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

Thursday, 17 February 2022

BBC News

• Train services down by a fifth after Covid slumpMore than a fifth of train services that were running before the Covid pandemic have not returned, new data provided to the BBC shows.
• Warning over ferry service threat to island lifeThe Ferries Community Board says disruption has hit businesses and efforts to tackle depopulation.

ITV News

• LNER trains at standstill due to overhead line damage between Berwick and EdinburghA number of rail services have been cancelled or delayed due to problems with the overhead lines between Berwick and Edinburgh.

The Guardian

• Women apply in their thousands to drive trains in Saudi ArabiaRail company advertised 30 positions and received 28,000 applications in kingdom where women couldn't drive cars until 2018. A job advert to recruit 30 female train drivers in Saudi Arabia has attracted 28,000 applicants, highlighting the scale of pent-up demand as the conservative kingdom loosens some restrictions on women's employment.

The Independent

• Government criticised over ’car-led Covid recovery’ as public transport use lags behindLocal authorities warn that gulf between car and public transport use will widen once Covid funding is cut next month

Times Online

• Ryanair ’to invest $1bn’ in Edinburgh airport [subscription]This summer Ryanair is to operate flights from Edinburgh to 65 destinations including new locations including Bari, Cork, Madrid, Marrakesh, Nimes, Palermo, Paris, and Santiago. The budget carrier is to run 250 flights each week across the summer, 50 more than in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic.

City AM

• Rail regulator urges operators to stop profiting from ticket refund admin feesTrain operators were urged today to stop profiting from excessive admin fees applied to ticket refund practices.

Belfast Telegraph

• Main work begins on Belfast’s £175m Transport HubBelfast’s Transport Hub in the city centre has taken a step closer on Tuesday with the commencement of the main works at the site.

Birmingham Mail

• 'Issuing tickets doesn’t make it go away' - Frustration as parked cars block footpaths in Bordesley Green Residents left frustrated and angry about the increasing number of cars being parked on the pavements

Birmingham Post

• MP visits Derby train maker Alstom as it advertises for 30 apprentices and graduatesUK’s largest supplier of trains – formerly known as Bombardier – recently gained part of a £2bn contract to produce HS2 trains
• Jaguar Land Rover agrees software tie up AI firm NvidiaLuxury car manufacturer will work with US software firm on the next generation of car systems

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Transport for Wales rail fares increase announced by Welsh Government as prices to rise next monthThe price of the average rail ticket in Wales is set to increase next month.
• New Snowdonia railway timetable means vistors can only stop at World Heritage Site for 45 minutes Just two trains a day will run to Blaenau Ffestiniog and both services start at Porthmadog

Edinburgh Evening News

• £225,750 to improve public transport in West LothianThe West Lothian Bus Alliance has been awarded £225,750 by Transport Scotland to improve bus travel in West Lothian.

London Evening Standard

• Season ticket cost to rise by over £200 for some London commutersAnnual season ticket costs are to rise by more than £200 for some London commuters, new research reveals.

Carlisle News & Star

• Transport for the North's Martin Tugwell visits CumbriaTransport for the North’s Chief Executive Martin Tugwell visited Cumbria as part of his journey around the North of England.

Other Regional Press

• Contract awarded for company to build infrastructure for Northumberland LineA company has been appointed to provide the infrastructure behind the proposed Northumberland Line.
• Councillor slams county council's lack of transport fundingA county councillor has slammed Worcestershire County Council for not securing more government funding for transport.
• Council told by government no cash for Glasgow free public transport pilotThere is no money available for a pilot scheme to offer free public transport in Glasgow, the Scottish Government has said.
• How can Norwich's roads improve?Norwich's "nightmare" road network has been bashed by city folk and visitors as they battle diversions, road works and one-way systems.
• 'We need more buses not more cars'A petition has been set up to stop plans for budget cuts to buses which could 'isolate' residents in rural areas.
• Sheffield MP tells bus companies to 'stop blaming everyone else' over fare hikes and timetable cutsIt comes after another South Yorkshire politician criticised First and Stagecoach for putting up fares

New Civil Engineer

• HS2 | Building underground Manchester Piccadilly through station would avoid two-year tram cut offThe creation of a new underground HS2 through station at Manchester Piccadilly would avoid the need to sever trams to Tameside, one of the original masterminds of the proposal has confirmed.
• Main construction to begin on £175M Belfast transport hubMain construction on a new transport hub in Belfast is set to begin, with enabling works nearing completion.

Other News Sources

• The electric bus is taking over public transportElectric buses will do most things better than rail-bound systems, and much more economical, while keeping public transport affordable, Carlo van de Weijer writes.
• AST Introduces FlexMaritime VSATApplied Satellite Technology (AST) Ltd announced it is now offering Intelsat's FlexMaritime service, a reliable, secure, high-speed global connectivity solution. Designed specifically for global commercial maritime trade routes, the service
• Blackburn with Darwen free cycling training successDOZENS of residents of a borough have taken up the offer of free cycle training.