Public Transport news

• Why has HS2 ended up being so expensive?

  25-09-2023 20:40
  
  The project is shrouded in uncertainty and other countries’ railway constructions appear to be cheaperSunak may seek to limit HS2 fallout with new transport projects in northThe future of Britain’s high-speed railway project is again shrouded in uncertainty, with Downing Street apparently considering axing the route north of Birmingham to Manchester, amid concern over escalating costs. So why exactly is HS2 so expensive? Continue reading...
  
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• Sunak may seek to limit HS2 fallout with new transport projects in north

  25-09-2023 20:18
  
  Sources suggest PM could announce new spending on bus, tram and train schemes if he decides to axe part of HS2Rishi Sunak could announce a series of transport improvements for the north of England including bringing forward the high-speed link between Manchester and Leeds as he seeks to limit the political fallout over the future of HS2.Government sources suggested the prime minister still planned to press ahead with a proposal to axe the Birmingham to Manchester link of HS2 despite a furious re
  
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• HS2 may end up as ‘total waste of money’, warns IFS thinktank – as it happened

  25-09-2023 19:12
  
  Comments from Paul Johnson of Institute of Fiscal Studies come as Downing Street hints at delay to work on second phase of rail linkAround 20,000 university workers are out on strike this week at more than 50 universities across the UK, despite a dramatic last-minute scaling back of industrial action.Strikes had been set to go ahead at 142 UK universities this week as part of a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions, but it emerged last week that two thirds of branches of the Unive
  
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• Nicola Jennings on Rishi Sunak’s attempts to win over voters – cartoon

  25-09-2023 19:07
  
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• ‘Coming-of-age moment’: Bee Network creates a buzz in Greater Manchester

  25-09-2023 19:00
  
  The first buses bought back into public control since the 1980s roll out the depot in a ‘new dawn’ for public transportThe revolution, when it came, was thankfully on time. The first bus in England to be brought back into public control since the 1980s steered out of its depot near Bolton at 4.30am sharp, beginning what one passenger (the mayor, Andy Burnham) hailed as “a new dawn” for public transport.The service – a 521 from Farnworth to Westhoughton – marke
  
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• Gatwick restricts flight numbers for week amid air traffic control problems

  25-09-2023 18:30
  
  Airport will share 164 cancellations between airlines until Sunday as it seeks to avoid diversionsThousands of passengers flying to and from Gatwick this week will have their flights cancelled after the airport announced a cap on movements because of a shortage of staff in air traffic control.Gatwick imposed an immediate cap on Monday of 800 flights taking off or landing a day. Continue reading...
  
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• HS2 may end up as ‘total waste of money’, warns IFS thinktank – UK politics live

  25-09-2023 16:36
  
  Comments from Paul Johnson of Institute of Fiscal Studies come as Downing Street hints at delay to work on second phase of rail linkAround 20,000 university workers are out on strike this week at more than 50 universities across the UK, despite a dramatic last-minute scaling back of industrial action.Strikes had been set to go ahead at 142 UK universities this week as part of a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions, but it emerged last week that two thirds of branches of the Unive
  
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• Save or scrap? What HS2’s champions and critics have said

  25-09-2023 16:02
  
  Advisers, MPs and former ministers are sharply split over committing or quitting on the high-speed rail lineUK politics live – latest updatesWith the future of the HS2 rail line beyond Birmingham in grave doubt, argument is raging about whether it should be saved or scrapped. Here are some voices from both sides of the policy fence.It would be an act of huge economic self-harm, and be a decision of such shortsightedness, that we urge the prime minister: don’t do it.How could ever aga
  
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• Rishi Sunak should show the guts his predecessors lacked – and cancel HS2 now | Simon Jenkins

  25-09-2023 15:30
  
  Only political expediency has kept this terrible mistake on the rails. Pull the brakes – and save Britain billionsThis week there are to be two HS2s. The first is a truly rotten infrastructure project. The second is a political icon of awesome potency. They have absolutely nothing in common.From its conception in 2009, HS2 was a dud: a Labour government glamour project revived by the Cameron government in the hope it might counterbalance its plans for extreme local austerity. The coalition
  
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• Even HS2's defenders are abandoning it. Rishi Sunak, it's time to follow suit | Simon Jenkins

  25-09-2023 15:30
  
  Only political expediency has kept this terrible mistake on the rails. Pull the brakes – and save Britain billionsThis week there are to be two HS2s. The first is a truly rotten infrastructure project. The second is a political icon of awesome potency. They have absolutely nothing in common.From its conception in 2009, HS2 was a dud: a Labour government glamour project revived by the Cameron government in the hope it might counterbalance its plans for extreme local austerity. The coalition
  
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• No 10 says there is precedent for delaying parts of HS2 due to ‘affordability’ – UK politics live

  25-09-2023 13:37
  
  Downing Street hint at delay to the start of work on the second phase of the HS2 Manchester linkAround 20,000 university workers are out on strike this week at more than 50 universities across the UK, despite a dramatic last-minute scaling back of industrial action.Strikes had been set to go ahead at 142 UK universities this week as part of a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions, but it emerged last week that two thirds of branches of the University and College Union (UCU) had de
  
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• Sunak ‘committed to levelling up’ as he refuses to say HS2 Manchester link still going ahead – UK politics live

  25-09-2023 10:51
  
  Osborne and Heseltine say scrapping HS2 Manchester link would flag UK’s decline to worldAt the weekend the Sunday Times said that Rishi Sunak is considering getting rid of inheritance tax. In their splash, Caroline Wheeler, Tim Shipman and Harry Yorke said:Three sources confirmed that there is a live discussion at the highest level of government about reforming inheritance tax. One proposal being considered is for Sunak to announce his intention to phase out the levy by reducing the 40 per
  
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• Andy Burnham: scrapping HS2 ‘would be disaster for north of England’

  25-09-2023 09:28
  
  Greater Manchester mayor urges Rishi Sunak to listen to leaders in north beforemaking decision on high-speed rail projectAndy Burnham, the greater mayor Manchester mayor, has urged ministers to talk to leaders in the north of England before scrapping HS2 and leaving it with “Victorian infrastructure” for the rest of the century.Burnham said he and the leader of Manchester city council, Bev Craig, would be writing to Rishi Sunak to say that while a re-phasing of the rail project might
  
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• Work begins on 'major improvements' at Luton train station

  25-09-2023 02:00 via bedfordshirelive.co.uk
  
  Other Regional Press - Work has begun on a 'major improvements' scheme at Luton train station. The work will see the station canopies on platform 1 and 2 replaced, and a new, accessible bridge and three lifts installed.
  
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• Where does London stand on e-scooters?

  25-09-2023 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - In a warehouse in Wood Green, in north London, are hundreds of blue Dott e-scooters.
  
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• Tory big beasts turn on Rishi Sunaks insane plan to scrap HS2

  25-09-2023 02:00 via independent.co.uk
  
  The Independent - David Cameron, Boris Johnson and the governments own infrastructure tsar join outcry against tragedy of cancelling Birmingham to Manchester rail line
  
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• Times letters: High-speed rail and a betrayal of the north subscription

  25-09-2023 02:00 via thetimes.co.uk
  
  Times Online - Sir, As a former chairman of HS2, I believe that any decision to scale down the project would be a betrayal of the north and our growth ambition as a country.
  
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• Sunak urged to be bold and scrap HS2 north of Birmingham subscription

  25-09-2023 02:00 via telegraph.co.uk
  
  The Telegraph - Lord Berkeley, the deputy chairman of an independent review into HS2 set up by Boris Johnson, said existing services between Birmingham and Manchester were adequate but that services between the northern cities were not as good.
  
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• Sunak to face challenges from all sides if decision to scrap northern HS2 leg goes ahead

  25-09-2023 02:00 via inews.co.uk
  
  i News - Ministers could face a judicial review if they attempt to cancel or delay the extension of HS2 to Manchester, senior political sources in the city have told i
  
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• Sunak faces backlash over potential axing of HS2 northern leg

  25-09-2023 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Tory and Labour politicians, and business groups, criticise reports that flagship rail project will be cut back
  
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• Scrapping HS2 line to Manchester would be 'gross act of vandalism', Tory grandees warn

  25-09-2023 02:00 via news.sky.com
  
  Sky News - Former chancellor George Osborne and ex-deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine said if the line was scrapped the government would "only be known for what it cancelled and curtailed".
  
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• Rishi Sunak poised to delay northern phase of troubled HS2 rail link by up to 7 years

  25-09-2023 02:00 via independent.co.uk
  
  The Independent - Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt are poised to delay the northern phase of HS2 by up to seven years as part of a bid to scrap the project in the long term, The Independent understands.
  
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• Railways go back to the future with landmark partnership

  25-09-2023 02:00 via networkrailmediacentre.co.uk
  
  Network Rail - A first-of-its-kind partnership between the Severn Valley Railway and Network Rail has been set up, signalling the start of an innovative relationship between the past and present railway.
  
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• Publicly run buses in Greater Manchester for first time since 1980s

  25-09-2023 02:00 via thetimes.co.uk
  
  Times Online - The first publicly run buses to operate outside London since the Eighties began running in Greater Manchester as the city hopes to reverse the long-term decline of bus travel.
  
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• Public inquiry to start on compulsory purchase of land in Dudley town centre for new transport interchange

  25-09-2023 02:00 via expressandstar.com
  
  Wolverhampton Express and Star - A public inquiry will start next month into the compulsory purchase of land in Dudley town centre by the council to make way for a new transport interchange.
  
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• Phil Rodgers: What next for Cambridge transport?

  25-09-2023 02:00 via cambridgeindependent.co.uk
  
  Other Regional Press - Well, what a mess.More than nine years after the Cambridge City Deal was signed, after countless hours of work from council officers and consultants, hundreds upon hundreds of pages of plans, projections, and analysis, millions of pounds of expenditure, and the biggest consultation exercise that the city has ever seen, where are we now?
  
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• Panama drought and its impact on bulk shipping

  25-09-2023 02:00 via hellenicshippingnews.com
  Shipping News - he Panama Canal, a key player in global shipping, faces a dire crisis due to an unprecedented drought, casting shadows over trade dynamics and supply chains.
  
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• Outline of first transpacific green shipping corridor unveiled

  25-09-2023 02:00 via lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com
  Lloyd's List - Carriers participating in the program plan to deploy reduced or zero carbon-capable ships between the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and Shanghai by 2025
  
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• Now is the time to change the mechanism that brought us HS2s repeated failings

  25-09-2023 02:00 via cityam.com
  
  City AM - What a sorry mess the country has got itself into HS2a poorly planned project, executed badly, at tremendous cost in both time and money.
  
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• Northern to trial on-train British Sign Language announcements

  25-09-2023 02:00 via railadvent.co.uk
  
  Rail Advent - https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/23807011.hs2-bucks-major-update-trees-dying-construction/
  
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• Northern to trial British Sign Language announcements on trains

  25-09-2023 02:00 via media.northernrailway.co.uk
  
  Train Operators - Northern is set to interpret its announcements into British Sign Language (BSL) on some of its services.
  
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• Locally controlled buses return to Greater Manchester after 37 years

  25-09-2023 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Greater Manchester's mayor Andy Burnham hails the
  
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• Letters: There are better ways to level-up Britain than wasting billions on HS2

  25-09-2023 02:00 via telegraph.co.uk
  The Telegraph - Those who think that HS2 was about levelling-up are sadly deluded (Axe looms over HS2 as costs set to soar by £8bn, report, September 24
  
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• It's a new dawn for Greater Manchester's buses - this is their story through time

  25-09-2023 02:00 via manchestereveningnews.co.uk
  
  Manchester Evening News - From 'pirate' bus firms to bus 'wars' - it's a tale of twists and turns almost 200 years old
  
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• Installation of automated diversionary barriers at Queensferry Crossing begins

  25-09-2023 02:00 via newcivilengineer.com
  
  New Civil Engineer - Bear Scotland will begin a project to install automated diversionary barriers at the Queensferry Crossing tonight, Monday 25 September, on behalf of Transport Scotland.
  
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• Infrastructure training to be offered at Very Light Rail centre

  25-09-2023 02:00 via railwaygazette.com
  
  Railway Gazette - UK: City of Wolverhampton College and its training partner National Infrastructure Solutions have taken over space at the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisations Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre in Dudley, where they will train people in the construction and maintenance of railway and tramway infrastructure.
  
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• https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/23807011.hs2-bucks-major-update-trees-dying-construction/

  25-09-2023 02:00 via railadvent.co.uk
  
  Rail Advent - https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/23807011.hs2-bucks-major-update-trees-dying-construction/
  
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• HS2's 10-mile Chiltern tunnel 75 complete, firm says

  25-09-2023 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - The company behind the HS2 high speed rail link has revealed that its longest tunnel is now 75 complete.
  
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• 'HS2 was designed to unite the North and the South'

  25-09-2023 02:00 via manchestereveningnews.co.uk
  
  Manchester Evening News - Business leaders representing London and the North are calling for certainty over the future of HS2, fearing another broken promise
  
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• HS2: 'No way would London leg be scrapped' says Andy Burnham

  25-09-2023 02:00 via news.sky.com
  
  Sky News - Sky News understands that the prime minister is set to scrap the northern leg of the High Speed 2 rail line, the section that was due to go between Birmingham and Manchester, because of concerns about the cost.
  
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• HS2 decision signals rail project going off-track

  25-09-2023 02:00 via heraldscotland.com
  
  The Herald - Two of Scotlands leading entrepreneurs have lambasted the UK Government for what they see as its mishandling of HS2
  
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• HS2: 'Crazy' not to review project over soaring costs - Shapps

  25-09-2023 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Grant Shapps cites Ukraine war costs and a spike in inflation as reasons to weigh up the rail project.
  
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• HS2 Bucks: Major update as trees dying during construction

  25-09-2023 02:00 via bucksfreepress.co.uk
  
  Bucks Free Press - HS2 has revealed a major update after concerns that newly planted trees are dying during the construction of the Buckinghamshire section of the high-speed railway line.
  
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• How The Independent revealed Sunaks plan to cut HS2 - and how the government reacted

  25-09-2023 02:00 via independent.co.uk
  
  The Independent - On Wednesday 13 September, The Independent revealed top-level talks were taking place between Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt about whether to scrap parts of the high-speed rail project HS2.
  
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• Historic day for bus travel in Greater Manchester as 'game changing' Bee Network goes live

  25-09-2023 02:00 via manchestereveningnews.co.uk
  
  Manchester Evening News - For the first time in almost 40 years, buses here are under the control of local leaders
  
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• George Osborne rails against scrapping HS2 line. subscription

  25-09-2023 02:00 via thetimes.co.uk
  
  Times Online - Keep high-speed link or passengers will pay more, train bosses tell ministers
  
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• George Osborne and Michael Heseltine: Scrapping HS2 is economic self-harm. subscription

  25-09-2023 02:00 via thetimes.co.uk
  
  Times Online - e both sighed a huge sigh of relief when Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt moved into Downing Street and restored sanity and seriousness to our government.
  
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• English devolution comes of age as Manchester takes on the buses

  25-09-2023 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Andy Burnham hails shift from Thatchers deregulated model back to local public control
  
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• Electric car rules could cost carmakers billions

  25-09-2023 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - New Brexit trade rules could push up the price of electric cars, manufacturers warn.
  
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• Dumfries station accessibility project gets the green light

  25-09-2023 02:00 via networkrailmediacentre.co.uk
  
  Network Rail - Dumfries and Galloway Councils Planning Applications Committee has approved Listed Building Consent for access improvements to Dumfries station.
  
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