Latest news with #Department for Transport
BBC News
15 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Woking NHS nurse campaigns for 'urgent' train ticket reform
A Surrey NHS worker has launched a campaign calling for urgent train ticket reform after revealing she spends more than £200 a month commuting to her job at a London Arias moved from London to Woking a year ago to save on rent and said her train travel costs remains high despite using a discount Flexi Season campaign on has collected more than 24,100 signatures and she is urging rail bosses to introduce 24-hour train tickets.A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesperson said: "While we are not planning to introduce 24-hour return tickets, we are overhauling the complex fares system to make rail travel simpler and more flexible for passengers." Ms Arias, who works as a paediatric cardiac intensive care nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service she sometimes "regrets moving to Woking".She added she works 12-hour shifts, often overnight, and purchases two tickets for each shift, one to travel in and another to get home the next morning as existing train tickets expire at 04:29 BST."When we work a night shift, we don't have a break and then we have to pay for another ticket. It's just not fair," she there are other hospitals in Surrey, Ms Arias said she never wanted to leave her current job. 'Expensive and inflexible' "Working at Great Ormond Street Hospital is a great sense of achievement," she added. "It's the best thing I've ever done."Originally from Spain, Ms Arias moved to the UK 13 years ago and said she was "shocked" by how expensive and "inflexible" British transport added that in Madrid, commuters could purchase transport passes for bus, train and rail for £70 a month. Another campaign which Ms Arias started was a petition for an NHS railcard which has reached more than 3,000 signatures on the House of Commons DfT spokesperson added: "We've already delivered ticketing innovations such as contactless pay as you go to additional stations in Surrey this year. "This gives passengers the best value ticket for their journey, with additional stations expected to get the technology soon."
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Bradford and Sheffield share £28m grant for zero emission buses
New zero emission buses are to be introduced in Sheffield and Bradford after the government awarded the cities a shared grant of £28m for the cities have introduced clean air zones (CAZ) in response to pollution levels and the Department for Transport said the money would help improve air quality. Sheffield will get £20m of the funding, with Bradford getting the remaining £ Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council leader, said she was "delighted" government ministers understood the importance of clean air, while Tom Hunt, leader of Sheffield City Council, said new buses were "essential to further reduce pollution". Government said the cash was in addition to £3.6m of transport money for West and South Yorkshire already announced in the June spending review.A DfT spokesperson said the investment would bring "smoother and quieter journeys for passengers and improve local air quality" across the two cities, which both suffered from "poor air quality".Bradford Council was ordered to improve the city's air quality by government in 2018, with a CAZ introduced in CAZ was introduced in February 2023. Emma Hardy, Air Quality Minister, said the government was "determined to protect communities from the harm that breathing in dirty air brings"."This vital investment is helping to transform the bus networks for the cities of Bradford and Sheffield, providing residents with greener alternatives that will boost the local economy and deliver cleaner air," she number of buses the money will fund has not yet been said the grant was "great news for Sheffield"."It will mean we can get more zero emission electric buses on our streets, replacing older, polluting, diesel buses," he Hinchcliffe, said the buses would "accelerate" improvements in air quality."The clean air zone has improved our air quality hugely and resulted in people needing to visit GPs less with respiratory problems," she said. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Labour's Electric Car Grant will be a drain on taxpayers and cause 'rampant EV depreciation', experts warn
Labour has taken the drastic step to reintroduce electric car grants this week, offering subsidies on EV prices as ministers desperately try to reinvigorate public demand for new models to meet Net Zero goals. But while taxpayer-funded discounts of almost £4,000 should make shiny new battery cars a little more appealing to drivers, it threatens to further compound 'rampant EV depreciation', industry insiders have warned. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander on Monday unveiled Labour's £650million Electric Car Grant (ECG), coming three years after the previous Tory regime scrapped its own plug-in car grant. The Department for Transport confirms only fully electric models below £37,000 - and that are sustainably produced - are eligible for subsidies from £1,500 to £3,750, with funding in place until 2028-29. But as the dust settles on the reaction to the announcement - which has largely been positive, especially from car makers who smell a spike in sales without taking a hit on profits - some industry experts claim it will only prove to be a major drain on public spending that will cause used EV prices to plummet. According to recent cap hpi data shared exclusively with This is Money, the average electric car in 2025 is losing 43 per cent of its original value after just one year. In monetary terms, this translates to an average financial loss of £25,900 on the recommended retail price when new. As such, residual values for battery cars are already far worse than other fuel types; in comparison, petrol and diesel cars typically lose around 31 per cent of their initial price over the same period. And for some electric models, depreciation can be catastrophic. The exclusive analysis revealed that a DS3 E-Tense typically depreciates at a rate of 66.7 per cent in the first 12 months, shedding almost £26,000 of its original £39,000 price. Cap hpi told us the biggest trigger of widescale EV depreciation in the last two years has been the level of discounting on new electric cars in showrooms. With manufacturers under intense pressure to meet the Government's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate - the annually-increasing EV sales targets set out for the next decade - they have been slashing prices of battery models to make them more attractive to buyers. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Trader (SMMT) claims car makers swallowed £4billion in losses associated to EV discounting alone. And the introduction of the Electric Car Grant will further compound this issue, a number of experts have told us. As such, buyers of new EVs taking advantage of Labour's grant will later be hit by a financial hammer-blow when they realise the value of their motors have crashed after a matter of months. Philip Nothard, insight director at analysts Cox Automotive told us: 'Heavy discounts on new EVs have already dampened demand for nearly new models available in the used car market. 'While driving down the cost of new vehicles will undoubtedly increase the EV adoption in the new market, these incentives fail to recognise the impact they will have on the used market.' Nothard says the grant now threatens to increase depreciation of electric cars up to two years old. 'The used market is a crucial source of profitability for the automotive sector, so the strength and consistency of the industry is crucial to the success of the government's net zero ambitions,' he said. 'To ensure this, the government needs to consider more support for the used EV sector to put the brakes on the rapid pace of depreciation.' British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) chief executive Toby Poston also warned that further stimulating new EV registrations without supporting the used market 'risks creating an even greater supply-and-demand imbalance, putting even more pressure on fast deflating second-hand values'. His concerns follow major warning flags raised about plunging second-hand EV values creating a 'car leasing crisis', which has businesses in the sector on the verge of collapse having already lost 'hundreds of millions of pounds' when customer contracts end and companies are left with low-value EVs to move on. Poston told This is Money that the grants 'overlook potentially serious repercussions for the used market'. He went on: 'Rampant depreciation already has red warning lights flashing. 'The resulting losses from the ECG will erode confidence and result in higher finance costs for new EVs, eliminating much of the benefit from the original grant.' Industry analysts have blamed huge depreciation of electric cars on the fact that manufacturers have in recent months been dramatically discounting showroom prices Ginny Buckley, a TV presenter and massive EV ambassador in her role as chief executive at website said the grants will cause a sudden drop in EV prices that will ultimately ripple into the used market. 'Depreciation [in the second-hand market] has already played havoc with consumer confidence,' she explained to us. 'In our November 2024 survey of over 11,000 UK drivers, nearly four in ten said concerns about the resale value of EVs were holding them back from making the switch to electric. 'While the return of the government grant is a welcome kickstart for the new car market, I'd have liked to see a more balanced approach that also supports used buyers. 'A subsidised used car loan, similar to the scheme already available in Scotland, could help more people go electric and build long-term trust in the market.' EV grants 'a waste of public spending' James Buxton, chief commercial officer at used EV platform car360, says the grants will be an unnecessary drain on taxpayer funds. Speaking to This is Money, he said: 'In reality, manufacturers are going to reduce their incentives and discounts, replacing it instead with government subsidies: a winner for the automotive lobby. 'This means very little in way of meaningful reductions in transactional prices for consumers, and a huge waste of public money. 'Used EV's represent fantastic value for money, and I don't see them depreciating much further than their current levels. 'However, the uncertainty and confusion the ECG announcement has caused will almost certainly lead to another period of volatility, just when we when we were seeing some real traction in the used car market.' Stuart Masson, editorial direction at consumer-facing website The Car Expert, also questioned whether the subsidy will genuinely lower prices. 'History suggests otherwise,' he told us. 'As seen with past EV grants, solar panel incentives and even stamp duty cuts, manufacturers and dealers often adjust prices upwards when grants are available – reducing or even eliminating the benefit for consumers. 'This, therefore, risks becoming just another subsidy absorbed into the industry's bottom line.' What is the Electric Car Grant? The Electric Car Grant (ECG) is the Government's new big hope to drive sales of EVs in the run-up to the end of the decade as it continues to steer towards outlawing the availability of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030. It arrives three years after the previous Tory administration prematurely scrapped its Plug-in Car Grant (PiCG). Only cars up to £37,000 qualify for the grant, which rules out premium models, including every Tesla on sale. No Audi, BMW or Mercedes EV will be eligible either. Some 50 existing models are technically eligible for the grants solely based on their starting price. We've listed these below. Manufacturers must apply to be eligible for the scheme with their sub-£37,000 cars on a 'first come, first served' basis. This means that motorists will not need to fill in any additional paperwork to receive the grant, with all administration handled by the car maker, dealership, and the Government. But because manufacturers must apply for the scheme, it may take weeks for discounted EVs to begin appearing in showrooms, experts say. Nissan's all-new Leaf EV (pictured) is also likely to qualify for the ECG, which will be welcome news to the Sunderland factory where it is being produced The new scheme uses a two-tier system based on 'sustainability criteria' to determine the size of the subsidy provided. Only the greenest models - considered 'band one' - receiving the full £3,750 amount. Band two cars with a lower eco rating will be eligible for a reduced amount as low as £1,500. Bands are determined by each maker's Science-Based Target (SBT) - an industry-wide scheme, with manufacturers needing to meet carbon scores below a specific criterion to achieve the highest green standard. Volkswagen and Renault Group have both confirmed they are signed up with the SBT scheme. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the grant will allow people to 'keep more of their hard-earned money' when buying EVs ECG bands - which could later expand beyond two tiers - will be determined by how much CO2 is emitted in an EV's production, assessing the energy used during assembly as well as battery manufacturing. An overall SBT score is weighted 70 per cent for the CO2 produced during battery manufacturing and 30 per cent for vehicle assembly emissions. Threshold levels to achieve the full £3,750 discount or the lower banded £1,500 have yet to be made public. However, vehicles that don't meet a minimum level will not receive a grant at all. This could be bad news for Chinese EV makers, which currently offer some of the most competitive prices but could fall foul of the emissions-based rules. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed the ECG's availability on Monday night, saying: 'The EV grant will not only allow people to keep more of their hard-earned money - it'll help our automotive sector seize one of the biggest opportunities of the 21st century.' Every EV on sale under £37k that could be eligible for new Electric Car Grant Abarth 500e: £29,985 Abarth 600e: £36,985 Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica: £33,906 Alpine A290: £33,500 BYD Dolphin: £30,205 BYD Dolphin Surf: £18,650 Citroen e-Berlingo: £31,240 Citroen e-C3: £22,095 Citroen e-C3 Aircross: £23,095 Citroen e-C4: £27,650 Citroen e-C4 X: £28,715 Cupra Born: £35,690 Dacia Spring: £14,995 Fiat 500e: £25,035 Fiat 600e: £30,035 Fiat Grande Panda: £21,035 Ford Puma Gen-E: £29,995 GWM Ora 03: £24,995 Hyundai Inster: £23,005 Hyundai Kona Electric: £34,500 Jeep Avenger: £29,999 KGM Torres EV: £36,995 Kia EV3: £33,005 Leapmotor C10: £36,500 Leapmotor T03: £15,995 MG4: £26,995 MG4 XPower: £36,495 MG5 EV: £28,495 Mini Aceman: £28,905 Mini Cooper Electric: £26,905 Mini Countryman Electric: £33,005 Nissan Leaf: circa £30,000 Nissan Micra: circa £23,500 Omoda E5: £33,065 Peugeot e-2008: £35,400 Peugeot e-208: £30,150 Peugeot e-Rifter: £32,250 Renault 4: £26,995 Renault 5: £22,995 Renault Megane E-Tech: £32,495 Skywell BE11: £36,995 Smart #1: £29,960 Smart #3: £33,960 Suzuki e-Vitara: £29,999 Toyota Proace City Verso EV: £31,995 Vauxhall Astra Electric: £34,130 Vauxhall Corsa Electric: £26,780 Vauxhall Frontera Electric: £23,995 Vauxhall Grandland Electric: £36,455 Vauxhall Mokka Electric: £32,430 Volkswagen ID.3: £30,860 Volvo EX30: £33,060
The Independent
17-07-2025
- The Independent
‘10 busiest trains in England and Wales' named as passenger numbers bounce back
The Department for Transport (DfT) has named the '10 busiest trains in England and Wales' – with the top two on the same route, from Bedford to central London. According to the data, covering a 12-week spell from mid-September last year, the 7.15am and 7.30am Thameslink departures had 79 per cent and 84 per cent more passengers than seats, respectively. The 7.03am train south from Bedford takes fifth place, with 63 per cent more 'passengers in excess of capacity' – PiXC, in the industry jargon. But the train operator says, in fact, there is plenty of space on board – with the DfT having specified fewer seats and more standing room on the particular trains used. A spokesperson for Thameslink said: 'We constantly monitor crowding on our services and take action where necessary to give our passengers the best possible service. 'However, these huge 12-carriage trains, almost a quarter of a kilometre long and designed to carry up to 1,620 people seated and standing, actually arrived in London with plenty of room on board – just 67 per cent full in the worst case. 'The problem is this survey doesn't reflect the fact that Thameslink trains, unlike other UK carriages, were specified by the DfT to be built as people-movers with fewer seats and lots of standing space. 'This low density of seating sensibly allows more passengers to board services and travel in comfort on this busy commuter route. 'Standing space was left out of the calculations only because the train took one minute longer than the 20-minute threshold between its last station stop and London.' On journeys of 20 minutes or less, an allowance for a proportion of passenger standing is made – meaning that many super-crowded services are not included in the figures. Third and fourth most crowded pair are both on West Midlands Trains: the 5.46pm departure from London Euston to Milton Keynes Central, and the 7.54am from Leamington Spa to Birmingham – the only train that does not include London. All the remainder are London commuter trains. Places six, eight and 10 are taken by newly renationalised South Western Railway on the link between Woking in Surrey and London. Chiltern Railways is seventh and ninth on links to and from London Marylebone: a morning rush-hour train from Haddenham & Thame Parkway, and an evening departure with multiple stops to Buckinghamshire. The DfT says: 'Chiltern and the DFT are working together to bring in additional rolling stock and capacity.' The new figures also show that passenger numbers have increased above pre-Covid levels. The DfT says: 'On a typical autumn day in 2024, there were on average 1,865,000 passenger arrivals into major cities in England and Wales.' This was a 1.6 per cent increase on the figure for 2019, and the highest number of daily arrivals since these statistics began being collected in 2010. But it is somewhat distorted by the launch of London's Elizabeth Line, which has persuaded many thousands of commuters each day to switch from the capital's creaky Underground network to the new east-west railway.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Beijing warns Labour over EV grants
Beijing has warned Labour that it will 'resolutely safeguard' its electric car industry after it emerged that the Government will block Chinese electric cars from a new grant scheme. A spokesman for the Chinese embassy called on the UK to follow World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules and create a 'non-discriminatory environment for investment'. WTO rules stipulate that members must not give favourable treatment to one country over another when it comes to trading goods and services. Department for Transport (DfT) officials intend to reject Chinese applications for the £650m Electric Car Grant (ECG) scheme, which will reduce the purchase price of a new electric vehicle (EV) by as much as £3,750 for vehicles costing up to £37,000. The scheme will reject applications from nations with poor sustainability records or high carbon emissions. China's electric car manufacturing and battery production industries are reliant on fossil fuels, barring them from the discounts. Lilian Greenwood, the transport minister, told the BBC's Today programme on Wednesday: 'We don't expect any cars that are assembled in China to be eligible for this scheme. 'The grant is restricted to those manufacturers that reach minimum environmental standards. And, frankly, if you generate a lot of the electricity that powers your factory through coal power stations, then you are not going to be able to access this grant.' However, the restrictions have prompted a backlash from Chinese officials at a time when manufacturers are battling intense competition in the country while trying to gain a foothold in the West. An embassy spokesman said: 'China has abolished all market access restrictions on foreign investment in manufacturing and remains open to international carmakers, including those from the UK, who can fully share in the dividends of China's big market. 'We hope the UK's industry policy will observe WTO rules, respect market economy laws and provide an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for the investment and operation of businesses from all countries, including China. 'The Chinese side is closely following the situation and will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.' Carmakers including BYD and MG, which assemble their vehicles in China, are expected to blocked from the scheme. BYD, which recently overtook Tesla as the world's largest EV manufacturer, said it still planned to push for inclusion in the scheme for vehicles such as the Dolphin Surf, which is on sale in the UK for less than £20,000. The company is also preparing to scale up car production at a new factory in Hungary to build cars for the European market. Bono Ge, BYD's UK country manager, said: 'We welcome the new electric car grant and its potential to help drive awareness and uptake of electric cars in a key, price-sensitive part of the new car market. 'Like other car brands, we have informed the DfT of our intention to make an application for inclusion in the ECG scheme and look forward to being part of it.' BYD sales have climbed rapidly in the UK since it started selling its cars last year. It has sold about 20,000 vehicles so far this year compared with 8,700 across the whole of 2024. UK officials hope the grants will encourage drivers to switch to electric cars ahead of a pledge by Labour to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030. Under the Government's zero emission vehicles mandate, 28pc of cars sold this year must be pure electric. Carmakers that miss the target risk being punished with fines. The European Union has been engaged in a trade dispute with China over its EV imports as cut-price Chinese car brands flood the bloc and threaten the traditional dominance of French and German carmakers. Chinese electric carmakers have been locked in a vicious price war in their home market, with concerns that it has become saturated while demand for EVs remains tepid. On Wednesday, China's cabinet warned of 'irrational' competition in the country's car market and vowed to scrutinise prices. A DfT spokesman said: 'Our electric car grant will give drivers across the UK access to discounts on dozens of new electric car models, helping them save up to £3,750 per car and putting money back into the pockets of working people.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
