company is promising zero-emission journeys across traffic-choked São Paulo, Latin America’s biggest cityThe skies over Latin America’s largest city are set to witness a futuristic aerospace revolution after the Brazilian budget airline Gol struck a deal that could see it ferry commuters around São Paulo in hundreds of low-cost zero-emission electric air taxis.“It’s going to be an absolute disrupter. We’re going to democratise air travel,â€� Dómhnal Slattery, chief executive of the group that will provide the aircraft to Gol, claimed in an interview with the Financial Times. Conti...
• Ministers plan legal action to stop Insulate Britain disrupting motorwaysPriti Patel and Grant Shapps want injunction this week, which could lead to protesters being jailedPriti Patel and Grant Shapps are seeking a court injunction to stop environmental protesters from targeting major motorways after five days of tailbacks and damaging headlines for the government.The home secretary and the transport secretary have asked National Highways and the Government Legal Service to submit an application later this week. Continue reading...
• British Rail logo designer appalled by green makeover messGerry Barney says updated branding, to be used by Great British Railways, uses too many colours. The designer of the familiar British Rail logo has warned against government plans to revamp the symbol and dismissed an attempt to give it a green makeover as a 'load of old bollocks'. The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, has said his plans for the new Great British Railways will involve updated versions of the classic ˜double-arrow logo when the system is launched next year.

Birmingham Post

• Airbus' new military helicopter unveiled as more details on potential Broughton job numbersAerospace giant will bid to replace Puma HC2 medium helicopter fleet and build aircraft in North Wales
• New body to assess rail investment needs in Wales but no Barnett consequential from HS2The UK Government said the body of senior executives will be up and running by year end

London Evening Standard

• Northern Line extension: 20,000 journeys made on first day as passengers flock to Tube expansion More than 20,000 journeys were made on the Northern line extension as passengers flocked to the first Tube extension this century.
• EasyJet claims UK has ‘missed the boat’ on relaxation of travel rulesThe Government announced an easing of travel rules last week.

Kent Online

• Rail delays for Kent commuters into London prompts apology from Network Rail boss responsible for Southeastern, Southern and Thameslink servicesA top railway boss has apologised to commuters for suffering unacceptable delays on their return to the office.

Other Regional Press

• Stagecoach under fire for cancellations to Swindon servicesA BUS company is coming under increasing fire from passengers after a series of cancellations to services in Swindon.
• Yorkshire has 'massive' shortage of bus drivers with 250 vacancies that need fillingThe region is currently short about 10 per cent of the drivers it needs - and things could get even worse

Business Live

• Momentum grows for Great British Railways HQ to be built in the East MidlandsGBR is the new government body which will oversee running of UK rail network and ticketing
• Momentum grows for Great British Railways HQ to be built in the East MidlandsGBR is the new government body which will oversee running of UK rail network and ticketing

New Civil Engineer

• Galliford Try presses on with delayed M56 smart motorway upgrade Galliford Try will press on with the second phase of work as part of National Highways £85M M56 upgrade.
• Northern Line Extension grand opening marred by station accessibility issuesQuestions have been raised over the accessibility of the new Northern line stations as part of the line's extension (NLE) which opened earlier this week.
• Arup unveils vision for ‘future mobility hubs’ to connect fragmented transport systemsArup has unveiled its vision for future mobility hubs designed to connect fragment transport systems, encourage commuters to use public transport and be more accessible for everyone.

Rail Technology Magazine

• First tram track stretch deployed under Wolverhampton Metro extensionThe Wolverhampton City Centre Metro extension project has reached a milestone, with the first section of tram tracks installed outside the city’s renovated railway station.

Railnews

• Rail industry goes green to mark car free day WEDNESDAY BRIEFING: Rail industry goes green to mark car free day ++
• 'No clear end in sight' to HS2 costs or delays with 'many difficulties ahead' A House of Commons committee is warning that the HS2 crisis is deepening, saying that there 'is no clear end in sight' and that the programme will 'literally run out of time' if a key decision about the size of the high speed station at London Euston is delayed any further. It has also said that 'This project cannot simply keep sinking more taxpayer funds without greater clarity on the later phases.' The Public Accounts Committee is responding after the government provided 'a clearer explanation of costs than we have previously seen'.

Railway Technology

• Cambridge-Oxford railway connection edges one step closerFollowing the recent appointment of a new commercial partner- Arcadis - the creation of a new railway connection, to directly link Oxford and Cambridge, has edged another step closer towards becoming a reality.
• First tram track stretch deployed under Wolverhampton Metro extensionThe Wolverhampton City Centre Metro extension project has reached a milestone, with the first section of tram tracks installed outside the city’s renovated railway station.
• Cambridge-Oxford railway connection edges one step closerFollowing the recent appointment of a new commercial partner- Arcadis - the creation of a new railway connection, to directly link Oxford and Cambridge, has edged another step closer towards becoming a reality.

Aviation Industry

• Benefits from sustainable aviation fuels must not be over-claimed, AEF highlights in response to SAF consultationOur key points are set out below.. We agree that a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) mandate should be introduced in the UK

Other News Sources

• Extended Stagecoach bus service at Royal Blackburn HospitalA bus service that has been extended to a hospital for workers and visitors.
• Highways England propose infilling of Stoke Road bridgeA BRIDGE over a disused railway line in a Hampshire village looks set to be infilled.