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

Saturday, 07 March 2020

BBC News

• Coronavirus: Drive-through testing centre launched in WalesPatients will be tested without leaving their cars in a bid to curb the spread of the virus in Wales.
• Eastern Airways takes over three Flybe routesThe airline will run services from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Southampton, Manchester and Newcastle.
• Flybe's collapse could be 'first of many' airlinesThe airline industry is under huge financial pressure as passenger numbers drop during the coronavirus.

Financial Times

• House report blames Boeing and FAA for 737 Max failuresCongressional inquiry finds faulty design and lax oversight contributed to fatal crashes
• UK aerospace industry warns of risk from leaving EU agencyTrade body highlights threat to jobs and investment of withdrawal from aviation safety regime
• Norwegian Air shares plunge to 15-year lowAnalysts warn airline will have to raise fresh capital, prompting 27% fall in stock
• UK rules out flight tax relief, despite Flybe collapseGovernment fears falling foul of EU state aid rules

The Guardian

• Grounded: why Heathrow's third runway may never happenLast week the Court of Appeal ruled the decision to allow the Heathrow expansion was unlawful because it did not take climate commitments into account. Is this the end of the third runway? And: how our quest for a good night’s sleep is leading to a landfill crisisOver the last 20 years, climate campaigners opposing aviation expansion have seen the proposed third runway at Heathrow killed off, rise again on the back of reneged promises and government U-turns, and be given political propulsion when MPs voted in 2018 for it to go ahead.But last week, the appeal court declared the government’s pla...
• Boeing's 'culture of concealment' led to fatal 737 Max crashes, report findsPreliminary findings conclude Boeing ‘jeopardized the safety of the flying public’ in its attempts to get Max approved by regulatorsA “culture of concealmentâ€�, cost cutting and “grossly insufficientâ€� oversight led to two fatal crashes of Boeing 737 Max aircraft that claimed 346 lives, a congressional report has concluded.The preliminary findings, issued by Democrats on the House transportation committee, conclude that Boeing “jeopardized the safety of the flying publicâ€� in its attempts to get the Max approved by regulators. Continue reading...
• Coronavirus: thousands stranded on Grand Princess cruise ship after 21 cases confirmedCrew and passengers from more than 50 countries stuck on ship moored off San Francisco, as global infections pass 100,000 markCoronavirus – live updates Nearly half of the 46 people tested for coronavirus onboard the Grand Princess cruise ship moored off San Francisco have returned a positive result, vice president Mike Pence has said, and the fate of its more than 3,500 passengers and crew from more than 50 countries remains unclear.Pence said 21 positive results had been recorded – 19 crew members and two passengers – and that “those that will need to be quarantined will be quarantined. Thos...

Times Online

• Jaguar to halt factory after China sales slump [Subscription]Sales of Range Rovers, Land Rovers and Jaguars in China have collapsed by 85 per cent, Jaguar Land Rover has reported.
• Fears grow for future of troubled Norwegian [Subscription]Investors have started betting that Norwegian could be the next casualty of the collapse in airline bookings amid fears over the spread of covid-19
• Airbus decides it’s grounded in Britain [Subscription]Aircraft maker wants concessions in case of hard Brexit but plans to keep production going
• Electric car prices cut by up to £3,500 [Subscription]The price of new electric cars is being cut by as much as £3,500 as increasing demand intensifies competition among manufacturers.

The Mirror

• Axed Flybe staff face losing pensions as collapsed airline is registered in tax havenFlybe’s employee pension scheme is not protected by rescue body the Pension Protection Fund because the company is registered in the Isle of Man tax haven
• Coronavirus: 21 passengers test positive on quarantined cruise ship carrying 142 BritsThere are 142 Brits aboard stranded cruise liner the Grand Princess which US Vice President Mike Pence has announced has 21 confirmed cases of Covid-19

This is Money

• Flybe fallout: As another British carrier collapses, what next for the beleaguered airline industry?The carrier only just managed to avoid its life support machine being switched off in January. But the coronavirus outbreak was just too much for the airline.
• Nissan backs Brexit Britain by ploughing £400m into Sunderland plantThe Japanese car maker yesterday unveiled a £52m production press line - the investment centre-piece - which has taken 18 months to install and is due to start producing new Qashqai SUV in 2012.

Birmingham Mail

• The impact of tram works on Broad Street - how it looks now There's an old saying of 'no pain, no gain', but the ongoing transformation of Broad Street by the Midland Metro Alliance is something else as our mudbath pictures show

Birmingham Post

• Nissan unveils £52m production line - but warns of continuing Brexit uncertaintyThe company has invested £400m as it gears up for the production of the new Quashqai at its Sunderland plant
• Third airline steps in to replace Flybe routes at Birmingham AirportAurigny is planning to operate a Birmingham to Guernsey service commencing next week following the collapse of Flybe

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Woman who lost her daughter and sister on notorious North Wales road to present safety petitionSioned Wyn Williams will present the petition signed by thousands calling for improvements on the A487

Liverpool Echo

• Fears for jobs after Vauxhall Ellesmere Port plant to move to a four day weekWorkers are concerned that more than a hundred jobs could be lost

London Evening Standard

• Tube could be hit by joint strike as 10,000 staff begin ballot over pay rowThe threat of a Tube strike escalated today as 10,000 staff began a ballot in a dispute over pay.
• Plans revealed for fast ferry that would take people across ThamesPlans for a
• Eurostar's coronavirus guidelines for those travelling to France from LondonEurostar says it is

Cambridge News

• A14 upgrade: The full list of weekend closures between now and EasterLarger sections will have to be closed while teams install the central concrete barrier and lay the surfacing

Other Regional Press

• New Teesside Airport flight bookings unveiled following collapse of Flybe - including to AlicanteEastern Airways acted quickly to allow passengers to once again book flights from Teesside Airport
• Is this Kent's worst road for potholes?Motorists say they are being driven "nutty" by a road looking like an "off-road track" just weeks after the council carried out repairs.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Hermes promises million pound coronavirus fund to support self employed couriersHermes has announced it is to make a £1 million pound fund available for its self- employed couriers, to help support them if they need to self-isolate as a result of the coronavirus. It follows concerns about their welfare as self-employed people are not eligible for sick pay. Hermes will also support them in finding someone to deliver on their behalf if they do not have a substitute and guarantee that their rounds will be kept open for them for when they return. This initiative is supported by the GMB Union.  Martijn De Lange, CEO at Hermes UK, said: “This is an extraordinar...
• £10m cycling investment helps people swap four wheels for twoAs a part of Highways England’s Cycle, Safety and Integration Designated Funds programme, 19 cycling schemes have been constructed in the region since 2015 while a further 11 are expected to be completed by the end of March 2020. To motivate people to swap four wheels for two, Highways England has worked to provide smoother cycle paths, safer crossings and better signage to connect the cycle network that criss-crosses the region, linking villages, towns and cities. Highways England Regional Director, Martin Fellows, said:
• Construction work ready to begin at HS2’s ‘Interchange’ station site near Birmingham AirportThe site, covering an area of 150 hectares, is located within a triangle of land formed by the M42, A45 and A452. Current work includes construction of modular bridges over the M42 and A446, and remodelling of the road network in the area to facilitate access to the new station, as well as easing access to and from Birmingham Business Park. Around 200 people, including graduates and apprentices, are working on the site, from HS2’s Early Works contractor LM, a joint venture between Laing O’Rourke and Murphy. This is set to increase to 250 people over the coming months as the constr...
• TfL launches campaign to support women into cyclingTransport for London (TfL) is marking International Women’s Day by launching a campaign to encourage more women to take up cycling. The Cycle Your City campaign will run throughout 2020 with a series of workshops and events and a programme of activity will be announced in May. Women are underrepresented among Londoners who cycle. Although three quarters of women in London know how to ride a bike, only 13 per cent currently cycle*. Through the Cycle Your City campaign, TfL will work with a diverse group of women and organisations to build an in-depth picture of women’s experiences ...
• Go Ultra Low app launches to answer your questions about electric vehiclesOwners of Amazon Alexa and Google Play devices can now get the answers to over 50 commonly-asked questions about electric vehicles (EVs), thanks to the new Electric Vehicles Voice App. In partnership with media agency Wavemaker, the Go Ultra Low campaign has launched an app to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about EVs. From charging and range, to benefits, costs and environmental benefits, the app aims to promote and inform people about a wide range of information on EVs. Voiced by Go Ultra Low ambassador, broadcaster, writer and adventurer Ben Fogle, the app can be accessed...

New Civil Engineer

• High Speed North review ‘must not delay project progress’Transport for the North Northern Powerhouse Rail director Tim Wood has welcomed the government’s plans for a High Speed North integrated plan, but warned that the review “must not delay” progress on projects such as HS2.
• Funding uncertainty’ is biggest challenge for London transportThe biggest challenge for London transport is the “uncertainty of funding”, according to London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Work has begun on HS2's Interchange station site near Birmingham Airport The site is situated within a triangle of land between the M42, A45 and A452. Current work includes construction of linked bridges over the M42 and A446, and reshaping of the road network in the area to facilitate access to the new station, as well as easing access to and from Birmingham Business...
• Britain's first all female operated train service runs today In light of International Women’s Day, today (March 6th) Network Rail and Southeastern join forces to launch the first ever passenger service run entirely by women. A rush hour Southeastern service will leave London for Kent staffed by a female driver and conductor, while female Network...

EIN News Subscription

• Coronavirus: Airlines forced to operate ‘almost empty’ flights to keep airport slots amid global outbreak The Independent … away. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has written to Airport Co-ordination … co-ordinator and the European Commission need to now … it’ rule on airport slots – an airline’s right to take … circumstances to force airlines to fly empty aircraft, wasting money and …