Transport secretary Mark Harper: My role is to facilitate rail talks – not negotiate November 29, 2022 Transport secretary Mark Harper has reaffirmed his role of facilitator in the railway negotiations. Harper wrote to general secretary Mick Lynch saying he saw a way forward “to meet everyone’s needs” and put an end to the rail dispute, especially after last week’s “constructive and positive” meeting. “By modernising working practices, we can deliver the [...]
Energy firm Ovo to pay customers to reduce electricity usage during key times November 29, 2022 Ovo confirmed this morning the energy firm has joined a scheme which could see its customers paid to reduce their electricity use at key times. The National Grid Electricity System Operator launched the scheme earlier this month and has engaged in trials with customers. On Monday, it indicated it could trigger the first live run [...]
Rail Partners calls for government to give operators more freedom November 29, 2022 Rail Partners has called for the government to give train operators more freedom to attract back customers. According to the rail association, the current system – introduced during the pandemic and based on contracts instead of franchising – needs to evolve through an increase harnessing of the private sector. Rail Partners has called for a [...]
Volkswagen’s boss ‘very concerned’ about EU losing industrial attractiveness November 28, 2022 Volkswagen’s boss Thomas Schafer is very concerned about the EU and Germany losing their industrial attractiveness due to surging energy costs. “We are treading water,” he wrote in a LinkedIn post on Monday. “I am very concerned about the current development regarding investments in the industry’s transformation.” According to Schafer – who has been at [...]
Majority of people don’t feel safe in self-driving cars November 28, 2022 The majority of people around the world don’t feel safe in a self-driving car, according to new research. Figures from a report published today by Lloyd’s Register Foundation show that only 27 per cent of the global population believe they would be safe in a driverless car. “The results from the latest World Risk Poll [...]
Aircraft orders take off globally in positive sign to aviation recovery November 28, 2022 The number of aircraft ordered has risen globally in what can be seen as a positive sign to the aviation industry’s post-Covid recovery. Data published today by aerospace trade body ADS shows that October orders jumped to 299 aircraft – the biggest since 2019. While orders for the last 10 months were the largest since [...]
Historical moment: Rolls-Royce and Easyjet announce world’s first hydrogen engine run November 28, 2022 Rolls-Royce and Easyjet have made aviation history as they announced today the first successful run of a hydrogen-powered plane engine. The test was conducted using a hydrogen demonstrator powered by wind and tidal energy generated in the Orkney Islands. Rolls-Royce’s chief technology officer Grazia Vittadini said it was a “landmark achievement.” “We are pushing the [...]
Finance boss at Inchcape quits after ‘personal behaviour falls short’ November 28, 2022 Inchcape’s chief financial officer has stepped down with immediate effect after displaying “personal behaviour falling short” of the company’s standards at a recent event. Gijsbert de Zoeten quit over the revelations this morning, in a statement put out by the company, forfeiting his long-term incentive plans (LTIPs) as well as any bonuses. By contract he [...]
Government calls on railway stations to keep ticket barriers shut to fight fare evasion November 27, 2022 The UK Government has called on railway stations to keep their ticket barriers shut as it clamps down on fare evasion. “For the barriers to be left open would be bad enough in the days when things were better,” rail minister Huw Merriman said. “To do so when I am fighting so hard with the [...]
Volkswagen’s new boss makes strategy U-turn as giant focuses on getting ‘spirit’ back November 27, 2022 Volkswagen’s new chief executive Thomas Schafer has made a u-turn in the company’s strategy, focusing on reducing “the portfolio of models” as well as introducing “proper vehicles.” “We need to get back our spirit, our heart, and create new iconic people’s cars,” Schafer told the Sunday Times. The German manufacturer has been through a turbulent [...]
