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

Friday, 05 June 2020

BBC News

• Four new railway stations for Wales proposed to be built by 2024Welsh ministers seek UK government funding to boost rural prosperity and cut urban congestion.
• Coronavirus: School transport Covid-19 testing callShould bus drivers and cabbies be routinely tested when children return to school?
• Coronavirus: Police turn away 1,000 cars in two daysPolice say many people officers spoke to were from England and thought lockdown rules were the same.
• Brexit: NI businesses 'desperately need' sea border detailNew checks are due to begin in January 2021 once the Brexit transition period ends.
• When is the last stop for the Edinburgh tram inquiry?The official probe was announced six years ago today but there's still no sign of when its findings will arrive.
• Mandatory face coverings on public transport in EnglandTransport Secretary Grant Shapps announces face coverings will be mandatory on public transport in England from 15 June.
• Brexit: Three weeks to finalise plans for GB to NI checksNI's chief vet says plans to extend facilities at ports and airports need to be complete by 23 June.
• Glasgow loses a third of parking to social distancingGlasgow city centre is giving 25km of road space over to increase space for social distancing.
• China eases foreign travel limit after US threatThe US had said it would bar Chinese airlines if Beijing did not allow US airlines to resume service.
• Coronavirus: Lookers and Aston Martin cut 2,000 car jobsThe Lookers dealership cuts 1,500 staff and Aston Martin sheds 500, as latest figures show plunge in sales.
• Bentley: Luxury carmaker to cut up to 1,000 jobsThe firm, which makes its cars in Crewe, says up to 1,000 jobs will go.
• BA refuses to meet Home Secretary over quarantine plansThe airline has declined to meet Priti Patel amid strong criticism of the UK's quarantine policy.

Financial Times

• China reopens to more foreign airlines after coronavirus lockdownBeijing announces move a day after US threatened to bar country’s carriers

The Guardian

• Do face coverings reduce risk and spread of coronavirus?As UK announces compulsory face coverings on public transport, what is scientific evidence behind measure?Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverage Related: Face coverings to be made compulsory on public transport in England Continue reading...

The Independent

• Huge wheels, huge battery and huge price: Dyson reveals details of cancelled electric carThe £2.5 billion project, which was scrapped, would have resulted in cars with an £150,000 price tag – nearly twice as much as a Tesla Model X
• What are the new rules on wearing face coverings on public transport in England?Young children and those with disabilities or respiratory problems to be exempt

Times Online

• Click-and-collect keeps sales of some vehicles ticking over [Subscription]The motor trade’s slow embrace of an online future at least ensured some deliveries of new cars during the coronavirus lockdown.
• Air Partner takes off after virus grounds big airlines [Subscription]Despite the turbulence affecting airlines and aircraft makers there are still some pockets of the aviation sector that are flourishing.
• 2,000 jobs go at Aston Martin Lagonda and Lookers as crisis in motor industry accelerates [Subscription]Two thousand more workers in Britain’s embattled motor industry are to lose their jobs after restructuring plans were announced by Aston Martin Lagonda, the luxury sports car maker, and Lookers, the dealership chain.
• Face coverings to be compulsory on public transport in England [Subscription]Passengers will have to comply by June 15

City AM

• Face coverings mandatory on TfL network from 15 JuneIt will be mandatory for commuters to wear face coverings on all English public transport networks from 15 June, including The post Face coverings mandatory on TfL network from 15 June appeared first on CityAM.

Daily Record

• Scots drivers with licence due to expire to be granted seven-month extensionDrivers are normally told to renew their photo card licence every 10 years, while bus and lorry drivers must renew every five years.

Mail Online

• Coronavirus England: Face masks compulsory on public transportTransport Secretary Grant Shapps unveiled the news at the Downing Street briefing this evening, saying makeshift masks can play a part in reducing the spread.
• Nissan recalls Altimas for the FOURTH time: Manufacturer pulls 1.9 MILLION of the cars from roadsThe latest Nissan Altima recall includes cars from the 2013 through 2015 model years that were recalled earlier. It has also been expanded to the 2016 through 2018 model years.

The Mirror

• 'Cash cow' British Airways 'betraying UK' with plan to axe up to 12,000 workersEXCLUSIVE Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey said British Airways and its owners International Airlines Group have enough cash to see out the coronavirus crisis without taking such drastic cuts
• Coronavirus - all you need to know as UK orders face coverings as toll nears 40KDoctors are demanding face coverings be mandatory on public transport now as UK's official death toll closes in on 40,000 as yesterday's rise in deaths was higher than 27 EU countries combined

This is Money

• Electric bikes like GoCycle's GX can get us out of our carsI imagined that I'd use the folding GoCycle GX a few times to see what it was like and then stash it away and ride my normal bike. That wasn't what happened.
• New car registrations slump 89% to lowest May level since 1952Just 20,247 motors were registered - down from 183,725 in May 2019 - as 'click and collect' sales during the month failed to spark UK sales to bounce back at a similar rate as it has in other markets.
• Struggling airlines tap up Bank of England £2bn in loansRyanair and Easyjet have secured loans of £600m each, with British Airways owner IAG and Wizz Air both accessing £300m.
• Fiat launches the first 'pay-as-you-go' car finance deal in the UKThe deal, which uses black box technology to track when someone is driving to calculate payments, includes tax and roadside recovery and is around a third cheaper than London commuter costs.
• Accidental car damage claims surge by 39% in EnglandCar insurance claims have started to rise since restrictions have lifted with Scotland seeing a 12% increase and Wales also seeing a 3% increase, according to Admiral.

Sky News

• Want to avoid busy train services? This tool will be able to helpA new warning system will allow train passengers to avoid busy services - increasing the chance of them being able to follow social distancing measures.

Belfast Telegraph

• High Court to rule on HS2 legal challengeA High Court judge is set to rule on a legal challenge over proposals to create a series of tunnels into Euston station as part of the controversial new HS2 scheme.
• Bentley to cut 1,000 jobs – reportUp to 1,000 jobs will be cut from luxury car-maker Bentley as it faces a tough market beset by the coronavirus pandemic, it has been reported.

Birmingham Post

• Union urges Aston Martin to reconsider plans to cut 500 jobsThe car maker has announced plans to cut up to 500 jobs as part of a plan to try to return to profit
• Rolls-Royce ‘urgently needs to diversify’ says unionUnite the union claims UK is in danger of losing leading aerospace position
• 33 new East Midlands Railway trains to be named by usersNew Hitachi trains draw on Japanese bullet train technology and are quieter and greener
• Green light for new Birmingham railway stationCity planners back project to revamp University of Birmingham station

Bolton News

• MP calls for support for Bolton transport workersAN MP has called for more support for transport workers and their families during the coronavirus.
• Dangerous Kearsley roads must be fixed says councillorA COUNCILLOR has called for action to make sure

Bristol Live

• Tourists travelling to Greece from Bristol won't be quarantinedOnly a select few UK airports are exempt and Bristol Airport has called for consistency
• Call for bus stops to be closed 'until they can be made safe'Bus shelters would need to be moved or taken out of use to make them safe warns transport campaigner David Redgewell

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Bid to build new train station and Bangor to Caernarfon link on Beeching reversal fund wish list Transport minister Ken Skates has written to UK Government to secure money under the Restoring Your Railway Fund

London Evening Standard

• Face coverings on public transport: What are the new rules in England?The new rules come into force on June 15
• Virgin Atlantic to restart flights to Orlando and Hong Kong in July
• British Airways criticised for 'spurning' meeting with Home Secretary Priti Patel British Airways has been criticised by a union boss after the company failed to join a meeting between the Home Secretary and the travel industry to discuss the UK's coronavirus quarantine plans.
• UK coronavirus LIVE: Death toll nears 40,000 as commuters told they must wear face coverings on public transportFace coverings must be worn on all forms of public transport in England from June 15, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced, as the coronavirus death toll in the UK nears 40,000.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• What is an air bridge? The travel idea which could make summer holidays possibleThe Government is reportedly considering introducing some exemptions to the quarantine rules for overseas travel

Northern Echo

• Rail backing could allow County Durham Metro extensionTHE Prime Minister has backed calls for a new railway station in County Durham which could also be linked to the Tyne and Wear Metro.

Bucks Free Press

• Bucks: Free car parks costs council £1 million a month MORE than £1 million a month is being lost by the council after car parks were made free to use during the coronavirus pandemic.

Cambridge News

• Cyclists fear 'deathtrap' road could become scene of serious crashRoad users are concerned about the 'dangerous' road after a number of significant near misses, with one cyclist stating: 'There have been multiple incidents, and it seems to be getting worse each time it happens'

North Wales Live

• When Ryanair customers can expect coronavirus refunds, according to airline bossMichael O'Leary, chief executive of the budget airline, made the admission during an appearance on ITV

Reading Evening Post

• M4 to close for another weekend for roadworksWork to finish the project for the Thames Bray Bridge will be completed

Other Regional Press

• Teesside Airport to reopen this month - and fly to a new locationThe airport closed as the aviation industry shut down in the face of the coronavirus pandemic :: But it's set to reopen later this month
• No trains to Kings Cross as upgrades take place on June weekendThe project which will eventually see a disused railway tunnel leading to King’s Cross reopened
• Biggest ever container ship to dock at Teesport arrivesThe mammoth vessel arrived after an 18-hour journey from Antwerp in Belgium
• Revolutionary First Bus app will tell you exactly how many seats are availableIt's the first technology of its kind in the UK
• Virgin Atlantic to resume flights in just over a monthAn annoucement was made on Thursday evening

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Coronavirus: entering or returning to the UKFrom 8 June, there will be new rules in place for entering the UK because of coronavirus (COVID-19). The rules are for residents and visitors. When these rules are in place, you will: • need to provide your journey and contact details when you travel to the UK • not be allowed to leave the place you’re staying for the first 14 days you’re in the UK except in very limited situations (known as ‘self-isolating’). You do not need to complete the form or self-isolate if you’re travelling from Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, and you were there...

Railnews

• Facemasks to be compulsory on English trains The transport secretary Grant Shapps has announced that a face covering will be compulsory on all public transport in England from 15 June.

Other News Sources

• First Bus combines Midlands and South Yorkshire unitsFirst Bus has combined its Midlands and South Yorkshire units into a single operating company, First South Yorkshire and Midlands. The change has been made to “support and protect the long-term future of bus services” in those areas, the group says. It came into effect on Monday 1 June.
• Stagecoach bus timetable to increase as lockdown easesBUSES in Winchester and the surrounding area will be taking a step closer to normal service next week.

EIN News Subscription

• UK quarantine will do ‘untold damage’ to tourism – Ryanair boss … did not follow many other European countries in imposing such a … are relaxing travel restrictions. Now budget airline boss O’Leary has told … government doesn’t follow the European science that says it is …
• COVID-19: Flights to Spain still unclear as EasyJet announces 50% of network to open in July and reveals new hygiene regime … depart from all of the budget airline’s UK bases, but the … of our route network across Europe, meaning customers can still get …
• Airports and airlines volunteer to be EU virus safety guinea pigs … seven of Europe’s airport operators and three of its airlines, as the … aircraft. EU officials have instead put their faith in plane air filtration … will detect passengers suspected of carrying the coronavirus and alert security staff …
• Carry-on COVID-19: plane passengers unknowingly importing the virus … time in several countries and airport hubs before arriving in … prevalent among this group of passengers. She said the countries linked … US, UK and parts of Europe], and entered into a number … . Dr Chant said the data showed mandatory hotel quarantining was …
• Unclear details surrounding flight refunds leave travellers frustrated and confused … minimum.â€�  In Europe and America, airlines have refunded their passengers amid the pandemic … online law firm that helps airline passengers when they experience issues with … , and it must contain particular information,â€� she said.  People often accidentally …
• Greece will only drop quarantine measures for UK tourists if they arrive from 'lower risk' airports  … has become the first European country to confirm it … People travelling from airports on the European Union Aviation Safety … through quarantine.'  These airports also include Belfast, Southampton … ahead of this, the Transport Secretary is working across …
• Coronavirus England: Face masks compulsory on public transport … the rest of the EU countries combined;  The cost … overwhelmingly backs the idea.  Transport Secretary Grant Shapps unveiled … effective capacity of public transport services has been … aircraft, and on ferries'. 'With more people using transport …
• Now is not the time to take away British Airways' landing slots, says former minister … evening between the Department for Transport and regulator the Civil … usually managed by independent body Airport Coordination Limited.  A Whitehall … "As we leave the EU, we'll be … at the employment practices of airlines." The aviation sector …