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

Tuesday, 21 January 2025

BBC News

• Contactless rail ticket payment scheme to expandMore rail stations in the South East are set to allow passengers to pay contactless for tickets at barriers.
• Station to shut for two years for platform revampNetwork Rail plans to increase the length of platforms at Manchester Oxford Road and improve access.
• Rail lines reopen after freight train breakdownGatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink services are all facing disruption until 12:00 GMT.
• Panama rejects Trump vow to 'take back' Panama CanalDonald Trump claims China is operating the key US trade route but Panama says it belongs to them.
• Rail nationalisation not a silver bullet, says LabourThe Transport Secretary says taking operators into public ownership doesn't guarantee good service.

Department for Transport

• Simpler train travel for the South East as contactless ticketing rolls out at 47 more stationsNew tap in tap out system will guarantee passengers get the best fare available at the time on the day.

Financial Times

• UK ministers poised to approve expansion of Gatwick airportThe government could also give the go-ahead to development of Luton to allow more passengers

The Guardian

• Heathrow third runway plan labelled 'desperate' amid Labour divisionsRachel Reeves hopes expansion will increase economic growth but Ed Miliband and Sadiq Khan oppose it

The Telegraph

• Reeves to back third runway at Heathrow in battle to grow economy [subscription]The Chancellor is poised to back new runways at Heathrow and Gatwick

Times Online

• Reeves to back Heathrow third runway in push for prosperity [subscription]In a speech next week, the chancellor is also expected to back expansion plans at Gatwick and Luton airports in move to drive economic growth

City AM

• Contactless train ticketing finally coming to London Stansted AirportThe government has outlined its plans to roll-out contactless ticketing at nearly a hundred UK train stations in 2025, including London Stansted Airport, with a start date less than a fortnight away
• Rolls-Royce worth £50bn again after FTSE 100 surge Rolls-Royce has returned to a market capitalisation of more than £50bn after its shares rallied. The Derby-headquartered FTSE 100 giant passed the milestone for the first time at the start of December 2024 before its share price fell back. However, Rolls-Royce has surpassed the £50bn barrier once again after a jump in its share price [...]
• Firstgroup and Virgin push back against state clampdown on open-access rail firms Firstgroup and Virgin are combining to push back against a government clampdown on some of the last private train firms operating the UK's railway tracks. So-called open access is a lesser-used model in which firms shoulder commercial risk but take the entire share of any profit.

Daily Express

• Rachel Reeves to spark Labour civil war over £18.6bn airport expansion planThe Chancellor could announce plans to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport, a second at Gatwick and double the capacity of Luton Airport.

Mail Online

• Rachel Reeves is set to back a third runway at Heathrow Airport as part of a bid to combat flatlining growth - but Gatwick and Luton upgrades are also in her sightsChancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly considering announcing the move in a speech later this month on her plans for boosting growth.

The Mirror

• Dozens of train stations to get contactless tickets to save passengers cash - see full listTransport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to make fare and ticketing reform a key priority for the new state-owned Great British Railways, including expanding pay-as-you-go
• UK railway chaos as 1980s train replacements won't be delivered until 2030The UK's 'worst-performing rail operator' won't unleash new trains, replacing 60% of its fleet, until 2030 in a blow to commuters.

Birmingham Post

• Eurostar under pressure to restore Kent services amid surge in costs and journey timesA new report has warned that the closure of international rail services from Ashford International and Ebbsfleet during the pandemic has had significant repercussions for Kent's economy
• London Stansted Airport set to introduce contactless train ticketing in 2025 expansionThe Department for Transport (DfT) said on Monday some 47 stations across the South East would be able to use tap-in and tap-out ticketing by February 2
• Plan for 'innovative' new car parking system in apartment blocksDream Developments Northwest Ltd has designed the car park to be stacked
• Manchester's Oxford Road station set for two-year closure amid major upgrade plansProject aims to reduce rail congestion in city centre

Bolton News

• Northern trains under 16s discount set to end this weekNorthern is offering school students a 25 per cent discount on their spring term train tickets.
• Transport operator announces plans for 'game-changing' new trainsNorthern Trains has invited major train manufacturers to start negotiations for supplying new trains across the North of England.

London Evening Standard

• Contactless ticketing roll-out date for London commuter belt revealed after cyber attack delaysPassengers automatically get 'best value' fares and will have Tube and bus journeys in London 'capped'

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Keir Starmer refuses to commit to Tyne Bridge's final £6m of restoration fundingThe Prime Minister blamed his Conservative predecessors for leaving 'unforgivable' gaps in transport spending plans which have threatened the Tyne Bridge repairs project

Wales Online

• Fears Wales will lose out as UK Government plans to freeze rail spendingThree massive projects, all in England, look set to soak up the rail funding pot for England and Wales

Yorkshire Post

• Transport Secretary tells Northern bosses that cancellation rate is unacceptableThe new Transport Secretary has slammed Northern?s cancellation rate as unacceptable, telling rail chiefs that they must do better.

Other Regional Press

• New bus shelters coming to CroydonCroydon Council and Transport for London (TfL) are working together to install the much-needed new bus shelters across the borough replacing those removed in 2021.
• Aylesbury MP backs contactless train travel in AylesburyLaura Kyrke-Smith, Member of Parliament for Aylesbury and the villages, has welcomed the news that the Labour Government is introducing contactless ticketing at Cheddington, fulfilling its promise of simpler, better value train travel for passengers.
• Contactless ticketing coming to Luton and Leagrave train stations in 'biggest overhaul of rail network in a generation'Passengers at Luton and Leagrave railway station and nearly 100 others across the South East will soon be able to use contactless ticketing.
• Giant teacup travels through GWR stations for Brew MondayA giant cardboard cut-out teacup has travelled across the Great Western Railway network to encourage people to catch-up with each other.
• New scheme to help disabled people feel more confident using public transportA new initiative involving Oxfordshire Community Rail Partnership is looking to help disabled people feel more confident when using public transport.

Highways Magazine

• National Highways helps give second chance to ex-prisonersNational Highways is taking part in a new a government initiative that aims to rehabilitate ex-prisoners while filling skills shortages.

Rail Advent

• 47 more stations in south-east England to benefit from contactless ticketingOn Sunday, 2nd February, contactless ticketing will be available from an additional 47 stations across south-east England.

Rail Magazine

• Hitachi Rail acquires Omnicom RailHitachi Rail has announced the acquisition of Omnicom, a leading provider of digital rail monitoring solutions, from Balfour Beatty.

Railnews

• FirstGroup publishes arguments for more open access FirstGroup has published a vigorous response to a warning over open access from the transport secretary, who has expressed doubts about the financial and operational case for more open access passenger services.
• FirstGroup steps up open access defence FirstGroup will publish a report today which sets out its support for open access passenger services, as the fight to protect them ramps up. The report and the event in London at which it will be unveiled had been planned before transport secretary Heidi Alexander published a letter to the Office of Rail and Road about open access licences two weeks ago. In it she signalled the likelihood that open access licences will be harder to obtain in the future.

Railway Gazette

• New date for contactless payment expansion at four train operatorsUK: The introduction of pay-as-you-go travel using contactless bank cards and mobile devices at further 47 stations is now scheduled for February 2, having been delayed from September 2024 as a result of a cybersecurity incident at Transport for London which how now been resolved.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Legal expert: Bus plans could boost Enhanced PartnershipsBetter cooperation could result from work on Bus Services Bill, transport law expert says

Urban Transport Group

• Greater Manchester transport boss continues as Chair of Urban Transport GroupSteve Warrener, Managing Director of Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), will continue to be Chair of the Urban Transport Group for an additional year.

Aviation Industry

• London Stansted Airport to Introduce Contactless Train Ticketing in 2025 Redefining Travel Across South East EnglandLondon Stansted Airport will launch contactless train ticketing in 2025, transforming rail travel and enhancing convenience across South East England.

Other News Sources

• UK government to extend contactless rail tickets to all London airportsThe UK government is to extend contactless 'pay as you go' train ticketing to London Stansted Airport during 2025, as part of plans to simplify rail travel around South East England.
• London-style contactless train ticketing expanding to 47 more stations next monthThe delayed expansion of London-style contactless payments across more stations outside London will come into effect next month.
• Wales set to complete £1.4Bn road project this summerOne of the UK's largest and most ambitious road construction projects, the A465 (Hirwaun to Dowlais) upgrade, is on track for completion this summer, delivering vital connectivity, economic opportunities, and environmental enhancements.
• Cardiff Airport and Respond Healthcare Partner on Invisible Illness Training'Helping avoid embarrassment, and garnering a greater understanding of the needs of people living with hidden illnesses such as a stoma,' were just two of the reasons Cardiff Airport partnered with Respond Healthcare recently, as staff undertook stoma training with Respond's nursing team.
• Bristol airport hails record year amid masterplan for growthBristol airport handled a record of more than 10 million passengers last year amid growth plans that would provide connections to North America and the Middle East.
• UK Poised to Back Heathrow Airport Expansion in Push for GrowthLuton, Heathrow, Gatwick projects set for approval by Labour Rachel Reeves considers announcing plans in growth speech