Public Transport news

• Negative environmental impact of HS2 could worsen with scaling back

  04-10-2023 20:52
  
  Despite efforts to mitigate biodiversity loss, planning has destroyed parts of ancient woodlands and damage will continue despite reprieveThe scrapping of HS2 from Birmingham to Manchester may save 32 ancient woodlands from destruction and reprieve miles of waterways and hedgerows – but the railway’s negative environmental impact may actually intensify with Rishi Sunak’s decision.The carbon emissions reduction case for HS2 was never favourable – it will be a net contribut
  
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• HS2: Rishi Sunak’s £36bn in transport funding – is it new or just repackaged?

  04-10-2023 20:33
  
  Labour says ‘almost all’ rail and road projects have been announced already and are not new investmentsNils Pratley: global investors are laughing at HS2 shamblesRishi Sunak announces scaling back of HS2UK politics live – latest updatesRishi Sunak cancelled the construction of the HS2 to Manchester with a promise to redirect funding for the high-speed rail line to other road, rail and transport projects across the north of England and the rest of the country.The prime minister
  
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• ‘We feel forgotten’: anger in Crewe at scaling back of HS2

  04-10-2023 20:01
  
  Hopes dashed as region becomes one of the biggest losers in the cancellation of northern leg of rail projectThe mood inside the headquarters of Cheshire East council was dark. Sam Corcoran, the normally amiable leader, did not want to watch Rishi Sunak’s speech. “What’s the point?” grumbled the Labour councillor. “He’s already trailed what he’s going to say. It’s a disgrace.”He was cajoled into watching a bit regardless, eating his packed lun
  
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• Industry backlash at Sunak’s ‘damaging’ U-turn on northern leg of HS2

  04-10-2023 19:20
  
  Businesses unimpressed by announcement of alternative ‘Network North’UK politics live – latest updatesBusiness live – latest updatesRishi Sunak has been accused of the “biggest and most damaging U-turn in the history of UK infrastructure” by scrapping the northern leg of HS2, with a promise to divert £36bn into transport in the Midlands and north.Critics said the prime minister’s “Network North” plan included schemes already under way o
  
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• Sunak scraps Manchester HS2 leg, plans to stop children today ever legally smoking and says A-levels to be replaced – UK politics live

  04-10-2023 18:45
  
  Prime minister says HS2 move will release £36bn, that he will raise smoking age by one year, every year and announces five-subject qualificationShare your views on the scrapping of HS2’s Manchester legAndy Burnham, the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, has been giving interviews about HS2 this morning. He told BBC Breakfast that cancelling the link to Manchester would show that the north of England did not get the same priority as the south. He said:It just proves there’s sti
  
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• Sunak scraps Manchester HS2 leg, plans to stop children today ever legally smoking and says A-levels to be replaced – as it happened

  04-10-2023 18:45
  
  Prime minister says HS2 move will release £36bn, that he will raise smoking age by one year, every year and announces five-subject qualificationShare your views on the scrapping of HS2’s Manchester legAndy Burnham, the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, has been giving interviews about HS2 this morning. He told BBC Breakfast that cancelling the link to Manchester would show that the north of England did not get the same priority as the south. He said:It just proves there’s sti
  
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• HS2 flip-flop will damage UK’s reputation with international investors | Nils Pratley

  04-10-2023 17:29
  
  Verdict from overseas will probably range from hilarity to derision as second northern leg is scrappedUK politics live – latest updatesHow will the great HS2 flip-flop look from abroad? Consider the history of this project. It was planned for a full decade and, despite projected costs rising with every update, the Conservative party leadership and parliament backed it all the way. Sceptics (including this column, often) who thought an east-west link in the north offered more bang for fewer
  
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• Tory mayor Andy Street decides to stay in post despite Sunak scrapping HS2 leg

  04-10-2023 16:59
  
  West Midlands mayor says he remains committed to high-speed rail link to Manchester after suggestion he might quit over moveUK politics live – latest updatesThe Conservative mayor for the West Midlands has decided not to quit over HS2, after the prime minister confirmed he was scrapping the high-speed rail line from Birmingham to Manchester.Andy Street had lobbied heavily to keep the northern leg of the project, and a spokesperson said on Wednesday morning he might quit if his campaign was
  
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• Tory mayor Andy Street decides not to quit despite Sunak scrapping HS2 leg

  04-10-2023 16:59
  
  West Midlands mayor says he remains committed to high-speed rail link to Manchester after suggestion he might leave party over moveGlobal investors are laughing at the HS2 shamblesRishi Sunak announces scaling back of HS2UK politics live – latest updatesThe Conservative mayor for the West Midlands has decided not to quit the party over HS2, after the prime minister confirmed he was scrapping the high-speed rail line from Birmingham to Manchester.Andy Street had lobbied heavily to keep the
  
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• HS2 – model of a shrinking railway. The Stephen Collins cartoon

  04-10-2023 16:14
  
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• Sunak scraps HS2 Manchester leg and confirms plan to raise legal smoking age – video

  04-10-2023 15:33
  
  Construction of the HS2 leg between Birmingham and Manchester wiil no longer go ahead, the prime minister told the Conservative party conference on Wednesday. Sunak said 'every single penny' of the £36bn allocated for the high-speed rail branch would be invested in other transport projects.The prime minister also announced plans to increase the legal smoking age by one year every year and to introduce a new qualification in school – the 'advanced British standard' – that would
  
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• Tell us: will you be affected by the scrapping of the HS2 leg to Manchester?

  04-10-2023 13:08
  
  The HS2 route route from Birmingham to Manchester is to be axed. How will you be affected?Rishi Sunak is to scrap the HS2 line between Birmingham and Manchester. On Wednesday morning Grant Shapps, the defence secretary, confirmed the line from Birmingham to Manchester would be upgraded, but not enough to count as high speed.We would like to hear from people who will be affected by the scrapping of this section of the line. What impact will it have on you? Had you already made decisions with the
  
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• Share your views on the scrapping of the HS2 line from Birmingham to Manchester

  04-10-2023 13:08
  
  The HS2 route route from Birmingham to Manchester is to be axed. How will you be affected?Rishi Sunak is to scrap the HS2 line between Birmingham and Manchester. On Wednesday morning Grant Shapps, the defence secretary, confirmed the line from Birmingham to Manchester would be upgraded, but not enough to count as high speed.We would like to hear your thoughts on the U-turn. Will you be affected by the scrapping of this section of the line? Continue reading...
  
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• Tory mayor Andy Street ‘considering quitting’ over Rishi Sunak HS2 U-turn

  04-10-2023 10:25
  
  West Midlands mayor was hoping for last-minute reprieve for northern leg of high-speed line, say sourcesUK politics live – latest updatesThe Conservative mayor for the West Midlands is considering quitting over Rishi Sunak’s decision to cancel the high-speed train line between Birmingham and Manchester, the Guardian has learned.Andy Street has met the prime minister on multiple occasions over the last few days as he pushed for a last-minute reprieve for the northern leg of HS2, accor
  
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• Rail passengers in England face another day without trains on Wednesday

  04-10-2023 06:00
  
  Members of Aslef union strike for second time in four days meaning no trains will run on most English routesRail passengers in England face another day without trains on Wednesday as a strike by train drivers halts most services.Members of the Aslef union are on strike for the second time in four days, in a 24-hour walkout timed to coincide with the final day of the Conservative party conference in Manchester. Continue reading...
  
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• HS2: how the costly rail project ran out of track

  04-10-2023 04:00
  
  It started out with high hopes and a higher budget. Helen Pidd explains why the government has lost faith in the ambitious – and controversial – rail projectIt’s been more than a decade in the making – and was supposed to help connect English cities like never before. Now, delayed, over budget and more controversial than ever, HS2 ambitions have hit the buffers.Rumours have been swirling for weeks that the Manchester to Birmingham leg would be scrapped – and that th
  
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• With an impassioned intervention on HS2, Mayor Andy Street gives PM a dilemma

  04-10-2023 02:00 via expressandstar.com
  
  Wolverhampton Express and Star - The cost of HS2 has spiralled out of control because the Government has managed it as a 'statist project', and failed to engage properly with the private sector.
  
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• Why are fuel prices going up? RAC answers as new figures published

  04-10-2023 02:00 via theargus.co.uk
  
  Other News Sources - Drivers were hit by an 8p per litre surge in the price of diesel in September, new figures show.
  
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• Wales 'owed billions' if HS2 Manchester leg is scrapped

  04-10-2023 02:00 via dailypost.co.uk
  
  Daily Post (North Wales) - Plaid Cymru claim the UK Government's 'sham excuse' that the high speed rail-link benefitted Wales with a connection at Crewe would 'collapse'
  
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• UK rail passengers face disruption as drivers go on strike

  04-10-2023 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Walkout at 16 train operators on Wednesday expected to close almost all of network
  
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• UK HS2: northern exposure should not give Sunak cold feet

  04-10-2023 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Cancelling Manchester leg would reduce connectivity gains needed to justify the project
  
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• Tube strikes: London Underground walkouts cancelled

  04-10-2023 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - The London Underground walkouts scheduled for 4 and 6 October will no longer go ahead.
  
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• Train strikes: What days in October will rail travel be disrupted?

  04-10-2023 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Train drivers walk out again on Wednesday, but action by London Underground staff has been suspended.
  
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• Tory party conference live: West Midlands mayor considers quitting over HS2 decision. subscription

  04-10-2023 02:00 via thetimes.co.uk
  
  Times Online - Andy Street accused Rishi Sunak of cancelling the future
  
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• Therabidly anti-HS2 aide who has Rishi Sunak's ear

  04-10-2023 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Former journalist Andrew Gilligan has long railed against the HS2 project and its managers
  
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• The rabidly anti-HS2 aide who has Rishi Sunaks ear

  04-10-2023 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Former journalist Andrew Gilligan has long railed against the HS2 project and its managers
  
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• Stand-off between Stagecoach and council over withdrawal of bus service to Yorkshire village that was under 'sustained attack' by yobs

  04-10-2023 02:00 via yorkshirepost.co.uk
  Yorkshire Post - South Yorkshires mayor has called on Stagecoach to reinstate its evening service through Thurnscoebut the bus company says it has never faced such a prolonged campaign of anti-social behaviour.
  
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• Scandinavian airline SAS wipes out shareholders as part of rescue deal

  04-10-2023 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Air France-KLM and private equity group Castlelake become investors alongside Danish government
  
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• Rishi Sunak runs the gauntlet with plan to axe northern leg of HS2

  04-10-2023 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - PM set to announce the scaling back of the flagship UK infrastructure project in Tory conference speech
  
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• Reprieve for West Midlands bus station community hubs

  04-10-2023 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Three community hubs supporting homeless and lonely people will remain open thanks to new funding.
  
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• Raft of new 20mph roads approved in Solihull as entire estate has limit slashed

  04-10-2023 02:00 via birminghammail.co.uk
  
  Birmingham Mail - A whole estate has effectively been turned into a 20mph zone after the council approved reducing the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph
  
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• Private firms including Arup and Siemens leading Andy Streets coalition to save HS2, mayor says

  04-10-2023 02:00 via building.co.uk
  
  Other News Sources - Mace and Arcadis also backing proposal as West Midlands leader floats idea of phase 2 to Manchester being bankrolled by overseas wealth funds
  
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• Prime Minister Rishi Sunak prepares to scrap HS2's northern leg

  04-10-2023 02:00 via business-live.co.uk
  
  Birmingham Post - Several notable organisationsincluding Manchester Airports Group (MAG), the University of Manchester and Co-operatives UKsigned a joint letter warning the Prime Minister he was risking the 'prosperity' of the North
  
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• PM redirects HS2 funding to revolutionise transport across the North and Midlands

  04-10-2023 02:00 via gov.uk
  
  Government - A revolution in the countrys transport infrastructure will see billions of pounds redirected from spiralling HS2 costs to build the daily connections that people depend onunlocking potential, driving growth and transforming communities.
  
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• New coffee shop and charging points for Piccadilly platforms 13 & 14

  04-10-2023 02:00 via networkrailmediacentre.co.uk
  
  Network Rail - Passengers using platforms 13 and 14 at Manchester Piccadilly station will soon benefit from a revamp of the waiting area.
  
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• LIVE HS2 updates as Rishi Sunak to announce Birmingham to Manchester leg will be SCRAPPED

  04-10-2023 02:00 via manchestereveningnews.co.uk
  Manchester Evening News - Rishi Sunak will be speaking in Manchester today
  
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• Jobs at risk as new train orders hit the buffers. subscription

  04-10-2023 02:00 via thetimes.co.uk
  
  Times Online - Britains four rolling stock companies are set to be left with little or no work by the end of next year because of the governments failure to order any new main line trains for almost four years.
  
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• Jeremy Hunt pushed for HS2 rail line to end in central London

  04-10-2023 02:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - UK chancellor argued successfully for a Euston terminus as Rishi Sunak prepares to axe the routes northern leg
  
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• HS2 won't be high speed between Manchester and Birmingham

  04-10-2023 02:00 via news.sky.com
  
  Sky News - HS2 will start at Euston rather than Old Oak Common - but between Birmingham and Manchester it will not be high speed, Sky News understands.
  
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• HS2: What is the route and why is the Manchester link in doubt?

  04-10-2023 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - The high-speed railway between London, the Midlands and North of England could be scaled back.
  
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• HS2 West Midlands-Manchester line to be scrapped

  04-10-2023 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Rishi Sunak is expected to set out alternative projects in his Conservative Party conference speech on Wednesday.
  
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• HS2: Wales must get cash if scheme scaled back, says Mark Drakeford

  04-10-2023 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - The first minister says Wales is entitled to a windfall if the Manchester to Birmingham leg goes.
  
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• HS2 to Manchester set to be scrapped today

  04-10-2023 02:00 via railnews.co.uk
  Railnews -It is being reported that the Prime Minister will announce the scrapping of HS2 Phases 2A and 2B from Birmingham to Crewe and Manchester today, and that Rishi Sunak will announce a series of alternative transport projects in England and Wales when he addresses the Conservative Party conference in Manchester on its final day.
  
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• HS2 Timeline of a mistreated megaproject

  04-10-2023 02:00 via newcivilengineer.com
  
  New Civil Engineer - High Speed 2 (HS2) was supposed to be a game changer for the UKs transport network, truly levelling up neglected parts of the nation and adding capacity to its already oversubscribed railwaysafter years of revoked promises, it now stands as a sorry symbol for what has happened to the countrys ambition.
  
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• HS2 scaled back as Rishi Sunak makes new transport pledges

  04-10-2023 02:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - The prime minister has pledged billions for transport projects across the country after scrapping the northern leg of the HS2 high speed rail link.
  
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• HS2: PM confirms northern Birmingham-Manchester leg will be scrapped - to instead offer 'Network North' to voters

  04-10-2023 02:00 via news.sky.com
  
  Sky News - Rishi Sunak has confirmed the long-rumoured decision to scrap the northern leg of HS2.
  
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• Free train travel for pensioners: Government asked to rethink after petition

  04-10-2023 02:00 via derbytelegraph.co.uk
  
  Derby Telegraph - The Government has been asked to rethink its stance on free train travel for pensioners after a petition reached almost 22,000 signatures. The petition to include train travel as part of concessionary benefits for those of State Pension age was rejected in August, reported the Daily Record.
  
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• Delayed CalMac ferries will carry 150 fewer passengers than expected. subscription

  04-10-2023 02:00 via thetimes.co.uk
  
  Times Online - Safety measures have cut the capacity of the over-budget vessels, the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa
  
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• Councillors call for former 30mph roads to be re-introduced in Cardiff amid 20mph backlash

  04-10-2023 02:00 via walesonline.co.uk
  Wales Online - A motion has been tabled but no date has yet been given for a debate
  
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• Cost of rail strikes mounts to £716m as taxpayers forced to support struggling industry

  04-10-2023 02:00 via cityam.com
  
  City AM - Industrial action has cost the rail industry £716m since the feud between unions and operators began, new figures have revealed.
  
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