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

Thursday, 20 April 2023

BBC News

• Private loan for Isles of Scilly ferries 'may stop government cash'Plans to use a private loan of £33.6m to fund new Isles of Scilly ferries could put Westminster cash "in peril", a councillor has said.
• Jaguar Land Rover's £15bn electric car investmentJaguar Land Rover's Halewood site will be the car giant's first plant devoted to electric vehicles.
• Relief ferry to join CalMac fleet from Orkney routeMV Alfred will be loaned out after safety inspectors gave the OK for Pentalina to take its place.
• London to Edinburgh train service named for King CharlesLNER's 11:00 service from King's Cross to Edinburgh Waverley will be known as the Carolean Express.
• Heathrow security staff and passport workers announce May strikesIt comes amid a wave of industrial action by hundreds of thousands of workers in different sectors.
• Tesla says prices will continue to The carmaker led by billionaire Elon Musk has repeatedly slashed prices this year, denting profit.

ITV News

• 'No option off the table' for TransPennine Express says the Transport SecretaryThe Transport Secretary Mark Harper has said “no option is off the table” ahead of his decision on whether or not to renew the operating contract of train company TransPennine Express.

Financial Times

• Heathrow airport and airlines launch rival appeals over landing fee rulingVirgin and BA seek larger cut to charges while UK hub claims regulator's decision will hit investment

The Guardian

• UK will sign deal paying in to EU budget within 15 years, says Ryanair bossMichael O'Leary says Brexit is ˜unbelievably messy and a net negative on the British economy. The boss of Ryanair, Michael O'Leary, has launched a fresh attack on Brexit, describing it as unbelievably messy and predicting the UK would end up signing a Norway-style deal with the EU in the next 10 to 15 years under which it would pay into the bloc's budget.

The Herald

• Concern over 'scapegoating' workers over Scotland's ferry fiascoManagers and ministers have come under fire for 'scapegoating' workers over the ferry fiasco which has seen two vessels delayed by five years with costs soaring.

Times Online

• Heathrow security workers’ strike to cause mayhem on coronation weekend. [subscription]Security staff at Heathrow airport are set to strike during the King’s coronation weekend, causing potential disruption to the hundreds of thousands of tourists expected to arrive for the occasion.
• Tax breaks urged to recharge struggling electric vehicle market. [subscription]The government risks missing its electric vehicle uptake targets unless it offers motorists tax breaks, the UK’s largest online car retailer has warned.

City AM

• Heathrow to appeal against CAA price cap as airport warns passengers will bear the brunt of ’underinvestment’Heathrow Airport has said it will launch an appeal against the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) decision on how much it can charge passengers until December 2026.
• Luxury car boss hopes going green can see Jag well in the blackJaguar has pledged to spend £15 billion over five years to develop a selection of electric vehicles, according to reports. The new figure amounts to double their previous investment levels in the technology and will see the car manufacturer make changes to a number of its British factories.

Daily Express

• Huge slump in buyers chasing electric cars as high energy costs biteInterest in new electric cars has slumped 65 per cent as buyers stay away because of the rise in energy prices and higher interest rates for borrowing. Online vehicle marketplace Auto Trader said it recorded the huge drop in inquiries for the vehicles last month compared with January 2022.

Birmingham Post

• TransPennine Express “ Transport Secretary says no option is off the table as contract expiry nearsMPs told passengers have suffered horrendous experience recently
• Bristol Airport to open two new executive lounges this summerThe transport hub hopes to elevate pre-flight experiences for its passengers with the introduction of the Escape Lounge and 1903 Lounge

Bristol Live

• Bristol Airport investigation after parked plane carrying passengers 'rolls forward'An investigation is underway after the aircraft rolled forward

Derby Telegraph

• Derbyshire Wayfarer: New unlimited daily bus ticket coming very soonPassengers will be able to travel all over the county with one special bus ticket

London Evening Standard

• National Express to cut £25 million in costs after ’higher-than-expected’ bus driver pay dealIt said no front-line roles will be affected
• Transport Secretary Mark Harper accepts HS2 delays will not save moneyMark Harper admitted to MPs the decision to down tools at Euston would add to HS2’s total bill

Other Regional Press

• Decision to axe new route linking Cheshire to North Wales slammedFurious Deeside MP Mark Tami said pollution levels in Deeside "are only going to get worse"
• Decision on free bus travel for carers in Warwickshire is set to be made soonCllr John Holland asked fellow Warwickshire County Council cabinet members to consider an amendment to commit to a carer’s bus pass
• MSP hits out at planned cuts to Renfrewshire bus servicesThe Scottish Government has been accused of not doing enough to protect Renfrewshire's bus services from planned cuts next month.
• Minister refuses to commit to extending cap on bus faresTransport Secretary Mark Harper has refused to commit to extending the £2 cap on bus fares in England.
• No option off the table for TransPennine Express – Transport SecretaryTransport Secretary Mark Harper said “no option is off the table” ahead of his decision on whether to renew the contract of train company TransPennine Express (TPE).
• Hopes dashed for saving First's number 3 Westham bus in WeymouthHopes of saving a town bus service have been dashed after an alternate route proposal reaching a greater population ‘wouldn’t be a viable option’, the bus firm said.

Business Live

• TransPennine Express – Transport Secretary says no option is off the table as contract expiry nears"No option is off the table" for TransPennine Express (TPE) as its contract expiry date nears - that was the message from Transport Secretary Mark Harper as he faces the decision over whether the operator will get an extension.

New Civil Engineer

• Historic bridge linking England with Scotland reopens after £10.5M restorationThe 202-year old Union Chain Bridge connecting Scotland and England has re-opened after 30 months of restoration works.
• West London overground rail link plans progress with appointment of Mott MacTransport for London's (TfL's) plans to create a new London Overground link in west London are progressing with Mott MacDonald awarded the design contract.

Other News Sources

• Airport Therapy Dogs Ease the Stress of TravelCovid put travel on hold for years. During its peak, people would speak of airline travel longingly, recalling how fabulous it was to board a plane and in a matter of hours, wake up somewhere brand new.
• Travel ’chaos’ brewing at Glasgow airport, union warnsA trade union has warned travel “chaos” is on the cards at Glasgow airport this summer after security staff rejected a pay offer.
• BA and Heathrow appeal against change in London airport landing chargesBA said "errors" in the new charges would result in an extra £513mln in passenger charges, with a cumulative impact of around £1.5bn
• Arriva blames driver shortages for Oswestry bus delaysBUS operator Arriva has vowed to take action on the reliability of one of its main Oswestry services after users complained about delays and no-shows.
• Lambeth Council shortlisted for prestigious transport awards Lambeth Council has been shortlisted for two categories of a prestigious award that recognises the trailblazing Kerbside Strategy and implementation of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) to make the borough safer, healthier, and more accessible.