Forget contactless, train tickets could soon use fingerprints and facial recognition February 7, 2017 Ambitious plans to bring train travel into the 21st Century could replace paper tickets and even forward-thinking contactless payments with fingerprints and iris scanning. “Britain’s railway exists to drive our economic prosperity. A 21st century railway offers opportunities for businesses to grow by bringing more technology to the railway more quickly. Everyone in the railway [...]
FirstGroup gets Brexit boost from sterling despite flat performance in UK February 7, 2017 FirstGroup enjoyed a Brexit boost as the devaluation of sterling delivered a strong revenue increase despite its continued struggles in its UK buses business. The figures Group revenue increased by 12.8 per cent because of the devaluation of sterling since the EU referendum, as foreign earnings became more valuable. Without the sterling boost the group’s [...]
London’s classic red phone boxes are getting a makeover – complete with Wi-Fi and touchscreens February 7, 2017 You may have noticed some rather different phone boxes to what you're used to popping up on the streets of the capital. Well that's because the iconic red phone box is getting a revamp and New World Payphones has been wheeling out swanky new versions complete with high-speed Wi-Fi, touchscreen functions for local services and digital [...]
A gig economy inquiry by MPs hears a tale of two Uber drivers February 6, 2017 Uber drivers have given evidence to MPs scrutinising the rise of the gig economy and its implications for workers, painting two very different pictures of their experience with the company. "There is no flexibility," said Uber driver David Dunn, giving evidence to the work and pensions committee chaired by Frank Field, who last year accused Uber of treating its drivers [...]
The world’s longest non-stop commercial flight landed today after covering 14,535km February 6, 2017 Get a bit antsy on long flights? Well spare a thought for those on board flight QR920 from Doha to New Zealand, which travelled 9,032 miles (or 14,535km) on a route which takes 17 hours and 30 minutes – though this flight landed after 16 hours and 23 minutes. Quicker than expected. Qatar Airways has just [...]
It’s lift off for Uber’s flying cars with a major hire from Nasa February 6, 2017 Think flying cars are just a pie in the sky idea? Think again. Uber is working on creating driverless cars and has already hinted at more sci-fi ambitions for airborne vehicles, but now its made a serious new hire to lead such technological development. And where else would you find someone to do such futuristic work? Nasa, [...]
Netherlands flag carrier KLM returns to London City Airport after nearly eight years February 6, 2017 The national flag carrier of the Netherlands has returned to London City Airport after an eight year absence. KLM's inaugural Amsterdam service arrived at 7:20am this morning with the return leg departing at 7:50am. The route will grow from an initial daily service to KLM's hub at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to four daily flights from 26 March. [...]
UK car sales reach highest point since 2005 in January as alternative fuel vehicles push to record market share February 6, 2017 UK car purchases reached a 12-year high in January as the alternative fuel segment jumped to a record market share. Year-on-year growth hit 2.9 per cent in the month, with 174,564 new purchases, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Car-buyers eschewed diesel vehicles as increased concerns over air pollution continue to [...]
Ryanair profits hit turbulence but the airline maintains full-year guidance February 6, 2017 Ryanair profits hit a patch of turbulence in 2016 as the devaluation of sterling following the EU referendum saw Europe’s largest airline’s wings clipped. The figures Profits fell by eight per cent to €95m (£81m) despite traffic growing by 16 per cent to reach 29m customers. Revenue grew one per cent year-on-year to €1.35bn (£1.16bn) [...]
British business leaders urge government to improve the UK’s lagging infrastructure February 6, 2017 Two thirds of British business leaders think that the UK’s infrastructure is worse than other developed economies, according to a Lloyds Bank survey released today. Only 8 per cent of the 77 boardroom-level executives who responded thought that the national infrastructure of the UK was better than that of other countries. The results of the [...]