Department for Transport to create 650 new jobs in Birmingham and Leeds March 15, 2021 The Department for Transport (DfT) will create 650 jobs in Birmingham and Leeds as part of plans to create new outposts in the cities. The department will open a new headquarters in the Midlands city, as well as a “northern hub” in Leeds. The plan is part of a wider government drive to move 22,000 [...]
More services and hydrogen buses in Boris’ £3bn bus ‘revolution’ March 15, 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has today unveiled £3bn of funding to make buses the country’s “transport of choice”. As part of the “National Bus Strategy”, the government has pledged to deliver 4,000 new British-built electric or hydrogen buses. It will also begin a consultation on ending the sale of diesel buses as part of the [...]
British Airways to launch own ‘vaccine passport’ March 14, 2021 British Airways will launch its own digital “vaccine passport” in time for the return of international travel in May. Those who have had two doses of the coronavirus vaccine will be asked to log their details in BA’s existing app. The step is part of moves to entice people back to flying when the current [...]
Round the bend again: TfL buckles up for crunch time in latest funding talks March 13, 2021 It’s almost like we’ve been here before. On 31 March, Transport for London will for the third time in under a year run out of money, unless it can agree a new funding deal with the government. The past two bailout packages – totalling £3.3bn – were only agreed after weeks of frantic and at [...]
Tesla shareholder sues Elon Musk over tweets March 12, 2021 A shareholder in electric car firm Tesla is suing outspoken boss Elon Musk, claiming that his tweets have exposed investors to billions in losses. The claim accuses Musk of breaking a settlement reached with the US Securities and Exchange Commission back in 2018. At that time, the regulator came down hard on the South Africa-born [...]
Corona Impact Series: How the pandemic accelerated this e-scooter provider’s expansion plans March 12, 2021 In this series, City PM looks at the financial and economic impact of the ongoing pandemic on a range of small and medium-sized businesses across London. This week: How an e-scooter startup from Slough plans to conquer the capital as it is taking advantage of favourable post-pandemic government policies. Electric scooters are increasingly a common [...]
Ride-hailing giant Grab reportedly in talks over $40bn SPAC deal March 11, 2021 Ride-hailing firm Grab is reportedly in talks about going public through what would be the biggest SPAC deal ever signed. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Singapore-based firm is in talks with a SPAC – special-purpose acquisition company – linked with Altimeter Capital Management for a deal that would value it at up to $40bn. [...]
France eases restrictions on travellers from the UK March 11, 2021 France has today become the latest country to lift restrictions on travellers from the UK, its foreign ministry has announced. According to a statement from the Quai d’Orsay, travellers from the UK, as well as six other countries, will no longer need a “compelling reason” to travel to France. However, people will still be required [...]
Government must get people back on public transport to drive green recovery, says Go-Ahead boss March 11, 2021 Encouraging people to get back on public transport when the current Covid restrictions are lifted is vital to the government’s net zero plans, Go-Ahead chief executive David Brown has said. Speaking to City PM, he said that the future of the country’s public transport providers was bound up with “where the government wants to go [...]
Rolls-Royce joins with Scandi carrier Widerøe to launch all-electric plane by 2026 March 11, 2021 Rolls-Royce has today announced a new partnership with Scandinavian regional carrier Widerøe to develop an all-electric commuter aircraft ready for service by 2026. The 11-seat plane is being designed for initial use in Norway, where extremely short flights are very common due to the country’s mountainous territory. The project is part of Norway’s plan to [...]
