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

Thursday, 13 July 2023

BBC News

• Opponents express concern over second runwayThe airport in West Sussex hopes to double its capacity to 78 million passengers by making use of its existing northern runway.
• London City Airport to appeal against flying hours blockRobert Sinclair, London City Airport's CEO, says he is disappointed with Newham Council's decision.
• New Glasgow night bus services under considerationMcGill's Buses is examining options to launch late-night services after First Bus axed some routes
• Airports hike drop-off fees by nearly a third - RACEight major UK airports have increased fees for drivers to drop off passengers, according to new data.
• Northern seeks passengers' help to correct station pronunciationsThe names of more than a dozen railway stations across northern England are to be re-recorded in a bid to correct years of mispronunciation.
• Mixed reaction to Leicestershire rail corridor freight park plansPlans for a new freight park to store container ship cargo have received a mixed response. The £750m Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange is being examined by the Planning Inspectorate.

Financial Times

• As Chinese cars speed into global markets, tensions will only escalateSecurity dilemmas and the threat to Europe's industrial base raise questions for governments
• Robotaxis: cost per mile calculations could drive plans off courseOne way to lower rates would be to add entertainment systems to show adverts
• Staff shortages at Europe's air traffic control blamed for unacceptable travel disruptionCongested skies caused by war in Ukraine add to pressure ahead of peak holiday season
• Airlines hope for better summer after spending to boost resilienceCarriers seek to avoid the chaos and disruption that marred travel last year

STV

• What is the solution to improving Glasgow's public transport network?Decision by First Bus to axe night services sparks wave of criticism at the standard of transport options in Scotland's biggest city.

The Guardian

• Decarbonisation strategies must go beyond expanding UlezThe truth is we don’t have a proper plan to decarbonise transport and improve people’s access to it outside London, writes Graham Dalton
• HS2 chief executive resigns from delayed and scaled-back rail projectThe chief executive of the HS2 railway has resigned amid severe delays and soaring costs that have seen the project scaled back. Mark Thurston announced on Wednesday he would be departing the government-owned company at the end of September after six and a half years at the helm – making him the firm’s longest serving chief executive.

Times Online

• First Bus rival McGill’s mulls over replacement night bus service for Glasgow. [subscription]A rival travel company is “examining options” to set up a night bus service in Glasgow after a decision to cancel the existing schedule caused outrage.
• HS2 chief executive Mark Thurston quits after six years in charge. [subscription]The chief executive of HS2 has resigned amid delays and cost pressures at the £60 billion high-speed railway project.
• Airport drop-off fees up by as much as 50%. [subscription]Seven of the UK’s biggest airports have increased their drop-off charges this summer, new analysis has found.
• Gatwick has worst punctuality of all European airports. [subscription]Nearly two thirds of arriving flights have landed later than 15 minutes of their scheduled time at start of busiest period
• Electric cars will keep on the move using ’payment roaming’. [subscription]The plan will ensure motorists can pay for public charge points operated by different companies using a single app

Transport Committee

• HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail: DfT signals it will look again at options in response to Transport CommitteeThe Transport Committee has welcomed the Government’s announcement that it will follow its recommendations by revisiting its decision to snub Bradford from plans to develop rail networks in the North and Midlands.

City AM

• Airports raising drop-off charges to record high so which London hubs are cashing on?Drivers taking relatives and friends to the airport should “brace themselves” for record drop-off charges this summer, the breakdown firm RAC has warned.
• Global Airlines to focus on business travel as it muscles in on UK-US routeA new airline has said it will focus on business travel, offering more perks and products, as it looks to muscle in on the transatlantic travel market.

Mail Online

• HS2 chief executive resigns as the project is plagued by major delaysMark Thurston, 56, will leave his role in September after six-and-a-half years leading the Government-owned company. He was paid a salary of £617,300 in the 2021/22 financial year.

Network Rail

• Welcoming party planned for Ozzy the bull’s New Street station revealAn exciting day of events will take place to welcome Ozzy the bull back to Birmingham when he’s officially unveiled at New Street station later this month.
• Stirling station roof wins prestigious awardOfficial recognition of the craft skills used during Stirling station’s roof repairs were acknowledged with a plaque unveiling.
• Network Rail seals Postmark brand for its retail portfolioNetwork Rail has welcomed independent greeting card retailer Postmark to five of its 20 managed stations across Britain.

Birmingham Post

• HS2 chief executive is stepping down as £61bn scheme moves to ‘defining period’Phase One of the project between London and Birmingham is at peak construction

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Brothers on Bikes cycling club to promote diversity at eventLocal members of the Brothers on Bikes cycling club are hosting a national event in Yorkshire this weekend.
• Almost 450k people used Leeds Bradford Airport during JuneLEEDS Bradford Airport welcomed almost 450,000 passengers last month, according to its figures.

London Evening Standard

• Park Lane cycle lane to be made permanent, Transport for London decidesThe Park Lane cycle lane is to be retained and made permanent, Transport for London announced on Wednesday.
• Gatwick Airport branded ’worst in Europe’ for disruption, as easyJet cancels hundreds of summer flightsMore than half of flights leaving Gatwick in June were cancelled or delayed, new analysis reveals

Manchester Evening News

• HS2 boss quits following major delays for high-speed railway projectHS2 works in Euston have already ballooned to £4.8 billion despite an initial budget of £2.6 billion

Nation. Cymru

• UK Government challenged over allocation of rail infrastructure funding to WalesPlaid Cymru MP for Arfon Hywel Williams has hit out at the UK Government for denying Wales a share of the rail infrastructure funding being spent on major projects in England.

The York Press

• 'I'm appalled that 1,000 railway ticket offices will close'I’m appalled at the news that the Government and rail industry have formally announced plans to close almost 1,000 ticket offices at stations across the country.

Get Surrey

• Gatwick Airport's bid to be second Heathrow 'has bigger local impact than Horse Hill oil drilling’A crowdfunder to start a legal fight against Gatwick Airport to open a second runway has so far raised £5,000. The airport's CEO Stewart Wingate says the plan is vital to its the long-term future and economic prosperity.

North Wales Live

• Update on new Merseyrail trains as roll out progressesTransition has been hit by problems but transport bosses are confident smoother progress is now being made

Other Regional Press

• Scheme to stabilise Settle-Carlisle Railway set to startA large-scale scheme to avert landslips and further closures of the historic Settle-Carlisle Railway close to England’s highest mainline station looks set to be approved.
• “Completely the wrong decision!” Readers react to plans to close Spalding Railway Station ticket officeReaders have responded to the plan to shut Spalding Railway Station’s ticket office, labelling the decision ’terrifying’ and ’completely wrong’.
• Plans submitted for 92,000 sq ft Manchester Airport shedThreadneedle Curtis, part of US-based asset management firm Columbia Threadneedle, is eyeing up the five-acre site off Pinfold Lane within the airport’s World Freight Terminal to deliver the warehouse.
• More than £5,500 donated to charities and good causes through Aberdeen Airport fundThe ABZ Propeller Fund is open to groups in the north-east with links to education, sustainability and regeneration with £25,000 shared among organisations last year
• Rail summit hits Treasury with strong message from CambridgeshireSending a clear message from Cambridgeshire to the Treasury, business and transport leaders have urged Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to agree improvements to the Ely Junction rail bottleneck which notoriously holds back trade and the wide prosperity it should bring.
• Nicky Marr: Reliable transport links are vital for the HighlandsI CAN’T remember how many times I have flown to and from Inverness Airport. That wee regional hub of ours is a fantastic resource. It’s got me to Stornoway and Kirkwall, Belfast and Birmingham, Manchester, Amsterdam and London, for work and for pleasure, more often than this failing environmentalist is comfortable with.
• Watford to Heathrow Airport RailAir coach service launchingA new coach service is opening travelling Heathrow Airport and Watford Junction station.
• Full list of new road and railway closures for HS2 worksPhase 1 of the route sweeps through Warwickshire and just south of Coventry

New Civil Engineer

• National Highways fights claims of greenwashing over Lower Thames Crossing hydrogen plansNational Highways has refuted climate groups’ accusations of “greenwashing” after it revealed plans to build its £9bn Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) using hydrogen power.
• HS2 chief executive Mark Thurston to step downHigh Speed 2 Ltd (HS2 Ltd) chief executive Mark Thurston is to step down from his role at the end of September after six and a half years in the job.

Rail Magazine

• Discovery of body cracks stops TransPennine Mk 5sTranspennine Express has suffered another setback with the discovery of body cracks on some of its CAF Mk 5a locomotive-hauled coaches.

Railnews

• HS2 chief executive to stand down The chief executive of HS2 Ltd Mark Thurston has announced that he will leaving the company in the autumn, after leading it since March 2017. Mark Thurston joined the company shortly after the Act of Parliament authorising Phase 1 between London and Birmingham had received Royal Assent.

Railway Gazette

• Train operators propose 32 000 km high speed rail ’Metropolitan Network’EUROPE: Proposals for a huge expansion of the high rail speed network have been drawn up by Deutsche Bahn working in partnership with nine other major European operators. This would be necessary to achieve the Green Deal targets of doubling high speed rail travel by 2030 and tripling it by ...

Aviation Industry

• KLM Wants Some Passengers To Stop Flying & Start Taking The TrainPassengers traveling the 200 miles between Amsterdam and Brussels are encouraged to take Thalys' rail alternative to cut air emissions.

Other News Sources

• County council leader criticises plans to close Berwick Railway Station ticket officeThe leader of Northumberland County Council has expressed his concerns at proposals to close the travel centre at Berwick Railway Station.
• Council opposed to 'rushed' ticket office closure plansWarrington Borough Council has stated its strong opposition to the proposed closure of more than 1,000 railway station ticket offices across the country, which is combined with huge reductions in the hours of coverage of staff.
• Council receives details of new HS2 Additional ProvisionCheshire West and Chester Council successfully secured a full package of positive assurances from HS2 Ltd. against HS2 Phase 2b: High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill 2022 and an Additional Provision (AP1).
• MP 'livid' after 'abysmal' Transport for Wales breaks promises to Cheshire commutersTwo Cheshire MPs have hit out at Transport for Wales over a "lack of reliability" and "broken" promises to consituents. Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury said he is "livid" after Transport for Wales (TfW) announced the service between Chester and Liverpool would not return to hourly frequency until next year.
• RideTandem raises £2.3m to tackle transport povertyRideTandem, the mobility startup tackling transport poverty in rural areas, has raised £2.3m as it looks to extend its reach beyond the UK.
• London City airport to appeal against decision to block expansionLondon City airport will appeal against the decision made by Newham Council to refuse the airport’s planning application to increase passenger numbers and amend its opening hours.
• Heathrow Airport called to act on noise disturbanceNeighbours are being asked to respond to a public consultation on how to limit noise disturbance coming from Heathrow Airport.
• Rail & HS2 Minister Huw Merriman set to speak at RIA’s Annual Conference & Dinner 2023The Railway Industry Association (RIA) can announce that Rail & HS2 Minister, Huw Merriman MP, will address its award-winning RIA Annual Conference & Dinner 2023, taking place on 1-2 November at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, London.
• Rail chief hails project team behind award-winning Glasgow Queen Street projectTHE £120 million redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street has been recognised with the unveiling of a National Railway Heritage Award (NRHA) at the station.
• Arup selected to manage systemwide sustainability program for California High-Speed RailArup, a global sustainable development consultancy, today announced that it has been selected by the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) to support their sustainability program. Carrying travelers between Los Angeles/Anaheim and San Francisco in under three hours, the high-speed rail system will transform mobility in California for the benefit of communities and the environment.
• London-Edinburgh rail success proves grounding flights is possibleAccording to the latest American Express Global Business Travel Ground Monitor survey, key UK intercity train routes are thriving following new services and fare reductions.