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

Wednesday, 19 March 2025

BBC News

• Buses to be brought back under public controlBus services in South Yorkshire are to be brought back under public control for the first time in nearly 40 years.
• Tube lifts closed almost twice as often in 2024Calls are made to reduce the time it takes to fix lifts at Tube stations across London.

Department for Transport

• UK aviation flying high with new tech funding for securityFunding will strengthen UK's security standards and ensure passengers can continue to fly with ease of mind.

Financial Times

• Hong Kong’s cargo sector faces a tariff testCity’s strategic position makes it increasingly vulnerable to escalating geopolitical tensions between US and China
• Swedish driverless truck start-up in talks with banks for US IPO Company targets more than $5bn as road freight becomes next self-driving tech battleground

The Guardian

• Bentley could pass costs of US tariffs to buyers due to drop in Chinese demandThe threat of tariffs from Donald Trump is hanging over the manufacturer, its chief executive says The boss of Bentley has warned the carmaker would pass on the costs of threatened US tariffs to buyers, as the British luxury car brand reported a drop in profits because of weaker demand from China.The brand, owned by Germany’s Volkswagen, on Wednesday reported an operating profit of €373m (£314m) in 2024, the fourth-highest in the company’s 105-year history. However, that was down more than a third from €589m the year before.

The Independent

• UK 'can and must' grow aviation while protecting the environment, minister saysTransport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she will 'never accept' that the issues compete against each other.

The Telegraph

• No trade-off between building new runways and airport expansion, says Transport Secretary [subscription]Transport Secretary says there need not be a clash between growing aviation and meeting green targets

City AM

• Growing aviation does not conflict with protecting the environment, says transport secretaryGrowing the UK's aviation sector is not a trade-off against protecting the environment, the Transport Secretary has said. Speaking at the annual dinner of the trade association AirportsUK, Heidi Alexander said she will 'never accept the false trade-off' that pits the two issues against each other.

Local Government

• £9million of funding for Nottinghamshire bus services to continueOver the next year, Nottinghamshire County Council will invest £9 million to support 70 bus services across Nottinghamshire, which may otherwise have been reduced or withdrawn.
• Cardiff Capital Region begins public consultation on shaping transport provision in South East WalesConsultation on the draft Regional Transport Plan (RTP) is open until 19th May, aimed at unlocking opportunities, connecting people and businesses and supporting the creation of jobs in the Region.
• Bath & North East Somerset Council launches an interactive Transport Action Map to showcase schemes An innovative and interactive tool that highlights more than 200 current and future transport projects set to be delivered, developed and studied over the next three years has been launched by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• First Bus partners with support line to help those travelling aloneFirst Bus has partnered with support line Strut Safe to help those travelling alone.
• Cabbies should rely on local knowledge not Sat Navs, cab boss claimsPROPOSALS that would allow local cabbies to rely on Sat Navs rather than local knowledge have been criticised by a private hire boss and local Councillors.
• Revealed - how much money Bradford's Clean Air Zone has generatedBradford's Clean Air Zone (CAZ) has raised more than £20 million through payments and fines since it was introduced, the Telegraph & Argus has learned.

London Evening Standard

• Waterloo woe: £1billion fleet of new commuter trains to ease overcrowding stuck in sidingsA rail firm has admitted it has no idea when a long-awaited £1billion fleet of new trains meant to ease overcrowding on services in and out of London Waterloo will all be running.

Metro

• New train with onboard bar will make you 'excited about the future' of commutingThere are no stained, squashed seats on this train and we sincerely hope the UK's rail operators have taken note.

Wales Online

• First Bus fares due to rise within weeksThe company bosses have announced that some journeys across Wales will cost more soon

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• UK 'can and must' grow aviation while protecting the environment, minister saysTransport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she will 'never accept' that the issues compete against each other.

Yorkshire Post

• Elland Railway Station: Agreement on complusory purchase for land to create new Yorkshire railway stationCouncillors have agreed to use compulsory purchase powers to acquire land which is needed to develop the new £25 million rail station at Elland.

Other Regional Press

• Transport Secretary visits Winchester EV charging siteThe Secretary of State for Transport has visited a new electric vehicle (EV) charging site.
• Plans to close railway crossing scrapped in major victoryNETWORK Rail’s plan to close Wareham crossing have been scrapped.
• Campaign to reopen train station 'needed more than ever' gains supportA campaign to reopen Grove's railway station has gained significant traction a petition surpassing 2,000 signatures.
• Oxford city centre should be 'car free' and have better buses, says assemblyCalls for Oxford city centre to be “car free” and for the county to have better buses have been championed by the recent citizens assembly on transport.
• Call for ScotRail to make U-turn on Neilston Station plansA community council is pleading with ScotRail to perform a last-minute U-turn on its plans to dramatically slash the staff presence at a station.
• Campaign to reopen Oxfordshire train station gains supportA campaign to reopen a town's railway station which is "needed more than ever" has gained significant support with a petition surpassing 2,000 signatures.

Rail Advent

• Carmarthenshire railway station to become multi-modal interchange?A consultation has been launched by Carmarthenshire County Council to gather views on plans to transform Llanelli railway station.

Rail Magazine

• Lord Hendy: freight "will continue to have a role" in reformed railwayRail Partners hosted its annual parliamentary reception for rail freight on March 11 - its last before it ceases to operate at the beginning of April.
• Stalled Access for All programme could restart this springThe long-standing Access for All (AfA) programme to provide level boarding for all railway users is poised to undergo a fresh start - potentially this spring.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• South Yorkshire confirms move to bus franchisingUnder the plans, SYMCA will assume control of depots, fleets, service standards, fares and ticketing across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield
• Zemo calls for clarity on end-of-sale date for new ICE coachesBody is calling for a specific roadmap for the decarbonisation of the coach sector which should include a date for the end of sale of new non-zero-emission coaches

Other News Sources

• McGill's eyes bus expansion beyond ScotlandBus operator McGill's Group is considering expansion of its services across the UK and into other markets.
• How AI could cut traffic jams and reduce bus hold-ups in PrestonArtificial intelligence will be used to see if it can help make buses in Preston more reliable.
• Progress towards launch of new Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Tiger bus routesThe Combined Authority is moving closer to the launch of new Tiger bus routes, with contracts awarded to bus operators this week marking the latest milestone.
• Cardiff Capital Region begins consultation on transportA public consultation has begun to improve transport across South East Wales and unlock more job opportunities.
• European Shipowners Represent 35% of Global FleetThe European Shipowners organization has released a Deloitte study on EU Shipping Competitiveness and a CE Delft study on the economic value of European shipping, both highlighting the importance of the sector.European shipping represents a…
• Wiltshire Council weighs up SCHOOL-ONLY taxi licences amid rising SEND transport demand crisisWiltshire Council is exploring the potential introduction of school-only taxi licences as demand for SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) student transport continues to rise.