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Creating the transport decarbonisation plan
Document stating the current challenges and steps to be taken when developing the transport decarbonisation plan.
Coach and bus industry reacts as COVID-19 crisis deepens
After a week of daily updates from the Prime Minister, operators are now putting measures in place to help deal with the drop in work and the mass reduction in passenger levels
Friday, 27 March 2020
Government
- Creating the transport decarbonisation planDocument stating the current challenges and steps to be taken when developing the transport decarbonisation plan.
- Message from Simon French, Chief Inspector of Rail AccidentsHow is RAIB responding to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis? These are difficult times for everyone, including those in the railway industry. Although RAIB offices have effectively closed, our teams continue to work from home and, when essential, on railway premises
BBC News
- Coronavirus: Birmingham Airport could be used as mortuaryBirmingham Airport says it is co-operating with authorities to support bereavement services.
- Coronavirus: Cardiff sees quiet streets but busy parksWith pubs, restaurants and cafes closed, streets were quiet but there were crowds in parks.
- The uncertain future for China's electric car makersChina is the biggest market for electric vehicles, but the coronavirus is the latest blow to shake the industry.
The Guardian
- Ryanair accused of ripping off passengers over rebooked flightsDublin-based airline charging up to £80 more for replacement flights , says Which?Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageRyanair has been accused of ripping off passengers after it was found to be charging £80 more to those rebooking cancelled flights.What do the restrictions involve? Continue reading...
Times Online
- Airports shut down as flights are grounded [subscription]An increasing number of airports will be forced to shut down over the coming weeks as European airlines cease operations because of the coronavirus crisis.
- Airports refusing refunds despite global lockdown [subscription]Airlines have been accused of cheating passengers by refusing to provide refunds for future flights despite a lockdown imposed in most countries.
City AM
- Coronavirus: Airports hit back at Rishi Sunak over aviation rescue u-turnThe UK’s airports have hit back at chancellor Rishi Sunak’s choice to “row back on [his] vital decision to stand by the aviation sector”, saying that the chancellor seems to have “little recognition” of the fact that airports have different operating models to airlines.
Mail Online
- Police take to streets to stop drivers during lockdown and threaten £960 finesBoris Johnson has stressed that unless you are a key worker or helping someone vulnerable, the only reasons to go outside are to go shopping for essentials or exercise.
Birmingham Mail
- Air pollution in Birmingham has dropped by a fifth amid coronavirus lockdownThere is evidence that high levels of NO2 can inflame the airways in our lungs and, over a long period of time, affect how well our lungs work
Bradford Telegraph & Argus
- Bradford is second worst place in country for drivers with points on licence – but Halifax is worse BRADFORD motorists are second worst in the country when it comes to points on their licence, a new study has revealed.
Wolverhampton Express and Star
- HS2 work to press on during coronavirus lockdownHS2 is pressing ahead with work on some West Midlands sites during the coronavirus crisis, bosses have confirmed.
Leeds Live
- Leeds Clean Air Charging Zone delayed again due to virus pandemicThe wide-reaching measures were due to take effect from January, but have already been beset by delays
Wirral Globe
- Back-dated pay awards for Merseyrail guards during Coronavirus crisisMERSEYRAIL guards are to receive back-dated pay awards, withheld since the dispute over their roles on the region's new trains began three years ago, to support them during the coronavirus pandemic.
Other Regional Press
- National Rail announce reopening date for line between Romsey and SalisburyRAIL chiefs have revealed the Romsey to Salisbury line is due reopen three days ahead of schedule following a landslide.
- Train operator cuts direct link between London and Midlands as pandemic bitesLondon Northwestern tweaks emergency timetable following passenger feedback
British Trams Online
- Blackpool Tramway to close as West Midlands Metro announces reduced servicesThe Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramway is to temporarily close from Sunday 29th March as further service restrictions are introduced in the UK as a result of the continuing Coronavirus pandemic. It has also been confirmed that the West Midlands Metro will become the last of the UK’s tram systems to operate a reduced service with a temporary timetable now due to run from Monday 30th March.
- In Pictures: New advert liveries in ManchesterIn what probably seemed a good idea when they decided to take out advertising contracts two further trams in Manchester have recently received new vinyl wraps. We’ve already mentioned in the Trafford Park line opening article that 3073 is now advertising intu Trafford Centre with the other new advert on 3091 for Go North Wales.
- Trams to Newhaven construction work to be suspendedWork on constructing the Edinburgh Trams extension to Newhaven is to be suspended this week as part of the continued restrictions in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, has instructed all construction sites to close, unless the project is essential and after discussions it had been decreed that the tram extension does not fall into this category.
- Stockport 5 all dressed up and nowhere to go!It was going to be the centrepiece of Heaton Park Tramway’s 40th birthday bash (scheduled to take place on Sunday 29th March), the relaunch into service of Stockport 5 following the completion of its overhaul. But after the restrictions put in place as a result of the Coronavirus (one of these days I well get to write an article where I don’t have to type that word!), 5 will have to wait a bit longer to meet its adoring public.
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
- Infrarail to be postponed to May 2021Mack Brooks Exhibitions has announced the postponement of Infrarail, the UK’s leading showcase of railway infrastructure technology and expertise. The 13th edition of the event, which was planned to take place at London Olympia from 12 to 14 May 2020, is postponed following the escalation of COVID-19 in Europe. The exhibition will now be co-located and take place alongside Railtex 2021, the UK’s premier exhibition of railway equipment, systems and services, taking place at the NEC in Birmingham from 11 – 13 May 2021. Speaking about the announcement, Nicola Haman...
Coach and Bus Week
- Nottingham City Council secures £16.7m to improve transport connectivityNottingham City Council (NCC) has been successful in bidding for the grant money from the Department for Transport (DfT), which will now be invested in joint projects with Derby to improve connectivity and further encourage use of public transport.
- Coach and bus industry reacts as COVID-19 crisis deepensAfter a week of daily updates from the Prime Minister, operators are now putting measures in place to help deal with the drop in work and the mass reduction in passenger levels
Rail Technology Magazine
- RIA: We are confident that the rail supply sector will continue to operate As the UK comes to an end of its first week under lockdown to tackle this pandemic, members of the rail industry have voiced their support for the country’s response. Darren Caplan, The Rail Industry Association Chief Executive, has expressed his support for the country’s...
Railway Gazette
- SNCF deploys hospital TGVFRANCE: SNCF has started transporting Covid-19 patients using a TGV Duplex trainset that has been has adapted as a mobile hospital unit. It is being used to evacuate recuperating patients from hot spot areas where the hospitals are saturated to regions which have spare capacity in their intensive care facilities.
Route One (Bus and Coach)
- First PSVAR compliant Yutong TC9 midi completed by PelicanPelican says further TC9s suitable for PSVAR are already in stock at its Castleford base Yutong supplier Pelican Bus and Coach has announced that it can offer a PSVAR compliant version of the TC9 midicoach.
- Scottish Government steps in to continue certain paymentsCoach and bus operators in Scotland are to benefit from steps taken by the Scottish Government that will see them continue to be receive certain payments from public funds during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Birmingham and Leeds Clean Air Zones postponedBirmingham City Council (BCC) and Leeds City Council (LCC) have separately written to the government requesting that the introduction of the Clean Air Zones (CAZs) in each city is postponed due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
Other News Sources
- Troubled HS2 college spent £73K on failed Ofsted legal challengeThe beleaguered National College for HS2 blew £73,000 on a failed legal attempt at stopping Ofsted publishing a grade four report, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.
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