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

Thursday, 16 April 2020

BBC News

• Coronavirus: Greater Anglia ticket refunds 'worth millions'A train operator has said the cost of refunding rail season tickets amid the coronavirus lockdown is expected to total several million pounds.
• Coronavirus: Why London's black cabs are ideal vehicles for patientsHackney carriages with their inbuilt partitions have been enlisted in Southwark to transport patients.
• HS2 construction gets green light despite lockdownThe government has given the high-speed rail project formal approval to start construction.

The Guardian

• Crawley likely to be worst affected by UK coronavirus job lossesMore than 53,000 of 94,000 jobs in aviation-reliant Sussex town at risk, warns thinktank
• Construction on HS2 can begin, government saysBritain has given the green light for companies to start putting spades in the ground to build a new high speed rail line, saying work could proceed in line with coronavirus safety guidelines despite the national lockdown.

The Independent

• HS2 construction given official green light with works to start 'immediately'Contractors social distancing at work sites
• EasyJet says 'bookings for winter are well ahead of the equivalent point last year'Britain's biggest budget airline could see its fleet shrink by one-sixth in three years

The Telegraph

• HS2 construction to begin 'immediately' as Government gives green light despite coronavirus lockdownMinister says move provides certainty for thousands of construction workers and businesses at time when they need it

Times Online

• Coronavirus: We can’t rely on China if it won’t play by our rules, warns William Hague [subsscription]... “Here in the UK we’re preparing for an age of electric transportation, but which country is getting ahead with battery technology? China,” he told a web seminar hosted by Policy Exchange, the London-based centre-right think tank.
• Half of UK carbon emissions come from overseas [subscription]The UK has been less successful at cutting greenhouse gas emissions than the official record claims as nearly half our carbon footprint now comes from emissions released overseas to produce imported goods, a report has said.
• Building work to begin on HS2 but ministers say it’s poor value [subscription]Full construction of the HS2 railway line will start in weeks after the government gave formal approval even though it admits that it could deliver “poor” value for taxpayers.
• Coronavirus: Airlines ’will have to leave one third of seats empty’ [subscription]Airlines are likely to be forced to fly with at least a third of seats empty when travel restrictions are lifted, amid fears that it will take up to two years for the aviation industry to recover from the coronavirus crisis.

London Evening Standard

• Market report: Investors stick with National Express despite axed dividendInvestors are used to forgoing dividends since the coronavirus outbreak, as companies look to conserve cash. On Tuesday National Express joined those scrapping payouts, but shareholders chose to stick with the bus and coach operator despite a likely tough journey ahead.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Fears Tyne and Wear Metro bosses could be forced to furlough frontline staff amid Covid-19 lockdownNorth East politicians have accused transport ministers of pushing for a furlough of some of the struggling rail network's employees during the coronavirus crisis

Other Regional Press

• Coronavirus: London bus drivers share fear as more staff die A former TfL safety panel member has blamed disproportionate deaths among bus drivers on “a failure to do basic things” and “a mayor that doesn’t take responsibility”.
• Norwich misses out on millions for transport funding due to coronavirusFunding for Norwich’s transport system has been blasted as “loose change” as it was revealed the city would receive just £32m of £1.2bn in government cash, rather than the millions more it had hoped for.
• 5 new London Underground lines that really need to be builtOne thing that really grinds our gears is the fact that it's too Zone 1 focused - for all of us that live in outer London getting to other places outside of Zone 1-3 can be a real pain.
• Major rail works complete on Furness lineFUTURE journeys are to be made more reliable due to major work on the Furness line.
• Buckinghamshire MP's 'surprised and disappointed' at Government HS2 'notice to proceed' decisionIn a letter to the Government Buckinghamshire MP's have expressed their anger and dissapointment with the decision to grant HS2 'notice to proceed'.

Train Operators

• ’LNER Reserves’ rally to support communitiesLNER has launched ’LNER Reserves’ enabling its people to volunteer to help the NHS, emergency services, charities and other organisations during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Rail Magazine

• Bombardier returns to work at Derby, Crewe and IlfordProduction has restarted at Derby Litchurch Lane, after Bombardier agreed new working practices with on-site trade union representatives. Work will also progressively restart at the manufacturer’s Ilford and Crewe facilities.

Other News Sources

• McGill's and First Bus to work together during coronavirus pandemicBUS users in Clydebank will be able to use their tickets on both McGill's and First buses from now on.
• Transport firms in Scotland to get patients to appointmentsTransport firms in Scotland are being drafted in to help people with suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms attend urgent but non-emergency medical appointments.
• ScotRail train punctuality improvesTRAIN punctuality has reached its highest level for almost three years during the coronavirus pandemic.
• Brighton bus drivers urge passengers to give them spaceA PETRIFIED bus driver says he fears for his safety and is calling on passengers to stick to government guidelines during the coronavirus crisis.