Public Transport news

• A good night’s sleep for Heathrow boss | Brief letters

  25-03-2025 18:46
  Power cut crisis | Orwellian narrative | Birthday wishes | Emetic art | Tax timingThe transport secretary said she’d “struggle to sleep” if she had been running Heathrow, after reports that the airport’s chief executive slept during the early hours of its power cut crisis last week (Report, 24 March). I – and, I suspect, most travellers – would prefer the person in charge of an airport to have had a good night’s sleep before going to work. That also
  
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• Lower Thames Crossing plan for Essex and Kent approved by government

  25-03-2025 17:00
  
  Heidi Alexander gives green light to controversial £9bn tunnel, Britain’s biggest single planned road-building projectBusiness live – latest updatesThe transport secretary has given formal approval to the controversial and long-delayed £9bn Lower Thames Crossing, Britain’s biggest road-building project.Heidi Alexander granted a development consent order on Tuesday morning to the new road tunnel under the Thames joining Essex and Kent, after the decision had been pus
  
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• Why was Heathrow airport slow to resume operations after substation fire?

  25-03-2025 01:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Time spent switching power supply and rebooting systems raises doubts over resilience of Europemp;#146;s largest aviation hub
  
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• Was Heathrow’s response to fire at a substation really the best it could do?

  25-03-2025 01:00 via theguardian.com
  
  The Guardian - Given the airport had uninterrupted power from two other substations, did it have to shut down for long?Transport secretary says shemp;#146;d mp;#145;struggle to sleepmp;#146; after report Heathrow boss went to bed amid crisisThe 10-page risk report within Heathrow airportmp;#146;s latest annual report does not mention North Hyde substation, or even substations in general, but it does describe the companymp;#146;s approach to managing risks.Heathrow rightly has mp;#147;no appetite
  
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• UK’s Motability to crack down on misuse of motoring scheme for disabled people

  25-03-2025 01:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - Chief executive says most car buyers come from households on incomes of less than mp;pound;20,000
  
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• UK drivers warned over new cycle lanes which are 'unprecedented' and 'quite mad'

  25-03-2025 01:00 via birminghammail.co.uk
  
  Birmingham Mail - Work is beginning north of the border in Scotland on the George V Bridge to deliver a safer and more appealing environment for people who walk, wheel and cycle.
  
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• Transport service for those with mobility issues adds two new minibuses to fleet

  25-03-2025 01:00 via bucksfreepress.co.uk
  
  Bucks Free Press - A transport service for people with mobility issues has added two new minibuses to its fleet
  
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• Trains running in Cornwall coast-to-coast project

  25-03-2025 01:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - Trains are now running between Newquay and Par after the completion of the latest phase to provide coast-to-coast rail travel in Cornwall.
  
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• Thousands of jobs ‘could go as part of UK government’s rail shake-up’

  25-03-2025 01:00 via theguardian.com
  
  The Guardian - Reports suggest cuts in Great Britain would include removing mp;#145;duplicationmp;#146; of teams, as well job losses at HS2.Thousands of jobs could go as part of the governmentmp;#146;s planned shake-up of Britainmp;#146;s railway industry, according to a report.Under Labourmp;#146;s plans, a state-owned company, Great British Railways, will run the railway and take every train operator into public ownership as existing contracts expire.
  
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• The European tube: Inside the project to launch a continent-wide rail system by 2040

  25-03-2025 01:00 via euronews.com
  News from Europe - 21st Europe?s Starline network plans to connect 39 destinations in European countries - with lines reaching the UK, Turkey and Ukraine too.
  
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• Singapore and India Partner on Maritime Digitalization and Decarbonization

  25-03-2025 01:00 via marinelink.com
  
  Other News Sources - Singapore and India have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to cooperate on maritime digitalization and decarbonization.The LOI was inked by Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, and R. Lakshmanan, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Portsmp;#133;
  
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• Road maintenance in England - Written statement to Parliament

  25-03-2025 01:00 via gov.uk
  
  Department for Transport - Local highway authorities will receive ?500 million to fix potholes and ?4.8 billion investment for National Highways to keep the strategic road network working.
  
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• Road investment strategy: post-2020

  25-03-2025 01:00 via gov.uk
  
  Department for Transport - Sets out the process developing the next 'Road investment strategy' to continue long-term improvements to our motorways and major roads.
  
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• Road closures start as new station being built

  25-03-2025 01:00 via bbc.com
  
  BBC News - Road users are warned to expect disruption and closures on Rose Hill and Bilston Street until August.
  
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• One year of work to protect Manchester link to Europe's busiest mixed-used rail line

  25-03-2025 01:00 via networkrailmediacentre.co.uk
  
  Network Rail - The year-long closure of the roundabout is part of Network Rail?s almost ?20m investment to replace the aging bridge that crosses over the Manchester branch of the West Coast Main Line, Europe?s busiest mixed-use railway.
  
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• One year of work to protect Manchester link to Europe's busiest mixed-used rail line

  25-03-2025 01:00 via networkrailmediacentre.co.uk
  
  Network Rail - The year-long closure of the roundabout is part of Network Railmp;#39;s almost mp;pound;20m investment to replace the aging bridge that crosses over the Manchester branch of the West Coast Main Line, Europemp;#39;s busiest mixed-use railway.
  
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• Newcomer Gemini Trains launches latest Channel Tunnel bid ? but can political influence turn into access?

  25-03-2025 01:00 via railtech.com
  
  Railtech - Look out, Eurostar. And Virgin. And Evolyn. Gemini Trains, a new open access operator, has applied for permits that, if granted, would allow it to run services along the Channel Tunnel. However, it?s generally agreed that there?s only really room for one other operator. Gemini?s teams boasts many rail heavyweights; but what are the new company?s chances of setting up shop between London and Paris?
  
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• New Train Operator Announces Plans for Channel Tunnel Services

  25-03-2025 01:00 via railway-news.com
  
  Railway-News - A new train operating company, Gemini, has been established to provide competitive fares and frequent high-speed rail services between the UK and continental Europe.
  
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• New managing director appointed for Network Rail's Eastern region

  25-03-2025 01:00 via networkrailmediacentre.co.uk
  
  Network Rail - Ellie Burrows has today officially started her role as managing director for Network Rail's Eastern region.
  
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• New London to Europe train operator announced

  25-03-2025 01:00 via railadvent.co.uk
  
  Rail Advent - A new challenger for the London ? Europe rail route has been announced to offer competitive fares.Gemini will be chaired by Lord Tony Berkeley and will run trains initially between London and Paris / Brussels via the channel tunnel.
  
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• New Channel Tunnel operator launches open access bid

  25-03-2025 01:00 via modernrailways.com
  
  Modern Railways - A new open access operator, Gemini, has applied to operate trains between St Pancras International and Brussels and Paris.
  
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• New Channel Tunnel open access bid launched

  25-03-2025 01:00 via railnews.co.uk
  Railnews - The contest to provide competing services through the Channel Tunnel is warming up. A new contender has been announced, led by a long-standing critic of HS2.
  
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• New Channel Tunnel challenger announced

  25-03-2025 01:00 via globalrailwayreview.com
  
  Other News Sources - A new train operating company, named Gemini, is being established to offer competitive fares and high-quality, frequent train services between the UK and continental Europe. Chaired by industry veteran Lord Tony Berkeley, Gemini services will run initially between London and Paris/Brussels ? with further exciting destinations currently being developed.
  
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• Lower Thames Crossing development consent decision announced

  25-03-2025 01:00 via gov.uk
  
  Department for Transport - The Lower Thames Crossing application has today been granted development consent by the Secretary of State for Transport.
  
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• Lower Thames Crossing approved by government

  25-03-2025 01:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  BBC News - The largest road tunnel in the UK will be built after a ?9bn plan was approved by the government.
  The Lower Thames Crossing would link Tilbury, Essex, and Gravesend in Kent by two tunnels running underneath the River Thames.
  National Highways hoped the road would reduce traffic at the Dartford Crossing by 20 and open by 2032.
  
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• Heathrow fire ‘not believed suspicious’ but under Met counter-terror probe

  25-03-2025 01:00 via cityam.com
  
  City AM - The cause of the fire which shut down Heathrow Airport is mp;#147;not believed to be suspiciousmp;#148; but is under investigation by the Met Police counter-terrorism squad, a minister has said. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander updated MPs on the mp;#147;unprecedentedmp;#148; power outage which shut Britainmp;#146;s busiest airport over the weekend
  
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• Heathrow closure deeply concerning, says PM

  25-03-2025 01:00 via bbc.com
  
  BBC News - Sir Keir Starmer says he is mp;#39;deeply concernedmp;#39; about the closure of Heathrow Airport as a result of a power cut caused by a fire on Friday.
  
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• Heathrow boss who 'went to bed' amid power station fire crisis fails to get backing of Keir Starmer

  25-03-2025 01:00 via standard.co.uk
  
  London Evening Standard - Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye delegated the formal decision to close the airport to his deputy in the early hours of Friday, according to reports
  
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• Grand Central Station to install Irish language signage

  25-03-2025 01:00 via bbc.com
  
  BBC News - Campaigners had criticised the lack of Irish language signs when the station opened in September.
  
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• Futuristic autonomous shuttles operating for West Midlands passengers - all you need to know

  25-03-2025 01:00 via birminghammail.co.uk
  
  Birmingham Mail - The cube-like driverless shuttles are now ferrying passengers around key transport hubs
  
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• DWP urged to 'soften' PIP and Universal Credit cuts by scrapping Triple Lock instead

  25-03-2025 01:00 via birminghammail.co.uk
  
  Birmingham Mail - ... Infrastructure projects such as Lower Thames Crossing, the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine, and A46 Newark bypass project are some low return on investment examples, which would result in easy savings wins for the Chancellor, the SMF said. By the Department for Transport?s own calculations, all these projects provide low value for money (see notes). Cancelling these projects would provide at least ?3.8 billion in savings.
  
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• DWP urged to 'soften' PIP and Universal Credit cuts by scrapping Triple Lock instead

  25-03-2025 01:00 via birminghammail.co.uk
  
  Birmingham Mail - ... Infrastructure projects such as Lower Thames Crossing, the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine, and A46 Newark bypass project are some low return on investment examples, which would result in easy savings wins for the Chancellor, the SMF said. By the Department for Transportmp;#39;s own calculations, all these projects provide low value for money (see notes). Cancelling these projects would provide at least mp;pound;3.8 billion in savings.
  
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• DfT in discussions over feasibility of direct rail service to Switzerland

  25-03-2025 01:00 via railmagazine.com
  
  Rail Magazine - The Department for Transport is examining the merits of a direct rail connection between the UK and Switzerland.
  
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• DB Cargo UK launches spot-hire support for rail freight

  25-03-2025 01:00 via modernrailways.com
  
  Modern Railways - DB Cargo UK is launching what it claims to be the first official ?spot hire? of Type 5 locomotives by one of the major Freight Operating Companies.
  
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• Cross-border Western Gateway Partnership in doubt after UK Government pulls funding

  25-03-2025 01:00 via business-live.co.uk
  
  Birmingham Post - The Western Gateway Partnership will cease to operate in its current form in June
  
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• Course charted for carbon free shipping by 2050

  25-03-2025 01:00 via gov.uk
  
  Department for Transport - Our maritime decarbonisation strategy will help us build a cleaner, more resilient maritime nation.
  
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• ?Consistent doesn?t mean boring?: Great Western Railway on the ?power? of long-term brand building

  25-03-2025 01:00 via marketingweek.com
  Other News Sources - Great Western Railway has been using Enid Blyton?s Famous Five to drive awareness and attract more consumers for the past nine years, with marketing boss Amanda Burns saying she is ?lucky? the wider business understands the importance of long-term investment.
  
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• Collaboration: The secret to success

  25-03-2025 01:00 via civilserviceworld.com
  
  Other News Sources - Successful public infrastructure projects rely on strong collaboration. Mike Reade of Balfour Beatty explores how structured frameworks, early contractor involvement and cross-sector partnerships drive efficiency, innovation, and long-term value for government and communities
  
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• Chinese electric carmaker BYD sales beat Tesla

  25-03-2025 01:00 via bbc.com
  
  BBC News - The Shenzhen-based firm says revenue for last year came in at $107bn, boosted by sales of its hybrid vehicles.
  
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• British Airways tries to regain its halo with a new first-class seat

  25-03-2025 01:00 via ft.com
  Financial Times - The UK flag carrier has called again on the London design studio that created a revolutionary product
  
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• Bidders line up to break Eurostar monopoly on Channel Tunnel routes subscription

  25-03-2025 01:00 via thetimes.com
  
  Times Online - Gemini Trains joins Virgin and Evolyn with ambitions to extend high-speed rail services to Germany and Switzerland
  
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• 'We warned of power issues before Heathrow outage'

  25-03-2025 01:00 via bbc.com
  
  BBC News - Business groups and a council say there were energy capacity problems before a fire near Heathrow.
  
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• 'Consistent doesn't mean boring': Great Western Railway on the 'power' of long-term brand building

  25-03-2025 01:00 via marketingweek.com
  Other News Sources - Great Western Railway has been using Enid Blytonmp;#39;s Famous Five to drive awareness and attract more consumers for the past nine years, with marketing boss Amanda Burns saying she is mp;#39;luckymp;#39; the wider business understands the importance of long-term investment.
  
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• Airlines threaten Heathrow with legal action

  25-03-2025 01:00 via news.sky.com
  
  Sky News - A body representing more than 90 airlines using Heathrow Airport has threatened to take legal action if a settlement over the costs they incurred from Fridaymp;#39;s day-long closure is not reached.
  
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• Airlines could take legal action over Heathrow shutdown

  25-03-2025 00:14
  
  Body representing over 90 firms says it could take airport to court over costs of closure if issue not ‘amicably settled’A body representing more than 90 airlines using Heathrow airport said there might be a case for legal action if a settlement over the costs incurred from Friday’s closure after a fire is not reached.Europe’s largest airport was closed in the early hours of Friday morning after the blaze at a major electricity substation hit electricity supplies. Continu
  
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