Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Friday, 20 June 2025

BBC News

• Station relocation for new town moves step closerProposals to relocate a train station to accommodate the building of a new town have moved a step closer.
• Airport expansion 'a once-in-a-generation opportunity'The number of passengers flying in and out of London Luton Airport (LLA) is expected to rise to 32 million per year by 2043 after the government approved its expansion.
• Be grateful for Welsh rail cash, UK minister saysA UK government minister has told a Welsh MP he "might want to be a little more grateful" for the £445m promised for Welsh railways in the spending review.
• Free city bus service extended after new fundingA free electric bus service that carries passengers around Leicester city centre will continue to run into 2026 after securing more government funding.
• Extra school bus service after parent petitionA cancelled school bus has been replaced by an extra trial service after parents put pressure on Surrey County Council (SCC).
• TfL activates hot weather Tube plan for heatwaveTfL says it has a "comprehensive" hot weather plan in place during the current heatwave.
• Return of Arran ferry delayed indefinitelyThe MV Caledonian has been unable to carry passengers between Ardrossan and Arran since January 2024.

Department for Transport

• £750,000 to break down barriers and get more young people into aviation jobsOrganisations have until 12 September 2025 to apply for the latest Reach for the Sky Challenge fund.

Financial Times

• UK government launches new wave of private financing for public servicesMinisters insist infrastructure projects will avoid pitfalls of earlier PFI deals.

The Guardian

• Ministers set out plans to spend £725bn on UK infrastructure over 10 yearsDarren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, set out plans on Thursday to spend a minimum of £725bn over 10 years to boost UK-wide infrastructure and achieve a 'national renewal'.
• How bad is the HS2 fiasco now? So bad it's time to listen to Nigel Farage | Simon JenkinsLabour now says the botched high-speed rail project will be further delayed. Why not just scrap it, as the Reform leader suggests?Stop it now. Stop spending sums that you admit are out of control. Show common sense and send everyone home. HS2 is a bad joke, a fiasco.Labour’s second transport secretary in a year, Heidi Alexander, claimed on Wednesday to be shocked by HS2. She was clearly new to the subject. After being briefed on the latest delays and cost overruns by the latest CEO, Mark Wild, she said that the project was “an appalling mess … a litany of failure
• Airline staff being trained to bar people without visas from flights to UKExclusive: Foreign secretary says training for 9,000 workers at European carriers is step towards more secure bordersThousands of European airline staff are being trained to stop people boarding flights to Britain without valid visas, in a move billed by the foreign secretary as a digital upgrade to border controls.David Lammy said the measures marked a step towards “more secure, more digital and more effective” borders, but the move could raise questions about human rights safeguards.

The Independent

• HS2 trains could run slower than expected to cut spiralling costsHS2 is now expected to open after 2033 as transport secretary Heidi Alexander called its management under the Tories a 'litany of failure'
• How HS2 squandered billions to become a national embarrassmentTrains may run between Birmingham and somewhere near London by 2036 a decade late, and slower than planned as Simon Calder explains

Times Online

• CMA to review wrong turns on road and rail building projects. [subscription]The competition regulator will examine 'persistent' failings over costs and delivery as the government sets out its ten-year infrastructure strategy

Daily Record

• Australian 'fiasco' ferry leaves Edinburgh after months docked in ForthOn Thursday morning, June 19, the Spirit of Tasmania IV ship was pictured leaving the city after arriving in Edinburgh at the end of last year.

i News

• New HS2 link to Manchester could still happenSo-called 'HS2-lite' rail link between Birmingham and Manchester is still on the cards

The Mirror

• UK airport issues baffling passport warning after major £100m updateOne of the UK's busiest airports has resorted to issuing a seemingly bizarre warning after unveiling its new e-gates, as the hub continues with its major £100m regeneration scheme
• DWP free bus passes in England and full list of everyone eligibleAmid controversial plans to cut disability benefits, many Brits are worried they'll lose their free bus pass. However, reports suggest millions may still be entitled to the perk

Local Government

• Leicester set for over £80m in transport improvement fundingAROUND £80 million of Government funding is set to be invested in an ambitious programme of local transport improvements across Leicester over the next five years.
• Mayor and Minister visit Coventry as part of Better Transport WeekRichard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands and Local Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood, have been in Coventry to view the city's Very Light Rail project - an innovative project to create a highly affordable, accessible and sustainable rail-based travel system.

Network Rail

• Network Rail enlists hawks to prevent a halt in station's £14m overhaulMeet Maverick a feathered enforcer whose job is to ensure nesting birds don't cause costly delays to Network Rail's £14 million upgrade of Scarborough station.

Birmingham Mail

• Uber makes 'quiet' algorithm change with millions of passengers warnedThe ride-hailing app’s ‘take rate’ – or cut – sometimes reaches more than 50 per cent since introduction of dynamic pricing, according to reports.

Bristol Live

• Mayor expects Portishead Railway to be approved within daysGovernment confirmation of the reopening of the Portishead Railway could be just days away, West of England Metro Mayor Helen Godwin has said.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Three key roads earmarked for upgrades in Denbighshire after £4.8m spending boostCyngor Gwynedd has also collected extra funding for improvements to more than 60 roads and paths in the county
• Manchester Airport travel to get easier for holidaymakers in parts of North WalesA direct rail service is planned right across the region

Liverpool Echo

• Jaguar Land Rover workers claim 'we're close to exhaustion'Workers complain about soaring temperatures and long hours - but the company says support is in place

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Go North East slammed for using North Tyneside streets as unofficial bus 'depots'A North Tyneside councillor has said it is time for Go North East to stop idling on New York and Murton's streets

Northern Echo

• Heck! Community Pink Bus needs new drivers for serviceA bright pink bus helping people in rural North Yorkshire is calling for more volunteer drivers to keep up with growing demand.

Sheffield Star

• Arundel Gate: Sheffield City Council accused of deterring visitors with 65,000 bus gate finesA motorist has accused Sheffield City Council of trying to deter visitors after receiving a bus gate fine - joining 65,000 others.

Wales Online

• 'The Welsh people have had to suffer' over lack of action on M4 People in Wales have had to suffer because of the Welsh Government's decision to scrap the M4 relief road, Senedd members said.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• New system developed in West Midlands could ‘revolutionise’ public transport worldwide, says mayorA ‘cutting-edge’ new travel system could potentially ‘revolutionise’ public transport in the West Midlands.

Yorkshire Post

• Scarborough Railway Station: Network Rail enlists hawks to prevent delays in station's £14m overhaulNetwork Rail has taken on two new employees as it continued work on its £14m overhaul of Scarborough Railway Station - but they might not be what you expect.

Leeds Live

• Leeds Bradford Airport CEO and anti-LBA campaigners in war of wordsLeeds Bradford Airport CEO Vincent Hodder has slammed 'incredibly rude' protest group GALBA who have been campaigning against the expansion of the airport.

Other Regional Press

• Aberdeen Airport named worst in Scotland for flight cancellationsNew data from the Civil Aviation Authority has revealed the worst airports in the UK and Scotland for flights being scrapped before takeoff, with Aberdeen having the highest total north of the border.
• Glasgow Airport announced changes to its security process Unmissable edge-of-your-seat action this August! 11 Days 01 Hours 59 Minutes 40 Seconds BOOK NOW Inspired by The city's travel hub took to Facebook to reveal 'new machines' have been installed at the airport's security area, which means 'new rules'. In a post, the airport said they've 'upgraded' their security scanners to 'help make your journey smoother'.
• Rachel Reeves non-committal on full Leamside rail line openingThe reopening of the Leamside line would provide critical connections both passenger and freight to towns and cities across the North East
• Call for legal action over rail and NI 'funding shortfall' from UK GovernmentAdam Price urged ministers to consider legal action over £432m 'owed' to Wales by the UK Government for rail spending and increased national insurance costs.
• Full steam ahead with railway improvementsKEY schemes to improve Barnsley commuters' experiences of local rail travel including plans to increase services, build a new station and create a long-awaited direct link to London are set to be signed off.
• St Athan left out of plans for south Wales rail stationsThe omission comes despite calls for improved transport links for the growing community, which has not had a train station in 60 years.
• Bus shelter upgrades in package planned to make BUS shelters in Rotherham and across South Yorkshire are in for a 32m makeover as part of the county Mayor's commitment to make a 'tangible difference' to the lives of residents.
• Dartford Crossing charges: How much extra will drivers be charged to use tunnel, when will charge come in - who owns Dartford CrossingCurrently, the majority of motorists must pay £2.50 if they wish to make use of either the QE2 bridge or the Dartford Tunnel if they are travelling clockwise or anti-clockwise on the M25 respectively. However, the charge for cars is set to increase by £1 (40 per cent) in September to £3.50 per crossing; those with a DART account will see charges increase by 80 pence from £2 to £2.80.
• MP Mark Francois queries Lower Thames Crossing fundingA south Essex MP has queried the transport secretary about the funding for the £10 billion Lower Thames Crossing project.
• West Wales gets nothing: Reopening railway lines would cost £2 billionThe Welsh Government has said the cost of reopening railway lines between Carmarthen and Aberystwyth and Afonwen would be in the region of £2 billion.

Train Operators

• Greater Anglia unveils new integrated train and bus information board at Norwich stationA new eight-metre-long information board has been installed at Norwich station. The new high-definition board has been unveiled by train operator, Greater Anglia, and will display train and local bus information.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• Strong will to support UK bus manufacturing at parliamentary event, says APPGThe parliamentary reception held by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Buses attracted over 80 attendees. The Secretary of State for was unfortunately unable to attend.

Bus-News

• BYD Unveils New Electric Intercity eBus B13.b at UITP SummitBYD has introduced its latest electric intercity bus, the BYD eBus B13.b, at the UITP Global Public Transport Summit in Hamburg. This marks its European debut and expands BYD's offering in the interurban segment of zero-emission transport.

Construction News

• Probe launched into roads and rail marketThe Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a 10-month market study into the civil engineering sector's role in designing and delivering railway and public road infrastructure.
• £600m airport works framework launchedManchester Airports Group (MAG) has launched a £600m procurement exercise to establish a new framework for delivering a wide range of construction projects across its three UK airports.

New Civil Engineer

• Delivery of 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy is not reliant on planning reforms ministerThe infrastructure deployment plans under the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy will not be subject to the success of planning reforms proposed under the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, according to the chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones.

Rail Business Daily

• Decade long Infrastructure Strategy to deliver stability, investment and national renewalThe Government has published its 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy, which sets out a long-term plan for how it will invest in infrastructure and ensure that funding is spent effectively and efficiently. It says it marks a new approach to how projects are planned and delivered and includes £1 billion to carry out maintenance on key transport infrastructure, including crumbling bridges, flyovers and crossing.

Rail Magazine

• East West Rail working timetable drawn up as first freight train uses routeA provisional working timetable for services on East West Rail (EWR) has been created, just as the first freight train traverses the route.
• Rail industry only training half the number of people it needs, MPs toldThe railway is training only half the number of people it needs, MPs have been told.

Railnews

• United South Eastern Railway is first step towards GBR The managements of operator Southeastern and the Kent Route of Network Rail are being combined, and the Department for Transport says it is a ‘significant milestone’ towards Great British Railways, creating ‘clear accountability’ for performance. The new organisation will be known as South Eastern Railway, and is being led by managing director Steve White.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Blackpool Transport and Northern link up to boost seamless travelBlackpool Transport has partnered with rail company Northern to offer train passengers an add-on allowing unlimited travel on its network.

Other News Sources

• New cycling route opens on Manchester Airport perimeter pathCyclists gathered to mark the opening of a new access point on the Airport Orbital Cycleway near Manchester Airport, located on Old Altrincham Road, which now connects directly to a wider, flatter perimeter path around the airport.
• New approach needed to Rail Investment Pipeline after Conservative cuts TSSA has told the Transport Select Committee of MPs that the 'rail network enhancements pipeline has had its day' because it had been used by previous Conservative governments to conceal how they were actually cutting enhancement work.
• CBI responds to 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy announcement"Today's 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy sets out a blueprint for the future of the UK's economic prosperity and global competitiveness. For too long, infrastructure has lacked the certainty, consistency and long-term vision needed to drive investment and growth. The UK has lagged at the bottom of the G7 for investment into infrastructure, and businesses have long struggled with problems related to poor infrastructure performance. This strategy provides a framework to unlock investment and drive growth across the country.
• Industry welcomes government's 10-year infrastructure strategyPlan sets out how £725bn will be spent on infrastructure over next decade

News from Europe

• Aviation partnerships call for expanded scope and budgetAn investment of €66 billion is needed across the full innovation pipeline to maintain global leadership, says the European aviation community
• More rail competition in France as Trenitalia launches Paris-Marseille serviceFrance's high-speed rail market is becoming increasingly competitive with the launch of a new Trenitalia line connecting Paris to Marseille.