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

Saturday, 20 March 2021

BBC News

• Lockdown: Learner drivers 'frustrated' as lessons remain parkedCancelled tests, lost lessons and new cars left idle - the aspiring motorists stuck in neutral.
• Backlash grows against cut to electric car grantsA government decision to reduce subsidies is criticised by the motor industry and UK businesses.
• Do the Shetland Islands need a tunnel vision?Some on the islands are looking to the Faroes for inspiration in tackling transport issues.
• 'Vaccine passports': Will I need one for going out, work and travel?The culture secretary has said they are looking at
• Covid: Bus drivers 'three times more likely to die' than other workersDuring the first wave of the pandemic, 29 London bus drivers died after catching the virus.
• Lamborghini's profits soar during CovidThe supercar maker admits it is 'surprised' after reporting record profits, partly fuelled by China.
• Coach Holidays: 'More than a business, we're family'Lack of support for

Financial Times

• Toyota within hours of closing UK plants this week because of US cold snapTexas freeze hits supplies of airbags, seats and dashboards in threat to global car production
• Airlines struggle to take off in face of $300bn debt headwindsRecovery may take years as industry grapples with rescue finance and state loan bills

The Guardian

• Elon Musk denies Teslas used for spying after China's military bans cars from basesWe would get shut down if we were spying, says boss of electric car maker, after reports about security concerns in BeijingTesla chief executive Elon Musk says his company would be shut down if its cars were used to spy, his first comments on news that China's military has banned Teslas from its facilities.'There's a very strong incentive for us to be very confidential with any information,â€� Musk told a prominent Chinese forum during a virtual discussion on Saturday. “If Tesla used cars to spy in China or anywhere, we will get shut down.â€� Continue reading...

The Herald

• 'Not fit for purpose' charging network puts drivers off electric carsDRIVERS risk being put off converting to electric cars due to a ‘confusing’ public charging network system which is "not fit for purpose" a new report has warned.

The Independent

• British Airways tells office staff: work from home'Many people want a hybrid way of working when this crisis is over' - Stuart Kennedy, BA's director of people

Times Online

• British Airways may sell its Heathrow base as more work from home [Subscription]British Airways may sell its London base and allow more staff to work from home after the pandemic.
• Toyota denies UK shutdown report amid supply troubles [Subscription]Toyota has denied reports that it almost halted production in the UK this week as car manufacturers continue to grapple with chronic shortages.
• Cycleway anger at drive to shut Queensbury Tunnel [Subscription]Dozens of old railway tunnels and bridges are set to be demolished amid rising anger from locals and cyclists, Graeme Paton reports

City AM

• Chinese military bans Tesla cars from housing complexes over security concernsThe Chinese military has banned Tesla cars from entering its housing complexes because of security concerns over the cameras installed on the The post Chinese military bans Tesla cars from housing complexes over security concerns appeared first on CityAM.
• All bets car off: Lamborghini enjoys most profitable year ever despite Covid-19Lamborghini enjoyed its most profitable year ever in 2020, despite coronavirus restrictions and a two-month shutdown of its Italian factory during The post All bets car off: Lamborghini enjoys most profitable year ever despite Covid-19 appeared first on CityAM.

Mail Online

• BA staff to continue working from home when Covid crisis ends as sale of Heathrow HQ consideredBosses at British Airways said home-working was one of the 'very few positive aspects' of the pandemic, and it is looking at options for its Waterside complex, which currently houses 2,000 employees.

Birmingham Post

• Railway group to 'upskill' firms based along HS2 route to help them win workSCS Railways wants to train 150 businesses via a free virtual academy
• Brittany Ferries starts recovery plan after earnings fall 267m euros Cross-channel transporter suffers 57% drop in turnover as coronavirus restrictions hammer passenger numbers
• West Midlands transport chiefs agree £9.5m funding for station revampPerry Barr station will under a major overhaul ahead of 2022 Commonwealth Games while construction is under way at University of Birmingham
• Work starts on £80m upgrade of Plymouth railway stationConstruction and relocation work under way on main concourse and in office tower block as shops, offices, car park, hotel and medical campus will be created

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bradford MUST have a Northern Powerhouse Rail stop, leaders urge THE LEADER of the council, candidate for West Yorkshire Mayor and Bradford Labour MP have come together to call for the Government to ensure there is a Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) stop in the city centre.

London Evening Standard

• Hammersmith Bridge latest: Motorists could be charged £3 to use 'double decker' Thames crossingMotorists would be charged £3 to use a 'double decker' crossing over the Thames proposed today as the latest solution to the long-running Hammersmith Bridge fiasco.
• TfL warned not to expect 'open cheque book' as bailout extended for seven weeksTransport for London was today warned not to expect an 'open cheque book' as its government Covid bail-out was extended for seven weeks.
• Warning of national dispute over rail job cutsThe RMT is warning of 'drastic' cuts in Network Rail jobs and maintenance of the railways.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Council's £69m pledge to tackle road upgradesAlmost £70 million will be spent over the next year on projects to ease traffic flow and improve safety across a county.

Cambridge News

• All the latest Stansted Airport pick-up and drop-off rulesCoronavirus changes and your options explained
• Travellers must complete a Government form to go abroad in lockdownYou can be fined £200 if you fail to show a signed form at departure

Get Surrey

• London Underground weekend closures: the tube lines and overground shut on March 20 and 21 Here are all the planned Tube, overground and TfL Rail line closures this weekend

Reading Evening Post

• Drivers face delays as M4 closed in both directions at the weekendSmart motorway works continue

Other Regional Press

• TfL emergency funding extended until May The Government's emergency funding deal for TfL will be extended until mid-May, the Transport Secretary has revealed.
• Earlier lockdown could have prevented London bus driver deaths An earlier national lockdown at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic could have prevented the deaths of London bus drivers, a new report has found.
• Warning of national dispute over rail job cuts The RMT is warning of 'drastic' cuts in Network Rail jobs and maintenance of the railways.
• Car tax changes for 2021 that every driver should know about Car tax changes 2021 - What they are and how they will affect you
• Coventry can become a cycling city again, says Bike MayorCurrent projects have been praised, but he wants more to be done

New Civil Engineer

• Millions saved and time slashed on West Coast Main Line workWork on 34 projects along the West Coast Main Line will be accelerated and a £13.8M cost saving delivered, as a result of the reduction in passenger numbers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Railnews

• Reopening confirmed for railway to Okehampton Funding worth £40.5 million has been confirmed to restore passenger services in Devon between Exeter St David's and the Dartmoor town of Okehampton.
• Transport for London set to gain 'short-term funding deal' Transport for London has been offered a short-term funding extension by the government which would run for a further two months on the same terms as now.
• RMT declares national dispute over Network Rail changes The RMT has declared a national dispute in protest at changes at Network Rail which the union claims will lead to thousands of redundancies and a halving of safety critical maintenance work.

Other News Sources

• Transdev: Lancashire firm welcomes £3 billion government bus strategy A THREE billion pound scheme to revamp the nation's busses has been welcomed by a Lancashire bus operator and MP.
• EVs: Renault launches battery recycling scheme as UK grant changes draw controversy It's been a busy week for electric vehicle (EV) news, with the UK Government facing criticism over grant packages and charging infrastructure and Groupe Renault launching a new battery recycling scheme.