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

Thursday, 25 June 2020

BBC News

• Royal Navy's first crewless boat ready for testingThe first crewless boat is now ready for a trial alongside a Royal Navy warship later this year.
• Coronavirus: Ministers asked to make face coverings on public transport compulsoryInfrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon wants the executive to make face coverings mandatory.
• Furloughed Eurostar staff become French teachersTrain staff, including drivers, volunteer in the lockdown to help schools teach French online.
• Coronavirus: Tata Steel in government talks amid bailout reportsThe UK's largest steelmaker is reportedly seeking a bailout worth hundreds of millions of pounds.
• Airports giant Swissport set to halve its UK workforceMore than 4,500 jobs could be lost at the ground handling firm due to coronavirus effects on air travel.
• Jet2 and Eurostar cut summer flights and trainsThe travel firms blame service cuts on falling demand and difficulties implementing protection measures.
• Increase car taxes to help climate, advisers sayCar taxes should increase to help fund the battle against climate change, government advisers say.
• Coronavirus: Qantas to axe 6,000 jobs due to pandemicThe airline says the collapse in billions of dollars of travel revenue means it has

Financial Times

• Coronavirus latest: BAE warns profits to fall 15% as Covid-19 hits aviation unit
• US airlines raise $10bn in a weekAmerican, United and Alaska find capital markets receptive, at the right price
• Swissport halves its UK workforceAirport ground handler axes 4,556 jobs in face of huge travel slowdown
• EasyJet looks to raise £450m with share placingBudget airline moves to shore up finances in face of deep losses during critical summer season
• Qantas slashes jobs and taps shareholders for survival plan Airline says international flights unlikely to resume in significant way until July 2021

The Guardian

• Get this message over to airlines … stop passing the buck over refundsThe law is clear ... it’s the airline that cancels that is obliged to provide a full refund within seven daysI booked Virgin Atlantic flights to the US through Opodo and have been told I must accept a voucher rather than a refund. I am a 71-year-old widow and do not know if I will be fit enough to travel in 2021. I am in lockdown because of my age and health, and am in tears of frustration at the number of times I have tried to contact Opodo and Virgin Atlantic. Virgin Atlantic tells me I should obtain a refund from Opodo and Opodo tells me it is contacting Virgin Atlantic on my behalf, but I ...
• Road to net zero: what the Committee on Climate Change recommendsThe government adviser publishes its progress report today. Here are the areas it says require urgent attentionAct fast to stop UK carbon emission rebound, climate advisers urge The government’s statutory adviser, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), publishes its progress report on Thursday on efforts to cut emissions. This is what it says needs to happen urgently if the UK is to reach its target of hitting net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Continue reading...

Times Online

• Pilots distracted by virus chat before crash in Karachi killed 98 [Subscription]The pilots of an airliner that crashed in Karachi last month were discussing coronavirus and failed to extend the undercarriage as they approached to land, officials have said.
• Swissport tells workers to pack their bags [Subscription]The biggest baggage-handler at Britain’s airports plans to cut more than half its UK-based workforce.
• Easyjet bolsters finances with £450m share issue [Subscription]Easyjet is to raise up to £450 million through a sale of new shares after reporting a wider half-year loss.
• Ban new petrol cars by 2032 to tackle climate change, ministers urged [Subscription]Sales of new petrol and diesel cars should be banned three years sooner than planned and fuel duty raised immediately to encourage the switch to greener transport, government advisers have said.
• Look no hands: Royal Navy tests crewless vessel [Subscription]The Royal Navy has launched the first “crewless boat” for general duties. Trials have begun for a model of the Pacific 24 that has been developed by Navy X, the innovation wing of the service, and BAE Systems.

Mail Online

• Britain's railways will be 'renationalised' using emergency coronavirus measuresTransport Secretary Grant Shapps has claimed the pandemic has provided the government the chance to build a 'different type of railway'.
• Qantas to slash 6,000 jobs from its ground and cabin crews - one fifth of its entire workforce Qantas is set to announce it will slash 6,000 jobs from its ground and cabin crews -  20 per cent of the airline's workforce.

This is Money

• Easyjet turns to shareholders to boost finances with £450m fundraisingThe budget airline plans to raise more cash by selling almost 60m new shares, the equivalent of just under 15 per cent of existing shares in the company. It said it hopes this would raise £400m to £450m.

Belfast Telegraph

• BAE Systems warns of Covid-19 profits hit but strong recovery aheadDefence giant BAE Systems has warned of a Covid-19 hit to first-half profits, but said trading will be “much strongerâ€� over the final six months as it gets back up to full capacity.
• Qantas to cut 6,000 jobs as airline plots path to survival post-coronavirusQantas plans to cut at least 6,000 jobs and keep 15,000 more workers on extended furloughs as Australia’s largest airline tries to survive the coronavirus pandemic.
• Britons to be allowed to take holidays as air bridges plan takes formAir bridges will be available from next week to allow Britons to take holidays in other countries without quarantining for 14 days, it has been reported.

Birmingham Post

• The developer has offered to help upgrade the routeConcerns have been raised about a huge industrial park that could be built next to congested section of the A5.
• More than 4,500 jobs to go at airport baggage handling firm SwissportCompany is set to cut more than half of its UK staff after a major slump in air passenger numbers
• Airbus supplier Magellan Aerospace to 'cut 240 jobs' at Wrexham and Deeside sitesUnions say Airbus supplier Magellan Aerospace has told workers the roles are under threat
• Shortlist revealed to build new HS2 station in BirminghamTrio of bidders will now be invited to tender for the £570m contract to build the first of four new stations planned for phase one of high-speed line

Bolton News

• Free weekday parking part of £1.25million boost to help Bolton businesses MORE than £1million will be pumped into Bolton and district town centres and  in a bid to get the struggling high street back on its feet. SAIQA CHAUDHARI reports

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Fresh row over enforcing face masks rule on district's busesA BUS company has come under fire after refusing to confront passengers who do not wear face coverings.
• Jet2 urged to delay proposed redundancies of 102 pilots A union has called on the government to step in and delay proposals by Jet2 to cut a total of 102 pilot jobs.

Bristol Live

• Jobs at Bristol Airport at risk 'to protect livelihoods in long run'"There simply aren’t enough aircraft flying for our business to continue running as it did before"
• Bristol Airport shares 12 rules for travelling to keep you safePassengers will have their temperatures taken on check-in

Liverpool Echo

• UK sets out new rule for countries hoping to welcome touristsTransport Secretary Grant Shapps said the new rule was being considered during negotiations

London Evening Standard

• Qantas to cut 6,000 jobs and keep 15,000 stood down on furloughQantas plans to cut at least 6,000 jobs and keep 15,000 more workers on extended furloughs as it battles to survive the coronavirus pandemic.
• EasyJet launches emergency fundraiser to get through covid cash crisisEasyJet today launched a bid to raise an extra £450 million towards its £2 billion covid survival chest in the face of the travel shutdown.
• Britons 'will be able to fly to France, Italy and Spain as soon as next week'Boris Johnson is reportedly set to give the green light to foreign holidays, with so-called 'air bridges' to France, Spain, Italy and Greece all but confirmed.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Air bridges to Spain, France and Germany could be set up by next weekThe Government will reportedly announced a number of 'air bridge' countries in the coming days

Cambridge News

• Latest Stansted Airport travelling rules for holidays and returning to the UKThe latest travel advice for passengers travelling to and from Stansted Airport

Other Regional Press

• Warning as number of near-misses and trespassing on train tracks risesThe number of near-misses and trespassing incidents on railway tracks has risen sharply, according to the Office of Rail and Road.
• Southampton port to welcome its "biggest vessel ever" tomorrow morning SOUTHAMPTON is set to welcome its port's
• Stagecoach North-East reveal huge hit to passenger numbers and revenues£16m funding settlement is being paid to meet the cost of concessionary bus trips in the Tees Valley
• New railway tech will slash diesel emissions from trainsSOUTH Western Railway says it has completed a 'revolutionary trial of new technology' that will reduce harmful emissions from diesel trains by more than 90 per cent.

C.N.N.

• Qantas is cutting 6,000 jobs and raising $1.3 billion as the coronavirus pandemic takes its tollQantas is cutting 6,000 jobs and looking to raise up to 1.9 billion Australian dollars ($1.3 billion) as the carrier fights to survive the coronavirus pandemic.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Safeguarding directions for High Speed 2 Phase 2aStatement on the progress of the Phase 2a Bill through Parliament and publication of revised safeguarding directions for the whole of the Phase 2a route. By Andrew Stephenson MP. Motions to revive the High Speed Rail (West Midlands – Crewe) Bill, known as the Phase 2a Bill, have now been passed in each House, and the Bill was re-introduced on Tuesday 3 March. I look forward to the progression of the Bill as it nears its final stages. I am today publishing revised safeguarding directions for the whole of the Phase 2a route. These safeguarding directions reflect the amendments (and there...

Railnews

• Shapps gives green light to National Rail concessions Transport secretary Grant Shapps has given the clearest indication yet that the old style train operating franchises will not be revived after the pandemic.

Other News Sources

• Urban Transport Group expands reach as Transport for Wales joins ranks Wednesday, June 24, 2020   Topic:  Bus Regional and Urban Rail Sustainability
• Transport for Wales joins Urban Transport GroupUTG chair says Transport for Wales offers ‘unique perspective’     The Urban Transport Group has announced that Transport for Wales is joining the network as an Associate Member. Transport for Wales joins the existing 13-strong membership of transport authorities, with full Members in Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, London, Sheffield City Region, Tyne and Wear, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire, and Associate Members in Strathclyde, the West of England, Tees Valley, Nottingham and Northern Ireland. The not-for-profit company which has been tasked with drivin...
• Zenobe secures £20m for electric bus rolloutFunding will assist with electric bus expansion     Zenobe Energy, one of the UK’s largest independent owners and operators of battery storage, has secured up to £20m of contracted receivables funding from NatWest Specialist Structured Finance, to support the continued growth of the company. The funding is the first financing arrangement to support electric bus and charging infrastructure provided under service contracts to bus operators. NatWest provides funding which is secured against the cashflows generated by Zenobe’s contracts with the operators to provide charging infrastructu...
• How realistic is electrification?  There is a movement towards adoption of electric propulsion on the roads and railways – but it may not be the best way forward     Network Rail and others have expressed the view that wider electrification of the railway network should be pursued. This is despite several curtailed schemes and a longstanding history of never achieving electrification on the scale achieved by other national railway networks. The current compromise of bi- and tri-mode trains overcomes the problem to some extent but the goal of comprehensive routes continues to elude. The Midland Main Line s...
• CCC: Covid-19 recovery a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' to spur net-zero transition Producing a Covid-19 recovery plan which is fully aligned with the UK's 2050 net-zero climate target is "absolutely necessary and entirely possible" with strong coordination across Whitehall, Ministers have been told by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC).

EIN News Subscription

• Could TUI and easyJet shares be bargains of the year? … ! However, as lockdown eases across Europe, we could see a return … reason for this is the budget airline has been more profitable than …
• Decision on UK air corridors DELAYED as Grant Shapps says list of nations will be revealed on MONDAY … a 'core' of European nations who could form the … . I know both for airports, for airlines and actually for ground handlers … .' Since June 8, all passengers - bar a handful of … looking forward to getting this information, but we've got …
• Coronavirus: Air bridges could be set up by next month as foreign holiday bookings surge … by international lockdown measures. Air bridges — an agreement between … UK and a number of European nations including France, Italy … Asked by the Commons Transport Select Committee what the … I know both for airports, for airlines and actually for ground …
• Brits can travel to Italy and Spain 'next week' as air bridges to be announced … European countries from next week as the first "air … , Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the so-called air bridges … measures introduced this month. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps (Image: … the coronavirus lockdown. Air bridges would enable travellers …