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

Thursday, 20 February 2025

BBC News

• Airport scraps drop-off zone barriers for camerasOne of the UK's busiest airports is set to replace its vehicle barriers at pick-up and drop-off areas with ANPR cameras in a bid to cut congestion.
• 'Two thirds' support Leeds to Bradford tram routeThousands of people who took part in a consultation on plans for a new tram network in West Yorkshire support the scheme, a report has shown.
• Changes to transport for SEND children approvedChanges to school transport for children with special educational needs (SEND) have been approved despite fears they could place a "financial burden" on families.
• Bus drivers say they had 'no choice' but to resignBus drivers who raised concerns over safety said they resigned because "they felt they had no choice" and were "worried" for the welfare of passengers.

Department for Transport

• New members appointed to Disabled Persons Transport Advisory CommitteeDPTAC has an important role to play in our ambition to have an inclusive transport network allowing disabled people to travel easily and with dignity.

Financial Times

• Trump administration moves to halt New York congestion schemeMetropolitan Transportation Authority files lawsuit against federal government’s ‘mystifying’ decision
• Stand-off between airlines and oil groups threatens net zero flyingSustainable air fuel market stalls as airlines want lower prices while oil groups reluctant to produce without long-term orders
• Do not let Great British Railways crush competitionLabour will damage growth and innovation by curbing independent regulation of the rail network

Times Online

• High-vis jackets can make people invisible to newer car sensors [subscription]Tests found that popular models with automatic braking systems hit mannequins wearing reflective material
• Why German intercity trains are even worse than Britain's [subscription]Once celebrated for its efficiency, Deutsche Bahn suffers from chronic delays after being 'run into the ground'

The National [Wales]

• Scotland was right to nationalise rail. Will Westminster admit it?LET'S rewrite the headline. England is following Scotland's lead by nationalising rail and ending the crazy division between owning tracks and trains inflicted by Thatcher 40 years ago.

Birmingham Mail

• Five car companies recall 76,000 motors including BMW, Tesla, KiaKia, BMW, Renault, Tesla and Jaguar Land Rover are to voluntarily recall more than 76,000 vehicles, according to Korea’s transport ministry.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Consultation report reveals support for West Yorkshire tramsThe West Yorkshire Combined Authority has released a consultation report which indicates that more than two-thirds of people, surveyed across the region, are supportive of plans to create a tram system.
• Bus emission retrofitting failure compared to 'Volkswagen scandal on a micro scale'A councillor has questioned whether the failure of technology to reduce pollution from buses was a “scandal” comparable to the Volkswagen emissions saga.

The York Press

• Calls for clarity over £380m for York and North YorkshireComments branding transport funding pledged following the scrapping of the northern leg of HS2 "fantasy money" have prompted a call for clarity for millions announced for York and North Yorkshire.

Yorkshire Post

• Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Hopes for five airlines and quadrupling of freight traffic revealed by council bossesCouncil bosses hope to attract 'four to five' airlines to fly out of the reopened Doncaster Sheffield Airport while quadrupling the amount of freight traffic coming through the site, it has been revealed.
• West Yorkshire mass transit: public backs tram routes between Leeds and BradfordA proposed tram line from St James's Hospital through Leeds city centre to the White Rose Centre was the most backed route in the mass transit consultation.

Other Regional Press

• Can Labour's plans for economic growth really fix the UK?Labour's plans for economic growth promise big, but will costly roads and a third runway at Heathrow deliver economic benefits or cause more controversy?
• Moray Council pushes for fully dualled A96 in response to Transport Scotland reviewMoray Council has responded to the A96 Corridor Review with a reiteration of its support for full dualling of the route from Inverness to Aberdeen.

Construction News

• Job losses warning over pace of Network Rail spendingIndustry figures have warned that too little rail work is flowing through to suppliers, with grave potential consequences for jobs, delivery and safety.

Rail Business Daily

• Rail experts urge government to simplify ticketing system and embrace techThe Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK (CILT UK) is urging the government to simplify the current complex and difficult railways ticketing system by introducing a new and easy to understand scheme.
• New Tyne and Wear Metro fleet enters customer service on the Sunderland lineA new Metro train ran in customer service between Sunderland and Newcastle International Airport for the first time this week, marking another important step in the roll out of the new fleet.

Rail Magazine

• Final phase of South West rail resilience programme still unfunded as first cost estimate emergesThe fifth phase of works to protect the railway between Dawlish and Teignmouth remains unfunded, almost a year after Network Rail filed its submission.

Railway Gazette

• Tram collects real-world data for driver assistance developmentNORWAY: A CAF tram operating in regular service is Oslo has been fitted with sensors and cameras to collect data. This will be used to develop driver assistance technology as part of the EU-backed R2DATO research project.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority

• Support for West Yorkshire Mass Transit as consultation report releasedIt comes as West Yorkshire Combined Authority releases a consultation report showing more than two thirds of people surveyed across the region are supportive of plans to create a tram system initially covering Bradford and Leeds.
• Mayor of West Yorkshire statement after meeting with Transport Secretary in Westminster"It was great to meet Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander today in Westminster to make the case for West Yorkshire in the upcoming Spending Review.

Other News Sources

• FirstGroup reveals benefits of Open Access railFirstGroup has stepped up its campaign to launch more open access rail services with research challenging the government's plan to exclude private train companies from the renationalised network.
• London St. Pancras Highspeed and Eurotunnel deepen cooperation with strategic partnership to boost international high-speed rail servicesLondon St. Pancras Highspeed and Eurotunnel have today announced a landmark partnership to accelerate the growth of cross-Channel high-speed rail, marking a pivotal step towards transforming sustainable and efficient international travel between the UK and Europe.
• Portswood bus gate: Petition to 'immediately suspend' trialA resident-led petition asking for the immediate suspension of the Portswood Road bus gate trial has received hundreds of signatures, with locals expressing safety concerns.
• Gatwick Airport accused of 'seeking new runway on the cheap'Campaigners have warned they'll try for a judicial review if expansion plans get the green light
• How to conduct emission audits to meet low-emission fleet goalsThe U.K. is ramping up its net-zero goals, especially for fleets. Switching to eco-friendly fuels and expanding electrification are some of the major shifts. However, more opportunities exist that only emission audits can reveal.
• 31% of SMEs are confident in the Government's support for businessDespite promising UK infrastructure investments announced, many small businesses could still be left with unanswered questions following the Chancellor's speech on growth, leaving many uncertain of their ability to achieve their growth ambitions this year.
• Lower Thames Crossing Project Unveils Shortlisted Designs For 'Footbridge Of The Future' - Transport Planning AssociatesFive shortlisted entries have been announced for a new low-carbon footbridge as part of the Lower Thames Crossing project effectively bringing the future of the country's footbridges a step closer.
• Transport management software company appoints new chairmanFargo Systems, which provides intermodal transport management software, has appointed John Thompson as chairman. The company has also welcomed David Landau as a non-executive director.
• Local transport minister begins transport roadshow tourThe local transport minister Simon Lightwood has visited Manchester to launch 11 regional roadshows, the visit enabling passengers, businesses and local leaders to have their say on how to transform transport.
• Fears for wildlife after 4,000 litres of oil from Croydon bus depot spills into riverAn emergency clean up operation has begun

News from Europe

• Hydrogen Adoption in European Public Transport Faces Grid and Storage Challenges, Research RevealsAn overwhelming 93% of European public transport decisionmakers have expressed concerns about the capacity of their grid connection to fuel their current and future battery electric or hydrogen-powered fleets as the sector transitions to greener fuel sources.