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

Friday, 14 July 2023

BBC News

• Staffordshire rail passengers warned of six-month platform closureRail passengers in Staffordshire are being warned of a six-month platform closure.
• Bradford railway station: Axed plans for new travel hub reconsideredPlans for a new railway station in Bradford will be reconsidered after the government previously scrapped them. Former Transport Secretary Grant Shapps cancelled the plan for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), a brand new line serving the city, in November 2021.
• Tube strike: More London Underground staff to join walkoutHundreds of members of the Unite union are set to take action on 26 and 28 July.
• Bus boss suggests bar staff drive night servicesDonald MacLeod, who owns some of Glasgow's most iconic venues, called the suggestion
• Bid to allocate extra £10m contingency for Liverpool ferry terminalA further £10m could be put in a contingency fund to help cover the rising costs of the Manx government's new ferry terminal in Liverpool.

ITV News

• Treasury to ask Tynwald members to approve an additional £10 million for Isle of Man Ferry TerminalMembers of the Isle of Man parliament will be asked to approve an additional £10 million to fund the Isle of Man Ferry Terminal under construction in Liverpool.

Financial Times

• Can Cornwall get a slice of the lithium revolution?Developers battle to fund mining projects aiming to support Britain's EV supply chain
• Surge in transatlantic travel leads to Delta Air Lines earnings record Atlanta carrier raises guidance again on Americans pent-up demand for overseas flights

The Guardian

• Lindsay Hoyle says rail minister misinformed on ticket office closuresThe government has been challenged in the Commons over plans to close railway ticket offices, including by the speaker, who told the rail minister that he was being misinformed by train operators.

The Herald

• Inverness: Low Emission Zone on Highland Council's radarMoves to bring in a Low Emission Zone in Inverness (LEZ) are being considered by Highland council.  
• City chosen for Scotland's most powerful electric vehicle charging hubThe new facility will include 24 ultra-rapid charging bays with a capacity of nearly two and a half megawatts
• Response to First Bus telling pub workers to drive night busPoliticians and unions have hit back at the managing director of First Bus Scotland after he told The Herald a solution to driver shortages could be for pub staff to drive night buses.
• Ferry firm CalMac gives up to £400k in bonuses to staffTHE state-owned ferry operator at the centre of a row over disruption to lifeline island services is paying hundreds of thousands of pounds into a 1.5% bonus to staff this year.

The Telegraph

• The UK airport with the worst crime rate (and it isn’t Heathrow). [subscription]Luton Airport was the major UK airport with the highest number of reported crimes per passenger in 2022, according to a new study.

Daily Record

• Glasgow held back by 'dysfunctional' public transport and 'lack of ambition', warns MSPEXCLUSIVE: Paul Sweeney said there had been an "acceptance of mediocrity" when it came to public transport in Greater Glasgow.

Birmingham Post

• £1m investment announced for green vehicle innovationThe Welsh Government has announced the third funding round in Ford's low carbon vehicle legacy fund
• HS2 viaduct decision deferred as residents slam 'monstrous procession of concrete V-signs'HS2 developers say they are consulting with the local community

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Jet2.com and Jet2holidays recognised for customer serviceJet2.com and Jet2holidays have been rated among the best companies in the UK for customer service.
• Government to think again about new Bradford rail stationA DECISION to scrap a new rail station in Bradford will be revisited by Government after heavy criticism.

Bristol Live

• Bristol mayor Marvin Rees praises own administration for bus lanes, Clean Air Zone and house buildingThe mayor has just 10 months left in the role and councillors reflected on his time in power

Wales Online

• Why group doesn't want multi-million pound Cardiff Parkway project built on site of special scientific interest Their concerns are despite a councillor claiming the development could transform one of the poorest areas of Wales

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Commuters and rail users at Stourbridge speak out about ticket office proposalsCampaigners trying to save ticket offices on the West Midlands' rail network were out in force at Stourbridge Junction and Town stations today to meet evening commuters.
• Commuters and rail users at Stourbridge speak out about ticket office proposalsCampaigners trying to save ticket offices on the West Midlands' rail network were out in force at Stourbridge Junction and Town stations today to meet evening commuters.

Cambridge News

• East West Rail: Our tiny 600-person village will skyrocket to 44,000 - it doesn't make sense why'Support for the idea of East West Rail at a drop-in event, but concerns raised over potential for thousands of new homes and questions as to why it will not serve St Neots station.

Carlisle News & Star

• New bus service launched to connect people and places in UllswaterA NEW bus service has launched in Ullswater, with the aim of linking people and places around the valley.

Leeds Live

• Leeds Bradford Airport changing security system to cut queuesTravellers will no longer have to remove electronics and approved liquids from carry-on baggage

Other Regional Press

• Private firm steps in to save South Cumbria bus serviceA private firm has stepped in to save a South Cumbrian bus service. The 530 service from Cartmel Peninsula to Kendal was set to be withdrawn at the end of next week, but Kirkby Lonsdale Coaches has stepped in to take it over.
• Bristol MP holds bus bosses to account after study reveals city services getting more unreliableBus reliability in Bristol has got worse despite operator FirstBus claiming there would be improvements following a driver recruitment campaign.
• Losing ticket offices will be devastating for disabled, elderly and people with learning difficultiesThe closure of railway ticket offices, immigration and the futility of inquiries are all topics tackled in this week's letters to the editor.
• Calls to save Coventry's railway ticket offices from closureMP Taiwo Owatemi has launched a petition. A battle has been launched urging rail companies to rethink plans to close ticket offices at three stations in Coventry. Plans were unveiled earlier this month by West Midlands Trains to close railway station ticket offices across the country, including those at Tile Hill and Canley stations.

Coach and Bus Week

• Transport for Wales improves efficiency with EPM Contract PerformanceTransport for Wales (TfW) is to improve the performance of its TrawsCymru contracted bus services with the adoption of EPM’s new solution, Contract Performance. Developed for local transport authorities, the system manages all stages of contract procurement, management, and performance analysis in one platform.
• Rural touristIt has become accepted that the traditional rationale for public transport and how services are offered has to change and adapt to post-covid demand. Richard Walter gets the lowdown from public transport consultant John Fallon on how his concept for tourist-funded rural bus services could tick many boxes and benefit bus and tour operators
• National Express announces more services for summerNational Express has announced plans to increase its coverage across the UK this summer, ahead of the summer holidays. It has introduced three new routes and a number of enhancements to airport services, taking the number of daily journeys between Stansted airport and central London to almost 200 a day.

New Civil Engineer

• M4 overbridge near Bristol closed following discovery of ’accelerated deterioration and cracking’A road overbridge across the M4 motorway has been closed to traffic after inspectors noticed marked deterioration of its structure.
• Government to reassess case for new Bradford station and improved Leeds connectivityThe government has committed to “a reassessment of the evidence for better connecting Bradford and the case for a new station” as part of its study on bringing High Speed 2 (HS2) services to Leeds.
• Regulator criticises Network Rail’s weakened performance on asset reliability and renewalsNetwork Rail's asset reliability declined, not all the planned track renewals were delivered and structural examinations have fallen behind in the last year, according to the rail regulator.

Rail Business Daily

• Ceremony marks official opening of The Dales School CarriageTwo ex-Class 144 Pacer train carriages have been converted into a library and STEAM classroom were officially opened at the Dales School in Blythdale. Donated by the train leasing company Porterbrook and converted by the industrial service provider TEXO, the train now stands on an accessible ’station’ platform.
• “Let’s put aside the public versus private debate and share responsibility for getting rail back on track to growth”In a new report. Track to Growth: Creating a dynamic railway for passengers and the economy, Rail Partners sets out the significant and complex challenges currently facing the railway. Andy Bagnall, the organisation’s chief executive, explains more:

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Coach decarbonisation likely to lean on HGV: MinisterFurther weight has been added to the argument that decarbonisation of the coach industry will follow that of HGVs after Under-Secretary of State for Transport Richard Holden (pictured) acknowledged the similarity of use cases between those fleets.
• Lothian Buses awarded for accessibility initiatives with RNIB ScotlandLothian Buses has secured an award for a unique initiative aimed at fostering a better understanding of the travel experiences of blind and partially sighted passengers.
• Abellio driver Agostinho Ferreira nominated for accessibility awardDedicated Abellio driver, Agostinho Ferreira, who has spent over a decade serving London customers, has been nominated for the esteemed ’Accessibility Award’ in the 2023 TfL London Bus Awards.
• McGill’s to look into Glasgow night buses propositionMcGill’s Buses says it will investigate the feasibility of running night buses in Glasgow – following the announcement this week that First Glasgow would end such services.
• Abellio London hires Commercial Business PartnerAbellio London Bus has appointed the experienced Ian Sutton as Commercial Business Partner.
• Abellio’s 111th electric bus starts on route 111Abellio’s 111th electric bus, a Wrightbus Streetdeck Electroliner, has gone into operation on route 111 in West London.

Aviation Industry

• Top 5: This Year's Best Airport Technology InnovationsTechnology often brings enhancements for passengers looking to reduce stress and make travel more efficient. In recent years, self-service tech, in particular, has been at the forefront as airports integrate automated systems to enable passengers to do everything from self-check-in to biometric boarding.

Other News Sources

• Welsh Parliament: North Wales MS calls out ’unreliable’ Class 230 trains on Wrexham Bidston lineNorth Wales MS Mark Isherwood highlighted the unreliability of the Transport for Wales (TfW) ’Class 230’ train service between Wrexham and Bidtson in the Senedd this week and called on the Welsh Government to work to address it. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​
• DfT signals it will revisit options for HS2 and Northern Powerhouse RailThe 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.
• Wigan buses produce fewer emissions – as passenger journeys tumbleBuses in Wigan produced far fewer emissions in 2021 than a decade before, with passenger journeys tumbling, new figures show.
• Council leader speaks out on bus funding changes as services cut and warning operators could foldThe Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council has spoken out on what he describes as “the impact of continuing uncertainty over Welsh Government bus funding for residents, learners and businesses”.
• Abellio’s 111th electric bus (by Wrightbus) goes into operation in West LondonAbellio is celebrating the launch of its full electric fleet on Route 111 in West London. This growth in EV vehicles sees the company’s 111th electric bus going into operation, on route 111. The new fleet of electric buses operating on route 111, consisting of Wrightbus Electroliner vehicles,
• £2 bus ticket from Warrington to Manchester AirportFOR just £2, residents will be able to hop on a bus and get from Warrington to Manchester Airport.
• Councils urge West of England Mayor to fund Number 94 busCouncil transport leaders from Bath & North East Somerset and Wiltshire have jointly written to the West of England Mayor Dan Norris urging him to fund the Number 94 service between Trowbridge and Bath.
• Winchester MP calls for funding for electric park and ride busesWinchester MP Steve Brine has called for funding following the trial run of electric park-and-ride buses.
• £200m Teesside Airport Business Park reaches major milestoneThe first steel on a £200m business park is now in place as construction of a vital new link road to the site also nears completion. Business Park South at Teesside International Airport will create up to 4,400 jobs when fully operational, made up of 1.9m sq ft of logistics, distribution, and industrial buildings.
• Rolling Stock Market Current Trends and Growth Drivers Along with Key Industry Players 2023 Rolling Stock Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Product Type (Locomotive, Rapid Transit Vehicle, Wagons), By Application Type (Passenger Rail, Freight Rail), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027