British transport slows as transport sectors cut fuel costs

The incessantly increasing cost of fuel has led to vehicles of all types slowing down throughout Britain – from ferries and merchant vessels to trains, planes, buses and private automobiles.

Airline pilots and ship captains are under orders to slow down, and train drivers are switching of their engines to coast downhill.

As the oil price reached $142 a barrel (£71.14) this week, two major British airlines, BMI and easyJet, announced that their pilots had been instructed to fly at reduced speeds. EasyJet, the second-largest budget airline in Europe, reported that it had cut speeds on a number of routes by 2% in order to cut costs.

“It’s like travelling in a car. If you take your foot off the gas slightly, you use less fuel,” commented a spokesman for easyJet.

BMI, the second-largest airline at Heathrow, reported a drop in average flight speeds by 3mph.

The rail industry has joined the effort to reduce energy consumption, amid sky-high electricity and diesel costs. FirstGroup, one of the UK largest rail businesses, is in the process of retraining its drivers to operate trains more smoothly between stops and to avoid sharp acceleration and breaking.

A UK rail franchise executive commented: “There’s a hell of a lot going on. Life has changed, we’re all working very hard – we’ve got to.”

The bus industry is another major fuel consumer, and also reports implementing initiatives that lead to smoother driving.

Oil prices are also impacting car travel, says the AA. Drivers are slowing down or staying off the roads.

www.easyjet.com