Former Tory PMs hit back at ‘desperate’ move to ditch HS2 to Manchester Transport Former premiers have warned Rishi Sunak about “delivering a mutilated HS2” after his Conservative Government refused to deny it was considering axing the Manchester leg. Boris Johnson said suggestions the Birmingham to Manchester route could be chopped over cost concerns were “desperate” and “Treasury-driven nonsense” as he urged the Prime Minister to deliver on the [...]
Starmer rejects ‘great rail betrayal’ tag – but refuses to commit to HS2 in full Hs2 Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he is not guilty of the “great rail betrayal” that Labour has accused the Government of by not committing to building HS2 in full. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has said the costs of the high-speed rail project to the North are “getting totally out of control” as Rishi Sunak refuses to [...]
Strikes by train drivers in early October will leave some areas with no services (including for Tory conference) rail Rail passengers are being warned that fresh strikes by train drivers in a long-running dispute over pay will mean some areas will have no services. Members of train drivers union Aslef will walk out on Saturday September 30 and Wednesday October 4, coinciding with the annual conference of the Conservative Party. The drivers will take [...]
Dott ends London e-bike service due to ‘high fees and varied regulations’ September 22, 2023 E-bike firm Dott has ended its London service because it was not possible to “run a financially sustainable” operation in the capital – just as its renewed e-scooter scheme takes off on Monday. The company, which recently won a new contract as part of Transport for London’s e-scooter trial which starts on Monday, insisted it [...]
Transport Select Committee sets tests for rail strike minimum service levels September 22, 2023 MPs have set the Government a series of tests over its controversial new law on minimum levels of service during rail strikes. The Transport Select Committee outlined a number of principles for what ministers should include in regulations due to be published following the passing of legislation. Unions are strongly opposed to the law, warning [...]
Heavy rain causes delays and cancellations on lines into London Kings Cross and Moorgate September 21, 2023 Rail passengers faced some cancelled and altered services on Thursday morning in the wake of heavy rain overnight. A National Rail statement said all lines between London Kings Cross / Moorgate and Stevenage, Hertfordshire are closed following “a number of incidents”. “Trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 90 minutes or revised,” the statement [...]
Angry car makers: Delaying petrol and diesel ban will damage EV investment in UK September 20, 2023 Leading car manufacturers have urged the government to give clarity on its proposed row back on banning petrol and diesel cars, saying they’ve invested hundreds of millions to meet targets. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said the policy change will cause “concern” among car makers. It has [...]
Uber: EU rules will see us pull out of “hundreds” of European cities September 20, 2023 An Uber boss has issued a stark warning that Brussels' proposal to classify gig workers as de facto employees could slam the breaks on operations across the bloc.
‘Higher costs, poorer services’: London business chief slams Whitehall failings September 20, 2023 The boss of an influential London lobby group has said a "British disease of short-termism" is holding the capital's economy back
New contract for one of Britain’s least reliable train operators – and beleaguered Avanti September 19, 2023 One of Britain’s least reliable train operators has been handed a long-term contract renewal. The Department for Transport (DfT) announced that CrossCountry, whose network stretches across large parts of the country, will continue to run services. It also renewed Avanti West Coast’s contract. Office of Rail and Road (ORR) figures show the equivalent of 6.8 [...]