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

Thursday, 13 March 2025

BBC News

• Hopes East West Rail will accept land's new statusConservation officers hope the recognition an area of farmland is vital to a county's wildlife could make East West Rail (EWR) reassess its plans.
• Mayor details £200m transport schemesAn elected mayor has announced transport schemes totalling more than £200m for her region.
• Direct Bristol-Oxford trains could run every hourAn hourly train service connecting Bristol to Oxford could start next year if proposals are approved by the government.
• Images show £140m revamp plan for Cardiff CentralThe proposed investment includes a new brick archway with additional retail and cycle facilities.
• Passengers at risk with e-bikes on Tube - unionAslef union says it is considering balloting members for a strike, over e-bikes on the Tube.
• Trump says anti-Tesla protesters will face 'hell'The US president says protesters against Elon Musk's electric car firm should be labelled "domestic terrorists".
• Disabled people must have a say in rail reforms, MP saysThe transport committee chair urged the government "not to forget about disabled people" ahead of nationalisation.
• Wales has 'entitlement' to HS2 cash - ex-ministerThe Welsh government's former top legal advisor has called Labour UK ministers' decision not to allocate consequential funding to Wales for HS2 high speed rail "unacceptable".
• Tube station book swap ban 'ridiculous'A decision to end free book exchanges at London Underground stations on safety grounds has been branded "ridiculous" by a former fire chief.

Financial Times

• Captain of container ship in North Sea collision is Russian, owner saysPolice have arrested the 59-year-old on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter

The Guardian

• Police question Russian master of ship that hit tanker in North SeaMan, 59, held on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter over crash, with crew member feared dead Police have been questioning the Russian master of a container ship over the North Sea collision, with salvors planning to board the second stricken vessel to assess the damage.The 59-year-old mariner was in custody in East Yorkshire after being arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter over the crash, which left a member of his crew feared dead.
• Taxi firms crowdfund legal battle with Uber over VAT on fares in UKMinicab drivers say Uber’s bid to apply tax to all rides would put many out of business and leave people stranded. Two British taxi companies have launched a crowdfunding drive for the last leg of a lengthy legal battle with Uber that could result in higher cab fares.Uber will seek, at a supreme court hearing in July, a ruling on contractual models that affect whether VAT applies to private-hire companies outside London, which it has argued would level the playing field across the UK.

The Telegraph

• Labour's rail nationalisation risks shifting cargo on to crowded roads [subscription]Publicly owned network would favour passenger services over freight, claim industry chiefs

Times Online

• Tube book exchanges axed for falling foul of fire regulations [subscription]The writing is on the wall for used book swap shelves at London Underground stations after a crackdown on safety breaches

Transport Committee

• Don't forget about disabled people in rail reforms, Transport Committee warns MinisterThe Transport Committee has today published a letter to the Rail Minister Lord Hendy regarding the Department for Transport's recent consultation, A railway fit for Britain's future

Daily Express

• Europe's incredible megaproject with £6bn tunnel to end traffic chaos in top tourist cityThis picturesque city that's loved by Brits hopes to end its huge traffic problem with this impressive megaproject, which includes a £6 billion tunnel.

Daily Record

• Scotrail fare increase 2025 - the cost of travelling on Scotland's busiest routes revealedThe Record examines what passengers travelling on ScotRail's busiest routes will be paying from April 1.

Local Government

• 'Northern Arc' linked by a Liverpool-Manchester Railway could match Oxford-Cambridge growth potentialA concerted focus on the internationally significant investment opportunities in the North West linked by a new railway could lead the UK's economic growth over the next decade, with the right infrastructure and national support needed to unlock untapped potential.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Last chance to have your say on £35m road improvement schemePEOPLE have just a few days to have their say on a multimillion pound scheme to improve a major Bradford route.

Manchester Evening News

• Andy Burnham sets out vision for 'Northern Arc' linking Manchester and LiverpoolThe Greater Manchester mayor says a new railway line between the two cities that he has been lobbying for is the 'missing link'

Nation. Cymru

• Plaid Cymru demand for 'fair share' from HS2 voted downThe Senedd rejected Plaid Cymru calls to demand HS2 be redesignated as an England-only project to unlock billions of pounds of consequential funding for Wales.

Northern Echo

• Wensleydale Fryer in Yorkshire Dales to increase capacityThe Wensleydale Railway, which operates across the Yorkshire Dales, has announced additional seating on its 'Wensleydale Fryer' train due to high demand.

The York Press

• ‘Historic day for Yorkshire’ as new deal signed to drive growth and improve transportYorkshire’s mayors have hailed an “historic day” as they sign a new deal pledging to drive growth and improve public transport across the county.

Wales Online

• British drivers being charged much more for petrol and diesel than motorists in EuropeThe UK has the fourth highest fuel prices across the whole of the EU
• The £140m plan to revamp Cardiff Central train stationA £140m plan to revamp Cardiff Central railway station has been announced. The plans include changes, to the foyers, subway, and front and back of the station.

Yorkshire Post

• Lord Blunkett to submit review into Yorkshire rail network to government as part of White Rose AgreementLord Blunkett is set to carry out a review into Yorkshire's rail network as part of a historic new agreement signed by the region's three mayors.

Other Regional Press

• Campaign for direct rail link from Hampshire to HeathrowA campaign has been launched to connect Hampshire to Heathrow Airport via a direct rail link.
• Tram-train mooted as a possible solution to Stratford's transport issuesA TRAM-train is being mooted as a solution to Stratford's transport issues.
• ‘Railways are vital - not everyone can or wants to drive’The importance of our railways, parental responsibility for criminal children and ULEZ are among topics tackled on this week’s letters page.
• Council issues statement over Coundon Wedge cycleway concernsHundreds of locals signed a petition set up by Taiwo Owatemi, the MP for the area
• New £7m works to ease 'heavily trafficked' Longford Road set for go-aheadPhase one of the huge scheme is set to be rubber-stamped

Rail Magazine

• Cardiff Central: Transport for Wales releases new images of how modernised station could lookTransport for Wales has unveiled new images of how Cardiff Central could look after improvements that could cost up to £140 million.
• DB Cargo UK: north London site DB Cargo UK believes it has created the country's first 'net zero' freight terminal.

Railtech

• Sweden is upgrading tracks like never before to catch up on neglected rail maintenanceSwedish rail infrastructure manager Trafikverket is breaking the trend in railway maintenance and is upgrading tracks like never before. The Swedish Transport Administration has more budget for more work on the tracks twice as much as ten years ago.

Other News Sources

• East Midlands Gateway turns fiveLarger than the Larger Than Life tour, but Five all the same. You're nobody these days if you're not celebrating an anniversary. So, step up to celebrate, East Midlands Gateway, blowing out the candles on the fifth year of rail freight operations this month. Being designated a UK Freeport hasn't hurt, either.
• Unusual looking 'winged' ship docks at port for the first timeThe Amadeus Saffier, an unusual-looking 'winged' ship, has been spotted at Shoreham Port, belonging to Dutch shipping company De Bock Maritiem
• Commuter won £2.3m in compensation as hundreds try to sue TfL for train station injuriesWaterloo station's escalators were particularly hazardous, with 337 recorded accidents, the highest number for a specific location