British Transport Police first UK force to arm volunteers with tasers May 27, 2022 The British Transport Police has become the first police force in the UK to arm its volunteer police personnel with tasers. From today, 22 British Transport Police volunteer officers will be carrying a taser while on duty after they received a three-day course on how to use the weapon. The move was announced last week [...]
Around 4,000 people fined for not wearing masks on TfL network during pandemic May 27, 2022 Around 4,000 people were fined for not wearing a face covering on London’s transport network when it was compulsory due to Covid. According to City Hall data, 3,996 fixed penalty notices were issued between 24 February 2021 and 27 January 2022. Figures also showed that TfL staff prevented 7,283 people from travelling while forcing another [...]
Costs of EV rapid charging increases by a fifth following surge in energy prices May 27, 2022 The cost of rapidly charging an electric vehicle (EV) has increased by a fifth in the last eight months due to soaring energy prices. Data from automotive insurance company RAC reported that since September public rapid chargers have increased their rate by 7.81p per kilowatt hour (kWh) to 44.55p kWh. This means that completing an [...]
Qatar Airways v Airbus $1bn corporate divorce: UK judge grants airline speedy trial May 26, 2022 A UK judge has granted Qatar Airways a speedy trial against plane manufacturer Airbus in what is the latest round of the $1bn corporate divorce saga. “I am in absolutely no doubt that this case should be tried as soon as is practically possible,” Judge David Walksman said. He added that the trial could start [...]
Lower airport charges will impact passenger service, says Heathrow chairman May 26, 2022 Lowering Heathrow’s airport charges will impact passenger services, according to the airport’s chairman Lord Paul Deighton. A former commercial secretary to the Treasury and chief executive of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Deighton said higher airport chargers are needed if Heathrow wants to remain Britain’s hub airport and deliver an [...]
End of airport slots allocation leads to lower fares, says IEA May 26, 2022 Ending the allocation of airport slots will lead to lower fares, according to a paper published today. The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has argued that buying and selling airport slots on the market like any other goods will lead to more competition between airlines, ultimately improving consumers’ choice. “The system weakens competition between airlines [...]
FirstGroup considers £1.2bn takeover bid from private equity I Squared May 26, 2022 Transport giant FirstGroup has announced it was considering a £1.2bn takeover bid from US private equity I Squared. FirstGroup told investors it was currently considering a 118p per share cash offer after receiving the firm’s latest unsolicited bid yesterday. “The board of FirstGroup notes the recent share price movement,” the group said in a note [...]
UK puts jobs and passengers at centre of post-Covid aviation recovery May 26, 2022 The UK Government has put jobs and passengers at the centre of its post-Covid plan for the aviation sector’s recovery. Launched today by aviation minister Robert Courts, the ‘Flightpath to the Future’ 10-point plan will focus on building back consumer confidence as well as supporting new jobs and the sector’s sustainable recovery to reach net-zero [...]
UK automotive output spirals downward as global pressures continue to bite May 26, 2022 The UK’s automotive output fell by 11.3 per cent in April as global pressures continue to bite. According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), only 60,554 vehicles were produced last month due to a combination of semiconductor shortages and the war in Ukraine’s impact on transport and raw material costs. [...]
Volkswagen coughs up £193m in UK ‘Dieselgate’ settlement May 25, 2022 Volkswagen has agreed to pay £193m as part of an out-of-court UK settlement after 91,000 UK motorists filed a class action over the “Dieselgate” scandal. Tony Winterburn, head of consumer protection litigation at PGMBM, commented on the news and said: “This is a good day for the claimants and is the culmination of five years [...]
