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 [...]
RMT boss says “fiasco” rail franchise system is beyond reform February 5, 2017 The RMT Union has welcomed the findings of a House of Commons select committee in its damning report on rail franchises. RMT general secretary Mick Cash called the franchise system a “fiasco” and said that the report confirmed the government had covered up Southern Rail’s poor performance. However, he did not think the suggested reforms [...]
Department for Transport (DfT) “effectively enabled” Southern owner to avoid breach of contract, says Transport Select Committee February 5, 2017 The government's handling of the Southern rail crisis has "effectively enabled" Southern's parent firm Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) to avoid breach of contract, says a damning new report on rail franchising. The report, by the Transport Select Committee, said that given the exposure of the taxpayer to the failings of the franchise, it was "unacceptable for the [...]
Airlines are now allowing passengers affected by Donald Trump’s travel ban to board flights February 4, 2017 The nationals of seven Muslim majority countries targeted by President Trump's US travel ban are currently being allowed to board flights to America by some airlines. It comes after Seattle judge James Robart ruled that Trump's travel ban was unconstitutional. In a statement, the White House said the order was "lawful and appropriate" and it [...]
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell vows to end London bias in transport investment and close the North-South funding gap February 4, 2017 Labour will seek to end the "bias" in transport investment and close the gap in spending between the north and south of England, saying too much public funding has been focused on the capital. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, speaking in Liverpool today, will say the north of England only receives about half as much investment [...]
Cancer Research UK London Winter Run: Here’s a list of all the roads that’ll be shut and where to go to watch February 4, 2017 Thinking of heading into town tomorrow? That's fine, but be braced for a raft of road closures that might slightly impede your progress. Don't worry, the Tube strikes are still off – it's just a 10km Cancer Research UK Winter Run is going ahead tomorrow. And over 15,000 people took part last time, so you [...]
Light at the end of the tunnel: Southern rail owner and RMT to meet for fresh talks next week after Aslef deal February 3, 2017 The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has agreed to meet with Southern rail's parent company for fresh face-to-face talks, in an effort to settle its long-running dispute over the role of the guard. It comes after an agreement was reached between Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) and train drivers' union Aslef in their row, which should bring an end [...]
All you need to know about next week’s massive Tube strike February 3, 2017 Just in: next week's Tube strikes have been suspended after last-ditch talks were held this week between the RMT union and London Underground bosses. There was going to be more strike action next week with more than 3,000 members of the RMT union planning to walk out over ticket office closures and job cuts. Read more: Every [...]