London buses converted into temporary ambulances to ease Covid pressure January 21, 2021 Two London buses have been converted into temporary ambulances to alleviate the pressure of Covid-19 on the NHS across the capital. Starting the service in the next few days, NHS staff have been prepped and vaccinated to transport up to four patients in the makeshift ambulances which have been stripped of seats and adapted with [...]
TfL adds 300 electric vehicle charging points ahead of ULEZ expansion January 21, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) has now installed nearly 6,000 electric vehicle charging points across London as preparations for an expanded Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) continue apace. The transport network this morning said that it had managed to hit its target of installing 300 more charge points this year, despite delays from the coronavirus pandemic. [...]
French government ready to help prop up Eurostar January 21, 2021 The French government is ready to help prop up the Eurostar, a transport minister confirmed today, and is in talks with the UK over how to do so. This morning Jean-Baptiste Djebbari told French lawmakers that negotiations were underway over protecting the cross-channel rail link, which has seen its finances decimated by the pandemic. His [...]
Norwegian Air gets state backing for restructuring plan January 21, 2021 The Norwegian government has decided to back Norwegian Air’s survival plan, a boost to the embattled carrier’s survival plans. The airline sought the help of ministers last week after unveiling a recovery plan which would see it cut its fleet to 50 planes and stop long-haul services. In a statement, the carrier said that officials [...]
Saga to require holidaymakers to get Covid-19 vaccine before travel January 20, 2021 Over-50’s holiday provider Saga has announced that all customers will be required to have a Covid-19 vaccination travelling on the firm’s cruises or package holidays. The firm said it is preparing to restart its travel business in May – delayed from the planned April date – to allow customers time to receive a jab. Customers [...]
Eurostar bailout will be an ‘arm-wrestle’ with French government January 20, 2021 A top transport economist has predicted that the negotiations between the UK and French governments over a bailout for the Eurostar will be an “arm-wrestle”. Speaking to the transport select committee today, Professor Yves Crozet of the University of Lyon said that the UK would have to give ground in order to prop up the [...]
New chief exec for Vauxhall as UK investment decision looms January 20, 2021 Car giant Stellantis has appointed former Nissan executive Paul Wilcox as the new chief executive of British brand Vauxhall. The appointment comes as the group warned that a decision about future investment into Vauxhall’s UK operations could come “within weeks”. Speaking at an event to mark the merger of Peugeot owner PSA and Italian-American giant [...]
High Court rules TfL’s ‘Streetspace’ plan unlawful January 20, 2021 The High Court has today ruled that Transport for London’s “Streetspace” plan treated London’s taxi drivers unlawfully. In her judgement, Justice Lang said that TfL “took advantage of the pandemic” to push through “radical changes” to London’s streets. The “ill-considered” response to the pandemic saw taxis banned from using bus lanes in order to ply [...]
Aviation industry launches fresh plea for government support January 20, 2021 The UK’s aviation industry has come together in a fresh plea for extra government support for the struggling industry. Representatives from the country’s biggest trade bodies have called for a aviation and aerospace recovery plan including short-term financial relief for airports and airlines. Measures include the extension of a suspension of business rates to aviation [...]
BA owner IAG slashes purchase price for Air Europa in half January 20, 2021 British Airways owner IAG has slashed the price of its purchase of Air Europa in half, the airlines group announced this morning. IAG will now pay €500m for the budget carrier, down from the €1m agreed in November 2019. After the coronavirus pandemic struck, decimating the airline industry, IAG pushed to reduce the price of [...]