UK car sales grew 23 per cent in August as regulatory changes triggered deals September 5, 2018 New car registrations soared by nearly a quarter last month, with dealerships selling 94,094 vehicles. That’s a 23 per cent rise from 76,433 sold in August 2017, data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) today revealed. Regulatory changes were credited with the unexpectedly high growth in a traditionally slow month before [...]
Petrol prices have risen for eight of the last 12 months, warns RAC September 5, 2018 Rising oil prices and a weakening pound are sending fuel prices rocketing, RAC warned today. Petrol has seen price hikes in eight months of the past year, while the cost of diesel has increased in nine of the last 12 months. Read more: Petrol station merger could drive up fuel prices, watchdog finds Prices at [...]
Theresa May mulls major rail review following East Coast fiasco September 4, 2018 Plans for a sweeping review of the UK’s rail franchising system are being drawn up by the government, as Downing Street hunts for a way to solve the country’s transport woes without abandoning the use of private operators. Several sources confirmed to City A.M. that Theresa May is strongly considering a review into the UK’s [...]
Ryanair cancelled 550 flights in August September 4, 2018 Budget airline Ryanair cancelled 550 flights last month, which affected more than 100,000 customers, figures released today show. A 24-hour pilot strike over pay and conditions took place across Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands on 10 August, grounding 396 flights. Read more: Niki Lauda-founded Laudamotion to double Airbus fleet The low-cost carrier also said [...]
London needs a new mayor to get the transport show back on the road September 4, 2018 You may remember the old joke about the family who, hopelessly lost in the middle of nowhere, wind down their car window to ask for directions, only to be told “I wouldn’t start from here if I were you”. In the third year of Sadiq Khan’s mayoralty, transport in London isn’t quite that bad, but [...]
Water companies outline plans to cut customer bills September 3, 2018 Water companies have submitted five-year plans to reduce customers' bills to industry regulator Ofwat. Severn Trent Water said there will be a five per cent reduction in bills in real terms, and United Utilities revealed that customers will pay 10.5 per cent less under plans for 2020 to 2025. Read more: Thames Water launches major investment after choppy year London's [...]
HS2 hit by 12-month delay in further blow to controversial £56bn project September 3, 2018 The £56bn HS2 project linking London to the north has been dealt a further blow after the government admitted it would be subject to a 12-month delay in parliament. Phase 2b of the project, which links Birmingham to Leeds and Crewe to Wigan and Manchester, will be delayed because the bill enabling the line to be [...]
Taxpayers’ Alliance launches competition to find HS2 replacement September 3, 2018 Armchair transport ministers have been given their chance to shine by a new competition to devise an alternative to HS2, the planned high-speed railway. Pressure group the Taxpayers’ Alliance (TPA), which advocates cutting public spending, has put out a call for ideas on how to spend the £50bn-plus designated for the planned route linking London, [...]
Crossrail’s delay sounds depressingly familiar September 3, 2018 With a plethora of talented engineers at our disposal and a rich history of leading the world in pioneering rail projects, it is depressing to witness Britain’s clumsy approach to improving the country’s transport links. Commuter services into the City still woefully under-serve the UK’s economic engine. Meanwhile, news has broken that Crossrail has succumbed [...]
No end in sight for Crossrail fiasco as budget overshoot could surpass £1bn September 2, 2018 Crossrail's budget overshoot could surpass £1bn as the flagship project works towards a new 2019 deadline. Last week it was confirmed that the £15.4bn Elizabeth Line, which stretches from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, has been delayed by almost a year over safety issues and will now [...]