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

Wednesday, 29 May 2024

BBC News

• Bridge linking two towns could shut for railway workResidents in two Leicestershire towns have raised concerns work to electrify the Midland Mainline could shut a key route between them.
• Campaign to save railway backed by train buffsA fundraising campaign launched to help save a heritage railway from closure has netted up to £20,000 in just two weeks.

Financial Times

• How Boeing's troubles are affecting its suppliersMakers of parts for the US's largest aircraft manufacturer wrestle with uncertainty over demand and production

The Guardian

• The Guardian view on the Tory rail legacy: a dismal record of failureA report by cross-party MPs offers a damning verdict, six years after a ’root and branch’ review called for wide-ranging reform
• Wealthy white men are UK’s biggest transport polluters, study findsIPPR research examines transport emissions by income, gender, location, ethnicity and age

Times Online

• Climate goals were never achievable, says net zero secretary. [subscription]Mairi McAllan has promised a new climate change bill ’as fast as possible’

Local Government

• Free bus travel for elderly and disabled Concessionary pass holders before 9.30am across North East LincolnshireElderly and disabled Concessionary pass holders travelling on all locally registered bus services will soon be able to travel for free before 9.30am thanks to a new scheme.

Belfast Telegraph

• Swinney calls for Labour nationalisation of Network RailFirst Minister of Scotland John Swinney called for Labour to fully nationalise Network Rail.

The York Press

• Askham Bar railway station good: Barton station betterAskham Bar railway station good: Barton station better

Get Surrey

• The six Surrey stations where vacant spaces may get transformed under new South Western Railway plansTrain station buildings such as Chertsey and Weybridge could soon go up for adoption
• UK has Europe's most expensive diesel 'for no good reason'The RAC said there is “no good reason” why British fuel retailers are not cutting pump prices

Other Regional Press

• Gatwick taxi drivers claim Uber 'destroying their livelihoods'’Uber out!’ was the cry from Gatwick taxi drivers as Crawley councillors arrived for the annual meeting of the borough council.
• Leven Rail Link: 55-year wait over as First Minister opens £116m Leven rail linkPutting Levenmouth back on the rail link has been a mighty long wait, but the first trains roll into two new stations this week amid a real sense of anticipation and excitement
• Will Quince, Colchester MP, now Chair of Transport EastCOLCHESTER'S outgoing MP has been revealed as the new chair of a group which is calling for improvements to the A12 and A120.
• Latest rail figures reveal Transport for Wales performance improvements in 2024Transport for Wales has released figures showing rail performance improvements since the start of this year (2024).
• Network Rail plans to repair entrance to Taunton stationThe station has been the subject of significant recent investment, with Network Rail and Great Western Railway working together to deliver a new multi-storey car park off the A3087 Trenchard Way and revamping the southern entrance.
• LABOUR’S EMILY BROTHERS SAYS TORIES HAVE HIT THE BUFFERS ON ISLAND LINEEmily Brothers, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Isle of Wight East, has criticised the Conservatives’ broken promise to introduce a half-hourly service on Island Line between Ryde Pier and Shanklin.
• Whitchurch railway station to be redeveloped with £350m fundThe new funding, which was confirmed in the wash up period of Parliament before the general election, will see the station be made more accessible for disabled people.
• South Western Railway transforms disused Bitterne stationSouth Western Railway is breathing new life into its disused buildings.
• More trains to run on West Coast Main LineA train firm has announced it is increasing services on the West Coast Main Line.
• Former Crossrail CEO Mark Wild to lead HS2 projectA new chief executive has been appointed at HS2 Ltd to lead the completion of the high-speed railway.
• Railway bosses to 'pause' work in 'no garden for 2 years' £10k compensation rowRailway bosses have responded after angry Huddersfield residents demanded £10,000 for work to be carried out in their gardens.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• Zenobē secures £410m more financeZenobē, a leader in electric vehicle fleet services and battery storage innovation, has secured a further £410 million in financing to speed up its support for the roll-out of electric buses across the UK.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• HS2 announce Mark Wild as new CEOMark Wild OBE has been named the new Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd and will oversee the next stage as preparations are made for the start of the working railway between 2029 and 2033. Mark was selected via a thorough recruitment process that was overseen by the HS2 Ltd board led by Executive Chair, Sir Jon Thompson, with support from Transport Secretary Mark Harper. HS2 highlighted that Mark brings nearly 40 years of experience in delivering major infrastructure schemes.   Mark Wild OBE said: "I look forward to leading HS2 as it progresses from major construction works to its rail sy...

Rail Advent

• Transport for Wales services show continuing improvement in performanceSince the beginning of 2024, statistics show that there has been an improvement in performance by Transport for Wales train services.

Other News Sources

• The new all-electric London bus has active suspension, a 532kWh battery and over 400bhpRear-wheel drive, 402bhp and 443lb ft of torque. No, it’s not a new supercar, it’s the BYD BD11 double-decker bus.

News from Europe

• Scandal-hit German transport ministry 'disbands hydrogen department', saying some programmes 'cannot be continued'... Department 25, which co-ordinated the ministry’s hydrogen transport and fuel cells policy, was scrapped as part of a wider ministry shake-up, according to reports in German daily newspaper Tagesspiegel.