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

Wednesday, 26 February 2025

BBC News

• North-south Belfast Glider plans scaled backPlans to extend Belfast's Glider bus service to the north and south of the city are being scaled back because they are "not economically viable".
• Tesla shares slump after European sales fallShares in the US electric carmaker dropped after European sales halved in January.
• Minister backs expansion of airports as Gatwick decision loomsA decision is expected later this week on whether Gatwick airport has won permission to expand its operations.

ITV News

• Extension to Borders Railway set to progress to next phaseThe campaign to extend the Borders Railway beyond Tweedbank and down to Carlisle is set to progress to the next phase.

Financial Times

• Taiwan catches Chinese-owned ship in act of cutting subsea cableConfrontation comes after Taipei launched crackdown on Beijing’s ‘shadow fleet’

The Guardian

• Elizabeth line strikes called off after drivers get new pay offerAslef union’s executive is to consider a revised offer from the line’s operators MTR on WednesdayBusiness live – latest updatesPlanned strikes by train drivers on London’s Elizabeth line on Thursday and Saturday have been called off after a new pay offer.Members of Aslef had planned to stage a series of strikes that would have caused travel disruption in the capital. Continue reading...
• Expanding Gatwick as well as Heathrow would benefit consumers, says CAARegulator says bringing emergency runway into operation would boost competition and passenger choiceGatwick airport’s expansion has received the backing of the UK’s aviation regulator, which argued it would bring “benefits to consumers” even with the prospect of a third runway at Heathrow.The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced its support for the West Sussex airport’s proposed new commitments for the next four years, saying they would increase choice for passengers. Continue reading...
• UK battery firm says it has learned from others’ errors as it licenses Chinese techVolklec aims to start making batteries at part-government-funded site near Coventry before building its own factoryA startup has said it has learned from Britain’s faltering attempts to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles, as it signed a deal to license technology from an established Chinese firm.Coventry-based Volklec plans to manufacture batteries for cars, boats, construction vehicles and aircraft using technology from China’s Far East Battery (FEB), a maker of batteries mainly for electric bikes. Continue reading...

The Telegraph

• I'm no flight-shaming eco warrior, says Transport Secretary [subscription]Heidi Alexander tells aviation bosses she has no intention of clipping anyone's wings ahead of Gatwick expansion ruling

Times Online

• Minister poised to defy 'eco-warriors' and approve Gatwick runway [subscription]If Heidi Alexander agrees to the plan it will allow an extra 100,000 flights per year by the turn of the decade

City AM

• Elizabeth Line strikes called off after new pay offer Strikes planned by train drivers on the London Elizabeth Line this week have been called off, a union has announced. Aslef said on Tuesday the walk-outs would not take place after a new pay offer was made from the Elizabeth Line’s operators, MTR. It will consider offer tomorrow. Passengers had been expecting significantly reduced services [...]

Daily Express

• Major UK airport set for new runway with extra 100k flights a yearThe £2.2 billion project would increase the airport's passenger capacity from around 43 million to 75 million annually.
• Airline that once ruled the skies branded 'dreadful' in major customer surveyA customer survey of long-haul and short-haul airlines has revealed how far from grace one particular airline has fallen.

Mail Online

• British Despairways: Tired passengers rank airline worst for long-haul journeys as its reputation hits major turbulenceThe nation's flag-carrier also scored lower than rivals easyJet and Tui in the survey's short-haul list.

The National

• £5m plans to extend Scottish Borders railway to Carlisle announcedA MULTI-MILLION pound investment to extend the Borders Railway to Carlisle has been announced.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Man with plan for railway arches says idea 'isn't being taken seriously' by officialsA Bradford man who wants to transform the Forster Square railway arches into a market has told of his frustration after the Council distanced itself from the idea

Manchester Evening News

• Ryanair cries 'fake' after being named alongside British Airways on holiday list of shameThis research from Which? is entirely at odds with comments from the hundreds of thousands of customers

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• The huge 'carriage wash' that keeps new Tyne and Wear Metro trains clean and shinySituated at the new £70m Gosforth Metro Depot, the purpose built machine is used by Stadler staff to keep the trains looking presentable

Other Regional Press

• Query over support in Reading for Heathrow third runwayQuestions have been raised over whether a third runway at Heathrow Airport is supported in Reading.
• Minister says she believes in airport expansion ahead of Gatwick decisionThe Cabinet minister said the Government will do "all we can to support the sector and take the brakes off growth"
• Public to share views on Didcot link road proposalsThe public have been invited to share their views on proposals for the northern section of a new link road in Didcot.
• ‘It’s taken 40 years to get here’: A228 widening works get the green lightWork to widen one of the county’s busiest roads will finally get underway next month at a cost of £1.3million.

New Civil Engineer

• HS2 | Euston tunnelling works rescheduled as Long Itchington Wood tunnel civils completedDelivery of a number of works at the Euston station end of High Speed 2's (HS2's) 7.2km tunnel between west and central London has been delayed.

Rail Advent

• Train operator launches a First Class dining experienceTransPennine Express (TPE) has launched a new menu for First Class passengers on its Liverpool to Newcastle services. TransPennine Kitchen: Coast to Coast will focus on serving up hot meals influenced by famous food from along the route.

Railnews

• Southeastern recalls Network SouthEast for Railway 200 A Class 465 Networker unit has made a journey back in time, by being repainted in Network SouthEast livery. The units were built for NSE services by British Rail, and the train was unveiled at London Charing Cross to mark the Railway 200 festival. Guest of honour was Chris Green, who was the first managing director of Network SouthEast when the business was launched in June 1986.

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow confirms planning permission timetable for third runwayHeathrow will submit proposals for a third runway this summer in a bid to achieve planning permission by the end of the current Parliament. But the London hub warned that policy changes are needed to deliver the project successfully.
• UK Government Decision on Gatwick Expansion Draws CloserA decision is expected to be delivered by the UK government later this week on whether plans for Gatwick Airport to operate two simultaneous runways can go ahead.

Green Miscellany

• SCOTTISH GREENS CALL FOR CROSS-PARTY SUPPORT FOR CUTTING RAIL FARESThe Scottish Greens' transport spokesperson, Mark Ruskell MSP, is urging all MSP's to back his party's call for cheaper, accessible rail travel ahead of today's Holyrood debate.