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

Tuesday, 04 July 2023

BBC News

• Manxman: New Isle of Man ferry welcomed into harbourCrowds have gathered to greet the Isle of Man's newest passenger ferry as it arrived in Manx waters.
• Merseyside night bus could return under new plansA popular night bus service that was axed during the coronavirus pandemic could make a comeback under new plans being considered by councillors.
• Great British Railways: Minister gives reassurance over Derby HQRail Minister Huw Merriman has reassured people in Derby that the city will become the home of the new Great British Railways (GBR) organisation.

ITV News

• South Yorkshire leaders release statement in search for Doncaster Sheffield Airport operatorSouth Yorkshire leaders have released a statement outlining their intention to find a new operator to take over Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
• New Exeter railway station opened by Transport Secretary Mark HarperA new railway station has been opened by the Transport Secretary Mark Harper, to serve the Marsh Barton industrial estate in Exeter.

Department for Transport

• 53 train stations to benefit from tap-in tap-out rolloutPassengers across the South East of England will benefit from 'Pay As You Go' technology by the end of December 2023.
• Works complete on vital £82 million sea wall to protect coastal Dawlish rail routePassengers in South West England will benefit from a new station and more reliable train journeys that will boost local and regional connections.
• Second additional provision added to the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) BillNew provision proposes a number of changes to the powers of the bill to ensure that the best possible railway is built.

The Herald

• Anger as a CalMac ferry disruption review 'stalls'Ferry users that launched major protests over CalMac's lifeline service disruption management have raised concerns that a planned review has stalled in the wake of 'PR visits'.
• CalMac ferry breaks down days after completing annual maintenance workA CALMAC ferry has broken down a matter of days after completing its delayed annual maintenance work.
• Glasgow to Edinburgh train line gets new overhead bridgeA new bridge over the Glasgow to Edinburgh railway line has been opened, with cranes used to expand the iconic Anfield Stadium shipped in for its construction.

The Telegraph

• Commuters in South East can tap in for cheapest rail fares under pay-as-you-go scheme. [subscription]The first 53 stations to benefit from the scheme should be up and running by the end of 2023 with 181 more planned

Times Online

• Aslef’s overtime ban runs for another week to add to train strike woe. [subscription]Train drivers will severely disrupt the railway for another week after they extended a ban on working overtime in an escalation of the dispute over pay.

Daily Record

• Prestwick Airport crime levels double as threats and abuse top shameful chartForty-two crimes have been reported in and around Prestwick Airport in the space of two years.

Mail Online

• Virgin Enterprises begins High Court fight with US train operator after it pulled out of branding deal over claim's Richard Branson's brand was no longer 'of international high repute'A Virgin company has begun a High Court fight with an American train operator which pulled out of a deal after alleging that the 'Virgin brand' had stopped being a 'brand of international high repute'.

The Mirror

• EXCLUSIVE: Train stations 'could become robbers' paradise' amid ticket office closuresMick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT union, said fears that almost 1,000 offices could be shut could drive crime rates even higher

Network Rail

• AmcoGiffen awarded contract for Troon station rebuildNetwork Rail has appointed AmcoGiffen as the main contractor for the rebuild of the fire-damaged Troon station.
• Electrification work powers ahead on the Midland Main Line this JulyWork continues this month on the biggest programme of improvements to the Midland Main Line since its completion over 150 years ago.
• Secretary of State for Transport marks completion of Dawlish sea wall, protecting South West railway for generations to comeThis morning (Monday 3 July), Network Rail, the wider rail industry, the local council and local school pupils joined Secretary of State for Transport, The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP, in Dawlish, Devon, to mark the completion and official opening of the £80m sea wall.

Birmingham Post

• Plans for HS2 to reach Manchester move forward as major changes proposedMPs will decide whether the changes are approved
• Hydrogen fuel power units for trucks and buses rolling off the Intelligent Energy production lineIntelligent Energy power units are also being designed for cars, forklifts and drones

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Pace of improvements to bus services criticised as vital service cutAction to improve bus services is needed now, rather than in years’ time, according to a local Councillor.

London Evening Standard

• More than 50 stations across South-East to go contactlessore than 50 rail stations across the South-East will be converted to Pay As You Go ticketing by the end of the year, the Government announced on Tuesday.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Calls for clarity on future of Berwick railway station ticket office as announcement expected this weekAn announcement is expected on the future of ticket offices this week

Wales Online

• Plans to reopen Welsh train station which has been closed for 60 years hit by uncertaintyFunding for a new station in St Clears had been promised, but delays have thrown the plans into doubt

Yorkshire Evening Post

• First Bus accused of 'short-cutting' services and missing out entire suburbs in north LeedsFirst Bus are coming under fire this week over divisionary routes drivers are taking amidst a host of roadworks in north Leeds.

Kent Online

• Everything you need to know about the Dover Fastrack bus service and new bridge over A2 at WhitfieldNew drone photos show the progress being made on an ambitious all-electric rapid bus service.

Other Regional Press

• Arriva bus changes see some services saved: 'We're heading in the right direction'The bus company says it will continue to work with the Tees Valley Combined Authority as politicians welcomed changes which reinstate services
• Marsh Barton railway station is finally openRegular services will call at the station, which serves the city’s largest trading estate, from today

New Civil Engineer

• Costain completes £207M road scheme to link Preston and Flyde coast with M55A new junction on the M55 complete with a new dual carriageway and two connecting link roads has opened to the public today after Costain completed the construction of the £207M scheme.
• Why Network Rail restarted £4bn Eastern region procurement for CP7 and CP8Network Rail abandoned procurement for its £4bn Eastern region Renewals and Enhancement Framework for Control Period 7 (CP7) due to “updated business needs”, NCE can reveal.
• HS2 Ltd forks out additional £305.3M to Skanska Costain Strabag JV for London tunnelsHigh Speed 2 Ltd (HS2 Ltd) has paid an additional £305.3M to Skanska Costain Strabag JV (SCS) for works on London tunnels.

Rail Business Daily

• Transport Minister Jesse Norman helps launch brand new industry standard cycle-rail guidance for station and train operatorsNew guidance commissioned by the Cycle-Rail Working Group administered by Sustrans and developed by SYSTRA has been launched in Westminster by Minister of State for Transport Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP, Network Rail’s Chair Rt Hon Lord Peter Hendy CBE and representatives from Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT), Chiltern Railways and Active Travel England.

Railway Gazette

• Sheffield Supertram modernisation works plannedUK: Sheffield Supertram owner South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is to hold a market engagement event in July to support the development a programme of significant investment and improvement works on the network.
• Northern sets the pace in cyber resilienceOver the past seven years, Northern has worked with supplier RazorSecure to develop an ambitious programme of cybersecurity risk management, the operator’s Onboard Systems Manager Marc Silverwood tells Tony Miles.
• GWR trials Whoosh real-time journey dashboardUK: Great Western Railway is undertaking a four-month trial of technology company Whoosh’s journey dashboard, which enables passengers to see real-time information for the train they are on and for any station.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• First Glasgow begins further growth of city’s electric fleetFirst Glasgow has placed the first of 50 BYD ADL Enviro200EV battery-electric single-deckers into service at its Scotstoun depot.

Other News Sources

• Arriva announces continuation of £2 bus fare cap until autumn“The scheme will continue to save our passengers money”
• New Belfast-Dublin express bus service to launch with £1 ticketsTHOUSANDS of business and leisure users will be able to travel on a new bus service between Belfast and Dublin for just £1 from later this month.
• Adverta signs pan-Northern bus sponsorship deal with TransdevBus and tram advertising business Adverta Transport Advertising has agreed a sponsorship deal with bus operator Transdev.
• Sheffield Gets Its First Electric Buses, & 100 Electric Double-Deckers Ordered For Greater ManchesterIn some exciting electric bus news from the United Kingdom, four electric BYD–Alexander Dennis Enviro200EV single deck buses will be the first zero-emission buses in Sheffield, reducing emissions inside the city’s Clean Air Zone, which launched earlier this year.
• Stansted Airport plans to expand terminal building to make room for new shops, restaurants and barsStansted Airport has announced plans to expand its passenger terminal to be able to 'cater for more passengers' in the coming years. The proposed scheme, which if approved will see a three-bay extension to the back of the terminal building, which the airport say is designed to transform the airport experience.
• Felixstowe train station celebrates 125th anniversaryA Suffolk rail station that dates back to 1898 is still going strong 125 years later and a host of dignitaries gathered to celebrate the big anniversary at the weekend.
• Government consultation on railways begins todayA consultation on the Isle of Man's railways began today.
• TfL places order for 11 new DLR trainsA total of 54 new trains to be introduced by 2026, boosting the overall capacity on the network by more than 60%.
• Rolling Stocks Market Size to Hit US$ 89.50 Billion by 2033-end: Fact.MR Analysis From 2023 to 2033, the demand for rolling stock is expected to increase globally at a CAGR of 4.1%. The global rolling stock market is currently valued at US$ 59.88 billion, and by the end of 2033, it is anticipated to reach a market size of US$ 89.50 billion.
• York-based rail firm marks 85th anniversary with special journeyA YORK-BASED rail firm marked the 85th anniversary of a steam locomotive world speed record by holding a special journey.
• Why are Southend Pier's electric trains not running?The new electric trains replaced the blue diesel vehicles, which have been in operation since 1986, in September 2022.