Transport Update - May 2019 | Addleshaw Goddard LLP

Explore this month's Transport Update for a snapshot of the major developments affecting the transport industry.

Air Quality

City of London plans UK's first 15mph region

The City of London Corporation's Court of Common Council has voted to make the Square Mile the first area in the UK with a 15 mph speed limit, subject to government approval.

Transport secretary outlines progress on northern green transport

Speaking at the Northern Transport Summit in Manchester, the Transport Secretary has set out how the government has overseen the investment of over £600 million in green transport across the north.

Government awards £25 million to fund zero-emission transport innovations

Projects across the country are set to benefit from £25 million investment to develop ground-breaking zero emission technologies for new vehicles.

Defra orders Coventry City Council to implement a Clean Air Zone

The government has directed Coventry City Council to implement a Class D charging Clean Air Zone (CAZ) to tackle the city’s air pollution whilst rejecting alternative measures.

Airline Insolvency Review: final report

A Department for Transport policy paper sets out the evidence, analysis, conclusions and recommendations from the Airline Insolvency Review.

Future Screening for Aviation and Borders

A Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) competition is seeking proposals for novel and innovative solutions for screening and detection to protect the UK aviation system and wider borders. The competition closes on 1 July 2019.

CAA announces new innovation participants

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has launched an 'Innovation Sandbox', a new virtual space for innovative companies to help them discuss, explore, trial and test emerging concepts.

Regulation (EU) 2019/712 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on safeguarding competition in air transport, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 868/2004

This Regulation aims to provide effective legislation in order 'to maintain conditions conducive to a high level of Union connectivity and to ensure fair competition with third countries' air carriers'.

In force: 30 May 2019

Spurrier, R (On the Application Of) v The Secretary of State for Transport [2019] EWHC 1070 (Admin) (01 May 2019)

The court rejected four claims for judicial review of the Secretary of State for Transport's Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), designating a third runway at Heathrow as the preferred scheme for meeting the need for new airport capacity in southeast England. Whilst the claims involved underlying issues on which the parties, and many members of the public, held strong and sincere views, the hearing had been concerned only with the legality, and not the merits, of the ANPS, and its designation as a national policy statement under the Planning Act 2008 s.5(1) was lawful.

Lords European Select Committee considers Brexit implications for road, rail and maritime connectivity

The European Union Committee of the UK Parliament has published a report called Brexit - road, rail and maritime transport. The report examines the implications of Brexit for UK-EU surface transport, particularly what will be required for road, rail and maritime connectivity under a new UK-EU trading relationship. It also takes into account ‘no deal’ preparations on both sides.

Transport Committee publishes report on bus services in England outside London

A House of Commons Transport Committee report highlights the decline in bus service use in England and urges the Government to set out its ambitions and plans over how it will support local authorities to improve services and increase passenger numbers.

Stamp of approval for dealerships trained to work with electric cars

A new government-backed scheme aims to create a trusted brand and increase the confidence of drivers looking to buy an electric vehicle.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/966)

These Regulations are made to amend the operation of the community infrastructure levy(CIL), a levy on new development of land. They introduce a new provision which allows the mayor of London to spend CIL on repaying monies, including interest, borrowed by the Greater London Authority or Transport for London (GLA) provided that the money borrowed is for funding the Crossrail project in England.

In force: 23 May 2019

Explanatory Memorandum

Rail in the future transport system - an evidence paper

An evidence paper that reviews the socio-economic and technological changes that are likely to provide the context for the rail sector over the next 10 to 20 years. This is one of the evidence papers forming part of the Williams Rail Review.

Rethinking High Speed 2

The Economic Affairs Committee has published a report entitled "Rethinking High Speed 2". The report considers its business case following up on the Committee’s 2015 economic report.It recommends that the northern section of HS2 (Phase 2b) should be integrated with the plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail and funding for this should be ringfenced and brought forward where possible. It also considers that the costs of HS2 do not appear to be under control and the Government should consider the possible cost saving of lowering the maximum speed and/or terminating the service at Old Oak Common rather than Euston.

ORR consultation on updating guidance on access to service facilities

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has issued a consultation on its revised guidance on access to rail service facilities such as stations, light maintenance depots, freight terminals and other sites. The ORR is updating its guidance modules to reflect European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2177 that will come into force on 1 June 2019. Consultation ends: 23 June 2019.

Transport Minister calls for greater diversity in the rail industry

Transport Minister Nusrat Ghani has called on the rail industry to improve the diversity of the sector, and ensure women have access to the fulfilling jobs, pay and progression offered by the industry.

Network Rail seeks traffic management partner for digital railway transformation programme

Network Rail is seeking a traffic management partner to work within its London North Eastern and East Midlands (LNE & EM) route as part of is major digital railway transformation programme on the East Coast Main Line (ECML).

Network Rail's sale of railway arches

A National Audit Office report considers whether Network Rail achieved value for money in the disposal of a major part of its commercial real estate portfolio. It concludes that it sold the property portfolio in pursuit of the stated policy and did so in a way that achieved the primary sale objective of not prejudicing the safe and sustainable management of the railway infrastructure.

Network Rail awards £800m of rail haulage and seasonal services contracts

Network Rail has awarded contracts worth £800m for the haulage and operations of its engineering trains and seasonal treatment services in Control Period 6.

M54 to M6 link road consultation

A Highways England consultation seeks comments on a proposed multi-million pound scheme to provide an improved link between the M54 and M6. Consultation ends: 5 July 2019.

NAO raises concerns over Stonehenge tunnel project

The National Audit Office has said Highways England will need to manage its risks to ensure future value for money for the Amesbury to Berwick Down project, and other investments along the A303/A358 corridor.

The Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 (2019/940)

These Regulations implement changes which have been made to Chapter 4 of Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) which are designed to improve the energy efficiency of ships. UK registered ships of 5,000 gross tonnage and above will need to record and report their fuel consumption data to the UK competent authority, or a recognised organisation. The data will then be reported to the International Maritime Organisation.

In force: 30 June 2019

Explanatory Memorandum

£2 million available to develop horizontal spaceflight in the UK

Science Minister Chris Skidmore has announced that future spaceports can apply for a share of £2 million to support plans for small satellite launch from aircraft and sub-orbital flight from the UK.

Call for evidence: Space Industry Act 2018 - Government response

The UK Government has published a summary of the responses to the call for evidence in relation to the Space Industry Act 2018 provisions on liability, insurance and charging.

Accessibility must be at the heart of new transport tech

The government has said new modes of transport and pioneering technologies should transform travel for older people and those with disabilities.

The Future Development of Transport for Wales

A report from the National Assembly for Wales Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee concludes that Transport for Wales needs to be more active and respond to the views of, customers across the country.