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

Tuesday, 03 October 2023

BBC News

• Northern: Leaves on the line blasted in trains testTrains fitted with water jets are being tested to deal with the autumnal problem of leaves on railway lines.
• Peak ScotRail fares scrapped as six-month trial beginsScotRail ticket prices will fall by almost half on some routes as part of the scheme.
• Don't give up on HS2, Tory mayor Andy Street urges Rishi SunakDowning Street continues to insist no final decision on the high-speed rail link to Manchester has been made.
• Chat-tea train: The rail journey combating elderly lonelinessA special train journey for people aged over 60 is aiming to bring people together over a cup of tea.
• Tube strikes: What you need to know about October walkoutsIndustrial action is due to disrupt services on the London Underground on 4 and 6 October.
• Oil cartel leader warns of prolonged high pricesThe secretary general says further investment in oil is needed to meet rising global energy demand.

Channel 4 News

• Plans to scrap HS2 ’will permanently reduce the size of the northern economy,’ says Andy BurnhamWe spoke to the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and began by asking him how much instability was being caused by the government’s position on HS2.

Department for Transport

• Government launches plan to put drivers back in the driving seatNew 30-point plan to support people’s freedom to use their cars and curb over-zealous enforcement measures.

Financial Times

• Siemens' US chief urges strong message to voters on Biden subsidiesExecutives fear Republicans will repeal clean energy tax breaks if they win in 2024
• Indian ports operator JSW Infrastructure shares jump 30% in debutAdani rival seeks to capitalise on India's privatisation push
• Rishi Sunak under fire over plan to slash HS2 rail linePM set to use Conservative party conference to announce axing of project's northern leg

The Guardian

• Rishi Sunak accused of ’cancelling the future’ with climbdown over HS2Rishi Sunak has become embroiled in a bitter row with regional politicians, the transport industry and members of his own party as he prepared to announce the cancellation of the multibillion high speed rail line to Manchester.
• HS2: a long and winding timeline of the troubled high-speed rail projectSince Labour announced plans for north-south high-speed rail network nearly 14 years ago, project has been beset by problems. It is almost 14 years since the last Labour government announced plans to revolutionise rail travel in England with a new high-speed network. Despite gaining cross-party support and the endorsement of five prime ministers, from Gordon Brown to Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak looks poised to put the brakes on key sections of HS2 amid fears the final price tag could exceed £100bn.

The Independent

• Cutting off the North from HS2 is a national disgraceRipping up plans to extend HS2 north of Birmingham will mean a life sentence of travel misery for tens of millions of travellers
• How much has HS2 cost so far?The Prime Minister is set to axe plans for the HS2 high-speed rail link to run from Birmingham to Manchester amid soaring costs.
• HS2 northern leg scrapped – weeks after The Independent revealed Rishi Sunak’s plan to axe itRishi Sunak is set to use the Tory party conference to confirm he has scrapped the northern leg of HS2 – weeks after The Independent revealed he had held secret talks about axeing the project.

The Scotsman

• High-speed HS2 rail link: Rishi Sunak's mantra about 'long-term decisions' at odds with expected decision to scrap Birmingham-Manchester leg – Scotsman commentIn 2010, the then Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg took a good long look at being foresighted, and decided against it. Dismissing the idea of building new nuclear power stations, he said there was “no way” they would come on stream until 2021 or 2022. “So it’s just not even an answer,” he said.

The Telegraph

• Sunak poised to scrap HS2 between Birmingham and ManchesterPM will make announcement in keynote speech to Tory conference on Wednesday,

Times Online

• The moment No 10 lost control over HS2 — and what happened next. [subscription]The moment No 10 lost control came three weeks ago. Last month a Treasury official walked into Downing Street for discussions ahead of a meeting between Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, and Rishi Sunak, the prime minister.
• Central London leg of HS2 expected to be spared axe. [subscription]PM to pledge ’every penny’ of savings will go on regional links

i News

• Business is ready to help pay for HS2 rail scheme, says Tory Mayor Andy StreetWest Midlands Mayor says he ’won’t let HS2 go without a fight’ and warns Sunak scrapping it would damage UK’s international reputation
• Rishi Sunak facing threat of Tory rebellion over HS2 and future of Northern Powerhouse RailRishi Sunak faces the threat of a damaging Tory rebellion due to fears his plans to scrap the northern leg of HS2 to Manchester will scupper any hopes of delivering a full east to west rail line across the North.

Mail Online

• HS2 Manchester leg 'scrapped' moments before Jeremy Hunt makes major Tory party conference speechThe Chancellor failed to mention the beleaguered rail line in his address to the Conservative conference despite weeks of speculation over its future.
• Tory grandees launch last-ditch bid to save the northern leg of HS2 as Rishi Sunak is poised to bring down the axe in his party speech tomorrowSenior Tories launched a last-ditch bid to save the northern leg of HS2 last night as Rishi Sunak was poised to scrap it.

The Mirror

• 'Axing HS2 in Manchester is further proof Tories are not fit to run the country'Conservative Party is, Voice of Mirror says, a "basket case" and led by Rishi Sunak, who has a "dangerous short-term mentality and a frightening lack of vision"

Labour Party

• ’Bus franchising sounds dull – but history shows it can lead to public ownership’Imagine waiting for a bus at Marble Arch on a hot summer evening in London in 1921. There are no bus stops as such, so you jump on board when you can.

Local Government

• Bus services in Surrey to be boosted with £7.8m investmentThe council will work with bus operators over the coming month to allocate the funding which is likely to generate more frequent buses, more evening and weekend services and reduced fares for young people to help them access education, training and employment.
• Neath Port Talbot Council expresses concern over widespread bus service changes impacting residentsBus services in Neath Port Talbot will be reduced at the end of October with one being completely withdrawn on weekdays as the council and bus operators get to grips with a fall in Welsh Government funding and lower passenger numbers.
• Local people play a part in encouraging bus travelWe have joined forces with bus operators from across the region to launch a marketing campaign aimed at encouraging those entitled to free bus travel to use the bus

Network Rail

• Autumn leaf blasting trains now keeping North West rail routes clearA fleet of ’leaf-busting’ trains are now blasting leaves off the line to help keep rail passengers and freight moving across the North West this autumn.
• Network Rail delivers £34m investment of bridge protection worksNetwork Rail and its contractor Story have completed a £34m programme of works to protect a number of bridges across Scotland’s Railway.
• Network Rail celebrates World Habitat Day with biodiversity bonanza for rare butterflyThis World Habitat Day (Monday 2 October), Network Rail is celebrating a partnership with Natural England and Somerset Wildlife Trust that’s working to restore and enhance the habitat for a rare butterfly, the Large Blue, at Welham Cutting in Somerset.
• Drones and leaf busting trains keeping rail routes clear this autumnA special fleet of ’leaf-busting’ trains have started blasting leaves off the line to help keep passengers and freight moving across the West Midlands, West Coast and Chiltern main lines this autumn.

Sky News

• The HS2 revelation could not be more disruptive for Rishi SunakThe news that the northern leg to Manchester will be scrapped has eclipsed yet another day of coverage for the prime minister.
• HS2 explained: What is the route now and why is the Manchester leg being axed?The story of HS2 is becoming a sorry saga, when it was intended to be a symbol of the future which would transform public transport between London and the North. Sky News takes a look at the original plans, the delays and the spiralling costs.
• Northern leg of HS2 to Manchester will be scrappedAfter weeks of speculation, the high-speed rail line between Birmingham and Manchester is set to be shelved, Sky News understands - although Number 10 has said "no final decisions have been taken".

Birmingham Mail

• Last plea to 'save HS2 and nation's credibility' as axe set to fall on Brum-Manchester linePrime Minister Rishi Sunak widely predicted to be planning to axe the Birmingham to Manchester leg of HS2

Birmingham Post

• MTMS seals new deal with train operator SoutheasternMTM services and maintains rolling stock and specialist equipment

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bus funding saves 30 services across West YorkshireThirty bus services across West Yorkshire would have been axed this summer without public funding, it has been revealed.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Rail group says North Wales priorities must be backed if plug pulled on HS2 link to ManchesterConfusion reigns over the multi-billion pound scheme in a chaotic day at the Tory party conference in Manchester

Other Regional Press

• Consultation to be held over plans to franchise West Yorkshire busesThe Combined Authority is planning a consultation on the way buses are run in the county, with bus franchising their preferred option
• First Bus Manchester buys local for Bee Network as planning for Rochdale bus services beginsFirst Bus Manchester is buying locally as it begins to build preparations for running Rochdale bus services as part of the new Bee Network from March next year.
• 'Bombshell' changes planned to on-demand Somerset bus service“That will result in smaller zones and shorter journeys”
• Bus services set to be restored after axe fellA Berwickshire councillor has reassured commuters in the county that gaps in services caused by the axing of four buses are to be plugged.

Train Operators

• Gloucester station car park to close later this week, as improvement works continueThe southern car park at Gloucester station is to close later this week as part of the multi-million-pound station improvement project.
• FIRST LOOK: GoPro footage shows water technology fitted underneath Northern passenger train blasting disruptive fallen leaves from the trackNew footage has been released by Northern showing the cutting-edge technology they are testing that blasts leaves from the path of their trains.

New Civil Engineer

• Scotland’s £26bn infrastructure investment plan in tatters as major project costs soarThe cost of eight major Scottish infrastructure projects has soared by £55M in just six months and the nation is unlikely to meet its promised £26bn infrastructure investment, a watchdog has warned.

Rail Business Daily

• RIA calls for Government certainty on HS2, rail enhancements, rail restructure, and rolling stock ordershe Railway Industry Association (RIA) has set out key asks of Government:

Railway Technology

• Northern trials new technology to blast leaves from train tracksNorthern is trialling new technology to blast leaves from train tracks this autumn. The technology, called Water-Trak, is attached to the undercarriage of passenger trains and sprays a small amount of water onto the track when a slippery rail is detected. This creates rainy-day conditions on the rail surface, which cleans the rail and makes the conditions better for braking.

RMT

• RMT calls on Mark Harper to unshackle rail operators and end ticket office closuresThe Rail, Maritime and Transport trade union has called upon Mark Harper to allow rail operators to make an offer that can end the national rail dispute.

Other News Sources

• Profits surge at rail asset management firmPre-tax profits jumped towards the £140m mark at a Derby-headquartered rail asset management company during its latest financial year, new documents have confirmed, despite revenue declining. Porterbrook invests in existing and new rolling stock for the government, franchise operators and customers.
• Rolling Stock Whole Life Cost Optimisation...Roundtable interview with three of our seminar speakersAhead of our Rolling Stock Whole Life Cost Optimisation seminar, we caught up with three of the event's speakers as they discuss their roles and involvement with regards to the seminar, industry challenges and why it is important for engineers to attend.
• HS2 decision overshadows beginning of Conservative Party ConferenceThe Tories have reached Manchester for their party conference although it's far from clear if High Speed Rail ever will.
• Cut HS2 and spend saved money on public services, Jacob Rees-Mogg saysWe were joined by the former cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg.
• Equipmake will convert to electric drivetrain 10 Big Bus Tours sightseeing buses in LondonEquipmake has been awarded a contract to repower 10 open-top tour buses for use on London sightseeing services. First repowered Big Bus Tours vehicle to enter service in Q1 2024.
• Norwich Council leader Mike Stonard calls for free busesNorwich City Council has suggested that taxpayer cash should be used to subsidise free bus travel for the entire city.
• Travel chaos on Edinburgh train as passengers forced to 'find a spot' on the floorAn Edinburgh train was crammed full of passengers on Sunday afternoon, with those on board forced to sit on the floor as they travelled on a four carriage train from Inverness.