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

Tuesday, 28 April 2020

BBC News

• Coronavirus: Coach company's minibus used for food parcel deliveryClarkes Travel are using their minibus usually used by holiday-makers to deliver the food parcels.
• Coronavirus: Airlines urge chancellor to extend job support schemeThe coronavirus job retention scheme must be extended beyond June, says Airlines UK.
• Coronavirus: Plane-maker Airbus furloughs 3,200 staffIn a letter to workers Chief Executive Guillaume Faury said the firm's existence was now threatened.

Financial Times

• Boeing investors could wait years for dividend to returnAircraft maker’s chief executive says focus will be on rebuilding balance sheet post-pandemic
• US oil prices sink as coronavirus fuels storage fearsTraders fear WTI crude could again turn negative as pandemic pummels global economy
• Tanker rates boom as refiners turn to floating storageHiring a long-range product tanker is now more expensive than a very large crude carrier
• Delta taps debt markets for $5bn to replace lost cash flowsAtlanta-based airline raised size of deal in light of investor demand
• Norwegian says aircraft likely to remain grounded until 2021Bleak forecast comes as the low-cost carrier pursues a $1.2bn debt-for-equity swap
• EasyJet says Stelios pressure ‘highly undesirable’Airline calls shareholder vote on directors in latest escalation of dispute
• Boris Bikes are boomingWhile tube and bus usage is down massively, bike-sharing seems to have become something of a lockdown hobby.

The Guardian

• Covid-19: what role might air pollution play?  podcastAfter a string of studies that highlight the possible link between air pollution and Covid-19 deaths, Ian Sample hears from Prof Anna Hansell about the complicated relationship between pollution, health and infection with Sars-CoV-2

Times Online

• 3,000 hydrogen buses to help cut air pollutionUp to 3,000 zero-emission hydrogen buses could take to the road in the next few years as a clean alternative to diesel, it was announced yesterday.
• Electric cars do 26% more miles a year than petrol‑engine rivals [subscription]Electric cars clock up more miles than petrol models, countering claims that they are environmentally friendly “trophy vehicles”, research has revealed.
• Questions over tram fiasco inquiry as costs keep rising [subscription]Fresh concerns have been raised about an inquiry into the Edinburgh tram fiasco, which Alex Salmond promised would be “swift and thorough” but has still not concluded almost six years after it was launched.

City AM

• Norwegian Air says planes set to remain grounded until April 2021Low-cost carrier Norwegian Air does not expect to begin ramping up its number of flights until next April at the earliest, according to a proposal published ahead of a key stakeholder meeting this week.
• Easyjet board set for showdown with founder over Airbus contractEasyjet’s board has set the date for a showdown with founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who has been calling for the airline to scrap a £4.5bn order with Airbus.

Birmingham Post

• Jaguar Land Rover ramps up visor productionSports car firm working with Birmingham plastics group to produce 14,000 units per week

Bristol Live

• Update on Bristol park and ride service run by First BusThe Brislington Park and Ride Service will resume services today (April 27). First West of England made the announcement via social media on their Twitter account.
• 'Covidiot cyclists stay at home' - Spike in attacks as pins sprinkled on roadAccording to reports, cars have swerved dangerously close to cyclists and one man was allegedly pushed off his bike
• Bike Park set for £200,000 upgradeThese improvements will ensure that the track will become a thriving cycling facility for all those in the community, as well as Bristol as a whole."

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Airbus Broughton jobs fears as aerospace giant 'bleeding cash'Around 500 workers have already been laid off or furloughed at Airbus sites in the UK
• Arriva scraps some bus routes and reduces others - here's what you need to knowThe firm said they have had to make 'difficult decisions' due to the outbreak
• Airbus to furlough thousands of Broughton workers as production rate cutThe aerospace giant will place more than half of the 6,000 workforce on the UK Government scheme

Derby Telegraph

• East Midlands Airport would introduce mass screening for virus if required to, it saysEast Midlands Airport said it would introduce mass screening if recommended to do so by health officials in a bid to combat coronavirus. Bosses at the airport, based in Castle Donington, said it was currently following all guidance and would introduce the testing initiative which could include temperature checks and antibody tests if it was required to do so.

London Evening Standard

• Airbus staff in UK braced for pain as firm fights for survivalTHE future of Airbus and its 13,500- strong UK workforce was thrown into doubt on Monday after the global planes giant warned it was

Nottingham Evening Post

• Some city bus routes set to be permanently reduced, but others earmarked for closure are savedChanges are set to be made to several bus services in Nottingham, in an attempt to make savings.

Wales Online

• Thousands of workers are furloughed by Airbus at Broughton as production is cutThousands of workers have been furloughed by Airbus at Broughton as production has been cut.

Carlisle News & Star

• Normal service resumes on the West Coast MainlineNormal service has resumed on the West Coast Mainline after passengers faced major disruption.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Electric locomotives line up before journey to new life away from East AngliaGreater Anglia’s fleet of electric locomotives, which hauled Intercity trains to London for nearly 20 years, is preparing to move out to a new life as a freight workhorse.
• Greater Anglia looks ahead but what is long-term future for trains?The coronavirus lockdown is set to have a major impact on rail travel – but Greater Anglia managing director Jamie Burles warned it could be months before the new way of working becomes clear for passengers and staff.

Other Regional Press

• Greater Anglia looks ahead – but what is long-term future for trains?The coronavirus lockdown is set to have a major impact on rail travel – but Greater Anglia managing director Jamie Burles warned it could be months before the new way of working becomes clear for passengers and staff.
• Stop Stansted Expansion calls on airport owner MAG to rule out appeal against refusal of planning permission to expandAirport bosses have rebuffed a request from Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) to rule out a planning appeal. The campaigners called on Stansted owner Manchester Airports Group (MAG) to "be magnanimous" and withdraw its bid to expand passenger numbers from the 35 million a year currently permitted to a maximum of 43m.
• London coronavirus: The new London bus stop signs reminding passengers to social distanceTransport for London (TfL) has launched a new campaign to remind people about social distancing when waiting at bus stops.
• Delays to new park and ride bus at Thames Valley ParkCOMMUTERS will have to wait longer to use a new park and ride bus service while the potential cost to council taxpayers rises “significantly”.
• 'Difficult decisions' leads to changes in bus services across Flintshire and WrexhamCHANGES have been made to Arriva bus services during the coronavirus lockdown.

New Civil Engineer

• Transport minister slams ‘unacceptable’ abuse of construction workersTransport minister Baroness Charlotte Vere has criticised the “unacceptable” abuse suffered by construction workers during the coronavirus lockdown.
• Winners named on Highways England £4.5bn Smart Motorways AllianceHighways England has announced the winners on its Smart Motorways Alliance, worth upwards of £4.5bn. Winners include Fluor, WSP, Jacobs Engineering, Costain, Balfour Beatty, and BAM Nuttall/ Morgan Sindall Joint Venture.

Rail Technology Magazine

• RIA 'Digital Journeys' - Day Three Webinar SeriesThe potential for better use of data to improve the prospects for rail freight came under the spotlight during day three of the Railway Industry Association (RIA’s) ‘Digital Journeys for Rail Passengers & Freight’ webinar series. Greg March, head of planning and resource at...

Other News Sources

• ScotRail helps volunteer group deliver vital equipment to NHS Highland staff in Inverness, Caithness and ElginNHS staff in the Highlands will receive a vital donation of sanitary clothing, thanks to a volunteer group and the help of ScotRail.
• The Birmingham Airport Authority Announces New Chief Financial OfficerThe Birmingham Airport Authority has named Korey Campbell as the new chief financial officer. In this role, Campbell will direct and manage all financial and fiscal management functions of the Authority’s operations. He will also provide leadership and management of the administrative, business planning, accounting and budgeting efforts of the Authority. He will begin his new position on May 11
• Report outlines new reality for airport retail post COVID-19According to a survey by Swiss research agency, M1nd-set, over 60% of international travellers will fly again within the first three months of COVID-19 travel restrictions being lifted.