Ulez expansion: Five Tory councils launch legal challenge against Sadiq Khan’s plan February 17, 2023 Five Conservative-led councils said they have started a legal challenge over Sadiq Khan’s decision to expand London’s ultra low emission zone (Ulez). The outer London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Hillingdon, together with Surrey County Council, issued a joint statement announcing they have launched a judicial review into the Labour mayor’s plan. A spokesman [...]
Strikes: RMT workers to stage another walkout over pay, jobs and conditions February 17, 2023 Rail workers are to stage a series of fresh strikes in the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Members of the Rail, Martine and Transport union (RMT) will walk out on March 16, 18 and 30, and April 1, at 14 train operators. The union’s members at Network Rail will strike on March 16 and will [...]
Weekend weather warning: Storm Otto to bring high winds, rain, and travel disruption to parts of the UK February 17, 2023 Storm Otto is set to cause disruption to parts of Scotland and north-east England as it moves across the UK on Friday. The storm, the first to be named this winter, has been labelled Otto by the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) and is expected to bring disruption to travellers across northern areas of the UK. [...]
Network Rail hits back at ‘regretful’ RMT claim linking modernisation proposals to tragedy February 16, 2023 Network Rail’s plans to modernise maintenance will improve safety for workers, as it hit out at the RMT union for its “regretful” linking of proposals to a tragedy almost 20 years ago. NR strongly denied claims by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union that it had a cost-cutting agenda, as its boss Mick Lynch invoked [...]
SSP: Upper Crust owner’s UK recovery hampered by rail strikes as commuters stop buying baguettes February 16, 2023 Upper Crust owner SSP has seen the recovery in its UK arm hampered by repeated waves of strike action across railway networks. The company, which runs food outlets at transport sites such as airports and railway stations, revealed the performance of its UK and Ireland business lagged behind other regions globally due to train strike [...]
Richard Branson’s failed Virgin Orbit satellite launch was caused by dislodged fuel filter February 15, 2023 A dislodged fuel filter caused last month’s failure of the first attempt to launch satellites into orbit from the UK, Virgin Orbit has said. This caused an engine to overheat, leading to the malfunction of components and the premature shutdown of the LauncherOne rocket’s thrust, according to the company founded by billionaire Sir Richard Branson. [...]
EV charging prices down but varying peak-rates threaten to drive up cost, AA warns February 15, 2023 The cost of charging electric vehicles (EV) fell in January but drivers should be aware that providers are now offering different rates depending on the time of day, a report by the AA warned. The insurance company found that slow charging costs dropped eight per cent last month to match home charging, but the average [...]
Rolls-Royce, Airbus pen deal with Air India for 250 planes in boost for UK manufacturing February 14, 2023 Rolls-Royce and Airbus have signed multi-billion pound deal to build 250 new planes for Air India, which is set to create hundreds of new jobs in the UK. The wings will be designed in Filton and assembled in Broughton, creating 450 manufacturing jobs and bringing in more than than £100m of investment to Wales. Meanwhile, [...]
Tui reduces loss to £135m but warns of threat posed by soaring fuel prices and cost-of-living crisis February 14, 2023 Travel firm Tui has posted a €153m (£135m) loss for the final three months of 2022 as the German company warned of potentially tougher times to come. The Hanover-based firm said the cost-of-living crisis could see demand for its holidays to fall as cash-strapped Europeans cancel trips abroad. Tui warned that the war in Ukraine [...]
Ford to cut 1,300 UK jobs in major overhaul of European operations to refocus on EVs February 14, 2023 Ford has announced it will be scrapping 3,800 jobs across Europe, including 1,300 in the UK, over the next three years amid plans to reinvent the brand and focus on a smaller range of electric vehicles. The global carmaker said 2,800 engineering roles will be axed by 2025, and around 1,000 jobs in its administrative, marketing, [...]