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

Monday, 14 March 2022

BBC News

• Bristol Harbour Railway steams into its 150th yearThe line was formally opened on 11 March 1872 by the Lady Mayoress of Bristol, Mrs Elizabeth Hare.
• Behind the scenes on the nearly-ready Crossrail projectThe Crossrail project is entering its final stage. It has been delayed several times and is over budget, but the new line is finally due to open within the next few months.
• Crumbling road fears as pothole bill hits £1.7bnThe Scottish government is criticised as road repair backlogs continue to rise across the country.
• 'Thanks to Hijabi riders I've learned to ride a bike at 40'A group of Muslim women are breaking down barriers so other women can enjoy cycling for the first time.
• Unions warn of job losses if rail firms close ticket officesTrain operators are talking to unions about how to address job changes in a bid to modernise the railways

ITV News

• Greater Manchester's new bus franchise to begin next year as £1.2bn investment programme announcedGreater Manchester's new London-style public transport is due start in 2023. The new era of publicly owned bus services will begin in Wigan, Bolton, parts of Salford and west Manchester next Autumn.
• Tyne Bridge restoration moves closer despite no guarantees of money to cover £40m repair costsTransport bosses in Newcastle say a long-overdue restoration of the Tyne Bridge is moving a step closer - but there is still no money guaranteed for the huge project.

Financial Times

• Gas crunch set to power recovery for shipbuilders from prolonged slumpWorld’s biggest shipbuilder expects turmoil caused by Ukraine invasion to lift demand for liquefied natural gas tankers

The Guardian

• UK ministers urged to promote e-bikes to tackle health and climate crisesCampaigners say subsidy scheme could create £2bn in health benefits and cut 1m tonnes of emissions annually
• ’I can’t move my car’: Americans struggle as vehicle expenses riseOwning and operating a car is getting more expensive in the US – but the largely ineffective public transport means many have little choice but to use cars

The Scotsman

• Battery and hydrogen trains for ScotRail ’could make Scotland a global leader’ in zero-emission transportNew fleets of cutting-edge trains expected to include battery and hydrogen power are to be ordered for ScotRail which the rail industry believes will put Scotland at the forefront of zero-emission transport.

Times Online

• Volta aims to be the Tesla of electric lorries [subscription]As low-emission zones spread, Volta is filling a gap in the haulage market
• Women set to lose out over Britain’s crash-test rules [subscription]But there are no plans at present for England, Scotland and Wales to adopt it even though the Department for Transport (DfT) and British experts were involved in drawing it up as part of a package of 15 safety measures. Others include a device to prevent a drunk driver from starting the engine and intelligent speed assistance, which nudges motorists to observe the prevailing speed limit.

Birmingham Post

• Rolls-Royce reaches key milestone in building world’s biggest engine in DerbyThe UltraFan will use 25 per cent less fuel than the first generation of its Trent engines

Daily Post (North Wales)

• 'Massive disruption' feared in Snowdonia village with roadworks to remain on busy road for years to comeRoadworks and temporary traffic lights are set to remain on the A4086 until spring 2024, National Grid have said

Manchester Evening News

• Bus passenger fares to be capped at £2 as part of sweeping reform to public transport in Greater Manchester"People need to be able to get to where they want to go without having to spend as much as £4 on a single trip."

Nottingham Evening Post

• Forget fuel prices and parking, Nottingham bus passengers reveal why they love climbing aboardPassenger numbers are now back at 80% of normal levels

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Half a million pounds of taxpayer money paid to private advisors on ferriesScottish ministers have paid out contracts worth £560,000 to Ernst and Young in the last seven years to look into the future of Scotland’s ferry service structure.

The York Press

• Sir Ed backs York’s Great British Rail bidYORK’S bid to become the home of Great British Rail won fresh backing today from Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, just days before it is due to be submitted.

Lancashire Telegraph

• Lancashire bus station's redevelopment wins special award from Civic TrustA bus station's redevelopment has won a special award from The Civic Trust for the reuse and adaptation of the building.

Other Regional Press

• Transport secretary blocks Cockfosters car park schemeShock move made by government comes just one month after scheme was approved by council, reports James Cracknell

New Civil Engineer

• Smart motorway safety upgrades beginNational Highways is starting work on a series of enhancements on more than 90km of dynamic hard shoulder (DHS) motorway across the country by upgrading the central reservation safety barriers.

Rail Advent

• Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps recommences his search for a new Chair for HS2 in a bid to drive Europe’s largest infrastructure project forward.The position of HS2 Chair is one of the most important roles within UK transport as the vast project sits right at the heart of the Governments once in a life time levelling up plans that will boost transport connectivity throughout the North of England and the Midlands.

Other News Sources

• Take all HSTs out of service until we can be certain they’re safe – our message to the Office of Rail RegulatorTSSA wrote to the Office of the Rail Regulator on Friday (11 March 2022) demanding all ScotRail’s High Speed Trains be taken out of service.