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

Friday, 12 June 2020

BBC News

• Brexit: UK backtracks on full EU border checks amid coronavirus crisisA
• BA, Ryanair and EasyJet launch fight over 'devastating' quarantine planBA, Ryanair and EasyJet are challenging plans to force inbound travellers to self isolate for 14 days.
• Electric cars: St Athan site 'preferred' for 'gigafactory'A start-up company says it will produce its electric car batteries in either St Athan or Coventry.
• Offshore pilots 'must check names of platforms' after wrong landingThe helicopter landed on the wrong platform after mistaking it for a
• Coronavirus: Is cross-border traffic a significant risk?Figures from Transport Scotland indicate more vehicles on the road and where they are travelling.
• Coronavirus pandemic: Bombardier cuts 600 jobs in Northern IrelandThe move is in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has hit the global aerospace sector hard.
• Coronavirus: Who should wear a face mask or face covering?Face coverings are becoming compulsory for people using public transport in England.
• German airline Lufthansa plans to cut 22,000 jobsThe German airline is struggling to deal with the fall in demand for air travel caused by the pandemic.
• British Airways to sell art collection to raise cashThe airline's collection includes art by Damien Hirst and Bridget Riley, with one work worth £1m-plus.
• Coronavirus: UK sets guidelines for air travelThe recommendations include that passengers should check in all luggage, and wear face coverings in airports.

Financial Times

• Airbus warns more risk to jobs in UK than in France and GermanyEurope’s aerospace champion urges Britain to provide support measures similar to Paris and Berlin

The Guardian

• Virgin Atlantic tells customers refunds will take up to four monthsAirline says staff are working from home and claims it is paying back about £20m a weekCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageVirgin Atlantic has become the latest airline to leave a vapour trail of furious customers who are now being told they will have to wait up to four months to receive refunds for cancelled flights.Following warnings in May from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), more airlines have started processing refunds to customers, after initially trying to get customers to accept vouchers rather than the full cash refund to which they are entitled. Continue r...
• UK air passengers urged not to take hand luggage on planesAirline industry largely welcomes guidelines but Ryanair says they mean more risks for travellersCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageBritish airline passengers should avoid bringing hand luggage on to a plane in order to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission, according to new government advice.However, the recommendation was criticised by Europe’s biggest airline, Ryanair, which said it was safer for passengers to carry rather than check in bags. The Department for Transport guidance “stronglyâ€� encourages passengers to check in bags and minimise hand luggage becau...

The Herald

• Engineering giant hails £1bn Scottish rail track dealDEFENCE and infrastructure giant Babcock International has hailed a £1 billion rail track renewal programme contract for Scotland in a set of final results that swung to loss after a massive hit to its aviation arm.

The Independent

• Brexit: UK set to backtrack on plans for full EU border checks from 1 JanuaryMinisters expected to take more flexible approach in bid to ease impact of coronavirus pandemic on economy
• Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary urges passengers to ignore government advice and travel with cabin baggage onlyExclusive: 'More rubbish from the department that brought you the world's least effective quarantine' said the airline's chief executive

Times Online

• Coronavirus: Bombardier blames pandemic for hundreds of job losses [Subscription]Bombardier, the Canadian aircraft manufacturer which is one of Northern Ireland’s biggest employers, is to cut hundreds of jobs across the region
• Heathrow launches voluntary redundancy programme [Subscription]Heathrow airport is seeking voluntary redundancies as it braces for a prolonged decline in passenger traffic after a 97 per cent drop in May.
• If HS2 is cut, the north will not forget [Subscription]As night follows day, three things follow a crisis: one party blames the other, which accuses the first of playing political games, and someone has the bright idea of cancelling HS2. Oh, and, while we’re at it, let’s dismantle the Northern Powerhouse project. It’s wonderful being from the north, and getting to see your opportunities slide over the cliff-edge of each financial crisis.
• Coronavirus: advice to ditch hand luggage is rubbish, says Ryanair [Subscription]The government was accused of “spectacular mismanagement” yesterday for telling air passengers not to carry hand luggage, contradicting the advice of some airlines.

Reuters News

• British Airways turns to Damien Hirst in its hour of needBritish Airways will sell at least 10 works of art that normally hang in its executive lounges, a source said, turning to pieces by famous artists like Damien Hirst to raise millions of pounds to help it through the coronavirus pandemic.

Birmingham Post

• Nissan cuts almost 250 jobs as fall in demand hits Sunderland plantAutomotive giant has moved not to renew 248 temporary contracts in response to falling demand for new cars

Bristol Live

• Government issues new flight rules including no hand luggageThe government has issued new guidance for Brits looking to travel abroad in the next few months

Daily Post (North Wales)

• 'Lifeline' railway washed away for second time will stay closed all summerNetwork Rail said the additional work aims to prevent long closures due to the effects of heavy rain and flooding
• Full list of North Wales roads to benefit from £16.9m government repair grantsSome of the work will include repairing damage caused by storms

Manchester Evening News

• All the car park parking rules across Greater ManchesterHere's a breakdown of all of the plans for Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Fears that £4.8m losses could endanger Tyne Tunnel upgradeWhile local transport leaders say the Tyne Tunnel is in a better position to recover from the pandemic than public transport is, there are concerns that the Tyne Pass project could be hit
• Few rail passengers in the North have been wearing face coveringsFace coverings become compulsory on Monday but it seems passengers have not been keen on wearing them voluntarily

Cambridge News

• Villagers divided over proposals to make road into Cambridge 'cycle only' Residents are divided about the proposals to bring about traffic restrictions on the busy road

Reading Evening Post

• Reading in line for £1.5m to boost cycle routes during pandemicThe first scheme, installing new cycle lanes on Reading Bridge, will open on Monday

Other Regional Press

• Watford has one of highest percentages of electric vehicles in UK Research has shown Watford has one of the highest percentage of electric vehicles on its roads.
• How do you make Kirklees more cycling and pedestrian friendly?People are being asked for their views as the council plans controversial measures to shut roads off to cars
• Letter: We need more cycle lanes I AM a Green Party Dorset Councillor for Rodwell and Wyke which contains Buxton Road, where Extinction Rebellion
• Two ‘pop-up cycle lanes’ to link to Coventry city centreThey'll be down within two months

Coach and Bus Week

• Bus companies enable live tracking of passenger numbersA growing number of companies are turning to technology to enable prospective passengers to check how many are on board an approaching bus.

Railnews

• Network Rail warns of increasing level crossing risks A warning has been sounded by Network Rail about the increased risks which level crossing users could be facing as lockdown restrictions are eased. The warning coincides with today™s International Level Crossings Awareness Day. Network Rail said the continuing call for people to avoid public transport if they can means more pedestrians and cyclists travelling to work and therefore perhaps using level crossings during their journeys.

EIN News Subscription

• Warning over unsafe cars on the road due to MOT exemption One in seven (14%) drivers plan to make full use of the six-month MOT extension, a new survey suggests. A poll by RAC Approved Garages indicated that more than three times as many motorists (44%) plan on getting their car checked as normal despite the …
• EU Wants Changes to Aviation Industry’s Carbon Emissions Calculations … Tango Tsuttie, Unsplash) The European Council wants to change the … released this week, the EU urged the UN aviation … 2019 emission levels,â€� the EU argued. Politico noted that … . In April, airlines represented by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) …
• Amsterdam Schiphol still planning to have a 'Hyperloop' link - Airport World … a revolutionary ‘Hyperloop’ ground transport link in the future. The … new transport system essentially involves pods … s role as a leading European airport hub. Next steps Schiphol … a successful mode of sustainable transport in the years ahead. …
• Travel’s new world: UK government issues new airport guidelines … Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport has implemented European Union Aviation Safety Agency … by two influential European agencies has been welcomed by airport and travel … protocols, recommended by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World …
• Johnson urged to reconsider strict air travel restrictions … As a result UK airlines, aerospace manufacturers, airports, and businesses connected … Secretary Dominic Raab and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says … UK jobs supported by air transport and the 40 per … our trade with non-EU countries which travels by …