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

Thursday, 21 March 2024

BBC News

• Harry Potter steam train service suspendedA steam train that appeared in the Harry Potter films has been suspended in a wrangle over safety regulation.
• 'Levelling down' fears over new rail timetableThere are fears a new rail timetable due to be implemented later this year on the East Coast Main Line will see stations in the north of England lose services.
• New Staffordshire-Manchester rail line proposedThe proposed line is the preferred option to improve connection between the West Midlands and north.
• Strip Avanti of West Coast Main Line franchise, say Northern leadersRail operator Avanti West Coast (AWC) should be stripped of its contract "at the earliest possible opportunity", according to Transport for the North.
• Rail operator moves to tackle abuse against staffSouth Western Railway has launched a poster campaign to highlight abuse directed at its staff.
• Tube drivers to strike in April and May - AslefTrain drivers' union Aslef says 98% of its Tube drivers voted in favour of two 24-hour walkouts.
• Production at Alstom set to stop with jobs at riskAlstom says 3,000 jobs in Derby are at risk, adding there would be an impact on the wider supply chain.

Financial Times

• South African Airways seeks new investor and listing after aborted deal, chief saysJohn Lamola reasserts goal of becoming a global brand as state-owned carrier turns profit for first time since 2011
• Dutch court rules KLM ads misleading in greenwashing caseVictory for activists in latest consumer protection action over sustainability claims
• UK train drivers vote for further round of strikesNotice of fresh disruption comes as northern leaders call for rail operator Avanti to be stripped of its contract
• City mayors put forward alternative to axed HS2 northern legLeaders of West Midlands and Greater Manchester propose cheaper 70-mile high-speed line along roughly the same route

The Independent

• Airport’s charges set to be cut in good news for passengersThe Civil Aviation Authority said it is proposing to adjust the caps on charges it previously set for 2025 and 2026

The Telegraph

• Passengers to pay less for flights as Heathrow told to cut charges. [subscription]Passengers will pay less for flights in and out of Heathrow after the aviation regulator ordered the airport to cut the fees it charges airlines.

The Mirror

• Edinburgh's 'longest cycle lane' finally opens - 10 years after it was first proposedThe City Centre West-East Link (CCWEL) has been in use by cyclists for several months but was officially opened by the council on Wednesday, March 20 after construction was declared finished

Network Rail

• Blue light partners join Network Rail to test emergency response plansNetwork Rail and partners from across the emergency services have joined forces to test emergency response plans to an ‘incident scenario’ within a railway tunnel just outside of Sutton Coldfield station.

Birmingham Mail

• April rail strikes full list of dates as drivers plan walk outWest Midlands rail passengers face widespread disruption as train drivers look set to strike in April

Birmingham Post

• £15.7m capital boost for EV infrastructure in the West MidlandsTransport chiefs herald extra funding to boost the roll out of up to 12,000 new charging points across the region
• Port of Tyne secures £1m funding to install 5G tech as part of innovation pushCameras and Internet of Things sensors will be places around the port's estate to streamline operations, improve sustainability and boost safety
• New railway line 'best option' for improving West Midlands and North West connectionsStudy commissioned by mayors Andy Street and Andy Burnham examined three different proposals for north-south rail services following last year's decision to scrap parts of HS2

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• £35 million scheme for Bradford road moving to next stageA £35 million project to improve a main route into Bradford city centre has moved to the next stage.
• Almost £1m extra funding for pothole repairs in BradfordGOVERNMENT has provided an extra £950,000 to fill potholes in Bradford after the cancellation of HS2.

London Evening Standard

• Call for Avanti West Coast to be nationalised over poor performanceTransport for the North passed a motion on Wednesday to urge Transport Secretary Mark Harper to terminate the operator’s contract.

Manchester Evening News

• Northern leaders vote to end Avanti West Coast rail contractNorthern mayors and council leaders have voted for Avanti West Coast to lose its contract. The Transport for the North (TfN) board unanimously backed the move to formally call for the rail operator's contract to be terminated 'at the earliest possible opportunity'.

The York Press

• First York bus fare changes and more park and ride tripsFirst York is increasing the frequency of some of its park and ride services - while some fares are also set to rise.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Plans submitted for new rail link between West Midlands and ManchesterThe West Midlands may be about to become better connected with England's north under new rail line plans to link Staffordshire with Manchester.
• University students offered HS2 chance over summer University students are being offered the chance to join HS2’s construction partner Balfour Beatty VINCI on an eight-week paid work placement this summer.

Bucks Free Press

• HS2 designers cut carbon on key Bucks and Northants viaductsHS2 engineers have dramatically cut the carbon footprint of five major viaducts by as much as 66 per cent through using an innovative ‘double composite’ structure that requires much less concrete and steel.

Get Surrey

• Spelthorne taxi drivers slam price hikes and say it will have a 'knock-on effect'Taxi drivers claim they have been ‘neglected and taken for granted’ by the council in asking for change

Lancashire Telegraph

• Phil Riley backs call to axe train company Avanti West Coast contractThe leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council is backing a motion for a train company’s services to be nationalised due to its “poor performance”.

Other Regional Press

• Case for Golborne's long-awaited rail station pitched to WestminsterTHE case for a £32m rail station at Golborne has been submitted to the Government.
• Pulhams Coaches launches mobile app to improve travelA bus and coach operator in the Cotswolds has launched a mobile phone app to make travelling easier for passengers.

Rolling stock leasing companies

• Andy Bagguley appointed as Fleet Services DirectorPorterbrook is pleased to announce the appointment of Andy Bagguley as Fleet Services Director.

Rail Advent

• Transport for the North to write to Government over Avanti West Coast contractNorthern leaders have today passed a motion to write to the Secretary of State asking for Avanti West Coast to be stripped of its contact “at the earliest possible opportunity”.

Railnews

• Northern leaders group calls for Avanti nationalisation The Board of Transport for the North has voted for the termination of the Avanti West Coast contract, which it says should be taken back into public control 'at the earliest possibility'.
• Rail Regulator defends decision to cause Jacobite suspension The Office of Rail and Road has defended its decision to cause the Jacobite heritage steam service in the western Highlands of Scotland to be suspended because doors on the coaches have no central locking.

The Business Desk

• Northern transport leaders demand Avanti be shunted off West Coast franchiseThe board of Transport for the North is to write to the Government demanding it strips train company Avanti of its West Coast Main Line franchise “at the earliest opportunity”.

RMT

• RMT welcomes Transport for the North’s call to terminate Avanti contractRMT today welcomed the news that the Board of Transport for the North voted unanimously to write to the Secretary of State calling on him to terminate Avanti West Coast’s contract and bring it into public ownership under the Operator of Last Resort.

Green Miscellany

• Do mobility scooters need dashboard cams?An increasing number of car drivers now rely on dash cams and reversing cameras, and now the same tech is making its way into the world of mobility scooters. Mobility scooter dash cams As a provider of mobility scooter insurance, we have customers who’ve faced the threat of prosecution based on little more than hearsay. Of course, third party liability… The post Do mobility scooters need dashboard cams? appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Autonomous luggage dolly wins big at Heathrow awardsA world first in autonomous technology has helped a Coventry manufacturer claim a prestigious prize at the Heathrow Clean Vehicles Partnership Awards.
• Porterbrook appoints Andy Bagguley as fleet services directorAndy will join on 3 June from East West Rail Company. Taking responsibility for regional management teams and digital engineering services, Andy will collaborate with customers and industry partners to deliver Porterbrook’s strategic rolling stock objectives across more than 4,000 passenger and freight vehicles, representing one quarter of Britain’s fleet.
• First of a Kind winner prepares for groundbreaking project with HS2Software specialist Enable My Team (EMT) is set to begin work on a groundbreaking project with HS2 after being announced as a winner of the First of the Kind (FOAK) competition in December 2023.
• Network Rail seeks to fill Wales & Western region asset management frameworkNetwork Rail Infrastructure has released a contract notice for a reactive and minor works framework for the Wales & Western region that includes lots for the maintenance of bridges, tunnels, culverts and earthworks.
• Northern Mayors lose patience with AvantiNorthern mayors, including Liverpool city region’s Steve Rotheram, vote unanimously in favour of calling for West Coast rail operator Avanti to be stripped of its contract.