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

Wednesday, 03 June 2020

BBC News

• Coronavirus: UK holidaymakers ‘welcome’ in PortugalPortugal's foreign minister tells the BBC that an
• Coronavirus lockdown: 'Resurgence in cycling across Wales'With bike shops staying open, a cycling group says lockdown is
• Coronavirus: Lockdown 'reigniting a love for cycling'Calls have been made for the boom in people riding bikes to lead to a long-term change.
• Borders Railway extension 'more important now than ever'Campaigners say taking the Borders line on to Carlisle could be a vital post-coronavirus project.
• Coronavirus: How safe is it to get on a plane?Many airlines are planning to resume flying, but they first need to reduce the risks of Covid-19.
• Coronavirus: Row over BA staff future deepensThe airline is in a tense standoff with unions over restructuring and redundancy plans.
• EasyJet ejected from the UK's list of top companiesThe airline loses its place on the prestigious FTSE 100 as Covid-19 hits travel and tourism shares.
• Nissan: UK factory still under threat from no-deal BrexitBritain's largest car plant is

The Guardian

• UK car industry pushes for scrappage scheme to help buy new petrol and diesel vehiclesExclusive: lobby wants £1.5bn scheme to jump-start sector despite clean fuel pledgesThe UK automotive industry has been in confidential talks with the government over a possible £1.5bn scrappage scheme or “market stimulus package” that it insists should encourage the purchase of diesel and petrol cars on an equal footing with cleaner vehicles.The plans under consideration by industry and government would take £2,500 off the price of a car and put a further 600,000 new vehicles on the road. Continue reading...
• How will the UK's new 14-day coronavirus quarantine work?MPs raise concerns about potentially limited impact of measures compared with damage they could do to industryCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAll international arrivals into the UK, including returning British residents, will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. Continue reading...

The Independent

• Quarantine: Matt Hancock refuses to be drawn on 'air bridge' plans to avoid 14 days of isolation94% of travel business leaders surveyed said they expect their summer bookings to disappear if quarantine plans are introduced
• Coronavirus: easyJet cancels seven out of 10 of its summer flightsAirline must offer affected travellers choice between a full cash refund and a suitable alternative departure

The Telegraph

• Travel updates: EasyJet to resume flights to hundreds of destinations

Times Online

• HS2 whistleblower demands apology for ’ruining my life’ [Subscription]The former head of property at HS2 is calling on the government to offer “compensation, vindication and a formal apology” to whistleblowers who lost their jobs after warning about inaccurate cost estimates.
• Cruise plans sunk until mid-October [Subscription]Sailings by Britain’s biggest cruise line operator have been suspended until mid-October as it seeks approval for enhanced safety and hygiene measures.

Reuters News

• UK's quarantine of travellers vital to avoid second coronavirus wave, ministers sayBritain's quarantine for travellers arriving from abroad, which will be introduced from June 8, is crucial to avoiding a second wave of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, Interior Minister Priti Patel and Transport Minister Grant Shapps said.

Daily Express

• Brexit warning: Nissan UK plant ‘unsustainable’ without EU trade dealNISSAN, the UK's largest car production factory, could be

Mail Online

• Volkswagen recalls thousands of cars over fears parts could fall off the vehicles and cause crashes The automaker issued recall notices for 2,627 Tiguan R-Line vehicles impacted by the defect on Tuesday.
• Cruise companies offer 70% discounts in a bid to draw back customers after the coronavirus pandemic Carnival Cruises is selling fares for a nine-day round trip in October to New Caledonia for $500 per person and an 'extra value' deal offering a 50 per cent reduction on deposits.

The Mirror

• How quarantine for international arrivals will work as measures come into placeThe self-isolation measures are being introduced from Monday - and are designed to prevent a second wave of the virus sweeping across Britain by making all arrivals to the UK quarantine for 14 days
• Summer holidays back on the cards as relaxation of quarantine rules consideredTravel bosses have warned against forcing UK arrivals into quarantine for two weeks and instead pushed for 'air bridges' with 45 countries where coronavirus is under control, including Spain, Portugal and Greece

This is Money

• Boeing eyes job cuts at its high-tech Sheffield plantThe US plane maker is slashing as much as 10 per cent of its global workforce after the Covid-19 outbreak caused a slump in air travel. Boeing opened the £40m factory in South Yorkshire in 2018.
• New images of Dyson's £500M failed electric car revealedIn an exclusive interview with Autocar, Sir James Dyson - worth £16.2billion - said: 'Transport interests me: this is not an end to Dyson's interest in mobility.'

Sky News

• 'We will all suffer if we get this wrong' - ministers defend quarantineThe quarantine plan for people arriving in the UK is vital to prevent a second coronavirus peak, the home secretary has insisted as she prepares to face her critics in the Commons.

Belfast Telegraph

• International visitor quarantine ‘sends message UK is closed for business’The Government’s controversial plan to quarantine international visitors to the UK sends out a message that the country is closed for business, an industry leader is warning.
• Budget airline Wizz Air boosts profits prior to virus uncertaintyBudget airline Wizz Air has reported a jump in profits for the past year, but warned that it could not provide trading guidance for the current period due to uncertainty caused by coronavirus.

Birmingham Post

• Tourism boards lobby government over quarantine plans for air passengersInternational tourism to the north of England is worth some £2.5bn each year, supporting jobs in the visitor economy and wider supply chain.
• Northumberland firm seals deal with Newcastle Airport to supply travel PPE kitsFamily firm Enviro-point operates luggage weighting kiosks but created the kits in response to the Covid-19 crisis
• Firm secures award for lightweight train carriage innovationComposite Braiding recognised at JEC Composite Innovation Awards

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Almost 40 'active travel' schemes plan for post lockdown Bradford ALMOST 40 “active travel” schemes, to make it easier for people to walk or cycle, are being developed to help Bradford in the post lockdown period.

Bristol Live

• First Bus announce big change which could be a game changerThe bus operator has also recently introduced a new timetable

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Motorists terrified as yobs hurl bottles and stones as passing carsMore than 20 people called 999 during the incident in Wrexham

London Evening Standard

• 'Air bridges' could be introduced between UK and low-risk countries this monthQuarantine-free travel between Britain and some countries could be introduced at the end of this month if coronavirus infection rates at home and abroad are sufficiently low.
• Government to set out travel quarantine plans despite opposition from Tories and businessesTravellers arriving in the UK under the new quarantine rules will be allowed to leave isolation in order to shop for food and other essential supplies.
• Iconic Mersey ferry could be yours for £100kThe iconic 'Ferry Cross the Mersey' ship is on the market for £100,000 with potential to be converted into a hotel, office space, a sailing club, or even a super-size floating home if it finds the right owner to rescue it from demolition.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Nissan accused of 'opportunistic' cuts to pension plan for Sunderland workersUnite says members are angry but the car manufacturer says investment needed to maintain the plan has reached 'unsustainable levels'

East Anglian Daily Times

• Road closure and ‘Keep Left’ signs coming in as Ipswich eases lockdown“Keep left signs” on streets for pedestrians and the closure to traffic of one of the busiest roads in Ipswich are two of the changes being introduced to make shoppers feel safer when some non-essential stores reopen from June 15.

Reading Evening Post

• The 9 precautions you can take to stay safe on the TubeHere's how to be as alert as possible on the London Underground

Other Regional Press

• Rail disruption warning for train passengers in Coventry and NuneatonIt will impact journeys to the capital

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Aviation Policy Group issues statement on quarantine measuresFrom 8th June people arriving in the UK must self-isolate for 14 days, subject to some exemptions. The Government recently published its guidance on a system of quarantine for people coming into the UK, aimed at preventing transmission of Covid-19. In response to these measures, CILT and its Aviation Policy Group says:

Railnews

• RMT threatens strikes over ˜Guardian Angels™ plan The RMT has warned of possible industrial action in protest at a government plan for unpaid volunteers to help guide railway passengers and prevent overcrowding at stations.
• Transport leaders in north call for 20-year investment plan Members of Transport for the North are urging the National Infrastructure Commission to include a 20-year sustained programme of rail improvements for the English north and midlands in the forthcoming Integrated Rail Plan, rather than ˜piecemeal™ upgrades. The Commission is providing evidence to the government as the Plan is prepared. TfN says such a programme would help the north to recover from the Covid-19 crisis.

Other News Sources

• How Heathrow and Gatwick Airports will enforce social distancing rules to keep holidaymakers safe Flights to and from the UK could soon resume, but how will we be kept safe at London's airports?
• The 45 holiday destinations Brits could soon be flying quarantine-free from Heathrow and Gatwick European nations included on the list include Spain, Greece, Cyprus and Portugal
• How to stay safe while using the London Underground during the coronavirus pandemicThe official advice is to avoid using the Tube where possible - but what if you can't?

EIN News Subscription

• Easyjet, Ryanair, Jet2 among 17 airlines taken to court over flight refunds … fleets and halted holidays to Europe amid the coronavirus crisis, … delayed flight refunds. The budget airlines are among those who have … station La Sexta: "The European legislation is very clear. … is very clear in the European legislation is that the …
• Coronavirus: Why airlines abandoning smaller airports is bad for travellers … increased in size and complexity, budget airlines realised that Midway had its … but less so for the European finance hub. The first time … the marketing efforts of Europe’s biggest budget airline it is nowhere near … is the only secondary in Europe’s top 10 – or …
• Passenger social distancing rules for easyJet, Ryanair and TUI … distancing rules The airline has launched its 'Europe with Confidence Pledge … be temperature checks at the airports. Passengers will be asked to scan … has not yet issued safety information for passengers regarding potential flights. On its …
• How UK Travel Quarantine May Hit British Airlines, Tourism Sector & Economic Revival in One Blow … new imported coronavirus cases as Europe is lifting pandemic-related restrictions … effective controls… that follow the data and science" may be … would allow British airlines to thrive while simultaneously ensuring passengers' safety. …
• Department of Health quizzed on infection risks of bus and air travel … between air travel and other forms of public transport in … transport. However, the official EU guidance on a return to air … multiple hours on a pressurised airplane, said: “Current government … travel overseas that would involve air travel. “Wearing cloth …
• Quarantine: Matt Hancock refuses to be drawn on 'air bridge' plans to avoid 14 days of isolation … industry, the Department for Transport (DfT) is lobbying for … European country that would be interested in the idea of an air … secretary was speaking, airlines and travel businesses were … quarantine is appropriate.” British Airways is offering passengers booked …
• UK air bridges with holiday destinations impossible, warn public health experts … MPs are pushing for air bridges – mutual agreements … of the Department for Transport, other departments are understood … having arrangements with any European countries that currently have … Oxford University, said: “Air bridges between countries with similar …
• Covid-19 impact: Regulators may review airport passenger fees … will issue to the airport, airlines and other interested parties … Transport Shane Ross. Ryanair also challenged the ruling, the airline … points on which the airport and airline appealed the ruling. … screening systems, required by EU air travel safety rules.