HGV market accelerates while buses and coaches fall to lowest level ever February 17, 2022 The growth of industry sectors such as construction has led to a year-on-year increase in the HGV market. Lorry registrations increased 12.9 per cent in 2021, up from a 32.2 per cent lockdown-induced slump in 2020, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). As demand outran supply, 37,163 units were [...]
Airbus reports strong results amid hopes of amicable resolution to Qatar Airways feud February 17, 2022 Plane manufacturer Airbus has managed to consolidate its financial situation amid legal troubles. In 2021, the company’s revenues increased four per cent, going from €49.9bn to €52.1bn, while both its order intake and value increased to €62bn and €398bn. Helicopter was among the sectors that performed best as, with its 414 net orders, it achieved [...]
Ofcom urged to probe Royal Mail’s performance as millions of Brits are left without mail February 17, 2022 Close to 15m people were left waiting for post over the Christmas period, including 2.5m who missed important documents, health appointments, or were unable to pay a fine or bills, according to new research. More than half of those left waiting (54 per cent) reported going at least a week without letters, while 3 per [...]
Power cuts, snow, ice and travel disruption across the UK as Storm Eunice takes over Britain February 17, 2022 The Met Office has issued an amber warning for strong winds covering central Scotland, parts of Northern Ireland and northern England above Hull over the evening, with yellow wind warnings in place as far south as Birmingham. The UK faced strong winds and heavy rain last night, causing power cuts and travel disruption with Storm [...]
Which? calls on government to deliver EV charge points upgrade February 17, 2022 Consumer group Which? is lobbying with the UK national and devolved governments to deliver an upgrade to electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The customer champion’s annual car survey revealed that EV drivers rely on the public network to charge their vehicles only 13 per cent of the time, while charging related fears constitute the biggest [...]
Rolls-Royce seeks to lease disused nuclear sites in Wales and Cumbria to deploy its mini reactors February 16, 2022 Rolls-Royce is seeking to enter negotiations with the UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), to lease disused nuclear sites from the public body, as it pushes forwards with plans to deploy a fleet of mini nuclear reactors across various sites in Wales and the North of England. The British engineering company plans to lease sites from [...]
Monday remains quietest Tube weekday as Londoners continue work from home February 16, 2022 Despite the end of the ‘work from home order’, Londoners continue to avoid going to the office on Mondays, according to Department for Transport (DfT) figures. Tube passenger numbers have registered a significant difference between Monday and the rest of the working week. On Monday 7, ridership was at 55 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, [...]
Automotive developer First Hydrogen joins Cambridge University in hydrogen technology project February 16, 2022 Hydrogen vehicle developer First Hydrogen has partnered with Cambridge University to research hydrogen production and mobility. The parternship, which will run for five years at the university, will focus on how to best develop hydrogen technology for the automotive industry, in particular as regards production and fuel distribution. The first project researchers will focus on [...]
Rail regulator urges operators to stop profiting from ticket refund admin fees February 16, 2022 Train operators were urged today to stop profiting from excessive admin fees applied to ticket refund practices. According to railway regulator the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), while the admin fees for ticket refunds amount to £10, the actual cost of processing refunds is around £5. After analysing data between 1 April 2019 and [...]
Ryanair boss says Ukraine operations will continue as long as “there is no war or missiles flying there” February 16, 2022 Ryanair’s boss has declared the low-cost airline has a duty to operate in Ukraine and will continue to fly as long as “there is no war or missiles flying there”. “We see no reason not to continue those flights until we are told by European authorities that it is not safe to fly,” he said during [...]