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

Friday, 04 August 2023

BBC News

• Ulez scrappage scheme extended to all LondonersEligibility for a scrappage scheme has been extended to more people ahead of the expansion the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) to all of London.
• Gatwick runway plans accepted by inspectorsAn application to bring Gatwick Airport’s emergency runway into routine use has been accepted by the planning inspectorate.
• New measures to reduce serious Birmingham road collisionsAgencies met after a number of protests about deaths and serious injuries on the city's roads.
• Ulez: Merton Council launches own £1m scrappage schemeA £1,000 grant per vehicle is available to those in areas without good public transport.
• London Silvertown tunnel works are now complete, says TfLThe second of the two boreholes that will form London's new Silvertown Tunnel has been finished.
• Bristol Bus Boycott: Mural set to mark 60th anniversaryA street art mural has been created to honour the people behind the Bristol Bus Boycott on its 60th anniversary.

Financial Times

• Khan widens London car scrappage scheme but stands by UlezCapital's mayor reacts to by-election backlash with extra £50mn for getting heavier-polluting vehicles off roads.
• Lufthansa posts record profits as ticket prices soar Strong demand coupled with supply constraints have allowed airlines to charge more
• Wizz Air chief hails ˜capitalist spiritâ behind £100mn bonus package extensionWizz Air's chief executive has said the extension of an incentive package to help him unlock a £100mn bonus

The Guardian

• Sadiq Khan expands £2,000 Ulez grant to all Londoners with non-compliant vehiclesSadiq Khan has expanded the grant scheme for London’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) to cover any household with a heavily polluting car or motorbike, spending an extra £50m after intense pressure over the political fallout of the plan.

The Herald

• It's time we took back control of our busesIt’s not a radical proposal, or at least it shouldn’t be, to suggest that public infrastructure should be designed to serve the public good. Whether that be in health, education, utilities or transport with the more recent nationalisation of Scotrail, the public deserves good quality services they can rely on. Nothing less.

Times Online

• Rolls is flying higher than ever, says turnaround chief. [subscription]The new chief executive of Rolls-Royce, who denounced the company as a “burning platform” earlier in the year, is claiming that after just seven months in charge its financial performance has never been better.
• Public support 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars. [subscription]The public are more highly in favour of keeping the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales than of delaying it, according to new polling.
• Ferry inquiry will not examine ’rigged procurement’ allegations. [subscription]An inquiry into claims a government body unfairly awarded a £97 million ferry contract will not investigate allegations unearthed by the BBC that the procurement process was “rigged”.
• Dundee’s low emission zone has caused a stooshie, UN climate chief admits. [subscription]Dundee’s low emission zone (LEZ) has caused a “stooshie”, a UN climate change chief has admitted as he said politicians should be “sensitive” to the impact such policies can have on communities.
• Sadiq Khan seeks to calm Ulez storm with scrappage grants of £2,000. [subscription]Sadiq Khan attempted to appease critics of London’s expanded clean-air zone yesterday by announcing an increase in compensation for people forced by the scheme to scrap their cars.

The Mirror

• 'Huge' ULEZ expansion will give drivers £2,000 grants to scrap polluting carsSadiq Khan has faced major political pressure over the scheme - designed to clean up London's air - in the wake Labour's narrow defeat in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election last month

Sky News

• ULEZ scrappage scheme will open to all Londoners - but Tories say this is 'too little, too late'London mayor Sadiq Khan has expanded the scrappage scheme for cars to comply with his ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) after it was blamed for Labour's defeat in the Uxbridge by-election.

Birmingham Mail

• 'It's putting lives at risk' - mum's anger as council axes school transport for special needs sonParents of special needs children say they're being forced to choose between their jobs and their children's education

Liverpool Echo

• Council leader hits out at 'media headlines' over bus reform rowCllr Graham Morgan insisted he fully backs Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram's signature bus plans - but insists government should pay for it all

London Evening Standard

• Ulez revolt intensifies as home counties councils refuse to install signsA home counties rebellion against Sadiq Khan’s expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone has intensified just weeks before it is due to be rolled out to the London boundary.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• DVSA 'investigating' Diamond buses after MP voices concerns over services - MPA Sandwell MP has claimed Diamond Buses are being investigated after she raised concerns over their running of services in West Bromwich.

Other Regional Press

• 'Sadiq Khan must include Slough in ULEZ scrappage scheme'Sadiq Khan’s crackdown on gas-guzzling vehicles is a worthy crusade in the fight against air pollution - but his ULEZ scrappage scheme must be extended to include Slough residents.
• 'More stick, less carrot' call as councillors call for Calderdale's axed bus services to be restored, saying people are struggling to get to workA councillor is calling for more pressure to be put on bus companies to restore axed and cut Calderdale bus services.
• Gatwick: Campaigners raise fears of 'unbearable' noiseResidents near Gatwick could face an “unbearable” amount of noise if the airport opens a second runway, a campaign group has claimed.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• Ben Werth joins Alexander DennisAs Group Sales & Business Development Director, Ben has overall responsibility for the UK & Ireland sales teams led by Fleet Sales Director, Matthew Lawrence and Retail Sales Director, Charlie Miller, as well as for international business development, which will be boosted further by the arrival of a dedicated Business Development Manager later in August.

New Civil Engineer

• Gatwick’s £2.2bn plan to use second runway accepted for examination by Planning InsepctorateLondon Gatwick Airport’s planning application to bring its existing northern runway into routine use has been accepted for detailed examination by the Planning Inspectorate.
• Implenia JV selected to deliver Swiss ’bottleneck’ relief rail tunnel schemeSwitzerland’s rail infrastructure operator SBB has appointed the IBD joint venture, formed by Implenia, Bernasconi and De Luca, to deliver a key contract on the Ligerz Tunnel project.

Rail Business Daily

• Rail Europe appoints Valentine Camusot as General Manager for EuropeRail Europe, the leading provider of European train tickets and passes, has announced the nomination of Valentine Camusot as general manager for Europe region.

Rail UK

• Hi-tech air purifying totem trials planned for Birmingham New StreetPioneering new devices will be trialled at Birmingham New Street station to see how much they improve air quality for passengers on platforms.
• LNER Futurelabs programme brings innovation to the rail industryLondon North Eastern Railway (LNER) has invited startups from across the UK to showcase their cutting-edge technologies aimed at making rail travel even better, offering the opportunity to share their tech solutions to challenges facing the industry.

Railway Technology

• Costain set to provide specialist rail advice to DfTBritish infrastructure company Costain has been selected by the Department for Transport (DfT) as one of the key suppliers of the department’s Specialist Technical and Commercial Advice for Rail (STAR) Framework.
• Siemens to supply 90 new “S-Bahn” trains to Munich The purchase, guaranteed for the city by the state government of Bavaria, is intended to prepare for expected passenger growth in coming years.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Equipmake to repower eight double-deckers for NewportEquipmake is to repower eight existing double-deckers to battery-electric for Newport Transport. Five are Alexander Dennis Enviro400s already with the operator and three will be diesel-electric hybrid Volvo B5LH models with Wrightbus bodywork sourced from the used market.
• Jeff Counsell to be EV Director for Warrington’s Own BusesFormer Trentbarton and Kinchbus Managing Director Jeff Counsell has rejoined the industry to become Electric Vehicle Director for Warrington’s Own Buses.
• Stagecoach in Lancashire to roll out first seven Enviro400sStagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire has taken delivery of the first seven of its Enviro400 double-deckers from Alexander Dennis.

RMT

• Tories face a ’heavy price’ for plans to ’dehumanise’ the rail networkRAIL UNION RMT has warned that the Tory government will pay a heavy political price for ticket office closures after passenger watchdogs reported a massive increase in consultation responses.

Aviation Industry

• Wizz Air orders 75 A321neo aircraftWizz Air has signed a firm contract for an additional 75 A321neo Family aircraft, taking its total order for the largest member of the Airbus single aisle to 434 and for Wizz’s A320 Family overall to 565 aircraft.
• Teesside Airport Secures Investment For Hydrogen InfrastructureTeesside International Airport (MME), England, is to become home to a new permanent hydrogen refuelling station as part of a wider £8 million ($10.1 million) UK government investment.

Other News Sources

• The challenging but promising era of zero emission and digitalisation in the bus and coach industryThe bus and coach industry is currently undergoing a significant transformation, marked by the dual challenges of zero emission vehicles and digitalisation. With increasing concerns about climate change and air pollution, coupled with advancements in technology, there is a growing push to transition towards zero emission buses and coaches. Simultaneously, the sector is embracing digital solutions to enhance operational efficiency, passenger experience, and sustainability. This article explores the challenges and opportunities faced by both operators and the industry in this transformative period.
• Campaign to stop ticket office closures launchedEpilepsy Action has joined with more than 70 other groups to campaign to stop ticket office closures on the UK rail network.
• Global shipping costs increase after 16-month freefallThe shipping rate from Shanghai to Los Angeles reached $2,322 per 40-foot container unit. That's an 11.3% increase from the previous week.
• Talgo’s ICE L for Deutsche Bahn begins testing in GermanyThe first of 79 ICE L long-distance and high-speed trains to be built by the Spanish manufacturer Talgo for Deutsche Bahn (DB) have reached Lower Saxony, in Germany. The ICE L is specially adapted to extremely hot weather conditions. A second unit is already in Vienna for climate trials.
• Transport Minister visits Cornwall to hear about bus improvements and see progress on vital new link roadParliamentary Under Secretary of State (Roads and Local Transport) Richard Holden visited Cornwall this week where he travelled by bus from Cornwall Airport Newquay to Newquay Bus Station to hear from local groups and businesses about the importance of the bus network.
• Fife bus shake-up: major changes to Stagecoach services across Fife announcedBus services across Fife are set for a major shake-up, with some moving to new operators.
• G4S partners with Shell on achieving net-zeroG4S has entered a global sustainability partnership to explore new opportunities to help meet their decarbonisation goals.