Breaking News
Sweeping virus powers announced
Airports could be ordered to close and people detained on public health grounds under government plans.
Darling, I'm on the Tube: first 4G Underground phone calls from tunnels able to be made
Tube passengers will be able to make mobile calls in some Underground tunnels for the first time today.
Coronavirus proves that HS2 is not needed as executives turn to Skype
THE current coronavirus outbreak seems to have highlighted the use of telephone conferencing, Skype, and other forms of telecommunications.
Wednesday, 18 March 2020
BBC News
- Sweeping virus powers announcedAirports could be ordered to close and people detained on public health grounds under government plans.
- Coronavirus: Greater Manchester buses, trams, and trains to be cutService frequency is to be reduced in line with falling passenger numbers.
- Coronavirus: Underground empty as Londoners heed warningsPeople in the capital have been asked to help stop the spread of the virus by working from home.
Financial Times
- Airlines should not get blank cheques to surviveGovernment aid to weather coronavirus crisis must be short-term
- Lime and Bird suspend e-scooter rentals in dozens of cities Demand plummets amid coronavirus outbreak, putting pressure on cash-burning start-ups
- Ports feel coronavirus impact on global tradeChina’s exports show signs of recovery but demand falters in US and Europe
- Airlines and Boeing seek billions to survive virus shutdownMajority of carriers face running out of money within 2 months, says trade group
The Scotsman
- ScotRail and First bus services to be reduced as demand plummetsScotRail and bus operators are planning to cut services because of a “dramatic” drop in demand, perhaps to Sunday levels.
Times Online
- Coronavirus travel advice: Britons told not to travel overseas for at least 30 days [subscription]Air travel to and from the UK is likely to be suspended in days after the government warned against all non-essential journeys to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
Reuters News
- German railway to give free passage to stranded holidaymakersGermany’s state-owned railway operator Deutsche Bahn said it would carry for free stranded holiday makers who could show air tickets or boarding passes as part of its efforts to help the government’s emergency repatriation programme.
City AM
- European leaders agree to lockdown external borders for 30 daysEuropean leaders have agreed to implement a 30-day ban on non-essential travel to the EU in order to curb the The post European leaders agree to lockdown external borders for 30 days appeared first on CityAM.
Birmingham Post
- Airbus' UK sites implementing 'stringent' health and safety measures over next four weeksAirbus this morning announced that sites in France and Spain would close for four days
- The UK's biggest private hire car firm Veezu books further expansion Veezu has acquired Go Carz which operates in Shropshire and the West Midlands
Daily Post (North Wales)
- Airbus Broughton to implement 'stringent health and safety' coronavirus conditions this weekThe process has closed sites in France and Spain but will get carried out during operations at Broughton
- Victory for campaign as road gets improvements - but some think more is neededThe improvements on the A487 include improved warning signs, safety barrier work and a new 40mph speed restriction
London Evening Standard
- Darling, I'm on the Tube: first 4G Underground phone calls from tunnels able to be madeTube passengers will be able to make mobile calls in some Underground tunnels for the first time today.
- Gatwick Airport confirms 200 job cuts amid coronavirus clampdownFollow our live blog for all the latest virus updates
Manchester Evening News
- TfGM say tram, bus and train services will be reduced in new statement over coronavirusTrams, buses and trains in Greater Manchester will continue to run during the period of Coronavirus lockdown, transport chiefs have said today.
Newcastle Evening Chronicle
- Newcastle Airport issues stark warning due to the coronavirus outbreakNewcastle International Airport has issued an update to staff and passengers with footfall dropping as a result of Covid-19
Sheffield Star
- “It really isn’t fun getting wet nearly every day you want to travel by train” [letter]I read The Star’s story about the proposed changes around the railway station (The Star, March 11), and I noticed that as usual all the images selected by the planners/developers show a Sheffield basking in sunshine.
Yorkshire Evening Post
- Coronavirus proves that HS2 is not needed as executives turn to SkypeTHE current coronavirus outbreak seems to have highlighted the use of telephone conferencing, Skype, and other forms of telecommunications.
East Anglian Daily Times
- Suffolk bus companies operating as normal at present despite coronavirus crisisThe two largest bus companies operating in Suffolk are continuing to operate as normal – but have taken extra measures in a bid to keep passengers and staff safe.
Reading Evening Post
- Reading Buses service reduction announced amid coronavirus pandemicThe company has seen a dramatic reduction in numbers of people travelling on their services and have acted quickly to match demand
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
- Aviation will contribute to the resolution of the current situation, says leading policy groupThe Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport’s (CILT) Aviation Policy Group has issued a statement on the impact of the coronavirus on the sector and its future. Paul Le Blond, Chairman, Aviation Policy Group, CILT, says: “The effect of the coronavirus situation on aviation is particularly acute as many countries have severely restricted travel, in particular internationally. The first priority in aviation is always safety, and that includes the health of populations and people who work in the industry, so we have no complaint about the restrictions. However, avia...
- HGV ‘supercab’ patrolling M25 to reduce road accidentsUsing specially adapted, unmarked HGV cabs, officers will patrol the M25 and record drivers of all types of vehicles committing mobile phone or other safety offences that are the leading cause of many accidents. The fortnight of action, called Operation Orbital, runs from Monday 16 March to Friday 27 March. A similar safety week on the M1 in 2019 led to the number of collisions falling by almost a third. Colin Evans, Regional road safety officer, for Highways England in the South East, said: The busiest sections of the M25 are used for nearly 200,000 journeys every day, ranging from commute...
- Coronavirus: More flights cancelled by Virgin, Ryanair and othersTravel restrictions and a slump in demand due to the coronavirus have forced airlines to cancel most flights and temporarily reduce staff. Virgin Atlantic will cut four-fifths of its flights and has asked staff to take eight weeks of unpaid leave. Ryanair and EasyJet are grounding most of their fleets, while BA owner IAG is to cut capacity by 75%. Norwegian Air has cancelled thousands of flights and will temporarily lay off more than 7,500 staff. Holiday company Tui has said it will suspend the
New Civil Engineer
- Three HS2 TBMs ordered before Oakervee review concludedMore than £52M was spent on three tunnel boring machines (TBMs) by High Speed 2’s (HS2’s) contractors last year before the Doug Oakervee chaired review into the scheme was concluded, NCE has discovered.
Rail Technology Magazine
- First passenger train in 80 years runs on Camp Hill Line For the first time in 80 years, a former railway line in south Birmingham today (March 16th) moved closer to reopening. Trains have not run along the Camp Hill line since 1941 but plans, orchestrated by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, are in place to open the line again with new stations at...
- Greater Anglia's new electric trains complete test run Rail operator Greater Anglia has begun testing the first of its brand-new electric commuter trains which will provide passengers with thousands of extra seats on their journeys to London. Canadian manufacturer, Bombardier is responsible for constructing the 111 electric trains for Greater Anglia...
Railnews
- Shapps confirms franchise contracts could be eased for virus emergency Transport secretary Grant Shapps has signalled that he is ready to consider easing franchise contracts, to help operators hit by sharply falling demand. Big London stations are much quieter than usual, reflecting a fall in passenger numbers which is said to be not far short of a fifth, although this has yet to be confirmed by the industry. Mr Shapps is holding meetings with franchise managers this week to see how services could be kept running for essential users.
- Railway suppliers urged to help with coronavirus ventilators Companies in the railway supply chain are being urged to help with the manufacture of coronavirus ventilators. The urgent appeal has come from Rail Forum Midlands, which is asking its railway industry members if they can help. The move follows the news that the government is seeking suppliers who may be able to contribute by making Covid-19 ventilators or parts for them.
Other News Sources
- Gatwick Airport coronavirus: 200 staff cut in bid to save money after 'unprecedented' impact The airport is also looking at further measures such as potential unpaid leave or salary reductions
- Government announces new smart motorway safety plans - what it means for M25 and M23 Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also wants to make the scheme "less confusing"
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