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

Thursday, 26 August 2021

BBC News

• Gatwick Airport presses ahead with second runway plansGatwick Airport is pressing ahead with plans to use its emergency runway for routine flights. It aims to convert its standby runway by 2029 despite passenger numbers dropping due to the global pandemic.
• EY fined £3.5m for failures over 2017 Stagecoach auditThe Big Four accountancy firm is fined £3.5m for failures over the 2017 audit of the bus and coach company.
• Car production in July hits lowest level since 1956Microchip shortages and staff being told to self-isolate has contributed to shortages in production.
• Delta Airlines imposes $200 monthly surcharge on unvaccinated staffThe US airline also says Covid sufferers won't get sick pay unless they are double-jabbed.

Financial Times

• Gatwick to expand despite pandemic hit and environmental concernsAirport to launch consultation to bring standby runway into regular use at a cost of £500m
• Lex Letter from New York: parking apps make a comebackSector’s future depends on whether people continue to use their cars heavily when offices reopen
• Delta Air Lines to impose $200 surcharge on unvaccinated staffCarrier the latest US company to introduce tougher rules after FDA’s first full Covid jab approval
• UK ministers set to cut back HS2 eastern routeMove expected after cost of high-speed rail line soars amid ballooning public spending

The Guardian

• Gatwick plans to proceed with conversion of emergency runwayAirport revives proposal for routine use as it seeks to enlarge capacity to a potential 75.5m passengers a year
• Lowest levels of car production for any July since 1956, UK industry reportsSector struggled with worker absences due to Brexit and Covid, and computer chips shortageBritish car factories produced the fewest cars for any July since 1956 as they struggled with worker absences and the global shortage of computer chips.UK carmakers made 53,400 vehicles in July, a 37.6% drop when compared with the same month in 2020, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the industry’s lobby group. Continue reading...

The Independent

• Gatwick plans second runway with ‘smart motorway’ scheme [subscription]Despite being worst hit in Europe by the collapse in passenger traffic caused by Covid, the airport believes expansion is essential

The Telegraph

• Gatwick plans second runway with ‘smart motorway’ scheme [subscription]Turning taxiway into additional runway for takeoffs means airport could handle 75m passengers a year if it wins Government approval

Times Online

• Gatwick’s second runway could increase passengers by 50% [subscription]Passenger numbers at Gatwick could increase by more than 50 per cent compared with the airport’s pre-pandemic peak under plans for a second runway.

Sky News

• Gatwick Airport presses ahead with plan to use standby runway despite pandemic slumpGatwick is to consult on a plan first mooted in 2018 to bring its standby runway into routine use, saying it is confident of recovering to previous levels and growing further.

Birmingham Post

• AeroSpace Cornwall deal will see duchy's firms involved in Moon missionSpace cluster organisation deal names Major Chahal as MILO Ambassador and links with Lockheed Martin for lunar payload deliveries
• Barnsley battery firm sparks growth with Business Productivity Grant supportThe firm supplies thousands of batteries, from standard AA sizes to huge units used in trains and aeroplanes

Bolton News

• Metrolink sets up new Radcliffe temporary car park for tram usersMETROLINK is opening a new temporary park and ride site in Radcliffe to accommodate up to 100 drivers due to be displaced while the Whitefield park and ride site is partially closed.

London Evening Standard

• Qantas plans to restart UK-Australia flights in December

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• North East relieved as rail timetable shake-up delayed – but pause won't solve 'chronic' problemsLeaders have warned yet again that major investment is needed to ensure that plans to boost train services to London can be done without the need to slash other routes

Sheffield Star

• Tory MP praises Sheffield politicians in fight for HS2A Conservative MP has praised the work of Sheffield politicians in the fight for HS2 - and warned of a growing ‘East-West divide’ if it is not built all the way to Leeds.

Yorkshire Post

• Business and political leaders unite to demand Yorkshire leg of HS2 is built in full amid reports it is to be scrappedPolitical and business leaders from across Yorkshire and the North have united today to insist that the Government commits to building phase 2 of the HS2 project to the region.

New Civil Engineer

• How to redesign HS2 to benefit WalesRedesigning High Speed 2 (HS2) as an X-shaped network would bring greater benefits to Wales, according to Cardiff University School of Geography and Planning professor Mark Barry.

Other News Sources

• HS2 appoints 16 new members to its design panelHS2 Ltd has announced the 16 new members of its independent design advisory panel.
• Gatwick Airport: Plans for second runway announce that would 'reduce delays'GATWICK Airport has announced plans to convert its emergency runway for routine use - creating almost 20,000 new jobs.