Breaking News
Siemens Mobility showcase new Piccadilly line trains to be built in Goole
A NEW generation of trains which will be built in East Yorkshire to replace a 50-year-old fleet on the London Underground have been unveiled.
'Terrifying' number of stranded cars on Yorkshire smart motorways
Vehicles were left stranded in live lanes hundreds of times in 2020, data reveals
Budget draws mixed response from trade bodies and Go-Ahead
Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget, delivered on 3 March, has generated a mixed response from trade bodies and a large bus group, with Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Chief Executive Graham Vidler criticising Mr Sunak for “once again” leaving coach operators “out in the cold.”
Friday, 05 March 2021
BBC News
- Covid-19: Cyprus to welcome vaccinated UK tourists from MayBut this is more than two weeks before the earliest date people in England can go abroad for holidays.
- Government has no climate change plan - MPsTwo reports from MPs cast doubt on the government's approach to meeting its climate change goals.
- Ryanair: Airline to return to Belfast City AirportThe budget airline will offer flights to eight European destinations this summer.
- Piccadilly Line: Plans for new 'walk-through' trains unveiledNinety-four new
Financial Times
- First Brexit, then Covid: can Eurostar get back on track?The great cross-Channel rail project is fighting for survival as passenger numbers plunge
- Lufthansa slumps to worst-ever annual lossGerman airline group flew 76% fewer passengers in 2020 and is burning €300m per month
The Telegraph
Times Online
- Doubts over potential value of Rishi Sunak’s freeports [subscription]The chancellor’s freeports policy will redistribute economic activity rather than generating additional investment, a leading think tank has claimed.
Mail Online
- Speed bumps - for cyclists: Park is forced to install roadblocks to slow down cyclistsIn an attempt to slow down numerous cyclists with a need for speed, a local council has recently installed roadblocks in a popular park in Perth's south as part of a trial.
The Mirror
- 'Tube trains of the future' with air conditioning pictured for the first timeNinety-four of the Siemens-built Inspiro London trains will replace the existing 1970s fleet on the Piccadilly line from 2025 under a £1.5 billion order placed in 2018
- Space flight launched from UK soil "within next few years" says GovernmentThe Department for Transport has drawn-up plans for a firing from the UK amid hopes for £14.8bn industry
Birmingham Post
- Are freeports a tool for tax evaders, money launders and crooks?Some say freeports create few jobs and when they do, they're of lower quality and not really new jobs anyway
- Airbus confirms no compulsory redundancies across UK operationsThe aerospace giant had placed 1,700 staff in the UK at risk of redundancy last June
- Avanti West Coast's new train fleet for London, the Midlands, North Wales, and Liverpool taking shapeNew welding and painting facilities will be used to build the next generation of intercity trains for Avanti West Coast and East Midlands Railway
Bolton News
- P&O Cruises offers UK sailings this summer - is it safe to book? The travel firm has said the cruises will go on sale later in March, with full details about prices and sailing dates yet to be confirmed.
Bradford Telegraph & Argus
- Northern Rail give stations makeover costing over £800,000NORTHERN Rail have said 35 stations, including Shipley, Skipton, Horsforth, Guiseley, Hebden Bridge and Halifax have all been provided with a makeover.
London Evening Standard
- First look: TfL unveils design of new Piccadilly line trains The design of the new fleet of Piccadilly line trains was unveiled today as Transport for London said it was honouring a £1.5billion contract despite its finances being wrecked by covid.
Newcastle Evening Chronicle
- Cuts fear for Metro and bus services with finances 'grim'Metro operator Nexus is still waiting to hear if the government will keep propping it up beyond the end of March, but concerns about its finances pre-date the pandemic crisis
The York Press
- Siemens Mobility showcase new Piccadilly line trains to be built in Goole A NEW generation of trains which will be built in East Yorkshire to replace a 50-year-old fleet on the London Underground have been unveiled.
Bucks Free Press
- HS2 minister Andrew Stephenson quizzed by Bucks MP Greg Smith A meeting organised by a Bucks MP saw Andrew Stephenson, Minister of State in the Department of Transport, quizzed over the current HS2 development.
Leeds Live
- When First Leeds bus timetable will return to pre-lockdown times The Leeds bus company will restore its timetable in time for the reopening of schools
Other Regional Press
- Rishi Sunak's Budget: £30m for rail testing centre in PowysA £30 million UK Government contribution to a planned rail testing complex between Neath Port Talbot and Powys has been welcomed by the local councils.
- Ian Liddell-Grainger says WSR Seaward Way crossing upgrade should be 'a priority'A SOMERSET MP says restoring train services between Bishop's Lydeard and Minehead should be an "absolute priority", as delays will cause "serious problems for traders".
- Hundreds sign petition for a Didcot mountain bike park AN ONLINE petition for a new mountain bike park in Didcot has gained more than 700 signatures.
- 'Terrifying' number of stranded cars on Yorkshire smart motorwaysVehicles were left stranded in live lanes hundreds of times in 2020, data reveals
- Birmingham Airport to receive £5.7m loan from Coventry councilShareholders have come to their aid
Bus and Coach Buyer
- Budget: UKInbound seeks coach supportJoss Croft: “We urgently need confirmation from Government that tour operators, coach operators, language schools and event organisers will be eligible for these grants”
- Coach sector ‘left out in the cold’ by Budget – CPTNo sector specific funding has been allocated for the coach industry in the Spring Budget, announced earlier today.
- TfL prepares for school bus returnTransport for London (TfL) is to reintroduce measures similar to those introduced during the autumn school term as pupils return to the classroom from 8 March. These include providing hundreds of extra buses and reintroducing the system of signed ‘School Service’ buses, as well as encouraging walking and cycling.
- Pandemic hits Daimler salesLike many companies in the bus and coach manufacturing world, Daimler Buses‘ 2020 performance was significantly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Coach and Bus Week
- Harrogate route extended after passenger requestsEssential shopping at Knaresborough’s newest supermarket is about to get easier as The Harrogate Bus Company plans to extend one of its routes to serve the store. Aldi opened its new store on 28 January, and since then the bus firm said its drivers have received several customer requests for journeys to serve the new supermarket.
- Stagecoach invests in new technology from Optibus to help plan bus networksStagecoach has announced a major investment in new technology that it says will help plan the bus networks of the future to match the changes in how people travel coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Passenger announces five-year Go-Ahead partnershipUK company Passenger is set to bring its transport technology to Go-Ahead operators
- Scania invests in flagship premises in ScotlandScania is developing its service for transport operators in Scotland’s central belt with a major £10m investment in a new 4,000 square metre, purpose-built flagship site and regional headquarters for Scotland. Occupying a 7.8 acre plot at the Eurocentral industrial and logistics hubs, the completely new build will replace the existing operation located four miles away in Bellshill, and is due for completion in the fourth quarter of 2021.
- Anti-virus air filters fitted to entire Brighton & Hove and Metrobus fleetAnti-virus air filters are being fitted to every bus in the Brighton & Hove and Metrobus fleet to reduce the risk of Covid transmission. The new filters have an anti-virus coating which is said to remove 99.99% of viruses and bacteria as air flows into both decks and the driver’s cab. The company’s engineers have fitted the new air filters on every bus and converted the whole fleet of 400 buses within one month. The filters will continue to be used as standard within the regular replacement programme.
- Engineering change during a pandemicFleet Engineer Robert Betterton embarked on his new role at Stagecoach a year ago. Richard Sharman found out how that new role quickly changed into one of the biggest challenges of his career due to the pandemic
- Engineering change during a pandemicFleet Engineer Robert Betterton embarked on his new role at Stagecoach a year ago. Richard Sharman found out how that new role quickly changed into one of the biggest challenges of his career due to the pandemic
- Stagecoach in Oxfordshire to merge with Stagecoach WestStaff at Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and Stagecoach West were informed on 23 February that both operating companies (OpCos) are to merge to form a single OpCo.
- BYD ADL announces short wheelbase option for Enviro400EVAlexander Dennis (ADL) and BYD UK have announced a shorter version of their successful BYD ADL Enviro400EV double-decker. With a more compact wheelbase, BYD ADL says the 10.3m model has been designed to increase manoeuvrability when navigating congested roads and tight corners. Launched in 2019, over 450 of the standard 10.8m versions have since been sold to operators in London and other UK cities.
New Civil Engineer
- HS2 construction complaints rise as work ramps upConstruction complaints lodged against HS2 Ltd and its contractors continue to rise as work on the high speed rail project ramps up.
- Alternative northern rail plan tabled to link HS2 and NPR via underground stationsAn alternative Northern rail proposal has been tabled which would link High Speed 2 (HS2) and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) and include underground stations in major cities such as Leeds and Manchester.
Route One (Bus and Coach)
- DfE additional England H2S money set to run into summer termMoney made available by the Department for Education (DfE) to pay for additional dedicated home-to-school transport in England looks set to continue into the summer term, as expected.
- Stagecoach adopts Optibus to shape post-pandemic networksStagecoach is to roll out Optibus artificial intelligence software to help it to “plan the bus networks of tomorrow” as it leaves the COVID-19 pandemic. The platform will allow the group to deliver the most efficient timetables and rosters that will result in passenger-friendly frequencies and reliability, and allow buses to be planned more effectively.
- Visit Wales joins Coach Tourism Association as partner memberVisit Wales has strengthened its relationship with the Coach Tourism Association by enrolling as a partner member. It represents a formalisation of an already strong understanding between the two bodies, says CTA.
- New IRTE Skills Challenge sponsor Altro brings history of innovation to bus technician and apprentice competitionJoining a competition renowned for its innovation makes a perfect fit for new IRTE Skills Challenge sponsor Altro.
- New IRTE Skills Challenge sponsor Altro brings history of innovation to bus technician and apprentice competitionJoining a competition renowned for its innovation makes a perfect fit for new IRTE Skills Challenge sponsor Altro.
- First Glasgow places order for 22 BYD ADL Enviro200EVFirst Glasgow has placed an order for a further 22 BYD ADL Enviro200EV battery-electric buses. The agreement represents an investment of £9m: Over £5m from First and almost £4m that the operator was awarded through the initial round of the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS).
- Pulham’s Coaches’ new i6S integral is its first IrizarPulham’s Coaches has taken delivery of a PSVAR-compliant, 21-plate Irizar i6 integral. It represents conquest business for both vehicle supplier Irizar UK and its parent company Irizar, and it is also the Bourton-on-the-Water operator’s first coach with a DAF engine.
- Budget draws mixed response from trade bodies and Go-AheadChancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget, delivered on 3 March, has generated a mixed response from trade bodies and a large bus group, with Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Chief Executive Graham Vidler criticising Mr Sunak for “once again” leaving coach operators “out in the cold.”
- Stotts Coaches named National Express Operator of the YearHuddersfield-based Stotts Coaches has been named Operator of the Year for 2020 by National Express.
Other News Sources
- Drivers asked for thoughts on smart motorways amid Highway Code shake-up The Department for Transport (DfT) announced an 18-point action plan to improve road safety.
- Boris Johnson denies bias over towns funding schemeBoris Johnson has denied that the government has been biased in the allocation of funds to struggling towns.
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- Adapting Railways for a Sustainable Future: Rebalancing, Resilience, and Realisation - 30 April 2024 - London
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