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

Thursday, 25 April 2024

Cogitamus

• The Chris Stokes Column - Rail poses capacity and financing challenges for a possible Labour governmentThe May 2018 timetable fiasco was a seminal moment, triggering the Williams review to take forward reform of the rail industry.

BBC News

• Edinburgh Bus Station could be 'lost' over lease decisionEdinburgh’s bus station could be forced to relocate after its owners told the city council its lease would not be extended.
• Bus strike threat over as pay deal reachedBus drivers and engineers have agreed a pay deal with their employer, putting an end to potential strikes.
• Edinburgh Bus Station could be 'lost' over lease decisionThe transport hub's owners are considering selling the site for housing, which could force the council out.
• Shetland spaceport moves closer to first rocket launchThe SaxaVord site on Unst has received a licence to control the local sea and airspace during launch.
• Tube workers to strike over terms and conditionsA strike on Friday and then a ban on overtime could see last-minute station closures, a union says.
• Mayoral candidates clash at BBC debateThe mayoral hopefuls are asked questions about violent crime and road use from Londoners.
• 'Very unusual' sinkhole appears under railway lineThe hole has caused disruption to services between Helensburgh and Edinburgh Waverley for several days.
• First section of new Renfrew Bridge arrives on ClydeThe two-lane road bridge for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists will open for passing ships at Renfrew.
• Labour pledges to renationalise most rail servicesLabour says it expects to renationalise most passenger rail services within five years, if it is elected.

Financial Times

• Boeing burns through $4bn in first quarter after door plug blowoutResults reflect slowdown of 737 Max production and compensation to customers
• Labour pledges to fully renationalise rail networkOpposition says it will roll out reforms within first term if it wins UK general election
• UK imposes sustainable fuel targets on airlines Move is expected to push up prices as aircraft switch to 10% blend of greener fuels by 2030
• Airlines count the cost of Boeing's production slowdownHigher fares and leaner schedules loom for flyers as 737 Max crisis forces delivery delays

The Guardian

• Heathrow expects summer holiday season to be ’busiest on record’Heathrow is expecting its busiest ever summer holiday season but faces uncertainty over its long-term future as the proposed £6bn sale of the UK’s biggest airport remains in doubt.
• Labour’s plans for Great British Railways all but set up by Tory governmentRenationalisation announced by shadow transport secretary, Louise Haigh, comes as most network contracts near expiry
• French strike forces Ryanair to cancel more than 300 flights across EuropeRyanair urges European Commission to protect overflights and keep EU skies open. Ryanair has demanded that the EU reform its skies after the airline was forced to cancel more than 300 flights across Europe scheduled for Thursday because of a strike by French air traffic controllers.
• Car insurance firms agree to crack down on poverty premiumUK insurers say they will aim to stop monthly payments falling hardest on those who can least afford itInsurers have promised to clean up their act after coming under fire over the poverty premium, whereby customers who cannot afford to pay for car insurance in one go are charged punitive interest to spread the cost.
• Labour promises rail nationalisation within five years of coming to powerParty pledges to bring all passenger rail but not rolling stock into public ownership as contracts with train operators expireLabour will fully nationalise the train network within five years of coming to power, with a pledge to guarantee the cheapest fares as part of “the biggest reform of our railways for a generation.

Times Online

• Heathrow’s new chief enjoys a flying start. [Subscription]lights of fancy can waste a lot of time. Take Heathrow’s third runway: something Britain has been failing to build since 1968. It’s repeatedly proved politically impossible. Yet that hasn’t deterred successive bosses from trying.
• Wales to drop blanket 20mph speed limit. [subscription]Ken Skates, transport minister, insisted the change to the unpopular policy was not a U-turn but about ’refining and finessing’ it to help make Wales safer

i News

• Labour can make tracks on railwaysLabour’s policy to renationalise the railways, albeit over time when the existing private franchise contracts expire, is one of the rare surviving policies of the Corbyn years
• Passengers to wait years for end of rip-off tickets under Labour’s rail plansThe party is pledging major reforms that will improve rail travel for passengers, but this could take years to implement in full

The Mirror

• Heathrow Airport swings to £189m profit after record-breaking start to yearThe stellar trading figures for the three months to March 31 – traditionally a quiet season for the sector – compare against losses of £60 million a year ago

The National

• Labour unveil train nationalisation plans: 'Great British Railways'LABOUR has unveiled plans to create a new publicly-owned company called Great British Railways to nationalise much of the sector.

The Sun

• OFF THE RAILS Labour plan to renationalise railways within five years if party wins election slammed by the industryTHE rail industry last night launched a fightback against Labour’s plan to renationalise the railways, warning it will lead to higher costs for taxpayers.

Labour Party

• Lou Haigh to reveal ’roadmap’ for public ownership of railways within first termLabour’s Louise Haigh has pledged to deliver the “biggest overhaul to our railways in a generation” ahead of the launch of the party’s “thorough and detailed roadmap” to take Britain’s rail network into public ownership.

Birmingham Post

• Filtronic signs stellar deal with Elon Musk's Space X to boost ordersThe Northern supplier to the telecoms, defence and space markets is set to see the US rocket company become a shareholder
• Jet2 reaffirms profit hike expectations as promising summer season takes shapeThe Yorkshire business is expecting group profits of up to £520m for its 2024 financial year but said it is too early to tell what its 2025 financial year will hold

Bristol Live

• Labour to pledge to renationalise railways if electedThe party will call it the “biggest overhaul to our railways in a generation”

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Restoring former speed limits on Wales' 20mph roads could cost £5mThe figure could be lower if councils are reluctant to sanction the changes

London Evening Standard

• Labour to pledge to renationalise railways if electedA Labour government would expect to transfer rail networks to public ownership within its first term, the party will say.

Nation. Cymru

• MS accuses Transport for Wales of ’disenfranchising’ communities along Cambrian CoastA Plaid Cymru MS has accused Transport for Wales of disenfranchising communities along the Cambrian Coast, as the train operator moves to cut four daily services from the timetable.

Northern Echo

• Costs of Middlesbrough railway station improvements“Bigger and better” planned elements have pushed the cost of improvements at Middlesbrough railway station over the £50m mark.

Sunderland Echo

• Sunderland-London train operator Grand Central named country's 'second-most unreliable'’The Grand Central team has been working hard to overcome the performance challenges our customers experienced.’

Other Regional Press

• ’PUNCTUAL AND RELIABLE SERVICE’ STILL A WAY OFF AS PROBLEMS CONTINUE TO BLIGHT ISLAND LINEPromises of a 30-minute timetable on the Island Line look further than away ever, some 3.5 years after the current fleet of Class 484 trains entered service.

Railway Gazette

• Williams Review author backs Labour plan to adopt Great British Railways reforms in fullUK: Sir Keith Williams has lent his backing to plans by the Labour Party to implement a standalone ’guiding mind’ for the rail sector if it wins the upcoming General Election.

Other News Sources

• Could we be on the right track for a high speed Liverpool rail link?A new high speed rail line could link up Liverpool and Manchester as soon as May
• £23.4m to improve public transport and support economic growth in south west Wales£23.4 million has been set aside to improve public transport and support economic growth in south west Wales.
• Derby City Council Confirms Potential Train Order for AlstomDerby City Council has confirmed plans from the UK government to order new Elizabeth Line trains from Alstom’s UK rolling stock factory.